Chapter Five

       I heard loud voices outside my room, someone was screaming like a banshee. I really don't want to know who it is.

       After the delicious lunch with mama, I went back to my room. Throughout lunch mother seemed out of it. Like she was sad about something. I told her stories about the academy and about Lydia and Chloe. 

    One time when I was twelve and looking for my mama, I didn't see her in her bedroom where she prefers staying or in the library downstairs so I decided to ask Father. I walked in on him with another woman in his study the cloth she was wearing looked like a servant uniform. 

I don’t know how she can get away with speaking like that, especially in front of her father.

"You? Pride? Kat really?" Carlos mocked, if I was closer to him. I'd have asked him for a high five. I was just thinking the exact same thing.

"What's going on here?" Someone asked form behind me and I yelped turning around to see my father.

"Dolores" he said in a flat voice.

        My father is a handsome man, well fit in his mid forties. light brown hair cut short, from where i'm standing, i see he has more gray hair than he used to, dusting his temples. his sharp brown eyes which always gave me a whip like feeling stares at me even now.

   You'd think he'd be a tad bit pleased to see me after not seeing me for almost three years. 

"Father" I replied in an equally flat voice.

My mother is standing beside him.

"Not now my dear" my Aunt Sara says.

"Hello Kat" I greet with a small smile as my gaze scan the room.

        At the end of the room sat Manuel Kat's father, my uncle in his usual black suit, white dress shirt and black tie. i don't think I've ever seen him in anything other than a suit in my seventeen years of life. Sorry, eighteen actually. I keep forgetting i just turned eighteen.

       Sitting on the other send of the couch is his son, Carlos Kat's younger brother, and my favorite cousin.

"You dare to raise your hand on me" I snapped my gaze back on Kat who is now pointing at me with one perfectly manicured nail. Everyone turned to look at me.

       Okay I've been thinking of ways to get out of this. I knew there was no way she'd let it pass.

In the Mafia, hitting someone higher than you either by rank or age is just... wrong. In fact, it's not done at all, like ever.

"What are you talking about? I just got here" I said with a confusion crawling all over my face, it's the same look I use when I'm sneaking back into the hostel after curfew and get caught by security.

There's no way I'd admit to hitting my cousin. I wouldn't just get punished for being disrespectful but I'd have to explain why I was in a certain night club.

"Don't you dare play dumb I saw you in a club two nights ago!" She snapped stumping her feet almost making me laugh. Real mature there. She looked so ridiculous in her yellow summer dress and read heeled slippers.

"A night club? You were in a night club?" I gasped acting surprised. Wow when did I become this convincing a liar?

"You were in a night club?" Manuel asked in a deadly voice. Now everyone was looking at Katherina.

"Mm n-no of-of course not Father" she stammered out realizing her mistake.

I fought the smile tugging at my lips, I would grin if it wouldn't give me away. 

"Don't you dare lie to me Katherina what have I said about whoring around?" Manuel glares.

She wanted to put me in trouble. Now the table are turned.

"It's this bitch's fault." she points at me.

"How is this my fault?" I asked.

"We have more important things to do Manuel, discipline your daughter later" Father said from behind me as he walked towards the couch taking a sit. Mama followed and pulled me along. she tugged me to sit by her on the couch. 

She makes a sound of distaste at the state of my hair then runs her fingers through the ends hanging around my face. I've missed this, her fussing over me. and me acting like she was being a bother.

"You need hair treatments dear" she said when I finally bat her fingers away.

"Hey Lola, looking good" Carlos said. He'd always being kind to me unlike his mum and sister.

"Thank you, Carlos," I smiled.

"Dolores?" I looked up at Manuel when he calls me. 

I smiled at him. Not really knowing what to say. 

"How are your studies?" Manuel asked. I could see he was struggling with what to say. Manuel hast really talked to me much, like I could literally count the amount to times he's spoken to me even if we lived in the same house since i was born.

"It was Fine Sir" I replied

"Thats good" he says a moment later his black hair slicked back.

We went back to the awkward silence when I couldn't take it anymore I blurted out "Well whose getting married?" I ask also wanting to change the topic.

Everyone snapped their gaze to me. Why was everyone looking at me?

"Should I tell her or who wants to do the honors?" Kat sneered. 

what's up with her? I mean except from the slap but she deserved it.

"Tell me what?" I look around.

"You are getting married Lola. The one getting married is you" Carlos said.

"That was a joke, right?" I asked in a small voice when the others didn't join me. 

"Mother?" I said looking at my mother and getting up from the sofa.

"Am so sorry baby" she replied her eyes glittering with tears.

"You're all lairs!" I yelled.

"THIS IS CRAZY MOTHER! Insane! You're all crazy!!!" I yelled.

"Don't talk to your mother like that-"Father started but I cut him off.

"I don't care. This is stupid. I'm not getting married! Do you hear me?" I spat.

Mama was already crying. Manuel looks bored Father looked mad, Carlos face was expressionless. Kat and her mother seemed to be enjoying this, of cause they are.

"You will watch your tongue Dolores" Father said

"I'm just getting home, why are you sending me away again?" I cried I don't wait for their reply.  I turned around walking away running to my room

This cannot be happening. It just can't.

I'm not getting married.