One of the other men whistled at my filthy words, while the rest laughed. The scarred faced man, however, looked ready to snap my neck with his bare hands.
Snarling, he ripped the same gun I’d witnessed him holding back at the apartment from his waistband and charged me, murderous rage written on his features.
“Fucking little—”
A primal scream, one that only a mother protecting her offspring could make, ripped through the night air, drowning out whatever vile insult the man was about to spew all over me, as Mamá, who was petite in stature but hot-tempered in nature, slammed her small body into the pendejo, knocking him to the concrete.
On impact, the gun flew from his hand and slid across the sidewalk.
Moving fast, she picked it up before he could recover it. She then pointed the barrel at his face, her hands shaking the slightest bit.
The man stood and took a small step back, his body tight with barely contained rage. Nodding toward the gun, he dusted gravel and dirt from the side of his black cargo pants. “What are you planning to do with that, puta?”
Positioning her trembling body between the men and Alejandro and me, she steadied her aim, ready to fire.
“Eight years ago, Carlos Melendez took my husband,” she said, stealing my breath. I’d known it was a narco who’d stolen Papá away, but I hadn’t known it was Carlos. Learning he was responsible made me want to vomit. “He will not take my daughter too!”
Various chuckles floated through the night air.
The scarred man’s included.
“Eleven men are standing before you,” he retorted, his voice deceptively calm. “There are seven rounds in the gun you hold in your hand. Even if you make every bullet count, do the math, perra.” His cruel smile slid back into place. “One way or another, I’m taking the princesa as she no longer belongs to you.”
The man’s words were Mamá’s undoing.
A second scream escaped her throat as she squeezed the trigger. Gripping my crown tight in one hand and Alejandro’s hip in the other, I clamped my eyes shut, waiting for the gun to discharge.
But nothing happened.
Only silence, followed by cackling laughter resounded through the humid night air.
My eyes popped open, and I saw the scarred man rush forward, his evil gaze locked on Mamá. Panicked, I screamed for the first time that night and wrapped my arms around her trim waist, hugging her back to my front. “Mamá, shoot him!”
If she wouldn’t do it, then I would.
To protect my family, I’d do anything.
Before she could pull back on the trigger again, the gun was ripped from her hands. “Stupid fucking puta!” the man yelled, his large body looming over each of ours. “Next time, check the safety!”
Mamá became further unhinged.
Nothing less than enraged, she ripped herself free of my hold and once more slammed her body into him. He stumbled backward but didn’t lose his footing.
With an audible grunt, he grasped her upper arms and held her tight while laughing at her untrained and manic attempts to free herself.
“Mamá!” Alejandro cried. “Stop!”
“Yeah, Mamá,” the man said, mimicking my little brother. “Stop.” Twisting her around, he pulled her back into his torso, locking his powerful arms around her.
Our eyes met, and I nearly collapsed.
Because what I saw in hers…
It was defeat.
Pressing the gun into her temple, he flicked off the safety. Meeting my wild gaze, he smiled once more. “Get in the vehicle, princesa. No more running, no more fighting.”
My temper skyrocketed. “Go to—”
I snapped my mouth shut when Mamá whimpered as the cold metal of the gun bit into her skull.
With one pull of the trigger…
“If you don’t, then I’m going to shoot your Mamá,” he said, reading my thoughts. “Then, I’m going to shoot your hermanito.” Stomach dropping to my feet, the urge to vomit returned. “You wouldn’t want that, would you?”
Without thinking, I shook my head.
They couldn’t die.
Not by the cartel’s hands.
I would willingly walk to my death first.
“Good, princesa.” He nodded at the SUV. “Now be a good girl and climb in the vehicle. Then I’ll let your family go. Otherwise, they will die by my gun.”
The fingers clutching my crown grew lax. It fell to the ground with a crack and rolled toward Mamá, broken pieces of rhinestones skittering in all directions.
My dreams.
My future.
It was all over.
Knowing that the police, most of whom were owned by the cartel, would never look for me, and that it would be the last time I ever touched him, I reached back and squeezed my little brother’s hip before dropping my hand.
“Take care of Mamá, hermanito,” I whispered, my heart breaking into a million jagged little pieces. “Kiss her for me every day.”
A sob was his only response.
He’d always been so sensitive and sweet.
I prayed he would remain that way.
“Carmen!” Mamá cried, her fingers clawing the scarred man’s forearm without ceasing. “Mi preciosa, I won’t let you—”
“You don’t have a choice.” The harshness lining my voice was disrespectful, something I never was, but I needed her to understand. “If we fight, then death will come. But if I go, you and Alejandro will live.” I paused briefly. “I have made my decision. I love you, Mamá,” I said, willing her to understand. “And because I love you so, I refuse to let you die for me.”
The cartel could take me from my family, and they could steal whatever they pleased from my body, abusing and battering every inch of my flesh until my heart no longer beat, but they would never—and I mean never—steal my courage or pride.
Shattering on the inside, I focused on the nearest SUV, and like the beauty queen that I was, I forced my shoulders back and held my head high. Determined to keep my family from harm, I headed toward the chariot that would transport me straight to the depths of hell.
As I neared one of the Suburbans, I looked back at Mamá and Alejandro. Their grief-stricken, tear-soaked faces broke me.
I’ll never see them again.
Knees shaking, I came close to falling.
By some miracle, I held
