The church is huge, it is the church in which my grandparents got married here. My mother is from the Venezuela Outfit, her father was councilor and married her to the son of the Santa Barbara Capo, Raphael,my father.
My father went directly to see the Garcias brothers and offered them his condolences. Jimmy looked at me with a stunned air while my father whispered something in the ear of the new Capo of the Outfit. Alerandro's eyebrows frown, then his face empties. He simply nods his head.
"Mario,Manuel, it's good to see you again." says Jimmy.
Manuel takes him in his arms and slaps him on the back.
"Sorry for your father,I guess I'll be hanging out abit longer than my family to assist"Manuel sympathizes.
"You're a reliable ally,we're glad to have you around a bit longer."Jimmy agrees. He gazes at me.
"Veronica, it's been ages"
"Three years."I swallowed, suddenly nervous.
"Absolutely right."
"Come on, let's grab a seat ."My father takes me away from Jimmy's gaze that lingers on me.
We sit in the row just behind the brothers. Listening to the priest is difficult, especially when Alerandro and Jimmy whisper to each other and I would swear they look at me from the corner of their eye. I squirm uncomfortably hoping that it's only my imagination.
The rest of the ceremony seems to be going quickly and I suddenly find myself watching them descend Leonardo's coffin into the ground. There are women who cry and even men who cry, but when I look at Alerandro and Jimmy, their faces are made of stone. Alerandro ,as the new leader of the mafia, cannot show any weakness to his men, crying is a weakness and part of me wonders how sad he really was. I mean that in a psychology class I took in high school, we learned that bottling is bad for your health.
So who was I going to be, his therapist?
The rainy weather in Venezuela was perfect for burial. I was standing next to my father and he was holding the umbrella to cover us both. My father hasn't told me two words today since we left the penthouse. Now I'm hungry. My stomach is rumbling and I pray that no one will hear it. My father would beat me until next week if I put him in embarrassment.
The meeting after the funeral took place in the house of Alerandro and Jimmy's aunts. It is to ensure the privacy and security of the new Capo, just like in Santa Barbara, only a few men of my father know where we are going. If there might be a mole in our midst.Which has occurred before, we will probably be dead or transferred to a new place kept secret. The cousins of the Garcias Brothers all cry and Jimmy comforts his aunt while Alerandro cannot be found. Neither does my father.
I walk the corridors in search of both. I am surprised when they come out of a room and fall on me.
"Veronica Dantez! What did I tell you about clandestine covert eavesdropping?" My father told me while clenching his fists.
"I was just looking for the toilet. I didn't hear anything." I hate the way I curl up.
"It's good, Raphael. Can I have a moment alone with her?" Asks Alerandro.
My father looks a little less angry and forces the new Capo. My father never lets me enter a room alone with a man.
What's on his mind?
Alerandro guides me to a room,gently places his hand on my lower back. He seals the door and gazes at me.After an awkward hush,I chose to initiate the conversation.
"What are you seeking?"My voice trembles.
"Are you afraid?"
I hesitate to lie, but I know that we must not lie to a man of power. If Antonio tells my father, I will be disgraced and I will have a punishment to wait.
"Yes".
"Good. You should be."He is taking a hundred steps.
Why is he doing the hundred steps? It only heightens my anxiety. Is he planning to take my life? Has dad finally had enough of me and now he's pushing me away?His only daughter?
"Can I go back outside? I'm really hungry. I didn't eat all day."
"No",Antonio is making his move towards me.
"Do you know what your father and I were talking about?"
I shake my head.
"We were talking about the fact that as a new Capo, I should seem more mature in the eyes of my men, and that since the Family of Santa Barbara helps the Outfit, your father thinks there is a way to give him the change of his coin for his generosity. He thinks that a union will ensure peace between the Outfit and Santa Barbara."
"Union?" I feel my legs weaken.
Don't say it. Don't say it. Don't say it.
"We are tying the knot! We'll break the news about our engagement by weekend,and the wedding bells will ring next month."
My vision turns black and the last thing I see before touching the ground is Alerandro rushing towards me.
"She didn't eat all day!" I can hear Manuel screaming.
"Every day, she shames me!" Father grumbles.
I open my eyes and I'm surprised to see Alerandro next to the bed that dominates me.
"Are you okay?"
I nod my head.
"Yes. I'm hungry and thirsty, that's all."
Here, I brought you something to snack on downstairs. Replace Manuel by handing me a plate of crackers, cheese and pepperoni. When I look up and look at the room, Alerandro is no longer there.
"Am I…" I scrape my throat when it gets hoarse.
"Do I really marry Alerandro?"
Manuel sighs, looking upset again.Mario looks at Father who nods his head.
"Yes, you won't go back to Santa Barbara". You will stay at the penthouse with Marcel, and one of Alerandro's bodyguards,you will not be alone. When I return to Santa Barbara , I will ask someone to ship all your belongings.