On Your Knees

Chapter 12

a/n: so so sorry for the long wait! thank you for being patient with me<3 playlist- "On Your Knees" by Sofia_13 on spotify! Recommend play with fire for pool scene
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Amora's POV
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"Mamá!"

I take Violetta's hand as we run to meet our mother who's standing in the garden. We let go of our joined hands and run faster to mamá. Her curls bounce in the wind and her arms are wide open when we finally reach her.

"I miei bambini. Both of you have gotten so big!" Her voice says above us. "Amora is still tiny, I'm bigger" Violetta boasts. (My babies).

"You're only taller because you're older!" I protest.

Violetta sticks her tongue out at me and so do I. Mamá chuckles, "You girls are 15, enough bickering and go join Papà. He's going to help with birthday decorations".

I take my mother's right hand Violetta takes her left. "But mamá!" We whine in union, "We want to stay with you".

"Yeah mamá, can we? Pretty please!" I say. We look at mamá who gives us a small smile. "Okay but both of you are going to help me with invitations"

Violetta and I let out cheers and we rush inside to tell Papà that we're staying home. Mamá and Papà say goodbye and Mamá leads us to the dining room.

The sun is shining through the open windows and the chirping of the birds fills the rooms with soft sound. I hum to myself as I put the invitations inside their assigned envelope. "Mamá, I'm done with my pile" I tell her.

"Let me get you another one" Mamá reaches into the box but quickly realizes there's no more. She looks around for any of our guards, "I'll be right back, amore".

Violetta and I make idle talk about our upcoming birthday party. The sound of Mamá's heels notifies us of her return. "Okay girls, we only have two more boxes left and then we're-"

Mamá turns her head to the side. Silence fills the room, drowning us all. Softly putting the boxes down, Mamá reaches for a gun hidden in the cabinet. Fear fills my senses and I look to Violetta who has an unreadable expression.

"Rimani qui" Mamá whispers to us. She moves to the door and turns back to look at us. (Stay here).

'I love you' She mouths before she steps out.

It's still. It's like the world and time came to halt. It had to have been a few minutes then Violetta grabs my hand. "We need to find Mamá".

I go to protest but Violetta already had both of us out of the kitchen. We step out into the foyer, keeping out steps quiet. "What are you doing?!" Mamá says as quiet as she can.

"Come on, we need to get out. All of the guards are gone and we need to go with Papà" Mamá makes her way towards us but before she can reach us a man dressed in black steps out behind her.

"Mamá!"

She turns around and aims her gun but the man grips her wrist and twists it. Mamá lets out a groan of pain but she doesn't give up the fight. Her legs and arms move frantically, trying inflict any pain that might help her escape his grasp.