CHAPTER TWELVE

MARCELLAS POV

We stayed hidden behind the sofa, at this point it was just Uncle Tee and Alejandro against the dozen men firing their guns at us. I would have counted my self as part but I had no knowledge about firearms even though I was raised in a mafia house.

Uncle Tee and Alejandro exchanged a nod in unison then got up simultaneously, firing their guns across the room.

“Go, go, go,” Uncle Tee yelled over the loud gun sounds.

“Be ready to jump” Alejandro said dragging me with him.

“Huh” I replied just as we jumped off the building through the shattered glass window into the ocean down below.

It took a while for my lungs to adjust to the new surface area, nonetheless , I pushed up to the surface of the water quite easily. I couldn’t see my brother anywhere at the surface neither could I remember seeing Uncle Tee jump behind us. My brother was a good swimmer like myself hence I expected him to show up on the water surface any moment.

I scanned the water surface one more time and couldn’t see Alejandro, and where we had landed in the water was not too far from shore meaning, it wasn’t that deep for him to have difficulty swimming up. I began getting worried.

“Alejandro?” I called out, no response. A figure stood at the edge of the window where we had just jumped off. I couldn’t see his face clearly but his figure looked like Zak.

“Alejandro” I called out again and when there was no response I took in a deep breath and dived into the water. I tried to keep my eyes open as I scanned the ocean for my brother. I came up a few seconds later when I couldn’t find him.

I took another breath and dived towards a different direction, then I saw blood. I swam quickly towards it, Alejandro lay against a rock, his head bleeding profusely.

I yanked him up with all my strength, then let out the breath I was holding before swimming towards the shore, dragging my brother along.

I immediately pounced on his chest once we were on dry land. I pumped as had as I could and breathing into his mouth after every few compressions. My prayer was a silent and simple one.

‘Don’t die on me Alejandro’ There was no sign of life, his eyes remained shut and his head kept bleeding. I removed my already wet T shirt realizing my own wound was bleeding mildly too, I nervously tucked it under his head and resumed pumping his chest my frustration growing deeper with each compression.

“Fucking breathe” I yelled in frustration striking him across the face, tears rolled down my cheeks as my brother suddenly started coughing extensively. I released a huge sigh of relief as Alejandro continued coughing.

“Lets get.” Coughs “out” coughs “of here” he managed to say getting up abruptly but falling back down almost instantly.

“Take it easy” I said to him and offered my shoulder as support.

“Keep pressure on the wound” I added as we got to the car. I assisted Alejandro into the back seat then set myself before the wheel.

“What are you waiting for, lets go” Alejandro said

“Uncle Tee” I replied looking around hoping he made it out.

“Forget it man, he couldn’t have made it”

“No, I know Uncle Tee, he always survives” I said hopefully.

“Staying here will get us killed, drive Marcella”

“He is going to make it” I said again, tapping on the wheel anxiously.

“Fuck it man , move the damn car” my brother yelled impatiently.

“Im not leaving without him” I insisted, my hope diminishing slightly.

“Fuuuuuccckkkkk!” He screamed in frustration . There was still no sign of Uncle Tee and I knew my brother was right. We had to leave. Guilt engulfed me as I started the car and drove away, leaving my uncle to his fate.

“What took so long” father asked anxiously as soon as we entered the room. “ where is Tyrone” he asked wheeling his chair towards us as fast as he could.

“ Bring a first aid kit” I said to a maid that passed by.

“Yes ma’am “ she replied and walked out

“Why is no one fucking talking to me, what the hell happened and where the fuck is my brother!”

Neither of us spoke, I flinched at the mild pain from my almost healed wound. Alejandro also fidgeted with his wound, he looked clearly scared of father.

“We don’t know” I managed to say.

“You don’t know what?” Father asked with a frown.

“It was a trap, we were ambushed” I replied.

“Trap? How” Dad asked even more confused.

“Zak betrayed us, the Mexican mafia was in hiding, awaiting our arrival”

“Shit.” Dad exclaimed, slamming his fist in his wheelchair.

“I told you Salvador’s men will surely come after us” Alejandro added causing me to realize what could have actually happened. I shivered at the thought of this attack being my fault. My father’s business and the entire family was endangered because I killed one man. Staying with Antonio made me feel safe and I didn’t realize Salvadors men were still on the search for me. The realization weakened my knees as I sunk slowly into the sofa behind me.

“You mean all this is my fault?” I asked as tears flooded my eyes. “All those men died because of me?”

“No honey, you cant blame your self “ mother said from behind me.

“But its all my fault” I said slowly. She came up from behind me and gathered me in her arms as my tears flowed uncontrollably.

“You think you have the right to cry?” Father said causing me to turn my head to his direction.

“ you never listen!, you are selfish!, your actions have cost this family dearly , and all you do is sit there and cry?”

“Take it easy Giovanni” mom pleaded.

“Take it easy? You think life gets any easier?” He asked no one in particular. I saw the maid walk in with the first aid kit and started cleaning my brothers wound, it looked pretty shallow thankfully.

“ You have to grow up Marcella” father continued, drawing my attention back to him. “Life is not a Disney movie. Hard and painful decisions have to me made, sacrifices that drain your very soul have to be made, yet. You.have. To. Do it” he said slamming his chair with every word.

The room was quiet, no one dared speak. I sniffled quietly.

“Your stubbornness has caused me millions of dollars, dozens of trusted men, and now my brother, your Uncle!” He said shaking his head.

“How much more sacrifices do I have to make to atone for your errors, while you simply sit and cry”

“I’m sorry papa, I had no idea” I pleaded.

“Get the fuck of my face” he yelled. I got up with a start.

“And you too” he said to my brother “Useless, you are all useless” He screamed pushing down the tray of win glasses sitting on the table beside him.

I kept a straight head as I walked upstairs, hoping the ground opened up and swallowed me.