CHAPTER NINE

MARCELLA’S POV

Its been a couple of hours and no one had come in to check on me or offer food, this only confirmed my suspicion, my father was punishing me. The door remained locked and so was my bedroom window, the sky outside was dark with only a few stars sprinkled across it. The lights of the manor lit up the compound giving me a view of a couple of armed men patrolling its parameter..

I entered the bathroom to wash my face and drunk some water from the tap, then an idea struck.A broad smile appeared on my face as I rushed to the closet, I pulled out every piece of cloth, bedspread and any material I could lay hands on. I tied them end to end forming a long row of clothes joined by a tight knot. This was my only hope of escape and I prayed silently that it works. I went back to the bathroom and tied one end of my improvised rope to the window frame, and with my bag hugging my body tightly, I let my self out the window.

It was a one story building yet my fear of heights prevented me from looking down till I felt my feet touched the ground. I tried to be quiet as I slid behind a hedge nearby right in time to avoid being seen by two guards as they walked by. When I was satisfied the area was clear, I stepped out from behind the hedge and tiptoed my way around the building, a familiar voice caused me to freeze in my track.

“You had no right to do such a thing, she is your sister” came moms voice.

“I didn’t give the order mum, but I wish the shot killed her, Marcella has become dads achilles heel” my brother replied

“Who gave the order then huh, don’t take me for a fool, who put a damn search warrant on your sisters head” mom questioned in some kind of a whisper.

“I cant be blamed for this mom, you know Salvador’s men will come for all of our heads if I didn’t do something to prove to them Marcella was going to get punished for their boss’s death”

My mouth was wide open, I felt sweat trickle down my spine, I could not believe my ears.No. No, there was absolutely no way my brother put a search warrant on my head. I didn’t even know I was a target in the mafia dark world. I couldn’t hear more as their voice became muffled by car horns outside. I Immediately turned to my right on the path just beside the front of the house , the area was dark and I wasn’t sure how much further I had to go in order to arrive at the secret passage my father had shown us as kids.

I put a foot forward quietly and just when I moved again, sharp rays of light from a car turned to my direction accompanied by a long blast of horn causing me to freeze in my trucks. Father’s men immediately gathered around me, I dropped my bag in fright and lifted my hands in surrender.

“Get inside the house” my brother instructed but I didn’t move, one of the men pushed me roughly towards the entrance.

“Hey, take it easy will you?” The man from the car said as he stepped out of the car.

He was an average height man, probably a two or three years older than me, he held out his hands to me as I skid the short hedge in-front of me.

“That’s not how to treat a lady” he said offering me a smile which I didn’t return.

“Razak Salem, welcome home man” uncle Tee greeted from the front door.

“Arghh Tyrone Dante, the legend himself, pleasure to finally meet you in person “ Razak replied stretching his hands to receive uncle Tees in a firm handshake.

“You two know each other?” My brother asked equally as confused as myself. But that wasn’t my concern now, I had seen an opportunity, the men that caught me trying to escape had gone back to their duty post, my brother and Uncle Tee were busy catching up with whoever Razak Salem was. This was my chance to escape ,and without a second thought, my feet sprang to life as I made for the open gate ahead of me. My Uncle Tyrone was however faster than I was and for his age, his swiftness came as a surprise to me. He carried me effortlessly into the room, I didn’t even have the energy to resist this time round.

“Now stay here and behave yourself “ he said setting me into a sofa then signaling the guards to keep eyes on me just as dad entered in his wheelchair chair. He was back in a wheelchair? I couldn’t do the maths, I couldn’t understand what was going on. A couple of hours ago I could swear I saw my father who has been wheelchair bound for eight years, walk. I saw him with my own eyes, and now he is suddenly back to his wheelchair? My eyes scanned the room hoping to see confusion on everyone else’s face, I needed to be sure the sight I witnessed today wasn’t a reflection of my minds endless imaginations.

None, absolutely none, no one looked as shocked as I was.

“Razak, meet Giovanni Russo, the boss and lord of the Italian mafia” my uncle introduced

“Your name is heard far sir, pleased to meet you” Razak greeted.

My father nodded with a brief smirk then pointed at the guards to take me upstairs ensuring I noticed the keen look he gave me.

“Thank you for coming all the way from Spain to honor my invitation Razak” my father said as I walked up

“Call me Zak ,sir, it’s a great pleasure to collaborate with you on this business “

The door shut behind me, silencing the world outside and locking me back in the corner of silence and misery.

I hate my life…