Chapter 8 - MIA’S SECOND CONTRACT
Mia sat inside the warehouse near the river.
Silvio believed fear would make her quiet.
He did not understand children who had grown up watching adults survive difficult rooms.
Mia counted doors.
Three.
She counted guards.
Six.
She counted cameras.
Two.
Sofia had taught her to notice exits whenever they entered unfamiliar buildings.
Not because Sofia wanted her afraid.
Because Sofia had spent years expecting someone to find them.
Silvio sat across from Mia.
His expensive coat remained buttoned.
“Do you know who I am?”
“A bad man.”
One guard laughed.
Silvio did not.
“Damiano has killed more people than I have.”
“Did he give them peanut butter?”
Silvio frowned.
“What?”
“My teacher says bad people sometimes pretend questions are too complicated.”
Mia looked at the red ribbon around her wrists.
“But bad is still bad.”
Silvio leaned forward.
“Damiano is not your father.”
“He said he is tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow may not come.”
Mia looked toward the high windows.
“It usually does.”
Silvio stood.
“You have his stubbornness.”
“And her eyes.”
Isabella’s voice came from the shadows.
Mia turned.
A woman sat behind a metal barrier.
Her hands were chained.
The scar on her cheek matched the video.
Mia stared.
“Are you Isabella?”
Tears filled Isabella’s eyes.
“Yes.”
“Did you make me?”
A guard looked away.
Silvio smiled cruelly.
Isabella pressed both hands against the bars.
“Yes.”
Mia considered that.
“Sofia is still my mommy.”
“I know.”
“Can you be another mommy?”
Isabella began crying.
“If you allow me.”
Silvio struck the bars with his cane.
“This reunion is finished.”
Mia looked at him.
“You are loud.”
He grabbed the red heart from the table.
“What is this?”
“A contract.”
“With Damiano?”
“Yes.”
Silvio tore it in half.
Mia watched the pieces fall.
Her face changed.
Not into tears.
Into anger.
“You broke it.”
“It was paper.”
“It mattered.”
Silvio bent close.
“Nothing matters unless powerful people decide it does.”
Mia looked toward Isabella.
Then back at him.
“You are wrong.”
Silvio laughed.
“About what?”
“Damiano decided I mattered before he knew who I was.”
The warehouse became silent.
One guard lowered his eyes.
Silvio slapped the table.
“Enough.”
He walked toward the office.
Mia waited until the door closed.
Then she looked at the nearest guard.
His name patch read NICO.
“You have a daughter.”
Nico’s head turned.
“How do you know?”
“You keep looking at my shoes.”
“My friend’s dad does that when he thinks about buying her things.”
Nico said nothing.
Mia continued.
“Would you let someone tie her up?”
“No.”
“Then why are you helping him?”
Nico looked toward the office.
“Because men like Silvio punish families.”
“Damiano will protect yours.”
“You don’t know that.”
Mia lifted her chin.
“He accepted my contract.”
Nico almost smiled.
“You are very confident for a child in a chair.”
“My hands are tied.”
“My mouth is not.”
Behind the bars, Isabella watched her daughter negotiate with an armed man.
For the first time in three years, hope entered the warehouse.
Nico moved closer.
“If I help you, Silvio kills me.”
Mia looked toward the torn heart.
“Then we make another contract.”
“With what?”
Mia nodded toward the red ribbon.
Nico loosened one end.
She pulled her hands free.
Then she tore a small strip and wrapped it around his finger.
“You help us.”
“Damiano helps you.”
Nico stared at the ribbon.
“A child’s promise will not protect me.”
“No.”
May you like
Mia looked toward the camera.
“But his will.”
