Chapter 1
Bethany looked up from google maps on her phone to the sight in front of her. It was a large, old building, covered in faded gray paint and dirty windows. In New York, it wasn't uncommon to see dismal, dark abandoned buildings, but Bethany was all alone. Well, as alone as one could be surrounded by people pacing down the streets, jabbering loudly on their cellphones. Or the rush of cars and trucks, making everything smell like dirt and smoke. Inhaling deeply didn't really calm her nerves as a consequence. She had to make a choice; either pussy out and go back home, or walk in like she had planned on doing. She was standing on a street-corner, next to a couple seated outdoors in front of a cheap café. Looking inside, seeing the baristas and the waitstaff, Bethany figured she wouldn't be in any danger as she thought; there's people right here. Just having come back from her part-time job herself, she was dressed in a button-up blouse and sensible dress pants, hair tied back into a ponytail down her back. Bethany shivered slightly before forcing herself to walk, mustering as much courage as she could fake as she entered the seemingly abandoned warehouse.
Her shoes echoed as she made her way into the open space. There was barely anything in here, besides a few boxes stacked on top of one another against the wall. The main event was right in the middle of the place; tables and a few chairs haphazardly scattered next to each other, seating a group of five men playing a game of cards. Bethany felt a chill run up her spine. Not a single woman sat amongst those men, and their appearance didn't help much either. Tall, muscular, some lighter or darker, and lots of tattoos. She didn't want to be one who judged others by how they look, but considering the context, she was about to shit her pants.
Despite all this, she recognized the guy she came here for. Cosimo was seated right in the middle, wearing a respectable suit completely untucked. He gave off the appearance of someone trying to look better than he is, but giving himself away completely. Bethany said tentatively, "Cosimo?"
All five men looked up simultaneously. Bethany froze. He threw down his cards and swaggered over to her, hands threateningly in his pockets. Cosimo examined her with furrowed eyebrows, trying to figure her out. His expression changed suddenly and he said "You're Bethany."
She released an exhale she'd been holding in. "Yes, that's me. I came to return the money." She rummaged in her bag, pulling out a wad of 500 dollars. "You don't understand how much this money helped me and my family. I'd taken all the shifts I could but we've never been this broke, now it's—"
"Shut up already." He spoke with a heavy New York style Italian accent, gruff, and with the voice of someone who's an avid smoker. "This money isn't enough."
Bethany was at a loss for words. The other men were observing intently, but she had nothing to say. She stammered "what do you mean? You gave me 500 dollars."
Cosimo chuckled. "You think I would just give you money and want the exact amount back? How does that benefit me?"
Bethany's brain worked in overdrive to simultaneously control her anxiety and understand what was going on.
"I don't know," she admitted. "I didn't expect you'd put interest on it. I thought it was just generosity."
Mocking laughter spread amongst the men still sitting, leering at Bethany. She felt stupid and very, very scared.
Cosimo grinned slightly. "Of course I'd add interest. You owe me 10,000 bucks."
"What?" she exclaimed. "I don't have that much money! I couldn't pay you 10,000 dollars, are you serious?" She couldn't stop her fingers from shaking.
Cosimo's expression turned dark. "I'm dead serious. Pay the fuck up or you'll fucking regret it. I know where you and your family live, bitch."
Bethany's breath caught in her throat, the adrenaline pulsating through her veins. She wished she could pinch herself and wake up, be back home as if this never happened. There must still be a way out of this.
"I'm g-going to call the police!" She said, her voice high and shrill. The mocking laughter erupted once more, this time with Cosimo joining them.
"The police work with us, you understand? We're the mafia, we have ties in the police. You call them, we pay them off, they pretend like they don't even see you. Money turns them blind. Calling the police ain't going to do anything for you."
