Valentina

The day was here. Everything Antonio had worked on since being made a head was all going to bear fruits today. Today, the events would unravel.

The household held a different vibe since early morning. Maria had attended the early morning mass. She ensured each member of the Moralez would break bread together. It was not only because the new tradition matched her older one, it was also due to what she stood prepared for.

Maria was no stranger to the incidences that happen to chiefs and heads on deal days. Not only were the enemies on watch, there was always a fear of the intelligence agency monitoring every move, ready to crackdown.

A somber breakfast affair was soon followed by her drawing a cross on everyone's body before letting us go. When it was my turn, her teary eyes fluttered as she chanted a little prayer before placing both her hands on my head and running it down my face.

"Take care of yourself and my child," she whispered.

The scared reality of a mother was soon replaced with a strong woman who was ready for any challenge for her family. She drew a deep breath and walked out with me. I watched Maria. With every breath and step, determination rose in her eyes. Her pale face grew pink, frown turned upside down and her feeble voice was replaced with a roar of a woman who was ready to send her cubs for the hunt.

She indeed carried the mark of a true woman. My strong mamá.

When we arrived at the dockyard, Gabriel emerged from inside. He placed stacks of papers in our hand, pointing to places where our men would be employed. Antonio talked to him, gesturing a thumbs up at the end while I walked around the area.

For anyone watching us now, it would look like an abandoned area with nothing. The shipment was at another dockyard, safe and managed by Alejandro. Agustin was his second in command. Our meet here was for the final signing, ratifying the shipping documents.

I watched Gabriel as he fidgeted, tapping his feet. With every passing second, he grew vary.

"Hey Gabriel, could you check the vicinity while we are here?" I asked. "The twins can be here any minute."

He looked over to Antonio who was busy reading the document. Dragging his steps he walked away, leaving us in the silence of the storage. Pleasant morning was greeted with the warmth of the sun that grew over us.

Suddenly, a trumpet of vehicles, of quick brakes and tires screeching outside filled the surrounding, echoing in the emptiness. Antonio tossed the document to a side and grabbed my hand, pulling me close. His hand dipped into his back and fished out his Beretta. Walling me behind, my heart raced as the Castros emerged from the exit.

Their people, man carrying heavy artillery closed the only escape route we had. The rhythmic pulsation in my ear grew frantic as they closed the distance. I watched Antonio as he pressed speed dial on his phone. Gabriel's face appeared on the screen but vanished in another instance.

We were trapped. This was it for us.

"Oh don't be scared, Antonio." Dante spoke in his thick accent. He walked over to us, inside the parameter his men had encircled us in. "It was all part of the plan."

Backing me into his shadow, Antonio moved ahead, facing Dante. With their pride eyes doing the talking, the rest watched. Dante's eyes moved from Antonio to me and back at him.

"We don't want to make it difficult for you," Damiela spoke aloud, her echo bounced off the area.

"What are you talking about?" Antonio's back faced me. He turned to glance at me before tossing his head towards the Castros. "I don't understand, what the hell it is. I swear, if this is a play to harm the business, then you will all suffer the worst fates you could imagine."

Antonio's voice carried a determination. He believed every word he said.

At this point, none of them spoke. Another car screeched outside. Our heads turned. A moment of ignorance could have caused Dante his life as Antonio flicked his gun and pointed it back at him. Had it not been for the barrage of men with guns in their hand, he would have won too.

Defeated, Antonio moved back with me. His hand coiled into mine, knowing the worst was yet to happen. It broke my heart, unable to tell him that his conclusion of worst was far easier than the actual worst.

Elena emerged from the enclosure. Upon seeing her, I felt Antonio's hands tremble. He walked ahead, unable to speak. Only his eyes danced back to me.

"Can we go now?" Elena spoke, looking rather bored at the whole guns in the air affair. The Castros nodded, walking back to her.

"What is happening?" Antonio shrill voice hit me as I walked past him into the territory of the enemy clan. I saw Antonio's expressions go pale, his hands ball into a paler fist as his chest heaved for revenge.

Standing with the Castros and Elena, I hung my head. Elena patted my back, whispering "good work" for my benefit.

I felt numb. The whole scenario felt like a never ending nightmare.

"Ready?" Elena questioned. Her words thumped my heart into my ribs. When I looked, I saw Dante holding up a gun with his aim at Antonio.

"Wait," I screamed. This is bad. This wasn't supposed to happen. "What are you doing Elena? This isn't what you said." I pushed her. She scrambled back. Pouncing on the gun, I lowered Dante's aim. "This isn't part of the deal."

"The deal changed sweetheart." Elena sighed, picking off the floor and patting her back. "Now we have a new deal. The death of the head and the arrest of the rest of the Moralez."

"The rest?" I turned to her. My eyes were burning up. I could have choked her easily but that would mean being gunned down by an army that stood behind her. "Who are the rest?"

She shrugged her shoulders. A smile appeared at the corner of her lips. "The men, of course."

I knew at that moment, this play to make the Moralez weak, also held me as their puppet. I was a pawn in this too, like the one Ramon Ramirez played me onto.

"So, ready?" Elena spoke louder, huffing air with words. Dante picked up his lowered weapon.

"Wait," I shouted back.

"What now?" Dante cried out, tossing his gun to a side. I tuned to Elena who watched my act carefully.

"I want to do this," I said, feeling the sense of numbness spread around with my words. There was no sensation on any part of my body expect my eyes which heated up, ready to watch my own betrayal.

Elena peered at me, pushing her eyeballs to pop out. She wasn't believing what I said to her. Her bridged eyebrows and pursed lips were indicator of her disbelief.

"You told me Antonio never loved me." I said, moving a step closer. "Now I want to have closure. For myself and for all that he did to me. Let me be the one."

My words were the whispery confession of the sin I was about to do.

Elena stared down my face. With an unblinking sight, I looked down at her. After a whole minute of silence, she nodded. Her hand turned to Dante, gesturing him to transfer the gun to me. After a small protest from him, he shoved it in my hand.

"Make it good." He gritted his teeth, walking away.

My hand trembled, pointing the gun at Antonio. Although his hand stood raised in the air, his eyes still carried kindness. A soft smile still danced on his face.

"I wouldn't have preferred any other way, preciosa," He said, smiling at me. Heaviness in my chest drew into my eyes. My vision became blurry till I blinked. Warm stream of tears rolled down my face, clearing my sight. "Te amo, mi preciosa."

I pulled the trigger. The sound of the bullet hummed in the air before it hit its target. A gasp Antonio held before falling back. As the twins and Elena rushed to check and confirm, I stood trembling. I killed my husband. I killed the love of my life. The one.

But it was needed. It was what was best for him.

"Dead," Elena checked his pulse and all signs of life. The guards picked up his blood soaked body, tossing it in a cargo container. "We did it." She shook hands with the twins who elated as if they hunted a blood-lusted carnivore.

Walking towards me, Elena smeared her blood soaked hands over my dress. "Proof," she whispered.

"Of what?" I grinded my teeth, unable to think straight. There was a time and place for being angry but I choose the wrong one.

But having lost a husband, correction- having killed my love, I was destroyed. I betrayed him. He was expecting it from others but it was his own that betrayed him.

"Listen," Elena turned me to face her. "Go home, break the news. I will handle everything here."

Fresh tears rolled down my face as I got in the car. The events since morning played in a loop, blinding me with tears as I walked into the house. Maria, who stood near the hallway awaiting her son's return, dropped her rosary and fell on her knees.

Her cries were silenced with the ringing in my own ear. The sound of bullet which I triggered camouflaged all other voices. Carlos held me up as I fell on the floor near Maria. She wailed on my lap as I looked ahead; the culprit cradled the wailing mother.

The house fell into silence till cars emerged from the driveway. Agustin and Alejandro ran in. They didn't have to be told, my blood covered dress was proof enough.

"Who?" Al questioned, falling onto Sofia's shoulders who pattered his back. "Who did this?" He cried out.

"The intelligence agency." I said. That answer was enough for them to move into a state of silent moaning.

After hours, I was helped into my room. I was helped to bathe and toss of the dress. I was helped with everything. The family was treating me as the victim, they didn't know, I what I did. The woman who killed the head.

The King Killer.

After dressing back, I sat on the bed. My room carried memories of Antonio. I carried his memory with me in my body. Falling back on the bed, I knew our lives would no longer be the same.

I sniffed the pillow, the musky cologne emerged from it. Antonio's side smelled like him. I turned my body to his side, sniffing into the sheets. The only warmth I had in my life.

~

This is the end
Hold your breath and count to ten
Feel the Earth move and then
Hear my heart burst again

For this is the end...

Or is it?