I woke up with a massive headache. I immediately regretted every sin I'd ever committed. This was surely the wrath of God himself. It felt like alarm clock had decided to binge on caffeine and ring in my head.

Dear God,
I have learned my lesson, I shall remain innocent and never drink again. Please make this bomb blast in my head go away. Or kill me. I promise I will never touch alchohol again. And I'll keep this promise unlike the last twenty thousand or so that I may have forgotten and for which I am deeply regretful.

I groaned as I opened my eyes. It was as if I was a vampire whose eyes burned to ashes in the sun.

"Morning sleeping beauty. Though right now you look more like the fire breathing dragon Prince Adrian has to fight." Damien said from beside my bed. Loudly. The alarm clock in my head started to do the cha-cha again.

"You are in a really bad shape. Consumed way too much alcohol for your body. Speaking of your body, have you ever heard of this thing called exercise? You're way too thin with no muscle. You could use some push-ups or sit-ups or pull ups..."

"Shut the fuck up." I groaned as his voice resonated in my head.

So this is what a hangover felt like. Like you were on the brink of death and nobody was merciful enough to put you out of your misery.

I tried to recall the series of the events that occurred last night. My head only hurt more.

"Please kill me."

"Here." Damien said, handing me two pills and a glass of water.

It was an effort to gulp it down, but once the water was in, it felt better and even allayed the foul taste in my mouth. I vaguely recalled a garden and a pool. I raised my hand to my head. Ouch! I winced. It was bruised.

"Damien, why is my forehead hurting?"

"Oh that, you saw Adrian and ran into the glass door thrice before figuring out how to open it."

"Oh God." I was mortified.

"So we ran after you. You led us on a wild goose chase across the gardens, then we lost track of you. But we heard you singing the national anthem at the top of your voice."

I imagined how that would have played out and cringed.

"The next time we saw you, you were challenging one of Adrian's associates to a strip competition."

I buried my face in my hands. Lord, kill me now.

"Then you ran to the pool and started yelling at it. Something about why Ariel won't help you find Nemo."

FML.

"Then you passed out."

Thankfully.

I slowly lifted my head and glared at him.

He looked at me with his innocent blue eyes. "Well, it was the funniest night of my life. It got better when you called Adrian the sexiest penguin ever in front of fifty of his...er...associates."

I was almost too terrified to ask.

"What was Adrians reaction?"

"He laughed it off and took you to your room. Apparently you pulled him on the bed and he ran away."

What a gentleman. Did he find me attractive at all!? Not that I was complaining.

I don't think I want to face Adrian ever again. Apparently;
1 impulsive girl + 3 shots of vodka + Mafia = Big disaster.

"First time?" Damien asked.

"Yes." I admitted.

"Well, Adrian's right."

"About what?" I asked.

"About there being nothing but a blank space between your ears. Who attempts to drink for the first time when surrounded by the most dangerous people in the world!?"

"Yeah." I said sheepishly.

Suddenly Isaac and Antonio burst in to the room.

"Damien, where's Adrian? Oh, hi, Chevron." Isaac said sheepishly. From the scarlet hue of his face, he'd had a front row seat for my escapades.

"Oh, he left to see Castellino." Damien replied casually.

Isaac looked pissed. "When!??"

"Remember you briefly turned your head after saying that Castellino was a terrible idea and that he shouldn't do it?" Damien asked.

Isaac nodded.

"Well, he did it an hour before that."

✴✴✴

"Why did Adrian go to Castellino?"

"He suspects that Castellino has the layouts of il labirinto. That's-" Damien started.

"The maze under the Abandonato family house. I know. He told me." I replied. "He thinks the blueprints are hidden somewhere in that maze."

"Possibly."

We pulled up at a mansion that could rival the DeLucas' estate.

"We're here. Now let's get that idiot. Hopefully without losing our second idiot here." Antonio said patting my hair.

I looked at the gates.

"I need to go pee." I said.

"Seriously!? Now!??" Damien demanded.

"Yes."

"Oh for the love of God!" Damien cursed and drove us to this tiny restaurant nearby.

"Make it quick." He snapped.

I flipped him the finger and went inside the restroom.

I pulled out my burner phone and typed in the number that I'd memorized on the jet.

"Hello?" An accented voice answered.

"Roberto Castellino, I presume?" I asked in a cool, composed voice. My insides were quaking with fear.

"Ah, Ms. Rane. I was wondering when I'd hear from you."

"I think we should meet. DeLuca's men do not respect privacy, unfortunately." I answered. I was scared as hell. But I had Adrian on my side. Right?

"Of course Ms. Rane." He chuckled.

"I'll meet you at the gates to your house." I said before pressing the disconnect button.

✴✴✴

Okay. I had crawled out of the bathroom window and was now in front of tall wrought iron gates. Two burly men approached me. I fought my instincts. Every sensible bone in my body was telling me to run. Unfortunately, I used my brain which was not a bone. At least, I hoped not.

I put on my bitch-face that I wore to college and in public.

One of the goons grabbed my arm, cutting off the circulation. He dragged me towards the house.

"Rude." I muttered. I was dreading every inch that brought me closer to the house.

Roberto Castellino was exactly what I expected. Obese, and chewing on a cigar. I wrinkled my nose at the cloying, repugnant smell of his Cologne. Seriously, what was it? Eau de Rocket Fuel? Was he hoping the scent would make him more attractive? Well, he just made Cologne unattractive.

"Where's Mr. DeLuca?" I asked.

"So you are the famous Chevron Rane." He said in a voice like sandpaper on granite.

"Yes."

He put out his cigar. "I believe we will be keeping you a while, unfortunately."

Shit.

A sharp pain exploded at the back of my head and everything went black.