Chapter 7

Mía

I'm not sure how long it's been, I think a few hours. The door hits the wall open, I am startled by the violence with which Marcus appears. The light enters behind him giving him the appearance of a God.

Unconsciously I crawl back and get as far away from him as possible. If Beni followed his orders and it was just a warning, surely what Marcus himself has prepared is terrible.

He takes two long strides and crouches down beside me. He doesn't want to touch me even though his hands float a few inches above my body.

- Please don't hurt me - I beg, shrinking in on myself.

Marcus blows the air out of his lungs making too much noise. I don't know if he is trying to control himself or is still as angry as when I saw him at my father's house.

- I'm not going to do anything to you - He passes his arm under my back and the other under my leg.

He lifts me off the ground without problem. My hair sways with the rhythm of his steps away from that room and the depths of the basement.

Dante appears next to us. Looking at him I see anger on his face. This man is the most expressionless I have ever known, like a marble statue, but now his lips are pressed into a fine line and his brow is furrowed. I'm afraid it's my fault, I shudder in Marcus's arms.

Noticing my movement, he faces Dante.

- You're scaring her - Threat. The intensity of his gaze burns‒ He leads Beni and Paul to the roof.

The big man's expression changes instantly.

- Yes Boss.

He turns around and leaves. Now that we are alone again, I focus my mind on what he just said.

- My brother is here?

- Leave this topic to me.

I place my hands on his chest and push. I want him to let me go and explain why my brother is here and, most importantly, what do you plan to do with him?

- I want to see it - I'm neither asking nor begging you. I have the right to do what I want - I place my hands on my stomach trying to calm the pain that comes from standing up.

Marcus closes your eyes for a moment, then looks intently at me.

- Are you sure? Do you think you are strong to witness the payment of the debts of the mafia? - there is not a trace of joke on it. He seriously asks.

- I am.

He shrugs and lifts me off the floor again, but this time he leads me to the elevator. Press the last button of all and I feel happy that you have respected my wishes, after all I am nothing more than a prisoner.

The roof is huge and full of plants everywhere, an oasis in the middle of this city of destruction and death. I decide this is my favorite site. Where there should be cold hard soil, there is a lawn that covers everything in a warm green blanket.

My brother and Beni are in the middle of this wonder. I decide to ignore the second and focus on my brother. His hands are handcuffed behind his back and his face is disfigured from the beatings he has received. Marcus carefully releases me to his side, at once Dante walks over and helps me balance by placing his hand under my elbow. Not in a million years would he have said that a big man like him could be that careful.

- Get this over with! - Paul yells - Why have you brought her? - He looks at me with disgust. My own brother, and I don't even know why I hate myself so much.

Marcus clicks his tongue in annoyance. He draws the pistol and aims it at his head without hesitation.

- You are going to die - affirm calmly.

I let go of Dante and run to Marcus. I have to do something, I can't let him kill him, I'm not like them.

- Please let her go, please - My heart is racing inside my chest. If I have to see how my brother dies, I don't think I can continue living afterwards.

The two men never stop looking at each other.

- That's not going to happen - He tries to push me away from his side, but I refuse to let this happen.

My breathless, gasping voice sounds defeated, I can only offer you the only thing I have left; my freedom. I have nothing else to fight for my brother.

- Please think about it - I grab his hand in Mía to get his attention - Yes ... If you let him go, I won't try to escape anymore, I'll stay and behave myself.

I've gotten your attention. He breaks eye contact with my brother and fixes his night-black eyes on me. His gaze is so intense that I'm about to lower Mía.

- If I let her go, will you stay and they will behave like my wife? - It does not serve him that I stay, as I had not fallen before, he wants it all. I nod slightly unable to speak - Won't you try to escape? - I nod again.

- You have my word - I whisper.

- All right, guys, take him back to his house.

This carousel of emotions takes its toll on me. I turn to see the surprise in my brother. As he tried to kill me, I just wanted to see him come back into his life with his heart beating. I dismiss him with a sad smile, just as I feel.

- Beni - Marcus speaks again - did you hit her?

That question makes you hold your breath. Didn't Marcus ask you? He didn't want to hurt me?

Beni is visibly nervous. He swallows impulsively and his eyes dance between Marcus and me.

- Boss, you said you were too soft on her - she tries to excuse herself - and besides, she broke my finger.

Raise your hand so everyone can see your splinted finger. I could take off my hoodie and show all the purples that sure have appeared on my stomach and on top of my ribs, but getting half naked in front of a bunch of men is not one of my priorities.

- I also said that there was a bullet in my gun for anyone who dared to touch it.

I remember that phrase. He said it when one of his men hit me on the ground. I was sure it was one of those empty threats that everyone makes at some point, but when I see Marcus raise the gun and without hesitation, shoot directly at that man's head, it's just too much for me.

My brain is crying out to rest, to stop seeing this horror. He had never seen a man die. Beni's body is knocked back by the impact of the bullet and he falls to the ground with a thud.

The edges of my vision turn black, that black is going to advance until my body weighs too much and I notice how the muscles lose their strength and I fall to the ground as a moment ago Beni's lifeless body did.