Danielle Lane
The Deal
“Victor, what is going on?” Her voice had lost its charming velvety tone,
no longer dripping in sickly sweet femininity. She did all she could to keep
“Right this way, Maria.”
it level, the lump throbbing in her throat ebbing it to break.
“Victor, where are we going? You never take me to this side of town,” her
“Oh, don’t act so surprised, my dear, I am the one who should be shocked
thickly accented voice objected.
here. After all, you’re the one fucking this man.” A low chuckle erupted
“Shh—“ the man whispered, an index finger hovering over tightly pressed
from his throat, and he took Maria by the arm and pulled her to walk
lips.
towards James. His visage portrayed a similarity to the woman’s; both
Maria remained quiet after that. She knew better than to argue with her
doing their utmost not to show any fear but goddammit were they afraid of
husband, he overpowered even the most decorated of men. He had driven
what the older man had planned. For now, James remained silent. Despite
them both to the outskirts of the city, stopping near an abandoned, run-
him being nearly twice the size of his lover’s husband, Victor was far more
down business park that not even Maria had heard of in her decade of
powerful than James in about every other way.
living in America. There was no telling what her husband had planned for
Victor stopped and shoved his wife so that she now stood directly in front
them both.
of James, then he crossed his arms stiffly over his chest and shifted his
“Here we are. Say hello, Maria.”
weight on to one leg; waiting.
She stepped through the chipped wooden door that Victor held open of a
“… Well come on then,” he spoke up, breaking the silence, that wicked
warehouse. It was dark and damp, and nowhere a wealthy couple like the
smirk still plastered upon his lips.
Brant’s should be found.
“Victor, you’re insane!” Maria screamed, eyes pooling with salty tears.
Auburn orbs adjusted quickly, and it became clear that the couple were not
“Oh, I know. But that is beside the point… Aren’t you going to greet each
alone in this dreary building. It was empty, apart from a figure stood
other like a proper couple? Don’t play stupid now, Maria. I am no fool.”
slouching in the middle, but he perked up at the sight of the two. Then it
“I hate you,” Maria adolescently muttered, bringing a smirk to James’
became evident to the Italian who stood before them; James.
face. Disappointed by his wife’s disobedience, a hand came to slap hard
across her cheek. Not even the extensive use of powder or blush could
mask the burning redness forming. The housewife whimpered, stumbled,
and then regained her balance.
Danielle Lane
James’ fists balled by his sides, the urge to tackle the man – if he could
would cause me? Hm--?” He fell silent again; curious if either had an
call himself that – before him smouldering within him. But, summoning all
answer to give.
his might, he suppressed the impulse and instead reached for Maria,
Neither did.
instinctively cradling the girl against his chest.
“It would certainly cause a few tricky situations. The deal I am willing to
“That’s better…” Victor grinned.
propose – with no altercations nor exceptions – is for you forget about one
Ignoring the man she so foolishly shared a bed with each night, Maria
another, move on Mr. Hughes. Maria will remain my wife, and this will all
buried a face in to James’ rusty leather jacket, his scent comforting her.
end. ”
“Are you okay?” James asked, he too disregarding Victor as her tilted
“No deal,” James flatly stated, waving his other hand in a dismissive
Maria’s chin to look up at him.
gesture.
“Si,” she nodded, the tears now breaking their bonds and running down her
The fire that welled behind Victor’s eyes lit up within the darkness of their
cheeks; cooling the harsh burns.
surroundings. It sent a shiver down the spine of Maria’s petite form, and
“We’re gettin’ outta ‘ere,” he announced, clasping his large hand around
she clung closer to her lover.
the Italian’s delicate one.
“Well then, you shall have to accept the consequences,” he remarked, a
“Oh, I don’t think so. I have the place surrounded.”
hand reaching behind him.
“Then why don’cha tell us what the hell we’re doin’ ‘ere?!” James’ frown
To Maria’s dismay, James was now held at gunpoint.
lines became prominent, and the vein’s on his forehead and neck bulged as
“Victor—“ her voice was jagged and uneven, smudged by her horror, “it
the anger within him bubbled.
doesn’t have to be like this.” She was begging; Maria Brant was begging.
“Clearly my wife has had a rough patch in choosing her lovers…” Victor
“James. This is your last warning. Go, now, you won’t find a kinder
chuckled again, “I’ve come to make a deal.”
offer,” his voice was deadly serious; gaze as harsh as his character.
“What sorta deal?” James demanded once the other man’s pause became
James, deciding upon himself what to do, released Maria and took a step
too much.
closer to Victor, shielding her.
“I’m an important man,” he began, modesty an apparent trait, “highly
“Fuck. You... Maria, we’re lea----”
written about too. What sort of publicity do you think a story like this
BANG… BANG. BANG.
He fired till the bullets ran out.
Danielle Lane
BANG BANG BANG!
Nylons laddered, knees muddied, breaths searching, hearts racing, screams
piercing, and sobs exploding.
Victor dropped the gun, staring almost in revulsion at the sight of his wife
holding a dead man’s head on her lap; his blood pooling and staining her
dress and her tears falling on to his face made it appear he himself was
crying.
Victor Brant always got what he wanted. He was a powerful man, and his
actions today proved so.