MALAYINA
May 16th 2018
We sit in silence for what seems like a lifetime, the sound of the ceilings fan rotating in the air, can be heard, the faintest similarity to the sound of a small helicopter rotor blade slicing through the air.
And, I sit patiently, waiting for him to give me a little history lesson about what went down between our families and how the war officially started.
"For many generations, our families have been at odds; it was once believed that my ancestors murdered one of yours and took the empire for themselves." He began, his eyes dancing on the carpet as he pondered. "Before there was a king and his right-hand man between our families, our Mafia kingdom was formidable, indestructible, armoured with the best as they were dominated by two leaders who shared a common philosophy."
He leans forward, resting his elbows on the tops of his knees, his hands dangling as his expensive watch casts hues of light off the ceiling.
"This continued for many years, and the empire operated smoothly; they were conquering numerous territories, stealing businesses, and fearing the general public into submission. Three generations ago, my pro pro pappoùs went rogue; the tiny murmurs being whispered into his ear from his mistress, telling him to rise and seize the army for his own got the better of him. He slowly began undermining your great grandfather, doing business deals behind his back, trafficking children through the tunnels that were used to export the drugs, and when he was caught.. He let it be known that he wasn't sorry for the trades he had been doing behind their backs, even though it went against everything our Mafia empire believed in, and in order to restore the empire's strength, they agreed to an arranged marriage between their first daughter and son, thus reuniting the empire." He looks at me, his scowl softening slightly.
"What?" I ask, dangling from the mattress's edge, eager to learn what happened next.
"When the families gathered around to ask for her hand with their offerings, the first Son refused her." He rose to his feet, walking over to the window that overlooks a beautiful rose garden and peers outside. "He desired the youngest daughter, who was thirteen years old, and when he was denied, a huge uproar ensued, a gun was drawn, and the son was shot to death."
I gasp, not because the pervert was shot to death, but because asking for their youngest daughters hand at the tender age of thirteen would have been rape.
Regardless of how you look at it because to me, she is not mature enough to give her consent with the knowledge of what a full-blown marriage implies.
I approach him from his side, my fingers twitching in unison with my nervousness. "I guess thanking your family would be out of the question?" I try to make light of the situation.
"That is why my pappoùs desired your mother prior to the truce being declared. Not only because he was taken with her beauty, but also because he believed there was an agreement between the families to be honoured and because you were too young to be my intended at the time...." As he turned to face me, his words faltered.
"Did you do this in order to honour an outdated proposal?" I examine him, perplexed by his actions.
I watch as his Adam's apple bobs up and down as he sighs and swallows loudly. "My actions may have put targets on our backs, or..." He extends his hand and begins massaging the inside of my wrist with the pad of his thumb. "If our people are intelligent enough, I believe I may have just reunified our empire." He kisses my palm as he raises my hand to his face, demonstrating his submission to me. "You have always been my intended; all I had to do was wait for you to mature." He admits. "I am drawn to you, like a moth to a flame and the thought of you not returning my feelings, drives me wild with lust to make you submit to me." Leans in, his lips brushing against mine. "Together, we can deter a war and construct an empire capable of eradicating the street of its filth."
"I want justice for my mother, and being married to you is not going to get me there," I say as I step away from him. "You cannot give me what I desire the most, Amar."
"I can, mikros. If justice is what you seek, I will bring you the individual responsible for your kidnapping and mother's death." His eyes darken, and if I didn't already know that he wouldn't intentionally hurt me, I would be shit scared right now.
"I will throw my pappoùs at your feet if that is what you want." His voice is firmly laced with determination.
"In the meantime, we what, wait here," I look around the room before my gaze returns to his. " like sitting ducks waiting to be slaughtered?"
"Ochí, this house is off the books, it was brought with cash upon our arrival."
"Who. What? Where are the owners?" I growl, with fine lines etching across my forehead, frustration boiling in my veins as I pray to the Gods that no one was hurt during the process.
He shrugs his shoulders, "I made them an offer they couldn't resist, they could be on a plane halfway to Ibiza for all I know, mikros." He huffs out. "I didn't hurt them if that's what you are thinking."
"I never implied that." I stare at him.
"You didn't have to, it is written all over your face." He says, staring back at me.
"All right," I quickly say, cutting him off before he says anything else. "Bring me a shotgun and your grandfather, Amar, and I will willingly surrender myself to you." I bargain with him, my hands curling into fists at my side as I consider ending the life of a single man who has robbed me of mine. "I want a life for a life," I whisper as my heart pounds in my ears.