Traded to the mafia

"Ahh" The brunette let out a deep moan as she slumped onto the bed beside Jesse.

"That was, amazing." Her breathing was heavy, a mix of exhaustion and satisfaction. She pulled the blanket up and closed her eyes, murmuring softly before drifting into sleep.

Jesse remained still for a moment, his gaze fixed on her peaceful face. He slowly slid out of bed, careful not to disturb her. Moving with quiet purpose, he began to gather his clothes from the floor and straighten the room.

As he folded a shirt, he muttered to himself, "It's all about timing."

The stirred slightly, her voice muffled by sleep. "What're you saying?"

"Nothing," Jesse said, his tone even. "Just thinking out loud. Go back to sleep."

She hummed softly and rolled onto her side, clutching the pillow.

Jesse continued, his actions deliberate as he checked his watch. "Tomorrow," he whispered.

Jesse stood in front of the mirror, buttoning his shirt with steady hands. The quiet room was broken by a sharp knock at the door. He paused, glancing toward it.

"Come in," he said evenly.

The door creaked open, revealing a young man in a dark coat. His face was tense, and he stepped inside quickly, closing the door behind him.

"Sir," the man began, his voice low but urgent, "we found him. Binks Gale. He's in the boroughs-with a woman."

Jesse's movements slowed. He finished buttoning his shirt, then turned to face the man. His expression was calm, but his eyes were cold. "Binks Gale," he repeated, as if testing the name. "Are you sure?"

"Yes, sir. One of our men saw him. They're holed up in a small flat, but they won't stay there long."

Jesse stepped closer, his voice dropping to a dangerous calm. "I want him brought to me. Quickly. No mistakes."

The man nodded. "Understood. And the woman?"

Jesse's eyes narrowed slightly. "She's not my concern. But if she gets in the way-" He let the sentence hang, his meaning clear.

The subordinate swallowed hard. "We won't fail, sir."

Jesse tilted his head, a faint smirk playing on his lips. "See that you don't. You know what happens if you do."

"Yes, sir," the man said firmly, turning to leave.

As the door closed behind him, Jesse adjusted his cuffs, his movements precise. "Binks Gale," he muttered to himself, the name carrying a quiet promise.

Jesse walked out of the hotel room without looking back. The woman on the bed clutched the sheets around her, her wide eyes following him.

"Jesse," she called softly, fear in her voice. "What are you going to do?"

He didn't answer. His footsteps were measured, his expression blank. Reaching the door, he paused only to adjust his jacket, then left without another word. The click of the door closing behind him was final.

---

Bianca pushed open the door to her small apartment, her heels in one hand and her purse in the other. She froze when she saw the mess inside. Clothes were scattered across the floor, and empty beer bottles cluttered the table.

"Binks!" she shouted, kicking the door shut behind her.

Her older brother appeared from the kitchen, a sandwich in his hand and a lazy grin on his face. "Hey, kiddo."

"Are you kidding me?" Bianca snapped, dropping her things on the couch. "What is all this? You've trashed my place again!"

"Relax," Binks said, taking a bite of his sandwich. "I'll clean it up later."

"No, you won't!" she shot back. "You never do! Why are you even here? I told you, I can't keep bailing you out!"

Binks leaned against the counter, avoiding her glare. "I just needed a place to crash, okay? It's no big deal."

Bianca crossed her arms, her voice heavy with frustration. "It is a big deal. You can't keep showing up like this, leaving me to deal with everything. What are you running from this time?"

He shrugged, his eyes darting away. "Nothing you need to worry about."

"That's what you always say!" Bianca exclaimed. "And every time, it ends up blowing up in my face!"

Binks stayed silent, his grin fading.

Bianca sighed, rubbing her temples. "Clean this up, Binks. I mean it. I've had enough."

She turned away, heading for her room and slamming the door behind her. Binks stood alone in the messy apartment, his sandwich forgotten on the counter.

Bianca sat at the kitchen table, her hands wrapped around a mug of coffee. Binks lounged on the couch, flipping through channels on the TV. The sound of gunfire from an action movie filled the small apartment. She sighed, her eyes narrowing as she watched him.

"I can't believe I let you stay," she muttered.

Binks didn't look up. "You didn't have much of a choice, did you?"

She set her mug down with a loud clink. "I have enough problems, Binks. You being here makes everything worse."

He finally turned to face her, smirking. "What's the big deal? I'm not hurting anyone."

"Not yet," she shot back. "But you always bring trouble. What are you hiding this time?"

His smirk faded. "I'm not hiding anything," he said, his tone defensive.

Bianca leaned forward, her voice sharp. "Don't lie to me. You show up out of nowhere, trash my place, and avoid every question I ask. What's going on?"

"I told you, it's nothing!" Binks snapped, standing up. "Just drop it."

"I can't!" Bianca yelled, standing too. "Do you know how much I've sacrificed for you? And for what? You won't even tell me the truth!"

Binks looked away, his jaw tight. "You don't get it," he muttered.

"Then make me understand!" she demanded, her voice breaking. "What are you so afraid of?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he grabbed his jacket and headed for the door. "I need some air," he said flatly, slamming it behind him.

Bianca sat back down, her head in her hands. The apartment felt colder, emptier. She stared at the mess he'd left behind, her chest tightening with a mix of anger and fear.

"Why do I even bother?" she whispered to herself, but the silence offered no answers.

Across town, Jesse walked through an alley... He checked his watch, then glanced at the photo in his hand-Binks Gale. His eyes hardened.

"No loose ends," he murmured to himself before disappearing into the shadows.