ONE

ONE

CATHERINA

I always wondered what it would feel like to transform or transcend out of the mortal plane and be in one with the birds; the wind going through my hair and rushing at my face with such force, it would be impossible for me to see. I wondered at how the outside world was and if I had a day to not be the girl I was; what exactly I was going to do with that day.

I sat staring at the ceiling while the TV in my room droned on, I could hardly hear what the woman was saying  I pbutromise I wasn’t even trying. I only wanted to dream of a life where I wasn’t the daughter or born into the family of one of the most notorious mafia syndicate in the country.

The voice, I could hear him in my head… his screams as he pleaded with my father for mercy while I cowered at the corner shaking like a leaf. I glanced down, observing my neatly painted nails and soft hands. 

It had been stained with blood that day, I thought

 My throat closed up as guilt racked my entire body, constricting my breathing

I got up immediately, wanting to run and knowing almost at once that there was nowhere for me to go. It was as though the walls of my room were closing up around me and I was going to suffocate if I remained where I was and so I dashed out blindly, heading to nowhere in particular; my breath coming out in short pants.

I rammed headlong into him; my future brother-in-law.

His arms came around me immediately, it was pretty dark and how I knew he was the one was beyond me. It had something to do with his scent, it was the most heady thing I had ever perceived in a long time and I could not help taking a deep breath whenever he was around.

“Are you okay?” His deep baritone voice interrupted my thoughts.

The hairs on my neck stood as I remained in his embrace, my head screaming at me to turn and run back in the direction I had come from but I could not pull myself away from him, I only stood there shaking like a leaf.

“You are shaking.” He said, bringing my face up to meet his.

Like I said, it was dark but I could imagine his arresting blue eyes gazing upon my face and I was suddenly grateful for the darkness because I was suddenly warm all over.

“I am fine, I was heading to the kitchen and you scared me.” I said lamely, extricating myself from his strong grasp.

I slid away and past him, my breasts brushing his arm. I bit my tongue to keep the moan from escaping my throat and all but fled down the stairs, past the foyer and into the kitchen. It was probably just my being overly aware of the man but I could feel his stare follow me, boring into my back; branding me.

“Catherina, it is about time. You are always copped up in your room all day, dulce nina” my mamma said as soon as I entered the kitchen.

I smiled awkwardly and kissed her on the cheek, she hadn’t called me ‘sweet girl’ in a while and I just thought maybe it was because I was older now and plenty things had changed since the incident.

“I’m sorry mamma, sometimes I just want to be alone.” I told her, standing by the corner as I watched her cook.

She was always ever so delightful to watch in the kitchen that sometimes I think my papa married her only for her food.

My mamma had married Manuel Salvador, the most wanted mafia Lord and top criminal on the FBI’s list but she always acted like she was some ordinary woman and married to a farmer. She always paid no mind to my papa’s business affairs and in return she enjoyed very benefit befitting the wife of a president.

When I was younger, I used to hate her naivety and the way she so easily brushed off matters that should have been of utmost concern. Matters like my papa’s affair with a top model in South Korea when he allegedly went on a business trip.

It was all over the news and when I had called my mamma’s attention to it, she had merely shrugged and ushered my sister and I off to bed like it was nothing of concern.

My papa had returned with so many gifts and the matter was never spoken of; at least not to my hearing and I was angry at her for days until I realized it was her own way of coping with the situation and about her not being able to do anything about it.

“You are always day dreaming, your father is mighty angry at you.” She said, glancing in my direction before returning her eyes to the cooking she had going on.

I rolled my eyes at the mention of my papa’s name, he was always angry at me and so it wasn’t a new thing. I wondered why my mother always mentioned it, it wasn’t like I cared anymore.

“Papa is always angry at me; I don’t see the big deal anymore.” I told her.

“See the way you talk? No wonder the man is so unhappy. Would you blame him after that stunt you pulled off?”

The stunt was me eloping with the son of our then gardener and it had happened about a year ago but my mamma never failed to remind me of it and my papa made sure to tell everyone who cared to listen that I was ruined and soiled for life. What he failed to mention was that he had tortured and murdered the boy while I watched and he had made sure to send his body in a box to his family, warning them to get out of the country and far away from him while they could.

It has been over a year but I could still recall his screams and pleas for mercy as my papa cut off his fingers one after the other.

“That is for touching my precious daughter.” He had said.

He had bundled a shocked me into his car without a word and had ordered his men to box the dissected mess that was once the boy. I was shivering by the time I got home and still without a word, he had carried me to my room and called my mamma to attend to me.

It was there and then; I was sure about the animal my papa was. I did not speak for days and when I finally did… when my senses finally returned from wherever they went to, I wept for the boy I had lost.

“I don’t want to talk about it, mamma. I will be returning to my room.” I told her and walked away but not before I heard her tell me to apologize to my papa.

Let it rest, it has been over a year, I thought as I shook my head.

I bumped into him again but this time I was able to stop myself from fully crashing into the hulk of a man.

“I am so sorry, I did not see you there.” I told him, glancing up to his face and immediately regretting it.

“If I did not know better, miss Salvador. I would think you are running into me on purpose.” He said, his blue eyes lighting up with mischief.

I swallowed painfully as my mouth parted trying to form words, this was one dangerous man but thankfully he was getting married to my sister.