Part 3 Ch.8

I stare at the Italian man across from me and at the woman next to him. Besides me, Paxton takes a drink from his water. The restaurant is empty except for the four of us; it was Romero who recommend renting this place for tonight. "Mr. Romero," I begin. "I'm sure you know that it is an honor to work with you. But no amount of respect from our part means that we are simply going to roll over and let you take over." He laughs, and wipes his mouth with a napkin. "Amara, please, don't be so dramatic. I'm simply asking for a thirteen percent share of the profits." "While we get only seven from yours?" Paxton tells him. Romero's eyes glint dangerously and I feel Paxton's shield around us tighten. "You are young." The leader of the Ravagers says. "You both still have so much to learn, and unfortunately, bargaining is not your strong suit. Don't you worry, it'll get better in time." I grit my teeth. This is the fourth time he's mentioned our age since we've met him. "When we proposed a deal with the Ravagers, I wanted equality." The woman next to him interrupts me. "I thought you weren't so naive. This is your first business deal, I wouldn't get to ahead of myself." Tasia says. Like Romero, she also has an Italian accent but hers is fainter, as a second generation immigrant would speak. Unlike us, the Ravagers are a family group, and have been in power ever since they came here about seventy years ago. So like most of Romero's higher-ups, Tasia Costa is related to him in some way. "Yes, as Tasia says, this deal is a good one. Seven percent of my trading profits isn't bad." Romero continues. Under his smooth voice, the beginnings of annoyance is starting to show through. Paxton and I give each other a look. "I'm sorry, Mr. Romero but we won't take the deal." He says. Romero's eyes narrow dangerously, they remind me of Marcus. "Unless you are willing to do ten percent for both of us. You get ten perfect of my profits and I get ten percent of yours." I tell him smoothly. "This is what business deals are, after all. Finding a point of a compromise. Now, I'm not happy with it myself, but I'm willing to do it. Now the question is, are you?" "Ten percent?" The man repeats. "A midway point." Paxton says. "We're not naive, Mr. Romero; we're not about to hand over thirteen percent. It's either ten or nothing." Romero's face stays impassive. Next to him, Tasia tenses up slightly, as if waiting for his command to attack. I still don't know what her power is and I'm not sure I want to find out. Finally, Romero speaks. "You two are brave, I'll give you that. But I'm not sure where bravery starts and idiocy begins. The generations keep on losing their respect as they get younger." "And yet here we are." I spread my hands to gesture to all of us. "I'm sure there has to be a certain lack of respect for others to make it here. People have died and been killed in order for us to reach where we are now, I'm sure they don't think we have a great deal of respect." Romero smiles. "No they're too dead to think." He stands up, and Tasia mirrors him. "Well, Elenora, we have a deal." I stand to shake his hand when I freeze. Elenora. Paxton realizes this too, he stands at my side. "I'm sorry, you must be confused. My name is Amara." I tell Romero after a moment. "It wasn't always that, was it?" He says coolly. Besides him, Tasia smiles smugly. "It's such pretty name, I don't see why you don't use it." The teasing is soft and knowing. Romero winks. "The past haunts us, doesn't it. No matter what you do, one can never get away." He claps his hands and I jump a little. "Now, time a wasting. It will be an honor to conduct business with the Yellow Thorns. I will bring our contracts next time we meet." He smiles widely, the smile of a man who knows he's won. He turns to go but stops and looks at me. "Amara. It's a nice name, but perhaps not one I would have chosen. Every time I say it, it reminds me of the Italian word for bitter. Now, Victoria. There's a solid name." The blood runs from my face as I watch them leave. Victoria. "I thought I told Cosmo to wipe all traces of us from before." Paxton curses. I feel a hand on my shoulder. "Are you okay? Don't worry about it, he's just a creep. It's probably not too hard to find out." But I'm not hearing him. Victoria. It was more than just a random name, his eyes told me that much. Victoria Street is the name of the street where I grew up. "I have to go." I hear myself say. "I'll see you tomorrow." I don't wait for his response and step through my portal. The night is warm, the kind of summer night that reminds me of playing outside with Mateo when I was younger. This is the first time I've been so near to my mother's house since I left. The lights are off, save for the porch light which we always leave on. Victoria Street. The place where many memories were made. Here on the street is where Mateo taught me how to ride my bike. Mama would watch us play from the window in front of the kitchen sink. I take a step forward, then another. In the distance, the honking of a car brings me back to the present. If Romero knows about this, he must also know about Mateo. I need to get them out of here. I'm about to open a portal towards Paxton's place but I stop abruptly. No. I tried doing it my way once and it hasn't worked. No matter how much power or influence I wield, I can never protect my family from these kind of dangers simply because I myself am a danger. If I'm going to protect them, I must do it right this time. I can't suck them into this world. I can't protect them. But I know someone on the police force who can.