"Are you sure you sure?" Zara questioned for what felt like the billionth time.

It hadn't even been a full twenty-four hours and I was already wanting to shove Zara and Theo off the hotel roof. Since finding out about the arranged marriage and my plans to go with it the two had refused to leave my side. both questioning my decisions ever five minutes.

"Yes Zaza, I am sure." I repeated feeling more and more like a part.

"Do you want us to come with you?" Theo questioned leaning his head over the back of the couch.

"I'm just going to pick Sosa up at school like I do every Friday. " I insisted draping my purse over my shoulder as I headed for the door.

"But what if the Zheng family shows up while your gone?"

"I don't know entire them?" I half suggested half mocked as I waved them heading out the door.

The last thing I saw before the door closed shut was Zara's face dropping with irritation. A small smirk formed on my lips as I headed for the elevator doors. After hours of them harassing me, it felt good to give Zara a taste of her own medicine. Pulling my phone from my purse I checked the time, a light groan escaped my lips realizing I was going to be late to pick Saza up.

The prep school parking lot was filled with overpriced Suvs most waiting for their bosses' children and a few waiting for their own. Pulling into one of the few empty spots left int he parking lot my eyes scanned the busy schoolyard searching for my little cousin. Leaning against the stone flannel dressed arms crossed over her chest, a scowl on her lips was none other than my baby cousin Sofia-Santana a name she wasn't the fondest of, A feeling that based on her exuding mood was mutual about me being late.

Taking in a semi nervous breath I got out of my car, tucking my purse under my arms I closed the door to my car making long strides across the parking lot my heels clicking with each step. Sosa, despite her height and her looks was not someone whose bad side you wanted to be on. It wasn't till I reached the sidewalk, that Sosa noticed me, a look of relief washing over her lips parting ever so slightly. It wasn't till then I realized it was someone or something else she was upset with.

"Hola mi armour" I greeted a warm smile forming on my face as I stretched my arms out to you.

"Hola amorosa" She greeted walking fully into my burying herself into my arms.

Resting my chin on the top of her head, I pulled her in close the scent spicy-sweet scent of cinnamon filling my nostrils. For a few moments, we stood their together, wrapped in each other's arms. After a little while we slowly parted letting go of each other I took Sosa's hand in mine.

"Everything alright armour?" I questioned tucking strands of her deep pecan strands behind her ear.

"I just want to get home so I can study and get out of this cesspit faster" She insisted with a heavy sigh.

"Of course" I softly smiled, I was supposed to tell her about my arrangement, I wanted to.. but at this moment I didn't want to stress her more.

"You, there. who are you to this... this mongrel of a child" A shrill voice snapped from behind us.

Sosa and I slowly turned around, my brow instinctually raised as my eyes landed on her, the women looked like she had most plastic in her then barbie. Her icy blonde hair over bleached,  shocking blue contact that didn't quite hide her brown eyes.  Everything about her inhumanly proportioned with her breast and ass implants I couldn't help but wonder how her tiny corseted waist supported it.

"Someone who doesn't appreciate you talking to her like that" informed calmly "and you?" I added looking her up and down

" I am the mother of the girl who's nose she broke"  the woman demanded

"Era un trabajo fallido de todos modos" Sosa mumbled under her breath.

"can you not speak English? You unintelligent lawn monkey." the woman snapped, that's when I felt something start to bubble inside me, my calm exterior slipping away.

"Sosa and I would graciously go to the birthplace of ancestors. As soon as your ignorant ass goes back to yours. Now if you don't mind we have to go and I'm sure you have a botox appointment your late for" I snapped taking Sosas arm roughly turning away to her the car.

"Excuse me you little bitch? Do you know who my husband is!?!" the woman snapped

"Does it look like I care who racist bigot is married to?" I called out not turning to face her.

"Racist!! How dare you! I am not racist I'm adopting a black boy! From Africa!" she defended, Sosa dropped my hand turning back to face the lady

"Listen, your daughter is a bitch and bully. I broke her nose because she was harassing and torturing my friend because he's gay and as for you. Your just another white lady who wants to adopt charity orphans to make you feel good about yourself. I've met and spoken to Bakari, or I guess I should call him Blair since that's what you've forced him to change his name to. Who the fuck does that? Bruja."Sosa informed her voice stressing on some words getting louder and angrier as she went on

"I.." the woman stumbled "I did it for his own good" she admitted trying to defend her actions.

"Keep telling yourself that" Sosa hissed turning her back to the woman.

Sosa once again took my hand a little tighter this time letting out a heavy breath as she moved forward.  Sosa practically dragged me to my car, letting my hand drop as she walked to the passenger side half haphazardly through her bag in the back seat and she dropped onto the passenger seat. As I opened the driver's door I could barely make out the faint mutters in Spanish that escaped her lips. Taking my seat beside her I pause turning to her for a moment.

"I'm proud of you. " I informed a smile forming on my lips as I squeezed her arm starting the car.

"for what?" she grumbled shuffling down in her seat

"well let's see. Defending your friend and sticking up to a bully.  Only breaking her nose, standing up to that hag, and not going chupacabra on her. Even though she deserved it and part of me wants to text her licence play to Iggy" I informed taking glances at her, her scowl grew into a side smirk.

"Iggy would losses his shit" Sosa giggled

"oh definitely. Remember when you tried out for the boys' soccer team in the eighth grade?" I questioned, 

"which Iggy ruined what little sliver of a chance I had by showing up and stabbing every ball while striking the coach dead in the eyes."  Sosa added.

"that dick refused to learn your name just called you Dora the explore. Which resulted in?" I reminded her

"The cheer squad calling me Dora the whoresplore and refusing to let me join the team" Sosa addmited with a sigh.

"which is why our beloved IED Iggy lost his cool" I reminded

"he's my brother and I love him but he really needs to work on his anger issues" Sosa mumbled

"Our entire family needs to work on their anger issues"  I remained

"true... Felix got banned from his university campus for four months because he broke the vending machine for stealing his quarter" you could hear the amusement laced shame as she spoke.

"Oh I am soooo bringing that up next time I see him" I squealed smirking gaining a giggle from Sosa

While I had always been closer to Sosa and Iggy it was Felix I was closest to in age, being a year older for the first six years of my life everything was a competition for us. Something that even after Ximena and then Sosa was born we continued amongst each other in the somewhat playful rivalry. The brain he was losing his temper and getting kicked off campus was treat I could loom over him for weeks if not months.