The Mafia Princess

You've Changed

I hear an engine revving outside. I rolled my eyes. He doesn't even have the courtesy to come get me at the door. But then again, there are no cameras around, and our brother sister relationship ended a year ago. "Hasta luego." I say to my parents. "Ser valiente." They say, hugging me. Every public appearance is dangerous for us. Probably not the best idea to go with out Mike, but Duke will be with us. I step into the car. He nods at me, "Alejandra" I look out the window of his Lamborghini. "Adrian." I finally turn to face him, and immediately shut my eyes. He looks so much like his brother. I will have to get used to it. I will have to hold back my tears. I will have to look at him. I open my eyes again. For a second I see the gentleness that used to be in his eyes return. "You okay?" I squeeze my lips tightly together. I know he won't stop looking at me until I answer. "You didn't care then." I glance back at him. His eyes are once more stone cold, almost lifeless. I focus my eyes on the dash board. I peek at his knuckles. They're white. "You've changed." He says between clenched teeth. I smile, "And you haven't? Why do you think I've changed." I can see his hands relax and his jaw soften. "Not today Aly. We still have to appear." I wasn't softening at all though. "Don't call me that. You left me alone at a time when I needed you most. And you expect me not to change?" He puts his hand on my knee. I almost slap him, but then I see the camera. I almost hear him whisper, "I'm sorry." But it's so quiet I don't know if I imagined it or not. He clears his throat. "Showtime." I press my thumb into a compartment above my head. It opens. I grab my sunglasses and my gun. All of my dresses are made with a fold to hide a gun. Perks of being in the mafia. The doors of his Lamborghini fly up at the same time. We step up simultaneously, and as planned, he walks over to my side and grabs my hand. He moves closer to my ear. Under the pretense of kissing me, he whispers. "Loosen up, you're too tense." I take a deep breath and giggle. Breathe in, left foot, right foot, breathe out. The last time I made a huge appearance like this, I was walking behind my sister. No. Do not think of her. You will cry. What would she say? "Te amo pequeño. Ser valiente." And she'd always add with a small smile, "
Golpear em muertos." I try to shake her face out of my head, for it is not the smiling happy one I can usually recall. The Ariana I see know is her lifeless face laying surrounded by flowers. I tighten my grip on Adrian's hand. He looks at me his lips smiling. His eyes as lifeless as mine. He mouths the words "You okay?" I shake my head slowly. "You've just got to get through two hours of this mess." Shaky breaths. In and out. In and out. Adrian's hand is sweaty. I know he's thinking the same thoughts. I glance at his watch and start counting the minutes until I can break down. With any luck this won't be a couples year and I can get away from Adrian. But some of me hopes he will be there. Because he is my lifeline.

*Three Hours Later*

"Bet you're happy to get out of there huh?" He smiled at me. For the first time he's smiled his real smile, with no cameras around. "Of course." "Too many memories." I nodded. "We don't have to be at the dorms until 6:15. Wanna hang out at the park?" I nodded again. My breathing is still shaky. "He threw black clothes at me. "Go change." I got into the back seat and blacked all the windows. I rolled my eyes. Black spandex pants and a black tank top, with a black leather jacket. As I got back into my seat I asked him. "What am I? Woman in black." He laughed. "Maybe." We pulled up to our childhood park. I noticed a guy standing with a earpiece. "Take your gun. Trouble on the three." Our guys are never supposed to look that suspicious. As soon as I stepped out the man started jogging toward me. I tapped my watch. "Adrian." I whispered. The man grabbed my wrist. "Hola Princesa" "Ghadi code!" I yelled at him. If he's part of the Ghadi mafia, he would release me and show me his shoulder. But he didn't. "Adrian!" I shout. In my earpiece I hear one precise command: "Duck."