FIFTEEN

DAMON

If we were in an amination, my feet would have probably made a screeching sound as I suddenly halted my steps. My eyes widened instantly as Selena’s statement sunk into my mind.

What? A mission in an hour?

Whatever happened to being a Mafia Photographer?

Right… This is why one shouldn’t trust any mafia leader, pretty or not.

They are all full of deceit.

At least, she could have mentioned my full job description before waving the ‘another gang is after your life’ card in front of me.

As I sighed deeply, I decided to say something.

But, before I could utter a word, Miss Selena got up from her seat and said, "You will be going to Poblacion’s east dockside. We have received information that one of our rivals Malik, is getting a consignment of gold next week. I need you to fetch information from the executioner of this plan."

See… Never trust a mafia leader.

“Uh… Selena…” I watched as she grabbed a remote on her desk. “We didn’t talk about this. You never mentioned-” A whirring sound cut my words short. A projector screen slowly dropped from the ceiling. The screen was halfway in the room when an image was projected from behind.

As I turned to see who was operating it, I noted how quietly Camilla’s look-alike moved. After she set the projector, she went to a corner and stood still like a statue.

By the time I turned, the screen was set. Displayed on it was a portrait image of a man. His tanned skin was clear of blemish, with his clean shaved chin exposing the full breadth of his darkened lower lip. His upper lip rested perfectly on the lower one. I could hardly see his eyes because of his red face cap, but overall, the man looked quite . . . serious and manly.

Selena continued and I finally noticed that she was dressed a bit fiercely. "That is Malik's second in command, Basiton. He looks scary especially since he has a huge physique but he is an absolute pussy. He is scared of any form of insects, especially soldier ants. He is also homosexual and likes his men handsome." Her eyes darted to me causing me to frown.

Why on earth did she look at me that way?

"But you have to be careful. Basiton is always heavily guarded. He will be taking a ship to cross the border today with a blue file that contains what we need. That file is very important, so the security details around Basiton will be thorough this time."

"Ship?" I asked, my voice sort of huskier. I am not exactly a fan of the sea, or so I always think. I have never ridden on a ship but the thought of traveling over sea always gives me goosebumps.

"Yes, ship. You and your partner would be dressed as workers. Don't worry, I saw to it that you get to work around Basiton's cabinet. All you need to do is grab the file and install tiny cameras and microphones in the room. How you will do it, I don't know. But we need that information from him and we need it fast.”

All my attempts to chip in my voice and ask the many questions on my mind were futile. She just kept talking firmly as she folded her arms over her leather jacket.

Selena looked my way after she punctuated her instructions with a smack of her glossy lips.

“Who is this partner you are talking about?” I brought myself to ask that one question. “Is it her?” I nodded my head towards the lady standing calmly in the corner.

“No.” Selena blinked gently as she tore her gaze off me. “It is someone else.”

My brows quirked.

Why do I get the feeling that my partner will be scary-looking? And, why am I even considering doing what Selena is talking about? The many questions I had were starting to leave one by one as I seemed to accept that moment.

“You can come in, Lucius,” Selena said and a part of the wall behind her desk slid open.

A toughly-built, fair-complexioned guy with a huge tattoo of a crocodile on his right arm walked out of that space which I would have never thought would exist. This man stood several inches above me. I could dare say our height difference would be close to a foot.

So, Selena looked little beside him. His thoroughly bald head glistened as he walked toward Selena and me. After bowing in respect to his leader, his sharp, dark gaze fell on me. As I returned his stare while admonishing myself to remain calm, I noticed a scar that ran horizontally above his eyebrows. The mark made his eyes seem bigger than usual.

Or maybe it was his incessant glaring that made his eyes seem bigger. Either way, his prolonged sight was starting to make me feel uneasy.

"You guys should work together for the best," Selena said, breaking the pregnant silence in the room.

I looked at the man called Lucius and gave him a short smile which he returned with a low grunt, his biceps flexing involuntarily.

Selena continued her talk. She looked unbothered by the fact that Lucius was trying to scare me with his fierce gaze. "For this mission to be successful, you have to do two things. One, I will provide you with a fake blue file with almost similar contents to that in the original file. You have to replace the original with it. But, you can get to do that after you have drugged Basiton. Luckily, rooms on a ship don't have security cameras, so you can successfully do it. You have to lure him and then drug him."

I stared at her, not blinking once. Then, what she said finally made sense. Confusion on my face, I looked behind me as though there was another person she was dishing instructions to. When I faced her, I pointed to my chest and she nodded.

“I have to… lure him?” I forced the question out of my throat.

“Yes, I mentioned his sexuality earlier. So, if someone will be seducing him, it will be you. Don’t worry you will be safe. Just act flirtatious and he will instantly notice you.”

“Just act flirtatious?” I could not believe my ears. “Miss Selena, what are you doing?” I asked her sternly. I was starting to find the sudden mission that was not included in the job description ridiculous.

"Boss, you sure this guy can do it? He seems scared already." Lucius's deep voice resonated through the room, mocking me in every possible way.

Selena raised her right hand slightly and the man stepped back. I took that as my cue to continue.

“You told me my photography skills are all you need from me, so why am I going on missions? Did I sign up to be a spy? No!” I scoffed with disbelief. “So, what is this nonsense, Miss Selena? Anyway…” I shook my head. “I am not going. I have no intention to risk my life for any-”

My words ran dry as the woman walked away and toward her desk. With a frown on my face that channeled my anger, I glared at her. Watching her as she placed a suitcase on the desk, I found myself hating her silence. She took out the mentioned blue file and a small bottle that continued a certain liquid.

A small thud filled the room as she closed the suitcase. When she walked back to her position beside me, she handed Lucius the liquid and stretched the file in my direction, a small smile on her face.

“I said, I am not going.”

She sighed and gave Lucius the file.

“Lucius, have you grabbed the other things?” She ignored my frown and faced the taller man.

“Yes, boss.”

“I am still here…” I said, a bitter tone in my voice.

Suddenly, Selena turned and I felt her grab me in an unexpected place. As I felt twitches in my eyes, I looked down fearfully at my crotch which was seated in Selena’s palm like it was meant to be there.