All Is Fair

News like this traveled fast in this town. Cozette Williams wasn’t one for gossip but she knew that when the old lady at the diner told her Gabriel Paziali was dead it was true. When she heard from a close friend to her boss talk about the boy having a meeting with the competing mafia family she had a gut feeling that something was going to go down. Of course she stayed away from it all but she couldn’t help but feel bad for the family. Gabriel hadn’t been known to be a good person but there must’ve been someone who loved him. This was the thought that ran through her head when she lied to her roommate and snuck out of the house to go to his funeral. She had dressed as incognito as she possibly could, without it actually looking like she was trying to hide.

When she arrived at the cemetery she noticed the large mafia family stand around a deep hole. As she placed her hand over the necklace she was wearing she couldn’t help but think about her mother’s funeral. During the entire thing she had to stand there without a feeling on her face. Her boss hated her mother and if he ever found out who she really was she was dead.

As she stood there watching the family she noticed Toni Paziali. Her face was stone and the nineteen year old looked like she was ready to kill someone. Cozette took in a sharp breath as Toni looked up at her family. Toni barely noticed all of their sad faces as she then lifted her gaze towards the sky. Cozette wanted to tell the family that she was sorry for everything that had happened. She wanted to tell them who it really was that had caused this.

Cozette was so tired of the constant was that was her life. The two big mafia families didn’t even know what was to come and it pained her to know it. Through her life she has never been the evil one. She wanted so badly for the people around her to be happy but ever since her mother died, she just stopped. She didn’t have it in her to make other people feel good when she lived in her own personal hell.

Being so wrapped up in her own thoughts she hadn’t noticed the big man walking up to her. So when he spoke Cozette nearly jumped out of her skin.

“Miss, you need to leave.” He stood extremely tall compared to her small frame and she stood up straighter before nodding. She looked over at the family and noticed Louis Tomlinson watching her with vary eyes. Cozette quickly composed herself and gave the big man an easy excuse.

“I’m sorry for disturbing. I work across the street and noticed the large mass of people. I’m sorry for your loss.” She turned around and hoped that the big man would tell the excuse to Louis. Her mind quickly changed thoughts as she tried to figure out where to go next. Her stomach was making an odd noise so she decided to find a diner and eat some. Because she didn’t want anyone to notice her all that much she had parked her car a few blocks away so she walked towards it and found a diner close by. It was called Sarah’s and was the typical diner. Cozette walked through the door and sat down in a booth in the back. As she looked over the menu a girl, who turned out to be her waiter, walked up to her.

“What can I get you doll?” Cozette tried not to be offended by the little nickname, the girl probably called everyone that.

“Coffee and a burger, thanks.” She didn’t even look up at the girl who just wrote down her order and then walked away. She wasn’t alone for long before she noticed someone sit down in front of her. When she looked up she easily recognized the man as Liam Payne, although she knew he would never know who she was. “There are other tables.” She looked down at the newspaper she had in front of her and saw him place his hands on the table.

“I saw you at the Paziali funeral.” She glanced up at him and tried to remember seeing him there.

“So?” She turned the page but didn’t read the words that were in front of her. She was too tensed by him sitting in front of her. Liam Payne was a big part of the de Moretti’s and that was one of the two dangerous mafia families in town. When he was a kid his parents died, how she did not know, and the mafia family almost adopted him and his younger sister. His sister was nowadays a cop and Liam was very active within the mob family. If Cozette hadn’t been scared of him people would’ve thought she was crazy.

“How did you know Gabe?” She almost laughed out loud when the man in front of her talked about the dead guy as a friend. When she once more lifted her gaze he was looking at her with piercing eyes.

“I didn’t.” She said nothing more as her food arrived. Continuing ignoring Liam she ate her food and pretended to read the newspaper again. He didn’t move from his seat and one could tell he was getting frustrated.

“Then what were you doing there?” His voice sounded strained and when she once more looked up at him he was glancing around them. Cozette felt her anger began to boil inside of her but she tried to remain calm.

“Probably the same as you.” She raised her hand towards the waiter and called her over. “Could I get a bag for this? Gotta run.” The girl nodded and quickly fetched one for Cozette.

“Who are you?” Cozette’s eyes quickly landed on Liam and her stomach did a flip. She stared at him while she packed her food into the bag. When she placed some money on the table and stood up, Liam did as well. She walked out towards her car but could feel the man follow close behind. When she was getting close to her car she quickly turned around and stared at the man behind her.

“Leave me alone.” He looked at her with a tilted head and slowly shook it.

“There is something suspicious about you. I haven’t seen you before and all of a sudden you show up at Paziali’s funeral?” His face became hard as he looked her over. “I can almost smell the trouble on you.” She laughed out loud at his remark and pointed at him.

“That’s a funny thing for you to say. I know who you are. What you’ve done. Don’t think for a second that I’m ignorant when it comes to this town and its families.” She quickly turned around and walked to her car. He followed her with a look of amazement on his face.

“Who are you?” His words were more wondering this time, not threatening like before. He looked at her with confusion written all over his face and when she turned around she gave him a hard stare.

“Leave me alone if you know what’s good for you.” She looked around, feeling like she was being watched. When he took a step forward she almost screamed at him. “God Liam! It’s like you want to get killed.” She could see the surprised expression on his face as she jumped into the car and speeded off.

Never before had she ever met a person who had said so little but still pissed her off that much. But she had to worry about that later, the main concern at the moment was her boss finding out she went to the funeral. He wasn’t going to be pleased with her.