The unforeseen circumstance

Victor's POV

“Are you sure?” I jumped up as one of my men comfirmed what I just heard about my greatest rival.

“Nice! Nice!! Why don't you take the rest of the day off Sky? You've done more than enough for today.”

As the line disconnected, I leaned back into my chair with a heavy smile on my face. Victor had gone quiet for a long while until now. I should have known he won't be able to avoid getting my attention. And what better way to get my attention than to put a pawn in the new game?

Jessica's POV

I had just finished attending to three privileged assholes who ended u buying not even one painting. The fatigue and anger in my face couldn't be contained. Business wasn't going well and of course, the boss will start looking for someone to blame. As I walked down to my space, I heard a voice,

“A bad time?”

I recognized the voice. Even though the person rarely spoke, I recognized the voice immediately.

“Never a bad time for a lover of art.” I kept up the pace lighting the mood. He was different today. He wore a tailored suit that hugged his body. But to me, nothing changed. He was still the man I enjoyed discussing art work with.

“Hello Jessica.”

“Hello, Mr…”

“David. Just David.”

“Okay, just David. Should we start from where we left off the other night or you're looking for someone fresh?”

“Whatever you recommend.”

A smile lightened my face. After our first meeting, I thought of other paintings that would excite and intrigue him. Basically anything that would get me to keep on talking until he bought every single thing I so much as laid my eyes on.

“The first set of painting I want us to take a look at is one of my favorite artists, Roxy. She has a total of thirty-six paintings and I've only been able to decipher sixteen of them.”

As I spoke, I realized that he was into every single thing I was talking about. I was even certain that he didn't blink at all. As we got to the third painting, I saw a bunch of kids sipping drinks around some of my favorite works.

“Hey! Can't you read? No food in the gallery!” Immediately, they ran out terrified. Victor's face was in awe as he saw me yell. He I thought I scared him off until I heard a giggle. This guaranteed me that I didn't lose a potential customer to the gallery and a potential friend.

“Those kids have been playing around the gallery since. Why is it that it you decided to yell at them while they played around this painting in particular?” He asked with his hands tucked behind.

I took my time to reply to that question stating that it was my favorite painting. He seemed to be lost as it was different from all the other paintings I had been showing him before.

“It happens to be different from the ones you've showed me before. Tell me about it. What makes you like it?”

It didn't feel like I was carrying out my job anymore. I felt like a high school kid expressing herself to the fullest. As I spoke, I heard a voice from behind,

“I totally disagree.” I turned back demanding to see who objected to my perspective on my favorite painting. A tall man in a tailored suit who looked almost the same as David.

As David turned back, the smile in his face vanished into a deep hatred.

“Romano! What the fuck are you doing here!?”

“Don't you get this? It's me and you for life in this feud, Mack!”

These two knew each other well and the name David was called rang a bell.

“Mack as in David Mack the Mafia?” Fear starting brewing in my mind as it felt like I had just entered something I didn't sign up for.

“Yes, honey. The one and only. Did Mr. Mack here not give you a proper introduction?”

“Get out of here Jessica.” David commanded leaving no room for discussion with his face showing nothing but bare rage.

As I made my way to leave, not in obedience to David but to stay out of whatever feud was going on, Victor blurted out, “Jessica isn't going anywhere.” as if I was not present.

It all looked like a movie until men started coming out from different sides of the gallery. The fear in me accelerated. David pulled me behind him making me lean on my favorite painting. I couldn't even bother to care about the painting as it looked like my life was going to end that very day.

“This is low, Romano. Even for you. Out of all places, an art gallery.”

The men began closing in and the fighting began.

The first thug lunged. David sidestepped, driving an elbow into his throat. The man crumpled, gasping. Another swung a knife. David caught his wrist, twisted hard, and snapped bone. A scream, cut short by a knee to his face.

Jessica ducked behind a marble pedestal as Victor’s men closed in. David grabbed a bronze sculpture, modern art, heavy as hell and hurled it into a charging attacker. The impact sent him crashing through a glass display. Shards exploded like glittering rain.

Victor watched, arms crossed. “You always did make a mess.”

David didn’t answer. A gunman took aim. Jessica screamed a warning. David dove, tackling the shooter into a canvas. The frame splintered, paint tearing like an open wound.

Two more men rushed him. David feinted left, then crushed a right hook into the first man’s jaw. The second grabbed him from behind. David stomped down on his foot, then slammed his head back.

Crack.

Nose broken.

Victor finally moved, drawing a blade. “Enough.”

David wiped blood from his lip. Yeah. Enough.”

As Victor lunged, Jessica acted. She flung a fire extinguisher at his head. Victor dodged, but the distraction cost him. David closed the gap, driving a fist into his ribs, then a brutal uppercut. Victor staggered, snarling.

Sirens wailed in the distance. Victor spat blood. This isn’t over.”

David grabbed Jessica’s arm. Time to go.”

They fled through the shatt

ered gallery, masterpieces now witnesses to violence, chaos and control, painted in blood.