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She’s not naive though, she knows the business I’m in, the business her family is in.
I need to shake her from my mind so I focus on work, on my first day back.
There’s a shipment coming in today and I need to be there to get it, so I venture out of my apartment for the first time. Donning a pair of fitted black jeans and a loose white t-shirt, I head over to the drop.
I get there a few minutes early and Cain is already there. Cain manages our supply chain and distributes to all the dealers, collects the money and brings it back to me to save his cut. We get a few kilos of cocaine every month, and every month like clockwork Cain turns them into money. He’s my best earner.
His hands are stuffed into his pockets as he looks out onto the water. It’s early, the sun has just risen and we can see the boat belonging to the Columbians coming in.
For as long as I have been working for my father, we’ve been buying cocaine from the same supplier. The guys dock the boat and toss me a packed brick of cocaine. I pass it over to Cain who tests it for its purity. I’ve never had a shipment from this supplier not meet our standard, and this one is no exception.
With a nod, the men begin unpacking the rest of the coke, handing it off to our men who load it into vans.
Cain will take the coke back to our warehouse and parse it out before it goes to the dealers.
“Nice doing business with ya.” One of the Columbians gives me a curt nod before hopping back onto his boat.
We’re almost at my car, parked next to the two Escalades filled with coke when the unmistakable sound of gunshots ring in my ears.
“Look out!” Cain yells, pushing me behind my truck. I swing open the driver’s side door for more protection and grab the gun that's tucked into the back of my jeans.
“Who the fuck is that?” I ask. We’re being shot at, I can see now that it’s a few guys coming from a large black van that pulled up right as the shots started. They’re dressed in all black and wearing ski masks over their faces.
They hold their automatic weapons pointing at Cain, myself, and the few men we brought with us.
I search my brain for a plan, anything to get myself and my men out of this situation alive. I peek around the car door, seeing the men advancing, and fire off a few more shots. Only one hits, making the assailants shoulder spin back and
his hand flies to the wound quickly. Cain takes a shot after me, hitting the same guy's head and taking him down.
We’re holding our position, but the men are still coming, their guns shoot faster and there are more of them.
“I’ll cover you.” Cain yells and gestures for me to run toward one of the cars that the coke is in. He looks at me and mouths out one, two, three. Before he even hits three I take off, running for one of the two cars carrying our month's supply. Right as I get there I hear Cain cry out, when I turn back he’s on the ground.
I reach the car, getting in and starting it quickly. As I round out of the harbor, bullets bounce off the back of the car. I keep myself low and speed away.
They don’t follow, a small victory. I’m sure they’re back there taking what’s left of our product and leaving my men to bleed out.
I leave the harbor behind, along with Cain and the bodies of four other men.
Fuck.
I’M THE PICTURE PERFECT PRINCIPESSA.
I’ve replaced my signature office style of leggings and t-shirts with more sophisticated dresses and high heels. I style my hair and apply my makeup. I make a point to talk to every client that enters my father's office with a bright smile and warm presence.
I don’t talk about what happened with Liam and neither does my family.
I see them stealing quick glances, like they don’t believe my act or they’re waiting for me to break. Both are probably fair observations, because this is all an act.
I refuse to give them anything. There is not a single flaw they could comment on. I’m impeccable.
I steel my spine and let my mask slip into place. Outside of my bedroom I am a different version of Gemma Antoinette DelGado. I am sharp and enamoring. I am the perfect daughter and sister that everyone wants me to be. I am elegant and poised, hanging off my father’s every word like the good daughter I pretend to be.
I smile.
I nod.
I wave.
