The Mafia's prize

SS

had happened. More were memories tha

I let my guards down. I had managed to tell my best friend, Laura. As I expected, she had

tried to comfort me. I swear, her support helped me heal f

w him?" she

ot see h

have to kill yourself over it. We make

ed to make this;

on, sweetheart. I've got your back." S

s I expected, take the news kind

Monica to find out about the identity of the man, but I had to talk him out of it. I didn't

ot all b

ff, so I could not count on her for any financial assistance. I had to work two jobs to be able to make ends meet. I worked at the mall during the day and worked as a

ced her life depended on it. She kept incurring debts she left for me to pay, as if it were an inheritance. She had squandered

d a patient when I

op off my hands!" She sounded so scared. My he

frustrated. Not that it was of any use. Her life was in serious danger, and she neede

ring your money," I pleaded wi

t fucking joke with my mone

topped a taxi, and off w

pinned down by two black-

, Jessica," she

her go," I sa

, a huge-looking man, said,

ey," I said, showing

at me. It seemed funny to them, but it

t?" he asked, in

s it. It was the usual, b

half a million dollars, and you're givi

f the casino. Maybe I didn't hear well. I

one of them said,

ed at her. "Are you crazy? W

said, as if that would

rom? Maybe I should let them just chop off your hands and pluck off your eyes. You don'

you have my money?" he asked. He didn't even see

llars. Where do you want me to get such an amount?"I just seemed to fi

some sympathy for her. "She's sti

no boss. "Please, can I write you an IOU

fully, he led me into a dark room. It was stinking

*