Chapter 2 The Red Line

• SEVYN
• “How can you ask me to do such a thing??” I hissed reproachfully, pushing off his chest, and sliding to the furthest end of the corner couch. “I’ve told you before, I can’t do this.”
• There goes a perfectly relaxing evening.
• “It’s for us, sweetheart.” My fiance, Lincoln, slid off the white Chesterfield couch in his living room and knelt at my feet, clutching my hand like it was his lifeline. “For our family.”
• “There has to be another way.”
• “There isn’t, Sev,” he argued persistently, turning his troubled eyes on me. “Our fathers made a lot of bad investments and I shoulder some of the blame.” As he should, he was their hedge fund manager and responsible for investing their money. “My father’s gambling debts have accumulated and the bank loans need to be paid-the mortgage included. They’ve already sent a letter of demand.” He should have studied law, he was good at building a convincing case. “Not to mention, your dad is insolvent and the loan sharks are closing in on them. They owe a lot of bad people money.”
• The Mafia. He claimed our parents owed the freaking Mafia money. “How did they end up indebted to the mafia? My father would never associate with such people.”
• “That’s what I thought about mine,” he responded candidly. “But they’ve been involved in underground poker games with high stakes. And their tab at the casino is astronomical. Both are owned by the Sgozzare. I don’t know if you’ve heard of them but they’re depraved and will kill them without blinking.”
• I had heard about the notorious gangs of New York. The four main ones that ran the city were the Sgozzare (the Cutthroats), the Mostruoso (the Monsters), the Depravato, (the Depraved), and last but definitely not the least, and the most ruthless, the Cuori Neri (The Blackhearts).
• “Who hasn’t heard of them?” They were all over the news for all the wrong reasons. “If I do this, I could end up in deep trouble like them.”
• How my father got entangled with the mafia is mind-boggling. He was an upstanding citizen, the perfect role model with no hint of scandal linked to his name. Until now. Could it be, that my future-father-in-law was a bad influence?
• “I’m begging you to reconsider. You’re our only hope.” He took both my hands and closed his eyes for a brief moment. “If you won’t do it for them, then do it for your mother.”
• “How dare you bring her into this!”
• “She needs a heart transplant,” the cad pushed on. “And hospital bills are not cheap…”
• “You’re a heartless beast!” I sprung off the seat and stalked to the window of the penthouse, watching the soft rain falling below on Central Park. “How could you?”
• “I’m not trying to hurt you or manipulate you,” he sighed and padded up to me. “I’m trying to help you understand what’s at stake if you don’t hack the system and transfer the money from the given account into the bank system and get us the money.” His hands rested on my shoulders and he kissed my temple. “I just need twenty-four hours to spin it and put it right back. This investment is solid and will yield enough returns to cover most of the pressing debts. I promise.”
• “I could get fired, Linc.” Even as I listed the reasons why I shouldn’t do it, my resolve was waning. “Blacklisted. Arrested…” I let the last word hang, allowing it to sink in.
• “It won’t come to that,” he smiled reassuringly, cupping my elbows and pulling me back to the sofa. “I just need twenty-four hours and then you can return the money before any is the wiser. You can just play it off as an error-but if you cover your tracks well there won’t be a need for a cover story. My father has assured me the owner of this account is away and won’t notice a thing.”
• He was right.
• "What if something goes wrong?" Murphy's Law could kick in at any moment. Anything that can go wrong will go wrong. And where would I be?? "What if someone finds out and they come after me? Like you said these guys are dangerous. What if they notice their money is gone."
• "Then we find a way to stall them," he said, jamming his hands in his hair. "We'll think of something if and when it happens,"
• "We??" I'd be on my own. I'd have to face my boss on my own and what if the mafia came after me? Where would I go? Where would I hide? "I'm taking all the risks here! You won't be implicated in any of this. I will!"
• "And how many risks have I taken for you?!" he vociferated. "I've risked everything to be with you. Even when my parents told me you're not good enough. Even when you insisted on not having sex before we were married. I've remained faithful! I never asked you for anything!" He snapped, losing his temper. "I've supported your foolish father and tried to elevate his social status and this is the thanks I get??"
• "I'm sorry..." I didn't want to seem ungrateful. He had done a lot for me and my family, even footing my mother's hospital bills when my father couldn't. "But...what if I can't do this? This so much I need to bypass to make sure I don't get caught.""
• "You're the best computer genius that I know," he convinced me effortlessly. "I'm still to meet one half as good as you."
• "You know a lot of hackers do you?" This hacking had started as harmless fun. Little did I know that this was where it would get me.
• "I know you just hack for fun but this is a life and death situation," he circled back to the burning issue. "These guys are ruthless and have the cops on their payroll. We all know this. Please reconsider, Sevyn. Please? I'm begging you."
• My mother needed to stay in hospital and our livelihood was at stake. Houses would be repossessed and companies shut down. Jobs and homes would be lost. I had to do something.
• “Twenty-four hours?” My voice sounded strained and my heart had sunk to my toes. “You promise.”
• “Twenty-four hours,” he affirmed. “That’s all I need.”
• “Okay,” I nodded, knowing I was signing a pact with the devil. “I’ll do it.”