No Strings Attached

CHAPTER 2

"Your next targets are the De Santis family," he says bluntly, and I suck in a sharp breath. "The whole family?" I spit out in disbelief. Part of me thought that Ari was just bluffing, but apparently not.

"I want the whole family dead by the end of next month, if you fail then I will inform them of what you're doing and they will be guaranteed to kill you first," he says, his tone cold, as if wanting me to die. "I want you to watch them, learn their habits and be smart about it, kill them when you've memorised their daily routines. I don't want a single mistake,"

"Ok," I murmur, feeling as if I'm in a daze.

He doesn't say anything and just hangs up, leaving me in silence as I drive back home.

I'm Anastasia Mancini, since when did I second guess hits? I fucking don't. But for some reason I am. Mom and Dad liked them, hell, Mom was even friends with Adelyn. And I know if they get even a whiff of what's happening they'll kill me instantly. They have a whole Mafia behind them, and I just have Ari.

He's sending me on a death mission, and I know he wants it to end that way. Mom and Dad left me every single cent they had, and until I turn 21, if I die that all goes to my Grandfather, and I know that's what he wants.

I sigh and dial Ari, smiling when he instantly picks up, "He asked me to do it," I immediately speak. Ari sucks in a sharp breath, "You've got me and the whole gang behind you," he says gently.

I know I joked about Ari being the leader of a motorbike gang, but he kind of is. He has his own group of men at his expense, a small group of 4, but all with their own training, and all deathly loyal to my parents, and now me.

"We're all at the base now if you want to join, we'll have to discuss how we go about it in the right way," Ari says, giving me an offer he knows I'd never refuse. I love that base, surrounded by 4 men who are basically a Father and Uncles to me.

"I'll be there in ten," I reply, saying a quick goodbye before hanging up.

Le Aquile Rosse. The Red Eagles. A dangerous group in the underworld, known for their rough behaviour and sheer brutality. Each one as deadly as the last, a group no person is dumb enough to fuck with. And those who were, have all been dealt with in their own unique way.

Dad has always been friends with Ari, and together him and Le Aquile Rosse helped Mom escape from my Grandfather and his abuse. I've known them for as long as I can remember, giving me my first motorbike ride, cigarette and drink the moment I turned 18. I asked them to teach me sooner, but they all insisted on waiting until I was 'adult enough'.

Ari started the group, with his best friend Gabriel. Then they got the twins in, Griffin and Everett. They're all covered head to toe in tattoos, their sun kissed skin almost fully covered in ink. All in their 50's by now, but all still as active as ever.

Their base is the old home of their first victim; a man who used the house as a sex trafficking ring, so they decided to turn it into a place not filled with its previous terror. Although each one of the Le Aquile Rosse is a ruthless murderer, they only kill people who have committed similar crimes to that, and the odd hit I need assistance in.

I make the 40 minute drive to the house and park in the garage, filled with bikes and cars, some stolen from their victims, although most are just trophies they've bought themselves.

I walk around to the front door and punch in the code only the 5 of us know, letting myself in as the door automatically locks behind me.

I walk through the maze of a house to the living room, my smile growing as I hear the loud laughter coming from the room.