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"May I have this dance?" My dad smiled at me as he waited for me to place my palm in his.
"Off course birthday boy!" I smiled not letting him wait long.
"Don't call me that Maria" his scowl was playful yet serious making me chuckle as we finally reached the dance floor.
It was nearing mid party, and dad had just given his annual birthday speech thanking everyone for coming.
"So, how's your fiancé?" His voice dripped with mischief a spark in his eyes
"We're not engaged dad" I frowned mood dampened
"Yet." His lips pulled into a smile the spark never leaving his eyes
"Dad." My eyes hardened as i said the word with a warning, I didn't want to fight him right now.
He sighed a look of defeat taking over his features for a passing second before he covered up with a smile
"I just hope he's treating you right." His voice told me that all I need to do was say he wasn't and he would raise hell without a second thought making me smile reassuringly
"He is dad, don't worry about me. You know i can handle myself." He smiled accepting my answer with a nod, letting my rest my head on his shoulder as we kept on dancing.
My father is a tall man, around 6'3 and for a forty-five year old man he's very muscular, seeing as he still trained with gang members. His fir physique always drew attention his way, even girls half his age practically threw themselves at him, but ever since mum, he never looked at another woman.
"You look more and more like her by the day" dad's whisper brought me out of my thoughts
"I miss her daddy " I blinked back the tears
"I miss her too, baby" his voice held so much pain making me bite my lip and close my eyes in an attempt to stop the tears
I felt dad stop as second after he laid a soft kiss on the top of my head, and when i looked at him i saw that his attention was directed towards someone standing behind me, making me peak over my shoulder, only to see Hunter
"May I cut in?" he said
Dad smiled and his hand left my waist as he took the other hand that had been holding mine and letting go
"She's all yours son." he said before patting Hunters shoulder and walking away
"May I have this dance?" he extended his hand earning a smile as I placed my palm in his warm hand
"You know, I've never seen someone as beautiful as you" his words dripped with warmth and sincerity his eyes locking with mine showing me that he was not lying
I've heard many compliments before but this felt different, this made my stomach turn with excitement and my heart pumped faster, he had touched me before but this is the first time that I felt like my skin was on fire.
For the first time in forever, I was speechless and didn't know what to do, so instead I just lowered my head and let my hair hide the blush.
"The guys are ready and waiting" he whispered after a minute of our swaying earning a faint squeeze to the hand as response.
"I'm going to the bathroom" I said loud enough for the couple beside us to hear, but not enough to cause any suspicion.
Hunt gave me a firm nod, a sly smile pulled at my lips as I whispered a "don't miss me too much." Letting my lips gently brush against his cheek before pulling away and moving.
My dad never threw his parties at the mansion, always opted for the fancy hotels, which is why I booked a room for the night so we have some space to get ready, and that's exactly where my feet lead me.
CJ was busy with the sound effects, JJ was making sure the blood was ready, SJ was making last inspections over the gun, Chris on the other hand had a small pill bottle, handing me one of the small white chemicals.
They were all dressed to impress and I could only imagine how many girls had hit on them already.
The triplets were all wearing the same dark grey suit and similar crisp white button up shirt, yet what differed was that CJ wore a black tie, JJ wore a collar brooch and SJ opted to leave the first couple buttons undone, Chris on the other hand wore a navy blue suit a white button up with a matching navy tie and a silver clip to keep it in place.
The pill slows down your heart beats, and breathing, not enough to kill, but enough to make you seem dead, it also helps with slowing down the blinking and if you opt to keep your eyes open it would make them not water.
"Okay, so the pill takes ten minutes to start effecting you, and twenty minutes after that it's effects will be gone and you'll be good as new, I need you to know that you can't make any fast movements or you would be tired and might faint due to the slowed down heart and breathing." Chris explained making sure I understand
"Done" JJ quipped after a second
"Sound effects finalized" CJ followed his brother's lead after a few more clicks on the keypad
"Gun perfected" SJ sounded more excited than anyone, even though he should be the one scared most
I'm sure it looked like a movie scene, me walking a step ahead of the guys two flunking each of my sides girls stopping to drool over them and glare at me, but I didn't pay attention to them, i was too busy trying to calm down the jitters in my stomach, this is the craziest prank we've ever pulled.
The guys had snuck everything in earlier in the day, and so when they were searched when they first came nothing was found, unlike now with SJ hiding the gun in the side of his suit pants.
Not even ten eight later a bloody Mary ear shattering scream had the attention of every person in the room, pin drop silence took over as my body dropped to the ground, blood dripping from my chest, Hunter already had me in his arms as he dropped to his knees next to me, SJ stood frozen in place, Nat, Maya, Drew and kay flunked my dad, to the onlookers they were also rushing to my side, but we knew that they were to protect SJ if dad was to lounge at him, CJ, JJ and Chris stood around SJ preventing him from leaving but also to protect him if needed.
Dad looked at me his eyes huge tears slipping down his cheeks, taking my hand and cradling it between both of his warm ones, I've always been someone who gets cold, and my skin was turning icy as my heart and breathing slowed as well.
" Dom, talk to me" Hunter said tears forming in his eyes as he cradled my head in his lap
"Maria please, talk to me baby." his voice was just above a whisper but due to the utter silence it was heard clearly, sobs escaped his pink full lips
Nat and Maya were hugging my dad, making sure he doesn't kill SJ before this prank is over and done with.
Crying and sobs was all around. No one knew what to do, someone was yet to figure out that this is the annual prank and ten minutes had already passed.
"Happy annual prank daddy" I whispered making dad snap his head so fast my way it's surprising he didn't snap his neck
Kay was first to burst out laughing the other guys followed with chuckles as the girls giggled while I smiled sheepishly.
Dad took his time to process the words I just said, but when he did, he almost popped an artery
"MARIA DOMINIC GONZALES! IF YOU DARE AND TRY TO DO SUCH THING AGAIN, I SWEER ON YOUR MOTHERS GRAVE YOU WONT LIVE TO SEE MY REACTION!" he yelled but I saw the relief that washed over him taking a second before pulling my still bloody form towards him and encasing me in a tight hug "I thought I lost you." he breathed out, pain from the prank dripping through his words making guilt swim inside me
"I'm sorry daddy, I promise you won't lose me, ever" I said tightening my hold on him.
Seeing as my gown was ruined and I had no backup , Hunter and I were the first to leave after hugging dad one last time, wishing him a happy birthday and apologizing for almost giving him a heart attack.
"Well, that was something" SJ said as he put his feet on the coffee table crossing them at the ankles
"Feet off the table." I ordered giving him a hard glare
I had already washed the fake blood and makeup off and wore my blush pink velvet bottoms, my Ultra-premium 'Good Energy' faded black hoodie, and slipped on my black COACH 3D logo slides on, and just as I I had walked into the main part of the house the doorbell rang and the whole gang poured in, all of them already changed as well, the guys were dressed in sweatpants and hoodies, Nat was wearing black sweatpants, a fitted white crop tank top, black cardigan and her black fluffy UGG slides while Maya wore a beige ribbed knit set, her hoodie having a relaxed, cropped silhouette, drop, wide sleeves, and the pants being wide legged as well as matching UGG Scuffette Suede Slippers.
"Didn't know you could act that well, Oh who am I kidding?! I didn't know you could act at all hunt" JJ said a smirk pulling at the ends of his lips as his brothers chuckled while Chris shook his head with a smile on his face
"Then what's the use of us being friends at all?" Hunter imitated a high pitched girls voice making me burst out laughing and bringing the couples attention to us
"Don't ever, and I mean ever! try and do that again Hunt!" I said once I finished laughing Chris explaining to the other four what just happened as they had been in their own couple-y worlds
About an hour later they started retreating to their own homes, Nat and Drew being the first to leave, the triplets and Chris followed shortly after, and Kay ended up carrying Maya home as she had fell asleep around ten minutes prior and non of us had the heart to wake her up.
Hunter bid me goodnight around five minutes ago, after helping me wash and dry the cups and plates we had used, and went to sleep, and so I too went to my own room and got under the covers but after I noticed that half an hour of twisting and turning had past and I was still wide awake I stood and went to take a hot shower knowing that it would relax me, but when I tried to sleep again and couldn't, I decided to do the next best thing.
Slipping my feet back into my slides before making my way to the main house, and ultimately to the kitchen. I tried to keep the noise to a minimum, even though I knew that Hunter wouldn't hear a thing from his room.
I went outside and dipped my feet in the cool pools water after my hot cocoa was done, and starring up at the clear, star lit sky I couldn't help but remember the conversation I had with Hunter earlier.
"Why are you doing this ?" His voice held curiosity making me chuckle
"I already told you Hunter. We do this every year, it's a tradition, I admit we're going over board this year, but that wont make it any less memorable." I smiled and looked out of the window
"You know that's not what I'm talking about Dom." His tone change made me loosed the smile and look at him, his face had turned hard, and he would look my way every few seconds waiting for me to answer
"Dad asked me to do it" I said swiftly avoiding his eyes and looking out of the window again
"Aright, I won't pressure you to tell me, but you will, sooner or later, you'll tell me why you agreed."
We had dropped the conversation and pulled into the Hotel's parking, as hunter didn't trust the valet, or anyone for the matter, with his car.
Too engrossed in my thoughts, I didn't realize that there's someone behind me until he sat beside me and dipped his feet in the water too
"Couldn't sleep either?" I shook my head not wanting to say anything and just kept gazing at the sky in amazement
"She was beautiful" I started after he sat with me in silence for ten minutes
"Her hair was long and wavy it's coffee brown so rich I always asked her why we didn't have the same hair" a painful chuckle left my lips, but I couldn't stop now "Her eyes the most beautiful hazel I have ever seen, a forest green mixed with soil brown so intricately, you'd think honey-gold and emerald gems were fused together. She was taller than me, but shorter than dad.
Strong but not enough." I could feel the tears that were filling my eyes.
"She would always tell me to be nice, she'd say that everyone has their own battles and that its not good to bring people down..." I didn't even realize that the tears were rolling down my cheeks until Hunters fingers brushed my cheek
"Where's this one time a kid pushed me and I scraped my knee, I had run to her embrace crying, and when I calmed down she told me something I live by, 'Don't show them weakness, that's all they wanna see baby girl. Don't give them the satisfaction Maria.' She always found a way to cheer me up, she taught me that the most beautiful thing anyone could wear is a smile." I sniffed, trying hard to breathe as the memories were knocked into the front of my brain
"You don't have to tell me Maria" Hunter whispered, looking at me with pained eyes
I looked back at him and shook my head, I needed to say it all, before it kills me.
"I was there, Hunt. I saw how they shot her without a blink of an eye, I saw the shooter laugh and walk away not knowing of the daughter that was left behind the door witnessing everything.
He shot her so near the heart, and when the ambulance arrived it was already too late... She used her last breathes to tell me to smile 'happiness is the key to life' she said as I held her in my arms begging her to stay, to not leave me, and cried I told her and sobbed and told her that I love her, repeatedly but I should've done more, I should've ran and stopped that bullet " I sobbed
"After my dad told me about the gang I spent endless nights training, and training and training, until I collapsed." I choked, I couldn't breathe as painful sobs raked through my body
Hunter was quick to pull me into his strong embrace, rubbing circles on my back as I laid there resting my head on his chest, sobbing pathetically holding onto him loosing sense of time, letting his scent calm me down, until I just laid there, motionless, unable to do anything but let the hiccups move my body the slightest every while, until I felt Hunter lift me into his embrace and carry me to my room.
He laid me on my bed and tucked me in, laying a feather kiss on top of my head before turning to walk away, but I couldn't let him go, I wasn't emotionally stable, and I knew that I he walked out, I would lay awake and think until I did something stupid.
Instead I held onto his wrist "Stay, please, at least until I sleep." I whispered my voice croaky and watery, broken and hurt.
"Maria..." he seemed unsure "You'll regret this tomorrow." he said softly but was already moving to get in with me
"We'll worry about that tomorrow.' I whispered turning to my side so that I could look at him.
And we stayed like that, looking at each other, until Hunter stated playing with my hair the motion letting me relax and eventually drift to sleep.
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Edited: 12.29.2020
Words: 2799