Fear me

Adriano 19 Years Ago "Come play with us," Catalina said. "No," I pushed her away. "Leave me alone." "Fine, I'll go play with Vincente," she said. This little girl was so annoying but my brother and I had to play nice and put up with her while our parents did some business. I didn't want to be here with them. I wanted to be in the office with my father. I wanted everyone to take me seriously already. I was only twelve but I knew what my role in this family would be. She skipped away with her light brown ringlet curls bouncing as she skipped. I knew why my father and hers pushed us together but that is one thing I was not thinking about. Not now, maybe not ever. I just wanted to focus on the family business. 12 Years Later We were having a stupid ball to welcome a family to our inner circle. The Sousa family. They were just like the Santos family. Ambitious and looking for my father's approval and loans. They wanted his protection and money. Catalina Santos was here. My mother had asked me to dance with her. I didn't want to. She was three years younger than me so I didn't really have much to talk to her about. She was busy flirting with some waiter anyway. My brother stared at her more than he should though. Her brown hair was darker now. Her curls were looser too, wavier. Her grey eyes gleamed every time she smiled. She was an exquisite beauty. I'm sure her family groomed her for all this. "Adriano," she called. Her voice was soft and angelic. "What?" I said roughly. "Do you want to dance?" she asked. "No," I said coldly. "And why not?" she placed her hands at her hips in disapproval. "You are a child," I said firmly. "I am not," she huffed. The dress she was wearing said otherwise. It was a full ballgown. A light blue colored gown that made her look like the helpless princess she was. "Hello." "What?" I said as I rolled my eyes. "Let's go have some fun," she said. I raised an eyebrow at her but before I could vocalize my protest she grabbed my arm and pulled me away. We ended up in my father's study. It was like his own personal library. He had a liquor cabinet in here too. She walked over to it and grabbed a bottle of whiskey. "What are you doing?" I asked her. "Isn't it obvious," she grinned. "Hey," Vincente suddenly walked in. "Pour me a glass." "You both are so stupid," I said. "Don't tell me you haven't ever had a sip," she teased. "Obviously I've had a drink but I don't steal from my father," I said. "Oh, your such a good little boy," she smirked. I wanted to slap her for such a disrespectful comment. I rolled my eyes and took the bottle from her. I poured myself a glass and went to sit on my father's chair. Her eyes followed my every move. She coughed and then spoke. "We should play truth or dare," Catalina said. "Sure," my brother said. "No," I answered. Catalina rolled her eyes and ignored my answer. "Truth or Dare?" she asked Vicente. "Dare," he replied. "I dare you to," she paused and looked around the room. "I dare you to hit your brother." Vicente looked at me nervously. "Do it and you die," I smirked. My brother swallowed hard and then looked at Catalina with pleading eyes. "Chicken," she teased. "I can't believe you are that afraid of him." "I'm not," he said angrily. "My turn." My brother looked even more nervous now. "I dare you to ki-" He looked like he was about to vomit or something. "I dare you to keep drinking," we both looked at him suspiciously. I sighed and shook my head at him. "I dare you Catalina to kiss Vicente," I said abruptly. "What!" they both shouted. "Did I stutter?" I questioned. "Kiss him." I knew this is what my brother wanted. Catalina stared at me for a moment but then went for it. It was a small peck but my brother looked pleased. "Now, can I go?" I stood up and patted my brother on the shoulder. "Hey, wait," Catalina shouted. Our families stay close for so many years so when the Santos family betrayed us we were more than shocked. Nicolau Santos betrayed my father not once but twice. He tried to steal a deal, a very important deal from my father. My father kicked him out of our inner circle and told him to never show his face in any part of Brazil again. We never saw Catalina ever again after that. I didn't care much but Vicente was hurt by it. My father handed over the business to me when I turned twenty-one. It was his gift to me. I took it and ruled with an iron fist. I didn't want to look weak or like a child. I wanted everyone to FEAR ME. My father seemed proud of me. Vincente was my right-hand man. He looked after me and I in turn protected him. We had always visited the states when I was younger and my father had shown me around his city. I wanted to rule there too as he had. I knew he was happy to be back in Brazil but I made the decision to go back when I was twenty-five. My mother was happy but she also had built her life in Brazil now. She left everything behind when she came here with my father. As soon as we came into the city, we realized a few things were off. My father's men had fought hard to keep everything as it was but some had joined forces with our enemies. Nicolau Santos had moved here a few years ago after his exile and tried to take over what was once my father's. The fact we hadn't heard of any of this made me angry. I began to fight back and took control of the city once again. Nicolau didn't like that. it took him six years to strike back but he finally did and he struck where it would hurt the most. He took my mother. We were careless and never thought anyone would dare go for her. My father lost his mind and went to every length to get her back. We began a war that almost destroyed this great city but Nicolau came to a decision that would bring peace. I didn't want peace. I wanted to eliminate him and his entire family. Nicolau suggested a marriage with his only daughter so we could once again be allies. He would be pardoned for all his betrayals and offer us a significant amount of money for it. My father was reluctant but my mother warned him about going ahead with the war. He told me to take the offer. That is how I became engaged to Catalina Santos. I didn't care what deal and offers were on the table. I would make her life miserable until I could kill her father and destroy everything he had built. I did not yield I bought myself time. I would make them FEAR ME. No matter the cost.