Page 24 of Surprise Twins for the Mafia Heir

Endless trips to the ER and trying to bail my parents out of jail should have told me everything I needed to know about them. My family could not be saved. In a lot of ways, that’s where Vinny and I are similar. We have this idea that if we could just save our families, or do what they need of us, we can save the day. So, I very stupidly turned around and headed back to Chinatown to try and save my parents.

All of the reasoning I have on my way there completely goes out of the window when my parents see me. My mother has on her usual Juicy Couture joggers with her hair pulled up in a messy bun. I almost cry at the sight of her gaudy, long nails andcheap lipstick from 2002. I’ve missed her badly, even though she's a terrible mother.

“Mom!” I cry as I run into the store. I wrap her in a tight hug.

She’s stiff as a board as she hugs me back. “What are you doing here?”

I hug her tighter, accosted by her potent perfume. “I broke away.”

She looks distraught as she looks me up and down. “With all of that security? There’s no way that you could’ve broken out by yourself.” I think back to Vinny and how he looked when he was unconscious on the floor.

“I guess I had a little bit of help,” I admit as I pace back and forth. “But none of that matters anymore because I need all of us to get in the truck. I’m going to find us a new home to live in.” My dad emerges from the back room with a box in his hands. He looks between my mother and me with a confused expression.

“They let her out,” my mom says with a shrug.

My dad sets the box on the floor and lets out a huge sigh. “I was hoping you wouldn’t have to be there too long. I guess they took pity on us after we gave our all.”

Tears well in my eyes. “I knew you all cared. I knew you wouldn’t just leave me there to rot.” They look at one another and smile.

“We love you, bug,” my mom says. I hug her tightly and my dad gives me an awkward pat on my back. As I pull away, they still seem confused.

“Well, what are you waiting for? We need to get out right now,” I say as I pull my mom’s hand and start dragging her to the door. She snatches it away.

“No, we’ve paid our dues. We’re good for another six years,” my mom says. My dad has a strange look on his face as he looks me up and down.

“Six years is the specific number they gave to us,” my dad repeats.

“Okay, and…?” I say, my confusion doubling. Suddenly, my stomach feels like I’m about to hurl.“Wait a minute… Who did you make a deal with?” I ask slowly.

“Andy Montoya,” my dad answers. Andy Montoya is the older brother to Vinny’s dad. Something feels off.

“What does the deal entail?” I ask, even though I don’t want to know. My mom moves closer with her hands clasped together. She has a nervous smile. The same kind she had when she had me pee for her drug tests.

She places her hands on my shoulders. “Sometimes, we women have to take the hardship for the men in the family—“

I jerk away. “What are you saying to me right now?”

“Sweetie, we had no choice! It was better than you being killed—“My dad starts to blurt out.

I can’t believe my ears. “What did you do?” I scream.

My mom groans. “We… gave you to him,” she whispers.

“Gave? As in… prostitution?” I squeak. The horror washes over me. I've been sold off like a ripe watermelon on the side of the road.

“No, bug! Not that! It’s more like a comfortable stay with someone who will give you nice gifts and travel,” my mom says, trying her best to butter me up.

“You have always been awful parents but this is a new low for you,” I say with pure disgust. “I’m your kid! I didn’t ask to be here.”

I want to believe the shame in their eyes is real but knowing my parents, they hate not being able to victimize themselves. Both grew up dirt poor and used to tell me their sob story of how their falling in love saved them from going down the drain. Now, I wish that drain would’ve washed them up long before they thought about having me.

I storm out with tears blinding me. The street is in utter chaos. Kids are playing dice, men are arguing over money, and babies are screaming at the top of their lungs. This is my life though. All I’ve ever known is never-ending noise. Oddly, I’d gotten used to the quiet of the cabin. Even if Vinny had planned to kill me, at least I knew what was coming next. I have nowhere to go at this point and I’m sure the Montoyas will find me and cut my body into pieces. I start running.

I’m pushing through the crowd as I cry harder. The sounds all blur together like a sharp shrill. It stings my ears and I feel my chest getting heavier. The tears have stopped, but now I can’t breathe.

“Rosa!”

I recognize that voice.

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