Scared And Scarred

2️⃣ 2️⃣

Another day, everyone was settled in the living room.

"Alicia, I know you have various unanswered questions, and I promise to answer all of those today up to my best capabilities."

"Okay papa," she said. She still felt weird talking but slowly she was getting used to it.

"You may ask anything you want to know," said Lucas

"What happened 11 years back, why I didn't live with you instead of sir.?"

"you were kidnapped when you were two, we tried hard to find you but all our efforts turned out futile. We had no idea where you were until Lucas got a call from the police station."

"Where is mom?"

"Your mother was very sick and when you were taken away, her health deteriorated and a few months later she said her goodbye."

I had tears listening to Lucas's words, I would never be able to meet my mother. I wouldn't ever know the love of a mom. I wiped a stay tear before asking again
"is that the reason why Martin said that I tore this family apart?"

"I am so- I apologize to Alicia for my behavior and words on that day. I didn't mean those. I was having a bad day and I lashed out at you. I- I am sorry."

I nodded. Everyone was shocked, Martin never said sorry. Never. Alicia proceeded with her endless list of questions.

"why was I kidnapped? Who was sir?"

"We have many rivals because of our profession. We don't know for sure but we are making an assumption here." Dad said.

"Don't worry about that Xia. That chapter is now closed forever."
Lucas added.

I smiled at them and pitched the next question.

"What do you do for a living? You all look very rich."

"Yes. Alicia, we are all rich, it includes you as well. Whatever belongs to me or your brothers, you have an equal share in it. Now about our jobs, we own various hotels, restaurants, malls, etc, etc. But this all is a cover-up for the real thing."

"real thing."

"yes, we are the Spanish mafia. Lucas is the capo, meaning the boss. I am an ex-capo. This title is passed from generation to the eldest born in the family. You, my dear, are the mafia princess.
The pendant around your neck is nothing ordinary, it is like a crown. It will tell everybody else that you are not the one to be messed with."

"What does a mafia do," she asked innocently. She had some rough idea about the mafia doing illegal stuff, but that was it.

"We mostly trade in weapons. We also lend money in huge sums to get back interest on it."

"like a bank?"

"Not really, one may escape from the clutches of the bank but not the mafia. Mess with the mafia and the devil will deal with you. "

"do you hurt people?"

"not the innocent ones."

"What about drugs?"

"We don't indulge in those life-ruining things, dear. Though many other mafias pocket huge amounts of profit from dealing drugs but in our Spanish mafia, morals are more important than money. We may be devils but we aren't evil."

"Why did you choose Mafia business papa instead of something legal?"

"You don't choose the Mafia, dear, you are born into it. It is like a family business."

"Okay so then What is expected of me as a mafia princess?"

"Dear being the princess you have a lot of power. Use it wisely and never misuse it. Always trust your brothers. They have sworn their lives to protect you. Never go against your family Xia. Being a princess you always have a target painted on your back. Be careful."

"Can I count on you all?"

Everyone said yes and nodded their heads.

"Thank you for sharing all this with me. You all showed your trust in me so even I am ready to answer any of your questions. I am ready to trust you all."

"I appreciate your trust Ximena, I just have one question, why did you turn mute?" Lucas asked me.

I answered with tears in my eyes, "Sir would always beat me black and blue he never allowed me to tell about all this to anyone, so he made sure I had no friends. One day when I got back from school, sir was rushing out somewhere. I didn't have food for an entire week so I was about to faint. Sir didn't want to be late so he threw 2 pieces of bread at me and was gone.

As I was about to eat, I heard a dog wailing. I went out and he looked very hungry so I gave him one piece of bread and we both had our lunch together.

From that day I got a friend my life was a little less miserable. I often sneaked food for that stray dog and he would always accompany me on my way to school.

A month later, sir caught me stealing food. He thought it was for me, so again he punished me. This time he went a bit overboard and I couldn't stop myself. I shouted at him and told him that he was evil. I said a few things that I definitely shouldn't have. After my speech, I blacked out. The next day when I woke up, sir somehow found out about my friend. My dog was tied in our driveway.
I still was running on that adamant streak so I rushed to free him. Sir caught me with my hair, he forced me into his car behind the wheels. I didn't even know how to drive. He sat beside me and took control of the steering wheel. At full speed, he made me drive the car right into my dog. Not once but thrice.
The entire driveway was red, That I had to clean it with my hands. That day was the last time I ever spoke. Sir told me how my mouth made me kill that innocent dog."

I was now sobbing uncontrollably. One by one dad and all my brothers hugged me together. Yahel joined in last and shouted, "Group hug time."
That made us all laugh.

"Always smile Amor," Felipe said.

"princess I am sorry I wasn't there to protect you when you needed me the most but I promise I won't let that happen again. I lost you once I am never losing you again."
Dad said as he wiped my tears.

"Now to lighten the moment, lemme tell you something from when you were around 2 years old. You had a special nickname for everyone.
You called me Papi, Lucas was Lukie but when he acted like a big old brother,  you called him Viejo. It means-

"old man" I completed "I don't know Spanish but I somehow knew that."

"Maybe you remembered it from the past. Wanna try giving names to the rest of your brothers."

I looked toward Martin and it was like I had some flashback. It was like a memory came alive which was buried deep in my brain. "Tintin"

"I always hated that name but only you are allowed to call me that mana." (sis)

"Now my turn" Felipe said

"I am older than you" Issac argued.

"We are twins" Felipe retorted.

"Don't fight Zackie and Bobo," I said.

"You remember,"

"I don't how but yes somehow I do remember."

"what about me."

"what about you, Oso." (bear)

"Correct Mariposa" (Butterfly) Yahel said and again captured me in his bear hug. Now I think I know why I named him that.

"dear, you know the first letter of all your names, when put together, makes the word Family. This was a little trick of your mami (mom)."

Felipe
Alicia
Martin
Isaac
Lucas
Yahel

"Wow, that's so cool, Papi."

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Q and A time

Like Xia if you have any questions, Ask now, I promise to answer to the best of my capabilities.

Ps: who is your favorite Ortiz sibling?