Entangled To The Mafia

The sound of shattering glass echoed through the dimly lit alleyway, followed by a scream that sent a chill down Ivy’s spine. She had heard rumors about the route, a lot of her co-workers at the mine, talked about how dangerous the route was. But what was she going to do? The main road was farther to her house and she needed to get home, because it was getting late.

Her friend had told her, it was called “DeLuca’s street”. The most dangerous mafia, running the underworld. Rafael DeLuca. She had seen him on the tv a lot of times and even had gossips about him, but she really had no choice, she needed to pass the alley. At least, just for tonight.

Just as she was biting her lips and praying to her dead parent to come save her, she saw something…..

MEN….. Her heart skipped a beat.

The men emerged from the shadows like predators, dark suits blending into the night. At first, Ivy thought it was just another random act of violence. But then she saw him—Rafael De Luca, the man they called "The Butcher," his piercing eyes cold and calculating as he towered over a cowering man at his feet.

"Please," the man whimpered, his voice shaky with terror. "I swear, I can pay back the money, just give me more time."

That voice sounded really familiar and she couldn’t deny it.

“The boss wants your daughter and nothing else. As for the money, keep it… All we need is your daughter" One of the men said bitterly.

“Please, believe me. I don’t have a daughter. Please, I will get the money to you within this week” He said tears streaming down his eyes.

One of the man slapped him hard, and blood gushed out of his mouth. It was then she saw the man, Mr Jasper…. He was her neighbor, the man who had stood by her, since her parents were killed. What she didn’t understand was the debt? He never told her anything about it; then she remembered. Two years ago when her house was to be auctioned….

That meant he borrowed money for her, he told her the money was from his savings. Now, she can remember why she had seen the mafia receipt in his drawer.

“Please, I don’t have a daughter. I will gather your money for you” Mr Jasper said, his face swollen.

Rafael said nothing. His gaze never left the man, the emptiness in his eyes more chilling than any words. With a single flick of his wrist, his bodyguard stepped forward, pulling out a silver knife. Ivy’s breath caught in her throat as she realized what was about to happen.

"Wait!" She stepped forward, her heart racing as, Mr Jasper starred at her in shock. “Ivy, what are you doing here”

Ivy ignored. “I am his daughter. Let him go…..”

Rafael’s head snapped toward her, his eyes narrowed. The coldness in his stare made her blood run cold. For a moment, there was only silence, the world holding its breath.

"You’ve got a lot of guts, little girl," he finally spoke, his voice low and dangerous. "You are his daughter. I see you are very bold, to show yourself just like that." He turned to the man standing beside him, with a gun at hand. “I mean, a normal child would have ran away” The man gave a nod and he turned back to Ivy.

He motioned for his men to back off, the tension hanging in the air. Ivy didn’t know if she was relieved or terrified.

Mr Jasper rushed to her and held her. “What are you, doing Ivy? You just got yourself into danger” He said as they both exchanged emotions; She couldn’t just watch him die, because of her. She just couldn’t take it. Even though, he vowed not to talk to her again, she won’t let him risk his life for her….

"Why do you care?" Rafael continued, his eyes boring into hers. "Are you ready to take on your father’s debt” He said and Mr Jasper shook his head. Ivy isn’t aware of what she is getting herself into, Mr Jasper thought as Ivy pushed him away.

Ivy opened her mouth to speak, but nothing came out. Her mind was racing, trying to come up with something—anything—that would make him reconsider. But then she saw it. The faintest smirk playing at the corner of his lips.

"Are you ready to get yourself into this young lady, because there is no turning back" Rafael said, his voice now dangerously calm.

“Yes…” Ivy's heart skipped a beat as the realization hit her. She was no longer, the Ivy Smith she use to be . She was entangled in a world she didn’t understand, a world she was about to be pulled deeper into. Rafael De Luca wasn’t offering her mercy. He was offering her a deal—a dangerous one.

"I—I don’t have anything to offer you," Ivy stammered, her thoughts spinning.

"Everyone has something," he replied coolly, stepping closer, his presence overwhelming. "You just haven’t realized it yet."

In that moment, Ivy knew her life would never be the same again. Rafael De Luca’s cold eyes locked onto hers, and she understood the unspoken truth: there was no turning back now.

Ivy's heart pounded in her chest as Rafael’s gaze never wavered. She could feel the weight of his gaze. She knew she should run, that she should find a way out of this nightmare before it consumed her, but her legs felt frozen, her body paralyzed by the intensity of his gaze.

The air around them felt thick, suffocating, as if even the darkness of the alley was holding its breath, waiting for something to snap. The Mr Jasper continued to grovel, his words falling on deaf ears. Ivy could barely focus on him anymore. All she could think about was the chilling calmness of Rafael’s demeanor, the way he seemed unaffected by the chaos around him, like he was simply observing a game that he already controlled.

“I will pay the debt…” She stammered.

"You’re in no position to make demands, sweetheart," Rafael’s voice cut through. He took a slow step forward, his tailored coat brushing the ground as if he were strolling through a luxury hotel instead of standing in the middle of a dark alleyway. “I will be the one giving you demands”

Ivy swallowed hard, her throat dry. "I—I don’t want anything from you," she said, her voice trembling despite her attempt to sound firm. "Just… just let him go and I will pay you. Please."

Rafael’s lips twitched, just slightly, as if her plea amused him. "You think I care about your pleas?" he asked, his words sharp and mocking. He leaned in closer, his face mere inches from hers. "No one survives in my world by begging, Ivy. But you…" His gaze softened, just for a moment, and Ivy’s breath caught. "You are quite bold."

He straightened up, towering over her as the air between them thickened with unspoken tension. Ivy realized, too late, that she had made a mistake—she had crossed a line that couldn’t be uncrossed. She had gotten involved in something far bigger than herself, something that would swallow her whole if she wasn’t careful.

But she wasn’t ready to sacrifice someone else either…..

Rafael turned his attention back to the man on the ground, who had gone silent, his eyes wide with fear. Rafael gestured to one of his men, and with a quick movement, the bodyguard grabbed Mr Jasper by the collar and yanked him to his feet. The man whimpered, his legs shaking, but Rafael didn’t seem to care.

Tears filled Ivy’s eyes, as she watched them take him away. “I am sorry, Mr Jasper….” She whispered as she swallowed hard.

"Take him away" Rafael said, his voice now low and deadly. As they pulled him past Ivy, he tried to talk to her, but she looked away.

With that, he nodded at his men, and they shoved the trembling man into the alley wall before disappearing into the shadows. The sound of their footsteps echoed as they walked away, leaving Ivy and Rafael alone in the oppressive silence.

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. Ivy was still processing what had just happened, her body trembling.

"Why did you do that?" Rafael’s voice broke the silence, his eyes locking onto hers once more. "You think you can change the rules of my world with one little act of kindness? I know very well that he is not your father"

Ivy swallowed, trying to steady her breath. "I didn’t… I didn’t think," she said, her voice strained. She didn’t even know what she was saying, all she cared about was that, she saved Mr Jasper and that was all that really mattered.

Rafael studied her for a long moment, his expression unreadable. Then, without warning, he took a step back and turned away, his movements slow and deliberate.

"Get in the car," he said, his voice cold and final.

Ivy blinked, confused. "What? I—"

"I said, get in the car," he repeated, his tone brooking no argument.

Ivy hesitated, every instinct screaming at her to run, to escape while she still could. But something in his gaze—the unyielding command—made her freeze. She didn’t understand why, but there was a part of her that knew if she refused, things would only get worse.

With shaking hands, Ivy nodded and followed him to the sleek black car waiting at the end of the alley. It wasn’t just any car—it was an extension of Rafael himself, polished, intimidating, and expensive. The door opened before she could even reach it, and one of his men stepped aside, giving her a curt nod.

Ivy didn’t have a choice. She climbed into the backseat, the doors closing behind her with a finality that made her stomach churn. As the car pulled away from the alley, she glanced out the window, the city lights blurring past in a haze. She had no idea where Rafael was taking her, but she was really leaving her past behind.

Just then she heard Rafael, “We will arrive soon, I found a girl…..”

WHAT WAS HE GOING TO DO WITH HER? She thought as cold chills went down her spine……