Falling [ 𝓚.𝓥 ]

"𝐄𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐟𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫"

Since my brothers had all gotten married, the Astor Manor in Madrid had been left silent. I walked down the hallway, my steps echoing as I thought about the news I was yet to receive. I slowly walked down one of the spiral stairs and approached my father's office. The mahogany doors were specially built in Poland with wood from Norway, I remembered the christmas father had been boasting about it. Before knocking, I watched Claudia walk from one end of the hallway to the other, rushing to keep up with another maid, Irene, and Claudia gave me a small thumbs up with a look of sympathy. I wasn't sure of what mood my father would be in, I didn't know whether he had been drinking, or if he was drinking. I straightened my posture before knocking and entering the office. There was my father, Kazi Astor, sat on his "throne" with a lighter in hand and a cigarette hanging on his lips. Infront of him, stood 3 empty beer bottles and a half full vodka bottle.
"Father", I greeted to announce my presence. Once he was done lighting his cigarette, he placed the lighter down on his oakwood desk and stared out the window. If he was going to force me into a marriage, the least he could have done was look me in the eye before deciding my future, I thought.
"You're 18, Marina" father stated the obvious.
I shifted uncomfortably and chose to dart my eyes to the wall, where a large painting of my family was displayed on the burgundy red walls.
"You're getting married, but it's going to be different to what your brothers had. I waited 18 years for this" my father said, as he stood up to approach the window, and continued staring.
"Elbaorate, father" I said sourly.
"That attitude won't get you anywhere".
"I figured".
I heard my father sigh, before continuing.
"I briefly told you about the fight we had with the Spanish, we're going to repair things by having you married to one of their boys", my father began.
I turned my head a little, and my father was still not meeting my eye.
Years before I was born, Alvaro Romero and my father were the duo every other mafia and cartel feared. They shared the largest drug empire, exporting between 800-1000 tons of cocaine yearly. It lasted a while, until the Romeros decided to betray my father in order to seize full control over the empire. They did whatever they thought of- setting my father's people up for jail, murdering the important people, messing with the export and even selling valuable information to third parties. My father didn't take it well, the Astors also killed off important figures, stole the money made from exports and even messed with the cocaine trade. Eventually, they both stopped.
"Never forgive, never forget", I reminded my father the words he always told me. My father fi ally turned to look me in the eye.
"Exactly. The bastard won't see the revenge coming. That's why you're getting married to one of the important men, you're going to collect information".
My head immediately shot up after looking down, my lips were parted.
"What? Why me?" I questioned, trying not to raise my voice.
My father sat back down and stared at the brass knuckles he wore.
"Because I'm sure you can put him in enough of a vulnerable position to seize information. Things like who they're selling to, how much are they selling, who are important and what they're planning. They killed your uncle, don't you want to see the fall of the Spanish pricks?" My father asked, as he began to put on a rolex.
"Why didn't you get Dominik or Cassius-" I started, but my father motioned for me to stop by raising his hand.
"They'd never give enough information to the women, and you don't have a choice, Marina. Once they have fallen, you can divorce and go marry for love or whatever you girls do" my father assured.
I attempted to look anywhere but at my father, panic rising in me.
"Every now and then, Alexander will check on you discreetly, to make sure the Spanish fuckers didn't fuck your head too much" my father announced. I felt a little bit of comfort knowing Alexander Rivera would be checking on me. As embarrassing as it sounds, I used to have a crush on him, since I did see him often. He was the man who controlled my father's work while my father was busy, he was my father's right hand man.
"How do I get the information to you?" I asked, quietly.
I could practically have felt the smirk creeping on my father's face when he came to realisation that I had given in.
"Through Alexander, if its an emergency then I'm sure you could find a way to get it to me" he said as he began to to place his cigarette on the Ash tray.
I nodded at my father, who seemed satisfied at the fact I didn't put up a fight.
"They're coming for dinner later tonight, be prepared and Alexander is coming to go over some things before the dinner. I mean it Marina, be prepared" My father warned.
"Alright, alright. Does mother know?" I asked, unsure of the answer. My father shook his head.
"She doesn't know about your little mission, keep it that way. She doesn't need anymore stress".
I awkwardly turned around to leave, my mind spinning and feeling light headed. An arranged marriage alone was difficult, but with extra tasks, made it even harder.