Kidnapped

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

TATUYANNA SALINAS  >

I moved in less than two weeks ago and I already had an altercation at school. To say I was nervous to face my dad, was an understatement. 

I was sitting in the living room, leaning my back against the wall next to my mother's portrait, while I waited for him. I came straight here when Ares dropped me off. I didn't know why conversating with a mere painting felt comforting in a sense. 

I couldn't physically do it, and this isn't much of a substitute for her but still. I'll take what I can get. 

"Mom, I'll never let her get away with disrespecting you. I'll get her again, tomorrow, and the day after that, or even the whole month, until she apologizes." Mom doesn't know me. She didn't want me. But I'll do whatever it takes, I will avenge her, however, I can.

The room suddenly felt dark.

"What are you doing?" A deep voice asked, dropping themselves onto the sofa and loosening their tie. "Speaking to my mother," I replied, standing up, walking over, and sitting next to him.

Not even wasting a heartbeat, he brought up the situation at school. 

"I got notified of an incident today." 

I knew it was coming. I just hoped he would forget, or look past it. Unfortunately for me, my father's job requires a lot of confrontation. At this point, it's second nature for him to confront these kinds of situations. 

"What happened?" He questions, eyes narrowed and it makes me cowar away from his gaze.

He throws his car keys onto the glass table, the deafening silence shot with a loud clank. I flinch, eyes shot wide as I look back at him.

With a sheepish shrug, he pulls a small smile and caresses my head. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you. I'm not angry, neonata." He reassures, my heartbeat slowing down. "I want to hear your side of the story." My face contorts shock. Most adults I've dealt with never cared about double-sided stories. They believed who they wanted to believe. 

I swallow, fidgeting with my fingers. "This girl she. . ." A lump formed in my throat, as I looked down at my threaded fingers. I thought I was over this.

"That popular wanna-be dumb-ass came at me using my mother's name. She could've said something about me, but she badmouthed mom. I hate it. My mom can't even defend herself in her grave! So I kicked her ass and her friends who tried to jump me."

I vent, justifying myself while I stare back at him, eyes swimming with tears.

Silence fell, and I waited. I waited for him to scold me. To tell me that I'm better than that or to lay low because of his status in this world. Or worse, berate me. But he was quiet. As if he was analyzing his options. 

Then, I'm sure I'm done for. He's going to send me back. Disappointment swells in my chest as I move to stand, but his next words stop me, another quake in my chest.

My eyes snap to meet his to see that he had a proud glint in his eyes. "Huh?" I frown, tilting my head in confusion.

He pulls a smile. "I'm proud of you."

My mind reels, his hand reaches up and land on the top of my head. Hesitantly, I raise my hand and places it ontop of his. "Really?"

His eyes soften, as soon as my hand touches his. "It's natural for Torrono blood to fight for family. It's what we've done decades before you were born, neonata. It's practically an instinct. We may be rude to each other privately, but in public we defend each other." 

Tears drip from my chin. 

"You think I'm your family?" I whimper shamelessly letting him see my vulnerability. "Neonata, I am your family, but I'm not your only family. You have three uncles and two aunts, four cousins, and grandparents." My whimpers turn to sobs. He is way calmer than I thought he would be.