4: Until They Let Me Go!

Chapter 4: Until They Let Me Go!

"It's unacceptable to see you going to that place alone, you're only 17, barely able to defend yourself!" her father admonished vehemently.

"Family..." Matilde murmured with her head down, apprehensive. Everyone stared at her, waiting to understand what was wrong. "There's something else you don't know..." she bit her lip, lacking the courage to speak.

"What are you trying to say?" Lincoln asked suspiciously, shifting his attention to his wife.

"Someone has to go there, we have no other choice. The card, the money... the passports, everything was left behind in the rush," she commented with heavy breath.

"We have no one else here but us," Caio added.

"Lisaura is trustworthy," Matheus pondered.

"She is, but the safe only opens by fingerprint and... the only ones with registered fingerprints are me and Madson," Matilde concluded.

"Then it's settled! I'll go get what's needed," Molly offered without hesitation, as if she were a soldier ready for battle.

"Sit back down!" her brother shouted, his voice echoing through the small apartment. "This isn't military enlistment, and you might not come back! Go to your room and let the adults handle this!"

With a face red with anger, Molly stood up, stomping her foot and throwing a tantrum as she headed to her room.

"Well, from what I saw on the paper... Lisaura has three days left to meet that assassin. Which means, I still have time. This could save my family," she thought as she entered the tiny room with three beds, lying down on the middle one.

The next day, the same confusion repeated itself. She didn't give up and confronted Matheus and his family again. Who could go or not? It was risky for everyone, but Madson kept insisting on being allowed to go get what was needed.

"You're not going anywhere! If something happens, I won't forgive myself for it!" her father shouted.

"I can go without raising suspicion!" she exclaimed, mustering courage while hiding her face to avoid getting slapped.

"You coddle her too much! If it weren't for that, we would have solved this the easiest way," Lincoln murmured, indifferent.

"Mom!? Do you agree with dad?" Matheus asked, outraged.

"No... Of course not!" she replied, insecure. The truth was that her whole family listened to and agreed with Matheus because they were afraid. When it came to Madson Molly, things never went well.

"It's decided, you're not leaving this house, neither alone nor accompanied," he finalized for Molly.

"In fact, rat hole, just to... Correct," she said, insecure, avoiding her brother's gaze, who looked at her indignantly.

"We don't have time for this! What are we going to do? Wait for death?" her father grumbled.

"If that's how it must be, then so be it," Matheus agreed, indifferent.

"You're not thinking straight!" her father shouted, pointing at the young woman. "Our only salvation is there, with that rebellious girl and her sickening peach scent!"

Matheus remained adamant.

"No, that's out of the question."

"Please let me go get the card and money from the secret safe," Molly spoke up with a firm and confident voice. "I know where it is, and my fingerprint opens it."

Caio, who had been silently observing the scene until then, raised his eyes from his cellphone.

"Let her go. It's safe. They don't know she exists," he said.

Matheus frowned. "How can you be so sure?"

"Here it is!" Caio held up his device, showing the screen to his brother. "I've been investigating what they know about our family. We're all four on the blacklist, but look at this: there's no record of Madson Molly. They never found her. The man who will be her future husband didn't disclose her existence, which means the agreement is still valid."

Lincoln's enthusiasm was contagious, despite his disheveled appearance: gray hair grown down to his shoulders, stubble, he seemed older only by his relaxed posture.

"Well, in that case..." Matheus pondered, hesitant to backtrack on his decision.

"Brother," Molly murmured, her voice low and pleading. "Don't condemn the whole family because of me. I will still have dignity. I just need to fetch the money."

"You don't understand, young peach tree," Matheus retorted, with tenderness in his voice. "You are the only one who can get out of this alive. We don't have to risk sending you there."

"But it's the only solution!" she asserted, annoyed.

"Even though we're all as good as dead," Matheus remarked. "We still have one more way out, which would be to hand you over to the underboss. You've been promised to that man since you were 15."

"You're revealing too many details!" Lincoln interrupted, hopeful. "Are you finally going to hand her over and save the whole family?"

"No!" Matheus retorted, giving his father a stern look. "I'm just explaining to you how you're a terrible father and that no one should ever trust you, only me, who puts your safety first."

Matheus's words left Madson's father sullen, displeased with the public reprimand.

"Hey!" Caio protested, raising his voice. "Except for Dad, we all want to keep you safe. I've already said I'm not against you going to get the documents; it seems like the safest option. However, considering the risk, I can't fault Matheus."

Molly looked at him with sadness in her eyes.

"But does that mean everyone is going to die?"

"Yes, my daughter!" Her father replied, anxious. "Do you see how your brother is crazy?"

"He's just doing what he thinks is right," she pondered, "and... he's right. But if I have to sacrifice myself to save everyone... I will."

Matheus pounded his fist on the table, impatient.

"You don't need to! I'll die fighting for our family! I won't let anyone lay a finger on you!"

"Why do things have to be like this, Matheus?" Molly grumbled, stomping her foot.

"You didn't choose this life, and you don't need to sacrifice yourself for anyone while you still have the chance to lead a clean life away from the mafia. You should think about your happiness and your future plans," he advised.

"When did you get so sentimental? That's what happens in our world, girls are handed over all the time!" Lincoln intervened, his voice harsh.

"But not this girl," Matheus retorted, holding Molly's hand firmly. "Go to your room. We'll figure something out about your outing to get what we need."