A long pause stretches out, as if he’s watching my reaction and is understanding what I’m saying. Do I want to get out of here? Unsure. Do I think I would still be alive to even contemplate my life? Fuck no.

“As I was saying…” he continues. “You’re all going to get acquainted with one another over the next—however long I decide to keep you in here for—”

“Hold up!” I step forward, closer to the camera. “Are you telling me you’re keeping us all in this little ass fucking room? For what?”

“Wicked…” He’s annoyingly calm and calculated. Much like his psychotic brother. “Yes, I am. During your time here, you will perform jobs during the day. One act a day.” I pause. I know Skully well. Too well. But I don’t know shit about K Diamond. “If you don’t, we will kill those closest to you, and you can taste test who is who during supper.”

I flip the camera off again. “You already killed the one person you could use as leverage against me, fucker!”

A loud cackle breaks through the silence. It goes on for what feels like hours before he finally says, “But did I? And let’s not forget, truly, you have two.” He’s bluffing. There is no way that he would risk a war with the Cosa Nostra for Ruby, even though to this day… I still don’t know why they wanted her to begin with, all to what? Give her back to her father? Years of training for a couple of months and to give her back? Maybe things had changed somewhere along the way that I couldn’t see right now. I know for a fact that he won’t fuck with La Rosa, and if by chance he is dumb enough to do that? I’d bet my life that that girl would be chained up in her house with the highest paid security on her ass. Even Victor won’t want that…

“You’re full of shit…” I snap, baring my teeth. I’m getting real sick and tired of having a conversation with him through a fucking camera lens, where I can’t see his reaction or thoughts.

“Am I? There will be a delivery left in your meals tonight. I suggest all of you look through them and then decide if I am, in fact, bluffing.” The scratchy sound silences and it’s just us again.

“What’s your name?” the main guy asks, coming toward me. The other two stay on the bed, a mixture of shock and anger filling their faces.

I grab a cigar out of the box on the counter, offering him one. He takes it and we both stay silent, rolling mine between my fingers. I could give him a fake name, but a dark part of me doesn’t want to.