The Cities Mafia Queen. PT 1

I smile as I dance, the mask firmly in place, sealing my identity and hopefully helping me with my conquest. I turned eighteen today, not that you would think it by looking at my life and how I spent today. People will look at me and see freedom, a city to explore and enjoy. That, though, is a shocking lie. I’m in prison. This city is my prison, and I have no way of escaping and no way of changing things.

I continue dancing with this sweet guy. He has no idea who I am, which I like. If he knew, he wouldn’t be near me. Actually, if he knew, he would likely be screaming, ‘The Princess is here’. Yeah, because the Princess should never be here. I have a list of places I can visit. The rest are no-gos. According to my family anyway. Solace City, my parents’ city, my prison.

My hands pull him closer as I dance. I begin feeling myself relax and smile as we talk. How free can you really be in a city where most people know who you are? And those who don’t? Well, if they even try to touch you, people tell them exactly who you are. That you’re not to be touched. I hate my family, and I hate this fucking city. Leaning forward, I kiss him, pulling him back into a quieter place. My hands move down his body and remove his belt.

My excitement rises when he allows me to. He turns, pinning me against the wall and kissing me. A quiet moan escapes my lips as I feel his cock harden against me and his kiss become more fierce and powerful.

“Are you sure?” His words are stupid. Why wouldn’t I be sure? I need this, I need this so that I know it was my choice who I fuck.

“Yes.” I don’t want to talk, so I force my lips against his, while his hands slide up my legs to my ass, palming it.

“Princess!” I hear a man’s voice and groan. I thought I had knocked that fucker out! “Masks off, now! Everyone.” I hear his voice as the room falls silent.

The guy pulls away, hearing it too. “We need to go back out there. He sounds pissed.”

My hands grasp him and pull him closer. “Forget him, just fuck me.” Hell, this is the closest I have ever gotten. I move forward to kiss him, but he pushes me back.

“Remove the mask.” He looks at me as I shake my head. “It’s you! I’m fucking dead. I am dead now.” He’s clearly panicking. I guess tonight I won’t be getting fucked - well, not in the sense I want, anyway. Yet, looking at him, I can see the fear in his eyes.

“Stay in here.” Turning, I walk through and see everyone sat without masks on. Reaching up, I unwrap the mask and smile at Dalton. Hell, his head has a gash on it and is bleeding. In my defence, though, I warned him not to follow me.

“Car. Now.” He looks at me, the two guys behind him waiting for a fight. They know the truth. They touch me, they get hurt. Yet, they still have to somehow ensure I follow my father’s rules. Rules I wish he would choke on in his sleep.

“I’m awfully comfy right now. Maybe later?” I sit down and smile. My legs swing up and rest on another chair as I lean back.

“Go see who was with her through there.” Dalton points to where I had come from, and I watch as one of the guys disappears into the room. I hope whoever I was dancing with escaped. Unfortunately, my luck is quickly squashed as I see the guy being pulled out without a chance to get away.

“Name.” Dalton grabs the guy I had almost been successful in fucking.

“I- I-” He looks at Dalton, stuttering as Dalton moves to pull out a knife. “James, James Wood - Woodley.”

“Okay, well.” Dalton turns to face me. “Princess, you have a choice, walk and get in that car, or this poor lad doesn’t live to see tomorrow once I tell your father and brother what was going on and why your lipstick is no longer perfect,” Dalton threatens me. I look towards James, and I know he doesn’t deserve it.

So, I stand up, walk out, and get into the car. Eighteen years of this shit and every new year somehow means more and more people avoid even looking at me or talking to me. It feels like I’m the plague, which I guess I am. But unfortunately, I’m the human plague that will get them killed. So, I don’t speak; I simply stay quiet as the car moves.

“Your father is angry, Princess. You know the list of places acceptable for you to visit.” I look at him, still holding a cloth to his head where he is bleeding. Maybe I hit him too hard? I have been training. They just don’t realise that.

“Yes, places where everyone tells my family every word I say, every move I make. Prison is better than this.” I’m sure it would be. The car stops, and the door opens. I step out and walk into the house, and there he is, my father.

“You know the arrangement, Emmi. You stick to the places you’re allowed. A few more years, and you will be with the Wolversons. I agreed you would go there to marry one of the sons. That is happening.” My father looks at me, clearly pissed off.

“Happy birthday to me as well. Such a great eighteenth birthday! I know my fate, but that fate doesn’t mean I shouldn’t enjoy my life until then.” I stare at him. Once again, he is more bothered about that deal with the Wolversons than he is his own daughter.

“Your fate is not on me, Emmi; it is on how you react when you marry one of them. Unfortunately, that is on you. We won’t be there to protect you.” His words are low.

“What happens if none of them want me? What happens if they decide they want a real woman, not a woman who has spent her whole life living like a child under a microscope!” I will go to them and have no idea about anything because every fucker in this city avoids telling me things or talking to me. Ask your family, Princess, ask your mum, Princess. No, Princess, you can’t have that. I feel the anger build within me, burning through my veins. If he dies, I am free.

He was the one who made the deal with the Wolverson family. He is the one pushing it to happen, so once he dies, I will be free. I can only hope he dies before I am sent to them and told I have no choice but to marry one.

“Go to bed, Emmi, and next time, stick to the places you’re allowed in.” His words are harsh.

Turning, I walk through to my room. Eighteen, I am eighteen, and that was the first time I have ever kissed a guy. It was the first time I got a tiny bit of freedom, and people danced and laughed with me. That was until they saw who I was, then they looked at me like I had just put a target on their heads. I can’t sleep, my mind considers everything, and one thing keeps coming back up.

Freedom, escaping. I know I can do it. With the right amount of money, I can get out, I can pay someone enough to leave once they free me. Who though? The more significant issue, how do I get the money? My parents aren’t stupid. Everyone knows to give me receipts, so I can never hide what I’m doing. I sit down to make a plan, and hope that it will come into action, and I’ll escape before I am handed over to the Wolversons, a family I have never met. I don’t even know if I like any of their sons. Not that I will have a choice, thanks to my dad saying they could have me. An arranged marriage in exchange for helping to save his city. Of course, the Wolversons accepted.

Six Years Later:

I stand in the bar, looking around. I guess I got my point across. Sitting down, I point to the whiskey. Dean nods, shaking while he pours the drink. I would be shaking. I should be. I thought a quick punch and they would leave me alone.

“On the house.” His words are quiet as he continues to shake.

“You’re safe, Dean. I won’t mention how I got this scratch. I think I’ve made it clear that I don’t take orders or like being touched, haven’t I?” I look around the bar, everyone nodding. Jacob sat on the chair, holding his face. That was a mistake, and it freaked me out, but I couldn’t backtrack after it had happened. They would have seen me as weak, and then it would have gotten worse.

“He okay to leave? He won’t mention what happened, will you, Jac?” Dean calls over.

I won’t keep him here. There is a chance he won’t be able to see again. He needs checking, and while I want to say that I hope he is okay and I’m sorry, I can’t.

So, instead, I turn. “Oh, Jacob won’t, because if he does, he will lose his other eye.” I glare at Jacob, watching as he scurries out. He won’t. Even if he speaks, he won’t lose his other eye. I finish the whiskey and watch as Dean tops it up again.

“Wayne, stand outside, send a signal if anyone comes and she needs to hide.” Ethan plonks himself down next to me.

I smile at him. “Thank you, Ethan. Maybe a new drinking place for me? I kind of like this whole biker, badass, tattooed guys feel.” I grin, downing the whiskey.

“Anything you want, Emmi. I’m sorry, we’re good, right?” Dean’s still shaking and freaking out as he looks at me.

“We’re good.” I lean back in the chair. My eyes taking a brief look around the bar. “My life is my life, so if I hear anyone threaten to pass on information back to my mother or brother, you will lose an eye as well.” They all nod.

“Look, cut us a break, okay? Princess Emmi just walked in here, demanded a whiskey, and took a call about how she is a few weeks away from escaping this shitty city. We all heard, Emmi, so we all now have targets on our heads if your family finds out.” Ethan nudges me slightly. My family won’t do anything, they should know that.

“You know Ethan, you’re too smart to be acting this dumb. How would they know you all knew? Even if someone says they saw me walk in here. All you needed to say was you averted your eyes and refused to buy or give me a drink.” I sigh slightly. “I just wanted some fun because if this shit with the Wolversons gets a date arranged before I escape, my life is over.” I glance down at the empty glass and watch as he fills it again with whiskey.

“Your mum still going ahead with your dad’s deal?” Dean looks at me, worried.

“More than before. She is set on saving Jamie, her golden boy, so yes, she is still going ahead with that deal, and every day is like training. Every day, she pushes me to act like and be a lady. Fuck being a lady.” It’s overrated. Who wants to wear perfect dresses, high heels and stand up straight? Who wants to stand by a man as he talks and socialises while you have to keep your mouth shut?

“You want fun, right? Go have fun,” Ethan says like it’s that simple.

I laugh. “Where? You name somewhere I can go and dance, sing, hell, even strip and make out with a guy. This city is locked down when it comes to me, Ethan. No one will let me.” I just need another five thousand. Five thousand, and I can pay someone to get me out of the country. Enough so that someone can also get free.

“I didn’t mean in this city, Emmi. This is your family’s city, of course, it isn’t possible. You need to go somewhere no one knows you.” His cunning smile grows, and Dean looks at him, sickened.

“Where and how? As soon as I get to that checkpoint, they see my car, see me, and call my guards to come to fetch me. I tried already.” Too many times. There is no way out of this city without a plane. Even if I manage to get out of the city, I’d be tracked down within a few hours if I didn’t show up at home.

“Who said anything about you getting seen?” Ethan's wicked grin widens.

“Look, can you discuss this in private? You’re putting a target on all our fucking heads.” Dean looks at Ethan, clearly avoiding me because he is telling, not asking, and he likes his baby blue eyes.

“Just leave the whiskey here, and walk away, Dean.” Ethan smiles, and something tells me he is using me for his own gain, but I want out. I want fun. I watch as Dean places the bottle down before walking off.

Turning, I look at Ethan, wondering just what his plan is.

“The closest city is the Wolverson’s, right? No one knows you there. By name, yes, but not by face. I can get you past the checkpoint, Emmi. For something in return, of course.” I watch as he licks his lip. Of course, he wants something in return. He is risking his life. No one would do it for free without something to gain.

“What are your terms, and what do you want?” I look at him, waiting.

“My terms are I get you in the city, stay a distance away from you while we’re there, and bring you back through before midnight, so Cinderella can go the ball. I want ten thousand for it.” He says ten thousand like he’s asking for a fucking chocolate bar!

I should just say no, lie, say I can’t, and I don’t have that much money.

“Come on, Emmi. I heard that call. You will have 40k for that guy to escape and get you out of this country. Give me 10k, and maybe try to win it back by gambling. You could even win all the money you need to finalise your escape plan.” His fingers strokes along my leg and I glare at him as he laughs. I see Dean shaking his head. I am close to Dean, but the freedom he gave me isn’t enough.

“10k is a fucking lot. Especially when it took three years to get to the amount I’m at. If I give you 10k, then it’s months, not weeks that I’m stuck here. Why 10k?” I need to know. If I know why, then maybe I can help. If he owes my family money, I could sneak into the room and wipe his fucking account.

“I’m risking my life, Emmi. One wrong move, and I’m dead. My life is worth far more than 10k. So that is the offer. You hand over 10k tomorrow once I bring you home, or you enjoy partying in your Princess castle with your mummy watching.”

Smug fucker. He’s grinning because he knows he’s fucking won. Hell, even if I try to threaten him and say I will tell my family something, he will call me on it because right now, he is the only person in this godforsaken city to offer to help me. So, he won’t be dead. Sure, they might hurt him, but he won’t be dead. I don’t think.

“Deal. How are you getting me out?”

He grins more. “Yo, Dean. Throw my shit here.” Ethan winks at me, and I watch Dean walk over. Then, leaning down, he throws a sack at Ethan. “Keep the contents. I need the space for a little one.”

He opens it, tipping everything out onto the bar, then looks at me. Wait, he’s joking, right? He wants to put me in a fucking duffle bag. My head falls back. This has disaster written all over it. He can’t get me out of the city in that. They will check, and then what? I just pretend that I was kidnapped. That could work.

“Don’t look so scared little one. The guys at the checkpoint know not to touch that bag. It is used for moving shit from one city to the next. They get paid a lot from the Wolversons to ignore that bag. So even if you fucking sneezed, they wouldn’t touch it.” He stands and walks to the door, waiting for me.

Dean looks at me, shaking his head. Maybe I’m crazy, or maybe, just maybe, I want to be free. Standing, I follow him outside and stop at his bike. I look at him, confused. “Hop on, the car is five minutes away. Once we’re there, we’ll get you in.” He throws the sack at me. Holding it, I climb onto the bike, my arms wrapping around him as the bike roars to life.

“Keep your fucking head hidden Princess, if anyone notices it is you, I’m dead.” His words are cold. Hell, he went from sweet and helpful to a beast quick.

Putting my head down, I try to hide my face, hoping that no one will notice me. I try not to move at all because I know looking up at the wrong time when we’re next to a car, people, or anything will lead to someone recognising me.

“Right, we’re here.” I look up just as the bike stops in a garage. Climbing off, I watch as he places the bag in the boot. I am fucking crazy. I laugh as I stand looking at it. “Your choice. Get in and I take you over or stay here like a good little Princess.”

God, the way he says ‘little Princess’ makes me want to stab his eyes out as well. “What about people from here? Those who are going to see me over there?” I didn’t consider it, that people travel between the cities.

“Oh, little Princess. You have yet to see the Wolversons’ city. No one speaks unless they want to lose their tongue. The only way they would know is if you don’t arrive home and your family ask the Wolverson family to check if anyone has seen you.” I walk to the boot and climb in, stupidly putting myself in his fucking sack. I am crazy. He moves to lean over me, slowly zipping it up.

“Okay, ten minutes, and we’re at the checkpoint. I’ll park up somewhere in the city and let you out. Are you sure you want to do this? 10k, I expect 10k tomorrow, Emmi.”

“Do it, let’s go before I waste half my night in a fucking bag.” I stay curled in a ball as I hear the boot slam shut. A few seconds later, the engine roars to life, and suddenly I panic. What the fuck am I doing? Sneaking out is fine, sneaking over the line to party is fine, but why would he agree for 10k? He can just fucking take me and ask for a million. I didn’t consider that, didn’t consider if he is using me and pretending to help, when in fact he is fucking kidnapping me, and now, well, it’s too late.

I have my knife; my hand feels down my leg to where the leather pouch holds it. If that is his plan, I will fight. I hear the car stop, someone opening and closing the doors. I hear the boot open and try to stay still.

“For Bear, got an extra shipment in.” I hear Ethan’s words, my body radiating with worry as I feel the car jolt slightly when the boot slams shut. The car begins moving again, and for the first time in nearly two minutes, I suck in a breath. He can’t be kidnapping me. If he was, why take me over to the city? Five minutes later, the car stops, and I hear him walking around. The boot opens, and the bag unzips, and I look around.

Shit, now I am freaking out. I’m out of the city, which feels amazing, but one word and I won’t be able to keep going with my plan to escape.

“Right, bars are two minutes down the road. What’s your pick? Gambling, dancing, drinking, bar fights?” He chuckles slightly at his suggestions.

“Gambling. May as well try win that 10k back, hadn’t I?” If I do, then it helps. I follow him through the city. Walking into a bar, I feel my body tense. This is nothing like my city.

“Stand your ground, little Princess. These fuckers don’t care and will fuck you up. Not many women dare step foot in here.”

I laugh at his words. He just saw me take on three guys in Dean’s. These guys are nothing. Yet everyone is looking at me like I’m fresh meat. Some I recognise from my city, but they simply turn their heads. Others, however, are clearly wondering who I am.

I walk to a table and sit down, Ethan handing me a drink as I sit playing. An hour passes, and luck isn’t on my side, so time to get dirty. I lean over, ensuring my breasts pop out the top of my dress.

“Ethan, do you play poker?” I lick my lips, watching as the guy’s stare at me.

“Yeah, why?” He leans against the wall swirling his glass before lifting it to his lips.

“Do you play as good as you fuck? I might need to tag you in if you do.” I watch as he chokes on his drink, the gasps from around the table loud.

“You fucked her?” I turn and look at someone. I recognise him from the city.

“No, God no! She is fucking about, tell him, tell him you’re fucking about, Princess.” He looks at me, worried. Hell, sneaking me over the border, that’s fine. Letting those people from our city see me here, also fine. But them thinking he fucked me, that has him worried.

“Only in my mind Ethan, don’t worry.” I smile and watch as he relaxes a bit, his glare burning through me. I finish my drink and keep playing, slowly feeling myself relaxing. I am losing too fucking much, but this feels amazing! I can’t find many people in the city to let me gamble. They’re too scared. Standing on the chair, I dance. Ethan shakes his head.

“Get down, Princess. You’ll draw too much fucking attention.” His hand grips my arm, and I pull my way out of his grip before pushing him away. The feel of a hand stroking along my leg makes me turn. My eyes follow the hand from my leg to the guy sat next to me. Winking, he smirks as his hand moves to grip my ass.

I smile down at him, lifting my foot before stamping down on his cock, his ear-piercing cry causing everyone to look. Turning to Ethan, I smile. Why can’t I always have this freedom? Then my body is thrown against the wall, the guy raising his fist.

“Mich! Where the fuck is he?”

The guy steps back, and Ethan pulls me back and pushes me down onto a chair. I try to stand up, but he stops me.

“Stay the fuck down! It’s Bear.” His eyes stay fixed forward. The whole place has gone quiet. Why? Who the hell is Bear? I go to move but his hand pushes me down again and my anger grows. “Wolverson, Little Princess, while he won’t know it’s you if this all goes to plan, he will want me fucking dead.”

I don’t reply. I stay hidden behind Ethan, sitting on the chair. My eyes peer around him, falling on the guy. I watch as he walks through looking for this Mich guy. He is amazing, I can’t stop looking at his body. He’s wearing jeans and a leather jacket, the jacket open and showing his tattoos. Who the hell doesn’t wear a top? I watch as he comes to stand next to someone who is sat at a table. This must be Mich.

The poor guy is clearly shaking. He knows this is the end of his life.

“Ethan, what is happening?” I stare at him, but he simply shakes his head back at me. Why the fuck is no one moving or talking? Bear takes off his jacket, handing it to the guy next to him.

“I got a call. Can you guess who?” He leans down over the guy who’s still sitting. Clearly, Mich has no idea - he shakes his head.

“You’re playing dumb? The Queen of fucking Solace City.” My body freezes. Mum? I stare at Bear. Why the hell had my mum contacted them? I don’t recognise this Mich guy at all. “When?” Bear leans closer. “When were you planning to do this secret mission, Mich? To take her and use her to get cash? To hide her in my fucking city!”

I stay sitting, even more shocked. He was going to take my mum? Why?

“I didn’t do it! I walked in that fucking bar and watched her beat the shit out of three bikers, and I left! I didn’t even fucking touch her,” Mich finally says. He means me. He was going to fucking take me? I feel the rage build inside me. I move to stand, but Ethan pushes me back down.

“Don’t. Fucking. Move!” He glares at me. “Watch, little Princess, because soon, this is your life,” he snarls; my eyes go back to Bear as he stays leaning over this Mich guy. Right now, I want Bear to beat the fuck out of him.

“Everyone in this city knows the arrangement. Everyone knows that she is not just another woman, another way to gain money or a quick fuck! She is soon to be ours, and I guess Mich, you just made us aware we didn’t make it clear enough. So now, I will.” That is why Ethan was so scared when I made it out like we fucked. I watch as Bear’s fists swings down and hits the guy repeatedly. What the hell am I watching?

Sure, I fight, but this? This is beating the guy to death. I never even meant to stab Jacob in the eye. It freaked me the hell out. I close my eyes, shaking my head as I can still hear his fists hitting Mich, the sound of his bones cracking making me feel sick. His screams subside. My eyes open when the noise finally stops. He is still alive. I feel my body relax. I watch as Bear pulls a chair up, places two glasses on the table and fills them.

Sitting, he drinks his. It is as if he didn’t just beat a guy or that the guy's blood isn’t covering his chest and hands! His eyes stay on Mich, although Mich can’t precisely see much right now. His face is swollen, eyes closed, but his hand grasps the glass as he tries pouring the drink in his mouth, but even I can tell his jaw is broken. I stay watching as Bear leans over, whispering something to him. I look up at Ethan, his eyes peering down at me.

“Get ready, little Princess.” He’s almost laughing. Ready for what? I turn back around just in time to see the knife swing down over Mich’s hand. A scream escapes my mouth before I quickly cover it with my hand.

“Shit.” Ethan mumbles as Bear turns to look at us, my body still hid behind him. He walks towards us, and Ethan starts to move back, getting further and further away. Is he really fucking leaving me with this psycho?

“Who are you?” Bear stands there, looking at me. Shit. That’s why he’s running. I open my mouth, but words fail to escape. Who the fuck am I? Come on, Emmi, name, think of a fucking name. I scream as his hand wraps around my neck, and he pulls me up. “Who the fuck are you? Because I haven’t seen you before.”

I glance towards where Ethan was, unable to see him. I feel Bear move, my eyes going back to him as he pulls the necklace, the locket in his hand as he opens it. My hand goes to grab it and stop him, but it's too late. His eyes stare at it for a moment, then come back to my eyes.

“Little lamb came to visit early.” He smiles slightly, his finger stroking along my neck, and his head turns. “Get Ethan. You know where to take him.”

“No! It was me. I threatened to kill him. I swear he had no choice.” I don’t want Ethan in shit when he had tried helping me. He was the only one to help. I know, though, my words are useless. Totally fucking useless because this Bear guy seems to think I am already his when I am no one's but my own.

Thank you for reading. Check out the other parts.