୨ৎ R A I N N ୨ৎ
"Mark my words!" Amilio shouted. "Before the year ends, I'll be one of the Bosses!"
I almost laughed listening to my stepbrother ramble on about how important he thought he was in the Marunda cartel. Amilio Santoro was painfully narcissistic. There was no polite way left to advise him.
Everyone knew there were only five Big Bosses in Marunda. Arnold, Baek, Kim, Delaney, and Rose. Those five families ruled North District Jakarta, and no one dared to stand against them.
Amilio was all talk, and one day, that mouth of his was going to get him killed.
"Ameeeen, as long as possible!" I replied.
After Papa and my stepmother died in a car accident seven years ago, Amilio took over Papa's position in Marunda. That power went straight to his head and turned him into an unbearable nightmare.
My biological mother's family once asked Amilio to let me live with them, but he never listened. And unlucky me, my mom had died of pneumonia when I was only three. So my aunt, uncle, and cousins were the only Margot family I had left.
I suspected Amilio kept me around only because of my inheritance, which would be released when I turned twenty five. He had already burned through more than half of his own share on gambling, alcohol, and women.
"Soon, Ree. Just wait," he said confidently.
Back then, Amilio had been Papa's favorite child, even though he was only a stepchild in the Margot bloodline. So it made sense that Papa trusted him with the family finances.
Minna Santoro, Amilio's mother, married Papa two years after my real mom passed away. I was five at the time, and Amilio was thirteen. We grew up together like normal siblings. But somehow, he changed. He became rough, selfish, and greedy.
I did not know what would happen to me when I turned twenty five, but one thing was certain. Amilio would not get a single cent from me. I just hoped I could leave with that inheritance and disappear somewhere he would never find me.
I cleared my throat. "Whatever. I'm going to the restroom."
Amilio's eyes were already glued to a pretty girl who had just walked in, so he did not notice when I stood up.
I walked toward the back of the restaurant, glancing around. The place was called Santera, owned by Remy Arnold. I had only seen him a few times. All five Marunda Bosses were terrifying. They were known for their cruelty when it came to business.
Growing up in Marunda taught me exactly why everyone feared those five families. Even Amilio was scared to death of them. In front of me, he acted tough. But the moment he had to deal with Remy Arnold's men, he turned into a coward with no pride. And every time he swallowed his humiliation, I became his punching bag. The last time Big Jonny, one of Remy Arnold's men, scolded Amilio for working too slowly, two of my ribs paid the price.
"Remember this, Amilio. Karma is real," I murmured.
When he beat me, he rarely left marks on my face. He liked showing me off to the unmarried men in Marunda. I knew he planned to marry me off to one of them, but he was waiting for my inheritance to be released first.
I entered the restroom. After I was done, I washed my hands and touched up my lipstick. I checked my light peach dress carefully, making sure the fabric was not caught in my underwear. It had happened to Cindy when we were fourteen, and I had been mortified because of my cousin. Since then, I always made sure my clothes were neat.
I looked back at my reflection and lifted my chin. "Just two more years in this hell, Ree. After that, you can leave and start a new life."
As soon as I stepped out of the restroom, a door to an office opened on my right. Instinctively, I turned toward the sound. Cold fear crawled through my body.
I saw it clearly. Remy Arnold was gripping a man by the neck. I could not hear what they were saying, but when Big Jonny stepped out of the room, I saw Remy plunge a knife into the man's throat.
"Oh God!" My scream made Big Jonny snap his head toward me. "Shit!"
I needed to run, but before I could even take a step, his rough hand grabbed my arm and dragged me into the office.
No.
No.
No.
"Please. I didn't see anything," I begged. Big Jonny ignored me, which only made me panic more. "I won't tell anyone. Please!"
I was shoved into the room and nearly fell. My eyes locked onto Arnold as he wiped blood off his knife. The sight froze me in place.
Without lifting his head, he spoke softly. "Clean up the body."
My eyes widened as I watched the man's body being dragged out through the side door by Benny. The trail of blood on the floor almost made me throw up.
God, I tried to be a good girl.
I never dated.
I saved myself for my future husband.
I went to church every Sunday.
Please get me out of this.
I deserve to be saved, God.