The Guard’s Daughter

All I wanted was coffee

It’s hard to believe the day has only barely begun. One minute I’m in search of my caffeine fix and the next everything is crashing down. I thought the worst thing that could happen today was Raphael’s wife coming on to Gio. I was wrong. The worst thing was seeing him handcuffed and taken away. They took most of the guards. It looks like they even got Raphael. The twins are in the kitchen watching it all unfold. My father is gone. He would be with me if he were still here. The cook is trying to take control of the situation reminding us kids we need to go to school. Victor scowls because if all the men are gone that can only mean he has to drive us to school. I hate school but I love sitting next to Gio to and from school. It doesn’t matter that we don’t talk all that matters is I’m near him. Reluctantly I go to school. The hours pass slower then ever. At one point I really believe the day will never end. I’m relieved when the last bell rings but then I reminded I’m riding with Victor and Valentina. I’m in the back of the mustang. It’s a beautiful car. The truth is Victor is actually not horrible looking. I mean he’s not Gio but I can understand to a certain degree why some of the girls at our school may not be totally disgusted by him. I am but I know him. Victor is cruel. Victor is entitled and Victor thinks he can have anything he wants. It doesn’t matter to him if that thing is a person who has no interest in him. The guards they don’t work for me. They don’t protect me and unlike Valentina I’m not the untouchable princess. I avoid Victor as best I can. At night I sleep in modest pajamas and I sleep with a pocket knife under my pillow. I’d prefer a gun and actually I know how to shoot one but all the guns are accounted for no gun goes missing. I check my phone for messages. I bite my lip nervously as I call the lawyer. I have his direct line. He picks up on the fourth ring. I ask him about my father and try to casually ask about Gio. We get home it seems in record time. When we get there the lawyer is there. I ride with him to get my father and Gio out. Raphael is already out. I hug my father when I see him. I hug Gio too. He doesn’t fight the hug but it’s hardly what I’d call reciprocated.