The warehouse was a labyrinth of crates and shadows, the air thick with the smell of smoke and desperation. Marco led me through the maze, his strides long and purposeful. I struggled to keep up, my eyes darting around the dimly lit space.
We stopped at a makeshift office, a small room cordoned off by rusty metal bars. Marco gestured for me to enter, and I did, my heart racing.
The room was sparsely furnished, a single desk dominating the space. Behind it, a man with a cruel grin and a black eye patch leaned back in his chair.
"Ah, Sophia," he said, his voice dripping with malice. "Welcome to the family business."
Marco closed the door behind us, his presence looming large. I felt trapped, cornered by the two men who seemed to hold my fate in their hands.
"Vinnie here will show you the ropes," Marco said, his voice devoid of emotion. "You'll be working on collections, making sure our...clients pay their dues."
Vinnie's grin widened, his eye patch glinting in the faint light. "Yeah, and if they don't, we have ways of persuading them."
I swallowed hard, sensing the darkness that lurked beneath the surface. Marco's gaze never wavered, his eyes cold and unyielding.
"You'll do as you're told, Sophia," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Or you'll suffer the consequences."
I nodded, my heart racing with fear. I was trapped in a world of violence and fear, with no escape in sight.
As I left the warehouse that night, Marco's words echoed in my mind. I knew I had to find a way to survive, to play by their rules until I could escape. But as I glanced back at the warehouse, I saw Marco watching me, his eyes glinting in the darkness.
And I knew I was in grave danger.
