Mafia Princess

Chapter 3: Goodbye

Jane's POV

Alexander's hand was warm. Callused. It swallowed mine completely.

I didn't let go. My hand looked tiny in his. Like Peanut's paw. Nanay always said I had "maliit na kamay, pang-piano," even though we didn't own a piano.

"Wait," Tatay said. His voice was gravel. He stepped forward, putting himself between me and Alexander for half a second. He wasn't a big man. Factory work kept him lean, not broad. But right then he looked like he could fight the whole SUV. "What's going to happen to her?"

Alexander didn't move back. He didn't get in Tatay's face either. He just met his eyes. Respectful, but not scared. "She'll be protected. Educated. She'll want for nothing. That's my father's word."

"And what does your father do?" Tatay asked. "That he needs to send three boys and a car like this to get one girl?"

'One girl' the words hit different now. Because Alexander had said it back there: "we've got no girls. Not ever. You're the only one."

Alexander's jaw ticked. Once. "He keeps his family alive. That's all you need to know right now."

"That's not all I need," Tatay said. "She's my daughter."

"Biology says otherwise," Alexander said. Still not mean. Just flat. A fact. "But I'm not here to argue. I'm here to take her home before other people find her first."

"Other people?" Liza said from the doorway. She'd been quiet until now. Ate Liza was never quiet. "What other people?"

Jake flinched at that. I saw it. A tiny twitch in his shoulder.

Zachary, the 18-year-old with the scar, was still staring at me. He hadn't stopped since he got out of the car. Not creepy. More like... stunned. Like I was a stray kitten that wandered into a war zone.

"There are no other people today," Alexander said. "Let's keep it that way." He looked at me again. Softer. Just a little. "Jane. We need to go."

I looked at Ben. He was full-on crying now, snot and all, clutching Tatay's leg. He didn't understand what was happening. He just knew Ate was leaving with strangers.

"Ben," I said. My voice cracked. I hated crying in front of people. "It's okay. I'll... I'll call. Or write. Or-"

"You better," Kuya Mark cut in. He'd been silent too, arms crossed, jaw locked. Now he stepped forward and yanked me into a hug. Hard. He smelled like basketball and the cheap cologne he used too much of. "You hear me? You better call. Every day."

"I don't have a phone," I whispered into his shirt.

"You do now," Alexander said. I turned. He was holding out a small black box. No logos. No brand. Just black. "Yours. Numbers are already in there. Me. Zach. Jake. Dad. Security."

I took it with both hands. It was heavier than my old keypad phone that could barely text. "Thank you po," I said automatically. Then winced. "Po" To a guy who was basically kidnapping me.

Alexander's mouth twitched. Almost a smile. "You don't have to say po to me."

"Sorry," I mumbled, looking at my shoes. They were muddy. My white socks were gray.

"Stop apologizing," Jake said suddenly. He was at my other side now. "You didn't do anything wrong."

"I know," I said. "It's just... habit."

Zachary made a sound. I looked up. He was still watching me. When my eyes met his, he looked away fast. Like he got caught. His ears were red.

"Can I say goodbye?" I asked Alexander. I hated how small I sounded.

He nodded. "Two minutes. Then we go."

I didn't waste them.

I hugged Nanay first. She smelled like garlic and sampaguita and home. She didn't say anything. She just held me and rocked me once, like she used to when I was little and had nightmares. When she let go, she pressed something into my hand. Her rosary. The wooden one with the missing bead.

"Para hindi mo makalimutan," she whispered. "Kung saan ka nanggaling."

I nodded and tucked it in my pocket, right next to Peanut. I'd shoved him in there before I came outside. Don't judge me.

Tatay hugged me next. Short. Hard. Like he was trying to memorize me. "Be good," he said, same as he always did before school. "Don't forget 90 pataas."

That broke me. A stupid laugh-sob came out. "Yes, Tay."

Liza was crying now too. She pulled me into her arms and her shirt. My shirt. The blue one she always stole. "You better not die," she hissed in my ear. "Or I'll kill you myself. And take all your books."

"Deal," I whispered back. "Take care of Peanut if I-" I stopped. "Never mind."

Her eyes went wide. "You brought Peanut?"

"No," I lied, face burning.

Ben wouldn't let go of my leg. "Ate, sama ako," he wailed. "Sama ako!"

"Can't, Bunso," I said, kneeling. My knees hit mud. "But I'll come back. Promise."

It was a lie. I didn't know if it was a lie. But it felt like one.

"Time," Alexander said. Not unkind. Just final.

I stood up. I didn't look back again. If I did, I wouldn't get in the car.