Tara was a young woman, light-skinned and blessed with fine blue eyes that she inherited from her mother. She was from the Lockwood family one of the first Mafia families in the town of Tanke. She is married to Lakan Blackwaters another Mafia family. Their marriage was one of convenience made that way to unite the families and for Mr. Lockwood, it was an opportunity to put his family in a powerful family considering he didn't have any sons. The gods of the universe shut the womb of his wife after the birth of Tara so he had no choice but to accept his fate.
For Tara growing up in a Mafia family didn't have an effect as she was always considered weak. She was not interested in her father's business. Even while she grew up having guns around her she never for once thought of knowing how to shoot one. For her, the marriage was an opportunity to move out from the constant pressure at home and focus on raising her own home. She vowed in her heart that her children will never be put under such pressure. She opened her heart to love so it was little wonder that a few months into the marriage she was already in love with her husband. Although he never reciprocated the love. He was always cold towards her, barely speaking to her but was always in the know of whatever she was doing. His family members were no different. They also didn't pay much attention to her. They all saw her as a means to her end. A cold treatment was always melted to her so she was prepared for one when Lakan informed her of their annual family dinner to be held in his house.
From the beginning of the preparations for the Dinner, Tara had felt uneasy but she could not figure out why. The Blackwaters had unexpectedly extended a hand of invitation to her family the Lockwoods for their annual dinner celebrations. This time it was celebrated in her husband's house Mr. Lakan Blackwaters
The preparation for the dinner was carried out by members of the Blackwater family and her help was hardly sought as they knew all that was needed on such occasions.
Her father Mr. Lockwood came along with his wife, his younger brother, and two of her cousin's brothers. She was the only child of her parents so coming with other members of the extended family was necessary to give an extra edge on the dinner table. They came with about ten bodyguards.
However, with those additions, they were nothing compared to the Blackwaters who came in their numbers numbering about twenty or more. Lakan has one elder sister, two younger sisters, and two younger brothers. Every other person from the extended family Tara go tired of counting as they kept coming in. It was not the first time she was experiencing this. In the first year of her marriage, she attended the first dinner hosted by her husband's elder Sister now it was their turn.
It was a round table setting with the men sitting on one side and the women on the other side. It was a tradition amongst Mafia families in Tanke. Luckily enough the house was able to contain everyone comfortably as enough space was provided in the living room. Every bodyguard was standing outside. It was a family gathering and no one was expecting any form of violence.
Pleasantries were exchanged and everyone went into different discussions as they wait for the celebration to officially kick off by 9 pm. It was just ten minutes to time.
For Tara, she sat down on her own knowing it would be a long night. Her mother was sitting close to her mother-in-law as they seem to be discussing something important. Both women seem to go along better than anyone else in the room. She was not on good terms with any of her sisters-in-law so striking up a conversation with anyone of them wasn't going to happen. They all seem not to even notice her as they chat away.
She decided to entertain herself by making a mental note about everyone on the table it was then she noticed most of the men in the Blackwater family including her husband were missing from the table. She wondered where they were at the moment or if there was something special they had to do that they needed one special rehearsal for. She smiled when she remembered how they came together to present a song at the last dinner It was not like they were good singers but seeing that part of them after knowing them to be men who fear nothing was a memorable event for them.
Suddenly her phone beeped, without even opening it she knew the message was from Lakan
"Meet me upstairs now " It read
That was the typical Lakan. Anytime he spoke to her it was short and precise.
She didn't need anyone to tell her it was an urgent matter. She quickly stood up and headed upstairs. This time she caught the glance of her mother who was wondering why she stood up but she quickly gesture to her phone that she had a message to attend to.
She headed upstairs with a sigh. Walking upstairs was better than sitting down at that cold dinner table where everyone seem not to care but they were watching her from the corners of her eyes.
As she went upstairs she met with some men coming downstairs, their faces completely unfamiliar to her but she reasoned since they were upstairs it could only mean they came with the Blackwaters. She couldn't help but also notice they were dressed totally in black.
She made little sense of it as she remembered that there were also a lot of unfamiliar faces at the last dinner celebration .she went straight to their room. she knew exactly where Lakan would be but why he would want her now when the dinner was about to begin was what she couldn't place her hand on. She knew for sure she has not committed any offense.