Cerberus (women of mafia book 1)

“Yayo, yayo

Moo la lah

Yayo

Bitch better have my money,

Y’all should know me well enough,

Bitch better have my money,

Please don’t call me on my bluff,

Pay me what you owe me,

Ballin’ bigger than LeBron,

Bitch, give me your money,

Who y’all think y’all frontin on?

Like brrap, brrap, brrap “

“Jesus Christ” I shrieked when I saw the old lady that was lurking behind me, giving me the stink eye disgusted.

“I want a copy of Macbeth, rental two weeks period.”

I tried to slow my heartbeats and move. This woman almost gave me a heart attack. I went to the shelves to get her the book she wanted, and who buys or rents a book this late? It’s 10 pm for God’s sake. Isn’t she afraid that someone would rob her or, worse, kill her?

“Here you go ma’am, this would be.....”

“I know what the cost is, here.”

She threw the money on the counter and went mumbling something about kids these days who have no shame.

Wow, I love Sundays; they are the best start of a productive week, so that’s why people are so peachy.

“Ariel, please clean up and close. I’ve to go. Haley just called, and she is throwing a tantrum.”

“OK Daniel, have a good night.”

He didn’t give me the chance to reply and left me screaming after him, ugh why me? Why did Jason have to take the day off? I went to the kitchen and checked that everything was clean and gathered the garbage bags, then went to the back door to throw them out. You see, I work at a library slash coffee shop so you can read your favorite book and enjoy your drink. Sometimes we rent books only for the regulars, so I’m sort of a librarian, waitress, and barista.

I’m a senior. I live with my mom who is a nurse, by the way. I don’t need money actually, but I work to pay for my piano lessons. My mom works so hard to afford the college money for me. I want to be a doctor, so yeah I need a little fortune, that’s why I’m working to pay for my piano lessons. I wanted to help her. I’m not a shameless girl, as the nice lady said a few moments ago.

I sighed and threw the bags next to the others in the alley and when I was about to leave; I heard someone groaning and froze. Oh my god, what is that? What should I do? Is this for real or just my imagination? But again I heard it. I swallowed hard and turned back slowly, then took hesitant steps farther into the dark alley. My breath hitched when I saw a body behind a big bile of garbage and again froze, staring with wide eyes. In front of me was a man clutching his stomach and groaning in pain.

And without thinking, I ran to him.

“Oh my god, oh my god. Sir...... Sir Are you OK? Jesus, I’m gonna call 911.”

The man held my hand and looked in my eyes and said “D.... Don’t please, just get me out of here.”

“But... But you are bleeding so hard, and I think you lost so much blood. You need to go to the hospital. “

“No... NO PLEASE, just help me to get out of here.”

I chewed on my lower lip, thinking about what to do. The thing is, I live in Queens, and..... ugh you got the picture. The man tugged on my hoodie sleeve and that did it for me.