49. Bad Mood Swings

[CRISTIANA]

It shouldn’t come as a huge surprise that I don’t have much say in the family matters. They all think I’m either too young and too naive to know or understand anything.

I’ve been raised my whole life as if I were some delicate princess who would be corrupted by the darkness of the outside world. They thought I was too pure for this harsh reality, too easily fooled to avoid attracting trouble.

In a sense, that pretty much sums up my entire life.

I’ve grown up with not only overprotective parents but also a deranged brother who considers chopping off the fingers of any man who dares to look in my direction as his favorite pastime. And if that weren’t enough, throw in an irrational and hot-tempered older cousin who happens to lead a notorious crime syndicate. It’s a recipe for an impending catastrophe.

The only relief I have in my not so run of the mill life is my sister-in-law who happens to be the only sane person I can freely talk to or reason with—Zarina is the only