The Mafia's Obsession:El rey

Maria's shift had been relatively uneventful. It had been a week since her encounter with El Rey, and she hadn't seen him at the club since then. She breathed a sigh of relief each night, grateful for the reprieve from his predatory gaze.

As she carried a tray of drinks through the crowded dance floor, she paused, her gaze snagging on a familiar figure sitting at a table near the bar. He was smoking a cigarette, his eyes partially hidden beneath heavy lids

It was El Rey.

Maria felt a knot of dread form in her stomach as she realized El Rey was not alone. He was surrounded by his colleagues their eyes fixed on the dance floor and the surrounding tables.

Swallowing the panic that threatened to rise in her throat, Maria forced herself to move, weaving through the crowd with as much nonchalance as she could muster. With each step she took, the anxiety gnawed at her, her pulse quickening. She couldn't let him see her.

Maria continued her rounds, her heart thumping against her ribcage as she attempted to ignore the proximity of El Rey's table. But fate, it seemed, had other plans.

A coworker tapped her on the shoulder, gesturing towards El Rey's table. "Can you serve them?" she asked, handing Maria a tray of drinks.

Maria's gaze fixed on the man seated at the center of the table, her body paralyzed with fear as she recognized El Rey. The tray felt heavy in her hands as his eyes slowly traveled up her body, a small smile playing on his lips.

Maria tried to steel herself against El Rey's piercing gaze, her hands trembling slightly as she placed the drinks on the table. All she wanted to do was turn and run, to escape the oppressive weight of his attention El Rey smiled, a thin curl of smoke wafting from his nostrils.

"Long time no see," he drawled, his voice almost friendly.

His gaze swept over her body, like a predator sizing up its prey. Maria felt her skin crawl under the weight of his scrutiny, her discomfort palpable.

El Rey's eyes narrowed, his gaze flicking to his companions, who were also openly staring at Maria. With a gruff command in Spanish, he silenced them, the men averting their eyes as if chastised.

Maria tried not to show her relief, her hands shaking as she clutched the tray.Maria's heart was pounding in her chest as she replied, her voice quavering only slightly. "I... I have to get back to work."

El Rey shrugged, his expression both dismissive and amused. "Of course. I wouldn't want you to get into trouble."

Maria took a deep breath, relief washing over her as she pivoted away from the table. She didn't look back, her steps quickening as she made her way through the crowd, eager to escape El Rey's presence.

Back at the bar, Maria slumped against the counter, her body quaking with the aftermath of the encounter. She clutched the tray to her chest, her eyes darting towards El Rey's table as if expecting him to follow her.

Rosa, pouring drinks for a nearby customer, caught sight of Maria's distress. She slid a concerned glance towards her friend, her brow furrowing"Qué onda?" Rosa whispered (What's up?)

Maria shook her head, her face ashen. "He was... there," she whispered, her voice breaking.

"El Rey?" Rosa asked, her heart sinking at the thought of Maria's encounter with the dangerous man. "¿Estás bien?" (Are you okay?)

Maria's gaze shifted to the floor, her hands trembling. "Sí... " (Yes.)

Rosa's eyes hardened as she eaned in closer to Maria, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "¿Te tocó en alguna parte?" (Did he touch you anywhere?) she asked, her concern palpable.

Maria shook her head, her eyes fixed on the floor. "No, no lo hizo," (No, he didn't) she replied, her voice tinged with relief. "But... he was looking at me."

Rosa's expression softened, her hand squeezing Maria's arm in a gesture of reassurance.

********

As Maria stepped out of the club, the night air felt heavy and suffocating, her skin prickling with apprehension. She scanned the street, looking for a cab, but her eyes caught a black luxury car slowly approaching from behind.

The car seemed to follow Maria's every move, its tinted windows concealing the driver from view. Her heart skipped a beat as she quickened her pace, her eyes darting around nervously.

Maria stood frozen on the sidewalk, her pulse racing as the car came to a halt just a few feet away. She swallowed hard, her mind racing as she tried to decide what to do.

"Run?" she thought to herself. "Or stay?"

Before she could make a decision, the window of the car rolled down, revealing the enigmatic figure of El Rey. His expression was unreadable, his dark eyes fixed on Maria with a disconcerting intensity.

Maria felt her breath catch in her throat as she stared back at him, her body paralyzed with fear.El Rey's voice was low, the command heavy with authority. "Get in," he said, his gaze unwavering.

Maria hesitated, her heart pounding in her chest as she considered her options. But before she could respond, El Rey repeated his command, his voice even more insistent.

Maria, feeling as though her feet were moving on their own accord, slid into the backseat of the car, her body trembling with fear. The door slammed shut behind her, the sound reverberating through the silent interior of the vehicle.

El Rey's voice broke through the silence, his words sharp and commanding. "Front seat," he ordered, his eyes flickering to the empty space beside him.

Maria, her hands shaking, obeyed without protest, sliding into the passenger seat and feeling the soft leather envelop her body. The smell of cigars and cologne filled the air, the atmosphere tense and unnerving.El Rey's gaze remained fixed on Maria, his eyes glinting in the dim light of the car. "I want to drive you home," he said, his voice calm but insistent. " Tell me where you live"

Maria's heart skipped a beat, her breath catching in her throat. "My address?" she asked, her voice shaking.

"Si, mi amor," El Rey purred, his accent thick and seductive. "I want to make sure you get home safe."

Maria swallowed, her mind racing. El Rey's request was innocent enough, but she couldn't shake the feeling that there was something more sinister at play.

"I live... on 18th Street," she stammered, hesitating before giving him her address. "In the apartment complex by the park."

El Rey nodded, his eyes still fixed on Maria's. "Very good," he murmured, his fingers tapping against the steering wheel.

The car lurched forward, pulling away from the curb and accelerating down the empty street.

The silence inside the car was oppressive, the only sound the steady hum of the engine and the occasional change of gears. Maria kept her eyes fixed on the street outside, her heart racing with every turn they took.

She felt El Rey's gaze on her, the intensity of his stare sending a shiver down her spine. "What do you want from me?" she finally whispered, her voice barely audible over the sound of the wind.

El Rey's lips curled into a smile, his fingers still drumming against the steering wheel. "You'll find out," he murmured, his voice dark and enigmatic