Maria

p r o l o g u e

I walked up the stairs of the two-story house. School had finally ended, and I could go home for the summer. My friend and I had made plans to play for the rest of the day. Although I would have to ask my uncle first, I was sure he would let me play. He usually likes it when I am out of his way. Whether I am doing homework or playing, it doesn't matter. As long as I don't bother him too much. He does like it, however, when we spend time together, too.

I went to my room and changed out of my uniform skirt and polo, into a pair of short jeans and a T-shirt. Miami was always so hot during the summer. Fixing my dark hair into a ponytail, I jogged out and into the hallway. Soon, the door to my uncle's study stood in front of my face.

I knocked. I could hear people inside, but no one gave me permission to come in. Hesitantly, I knocked again.

"¿Quién es? " I heard my uncle reply. (Who is it?)

"Soy yo, tio. ¿Puedo venir?" I heard whispers from inside. Soon, footsteps neared the door. It's me. (May I come in?)

" What do you need, cariño?" My uncle's tanned face and peppered beard came in view. His tall body stopped me from looking inside. I got curious and tried to look in anyways.

"Who is in there?" My tio rolled his eyes, and smiled.

"None of your business. Dio, you always so nosy! What do you want, Maria?" Making my best puppy eyes, I looked at him and smiled.

"May I go outside and play with Alina, Tio Javier? ¿Por favor, tio?" My uncle chuckled and was about to reply.(Please, uncle?)

"What is taking so long? Who is that?" My uncle looked behind him, his face blanching.

"My niece. She doesn't know anything. Por favor, don't hurt her!" Someone grabbed my uncle roughly and pulled him back. A bulky guy came out and looked at me. He grinned.

"Well, Javier. You never told us our niece was so beautiful." I gulped when I realized what he meant. "Come here, little one. I'm not going to hurt you." The man started walking towards me. On instinct, I ran away. My feet were moving on their own accord, and my heart was hammering inside my chest. I could feel my lungs struggling to take in air, and my body protesting my movements. I could hear the man following me, his footsteps getting closer.

"You son of a bitch! Leave her alone!"

"¡Cállate!" Another voice yelled at my uncle, and I heard a smack and a groan. I slowed down, worry overcoming my fear.(Shut up!)

"Aaaah! Tio!" I screamed as someone grabbed me and pulled me over their shoulder. I could feel the man's invasive arms squeezing my legs as I struggled to move. His shoulders dug into my stomach and chest, leaving me out of breath.

"Bring her here." I struggled and screamed, trying to get off of his shoulder. Finally, the man got annoyed and smacked my ass. The pain radiated throughout my body and shocked me to silence.

"You know, you got a pretty nice ass for teen. You might come quite in handy when you grow up." He and the other man started laughing while my face reddened in anger and embarrassment. I was old enough to understand what they meant.

The man dropped me roughly against the desk. My uncle was next to me. His face had a red hand print on it. Tears gathered in my eyes and I hugged my uncle. We held on to each other tight, and I took in his smell. Tobacco and soap.

"You know, Javier, I might have fallen for that. The "I love my niece so much". But I got orders, you know. I can't leave without completing them." My uncle removed his arms from me.

"Who sent you?" The man scoffed.

"I think you know."

"Son of a bitch! It was Gaspare, wasn't it?"

I gathered up all my courage and started to lift my head. "Did I give you permission to look at me, putana?"

"Don't you dare call mi sombrina a putana! Who do you think you are?! She is innocent, unlike your wife and daughter. Now, those two deserve the name putana." That earned my uncle a punch.

I gasped, yet my uncle only grinned. Two arms shot out and grabbed his collar. I didn't dare look where the arms lead up to, but I could see a tattoo. In fact, the same one as the other man's. On his wrist, a snake's head with an open mouth was permanently engraved into the skin.

I stared at it, making sure to memorize it. Some day, I might need it. And how right I was.

"Son of bitch. You are about to die and are making it worse only for yourself. I wouldn't fuck with me if I were you."

"I'm sure your wife knows it, too."

"That's it! You're done! Get up!" My uncle was pulled roughly and I reached to grab him, scared of what would happen to him.

"Tio! No!" A boot pushed me to the floor roughly I tried getting up, but I was pushed down again. The man from earlier got on top of me, and put his hands on my throat. I struggled, and soon, he was banging my head on the floor.

The last thing I heard was a gun going off.

When I woke up, cops and paramedics were all around me. I saw my uncle's dead body before they covered it. There was a hole in his head and blood on his face. I closed my eyes and cried silently as people picked me up and moved me. I cried for my uncle's fate and for my own, for my parents were long gone.

And I vowed to get revenge. That is why I married Gaspare's right hand man. Because shit was about to go down.

sombrina- niece

putana- whore