Her Perfect Half

Chapter thirteen

The screaming stopped. I couldn't get out of my room. I felt scared. I just stayed in my room and texted Maximo all day. Antonio comes into my room. 'Dinners ready. Dad wants us all downstairs.'

I hide my phone and follow him to the dining room. The tension in the room was so intense. I wanted to get out of there. I want to hide. Antonio got to his seat.

He is sitting on Dad's left side, so the only seat I can get is the one on his right. My dad mentions the seat on his right side. I sit down and stare at my dish.

The room is silent. Nobody dares to say a word because, well, Dad is mad, and Nico looks like he would kill someone if they said or did anything. After a painful 2 minutes, Mom decided to break the silence.

'So how did you two enjoy Spain? I'm sure you had lots of fun.' Everyone looks at her. Dad doesn't say anything, Nico stares at her, and I don't know what to say.

'How was Spain?' Mom says more directly this time. 'It was great. We had lots of fun.' I breathe out quickly. 'Did you meet someone special? Like a boy. Who took your interest and maybe heart?'

'No. There was nobody!' I spat out, nervously. I wouldn't tell Mom, at least not in front of everybody. 'You sure? I heard Spain has the most beautiful boys in Europe.' Mom, why are you pushing it?

'Yes, mom! Besides, I'm too young to have a boyfriend!' Siena looks at me and then at Dad. 'See, I told you she doesn't want to have a boyfriend!' Dad looks at her. Pissed.

What the fuck is going on? What is she talking about? 'What do you mean?' Nico asks the question I've been too afraid to ask. Dad clears his throat.

'Well, it's about time I tell you this. I've been planning to marry Kiarra to Diego Diaz for the last two years.' My mother looks at him from across the dining table. 'WHAT? WHY WOULD YOU DO THAT? DO YOU HATE ME THAT FUCKING MUCH?'

I screamed at my father. I don't know what happened to me at that moment. Maybe all the years of being ignored, unloved, and pressured came to me, and I burst out.

'YOU WILL NOT TALK TO YOUR FATHER THAT WAY!' Dad followed. 'BOTH OF YOU SHUT YOUR GOD DAMN MOUTHS!' Mom screamed at the top of her lungs. When did this woman learn how to shout like that?

'I want to hear your father. Go on, explain yourself.' She looked at him, full of concern and firmness.

'Well, two years ago, Diego's father, asked me for help. He wanted to grow his mafia, but he didn't know how to. I helped him. For payback, he gave me the option to choose between his two sons. Maximo and Diego. My first option was Maximo, but after discovering that he wanted nothing to do with the mafia life, I chose Diego. Of course, I wasn't going to marry my 12-year-old daughter. I waited for her to be ready. And she is. I talked with her private teachers, and her grades are all A's. She is trained and knows everything about the mafia. So she is ready.'