Chapter 2

• The Meet
• Mandy’s POV
• Sarah and I are moving our hips swaying to the beat of the music, having a blast. When two guys come up behind us and start trying to grind on our asses. Sarah pushes the man on her away, but he doesn’t seem to take a hint, because he grabs a hold of her waist again this time forcefully. When I try to go and help her the dude who was wanting to dance with me held onto me and wouldn’t let go. I elbow him in his stomach making him release me. I storm over to Sarah. Before I knew what was happening a tall muscled man who has Bouncer written on the front of his shirt yanks the guy that was trying to big boy Sarah up by his collar. Another worker strolls up and starts giving Sarah orders. “The boss wants you and your friend here upstairs now.”
• Sarah releases a huff before spouting out at him. “Why does he want both of us. I’ll go, but Mandy has no reason to join me. She’ll wait down here for me.” Sarah spins around and starts to speak to me. “Mandy, go and wait for me at the bar.” That is as far as she gets before, she is cut off by the bouncer. “Boss said for both of you to get upstairs now.” Grabbing my wrist, she glides us through all the bodies and to the stairs that is located on the side of the dance floor. The guard lifts a rope chain allowing us entrance to the staircase. Once we are out of ear shot of anyone who might hear her, Sarah whispers to me. “No matter what you see in here, don’t react Mandy. Just keep your head down, and don’t say a word. Let me do all the talking. The guys you are about to meet aren’t good people. They are very powerful dangerous mafia men.” I know she wanted to say more, but a man came into view at the top of the stairs, so she shut up. This creepy dude was just staring down at the two of us.
• Half drunk I really wasn’t sure if I heard her right or if my mind was playing tricks on me. I opened my mouth, wanting to voice my question, but I was shut up when the creep following us started talking. “Neither one of you are to say a fucking word from here on out. Unless your spoken to. Understood?” Sarah nods her head so I do the same. She is now squeezing my hand hard. I look into her eyes and see the fear that has replaced the happy gleam that usually resides there. We stop in front of a wood door and Sarah knocks on it. Another man wearing a black suit opens the door for us. We walk in and see that there is four men in the office.
• “Aww there she is. Come here Sarah.” The dude that is sitting behind the desk said. I can’t help myself I shift my eyes up towards him. He catches me, and chuckles before spitting out. “It looks like your friend here is curious. I guess you didn’t get a chance to relay the rules around here.” He jerks Sarah down onto his lap. “Aren’t you going to introduce her to everyone honey?” It wasn’t a request more like a demand from him to Sarah. “Mandy this is Carlo.” She points to the guy who’s lap she was on. Then over to her right before continuing. “That is Marco, Aldo, and Matteo. Everyone this is my friend Mandy.”
• Still confused about the proper etiquette, I just stood there wishing the ground would swallow me whole. I could hear Carlo speaking to Mandy in a harsh voice. “You should know better then not to announce your presence in our club. I don’t remember giving you permission to come out tonight!” When I didn’t hear a response, I glanced over at Mandy. She was sitting absolutely still, with her head bowed down. There was a sharp rasp on the door, Marco was closest so he opened it.
• There was brief whisper between Marco and whoever was on the other side. Marco straightened up and looked to the man sitting on the couch, and spoke. “Boss there seems to be an issue downstairs.” My head shot towards the one they called boss. I wanted to see what he looked like. What I saw took my breath away. He was gorgeous, with black hair, green eyes, and tanned skin. His aura around him shouted, don’t fuck with me. He caught me peeking at him, so he threw me a smirk that showcased his perfect white teeth. I was entrenched and couldn’t look away. Without breaking eye contact with me he responded to Marco.
• “Take Aldo and you two go and handle the problem.” Marco nodded and stomped out of the office with Aldo following right behind him. The door slamming made me jump and Matteo started laughing at me. Which really pissed me off what a dick head. Not really wanting to stay any longer in this stifle room, I got the courage and finally stated out loud. “Sarah, I guess I am going to go ahead and go home. I’ll see you on Monday. It was very nice to meet the both of you.” I wasn’t waiting around for anyone to have the chance to stop me. As I reached for the door handle, I heard Matteo clear his throat. “You are not leaving yet. Come sit and let’s have a drink.”
• No matter how attractive I found Matteo, there was no way I was going to hang out with him. I could feel the power he held, and I didn’t want any part of it. I shook my head and spoke. “No thank you, I believe I’ve already had too much to drink tonight.” The words I heard next stilled my whole body. “It wasn’t a fucking request. Do as your told. I’ll let your disobedience slide this one time since you are not accustomed to our traditions, but make no mistake. If you do not mind then I will be forced to punish that sweet little ass of yours.”
• Anger flooded over me, before I could think better. I whirled around and spat out. “This sweet ass as you called it will neither be sitting on that couch, nor getting touched by you.” I quickly jerked the door open, and begin strutting out. I didn’t make it very far, because Matteo yelled to the guard outside in the hall. “Bring that bitch back in here, now.” I was grabbed around my upper arm and dragged back inside, and thrown on the couch. I glared daggers into Matteo, before turning to look at Mandy. As soon as she saw the fear in my gaze, she blurted out. “Please Matteo, I’m very sorry for my friends poor behavior. Please just let her go home.” She was shut up by Carlo. He had a hand wrapped around her throat and was squeezing it. Tears flowed down her face, and pain etched in her eyes.