The Hit that went Wrong

Katherina sat slouched on the old couch, her hair tangled and her eyes puffy from crying. She looked completely drained.

“What a mess, Mama,” she muttered with a long sigh. “Who would’ve guessed that wedding would turn into a bloodbath? One moment Father Santiago’s saying the vows, and the next bang! Miguel’s on the floor, bleeding everywhere.”

Altricia sat on the edge of the bed, a cigarette between her fingers. She took a slow drag, exhaled a cloud of smoke, and said, “That wedding was pure chaos. I’ve never seen anything like it.” She gave a small smirk. “Hmm… dramatic, though. I bet the whole world’s seen the footage by now.”

Katherina rubbed her temples and groaned softly. “Yeah… but something doesn’t add up,” she said, turning to her mother. “Who would want Miguel dead? He’s a mafia boss, Mama people fear him everywhere. No one would dare go after him… unless they were begging to die.”

Altricia took a slow drag from her cigarette and blew out the smoke lazily. “Well, even kings fall, sweetheart,” she said with a shrug. “No one’s untouchable. Fear doesn’t stop bullets.”

Katherina’s eyes narrowed. “Hold on…” she said, voice low and sharp. “This wasn’t your doing, was it? Tell me the truth, Mama. Is that why you were so desperate to come to the wedding?”

Altricia stopped pacing and glared at her. “Oh, for heaven’s sake, Katherina, stop being so dramatic. You think I’d go after Miguel Favino? The man’s practically a walking army! Why would I want to start a war I can’t win?”

Katherina stood, pointing a finger at her. “Don’t play innocent, Mama. You’ve done worse things before. “Then why were you so desperate to go?” Katherina pressed. “You’ve been acting strange since the night before the wedding. Don’t lie to me, Mama!”

Altricia huffed and looked away, fiddling with the old lamp on the table. “You’re imagining things.”

Katherina stood up, her voice sharp. “Am I? Because right now, I don’t trust you. Tell me the truth… did you have anything to do with that gunshot?”

Altricia turned back to her with a tired look. “You’re really losing it, young lady. I didn’t shoot anyone, and I sure as hell didn’t hire someone to shoot Miguel.”

Katherina crossed her arms and glared at her mother. “ I don’t believe you, Mum. There’s a reason you were so eager to go to that wedding. So, come on spit it out. You said we’re a team, but you never want to involve me in anything!”

“I’m protecting you, child,” Altricia said, her voice low but sharp. “You don’t know what kind of world I deal with. I don’t want you dragged into it.”

Katherina shook her head, her voice breaking. “No, Mother! I’m done listening to your excuses. If you’re in trouble, I deserve to know. You said we’re a team then start treating me like one!”

She stood up and reached for baby Mira. “And please, drop her. I already breastfed her. I’ll take it from here.”

Altricia hesitated, her eyes softening as she handed the baby over. “You’ve grown too much attitude for your own good,” she muttered.

“And you’ve kept too many secrets,” Katherina snapped.

Altricia took a slow breath and rubbed her temple. “Alright, calm down. I’ll tell you the truth. Yes I planned something, but not that. I paid someone to take out Damien, not Miguel. The hitman wanted more money, and we couldn’t pay. He backed out. That’s the truth.”

Katherina stared at her. “You were going to kill Damien?”

Altricia’s lips pressed thin. “Don’t act surprised. You hate him as much as I do.”

Katherina’s face twisted. “What the hell, Mama? Damien is the love of my life, how could you even think that?”

Altricia snapped back, fierce and tired. “Oh please. Wake up. He divorced you. He took your properties. He left you with nothing but debts. Do you think I forgot? That man ruined our lives.”

Katherina swallowed, angry and hurt. “But killing him? That’s… that’s insane.”

“He’s wicked,” Altricia said coldly. “If we’d had the money, the killer would’ve done it clean at the wedding. Instead, we’re forced to watch him celebrate while we starve. If you can’t have him, then he’s useless to us. He should be grateful we didn’t kill him already.”

Katherina flinched at the words. For a moment she just held Mira tighter and stared at the floor.

Altricia’s voice softened, almost regretful. “I did it to protect what’s left of us. I was desperate. Don’t pretend you wouldn’t do the same if you’d lost everything.”

Katherina looked up, her eyes red and angry. “I don’t even know who you are anymore, Mama.”

Altricia crossed her arms and snapped, “I’m still your mother, Katherina Rodriguez. And believe me when I say everything I do is for you. We just need a Plan B.

“Plan B?” Katherina scoffed. “That’s what you’re thinking about right now? We lost everything, Mama! We’re hiding in this filthy motel, living off instant noodles, and you’re talking about plans and fiancés?”

Altricia threw up her hands. “And what do you want me to do, huh? Cry all day? Sit here and wait to rot? Look around you, Katherina! The air conditioner’s broken, the roof leaks, and your so called father couldn’t care less if we starve. We need to think smart before life finishes us off!”

Katherina slumped on the couch, shaking her head. “But, Mama… if the man you hired backed out, then who the hell shot Miguel?”

The room fell silent. Thunder rolled outside, shaking the thin motel walls.

Altricia froze. For the first time, fear flashed across her face. “That’s what scares me,” she said quietly. “If it wasn’t me… then someone else wanted him dead. And whoever it is, they’re far more dangerous than us.”

CLEVER-LAND HOSPITAL

Amelia’s hands shook as the doctor looked down, her voice soft and heavy.

“I’m… I’m so sorry, ma’am. We did everything we could. But he didn’t make it.”

Amelia’s eyes went wide. Her lips trembled. “No,” she whispered, shaking her head over and over. “No, that’s not true. You’re lying!” Her voice broke into a scream that echoed through the hallway. “You’re lying! He can’t be dead!”

Leo started crying, clutching her dress. “Mama, where’s Papa? I want Papa!”

Amelia grabbed the doctor’s coat, sobbing uncontrollably. “You said the surgery went well! You said he was stable! How could you miss another bullet? How could you let this happen?!”

The doctor swallowed hard, her voice shaking. “The MRI didn’t detect the second one. It was lodged near his heart. We did everything we could, but he lost too much blood—”

“Bullshit!” Amelia screamed, pushing her away. “You’re supposed to save lives! You killed him! I swear, I’ll sue this entire hospital every one of you!”

Her blood-stained wedding gown clung to her body, her hair messy, her mascara running down her face. She sank to her knees, sobbing. “He was fine this morning. He promised he’d never leave me again.”

Leo ran toward her, his small arms wrapping around her waist. “Mama, please don’t cry,” he said, tears in his own eyes. “Papa’s sleeping, right? He’ll wake up soon…”

Amelia broke down completely, hugging him tightly. “No, baby,” she whispered, her voice cracking. “He’s not waking up… not ever.”

Eduardo, her father, placed a trembling hand on her shoulder. “Mija, please… don’t do this to yourself. You need to rest, please.”

She turned to him, her face pale and wet with tears. “Papa, he died in my arms! I felt his heartbeat stop. I can still feel his blood on my hands.”

Alexander, standing quietly near the doorway, stepped closer. His voice was gentle but firm. “Amelia, my dear… Miguel wouldn’t want you to break like this. You have a son to protect now. Let’s take you home.”

Amelia looked up slowly, her eyes full of pain. “Home?” she whispered bitterly. “How can I go home when my husband is dead?”

Damien finally spoke, his voice low and strained. “Amelia… please. Change your dress, at least. You’re still in your wedding gown it’s covered in blood. You shouldn’t—”

She turned on him sharply, her voice rising with fury. “Don’t you dare tell me what to do, Damien! This was supposed to be my wedding day! He didn’t even finish his vows before they killed him!”

Her voice cracked on the last word, and she collapsed into her father’s arms, sobbing.

Eduardo held her tightly, his own tears falling. “It’s okay, mija… I’m here. I’ve got you.”

Leo reached up, touching her cheek. “Mama, Papa wouldn’t want you to cry,” he whispered softly.

Amelia looked at her little boy, then at the hallway where the doctors had taken Miguel’s body. Her heart felt like it was being ripped apart.

She pressed her hand over her chest, whispering, “He promised to grow old with me… and now he’s gone.”