Shadow

𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟐

The compound is covered with soldiers. Ranging from newbies to veterans. These people take an oath, dedicating their life to the code. Family. Silence. Money. Sex. Drugs. Who knows. My eldest brother, Antonio, is the first in line for succession. My father, since birth, has told me that the 'mafia' hurts no one. And provides me money and a good home and that I should be grateful. Of course, I believed this as a young child until I was 14. When my mother died so suddenly. It hit all of my siblings and I like a train except my father. Which I haven't thought much about until yesterday. I see no light in his eyes, just a shell of a man. I fear what lies underneath his appearance, something darker just prowling beneath the surface.

I decide to go for a run, to hopefully clear my mind. I pull on some black athletic leggings, along with a black sports bra.Since it's a bit chilly out, I grab a gray zip up jacket. I leave my room and lock it because my brothers love to violate my privacy.. My siblings are truly disgusting. I have my hand on the cold, brass door knob on the front door of our home. Antonio taps my shoulder.
I turn around and ask him, "What, hermano?"

He worriedly replies, "Be careful sister. Father is..."

I look at him sadly, "He is getting more ill. Isn't he?"

Antonio nods.

I kiss him on the cheek, and walk out the door without another word.

I start with a slow jog around the block getting warmed up. Then turn right, closer to the city, and start speeding up. My legs turn to concrete, but it takes the pain out of life. I think of nothing, except a goal, it comforts me. I get a text from Aya, "We need to meet at base, Nat. The boys are already here. Tomas can come pick you up."

I sigh, this was supposed to be our day off. I respond, "There's no need. I've been on a run. I'll be there in ten."

I roll my eyes and pick up the pace. My father doesn't know of my... unique job. However, he has made me take many self defense classes. If he knew I would... Honestly, I have no clue what would happen. The base is in a nearby forest, about thirty minutes away from my home.

I start walking up the long driveway, and Hermes greets me with his long tongue flapping out his mouth as he runs.. The stray we found a couple of months ago. Tomas is the only one who lives here permanently, and takes care of him.

Aya and the boys are sitting out on the patio drinking beer. Roman yells out, "Where have you been, Nat?"

"On a run," I say. "So what was so important, Aya?"

She smiles, "Isn't it enough that I just wanted to see my sister?"

I give her a glare, she rolls her eyes with a smile on her face.

Tomas, comes over, stands in front of me and ruffles my hair. With my legs, I swiftly knock his feet out from under him. He lands on the soft grass and starts laughing.

We all walk inside, I grab a water from the fridge as Roman talks about the newest girls he's hanging out with.

"So..." Tomas says, obviously wanting to change the subject so he doesn't have to listen to who the most recent girl Roman has screwed.

"Who are you talking to?" Tomas asks as he nosily leans over Natalia's shoulder.

"No one." She answers rolling her eyes, "I don't have time for boys."

Out of nowhere, Hermes sticks his front legs up, balancing on Nat's lap. She baby talks and pets the pit bull, "Except for you baby boy!"

As Aya talks, Natalia's mind begins to drift elsewhere, mainly to yesterday. She seems gullible to the fact that she believed her father, when he said that he was good. But children are conditioned to believe everything her father says is true. And when they lie to you, has anything ever been right. This is how Natalia thinks right now.

Would her team back her, if she...

No, she couldn't do that, they're her family.

She shakes the thought away and pays more attention to what Aya is talking about- their next gig.

A bunch of corrupt politicians in Granada. That would mean an overnight stay. Nothing too serious.

Tomas sighs as he leans back in his chair. He shakes his right leg out of anxiety and boredom.

The meeting ends, Natlia leaves abruptly. Everyone else does their own thing, this was supposed to be a day off.

Natalia takes one of the car's out of the garage, and decides to go to her mother's gravesite. Maybe it would help clear things up, with... what she saw. She puts the key into the ignition and drives to the Diaz cemetery. Diaz was her mother's maiden name. Her family was full of politicians and many scholars. Natalia gets to the large steel gate, and types in the pass code. She parks the car, and opens the door. Sighing as she walks to her mothers tombstone. Made out of dark gray granite. There were saffron flowers that were rotting. She whispers, "Lo siento mamá. Sé cómo amabas las flores. Debí haberte traído algunos."

Natalia lowers herself down beside her mothers grave, feeling the wet grass underneath her. She begins talking as if her mother was alive, "Mama. I've missed you so much. It's already been four years? The boys are doing good. Antonio, is about to become don. The others are a little jealous. But I think he is a good fit for the role, you would too. Mama, I- I saw something yesterday. That might change me, and-d our family."

She picks up one of the dead saffrons. "And I remember when you told me to never lose my heart. But you also told me that family always comes first. What should I do?"

A tear rolls down her eye, she twirls the flower in her fingers. "Now that I think about it. When you died, Papa, he- showed absolutely no emotion. I know he never does normally. But this was different, it sent chills down my spine. I ignored it because he was my only parent. I had to cling to him."

Tears roll down her chocolate brown eyes like a violent waterfall. "Papa isn't good, ma. I- He- It's not right! You're supposed to be alive. He's hurting people, innocent people. What should I do?"

"What do I do?"