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“Aren’t you calling the shots now? Wasn’t that what taking Mother away was all about? Making sure she knows her place now that you and Lexi have your throne.”
His body goes still, and I know my words are pushing buttons, but this is just another extension of the shit I’ve had to deal with my whole life. “You’re angry, Mariana. I can see that, but watch your mouth. Cool it right down. We’re family, and sure as shit, you don’t talk to me like this.”
“Maybe you should listen to yourself because there’s no way you show me any respect.”
“Tread carefully, Mariana. I’m getting pissed.” I lock eyes with him. Abel is a lot of things, but he’s not a liar.
“You swear. Promise me, Abel.”
“I promise you.”
“And you didn’t send Dante?”
He shakes his head.
I’m caught between relief and anger. Relief because at least my brother hasn’t resorted to such methods to dictate my life. Although, I wouldn’t put it past him in the future.
Regardless, my anger is still here. Anger because if it wasn’t Abel or Dante, then it only leaves one possibility. There’s an outside chance that this could always be an astonishingly poor coincidence and that his death has nothing to do with me or the family, but I don’t believe that. Not deep down.
“Mariana-”
“Don’t, Abel. I don’t want to hear anything.” I turn and leave.
There’s only one place I need to go now.
~
“Mother!” I scream as I slam the door shut. “I know you’re here!” I storm down the hallway. No answer, so I shout her name again as I venture further into the house. “Mother!”
“In here.” Her voice is soft, frustratingly so.
She’s never been soft, especially for me.
I follow her voice to the kitchen of all places. She’s never in the kitchen, she has people for that. We both do. She’s by the fridge pulling a bottle of sparkling water from it. Even on days when the family has been over for celebrations, I don’t think I’ve ever seen my mother at the fridge before, which jars my perception of her. She’s not the witch who was mumbling enchantments like she was a few days ago. Now, without a scrap of makeup, she looks her age, and I wonder if this is still just part of the act she’s engaged with. An act she’s had to master over the years to manipulate and control countless men and individuals.
“Why are you hollering like that, Mariana,” she asks.
I stand and study her. Memories flick back to all the times she’s pushed doubt into my mind, questioned me or caused me to feel smaller than I am. All the decisions she’s forced this family to follow, all the rules and instructions that Abel bore before we were even born, and then Dante.
“Did you do it?” The mother I know wouldn’t bother to deny it because she’d see no problem in her behaviour.
She smiles. It’s subtle, and I could be tricked into thinking she’s proud I’d confront her like this, but that’s not why she’s smiling.
I hold my nerve and take a breath. “Why?”
She takes a sip of her water before placing it on the island in the middle of the professionally appointed kitchen.
“You are my only daughter.” Her voice takes on an air of seriousness as she closes the distance between us.
“So, you kill him? Do you hate me that much?” It breaks a little part of me to think this is the reason – to cause me pain.
“You brought a man into our home uninvited. No doubt to push your luck with your brothers.”
“So far I’ve heard no reason for you to issue a death sentence on him. Who gives you the right? How dare you?” My temper flares as the ridiculousness of the situation comes into reality.
“No, how dare you!” she shrieks, shredding the innocent act and turning into the bitch I’ve always known. I take a step back. “How dare you think you have a say.” She grabs my wrist, pulling me close to her as she starts with her evil curses and hexes. “A waste of a child, a risk, a worry and now you think you can dictate how to take our family forward? You think we’d choose that man? You have no idea. You’ll never have any idea.” Her lips pull back over her teeth as she spouts her poison. “I should have Dante take you to one of our clients and show you how easy your life has been.”
Our mutual hatred has long been established, but this is as far as she’s ever gone to display it so vehemently. Her slaps and reprimands have, until now, always been on a superficial level of sorts. Not anymore.
