Maria shot up from her bed and sat straight when the door of her cell-room burst open and a woman walked in.
The woman was tall, wearing black leather combat boots, ACU army pants, and a tight moss green t-shirt. The t-shirt was so tight clinging to her body like a second skin, showing her big boobs and slim waist perfectly.
She was beautiful although she had heavy makeup on. Her mid-waist dark hair had fallen around her in waves, matching beautifully with her tan skin. Her green eyes were looking around the room bored and nonchalantly. One of her hands was in her pocket and the other was carrying a duffle bag on her shoulder.
Her cold eye fell on Maria who was still sitting on the bed, looking confused and shocked, and gave her a long up and down look.
Maria become uncomfortable under her gaze and cleared her throat. "Can I help you?" she asked trying to look calm.
The woman scoffed and looked away. "So, you are the woman." she said. Her voice was deep for a woman and scary a bit. She looked at Maria once again. "I should admit I see nothing special. I don't know why you are still alive. They should have killed you by now."
Maria was angry. She had been kept in that cell for almost a day and she was bored out of her mind with not even a book to keep her occupied. They had only let her talk to Anna for a minute to make sure she was fine. And now this woman had suddenly come in and was insulting her.
"Excuse me," she said with narrowed eyes. "But why should I care about your opinion? Who the hell are you?"
"Huh," scoffed the woman again and threw the duffle bag to Maria's head who barely managed to catch it before the heavy bag can break her nose. "I don't know why he cares so much."
Maria frowned. Who cares? Could it be ...?
Her train of thoughts was cut short by another presence in her room. "Don't be mean, Jade." said the new male voice and Maria looked behind the woman, Jade, to see a tall man with light brown skin and frizzy hair.
He looked handsome in his white T and black jeans. His jawline was covered by a short beard and he had a thin mustache. He looked like someone who could be warm and friendly, but his cold eyes that were glaring at Jade could freeze you.
Jade rolled her eyes. "What? I'm just telling her the truth." snapped Jade and glared at Maria with venom in her eyes. "That she has nowhere here. That she can never be one of us. So she shouldn't get used to this comfort. The moment we are done with the Spanish mafia, I'm sure the boss will end her miserable life. She is no one."
"Enough!" snapped the man and stood in front of Jade, blocking her view of Maria. "You are great and all, but I'm sure boss will be really pissed when I tell him I went to grab the bag for the girl and deliver it, only to find out from Brain that you have taken it without permission. Now get out, before I really do this."
Jade huffed but didn't argue with the man who seemed to have a higher rank than her. She glared at Maria one last time before walking out of the room and slamming the door behind her, leaving Maria with the new man.
The man sighed and shook his head before turning to Maria who had stood up. His eyes had changed completely as he smiled at Maria. The two dark orbs were now full of warmth and friendship.
"Thank you," said Maria before the man could say anything and returned his smile with a small one. "For defending me."
"Oh, that was nothing." said the man and waved his hand nonchalantly. "Don't take her seriously. Jade is a bitch. She has slept with almost every man in our mafia. The rumors say even with the Don himself before Donna comes into view. Although, you should not underestimate her. She is a deadly asset and loyal to Kings as hell. She is great in her job, not failing in any missions. That is why Mason keeps her around. She is mostly harmless, but when it's come to the mafia she becomes overprotective. And because what you did, um, you know ..."
The man stopped awkwardly and scratched the back of his neck. Maria took a deep breath and nodded in understanding and almost yelped when the man's hand trusted out in front of her suddenly and his smile grow wider. "by the way," he said cheerfully. "I'm Diego. Diego Morales."
"Maria Alvarez." smiled Maria and shook his hand. "Glad to meet you."
"Okay, now that we have that out of way, let's go to business." said Diego and clapped his hands, and then pointed to the bag Jade had brought. "There are warm clothes for you in that bag. Wear one before we go out that is freezing as hell. Then I should escort you to the boss's office."
Maria nodded and opened the bag and found a coat, a gray cardigan, and a few blouses and other clothes, like shirts, pants, and even undergarments, all of them her size. She chose the gray cardigan and put it on top of her shirt. She turned and saw Diego looking at her with an unreadable expression on her face. She tilted her head puzzled looking back at him.
"You know, about what Jade said." began Diego. "Yesterday, boss held a meeting for us and explained everything about the situation and you." he paused for a second and put a hand gently on her shoulder while looking down at her softly.
"I just want you to know, not all of us think the way Jade thinks." he continued. "Some of us still do not trust you completely, but they trust boss and his decisions and they certainly don't hate you. And some like me, know that you are innocent and already accept you among us. So don't feel bad please."
Maria felt warmth spread through her body at hearing his sincere words. It was fantastic to know people trusted her. She smiled gratefully. "Thank you, Diego." she said softly. "I promise to never shatter your trust."
"That's great." said Deigo and smiled again. "Okay, now let's go before it gets late."
He turned on his heels and walked out followed by Maria. They took the familiar route to Mason's office and Maria tried to hold a friendly conversation after a day of silence.
"So, you are Brazillian." she stated.
"Is it that obvious?" he asked with a smile.
"Just a lucky gusse." shrugged Maria.
"I always knew girls have a thing for us Brazillian guys." smirked Diego and side glanced at her playfully. "I won't tell anyone you think I'm hot, hon."
"Don't flatter yourself." said Maria and rolled her eyes but they both began to laugh after that.
They fell into silence after that for a moment, before Maria asked the question that had occupied her mind. "Diego." she said and Diego hummed in response. "Who ordered you to give me the clothes?"
Diego glanced at her with an unreadable face before looking forward again. "It was the underboss, Ben Williams." he said.
"Oh." was all Maria said. She tried to keep her straight face but a small smile graced her lips. But it didn't last long.
A minute later they reached the corridor of Mason's office and Maria instantly frowned at the sight in front of her. Ben had stood in front of the double doors, smirking down at Jade who was talking quietly with him while twirling her hair around her finger.
Ben was clad in dark dress pants and a navy blue dress shirt. He looked casual with his hands in his pockets like he was talking to a friend, but Maria didn't like how close they had stood and how Jade was looking at Ben.
But she quickly snapped out of her state. It was none of her business what he does and who he would talk to. He was no one to her except the one who had saved her and her sister. But still, she couldn't help a sting of jealously that surged through her heart. He was the one who had saved her and cared enough to send her warm clothes and she felt oddly safe around him.
She kept her cool unbothered face once Jade turned in their direction and smirked at Maria. Ben turned too and Maria's heart ached from sadness once his face turned emotionlessly cold as he looked at Deigo and her approaching.
Although, Maria had gotten one thing wrong. Ben looked in the direction that Jade was looking and saw Maria and Diego walking toward them. Maria looked delicately beautiful, wearing jeans and a light green t-shirt and to his satisfaction, she had a gray cardigan on to keep her warm. His face turned cold and his hands balled into fists in his pockets when he saw Diego glancing at Maria with concern and also a bit of admiration and they were walking a bit too close for his liking.
"Morales. Ms. Alvarez." he greeted nonchalantly, keeping his cold mask on and the two nodded for him. "let's go in. Mason's waiting."
He opened the door without knocking and entered. Mason didn't bring his face up from the papers in front of him, well knowing that it must be Ben because only his father or Ben dared walk into his office without knocking.
"Sit down." ordered Mason without looking up. "Morales, you may leave."
"Hi, boss." said Jade and plummed herself on one of the sofas, quickly grabbing a cigarette from her pocket and lit it on.
"See you around, guys." said Diego before turning on his heels and walking toward the door. He winked at Maria who gave him a weak smile before closing the door behind him.
Ben watched Maria sitting down while looking at Jade with disgust as she blew a thick cloud of smoke into the air. Maria waved her hand in front of her face and glared at Jade. Her eyes softened once they passed from Jade and fell on Ben who was sitting beside Jade and they locked eyes.
"I have lots of work so I'm going to break the news fast." said Mason and stood up and walked around his table and Ben and Maria broke the eye contact.
Mason threw a file on the coffee table and Jade opened it quickly. There were a few pictures of an old Japanese man walking with his guards into or out of a club.
"That piece of shit is Hiroto Ohara, the head of the strongest Mafia family in Japan." explained Ben and looked at Maria. "Our men had worked on all of the images existing of him to find the tattoo of the five to confirm the theory you said but found nothing."
"I'm sure I heard the name right." said Maria firmly. "He must have somewhere on his body. I've heard only Santi has the tattoo somewhere visible."
"Yet the info you have is for almost five years ago." said Mason. "We are already at war with the Spanish. We don't want more unwanted and unnecessary quarrels on our plate. So we have to make sure of it."
He paused for a second and continued when Maria nodded in understanding. "We have to see if they are still part of the five to make our attack. And for that we need to find out if Ohara has the tattoo or not or find any other relevant information." he explained. "That is where you two come in."
Mason looked at Ben at the end of his sentence who was looking at Maria intently and with a twinge of worry in his eyes that only Mason could detect. Ben did not agree with Mason for sending Maria on that mission and had argued with Mason for a long hour yesterday, but for Mason as a boss and the head of the family who was responsible for the lives of many, it was important to test and make sure of her loyalty.
Maria and Jade both looked at Mason confused. Ben leaned over the coffee table and sorted a few pictures before continuing Mason's words.
"Ohara family's main business is human trafficking." He said and watched Maria shivering for a second. "This is one of their main bars and brothels that Hiroto seems to go to almost every day to check on his work."
"So, let me guess the rest." said Jade and smashed her cigarette in an ashtray on the table. She pointed to Maria with a bored face before continuing. "You want me to work with this doll? We become sluts in the brothel, and sleep with that git to see if he has any tattoos on his naked body? I don't have so much problem, but does the baby doll knows what to do?"
Maria glared dagers at Jade. Ben frowned when he saw her. Her fists were clenching and she looked furious. "Don't.call.me.that." she seethed angrily, her whole body was trembling and she looked a bit pale, scared of the pet name or the plan, Ben didn't know.
"Enough!" Mason's voice boomed in the office, stopping Jade before she can snap back. The two women sat there glaring at each other. Mason rubbed his forehead while explaining. "You two will fly to Japan today and will be working in Ohara's brothel, and not as a slut, but as a bartender. I don't care how you will get recruited, or how you will find out about the tattoo. I just need the information in a week. You better get along and work as a team."
His gaze was fixed on Jade when he spoke the last part who sighed and threw her head back irritated but defeated, not daring to go against her boss.
"This part is the easy one." said Jade and Maria looked at her puzzled, not understanding how she saw that easy. "What is the next step?"
"Ben, Rich, and Damien will come there, four days after you leave, apparently for a business trip." said Mason. "They will prepare everything for attack and when you confirm the theory, we will attack and destroy Ohara."
"Easy, peasy!" laughed Jade humorlessly but her eyes were shining with excitment.
"I trust you to success in this mission as well, Jade." said Mason. "You know how much it's important for the family. I hope you remember our talk earlier."
Jade sat straighter and her face become serious like Mason hit some chords with his words. "You've got it, boss." she said firmly.
Mason nodded satisfied and turned to Maria. "I think you know that you have no say in this, Ms. Alvarez." he said coldly and Maria gulped. "You offered us your help yourself."
Ben watched as a fierceness filled her eyes as she stared at Mason. "I'm ready to help. I will go." she answered firmly and Ben felt a sense of pride in his heart.
"Good." said Mason and sat behind his desk again. "You may go and pack now. Your flight is in three hours. Both of you will go by fake identities."
Jade leaned a bit forward on her seat and looked at Mason suggestively. "That's it, boss? You need no more help from me?" she said with a lazy smile on her red lips. "You know, just because you are married doesn't mean you should be off the market."
"Jade, get the fuck out of my office before I kill you." said Mason with a cold monotone voice without looking up from his laptop.
"No need for violence, Don." laughed Jade and then stood and walked toward the door. "That was worth a try though. You are good."
Maria cringed at the words and blushed hard before standing up. "I will leave too." she mumbled under her breath and quickly walked out after Jade.
But before she could close the door, a hand grabbed her arm gently and pulled her out of the office and into a dark corner.
Her heart melted on its own accord when she looked up into Ben's eyes and saw worry in those emerald orbs. "I know Jade is not a pleasant woman." he said. "But please listen to her. She knows what she is doing. Stay out of trouble until I come."
A sense of comfort washed over Maria as she heard the words of concern. He just promised discreetly that he will take care of her. She nodded. "I will. Thank you." she said softly and butterflies erupted in her stomach when his eyes softened and satisfaction flashed in them.
"Fantastic." he said. "Now, go and pack. I will send someone with a phone so you can talk to your sister before leaving. You won't be able to talk to her until the mission ends."
A big warm smile blossomed on Maria's lips and she looked up at Ben gratefully. "Thank you. Really," she said before turning on her heels and walking away.
Ben watched the beautiful, mesmerizing angel leaving. He was completely intrigued by the dark-haired woman and couldn't help but be protective of her. "Please, be loyal to us. Please don't be a spy. Please." he murmured under his breath as he watched her walking away.
And so three hours later, Maria had sat on a plane with Jade beside her. She was looking out of the window, trying to calm down her racing heart. Although she was not alone, she couldn't help but feel dread as she thought about the vague mission at hand and what could happen there. There was only one thought keeping her from passing out from fear, Ben and his promise to keep her safe.
-------------------------------------------------------
A/N: Hi, guys. Thank you for reading this long and thank you for your support. Please vote and leave a comment if you liked the chapter.
Thank you
Ela:)