Their Mafia Queen

Memory Lane

     "The new DJ?" Victoria asked, looking at him up and down. Her curiosity peaked, but also her suspicions. His blonde hair, with a surfer cut, those blue eyes and that beard covering that fine jawline, made for a fine specimen. One downside of it all is that his body type was not built, but she didn't mind. He was just a DJ, nothing else. 

     "Yes, Miss-" he tried to get her name with a curious look.

     "Victoria Cervantes. What happened to the other guy? I was not informed about a change" she asked, narrowing her eyes. William looked at her and let out a nervous chuckle, which she noticed right away. The corner of her mouth lifted in an intimidating smile as she approached him. She decided to ignore the suspicions at the moment.

     "You can start today. I just hope you last longer than him" she said, patting his cheek "Gabriel, show him his booth. He will need to set up for tonight. You better impress me, Mr. James"

     She sauntered away while Gabriel escorted William to his booth.

` "She is really as hot as I was told," William said with a laugh. Gabriel grabbed him by his shoulder and gave it a painful squeeze, making him wince. 

     "I would appreciate it if you didn't talk about my boss like that" Gabriel said, giving him a threatening look. William laugh died down and he nodded, realizing the mistake he just made. Gabriel pushed him harshly to the booth before he walked to his post to get ready.

     William touched his ear, where a small auricular was placed to keep his captain discreetly informed of any events. He communicated with the station. "I am in, boss. The place looks pretty normal. Guards are a little rough, but she is one exotic girl and wow, what will it be like to have her in my-"

     "Focus, James! You are there on a mission, not to fool around. Don't make me regret sending you in" Mike mentioned from the other side of the call. 

     "Okay, as I was saying, this looks like a normal club. No suspicious activities yet, but I will keep an eye, especially on her" he said, showing a smirk on his face. He thought his player days might come in handy, although it looks like Victoria might be a hard one to get. Especially when she has all these men protecting her.

     "Fancy a drink?" Brandon approached him with a bottle of dark ale. William gladly accepted and took a big gulp of it.

     "So, who are you really?" he asked him. Brandon was good at detecting a liar. Being a bartender meant you got to know everyone's secrets.

     "I am William James, the new DJ," he said with a confident smile. Brandon looked at him up and down. He let out a sigh.

     "Okay, we have stated that. Let's say I believe you, do you have any experience in all of this?" he mentioned, waving his hand at the mixing table. William looked down at the equipment and gave Brandon a cocky smile.

     "Of course. I used to do this in high school" he replied as he touched a cable and it sparked, making him jump and look back at Brandon in embarrassment.

     Brandon scratched his temple while raising his left eyebrow and scoffed. "You are forgetting we are not in high school, brother. And if you mess this up, Victoria will not like it"

     "Well, what can she do? Fire me?" he chuckled as he was plugging the mixer.

     "Well, let's just say she doesn't like inefficiency. Now enjoy your beer, on the house," Brandon said before walking away, leaving William confused. 

     Victoria was sitting in her office, going through her dad's pictures. She kept flipping through them, smiling at each one. Passing her hands on them, she couldn't help but remember her father being loving with her.

     "Come on Papa, let's play hide and seek!" little Victoria said as she ran through the backyard to hide from Leandro. She hid behind a big Oak tree in the far end of their three acreages of land. Giggling to herself, so he wouldn't listen, she hid for what seemed like forever.

     "Victoria! I will find you, Princesa!" he called as he walked all over the yard, looking for her. She peeked on the side of the tree, trying to see where her dad was, but was not able to see him.

     "Ahh I got you!" he growled as he took her in his arms and tickled her. Victoria laughed and kissed Leandro on his cheek.

 "You found me, Papa!" she screamed in joy. She loved him like her own life. He smiled at her and put a strand of hair behind her ear. That little girl with only five years, beautiful waves and her big brown eyes was his life. She looked adorable in the pink little dress her mom had handmade for her. His expression turned from happy to sad.

    "What's wrong, Papa?" she asked worriedly. Victoria was the exact replica of Alicia, his late wife.

     "Nothing, Princesa. I am happy to spend some time with you. I am sorry if I haven't been able to do it before, but my work is very demanding"

     "It's okay, Papa. I understand. I love you!" she said innocently.

     Time had passed and her high school years were a nightmare. She would arrive home crying every day, being bullied in school for being Latina, or being a bookworm. She locked herself in her bedroom and wouldn't open for anyone in the house.

     "Victoria, open the door sweetheart" Leandro knocked. She quickly got off her bed and walked towards the door, and as soon as she opened it, she threw herself in his arms.

     "Dad, I am tired. They hate me at school. They call me horrible names, I don't want to go back!" she cried. He pulled away, and putting one hand on her shoulder, he lifted her chin.

     "You listen to me, Victoria. You are a Cervantes and you are never going to allow anyone to see you weak. You are going to stay strong and don't let them mess with you. You fight back, do you understand?" his expression was angry and bitter "now wipe those tears and show me you can be tough"

     She wiped her cheeks and smiled. "I am strong and I will not let anyone mess with me"

     "That's my girl"

     Tears were falling from Victoria's eyes when she heard a knock and her door open. She hid the pictures on the drawer and turned her chair around after grabbing some tissues and wiped her face, trying to hide her swollen eyes, which she knew it was in vain.

     "What do you want?" she said, not looking who entered the office. She could hear the footsteps getting closer to her, but she still had her back on that person. Suddenly, he turned the chair around, making her jump.

     "Victoria, what's wrong?" it was Brandon. He kneeled in front of her and wiped one stray tear on her cheek.

     "What are you doing here?" she said, turning her face away from him. He grabbed her chin and turned it back so she could see him. 

     "Why are you crying, beautiful?" he asked. 

     "It's nothing. And I am not crying, what makes you think that?" she mentioned, standing up from her chair and walking away from him. 

     "Do you forget that I hear stories and detect lies for a living?"

     "As far as I know, you make people drunk for a living. And that is what I pay you for, not to be my therapist" she said, not being able to face him until her tears left. She opened a small drawer on the cabinet by the window, took out a small makeup kit and retouched her face. 

     "You know I am here for you. You can tell me anything"

     "Brandon, I don't have to tell you anything. Go back to the bar and get ready for tonight. That is all you have to do," she said, grabbing her jacket and as she was going to walk out, he grabbed her by the arm.

     "You won't lie to me. Victoria, it is okay to feel vulnerable," he said, and that made Victoria turn to him in anger.

     "I will never show my weakness to anyone. My father showed me to always fight and never let people see me at my worst. So instead of telling me whether to be vulnerable or not, go downstairs and get those glasses ready for their drinks," she snatched her arms away and tried to leave, but Brandon took her and pushed her against the wall.

     "Listen to me, Victoria. I am just trying to be here for you. You don't have to act strong all the time. If you need to let it out, do it" Brandon said as he stroked her cheek. She closed her eyes and let him explore her face with those big, soft hands. She was getting weak on her knees at his touch. 

     "I just miss my father, that's all. Regardless of what he was, he was kind and selfless. He was my hero and I will not rest until I find out who killed him," she seethed. 

     "Victoria, it was proven that Leandro died of natural causes"

     "That is Bullshit. I don't believe a word anyone says. Someone killed him, and I will find out who did it. On top of that, I need that stupid cop far from here. We can't afford those pigs to keep coming whenever they feel like it. I want them gone"