Leilani already regretted having agreed to Fons demands when she woke up. Nothing had happened but… she had gotten a taste of luxury again. It would be way worse to leave it behind now.

Theoretically it would be the smartest to leave now. Not even go through the obvious route but to jump out of the window but… breakfast. She could get another taste of a warm meal, a prepared, cooked and tasteful meal. It was stupid. It wouldn't make it easier to go back into the woods after but.. she wanted it so badly.

She hadn't even gotten out of the bed yet. It was soft. Soft, warm and comfortable. She had almost cried yesterday when she touched it. She had missed it. She truly had. The softness had reminded her of her Hogwarts bed. Sure, it wasn't like the memories were so vivid that she still felt the beds from then but something in here was constantly telling her this had been like home. That she wanted this but she couldn't have it and so she forced herself to get up.

It was a slow process and it was like torture. She knew the second she got up she would never feel it again.

While before it had just been a fact when she had gone to sleep on the ground or on her sleeping mat. She never actually had the knowledge that she wouldn't never get to lie in such a place again when she left it.

She really hated it when she finally managed to stand up. Should she really stay for breakfast? Should she stay to get another dose of luxury? But… one more filling meal would result in a few less days of having to search for food, same as that the 300 euros would last longer. It would be cruel, insanely cruel but it was the better choice if she looked upon it from the angle of pure survival.

Still, she shouldered her backpack, while she would stay for breakfast she would leave straight after and she wouldn't risk on the off chance that she got trapped now. She even had left her bag in her bed for the night, just for the off chance that something happened.

The moment she opened her door she already saw the martial artist in front of her and she flinched back slightly.

Fons smile was back but it was incredibly tense "Good morning Skull."

Leilani muttered an answer.

"I organized us a private room for breakfast. Would you follow me?" His eyes were on her form, especially on the way she tightly clutched her backpack.

"..sure."

The Brit slowly followed the Chinese, still carefully looking around and not trusting the situation wholly but Fon hadn't lied yet since they met yesterday. He had kept his promises so far. She wouldn't let her guard down completely but… food.

The room they were led into was indeed private, a table full of different breakfast foods and a few chairs surrounding it.

Same as yesterday she waited until Fon took a bite before she started. She didn't think that Fon would poison her and even if, it wasn't like she wasn't poison resistant. Wizardfolk had to indulge quite a few plants or substances that were bad for a muggle but witches managed.

Her motivation to wait was way simpler… she still waited for him to take it back, to pull a trick out of his sleeves or to do… something. She wasn't sure what but she hadn't considered the curse back then either.

Skull didn't outright ignore his presence in front of her. It would be foolish but still she was more focused on her food. Which resulted in her immediately flinching back when the door opened.

She was off her chair before she even saw Reborns figure stepping closer.

"What are you trying to do?" she gritted out, already trying to get her new backpack over her shoulder without losing sight of them.

Reborn didn't falter though, just throwing open the suitcase he had brought with him, showcasing numerous stacks of bills, " I have a deal to propose."

Leilani was still clutching her backpack and slowly stepping backwards "Why would I listen?"

"10.000 Euros."

"What?"

"I have 10.000 euros in this suitcase and a credit card with the same amount and you can have both if you just do one thing for me."

"You're trying to trap me?"

"no, If you stay and listen you get the credit card but if you promise me to do me the favour you can take the suitcase and leave. No tracking. No stalking. No restrictions. You can just walk out and we will stay here and we won't follow you."

"How do I know it's not fake."

"You can take it to the bank with me if you like. You can check the amount there too. I can swear it on my flames. This is real money and the card works as well."

Leilani was chewing vigorously on her lip "I'm not money fixated like Viper."

"True, but you need it. You know that. I know that and Fon does too. Just listen to me and this…" the sun picked up the credit card that laid on top of it and placed it closer to her on the table "Is yours."

She wasn't sure what to do. He was right as well.. 300 would last for quite some time but… she already wasn't in the best shape. She needed money. She really did and the amount? If she lived the same as before? This would last her decades. She wouldn't need to worry. She could make it with this. She really could.

"One wrong movement and you will regret it." she tried to put some hint of danger in her voice as she threatened them.

"Yes. I will just talk, nothing more. I can even step back so that you finish your breakfast if that makes you more comfortable."

She shook her head, she was too tense. She had never met two of them at the same time, besides the day when Colonnello had forced her to the meeting.

The hitman nodded "Alright. I want you to meet the Carcassa famiglia."

"I'm not joining the mafia!"

"You don't have to. I just want you to meet them and listen to what they have to offer. That's all I require to hand over the suitcase to you. You don't have to join them. You don't have to like them. You don't have to be nice or anything. Just meet them and listen."

"Why would I ever consider that?"

"They are as clean as it gets. They are a low level famiglia. no real influence or any big ambitions. They are harmless. If you can escape us you could beat their whole famiglia. They are no threat to you at all."

"And you get what out of it?"

"The chance that you will get off the streets."

"There is more to it. Why would you even offer me this much money for something like that?"

"20 thousand isn't much to me. But I know it is for you."

She could taste blood from the aggressive chewing she was doing "I don't trust you."

"I know."

"You lied to me."

"I omitted a lie and I regret it. I'm serious and I'm not playing right now."

"why do you even care?"

"You are one of us."

"I'm not."

"Yes you are and if it costs me this much for even a chance to change your situation I will do it. I will double the money if it's what it takes. Even triple or more. I don't care but I want you off the streets."

"I.."

"One meeting. just one. You can leave straight away if you prefer that. I'm not going to follow you if you don't want me to. You can go to them alone. I have a phone for you as well. I have all of our numbers in it and I even have written them down separately. You don't have to take it but you would be able to call us."

"For what would I need that?"

"If you need help."

"But.."

"You don't need it, I know but you can. You can rely on us. We have failed you, we know. We know it. I know I made a mistake when I listened to Luce but I'm trying to redeem my mistakes and for that I'm willing to go that far. We are all stuck together. We are all cursed and we share the same fate."

"I don't trust you."

"You don't have to for me to mean it. You can rely on us even if you don't see it. it won't change a thing. This is why I'm offering you money. Did Fon trick you yesterday? Did he betray his word to you?"

"No but.."

"No buts. He didn't and I'm doing the same. I swear it on my flames. I want you to meet them. That is all. You are in control. I'm not forcing you but I'm offering you a possibility to change your life around. Even if it's just the money. Think about it. think about what you can do with the money and how it will change your situation."

The worst part is… she knew he was right. Just Fon's 300 euro had meant a lot to her. She had started with way less than Reborn was offering her. This would change everything and she could manage. She could be fine. She could survive with this. Still… was it worth it? Was it worth it to actually meet a mafia famiglia?

She hated that the answer was yes. She really hated it. She hated to admit to herself that she was running on empty. That even her magic was struggling to keep her in working shape. She knew she needed this. Even if she hated accepting their help like this. She didn't want to trust them in any way but… she wanted to survive. She really did.

She could have killed herself. She could have given up long ago. She could have just died instead of struggling through 14 years of living in the wilderness.

Leilani had always wanted to survive. No matter what happened she had always pushed forwards and she had never given up. She was too stubborn for that and this… this could change her fate. This could be the one thing that would turn everything around. She could manage with this. She really could.

It was with a heavy heart, paranoia of trusting the wrong person again and the fear of falling for their tricks when she willed into it.