The Story of Blood and Roses

The only sound that echoed in the alley was that of my clicking heels. I slid the jacket on and buttoned it. It was getting cold outside and my legs were freezing. If for the jacket, I would've returned to the club where it was heated.

As I approached my car, I heard a soft sigh from somewhere beside me. I squinted in the darkness and saw a shadow there. Realizing that it was just a kid, I relaxed a little.

"Is there something you want?" I called out into the darkness. I heard a boyish laugh directed at me and gritted my teeth in frustration.

"Mia, right?" I saw him as he stepped out of the darkness. He was wearing what seemed like a protective suit. He was covered from head to toe, all except his face. He blew out a shuddering breath and stuck his hand out towards me.

"Sean," he told me, grinning.

"I know. I saw you at the meeting, remember?"I grasped his hand and shook it roughly.

"So, what are you doing all alone in the middle of the night?" I asked, just to make conversation. I was not in a mood to freeze in the cold today, but I had to do my job. Keep the kid happy, I thought. He'll help me get into the gang smoothly.

"Waiting for a cab," he grumbled. I couldn't help but chuckle. Anthony left his precious little hacker to fend for himself in these streets at night?

"You won't get a cab here. Do you have a cell-phone?" He shook his head. I sighed, wondering what teenager didn't carry a cell -phone these days. "Where is Anthony?" He shrugged. I sighed again.

"Get in the car," I said, irritated with Anthony and the boy. How could Anthony leave a teenager alone so late at night?

He stared at me for a few moments and then blinked twice, realizing my words.

"Get in the car!" I shouted exasperated. He jumped, coming back to his senses and fumbled towards the passenger's side. I shook my head as I got in the car and put on the heater.

Sean was sitting silently, positioning himself as far as he could from me and looking outside the window. I could feel the smile spreading across my face as I saw him shift uncomfortably.

I turned to face him.

"Where do you live?" I asked him. He gulped, turning towards me at last. He rattled off the address which I put in on my GPS and realized that he lived fifteen minutes away from my place.

"Put on your seatbelt," I ordered. He hastily put it on, grumbling something about mobsters and safety. I rolled my eyes at him and drove off. The first few minutes of the ride were silent. I could hear his nervous fidgeting. I could feel his eyes roaming over my face as I concentrated on the road.

"You're pretty," he announced suddenly, surprising me. I hadn't expected him to be bold enough to say that.

"I know." I tried to smile at him.

"I know that you know. How old are you?" he asked curiously.

"Twenty-two. Why?" I turned to stare at him suspiciously. He gulped and looked away.

"You're twelve years younger than Anthony... That is just weird." His face scrunched up in disdain. I raised a brow at him, and he chuckled.

"Everyone saw the little show today. One would have to be blind to miss that!" He snorted. "Anyway, you're the first person who has turned him down. It was fun." He smiled, going back to staring out of the window.

At first, I'd thought that he was scared of me. He fidgeted and shifted his weight ever so often, but then I looked back and reflected on how he behaved. He wasn't sure whether to trust me or not. He was probably a good kid Anthony was taking advantage of.

But what good kid robs a bank? my mind screamed.

"What do your parents think about you being out so late with a bunch of gangsters?" I asked.

"Hah! They don't know," he said. He snorted after that, shaking his head repeatedly. "I sneak out a lot." He turned to smile smugly at me. I grinned back at him.

"That sounds cool. How do you manage that?" He shrugged.

"You just sneak out?" He nodded. "Just like that?" I pressed.

He shook in silent laughter.

"My parents are a little clueless when it comes to me." His face morphed into a frown. He looked as if he'd tasted something bad.

He said no more and the silence filled the car.

"I was adopted when I was a few weeks old," he said, finally breaking the silence. I nodded, keeping my eyes on the road. I didn't understand why he was telling me this. "I don't know who my real parents are . . ." he trailed off. I shook my head and reached out for the radio.

I didn't want to have a discussion about parents right now.

"Don't!" He surprised me. I pulled my hand back.

"What about your parents?" My jaws tightened as he asked. I knew it would come to this. I pressed my lips together, trying not to say something rude, and ignored him. "You didn't answer me. Do they know that you're working for a mob now?" he chuckled.

"I don't know." In simpler words, fuck off.

"C'mon, I don't like one-sided conversations! Tell me about your parents, please." I turned to glare at him. Little brat!

"They passed away," I replied coldly, hoping he'd shut up. I could feel his stare but didn't reprimand him.

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