Chapter 2— A daughter for a debt

Valentina's POV

“One of us?” The words left my mouth shaky, “what… do you mean?”

“The Don needs a wife,” dad began, “and he wants his money or I give my daughter out.”

“Wonderful!” I forced a chuckle as I ruffled my hair, “wonderful, dad. You've gotten yourself in problem,” I turned to Camila, enraged, “it's just a loan, right? Now you better pay it back for him.”

“Why do we have to pay back?” Camila stepped forward and dropped the mug in her hands, “that's only the first option,” my eyes narrowed as I saw Camila's lip raise in a smirk.

“No…”

“Yes,” her eyes shone and she turned to dad, “that's only an option. Why do you have to worry about paying back when you have another free option?”

“Camila. No!”

“Give her out to him, dad. Let Valentina marry the Don!”

“Stop it!” I screamed as I grabbed Camila, “shut it, Camila. I'll do no such thing.”

“Why? It's only decent you repay us for everything we've done for you,” Camila stepped forward, holding my eyes, “we took you in after your mother died, fed you, clothed you and now you can't even repay us by marrying a Don?”

“He belongs to the mafia, Camila. Do you not get it?” My eyes were widened as I forced her to understand, “they're dangerous. She held a knife right in the open. Do you know what that means? They made dad kneel!”

“It doesn't matter,” Camila reached for her mug and clicked her tongue, “you don't have to worry too much, dad. Make Valentina marry him and we'll be fine. I've always wanted to get rid of her.”

“I'll do everything other than marry that man, Camila. I'll go to the streets if that's what you want. And you wouldn't have to worry about seeing your step sister anymore.”

“No, that's not nice,” she shook her head, “marry him. That is better,” Camila stated as she stepped away.

I turned instantly to dad, frantic, “tell me you're not agreeing with her. Tell me you're thinking of other ways than that,” I shook his arms, “dad, say something!”

Dad took his hands off my grip immediately and I watched as his jaw locked, “we're forming an alliance with the Don,” he started and my heart shattered.

He agreed. I blinked as tears brewed in my eyes. Would he really give me out as a repayment for some loan?

Camila paused in her steps and smirked, “good.”

“But you aren't the one to marry him, Valentina,” dad’s gaze lingered on Camila far longer than it ever did on me. “Prepare Camila, you're getting married to the Don.”

“Excuse me, what?” Camila spat, brows creased as she turned to dad, “what do you mean?”

“You are marrying the Don, Camila.”

Camila burst into laughter as I wondered what was going on. Is this some form of trick? Why was dad willing to give his daughter, his real daughter, out to the Don.

The laughter soon left Camila's mouth as she stepped forward, “take it back, Papa, tell me this is a joke.”

“It's not. The Don,” Dad stared into blank space, “he gave us 500,000 as a loan, Camila. What more do you think he's capable of? If you marry him,” dad trailed off, “that means more money for me.”

“Are you fucking kidding me?” Camila spat and paced the room, “what the fuck? You mean you want to give your daughter off for some money?” Camila protested.

She had never been the one to keep quiet when things didn't go well with her.

“Never!” She screamed and held eyes with dad, “don't cross me, papa. You know what I am capable of. If you really need the money, allow Valentina to marry him.”

“No. She's not mine,” the words left dad's mouth crushing my heart into pieces. The constant reminder that I didn't belong. That they weren't my family.

That they were only forced to become my family after the death of my mother.

“The relationship with the Don would only be strong with you, Camila.”

“I can only trust you to put things in order for me when you marry the Don. Prepare.” Dad stepped back and turned around.

“No!” Camila screamed. “No! Take it back! I will not marry him,” she rushed after dad and dragged his shirt, “didn't you say he was commanding? Didn't you say he hates questioning.”

“You know I am all that, father!” Camila chuckled, “I'd torture this so called Don. I'll look him in the eye. I'll go against every word of his.”

“Then you'll learn the hard way. He would teach you,” dad peeled off her hands from his shirt, “go prepare. If you want to go shopping, I'll take you.”

“Stop it! I said stop it!” Camila screamed and ruffled her hair, almost pulling it out of her scalp, “I'll not!” She screamed and banged hard on the sofa.

That's how she was. She always had an episode when things didn't go her way. The same banging, the same destruction.

“I refuse,” she gritted before she stood and rushed to me, “what did you say to him?” Camila grabbed my hair before I could respond, “why's he not agreeing to give you out?”

“Stop it.” I struggled in her hold as a yelp escaped my mouth, “let me go.”

“Camila!” Dad's voice echoed as he reached us. He pulled Camila off me and at once sent a slap to her cheeks.

The slap met Camila's cheeks clean. Like it was long overdue.

She doubled to the floor as my chest heaved, my scalp aching.

“This will be the most powerful alliance I have ever wanted,” dad stated, looking forward and I needed no one to tell me he was imagining things.

Imagining the future.

That's how he was. Greedy.

“Really?” Camila asked from the floor she sat, "Alright dad,” she gave a soft smile, peeling off the hair in her face and tucking it behind her ears.

“Now, that's it,” Dad whispered and he stepped away when his phone pinged. He reached for it and I watched as his muscles stiffened for a brief second before he looked at Camila.

“Go get ready. He's coming by midnight.”