𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿

𝗚𝗶𝗳𝘁 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿:
Peri Peri Fries

❅𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗧𝘄𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘆-𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿❅

This morning played on a loop in my head.

Dani showing up.

Omara being there when a gun was pulled on her.

And then Mazin.

I also felt so bad about canceling class.

It was the last class of the day so I could've tried to pull through better.

Now I'm here at my apartment, sitting on my couch and bundled under covers.

Nelli texted and said she would be coming over after she finished the meeting she was in.

All she knew was that I left work early.

She doesn't know anything about what happened or how Dani hasn't changed.

And how I let that slide.

I'm not even sure I want to tell Nelli.

Or maybe it's more or so that I can't.

Because I don't want to imagine re-telling this all again.

"Are you sure you don't want one?" Alena asked, motioning down to the Ferrero Rocher chocolates that she had brought.

Alena had come over with Tahir when Mazin dropped me off.

And then somehow, Tahir and Mazin smoothly made their exit.

I knew what they were going to deal with.

Or who.

They just didn't want me here alone.

"I'm sure, thank you though," I said, earning a nod from Alena.

But I could tell she looked a little worried.

She may not know the details of the situation, but she definitely knows something is up.

Tahir definitely mentioned it briefly, but I knew out of respect, he didn't tell her every single detail.

"Is there anything else you would want?" Alena asked, glancing away from the TV that I hadn't bothered to pay attention to the last couple of hours.

I shook my head, "No but I appreciate you asking," I said, feeling bad that Alena felt bad.

I think I'm naturally an empathetic person.

"Maybe water?" Alena suddenly offered, noticing my empty glass on the new coffee table, "I'll grab you water."

I nodded silently, deciding to let her do something for me.

I can tell it's in her nature.

She always takes really good care of Tahir from what I've noticed, and I only just got back from Korea.

I can't imagine five years between them.

Alena and I immediately glanced over when the door to my apartment clicked open.

"Oh hey," Alena said when Mazin and Tahir walked in, setting the water pitcher back in the fridge.

"Hey beautiful," Tahir said as he approached her at the counter, wrapping his arms around her from behind.

I suddenly glanced over, noticing Mazin approaching me.

She was in a different outfit from earlier, wearing a black long-sleeve with matching dress pants and boots.

She also had a box of fries in her hands?

"How are you feeling?" she asked me, her voice lowered as she sat down on the couch next to me.

I shrugged, "Fine," I said, glancing down when she pulled some of the covers away from me.

But only to slide underneath with me.

"Well, I got your favorite fries so you can be more than fine," she said, opening the small cardboard box.

And the sight of Peri Peri fries managed to make my mouth water.

Fries were always something I used to eat when I had a bad day at school.

Especially if I got a bad grade on a test.

Somehow Mazin remembers that.

"Thank you," I whispered, watching as she took the lid off the container of ketchup.

And that's when I noticed her hands.

Or her knuckles specifically.

They were bruised much worse than earlier.

They were also swollen.

"Mazin," I suddenly whispered, and I didn't even realize I had interrupted her from talking.

I had been so deep in my thoughts—so focused on her knuckles to even listen to what she was saying.

"Are you okay?" I asked her, gently grabbing one of her hands.

But they both seemed to look terrible.

Fuck.

"I'm more than okay," Mazin didn't hesitate to assure me, glancing down to her hand that I held in mine.

"But your knuckles..." I trailed off, feeling so bad for all of this, "Can I clean them up?"

Mazin's expression softened at my question, "You can do anything you want," she said, wrapping her hand around mine.

I nodded a few times, feeling so speechless by her genuine words.

"Maz," I heard Tahir say, approaching us on the couch.

We both glanced over, noticing Tahir had left Alena over in the kitchen.

Which meant he probably wanted to talk to Mazin alone.

Or me?

He's looking at me.

"Is she coming with us?" Tahir asked, glancing back over to Mazin.

Who immediately shook her head, but before she could say anything, I sat up further on the couch and said—

"Come where?"

Tahir immediately pursed his lips, realizing Mazin hadn't asked me whatever he was referring to.

"How about I walk Alena downstairs," Tahir suddenly suggested, "The car is waiting anyway," he added, turning around before we could say something.

Mazin was silent, even as Tahir walked over to Alena—briefly mumbling a few things before he helped her grab her things and walk out.

I glanced over, still noticing Mazin's silence.

She almost seemed like she didn't want to tell me whatever Tahir had been referring to.

"Mazin?" I said, deciding I would have to speak first.

Because she seemed far from telling me about whatever was going on.

"We have Dani," Mazin went to speak, finally meeting my stare, "She's... hysterical almost—mentioning the new gang we've been focused on."

I felt my brows raise, "She knows about them?" I asked almost in a whisper.

"She worked with them," Mazin clarified, her dark eyes never once glancing away from mine, "Which explains why she was so bent on you."

I felt my brows furrow, "What do you mean?" I asked, caressing my thumb over the back of her hand.

Because she seems so tense.

"Whoever leads this gang wanted to work with you," Mazin said, letting out a deep sigh as she glanced away from me, "And now Dani only wants to speak to you—T thinks it will help us find out more information but I—"

"I'll do it," I quickly cut her short.

"No, you won't Virelai," Mazin immediately said, meeting my stare again, "I don't want you to."

And I could immediately hear the seriousness in her tone.

The protective edge that it held.

"But I want to help," I whispered, leaning in closer to her.

"You are helping—you're doing so much for me by sitting here safe and unharmed," Mazin assured me, gently squeezing my hand in hers.

I shook my head, "No, Mazin, I genuinely want to help—I don't want to sit here and do nothing, not when I could play a part in finding this gang," I said, my tone growing much more serious with her.

Which naturally made her nod a few times.

Until she suddenly shook her head, "But I don't want you to, Virelai," she said yet again still standing firm on her decision, "I'm not okay with you being around her," she clarified better.

Which easily made me purse my lips, unsure of what to say to that.

If she's not okay with it then I shouldn't. 

I don't want to upset her or anything. 

"But you have free will, and you can do whatever you decide," Mazin suddenly said, letting out a conflicted sigh, "I never want to control what you do," she added, which easily made my chest grow warm.

I could tell she didn't want me to do this—but she also didn't want to force me into her opinion.

"I... want to go," I hesitantly said, suddenly shaking my head, "But I don't want you to be upset with me—"

"I would never be upset with you, Virelai," Mazin quickly cut me short, gently pulling me closer to her by my hand.

And I didn't hesitate to lean further into her, especially when she wrapped her arms around my waist and pulled me into a hug.

"We'll do this together," she determined, letting out a deep sigh as she nuzzled her face down into the crook of my neck.

I nodded at the idea, running my arms around her waist as I leaned deeper into the hug.

❅

Later that evening, we were further out of downtown Brickell.

It was some sleek black industrial building out in the middle of nowhere.

The building looked huge, spanning numerous acres of the endless land that a long driveway led to.

Tahir had dropped Alena off at their place, meeting me and Mazin at the undisclosed building.

Which seemed to have numerous black SUVs lining the front of it along with five men standing by the tinted glass doors, dressed in the same black uniform as the guards at the gate.

Suddenly this all felt real.

Or maybe it's that I didn't expect all of this.

I didn't expect there to be a separate location where they handled this kind of business.

My dad had set up someone to handle any kind of messy business for me, which he still keeps an eye on.

I've never actually had to get my hands dirty.

Meanwhile, Mazin and Tahir seem to handle their own business.

Even the most gruesome kind.

It makes me wonder if I'm doing this all wrong.

I've never really felt cut out for this lifestyle in the first place.

"So she's going to look a little..." Tahir trailed off as we approached the tinted glass doors, "Unrecognizable," he added almost awkwardly, glancing over to his sister.

Who I knew had to have hit Dani a few more times for her knuckles to look as they do.

Hopefully, I'll get a chance to clean them later for her.

We rushed to head here so I didn't have any time to. 

I also ended up putting my fries in the microwave so I could air-fry them and enjoy them later.

"She's also chained up, so she can't hurt you," Mazin added as we entered the building.

That smelled almost... sterile?

There really wasn't any kind of smell weirdly enough.

It smelt like nothing.

But the overhead fluorescent lights were bright, reflecting against the white marble floors.

It was one long hallway, lined by black industrial walls, leading to numerous other hallways.

Instead of glass doors, they were made out of the same black industrial steel—with a pin pad to enter each one.

I assumed they were all cells—that maybe they held a lot of people here.

But as soon as we turned down the hallway and entered past one of the steel doors, I realized the real cells only made up one part of the building.

That other business must be conducted here.

The marble floors were gone—replaced with black cement that spanned the hallway of different cells.

You could see each cell through the tinted glass doors that they each had.

They also seemed to have two doors, one to enter the cell and another into a room.

I assume it's to watch what goes on in the room?

"We'll be in the room right beside her cell—watching through the mirror," Mazin reminded me, her gentle touch against my back snapping me from my thoughts.

I nodded, glancing over to her with almost a hesitant look—noticing Tahir already opening the door to the observation room.

"Do you want me to come in there with you?" Mazin asked me, her dark eyes trailing my face as she instinctively pulled me closer by my waist.

I quickly shook my head, "No-no I can handle this," I whispered, determining that I had to handle some stuff on my own.

It feels like everyone babies me.

"But it's okay if you can't handle it on your own," Mazin said, somehow contradicting my own thoughts.

Even still, I shook my head—deciding to handle my own things for one.

"I got it," I said, forcing my voice to sound much steadier.

"Okay," Mazin murmured, openly glancing between my eyes.

Until she glanced down to my lips.

"Give me a kiss," she said, subtly drawing me in closer to her.

I immediately felt goosebumps run down my spine at her words, tilting my head back as I gently grabbed her neck—

And pulled her down to me.

Our lips were immediately pressed together, pressing our bodies closer together as our lips naturally moved in sync.

Mazin's grip instinctively tightened on my waist when I gripped her neck tighter, deepening the kiss as I tilted my head further back.

"I know you can handle things yourself," Mazin said so softly against my lips, "Just to be clear."

I nodded, "You're very clear," I assured her, running my hands down from her neck to squeeze her shoulders.

"Good and to be clear about something else," she went to say, kissing my lips again, "If you keep kissing me like this, we're leaving."

A laugh fell from my lips, almost a nervous one, processing her insinuation.

Was she insinuating sex?

Or does she just mean she wants to kiss me even more?

I'm not sure.

I haven't pursued someone since high school and I definitely haven't come close to having sex.

Maybe Mazin thinks I have.

Is it a bad thing if I haven't?

It probably would be—I mean, I would be inexperienced and she's probably... so experienced.

And that might throw her off.

I might throw her off and—

"Virelai," Mazin murmured against my lips, pulling back slightly to meet my stare.

I hummed almost wordlessly, feeling nothing but speechless.

"I lost you there for a moment," Mazin said, eyeing my face so openly that it made me nervous, "What's on your mind?"

I blinked a few times, unaccustomed to someone reading me this well.

Then again, I did unconsciously lean away from the kiss with her.

Something is clearly wrong.

I just don't plan to tell her about... my inexperience.

"Just thinking about that," I said, motioning my head over to the cell door.

Mazin immediately hummed, still eyeing my face for a moment, which made my cheeks burn up, unsure if she knew I wasn't being entirely truthful.

"Let's go ahead and handle this," Mazin suddenly determined, pressing one last brief kiss to my lips before she pulled away from me entirely, "I can kiss you later."

I hummed yet again, feeling my face grow hotter at her attractive words.

But I had to focus, especially with Mazin entering the code to unlock the cell door.

Which she pulled open for me seconds later, allowing me into the dimly lit room.

And this one did have a smell.

It had an awful fucking smell.

It just smelled... musty, dirty even.

Just unexplainably dirty.

The cell itself was made of black concrete, aside from the two-way mirror over on the wall.

Her blood littered the floor—almost a concerning amount of blood actually.

"Vee," I heard her say, unaccustomed to her scratchy raw voice.

And to say she looked terrible would be an understatement.

I almost considered if I could poke her and that would be it.

She looked like she was that close to death.

And it wasn't just her face littered with dried blood, her swollen shut eyes, and busted lips.

It was her dark hair that had been ripped out, chunks of it lying in the blood on the ground.

Then it was her arms tied up by chains barred to the ceiling, her feet barely grazing the floor.

Her white shirt from earlier was seeped with dried dark blood along with her arms that had the same dried blood dripping down them.

It was probably the most gruesome sight I had seen.

Tahir was right.

She did look unrecognizable.

"I'm surprised they actually let you... in here," Dani spoke again, trying to open her swollen eyes a little further.

And as she spoke, I suddenly noticed the lack of teeth in her mouth.

Fuck.

I blinked a few times, drawing in a deep breath as I walked past the table of different tools.

I assumed some of those were used on her.

Minus the black gun.

But that seems to be something they'll probably use soon.

Unless they decide on a more drawn-out death.

Mazin probably will.

"What do you know about the gang, Dani," I said, not even bothering to ask her.

Dani forced a dry hum, "Look at them finally involving you in shit," she forced out, her voice so rough and raspy.

She had probably screamed so much that it rubbed her vocal cords raw.

"The princess finally gets to see what really goes on," Dani said, her tone bitter and sarcastic, "Now you can see that your girlfriend isn't much more of a saint than me."

I scoffed, entirely taken aback by her words.

Clearly, she wanted me here so I could see a different side of Mazin.

"She only handles what's necessary," I said, taking another step closer to her, "You choose to hit people when you don't get your way," I added.

Which immediately earned a laugh from Dani.

That quickly morphed into a rough wheeze.

"You feel tougher now that I'm chained up babe?" she asked, somehow making my irritation boil over.

I had walked over to the table before I could realize it, grabbing the gun that felt heavy and unfamiliar in my hand.

"Not quite, but maybe shooting you in the leg would help," I determined sarcastically, glancing down at the gun as I unclicked the safety.

"Okay-okay," Dani quickly said, her swollen bloodshot eyes focused on the gun in my hand, "Just put the gun down."

I raised a brow at her sudden compliance, realizing violence is a much more productive route.

"Tell me about the new gang and I will," I said, still aiming the gun at her left leg.

Dani shook her head, displaying the most gruesomely toothless and bloody smile.

"You'll never fucking believe who the leader is," she said, wheezing a few more times when she attempted to laugh.

"Tell me then, maybe I won't be that surprised," I said, hoping to work around her secretiveness.

"I was supposed to integrate you in," Dani decided to say instead of spilling any information.

Which naturally caught me off guard, suddenly realizing why she was trying so hard with me.

"Oh you thought I wanted you?" Dani asked, noticing how I was visibly processing this, "You were never even down to have sex, and on top of that, you're fucking boring, Vee."

I shook my head at her words, trying my best not to take them personally.

Her opinion doesn't matter to me.

Or it shouldn't at least.

"You were just an easy moldable target to them," Dani said, referring to the new gang yet again.

But somehow she couldn't tell me any names.

"Clearly not moldable enough—look at yourself," I said, still aiming the gun at her leg, "Or at least try to look, your eyes are basically swollen shut," I purposely added, even if I knew my remark didn't sting as much as hers.

And I fucking hate that.

Dani let out a wheezy laugh, "I'm genuinely just surprised to see you here involved in this shit," she said as she openly eyed me, "Your dad kept so much from you—I bet you don't even know about your unborn sister that he killed."

I immediately furrowed my brows, my grip on the gun tightening at her accusation against my dad.

"You suddenly think you know things because you're involved in this now?" I said, taking another step toward her.

"I don't think anything," Dani said, her bloodshot eyes staring directly at me, "Your dad had your unborn sister killed in an accident he staged—it was T and Maz's aunt, I'm sure they both know."

I shook my head, finding this all so far-fetched.

My dad might kill people, but he wouldn't hurt his own child.

I know he wouldn't.

"Everyone knows," Dani added, cutting into my thoughts, "And they leave you in the dark. They keep this from you because you're weak and—"

"That's not fucking true!" I said, unconsciously raising my voice as I squeezed the gun tighter.

"He killed her. Your mom probably knows too—"

Dani was cut short by her own weak grunt as soon as I shot the gun—the bullet piercing through her chest and rattling her body against the chains.

My breathing was rapid and shallow, feeling my anger spread to every inch of my body.

I didn't even process her legs that I shot as well.

Or the door that opened behind me.

I was shaking, tugging out of the arms that wrapped around me, trying to pull me away from Dani.

"Virelai," I heard her voice in my ear, trying to guide the gun out of my hands.

But I didn't want to let it go.

I didn't want to let her live.

And I seemed to get my exact wish when Xavier shot a bullet clean through her head—causing Dani's body to immediately fall limp.

Tahir nodded in approval at Xavier's actions, but I didn't feel done.

I wanted to shoot her until there were so many holes in her body that she couldn't be taken out of here in one piece.

"Virelai," I heard her say again, especially when I shot the gun again, sending a bullet through Dani's stomach, "Baby she's dead, it's done," she whispered in my ear, nuzzling her face down in my face.

Tears burned in my eyes as my hands visibly shook, gripping the gun even tighter as I shook my head.

"It's not done," I forced out in deep breaths, shooting the gun again—sending another bullet through Dani's chest.

But as soon as I felt her soft lips against my neck and her warm hands wrapped around mine, everything around me tilted back into focus.

I snapped back into focus.

"Mazin," I whispered weakly, messy tears blurring my vision.

"I'm right here," she didn't hesitate to say, gently guiding our hands lower, "Everything is okay."

I quickly dropped the gun with a loud clatter, "It's true isn't it?" I asked, my voice weak and unrecognizable, "My dad killed her."

I heard Mazin let out a deep sigh, noticing Tahir visibly glance away from me as Xavier respectfully backed out of the room to leave us alone.

"And you both knew," I whispered in determination, pulling away from Mazin and the warmth she provided.

This is so much worse than I could've imagined.

Tahir suddenly took a step forward, "It wasn't our place to tell you and your dad told us—"

"He wanted to tell you himself, Virelai," Mazin cut him short, her dark eyes burning into mine, "But we're so fucking sorry—we would've told you if we could."

I only remained silent, sniffling a few times as I roughly wiped my tears away.

Mazin drew in a visible breath, eyeing my state, "What can I do for you—I'll do anything for you," she quickly whispered, taking a step toward me.

Which caused me to take one right back, "I just want space," I said even if it burned my chest to say it, especially when my words made Mazin's face drop.

"Vee I get this is a lot to process, but I swear we never had ill intent," Tahir said to me, taking a step towards us both, "Maz wanted to tell you."

I shook my head as more heavy tears burned in my eyes and clouded my vision.

"I promise, I'm sorry baby," Mazin whispered as she eyed my face, hesitantly lifting her hands to reach out for me, but then lowering them right back down, "Please don't do this again."

And we both knew what again meant.

We knew what it consisted of.

Or where at least.

"I'm..." I trailed off, glancing down when more tears burned in my eyes, "I'm not mad at either of you—I know it wasn't something that you could tell me yourself," I said, knowing that Tazmin and Lena definitely knew about this.

And they probably specified that I shouldn't know.

Probably from my dad's expressed wishes.

I wonder who else knows and hasn't told me.

"I just... I need some space to process this and then—" I drew in a deep breath at the thought of my next words, feeling more tears burn in my eyes, "I need to go talk to my dad... and yeah."

Mazin and Tahir both nodded immediately.

"We understand—take as much time as you need," Tahir told me, now walking over to the door, which caused me to take a hesitant step forward.

And then walk right past Mazin who still seemed to be processing my words and previous request.

I hated that she looked so hurt by it. 

"Virelai," Mazin suddenly said, following behind me out of the room.

Where Dani's limp body went entirely unnoticed after this entire bomb drop.

I turned around, meeting her dark eyes as the door fell shut behind her.

And that's when I noticed her arms that she lifted, opening them for a hug.

"Before you leave?" she said, causing me to draw in a deep breath, now feeling so bad for pushing her away.

None of this was her fault.

But it still doesn't help to know she never told me.

It just really hurts is all.

And I just need to process through it I think.

"Yes," I suddenly whispered, taking a few steps toward her and throwing my arms around her neck.

Mazin immediately slid her arms around my waist, pulling me tight against her body as she nuzzled her face down into my neck.

I buried my face in her chest, hearing her inhale deeply as she held me even tighter to her body.

"I'll you soon," she whispered, earning a small nod from me.

"Soon," I whispered back, knowing she wanted to ensure I wasn't going to run away to Korea again.

Mazin suddenly let out a deep sigh, "Okay," she said, unraveling her arms from around me and leaving me cold.

Painfully cold.

I hate this so fucking much.

"Do you want us to take you back?" Tahir asked, standing off to the side as he waited for us.

"Uh, I think I'll just ride back alone," I said, determining I wouldn't be going home.

I need to go speak to my dad about this.

Tahir immediately nodded while Mazin remained silent—which is something she did even as we walked down the hallway together.

We were all silent really.

The air was tenser than it's ever been between us.

And I was mostly caught up in my thoughts processing what just happened with Dani and then this new information involving my dad.

I can only assume Dani was probably going to drop that on me down the line just to get me away from Mazin.

And somehow her efforts worked even now that she's dead.

This might even cause a rift between me and my dad—so I genuinely hope Dani's fucking miserable in hell where she belongs.

She did deserve to die, and I can finally be at fucking peace with that.