Valentina

A week had since I missed Antonio's presence. A whole week spent in bed, where I was unwilling to believe our own allies were cause for betrayal.

"They are here," Sofia opened the door, peeking in. Her head tossed around the darkness of my room. "Val," she called out.

"I am coming," was the most I could tell her.

Unwilling to leave my room or my bed, I had to stay in mourning. Any slip of my mask and I would be caught within the web of lies I built. It was all for everyone's good, I reminded myself time and again but those words seemed to lose its meaning with every passing day.

"Okay," Sofia whispered through the crack in the door. "They are all waiting for you." She tossed her semi smile at me, which for the past few days she has been doing.

The allies have come to meet us, me in particular. The members of the cartel who wanted to express their condolences to the departed. I knew what their true intentions were. They wanted to pick on our scabs. The mourning hadn't calmed yet, but all they wanted was to ensure that there was a hand on their head.

Someone to protect them.

In Antonio's study, the light streaming through the window gave the room a different look. Usually darker and eerier, the place carried a different scent and look as if it knew its previous owner wasn't coming to embrace its original aura. A few minutes later, Al emerged through the door.

We all were wearing the matching color, black in the remembrance of the fallen one. He tossed his jacket towards the chair where he used to sit. Even I couldn't sit at the chair that overlooked Antonio's seating. It was too heavy to do so.

Few moments later, a row of members, known and unknown walked into the room. Many have walked in this place before but for others, this was a grand visit. Their eyes remained widened, watching the bronze works on the corners of the ottoman and the tables with carved legs. They were finally admitted to the kingdom even though their king remained absent.

Agustin stood beside me. He handed a document in my hand which I scanned and placed on the table.

"Later," I whispered to him to which he nodded.

Each member of the clan lent their hand to me. I took them gently, holding onto it as they narrated the greatness of the fallen one. Antonio was many things except a people pleaser. He would have laughed at this had he been witness to it.

After the formal meet a few members informed Agustin, their wish to meet with me in private. The Castors were one among them. Their eyes never left mine, probably scared if I'd betray them. After the last person left the room, Agustin walked me out to the meeting room.

"How are you doing?" was a mere formality from him too. None of us were doing well, we were all attempting but failing. We were unable to do even half of what Antonio was able to pull off, successfully control the members. I knew in that moment, what his worth was.

The Lion who commanded the forest.

"If there is anything you want, just let me know." Agustin patted my shoulder and walked out.

Inside the room, the members sat, whispering. Upon walking in, their hushed tones fell silent. It took a few minutes where only the sound of the ticking clock and some moving uncomfortably in their chair was heard.

Clearing his throat, Dante stood up. "We mourn the loss of the fallen and march up for those who stayed. We will stand again, in the hands of our new head," he turned to me, tossing his glass of water. "To Valentina."

To Valentina.

The crown chanted softly. This wasn't a celebration but a ceremony to make a replacement. For them, they replaced the king with a queen but the truth was, I was merely a pawn in the game they played.

"We have a proposal, Valentina," one stout man with a brazen tone spoke with his eyes dipped to my chest. "We were glad about the latest events." he uttered with pride.

I knew there were many who didn't want Antonio to survive, they were the ones who planned this with Ramon. The allies who planned the coup.

Smiling through those heart shattering words, I held up my stoic expressions.

"We are more than willing to help you survive if you do the same for us," his eyes dazzled with a new hope when he whispered for all, "survive."

Less restriction, more deals. No holdbacks on woman and children used as traders. That's what they want. They have wanted this all along and with Antonio gone, they decided their scare tactic on me.

"May I know your name," I asked the man who leered at me. He smiled and stepped off the side. Walking towards me, he took my hand, kissing my knuckle. A soft gasp emerged from somewhere in the gathering. After all, I was the widow, whom this man decided to play with.

"Jorge Alfaro," he picked his lips off my knuckle, smiling, "at your service." His smile was crooked as he walked away to be seated.

Oxygenating my lungs, I exhaled through my mouth. "I know you all want things to go back to normal. I do too. But I need more time. You see, my husband is dead."

Someone in the garb of the crowd whispered, "You did it."

The voice was familiar but I continued, "I need more time for all of you. Clearly, you weren't happy with Antonio's rules and I can see that." I held the edges of the table. My grip turned white while I coughed my words. "All I am saying is that I knew the man Antonio was. He didn't care if rules were broken but only for his benefit. But now, I am there for you. To help you."

Turning to Jorge, I smiled softly. "As you said, at your service."

The crowd let out a soft laugh. They signed the papers, letting me hold control while their rules were stated on the papers. It was their way of ensuring, I didn't miss any point.

Agustin walked in, collecting everyone's sheets. He tossed his look to me, the one with concern and care. I nodded after which he walked out. The small talks went on till late evening.

Although Maria too exhibited all signs of sadness, unwilling to leave her room, she ensured that everyone was fed. Her household's first and foremost rule, nobody leaves hungry was enforced even today.

The dinner table was filled with members who were with me before in the meeting. Others, who decided to talk more to Alejandro and Agustin, remained outside.

"Dinner is served," Dante rose, clicking his glass to everyone. "Now eat and enjoy."

The room flooded with laughter as if nothing happened. They didn't even bother to check on me once the alcohol got them swayed. Agustin walked in, whispering in my ears. I smile, patting his cheeks. Kissing my forehead, he walked out.

Jorge Alfaro who watched me with hawk's precision, chuckled. "I knew what you did to Antonio but I never though you would warm his brother's bed so soon." His words silenced everyone. I watched him with hooded eyes as he talked over from the other end of the table, addressing everyone. "Are we sure to let her take over? It's not been a week but she..."

"Enough," Dante stood up, walking towards me. With a hand on the back of my chair, he leaned in, whispering. "Don't worry, I will take care of him."

"Why?" I asked.

"Because," he leaned in further, letting his warm breath touch the side of my face. "...because you and I can be the new heads. And I would be lucky to have you by my side."

I sighed. I wasn't ready to take this on the first day of the job. "I am still in mourning, Dante." I turned to him. He smirked before taking his hand and running it over my jaw.

"In mourning for a man you killed, mi amore. And now you are willing to sleep with his brother but not me?"

''I am not sleeping with Agustin. He is like my brother." I roared, pushing off the chair. With my hand onto Dante's neck, I shoved my retracting knife into his artery. The one which supplies blood to the brain and heart. The one which, upon slitting, sprays blood like a water pistol.

The crowd gasped. Someone yelled out loca.

I turned to them, leaving Dante's trembling body on the floor. The white marble turned red as the man twisted twice on the floor before falling flat.

The heavy entrance doors reopened. Agustin and Alejandro walked in, dragging his body, leaving a trail of crimson colored wetness behind. Damiela was in shock all this while. Only when she witnesses her brother's lifeless body being dragged out, did she yell curses at me and ran towards him.

Before she could reach the door, the help closed it back. Everyone's attention turned to the sidedoor which creaked open in the meantime. As the metal hinges retracted back, everyone's eyes bobbed out of their socket.

Antonio. I could hear their whispers.

The man whom everyone presumed to be dead was resurrected. He was alive and walking. And walked did he to my side, crossing his arms over his chest when he neared me. I stood still, unblinking.

"I told you, you won't last long enough," he said, wiping out the spritz of blood from my face and checking me completely.

"I lasted long enough for you to watch the end game."

He leaned in, kissing my forehead before turning me to the crowd, all of whom stood shell-shocked.

"Please, take a seat. There is no going out," he gestured with his hand at the crowd that resembled as someone who witnessed a ghost.

Suddenly the silence in the room was replaced with commotion. The crowd was screaming, yelling on the top of their voice, explaining to Antonio how they were not a part of the game. Someone pulled Damiela out of her chair and flung her towards her.

She is the culprit. They screamed. She wailed in protest.

Raising my hand to calm them, I waited. Slowly, the screams became murmurs. I turned to Antonio who watched me with a delighted look.

"You want to do the honors?" I asked.

He smiled, yet again. Nodding, he turned to the members who now sat in their place, unbuttoning their shirt holds and loosening their ties. Many of them cleared their throat before raiding the jugs to parch their thirst.

"I am sorry for doing this to you all. I know what you all saw me like. A monster who thought of nothing else but himself. As an apology, I am hereby showing you my monstrous side. I am not apologizing for who I am. I am only apologizing for not having been my true self," he said, peering at the reddened face and frothing mouths.

When the first of the man fell face first on the table, trembling and twisting like a fish out of the water, everyone else realized what their fate was sealed with.

Damiela's eyes darted on my untouched food plate. She screamed curses while watching us walk out. In the midst of cried and chaos, of screams and shouted apologies, the door opened for us. Antonio held my hand, leading me in front.

The help were gracious to close the doors quick as the last of their shrieks ran out. Behind the closed doors, they received their repentance for betrayal.

The King wouldn't show mercy on traitors.

Antonio turned me to face him, pulling my gaze off the closed doors. He kissed my forehead, embracing me in his warmth. "Nothing would have been possible without you," he whispered.

I looked up, winking. "I know." Nuzzling my way into his chest, I felt safe and calm. For a whole week, I had to stay away from the man who completed me. For more than months, I had to play along as if I didn't know anything. But for the lifetime we had ahead of us, it was a small price to pay.

As soon as I felt the warmth of Antonio's body seep into the longing crevices of my soul, the next part of the plan reared its head in my mind. Comfort could be sought upon seeking revenge. For now, onto the next.

"Ready to meet your first wife, Anto?" I breathed out my words. My husband chuckled, gesturing me to lead the way.

~

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