Miguel, sitting next to me, leans closer. “We had a lovely time, didn’t we?” Without waiting for my response, he grins widely at my father, letting me see his yellowed teeth. I shudder, there’s something about this man I really don’t like. It’s not just his looks. He tries to be pleasant, but my gut tells me it goes no deeper than the surface.
My father’s smile broadens. “That’s so good to hear. Mariana, I don’t know if you realise it, but Miguel, here, is my second-in-command. I trust him.”
I nod, not knowing how I’m supposed to respond. The first course is over, the second placed in front of me. I toy with it, knowing I need to fuel my body, but having no appetite in this place. Or, not in this company. When I eventually decide to tackle it, my father glares at me when I put my fork in my right hand. I narrow my eyes in response, and continue eating as I always have done.I’m not Colombian, and he’s not going to change me.
As I’ve done every night, once the dessert course is over, I push out my chair, signalling I want someone to take me back to my room. Tonight, no one stands in preparation to escort me.
“Stay seated, please, Mariana. I wish to talk to you,” my father says, his hand again snaking out over mine. “Please be patient while I finish my coffee.”
With no other option, I settle back again. Coughing when he lights a cigar and puffs smoke into my face. On my other side, Miguel does the same.
I notice I’m now getting snide glances from the men sitting around the table, it dawns on me they all know something I’m not party to. It’s unnerving, I don’t like it.Something’s going on.Something I have strong suspicions that I’m not going to like.
I’ve nothing to do, nothing to occupy my hands. I clasp them in front of me on the table, staring at them. Being kept incarcerated as an illegal immigrant took all the fight out of me, at themercy of the machinery that rolled on mercilessly. It had made me depressed, I had nothing to fight, no one would listen. Authority on the side of the system and not me.
Here I’m a prisoner with no means of escape, but instead of retreating into the dark depths of my mind, I’m determined to fight. Whatever plans they’ve got for me, I’ll protest. I won’t willingly do whatever my father wants me to. If he thinks he’s got an obedient daughter, he’s soon going to find out differently. My backbone imperceptibly straightens.I won’t give in. Won’t give up. Somehow I’ll find a way out of here.
At last the cigars are extinguished, stubs lying dead in ashtrays. My father stands. It’s a sign for the others. When he indicates I’m to accompany him, I get to my feet and exit the dining room.
“This way.”
With his hand on my arm, I’m led in a different direction and into a room far more utilitarian than the luxury I’ve seen so far. My father goes to seat himself behind a desk. Miguel, who’s accompanied us, leans against a table to the side. I’m directed to a chair in front of the man who sired me.
“I have to thank you, Mariana, for making it easy.”
Immediately I know I’ve made a mistake. My blood runs cold through my veins.
“You took the bait. Oh, you think you’re so clever. But we retrieved this.” He opens a drawer and slides something out, pushing it over in front of me.My letter to Drew.“But don’t worry, your brother will get a letter. The one I wrote instead. He’ll know his sister hasn’t forgotten him.”
My eyes widen, and I swallow a couple of times. “How?” I croak out.
Miguel crosses his arms. “The shopkeeper had already been warned. My man retrieved the letter while we were in the café. Child’s play.” His casual tone makes me want to hit him.
“You threatened the woman?”
“Come now, Mariana. What must you think of me?” My father shakes his head. “There was a reward offered, a nice one. Large enough for us not to worry she would give anything away. There’s one happy woman in the village tonight. She earned herself a fortune.”
Proving I’m a bad judge of character. “Drew won’t believe it, if you sent that letter you tried to make me sign. He knows what you are,” I tell him bluntly.
There’s that chilling smile again. “Oh, that doesn’t matter. We know whereAndrewlives.” He taps the address on the envelope.
But he doesn’t.He’s with Tse, isn’t he?Or is my brother alone and unprotected? Not wanting to give any suggestion that I’m not expecting Drew to be living at the trailer park, or that when they find him gone, I’ll know where he is, I put my hands over my face, partly to hide my expression, and partly to remonstrate with myself that while I thought I was being clever, I’d fallen into their trap.How could I have been so stupid?
When I feel composed, I look up. “He won’t come.”
“He won’t have a choice,” Miguel speaks for the first time. “If he thinks you are in danger, he’ll come.”
He might try.I wouldn’t put it past him. A teenage boy overconfident in his abilities to deal with men.Tse won’t let him.
“I don’t know why you’re so interested in a boy you’ve never met. Never knew existed,” I say with spirit. “Leave him alone. He’s getting a good education and has the chance of a good life in the States. If you care for him as a father, you’ll know he’s in the best place. He’s an American citizen.”
Leaning on his desk, my father snarls, “He’s my son. He should be with me. He’s my heir.” He waves his hand around him. “Everything I have built up will be his one day. He deserves to learn of his heritage.”
My eyes widen, then I scoff. “Drew wouldn’t want to be involved in anything you’re offering.”
Miguel steps forward, leans his hands on my father’s desk and turns his head in my direction. He laughs. “A fifteen-year-old boy? We’ve got things to tempt him. Women who’d do anything for him, and who he can do anything to. Alcohol, drugs, money. Yeah, what kid would turn down all that?”
The picture he’s painting is shocking. My mouth opens and shuts, then I spit out, “Drew wouldn’t be tempted. He’s a good kid.”
