Small creaks of dishes being moved around resounded. Cutlery scratching the plates as we all ate our food quietly.

None said a word.

I glanced at Papa who ate his food with an unusual aura surrounding him. My gaze darted to Hernando's who was also glancing at Papa, all worrisome over his unusual antic.

I couldn't eat the food any less than a few bites and it was nauseating.

"Ma'am!" Our heads darted to Maple's voice and my eyebrows furrowed seeing the multiple uniformed men beside her.

"M-Ma'am, he is fro-" Maple stammered but was interfered soon.

"Who is Hernine Acetta? We have a warrant against her." All our cutleries dropped in unison and Papa and I shared a look.

"Who is it from?" Papa asked and a man stepped forward, raising the warrant.

"It's unknown but we have all the evidence to believe that you guys are engaging in unnecessary means of drug transportation."

My hands tightened on my coat and I stood up.

I know who it's from.

Hernando came in front of me, standing stoic, crossing his arms. "What evidences do you have?"

"We have photographs of your shipments arriving, moreover we raided a warehouse and found multiple drug shipments in it. It's getting picked up as we speak."

"Do you have a warrant charged to get rid of the drugs?" The officer in black and blue uniform glanced behind at his workers, at papa's ask and his workers shook their heads.

Papa took a sharp inhale. "You have the right to arrest until so you have a warrant, but you don't have a warrant for drug consumption. We'll go with you if you stop the search for our warehouses."

The man in front, took his phone out from his pocket, although very disapprovingly and called someone.

I looked at Papa and gave him a nod. I'll go.

He shook his head and I rolled my eyes.

That'll just make things more difficult.

"Stop the search for the Acetta's warehouses. At once." We looked up front at the officer's voice and my heart continued to thud against my chest.

"It's done. Now please co-operate." He turned to the side, putting his hand in the direction asking me to quietly follow them to be locked up.

"Just a minute." The man grunted.

I raised my eyebrow and the man rolled his eyes. Moody as fuck.

He walked off to a distance and I turned to Papa and Hernando.

"It's fine. You can bail me out. They can't keep me in there for long. I'll go with them."

"Hernine-"

"Papa, I know, I disappointed you but please trust me for the last time. Marco probably has given them the evidence and they have the proof for all. We can't risk any kind of disagreement. It's best we co-operate."

Papa looked awfully disapproving of this. "She's right. We can handle this and perhaps can ask Amadio to let her out for he surely has the federals under him-"

"You won't ask for his help." Their heads whipped to my sudden voice and I took a deep breath, calming myself down. "I would rather die. We can handle ourselves. We don't need anyone's help."

Hernando took a look at me and nodded.

I looked at papa in anticipation. "Be safe." A sudden adrenaline rush hit me and I gave him a stiff nod.

He turned to me, giving me hug and my vision blurred before I sucked it in.

I have been weak for long, I can't go back to that. Weakness destroys people. And I have been destroyed enough.

I smiled at Maple who was sobbing by now. Poor woman.

Following the officers in their car, I matched eyes with the two men who promised to bail me out.

I got in the car, my men trying to stop the officers before Papa ordered them to just follow the car. They looked hesitant but obliged.

I smiled. It was only my family that loved me. No one else.

No one.

•••••••••••

The abrupt stench hit my nostrils and I gagged, the Latina officer beside me rolling her eyes.

"Spoiled ass." I turned around, a murderous look in my eyes and she broke the stare off.

The cell door opened with a buzz and I looked at the dirty sheets and bunk beds. I took a deep breath.

"Make yourself home. You're going to be here for a long time."

"Not long enough to shoot you when I get out." I retorted and the woman quickly worked to have the cell door close. A guard stood beside my cell and I scoffed.

They treat you like pests. Motherfuckers.

I sat on the far end of the metal dented bench only grateful for not having an inmate to share the cell with. That would have been awful.

After drumming my fingers on my thigh, I got bored. And knowing that I'd be here for at least an hour before the paper work got done, I looked at anything around to entertain me.

My eyes glinted when I looked at the black police officer guarding my cell.

"Pss!" He looked around before standing with his legs spread apart, as if he was in the military.

"Psssss!" He turned around and flinched loudly once he saw me, pressed against the cell bars, a Cheshire smile on my face.

"Hiiii!" He cleared his throat, his facade of stoicness once again appearing.

"I know you're bored."

He didn't respond and I rolled my eyes.

"Whoever speaks last is gay."

I saw from my peripheral vision how his eyes widened and he opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off, gasping.

"You're gay! So cute. You have a husband?" His eyes widened and he looked around quickly, almost breaking his neck in the process. I smirked.

"I'm not!.... I'm not... Gay." He spoke the word as if it was forbidden and I laughed out loud.

"It's okay, we all have our deepest darkest secrets." He looked raging and I innocently smiled.

"Listen here, stop calling me that. Or I'll have you thrown in the cell with the gang inmates in here." I rolled my eyes at his no more than a bark, no bite.

"I have taken down people with worse crimes than in here." I spoke, still speaking innocently.

"And I'd like to see you try, gay bestie." His eyes widened when I spoke the latter word very audibly.

"Shut the fuck up!" He whisper yelled and I rolled my eyes.

"I want something to eat."

His nostrils flared and he stood up to his full height. He was quite tall.

But not taller than....

I shook my head, smiling forcefully at the man.

"You can't have that. Now shut up." He turned around once again and I slammed my fist on the cell, he flinched.

"But I'm bored!" I whined, liking this banter so much more than I wanted to.

"Jesus." He mumbled, "Go to sleep or something."

"I'm not sleepy." I whined again and he took a sharp inhale.

"I want something to eat! Eat! Eat! Eat! Eat-"

"Fine! I'll get you something. Why must I always get the retards?" He muttered the last part to himself and my eye twitched at the insult but I didn't say anything almost, almost feeling pity for the guy. He definitely looked new.

I smiled big when he looked at me and he shook his head before pressing on his walky-talky.

••••••••••••

I swung my legs back and forth as I licked the cream off the cupcake.

"-then obviously the car was knocked off but I slid down the rolled hill where they were and shot them thrice on each leg."

The man gulped, looking traumatized. "There were actually four people, but I killed two on the spot, I was very angry you see." I took the last bite of my cupcake.

"I ont olewrate hit awnd run, ou no?" (I don't tolerate hit and runs, you know?) My mouth full as I spoke.

He was definitely confused to what I said but didn't ask not wanting to unlock another piece of information which would give him potential sleep paralysis at night.

"And then I later killed the other two-" my legs came to a stop from their oscillation and I stood up in confusion.

"Acetta. You're out."

"Fuck yeah!" I ignored the guard who cheered and looked at the Sheriff who stood outside my cell.

Soon the cell door buzzed and I walked out, still mind-boggled.

I got out and to the office where Papa was, as the Sheriff led me there. I looked at Papa who looked equally puzzled.

"How did you bail me out so quick?" Papa was about to say something when the Sheriff intervened.

"He didn't bail you out."

My confusion topped. "Then who was it?"

"Mr. Amadio Velvet, bailed you out."