Fallen Apart

Eleni's Pov

I was so scared my knees nearly gave way. Handsome had been caught and he’d told them my role in his escape, I panicked. There would be no mercy for me.

Calm down, maybe you can talk you way out of this. I thought.

“I am really busy right now.” I told the goon, forcing myself to calm down.

“He said now!”

“Okay, okay. Let’s go.” He led the way to the office. “Are you okay? You looked really pissed, I hope you aren’t still mad at me because I forgot to get you the glass of water.” I said referring to an incident that had happened earlier.

“No. Sorry I yelled at you. I’m just pissed because we botched a job and Alexios has been yelling at us.”

“What job?” I asked cautiously.

“Some guy we were supposed to take care of but the asshole got away, and now Alexios won’t shut up about it. It’s partly his fault for not giving us a head up quick enough.” He said bitterly.

I felt my pounding heart slowing down. Handsome had got away. So why was Alexios sending for me? Before I could guess an answer ww were knocking on his door.

“Get inside!”He roared.

We entered to see him pacing his office, red-faced and wild-eyed with anger. I hoped I won’t be on the receiving end of his anger. I could see some goons standing nervously in a corner.

“Where are the others?” Alexios fumed looking at the goon who’d brought me. “Didn't I tell you I want everyone working the bar shift here, you incompetent bastard! Go and bring them now!”

The guard ran out while we waited and watched Alexios pacing.

The guard came back with the bartender, the manager, and the eight waiters who worked with me.

“Which of you traitorous bitches helped that motherfucker escape?” He yelled. “Confess now and you will die quickly. If I have to force it out of you I’ll cause you so much pain you’ll wish you’d never been born!”

We all stared at him in fear and confusion. Apart from me, noone else knew what he was talking about.

“Don’t play dumb you imbeciles! You know I'm talking about the Italian asshole that came in this evening all dressed in black. He escaped through the broken wine store window and left his clothes behind. He sure as hell didn’t leave naked! And he couldn’t have know about the window! So for the last time, who betrayed me!”

We shook our heads, too afraid to speak.

“Boss, I barely spoke to the guy except telling him the way to the bathroom, and I didn’t even know the window was broken.” Rich said finally.

“Me neither boss.” The rest of us chorused.

And that was the truth. They won’t have known about the window. I knew because I had overhead Christos telling Alexios he had broken it accidentally and had asked him to get it fixed. Careless Alexios hadn’t, and he knew he’d be in deep trouble when Christos found out.

“He had help! I know it! I want all the lockers of the men searched! See if any clothes are missing. Now!”

Again my heart pounded. The waiter whoes clothes I stole would get into trouble if it was discover. Thankfully one of the goons, who didn’t want the stress of searching people’s lockers, spoke up.

“Boss all the staff lock their lockers so that can’t be it. I’m thinking this guy may have sensed we were on to him and made a call to someone on the outside to bring him some clothes. He may have been here before, which is how he knew about the window Maybe the person threw the clothes through there.” He explained.

It made sense but Alexios was still pissed. He began cursing and the foul words he used shocked and embarrassed me.

“He was on to you because you are idiots!" He yelled finally. "Get out! All of you!”

We began hurrying out.

“Leni! Wrap up whatever you are doing. I want you here by midnight!” He ordered as I headed out.

An alarm bell went off in my head. “Yes sir.” I said reluctantly.

I went back to work filled with worry. Why did he want to see me? I had a feeling it wasn’t going to be a pleasant meeting. For weeks now he had been making advances to me and I had managed to avoid him, now something told me I would have to confront him tonight.

I wished I could run away. For a minute I envied Handsome. He had escaped but I was stuck here. All I wanted was to run far away and never come back. But I couldn’t, no thanks to my parents. I thought bitterly.

Other people’s parents protected them, mine had literally sold me into slavery.

I remembered the day my life had fallen apart. I had come home that evening with a purse full of money. I had again been contracted to bake at another birthday party and it had been a success.

“If I keep this up, I will be able to start my own bakery before the new year.” I smiled.

My smile died the minute I stepped foot in my living room. Mom and Dad were there. The despaired look on their faces set my heart racing.

“Mom! Dad! Has something happened to Nick?” I asked fearing my little brother was seriously ill again.

“No. Worse." Mom said in disgust and anger. "Your hopeless father is in big trouble. He has stolen Makris money and now we are all dead!”