Thalia

As I stared behind Peter's retreating form, I couldn't help but smile. He had gotten me a present. What was the occasion? But then again, he said he's had it for a while. I wonder when he got it to begin with.

I tugged at my cape, heat rising to my cheeks. God, how lucky was I?

Suddenly, a hand grabbed my face, covering my mouth and my heart stopped. I reached up to claw it away but another hand shot out and grabbed one of my wrists, pulling it behind my back to the point where it was almost in snapping position.

"Try to call for help, and I'll make sure to break this arm in one smooth motion." A voice hissed into my ear. I stiffened up at the threat. Despite the added venom in this voice, I could still somewhat recognize it, but I couldn't quite place it.

The person dragged me backwards and I was forced to trip along as they tossed me into some room and locked the door. They shoved me away from them and I scrambled to my feet before whipping around to face my attacker. My eyes widened as I recognized them instantly.

Toni!

She stared down at me with a scowl, her red silk dress stopping right before her knees. Her brown eyes narrowed at me. "So, you're still here."

"What the hell do you want, Toni?" I demanded. "Do you realize how pointless and stupid this is? We're surrounded by people! All I have to do is yell and I'm sure you'll be swarmed in no time."

Toni's scowl turned into a smirk "Well, about that," She knocked on the wall. "This room is soundproof. You can yell to your heart's content. No one is going to hear you. Trust me." She turned to look at me. "Peter and I used this room loads of times."

I rolled my eyes. 'This bitch.'

"Anyway, you asked what I want right?" She continued. "Do you remember that time when you decided to sneak into the warehouse that one night?" I didn't respond, but that didn't deter her. "You saw something you weren't supposed to see back then. You got involved in a life you weren't supposed to be involved in. That's why I'm here."

Her eyes turned to mine and she smirked. "You know the Don wants you dead, right? He knows everything about your schedule, despite how close the Ronans keep you. A little house lock-down won't stop him from getting what he wants, and he wants you dead."

I had to get out of here while she wasn't hostile. There had to be something I could use to knock her out. But it was nothing but chairs around a glass table with wooden legs. There was a vase on the table, though. Maybe if I could get to that and throw it at her, it could buy me enough time to escape and get help.

"How did you even get in here?" I asked, hoping to distract her. "It was a closed off event."

"If you blend in, you get in to everywhere quite easily, dear." Toni said, twirling a braid around her finger. "That's what makes my job so easy. If you have a pretty face and the right clothes, you can do almost anything."

"But you also need brains. That must be pretty hard for you." I said with a smirk. I had to get under her skin. If I could get her to try and attack me blindly, then I could use what I learned from Fiona to dodge and make it to the vase while she was recovering. I knew it was a simple plan, but it was all I could think of in the heat of the moment.

Toni practically growled at me as her long, manicured nails sunk into her skin. "You sure do have a big mouth for someone who could get her ass kicked at any given moment."

"And you have a big mouth for someone who couldn't keep a man." I taunted.

That was it. That was all it took for Toni to launch herself at me from her side of the room. I rolled out of the way and before Toni could recover from her miss, I scrambled to my feet and made my way to the vase. I turned around just in time for Toni to tackle me to the floor and the vase in my hand fell and shattered on impact with the ground.

"Shit!" I hissed. Toni grabbed my face and slammed my head onto the floor. My vision was flecked with white spots and grew blurry. I tried to blink them away, but Toni slammed my head down again and pain shot through my cranium.

Her blurry form smirked at me. "Was that your plan? A petty little distraction?" She laughed and grabbed me by my hair, pulling me to my feet. "This is going to be much easier than I anticipated then!"

She shoved me roughly and I fell on top of the glass table, glass shards flying everywhere, some even sinking into my back. I cried out in pain and grabbed the frame of the table, hissing as the leftover glass cut the palms of my hand. Toni walked over and leaned down, smirking at me. "Bet that'll teach you to keep your mouth shut next time, huh?"

"Not even close." I hissed. Before she could react, I kicked her in the stomach, and she stumbled backwards. Ignoring all the pain, I shot upwards and grabbed a large shard of glass before rushing at Toni. I went to stab her, but she held up her bare hand, and before I could stop myself, the glass had gone straight through her hand. She cried out in pain and grabbed her hand with a scream.

I quickly turned around and ran toward the door but was yanked back. I saw Toni holding my cape with her good hand, her eyes filled with fury. "You little bitch!" She screamed, snatching the tulle material towards her. I fell back on the floor at her feet, wincing as I landed on my back wound. I looked up just I time to see Toni raising her heeled foot up to stomp down on me. I quickly sat up and Toni barely missed my face.

She looked down at me scowling as I scrambled to my feet. I had to get out of here now!

Something hit me in the back of the head as I ran towards the door and I collapsed, my skull throbbing. I looked up through lidded eyes and saw Toni holding a broken table leg over my head threateningly.

My eyes widened and before I could try to get out of the way, she cracked me over the head with it again.

"You're persistent! I'll give you that." She huffed. Toni gritted her teeth and with hiss, she pulled the glass shard out of her hand. She watched as it bled for a second before turning her attention back to me with narrowed eyes.

"I'm going to kill you." She seethed, raising the table leg over my head again.

This is it. I was going to die right here in front of this psychotic whore. What a stupid way to die. I held up my hands, hoping to shield myself as Toni swung downward.