I accepted the phone Larry handed me, my mind racing with questions. The senator's voice crackled over the line, a mix of desperation and authority. I wondered why he did not reach out to any of the Lords in the Martinez Gang. I had introduced him to the members of the table. Anyway, I am one of them and the best at what I do.

"Cassie, I need your help. Senator Alby has been kidnapped. They're demanding a ransom, and the police are involved. I can't trust them entirely. I need someone who can navigate this situation without exposing my vulnerabilities."

"Senator Thomas," I began, choosing my words carefully, "why involve the police at all? If it's a ransom, usually they want everything done discreetly. Maybe you should think about that," I said.

The senator sighed, the weight of the situation evident in his voice. "Cassie, it's not just about the ransom. They want this to be public, and I can't risk my political career by handling it the way the police want me to, so I need someone I can trust. Someone that I know can do the job without any further issues."

The revelation struck a dissonant chord. "Why would someone target Senator Alby, Senator? And why involve the police if it's just about money?" I asked, not sure if what I heard the first time was correct.

If he was the one they were after, kidnapping Senator Alby was not his problem. I felt he was hiding something from me and I was not going to take a job and risk the lives of my men without knowing the full situation of what we were getting into.

The senator hesitated, his reluctance evident even through the phone.

"There are political rivals, opponents who would stop at nothing to tarnish my reputation. If this gets out, it could ruin me. I need you to ensure a discreet resolution, Cassie," he said.

A knot of suspicion tightened in my stomach. I was not comfortable with what I just heard, it did not make sense to me.

"Senator, forgive me for asking, but why should I trust that this isn't some elaborate ploy? Why Senator Alby and not you?" I asked.

The senator's voice held a hint of frustration. He was truly finding words to put together to explain what he meant.

"I understand your skepticism, Cassie, but my life is in danger. I'll do whatever it takes to save myself and my career. If you don't believe me, you can walk away," he said.

“You need to make me understand what you mean. All you have said to me does not make any sense to me, at least give me some comfort, some purpose, and the zeal to take this assignment.” I said.

There was some quietness for a few seconds. I almost thought he had hung up the call. After a heavy sigh and some deep breaths, he asked.

“Are you there, Cassie?’ He said,

“Yes I am here Senator, please go ahead, I am listening,” I said.

“The Contractor is after me for being your ally and he is after Senator Alby for joining forces with me. Cassie, this is very big. It is about the soul and heart of this nation. If he gets control of the Senate, I and Senator Alby, we are finished. You know him he will also come for our families,” he said.

It looked like I had underestimated the Contractor. He had mixed his political machinations with criminal intent. If he gets the two most powerful Senators and infiltrates the senate, all he needs is to get the kind of money Marvin has and he will be unstoppable anywhere in the world. It was that crazy.

"I'll do it," I conceded, the weight of responsibility settling over me. "But I need all the details, Senator. And I need your assurance that this isn't a ploy to manipulate the situation to favor you and promote your personal ambitions." I said.

As the senator provided the details, I couldn't shake the feeling that there were layers to this kidnapping beyond the obvious. It was a massive political game being played by all involved and the Contractor was at the head of it all.

When the Senator dropped the call, I looked at Larry and he was not happy that I had taken the job.

“I think these guys just want to make a fool of you. Why would Senator Thomas be concerned about Senator Alby’s kidnap? They should pay the ransom and let us be. Please you are ill and you need that rest the doctors warned us about, ” he said.

I understood where Larry was coming from and he knew how many times I had told him I hated these politicians. Their schemes never end. But if what the Senate President is saying is true, then we have to look at the bigger picture.

“It is more than that, Larry,” I said.

“You know that Doctor Jake will not allow you to leave the hospital, right?” Larry said.

“I will be a danger to everyone if I stay here,” I said.

The look on Larry’s face was fascinating. He was wondering how the situation about what the Senator said would endanger us.

“Do you want to explain exactly what you mean by we are in danger please?” Larry asked.

“The Contractor! Larry,” I said.

I told him what the Senator had told me and why I believed it to be true. In building my empire I had also given the Contractor the option of that. I have Marvin at my beck and call. If I could have the Senate too, I would be very powerful.

The contractor has seen this, he wants the same thing. If I am his obstacle to Marvin, he would be my obstacle to the Senate. Even if I got the Senate, I would only have reduced his powers. The contractor I know would still try to kill and blackmail his way to the top.

“So what do we do? You need to convince the Doctor, but I know that you are not okay, Cassie. You do not have the strength for this,” Larry said, reminding me of why I was in the hospital in the first place.

“There must be some sort of something I can take, some sort of boost or something that would not affect the baby,” I said.

“I don’t know but I am not giving you any adrenaline booster, Cassie, you are pregnant,” Larry said.

“Well, in that case, I have you,” I said.

“I hope you are not asking me to go against the Contractor Cassie?” Larry said.

“Technically, I am not. Just locate where Senator Alby is and I will do my thing. You know, Doctor Jake said I should be out by tomorrow, so technically you have 24 hours to locate the Senator,” I said, smiling.

“Technically, this looks like a better idea,” Larry replied. He was now smiling.

The contractor must think I am a pushover to have set this up. I want to build an empire where all the Mafia Lords are put in check and the Contractor will not stop me.