Part 1

Tap, tap, tap. That's the sound my pen makes against my oak desk at school. I'd give anything to leave this hellhole and go to work. I sigh at this thought. Ah, work. What I wouldn't give to get out of this place and to my sanctuary. Tap, tap, tap. The sound is comforting. No it has nothing to do with my work, but it helps me think.

I look at the clock above the door. I can last ten minutes; I've been doing it since kindergarten. I put my pen down and drum my French tipped nails lightly on the desk. I look around the silent room. I'd finished the worksheet we'd gotten, and was now as impatient as ever. Five minutes, the clock taunted me. I looked to the seat next to me, Iason was still working. I look at the seat behind me, empty as usual.

My mind wondered idly where Jason was. He'd been absent an awful lot, but then again it wasn't my problem. Tick tock tick tock, damn clock! Three minutes. I have three minutes of nothing to do. I guess I could introduce myself, but where's the fun in that? There is none, I think I'll just tell you about myself as I go along.

I sigh again, running my fingers through my auburn curls. Iason looks up at me and winks. I smile back flirtatiously and cross my legs underneath my desk. RING! Yes! I stand up, stretching out my legs in my Old Navy jeans and grab my black jansport backpack. Free at last!

I walk out of the classroom and stuff my bag in my locker. I always finish my homework in study hall, the period before last. And we never get science homework, so I just throw it in my locker. I pull the hood of my sweater over my head and walk out of the school.

I walk the five blocks to work and head down the alley to the back door. I knock twice and wait. When it opens, I'm greeted by Felix, the bodyguard. I smile as he lets me through, acknowledging me with a head nod. I walk to the end of the hall and open the door. Antonio whistles as I walk by, I smile at him and go into my dad's office.

"Daddy." I say as I sit down in the red velvet chair he has in front of his desk. He smiles and pulls out a file.

Dad was at least 5'10", with salt and pepper hair. He had brown, almost black eyes. When he looked at you, it was like he knew everything about you; your every secret, your every thought, and more importantly...your every betrayal.

"Princess, we have a job for you today." He says passing me a paper. "I need you to go with Antonio to pick up the artillery from the address I'm writing now. Come back as soon as you have, and remember no witnesses." He warned me. I nod obediently. "That's my girl. Tony's waiting for you."

I stand and walk back out into the room Tony was in handing him the address. He nods and looks at me with lust drenched in his eyes.

"Who knew Mafia Princesses could look so sexy in jeans and a hoodie." He said with a smirk.

"Who knew Mobsters could look so ugly in a pin striped suit but you pulled it off." I said with a scowl. He put his arm over my shoulders as we walked to the car.

Tony was 5'11", and very built. He had black hair that fell over his deep grey eyes. When he smiled, I mean really smiled, you could see his dimples. Tony's gaze was different from my Dad's. When he looked at me (well, when he looked at me not during a mission) his gaze was admiring, lustful, and loving. I didn't want Tony romantically, I just wanted him as family, as a friend, and I sure as hell wanted him as back up on assignment.

Our drive was silent, like most jobs with Antonio; once in the car it's business first. Always business with the Mafia, never any fun until the job's done. I like it that way, I prefer it that way. We're all family here, and we all know each other's secrets. I was fine with that too, it made it easier to reject Tony. Brandon however was another story.

Brandon Carmichael was the last guy I went on a mission with. We were also dating. A big no-no in the Mafia. Dad found out and to make a long story short...Brandon's sleeping with the fishes. It taught everyone else in our "family" not to touch the boss' daughter, except Tony. Tony, everyone knew, was a player. Dad didn't mind that, apparently the guys could look as long as they didn't touch. I felt no remorse for Brandon, people in our family died all the time, it gets kind of old.

Tony turned into Warehouse 53 and into the open garage. He passed me the pistol while he took the M-14 rifle. Why does he get to showoff? I thought idly putting the gun into the hoodie pocket. I stepped out of the car, closed the door, and pushed the hood off my head, shaking out my curls. Tony stepped out not long after.