Camouflage

A gloomy, ominous silence was filled in the atmosphere. She was sitting on a cherry red couch in an enormous hall. High pitched voices were breaking the silence. Her heart was thumping rapidly in her chest. A silence tear slipped from her right eye. Immediately, she brushed it away with the back of her hand. Her thick humid lashes lifted. She darted out her eyes from her sitting place. Her eyes could witness only the darkness of the moonless night. She slowly blinked and darted her eyes on her brother whose face was red with shouting and rage. He was still in his light grey suit. His fists were clenched at his sides. She blinked again and moved her eyes on the second face which was equally dear to her, like her brother, her father. He was in black suit. He was the most handsome man she saw with grey eyes and her brother Bryan was an exact copy of their father with his grey eyes. Her father was controlling his rage as his jaw was ground. His hands were in his pocket. She loved both men, her brother, Bryan Shelton and her father Douglas Shelton. She wasn't worried what her father did for the food on his plate. Deep down she knew she hated her father's business but she loved him more than she couldn't hate him. His hands were soaked with innocent people's blood. Although there was no blood, she could see right now but he was a criminal in her sight. Her father was the ally with the biggest powerful Mafia man, Morrison Watkins.          "We've nothing to do with you. I have lost my mother because of you. I'm not gonna allow you to do the same with my sister. "Her brother said out loudly which was coming in her ears like shouts.          "I'm her father. You took my daughter away from me when she was just a kid. "Her father shouted at him. Her parents and brother loved her the most. She lost her mother when she was six years old. This hatred game and cold war was running between son and father after the death of her mother. She could feel the pain in her father's voice. She knew it wasn't a wise decision of her brother to keep her father away from her. It wasn't that they were facing any financial problem. Her brother was a successful businessman. Sometimes, she had thought when she hadn't seen her father for many months. She asked his brother once, staring at the stars at night. Was her father also a star in the sky? It melted her brother and he allowed their father to visit and meet her. She was hoping in her childhood that her mother would walk in her room like her father did. Neither her father nor her brother could fulfill her desire.          "I don't care what you think. Diana is not going to marry him. "His brother said in his solid voice. He used to use the same tone when their father asked them to come back home.        "She will do this marriage. She'll not let my head down. I've made a promise to Morrison. She's going to be betrothed with Atkinson tomorrow. I'll not allow anyone to take my daughter away from me this time. "Her father confirmed it in his curt tone.         "I'll do anything in my power to save her from this disaster. "Her brother retorted.        "Enough, Bryan. "Her father said in his high pitched voice. Which quieted everything in the enormous hall except her running heart beats. Her father paced, standing in front of her. He bent down and kissed her forehead, "You'll be happy with him. I promise you, peanut. "Her father said to her. She blinked her hazel brown eyes. Tears slipped down her cheeks, still she managed a smile as she was hoping after this fight, maybe her smile could make him forget the rude behaviour of his son. Her father shook his head and ran his thumb to brush tears away.        "She's not going anywhere."Bryan said slowly this time.       "I know you, son. Ceremonies can happen without her. After the ceremony, you can't keep her away or hide. "She knew her father who knew to keep every single word of his saying. He straightened up and trotted out. His fists were still tightened.         She was filled with dread. She did not want to marry him. She didn't believe in such a relationship, especially when her boyfriend and best friend deceived her. She shook her head. Cheater people didn't deserve her tears. Atkinson was the main topic now.        "Hey! Pumpkin, you okay. "Bryan ruffled her hair and crouched down looking up at her.        Both men loved her. She was glad about it. But she could not break the old hatred between them, "Yes, "She whispered.         "We are not living here anymore. We are going far away from here. Where they can't find us." Bryan said to her and smiled.          "They'll find us, brother. I don't wanna marry anyone. "She told him. Her brother never questioned her decision. She could trust her brother with anything. But she was aware of the stubbornness of her father, after all he was also a mafia.        "It won't happen. "He patted her cheek.       "You should go to your bed, Diana. It's too late. "Her sister in law said. Who was standing aside during the whole conversation. She wasn't a kid anymore but still her family thought and treated her like a kid. They spoiled her. She knew this look of Amelia that she wanted to talk Bryan alone.       "Amelia is right. "Her brother politely said. For her brother and father, she was still a child. She wanted them to look at her as people looked at her so they both could understand she was now able to make decisions of her life on her own.        She paced on the floor and reached her room, "Diana, can we talk? "Amelia asked as she was walking behind her.      "I thought you wanna talk to my brother first. " She whispered sadly. It always affected her most when these two men fought.      "You know. Your brother will do anything for you. You should agree to this marriage. They are dangerous. I love your brother. They'll kill him. "Amelia said harshly but with concern for her husband. There was a sad tone in her last sentence.      She and Amelia were not in good terms with their relationship. Amelia always wanted her to marry. She had suggested many guys from her friend circle but after her heart broke she swore that she'd not allow any person to play with her heart again.      "I don't know. I'll think about it. "She told her.      "Good night. "Amelia smiled and grabbed the doorknob.       She clicked the lock behind her. She was pacing to and fro in her room with tension. She didn't know him. How could she say him yes and expected him to be her husband. It was so complicated for her. She could not take out the argument from her thinking. She didn't want anyone to hurt her again whenever she went back there in her memories. It added more salt on her wounded heart. She halted her steps and sighed slowly.          She paced toward the washroom. She was hoping this bath would take some tension away. She hated to be the reason between her brother and father's conflict. After shower, she plopped on her mattress and stared at the light pink ceiling of her room. She wasn't in love with pink but Amelia picked this color for her room. Pounding on the door broke the silence. She got off the bed and unlocked the door, showing her brother still in his suit.        "Diana, we are leaving now. "Her brother declared in his usual tone.       She was doubting her brother's plans as she knew her father very well who meant his words always. This time it wouldn't be only him, it'd be the whole mafia after them if they got disappeared, "Are you sure, brother. We should do this!?"She stared at her brother.      "I'm not throwing you in any hell. Let's go. Maid will get your stuff. "Bryan held her arm and ushered her toward his car.     "Brother! I'm in my pajamas. "She protested.     "It's okay, pumpkin. You are still my kid. "Her brother said without glancing back at her.      "Where are we going? "she didn't pull her hand as she knew it was useless. Once her brother made any plan, he wouldn't easily backup. He wasn't bothered to face defeat. He was in love with the never give up policy.      Amelia was already sitting in the car and was giving her a stuffy look with her folded arms over her chest. Her brother's decision made his wife hate her more. She got in the back seat. Her brother got in the driver seat and made the car alive.