• Fire •

TW: Murder, violence, substances, etc. No warnings would be given from here onwards, Enjoy :)

Layla's POV

"Don't let him escape," Jasper snarled, and my grip on the knife tightened.

"I know, don't tell me what to do." I deadpanned.

My gaze ahead, I aimed my knife at the limping figure of a man trying his best to run for his dear life.

But he should know by now, once my dagger's gaze settles on its prey, no one could save him anymore.

"Hurry Layla!" Jasper's yell reached my ear and the dagger left the palm of my hand and created a slash through the man's right leg.

Jasper sauntered towards the unfortunate man, who was on the verge of death at a result of the fresh wound on his leg added to his many others from before.

He dragged the man by his hair back to the chair where he was getting tortured by him.

"Where the fuck's our money? Do you think we'll let you off?" Jasper hissed at the man's face making him shrink in his chair.

"I-I told you to give me some more time-" he was cut off when Japser's fist contacted his face producing a crack.

"Do you take me as a fool?" Jasper questioned him, the blue of his eyes dilated as his anger took the best of him.

"Looking by how he hasn't given up yet he sure does," the words left before my mouth when I neared them, and crossed my arms together.

A stifled yawn escaped me. This wasn't exciting anymore. I wanted no more than to go back to my room.

Jasper woke me up just for this petty man who won't give back our money.

I mean like come on why get involved in the first place when you know you can't pay back and that getting a loan from people like us. But I guess he was just desperate and needed money asap.

"You deal with him, Layla. Cause if he keeps on, I'll fucking kill him!" Jasper motioned towards me massaging his temples, and I smirked.

"My pleasure,"

Jasper was my only cousin, the one who led us all. We were a small gang located in New York but I wouldn't judge us by our quantity cause quality matters, and we have some pretty amazing people with us.

I am one of the two girls under Jasper and we have a total of 11 males who are the best in their work.

I unsheathed my dagger from my side,  slowly trailed my fingers along it's blade.

Soon, my whole hand would be in this man's blood if he doesn't cooperate.

Of course without killing him.

My middle finger had taken a slight cut from the blade as it started to bleed. I raised to my mouth, licking away the blood. My eyes monitoring the man's every reaction when I saw him gulp.

"Are you paying us back, or do you want me to make you?" I arched my eyebrow. His eyes fixated on the sharp blade in my hand.

The dagger in my hand traced along the side of his face, the man squeezed his eyes shut. His breath stayed within his lungs when the tip of the blade trailed down to his neck.

His body trembled under the sharpness of my blade. The patch of dry blood caught my gaze, a product of the beatings he bore from Jasper's beating.

The cut on his lip moved as he shivered, "Please don't kill me."

A smile settled on my lips. The cool surface of my dagger contacted his cheek when I patted him.

"Aw, I won't hurt you if you just pay us back."

"But I gambled it all."

It was all that took for my patience to thin out.

"What?" The harshness of my tone cut through him, and he nod his head.

"The fuck?" Jasper yelled from behind me and I saw him glaring at the man with furiously.

He had at last lost it. Oh lord, why do I have to be here?

"Then it means you being alive is none of my business anymore." Jasper gritted and I opened my mouth to oppose.

"Hey Jasper calm down you're rushing to conclusions-"

But before my words could snap him back to his senses, the trigger had been pulled.

My body jerked away from the loud impact of his gun, my heartbeat accelerated.

The man's blood seeped out from the hole on his chest, some on my face like when a paintbrush is flickered and it creates tiny splatters around itself.

"Too late Layla, he's already dead." Jasper snickered and I couldn't help but look at him in disgust.

He sure looked decent with his dirty blonde hair and sparkly blue eyes.

His right arm filled with tattoos gave him an edge but other than that he lacks a personality and made him stand out just like some random killer.

He was one though.

"Now clean up this mess-"

"I'm not your fucking maid," I said as I retreated, my dagger back in its place by my waist, I walked away from the basement.

Entering the room which has been my home for some time now, I locked the door behind me.

I joined Jasper's gang when I urgently needed a place to reside in away from my crazy father when I lost all nerves and ran away.

Though, I never imagined doing something like this, but to survive you'll have to sacrifice a part of yourself. That's what life taught me.

My room was not so extravagant as the one back at home but more than enough for a single person to stay in. It was a single bed and had a bathroom attached which was perfect.

I opened the tap to the attached bathroom and let it flow. Supporting my body while both my palms on the counter, I let out a sigh and loosen up.

Here, away from the condescending gaze of Jasper and his misogynistic remarks like any man from our family, I can be vulnerable.

It has been more than a year since I became involved with his gang. I still can't help but feel miserable whenever I have to see someone die.

It's not like I've never before. My father was involved in the mafia, so I've seen a fair share of dead bodies, but the somber feeling stays with you everytime.

Watching a living person whose eyes once full of life in just a snap of a finger, is left with nothingness makes me feel ridiculous.

I washed away the blood of the man from my face.

My father had always been the type to lock me in our house and not let me till he wanted to.

Whenever I went out, it was always with my mother or my father's assistant who treated me much better than my own father.

I don't remember a single time he talked to me like a father is supposed to with his only daughter when he treared me like I was one of his men working under him.

From a younger age, he made me learn all types of stuff from fighting to shooting a gun and how to defeat your opponent.

I didn't enjoy doing that but I used that training as a source to get rid of the pent-up anger which had built inside of me since childhood.

My mother on the other hand, was an angel sent from heaven who kept telling me that father loved me whenever I told her I was sure he hated me.

How could I believe her words, cause when I use to slack off, or had one thing wrong, he used to punish me.

The soft knock on my door made me get out of my thoughts as I turned off the tap and wiped my face with a towel.

Upon opening it I saw a pretty girl with brunette hair and a warm smile on her face.

"Suzie," a smile reached my eyes when I looked at my best friend.

Suzie was the only other girl I had here. I considered her as my sister more than a friend if I'm being honest.

"Hi Layla, Jasper's calling us all downstairs for a gang meeting and he's asking for you to join," Suzie told in her soft voice and I nodded my head and intertwined my arms with hers locking my door.

"Let's go and see what this boss of ours wants from us."

---------------

We were all in Jasper's office while he sat on his leather chair as if he thought himself to be our king. The very thought made me gag.

The other members of our gang were also present excluding all the recruits, I don't know why he didn't call them.

"I have an important announcement for you guys," he started his boring speech and I couldn't help but yawn.

Jasper pointed his arched eyes at me.

"Layla, would you please be fucking serious?" He gritted and I gave him a fake smile as I crossed my arms.

"Oh, I'm so sorry I couldn't help but feel tired after you woke me up for a petty task. If you had already made your mind to kill the man why bother with me?" I glared and Jasper pushed his blonde hair back.

"We're not going to fucking argue about that Layla." He rolled his eyes. He rested his elbows on his desk and started.

"So we were talking about why I've summoned you all"

"Yeah, you said that already, what's next." I retorted and Jasper rolled his eyes as he tried not to lose his temper.

"Yes, Layla I was getting to that. So we've got an offer from the Mafia. They're going to be aiding us."

I raised my brow and the the rest whispered.

"Why does the mafia wants to get involved with us all of a sudden? Don't they have anything else to do?" I asked him and Jasper closed his eyes as he opened them back up and exhaled sharply.

"Layla," Jasper gave me a tight smile.

"Jasper," I smiled back and he muttered something under his breath.

"They want some of our men to join them in their missions from now on."

"Wait a minute," I interrupted him once more and he grunted.

"What now?"

"Why would the mafia want us to join them in their missions? Aren't they 'the Mafia' who has like the best man on the whole planet?" I questioned and he pulled his chair closer to his desk.

"That's where I was getting to Layla, they're making a new unit and recruiting members from gangs like us. The ones who are the best will form the new unit." He finished and looked at all of us.

The rest still whispered among themselves and I pulled away from the wall I was leaning to.

"So in other words, you're getting rid of us, aren't you?"

Jasper's eyes widened but then he said,

"No you're getting it all wrong Layla. It's not this simple. Look," Jasper paused as he continued glancing at me.

"It would be very beneficial for the both of us. If you successfully make it into the new unit, not only would we get loads of money, but your annual income would be much more than it is now."

He explained to me and I bit on my nail as I thought about it.

"Hm, so how many people are you sending cause looking from our position, you're still short on members."

I asked and Jasper furrowed his eyebrows together.

"That's the only problem which is why I'll be sending you."

I stared at him, my brows knitted from his incredulous statement.

"What?"

"Yes Layla, I've made up my mind to sent you and I won't hear any excuses."

I looked at him in disbelief as he uttered those words. It seems as he's selling me off to the mafia.

"Wait a second dear cousin, you can't just order me around like that cause it doesn't work like that." I said and he stood up from his chair and walked to me.

"It might seem all rushed and all but you need to understand my position. I can't lose any more men and I need money." He started.

"After that bastard I killed today, would've paid me back and not gambled it, I wouldn't have to send you. You're one of the best people I have around here."

I looked at him and noticed the dark circles forming under his eyes.

I've seen how him work tirelessly all day and night.

Regardless of how he was, we all knew he worked his ass off for the gang.

He said it was the only thing his father left behind and he had to continue the legacy no matter what.

"I'm putting myself in a hard position and sending you cause I know you'll get recruited in the new unit. Cause you're a survivor."

He said looking at me and I narrowed my eyes at him cause he knew he had hit right at the spot.

I had run away from my house at the age of 17.

After seeing my father control every aspect of my life and getting beat up every day to protect me, my mother had enough.

She told me to run away from here and go far away from my father so he's not able to reach me anymore.

I joined Jasper's gang having no friends, my father never let me have any plus he was my cousin, and the only person I could trust cause he didn't like my father.

That's the only thing I like about this dumb ass other than that, he could go to hell.

But I have made a promise to my mother, that I'll return for her and take her away from the abusive clutches of the man whom I call my father and her husband.

I would surely get strong enough so that I could stand against him.

I sucked my lips in and chewed on it.

"It's going to be a plus point for you too Layla. You want to be stronger and go against your father, don't you? But you'll not be able to receive the training you need to rebel against him which you'll will if you join their unit. I'm not trying to force you but just measure the pros and cons, you're a smart girl."

I'm not that smart but I still thought about the things he said.

Right now, Jasper was the only one who knows my position and my goals. And thinking about what he's telling me, it kind of made sense to me.

Biting down on the skin on my lip, I clutched my dagger on my waist.

It is now or never.

"I'll go," I stated simply and Jasper looked at me with widened eyes.

"You- what?" He asked and I held back not to roll my eyes at him.

"I said I'll go, fill me in with the details. Who'll be in charge of training this unit and all." I asked him.

My arms wrapped around my chest and Jasper leaned against his desk.

He gave us each a document to read. I scanned through it and found the official stamp of the Mafia.

It confirmed this was no matter to be taken lightly.

The rest of the members also straightened up as Jasper said, "The Three Devils of the Mafia."

I blinked when I heard those words out of his mouth.

"The Three what?" I needed confirmation cause I couldn't believe my ears.

"Yeah, you heard me right. The Three Legendary men of the Mafia would be the one training and recruiting this new unit themselves."

I still looked at him baffled, cause I was caught off guard by that name.

I heard the rest of the members mumbling something among them, but my thoughts were all over the place.

The Three Devils themselves would be recruiting this new unit, which means this unit would be no shit.

There was not a single sould who worked for the underworld and hadn't heard their names.

The three men were known for showing absolutely no mercy to a soul.

They were brutal in their line of work and did it seamlessly without a single mistake.

Leonardo Genovese, Yuri Nanashima, and the Lucifer himself, Sinn Phoenix.

I've only heard about their names and how heartless they are.

Never in my wildest imagination would it incurr to me that I'll be able to meet them in person.

Especially Sinn. He's popular in the underworld for his cruel ways, not letting his emotions act when he's working.

He was known as the Lucifer among the Three Devils.

I couldn't help the smirk etch on my face.

"Consider me in, I'll join this unit."

Jasper looked at me with a smile.

"I owe you one, Layla."

"That you do," I said as Jasper went back to his place by the desk.

"Okay, then it's final. Layla's joining and I want one other member of our group." Jasper scanned the room as his eyes met Mattheo's

Mattheo was one of the best shooters of our gang.

"I'm in." He stared blankly as he pushed back his ash-dyed hairs and the piercing in his eyebrow shined under the light.

"Okay then, you all would be set to board the day after tomorrow!"

Jasper exclaimed and I couldn't help the adrenaline rush.

I feel the fire in my soul ignite.

They might be brutal, merciless, and cruel but I'm also me.

When I set my goals straight, no one could stop me from achieving them.

And right now, I'll give it my all to get in this new unit.

An: I would really appreciate if yall can comment your thoughts (if they're not something that'll break my heart lol) I really love reading them and I feel content that I decided to complete writing this book <3

Also, if there's something you don't understand of the plot or anything you want to know about the characters you can ask me and I'll do my best to answer it<33