Page 14 of Taken By the Underboss

“You're a surgeon. So, you understand that when telling someone something they may not want to hear, it's usually best to just say it the most clear and concise way you can. There's no point mincing words. It doesn't help anyone.”

She nodded, wringing her fingers in her lap.

“The truth is that you heard too much for me to just let you go.” Her eyes widened though I suspected that she had already figured as much but hearing the words made them more real for her.

“Please, I promise I won't tell anyone what you said. I'm not even surewhatI heard. Not really.”

“By your reaction, you heard enough. And even if you didn't, I can't put the people I care about in jeopardy. I can't risk it.”

“Even if I did, I wouldn't say anything. I have no reason to. I don't have any ties to the mafia or any other group like yours.”

“So, you do know who we are?”

Her face blanched. “Not exactlywhoyou are but I can guess what you do,” she answered honestly. “I won't say anything. I know what would happen if I did. I have no reason to. You haven't done anything to me.” I raised an eyebrow, and she corrected herself. “Yes, you kidnapped me and forced me to save your friend, but I would have saved him regardless. Every life is precious and should be saved if there's any way possible. Luca seems like a great guy. I'm glad that I was able to help him. Other than that, you've treated me fairly well. No one has mistreated me or hurt me. I could just go back to my normal life. I could go to work tonight, the same as every other night and no one would have to know anything.”

“That all sounds good and well if I could trust that what you're saying is true.”

“How can I prove to you that it is?”

“Unfortunately, there's not really a way for me to know for sure and there's too much at risk for me to take that chance. If it was just me that would be affected, I would risk it but it's not. It’s my family, my boss, my best friends.”

She swallowed hard and squirmed in her seat, unable to look into my eyes. She gazed off at some unimportant spot on the floor. “So, what are you going to do with me?”

It was such a straightforward question, it made my heart ache for her. She wasn't begging or pleading like so many would.

I pushed off of the desk and sat in the chair next to her with a huff. “That depends on you. On whether or not you want to live.”

With that she couldn't help but look up into my eyes. “Of course, I want to live.”

“Good,” I said genuinely. “Because I don't want to have to kill you.”

“Then don't.”

“I hope you won't make me.”

“I'm not making you do anything. You're the one in control here.”

“If only that were true.”

“Who is in control then? Your boss? Is he making you do this?” Her voice lifted defensively.

“No. He's giving you the same choices that I am. The truth is that it's really all up to you whether you die, whether you live, have a good life, what that life looks like, and how long it is."

"I don't understand. You said that I heard too much for you to just let me go."

"And you did. So, now you have a choice to make. You can come with us, stay, and prove that you'll be loyal to us.”

“How?”

“You could become a surgeon for our organization. We could use someone like you, smart, caring, good under pressure..."

"You mean work for the mafia?" Her face scrunched. "I'm not a criminal."

"And you wouldn't be required to do any real criminal activity, but you would be required to overlook certain things, to treat certain people, and not report the injuries. Discretion would be the most important thing. That and loyalty."

"What are my other choices?"

"Well if you don't want to work for the mafia then I could try to dig up some deep dark secret in your past and hold that against you in case you were to talk. The only bad thing about blackmail is that by the time I'd have to use it, the damage would already be done. I'd offer to pay for your silence but we both know that you are above bribery. So really my only option that keeps you alive is to show you my world and make you want to be a part of it."

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