Mariana

Mariana: I need you come home, our uncle is shouting at your sister.
Mariana: I miss you. I need you

Furious. I was absolutely furious when I didn't receive any reply.

I couldn't stop scolding Lucia like she was 5 year old kid who put her hand into a burning fire. As a woman who'd mastered her emotions after all these years, it felt numbingly terrifying to get kidnapped and then to find out my own sister-in-law turned herself in for my release.

Right at that moment, I realised how much I truly loved that crazy girl because I begged the bastard to keep me and let her go. It was a protective reaction I didn't even know I felt towards her. It wasn't because of what Santiago or how he'd never trade her, even for me but I knew he'd come for me.

Who I was most worried about was Lucia.

The only person who I would have traded my life for was my little brother, who was too innocent for the cruel life fate had dealt him. I looked at Lucia like that. No child should be taken from her dead mother and brutalised for years.

I wanted to protect her because of her.

"Are you not going to speak to me?" She pulled at me crossed arms like a little child. Tears welled in my eyes and my heart twisted.

"NO!" I turned away further, faced the window.

"Oh come on!" She threw her hands up like a kid having a tantrum.

When Jude personally escorted me outside of the mansion, I truly believed that I was going to die. Bursts of nausea forced out sudden emotions out of me, making me cry but otherwise, I was firmly still.

Afterwards, when he started to unbound me, relief washed over me for a second until I saw the damn iron gates open and a tiny girl walk in with short hair.

"No, no. Take me, let her go. NO!" I screamed to no avail. He got his men to drag me towards her where she stopped to meet me.

"WHY? Did he do this?"

"No!" She had whispered. "He doesn't. Go to him. It's going to be okay." Her calmness confused me. There was a determined gleam in his eye. She hugged me tightly before I was wretched away from her and practically got thrown out of the compound.

I had my phone on me, one of the men shoved it into my hand after he released me. I turned around to find Jude grab Lucia.

"No!" I whispered. I had to do something, I had to do it quick. I had to call Tiago but I needed to get the fuck out of here first.

Lucia and Gabe were talking like this was just a normal day and Jamie made a back hand comment to Lucia about not getting shot this time.

"This time?" Outraged, I faced her finally. "You were SHOT?"

"Not this time." She gleamed. Sitting up, she lifted her blood soaked t-shirt until a patch of uneven scar came to view close to her naval.

"Does your brother know that?"

"Nope. It happened when Gabe rescued me. You know the New York gang war, when Mason died?" She let go of her shirt.

I softened. I'd suffered a lot in life but I was never physically violated. Even though I was unfazed by violence and gangs because of my lifestyle as an escort but her painted a different style of suffering. Melting, I forced her into a hug. Neither of us were the hugging type but this was a special circumstance.

"Never." I hit Gabe on the other side. "Do that." I hit his arm again. "Again." Gabe didn't even flinch.

"What's with you and your husband hitting me." He grumbled. Letting Lucia go, looked in into her eyes that were so much like the man's I gave my life to but bigger.

"You do not do that ever again. Okay?" I ordered her.

"I won't need to. He'd head." She beamed. For the first time ever, there was a glint in her eyes. Even though it was night and the overhead light was off, the bright lights from the stores outside provided enough shine for her eyes to sparkle.

The heavy darkness I was so used to seeing in her was gone.

I knew she killed him but from the way she was celebrating, it felt like she massacred him. Good.

"We should go on a vacation. Party and have fun." She was buzzing with energy. She looked like a person who just won a lottery.

"We should. We really should."

It was around 10 at night and Tiago wasn't home yet. I was getting nervous, especially when Lucia and her father were going at each other. He was cursing out Gabe and Jamie, while she was defending them, shouting, it was her idea.

I was in my bed room, changed into silk Victoria Secret long pyjamas. I have Lucia one of my long pyjama sets after she'd showered. Lucia nearly tripped twice before she folded up the bottom of her pyjamas.

The boys showered in the gym bathroom, hopefully not together after I gave them something of Tiago. It didn't fit Gabe but Jamie was fine. The shirt looked a like a glove on his big body but he was wearing his own jeans.

I was too tired. I'd been through such an emotional roller-coaster, I needed a drink and a long 10 hours' worth of sleep. My hair was up in a messy bun, looking through the night's video that my assistant took of the event. I tried my best to not think about the horror I went through.

A new voice joined the conversation, Santiago was home. Getting up, I stalked out of the our room, ready to give him a piece of my mind until I saw him holding about 5 big size boxes of pizza and a big bottle of coca cola.

He knew that was my secret guilty pleasure.

My anger towards him dissipated. Even though he didn't come home when I needed him to, he was still thinking of me. Rolling my eyes, I walked straight past him to the kitchen to grab some plates.

"Did you know what this? About Lucia?" Alberto accused Santiago.

"No. She's okay, Jude is dead. Stop shouting, you're giving my wife a headache." My eyes went wide. How the fuck did he know? Every time he called me his wife a little flutter erupted in my stomach.

Alberto looked at me remorsefully. A hand went to his forehead as if he was getting headache. Gabe got the glasses as I set the plates on the table. Tiago went to his sister, gave her a kiss on the top of her head. I guess he needed to calm down, that's why he took his time.

"Sit, eat. I'm going to shower. I'll be right back." When he went to the bedroom, I didn't follow him. Instead, I found the box that had meat feast and claimed it form myself until Gabe nearly tackled me for it.

"Animal." I swore.

"He eats like a pig." Lucia spoke with her mouthful.

"She takes a lot of out me."

Silence.

As if realising what he said right in front of her dad, he swore and hid his face behind his hand. "I'm sorry." He mumbled.

"You know what, you're lucky because you saved her or I would have put a bullet in your head."

"STOP." Lucia screamed. "STOP IT. You can't just come into my life and upset the people who are close to me. I don't know you. You don't know me. Stop threatening my boyfriend. This is ridiculous. If you keep this up, I really don't want to be around you." Enraged, she stood up. "You're... you're so controlling and sensitive. I have to walk on eggshells around you so I don't say the wrong thing. So I don't accidentally talk about when I was a captive because it will upset you.

"Well guess what? I was a captive and those fuckers are dead now. I'm happy today and you're RUINING IT. You're ruining my happiness and I'm not going to deal with it. I'm leaving." She stormed past her dad, too quick for him to catch her. Gabe jumped up, tried to get to her.

It was Santiago who picked her up by her waist, set her down away from the door.

"I think it's time for you to leave Tio." Tiago's voice was deep and firm.

"You're throwing me OUT? When my daughter was just kidnapped AGAIN?" Alberto was hysterical again.

"My wife was kidnapped, my sister traded her life to save hers. She didn't know I was going to rescue my wife and that part is on me. I should have included her in the plan, then maybe she wouldn't have walked into the lion's den. Bottom line is, none was hurt. She's right here. Absolutely uninjured and safe.

"You're hurting her by shouting at her about the past that none of us has no control over. You need to move on from the past and see that she's well and alive. You need to stop berating her-"

"I'm NOT BERATING MY DAUGHTER."

"-like it was her fault that Jude Capone kidnapped her. Tonight, she killed him. Get over it or get out."

"You're throwing me OUT?" He stalked towards my husband. His hair wet from the shower, shorts and t-shirt made him look young.

"You're upsetting her." He pulled Lucia close. "I don't care you're my Tio or her father, you're upsetting her by yelling at her. She's had enough men yelling at her for a life time." That was the cheapest shot that physically shoved Alberto back. His eyes landed on Lucia and she was throwing dagger at him.

"Leave, you can see her tomorrow." He opened the door, waited for Alberto to leave. Lucia didn't even look at him.

"Mija, por favour, I didn't mean to upset you." He tried to reason.

"But you did. I understand that you feel a lot of guilt but you're not the one who suffered the way I did. I need you to stop over dramatic guilt that you keep putting me like it was my fault."

"NO!" Alberto tried to get to her.

"Then stop. Stop being so over baring. You're suffocating me." She paused, looked at Gabe before speaking again. "You're a stranger to me." She told her father. "I haven't known you for 14 years. A year ago, I didn't even remember what you looked like. He helped me remember but everything in my head is still jumbled." She pointed at Gabe.

"I just need you to understand that for the last 13 or 14 years, I didn't have a father and the previous 9 years, I was too young to remember most of it. So now I have a man who's yelling at me all the time and forcing me to walk on egg shells so I don't upset him, it's a lot for me.

"I need some time, okay? Please leave. I'll come see you tomorrow but tonight, I can't listen to you scream." She went back to where she was sitting. Next to Jamie on the double sofa and picked up a piece of pizza.

"I'm sorry Mija, for upsetting you."

My heart trembled seeing the distraught look on his face. He was heartbroken. Lucia looked unbothered. Santiago walked him out, he put his hand on his Tio's back to comfort him. Gabe sat back down, carried on stuffing his face. I watched Lucia who was just watching T.V. and eating, completely uncaring for the way she just completely humiliated a man who loved her more than life. Who was still mourning her death with her mothers'.

But I did see Lucia's point too. She didn't know this man who kept calling her, daughter. He was a complete stranger to her and that's why she had an easier time making friends with me than her own brother. Instead of trying to force her to see how important it is for her to understand why her dad is so overprotective, I stood still, waited for Santiago to join us. We both went to enjoy the meal, trying to put the night behind us.

The next day was awkward. I fell asleep even before he joined me bed but I woke up with him wrapped around me, protectively. Once he woke, he felt the bed that instant. I wanted to lie with him, talk to him about how scared I was yesterday but I didn't. Instead, after brushing my teeth, I went to make some coffee for him.

When he joined me in the kitchen, he kept stealing glances at me, not know what to say.

"What?" I asked, handing him a mug full of disgusting black coffee.

"Thank you." He took it, placed it near him on the island.

"We should start expanding. They should have been able to sleep over here last night instead of drive that exhausted." I looked for cold pizza and some coke but they were all gone. Frowning I looked at him.

"The boys finished it all." He shrugged with a downturned smile.

"I guess I'll have to eat fruits and healthy crap now. Ergh!" I complained opening the fridge. "You know what, no." I shut the door. "No, I want a burger. I want crappy unhealthy food today. I was fucking kidnapped. "Give me In-and-out." It was me who was throwing a tantrum now.

"I don't think they are open now." He put his hands up in surrender.

"Aren't you supposed to be like some big shot billionaire. GIMME FOOD." He beamed from ear to ear at my little outburst. I'd never acted like this but my usual calm, nonchalant sense was fried last night.

"Okay." He backed away, to retrieve his phone. I tried to reign in my mood but I couldn't. I wanted to hurt him for not coming home quickly, comforting me. When he was done ordering one of his men to get me burgers and everything else I usually got from there, I stalked towards him and shoved him back.

"OW!" He dropped the phone on the main sofa, where we'd consummated over hundreds of time.

"You didn't come home yesterday. You didn't speak to me to or comfort me. I could have died yesterday." He flinched. "BUT YOU WEREN'T THERE FOR ME." That hurt.

"Javi was shot." He tried to reason.

"OH! I'm sorry where you there trying to comfort him with SEX that you didn't have time for ME." I was being completely unreasonable or maybe not. I kept shoving him. "You were supposed to come to ME."

"I WAS ASHAMED." He shouted, making me flinch a little. We'd never had an argument ever before. This was our first shouting match due to the fact that I was also being crazy and emotional. I'd never been so scared in my life before.

"Aww, how sweet." I mocked. "I'm sorry that I was the one who was kidnapped. I mean. You being ashamed that you couldn't prevent me from being kidnapped is more than me actually BEING kidnapped. SCREW YOU." I pushed him back again when he grabbed my forearms and hauled me into him.

"You don't think I died inside when I learned you were kidnapped by the same man who terrorised my sister?" His face twisted, anger tightened his angles.

"You don't think I tried to give myself up with I saw her walk into the compound?" His eyes widened.

"You did what?" His breath whispered over my mouth. His eyes burned with the morning sun.

"She's my sister-in-law. Who suffered from the hands of that monster. You don't think I wouldn't try to save her?" Fisting his shirt with my hands I pulled him closer.

"Why would you?" His frown on his forehead deepened from worry.

"Because I care for her. Not just because of you. I..." I looked down, softening. "...I see her as my sister. Who was so innocent that only knew tragedy and pain. She can't even recognise her father's concern. She didn't deserve what she went through and I didn't want her to face even more."

"You..." He couldn't speak, his bottom lips trembled but there were no tears in his eyes. I'd only seen him cry once, that was when he found Lucia.

"I love her you asshole. She's like my own little sister." I kicked him. His black eyes glistened, some of the darkness washed away.

"You're not mad at me for not agreeing to Jude's demands? I know you heard." He let me go, to wrap his arms around my back. His hands went straight to the nape of my neck.

"Mad?" That wasn't even a thought that crossed my mind even when I was tied to a chair with Jude speaking to Tiago on loudspeaker. I remembered shaking my head when he asked to swap me for my sister-in-law. "NO! I'd be so fucking mad at your if you accepted." I punched him no his chest lightly. "How could you even think that?"

"Because you're my life but I didn't pick you over my sister."

"I don't think I would have picked you over her."

A massive smile stretched across her lips.

"But I would have come for you, like you did for me. I knew you were coming." There weren't one ounce of a doubt about that.

"You trust me that much?" He picked me up by the waist, my feet dangled in air.

"Of course. I'm mad that you didn't keep a better eye on her and that you didn't come home to me." Calmness settled down on me.

"Wrap your legs around me." He ordered, the dominance overtook him.

"Nope, I'm mad at you." I tried to get gown but he didn't care. Swinging me around, towards the bedroom. "Also, I want food. Not your dick. I'm too mad for it."

"Fine, I'll just get you off." He carried me to the bedroom, my anger towards him abated.

"I still would have appreciated if you were here." I grumbled on his shoulder, wrapped my arms around his shoulder.

"I apologise. I should have thought of the trauma you went through instead of my failure. I'm sorry babe." He kissed me on my lips but I didn't reciprocate.

"I want food." I spoke against his lips, frowning.

Throwing his head back, he laughed until I joined in. I laughed because the war was over and I was back home and safe.

This is was it. The past was finally over. Mine and his. Lucia's as well. We could finally move on without living under the shadows. I couldn't contain the happiness in my heart. It felt like my heart could burst out of chest. I could travel with my whole family, show them all off to everyone.

We were happy and now, we are both free.