Catrina POV

I couldn't sleep. My mind was swimming with everything that I had just learned. I was a mafia princess. That meant that no one would ever dare lay a hand on me. Uncle Dan seemed to have a high ranking position in the family. I began to wonder what my father's position was... As I laid in bed thinking about the events or the day, I couldn't help but feel bad for Vanessa.

Just because she had been mean to me, didn't mean that she deserved to loose the protection of the family. It seemed unfair and cruel to force her family to disown her... I needed to find my father and talk with him. Perhaps, he could get this Don whoever he was, to change his mind.... Carefully, I tiptoed downstairs in search of my father. Perhaps, he could explain who this Don person was..

"Princess, what are you doing out of bed?"

"I can't stop thinking about Vanessa and the punishment given by the Don."

"I see."

"Uncle Daniel?"

"Yes Princess?"

"What's your position in the family?"

"I'm the consigliere."

"What's that?"

"It means that I assist the Don in making decisions concerning the family and I act on his behalf if he's unable to attend to family affairs."

"Uncle Daniel?"

"Yes Princess?"

"What is my daddy's position in the family?"

At this, Uncle Daniel sighs. "That is not something that I can discuss with you. If he wants you to know what he does, He will tell you in his own time and in his own way. In fact, for the time being, my advice to You is to forgetabout it."

I sigh in frustration "fine. Can I go get a cup of milk from the kitchen?"

"Sure princess..."

After giving Uncle Daniel a hug I rushed downstairs in search of both my Father and this mysterious Don. "I don't want excuses just get me my money!" I heard someone yell angrily as I passed by the open doorway.

"As you wish Don."

I paused. I knew that from watching The Godfather saga that the Don was the head of the mafia family. I peeked into the room to see who the Don was and I felt myself being pulled into the room. "What do we have here? A spy? How much did you hear?" The man demanded as he tossed Me to the floor.

"I didn't hear anything. I was just looking for my father. I paused when I heard you call someone Don. I've been wanted to speak to the Don of the family."

"Why would a kid like yourself, need to speak with the Don?" The man demanded with a scoff. How do you know about the mafia? Your what 8?"

"My age is irrelevant. I've seen enough movies that revolve around the mafia like The Godfather, Analyze this, Analize that and Disney's Zootopia. Not to mention, that I've read and watched everything to do with Batman to know and understand how the mafia world works."

"As to how I made the connection that my father and Uncle work for and are members of a mafia family? It's simple, I overheard people using mafia terms such as consigliere and Don."

"Everyone knows that a Don is the head of a mafia family. I have a bone to pick with you
Don! Why won't you face me? What's the matter are you yellow? Afraid of a little girl?" I demand mockingly. I heard the men in the room gasp in shock.

"If I were you, kid, I'd learn to curve that attitude of yours. It's going to get you into trouble." The man said to me but I ignored him walking up to the desk and standing directly in front of it.

"The mafia maybe a criminal organization, but even they live by some type of moral code. As far as I'm concerned, your Don, is nothing but a yellow bellied coward!"

At this, the man in the chair let out a boisterous laugh. "So, I'm a coward am I?" The man in the chair questioned as he smoked a cigar. Still not turning it around to face me. He seemed to want to keep his identity shrouded in mystery.

"Yes. You are. You are nothing but a low down dirty yellow bellied coward!" I replied with a slight snarl.

"Why you disrespectful little brat! Just who do you think your talking too?" One of the men in the room demand slapping me across the face.
The man went to strike me again but the man in the chair held up his hand and the man that hit me paused.

"It's perfectly alright Johnny. The child is entitled to her opinion." The man in the chair replied.

"But sir, this brat is showing you a complete lack of respect. Let me teach her a lesson, I beg of you."

"I am not afraid of you, or your Don." I reply.

The man chuckled "then you will die braver then most." He replied pointing his gun at me.

Suddenly a shot rang out and the man who had hit me fell to the ground. I stared at him in shock as I watched the life drain from his eyes. The man sitting in the chair then placed the gun on his desk.

He then reached for a glass that was filled with some type of alcoholic beverage. Before taking a sip, he spoke once more to the men in the office. "Clean this mess up and then leave us. I shall speak with this brave child alone. You are dismissed."

"As you wish Don." The men reply grabbing the dead body and walking out the door. One of the men paused as he did so. "I'd hate to be in your shoes right now, but I've got to admit you are braver then most people that I've met. Wishing you the best of luck kid." The man said his gaze seeming almost apologetic as he closed the door behind him.

After emptying the glass the man in the chair sighed. "Tell me child, what have I done to have earned your scorn?"

"You stripped my cousin Vanessa of her status. Her own family now treats her as an outcast and refuses to acknowledge her existence. Why would you do that to her? What could she have possibly done to deserve such a cruel and heartless punishment?"

"I need not explain nor justify my decisions to you or anyone else little girl."

"But Vanessa is just a little girl like me."

At this, the man in the chair chuckled. "Vanessa is nothing like you. She's a spoiled rotten little brat."

"Well you're nothing but a cruel, heartless monster!"

"I'd be careful how you speak to me child. I will not tolerate your disrespectful attitude for much longer. I am the Boss of this family. I make the rules and I alone decide how people are to be punished for their crimes. You have no right to challenge my authority or question my decisions. Surely your Uncle Daniel told you this."

"Yes. I don't understand how my Uncle or my father could work for a man as heartless and cruel as you. What kind of man forces someone to disown a member of their family just because they felt insulted by something the person has said or done?"

"That is the way this world works my dear. It's an eye for an eye. I must punish those who anger me or my men will loose all respect and fear of me. I simply can't allow that to ever happen. Rest assured child, my judgment and choice of punishment for Vanessa is fair. In fact, many would say that I am being far too lenient with her because of her age."

"You call forcing members of her family to disown her fair? Because of your punishment anyone can hurt her and no one would care. Your punishment is not only unfair, it is cruel and it should be challenged and overruled."

"Very well, since you insist on challenging my choice of punishment we shall hold a special meeting of the heads of the families to determine Vanessa Bendito's fate. Choosing to go down this path however, will have consequences. Are you so sure you are ready and willing to accept the consequences that come with challenging my authority?"

"I stand by what I said, your punishment of Vanessa is not only unfair, it's cruel. So go ahead, punish me for challenging your authority. I don't care..."

At this, the man in the chair chuckled sinisterly. "Oh my dear sweet naïvee child. I said their would be consequences for challenging my authority. I never said that you'd you would be the one to suffer those consequences."

"But that's not fair. This only goes to prove what I've been saying. You are a cruel and unjust leader and you don't deserve your position of Don. Why won't you face me? Is it because your too cowardly to admit that I'm right?"

"Is that what you think? That I'm afraid to face you? Believe me, that is far from the truth. The truth is that you are not yet ready to know my identity. However, it seems that you have left me little choice." The man in the chair replies with a sigh. At this, the chair turned around to revealing my father.

My eyes went wide in shock. "Your the Don?"

"Yes."

"Your the one who stripped Vanessa of her title of being a family member?"

"Yes. I can see that this upsets you. I'm curious as to why?"

"Because it's not fair and it's cruel."

"And how prey tell is it cruel? Simply because she can't call Daniel and I Uncle anymore?"

"No. Because you've forced everyone to disown her including her own parents and because you removed your protection from her. I thought that you and Uncle Daniel love her."

"We do."

"Then why take away her status in the family? Doesn't that tell everyone that they are free to treat her anyway they please?"

"And by everyone you mean?"

"The other members of the mafia and your enemies."

"Yes. That's what the her punishment does, but you have to understand, Vanessa disrespect you, and in doing so, she disrespected me. As I explained and I'm sure Daniel explained to you, that something that I can not allow."

"She had to be punished. Believe it or not, my punishment was meant to protect her, not hurt her. The removal of her status as my niece was never meant to be permanent. The length of her punishment was entirely up to her. It was to last only until she proved that she respects you. Which, based on what you told me, she already has."

"Then she's your niece again?"

"Unfortunately, it's not that simple. In challenging my decision, you've set in motion events that can not be stopped. Tomorrow, Vanessa will be charged with treason."

"The heads of the families will be provided with the facts and based on the facts alone, they will decide her fate. Make no mistake Catrina, they won't take her age into consideration. If they determine that she is guilty, they will decided that my punishment is too lenient."

"Why?"

My dad sighs his eyes filled with sadness. "You've seen movies about the mafia. How does a Don normally deal with a traitor?"

"They shoot them." Daddy nods.

"But she's just a child she doesn't deserve to die."

"I'm sorry sweetheart, but it's out of my hands now. You challenged my decision on the grounds that it is unjust and unfair. Now a trial must be held in order to determine Vanessa's fate."

"Her fate will be left entirely in the hands of the heads of the family. Despite being the Don, I will not be able to overrule their decision. I did try to warn you. I gave you every opportunity to change your decision but you refused..."

"You can't let them sentence her to death. You can't." I sobbed hitting him in the chest.

Daddy took a deep breath and sighed. "Shhh. I know sweetheart, I know." He replied gently stroking my hair. "Don't worry, I'm sure that everything will work out alright..."

"How?" I asked with a sniffle looking up at him pleadingly.

"Though it's highly unusual, I will allow you to speak to the members of the jury on Vanessa's behalf before the trial begins. I can't guarantee that it will change the out come but it's worth a shot."

"Daddy?"

"Yes little one?"

"Since she disrespected me and didn't understand that she was disrespecting you in doing so, why can't I decide that I want the charges dropped?"

"Unfortunately Sweetheart, in our world, it doesn't work that way. Her behavior today was completely unacceptable. This isn't just about being disrespectful. This is about what her actions today could have cost me."

"It's a price that I am not willing to pay. I just found you Princess, I almost lost you because of Vanessa's bratty behavior. And that is unforgivable. Vanessa has to learn that her actions have consequences. This is the only way that's going to happen. I am sorry Princess..."

"I won't let them kill her."

"Princess you can't interfere.."

"I promise you, if you stand by and let this happen, I will NEVER forgive you. Tell me, Don, how prepared are you to lose your daughter? I'll die before I let them kill her. So either way you chose you can not win. You will lose me forever. The question is, will you be able to live with yourself knowing that I died for the sake of your pride?"

"It's late. You should try and get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a long day."

Antonio POV

"Antonio is everything alright? What happened? How did Catrina get that hand print across her face?"

"She disrespected the Don in font of his men..."

"You didn't..."

"No. One of my men took it upon themselves to slap her. Don't worry, he's dead."

"So, what happened?"

"She challenged my decision concerning Vanessa's punishment. I need you to call  everyone tonight and inform them that a meeting is to be held to determine the proper course of action to be take against a member of the family for their crimes."

"You know what they will decide Antonio..."

At this, I sighed and ran my fingers through my hair. "Yes, I know what they will decide. I also know that my daughter will not allow
them to sentence Vanessa to death."

"How exactly does she plan on stopping them?"

"I underestimated Our little Princess. She gave me an ultimatum. Either way, I am going to lose her tomorrow."

"What do you mean?"

"If I do not call off the trial and I stand by and allow Vanessa to be found guilty and sentenced to death Catrina has vowed never to forgive me. She also warned that she will die before ever allowing anyone to hurt Vanessa. She asked if I'm prepared to watch her die for the sake of my pride."

"How did you respond to that?"

"I didn't."

"There's still time, I can call off the meeting. It's not worth losing your daughter over."

"Catrina has to learn that challenging me has consequences just as Vanessa has. Vanessa will stand trial."

"Then you've already lost her."

Meanwhile elsewhere in the mansion, Geraldine found Crystal and they got into a fight. Unfortunately, during the fight Crystal was shot.

"Why'd you shoot her?"

"I didn't shoot her."

"Come on really? You expect us to believe that?"

"It was self defense."

"Sure it was."