“That’s horrible. So, he lost the bet, and you won the land? He didn’t even care that his parents would be homeless?”
“Yes, I won the land with no idea it was occupied. But when I flew down there to see it, I met his parents and… well…They will live out their older years there in peace. No one will bother them.”
Stef stares at me for a moment, her eyes narrowed. She bites her bottom lip and looks away. “That’s very kind of you, Marlen. To do that for them.”
“Anyone would do that for their parents, I’m sure,” I shrug.
“Clearly not, though,” Stef says, smiling, but with a soft sadness in her eyes.
“You ok?” I ask.
“Yes, just… do you think there is possibly some way I could get a message to my family? It doesn’t have to come from me or from… I just… I want them to know I’m alive and I’m not hurt. I hate the idea of them worrying and not knowing anything,” she speaks in a nervous whisper.
While her request is one of care for those she loves, it sparks intense anger inside me.
I stand up suddenly, making her jump in fright.
“Your family deserves to know nothing. They deserve to suffer the pain of the unknown, the worry, the stress. They deserve to lie awake at night, tossing and turning, thinking about all the horrible possibilities of what might have happened to you!” I shout, slamming my fists against the dinner table.
Stefania squeals in fright and pushes her chair backward, standing up and backing away from me. But her shock is quickly replaced by anger. “How dare you say that about them. They don’t deserve that at all. You keep telling me they deserve this horrible thing, but you’re wrong. They’re good people. They love me. They care. You’re being an asshole, Marlen. How would youfeel if someone put you through the same thing you’re putting them through?”
“Are you kidding right now? I don’t have to guess how it feels to worry about the people you love. I worried about my sister when she disappeared. And I worried about my brother when they ruined his reputation and had people thinking terrible things about him! That wasyour family that did those things, Stefania!”My voice is dark and dangerous. My hands clenched tightly to try and fight the growing fury.
“What are you talking about?” she asks, her eyes tight with worry, her voice strained.
“You really don’t know?” I spit. “You don’t know what they did to Bardil?”
“I don’t know…” she whispers.
“They raided one of his events. At an event hosting some potentially powerful allies, he was trying to meet with them to build our family business. They set smoke bombs and then eventually detonatedrealbombs. They put lives in danger, they hurt innocent people… but worse, instead of just admitting they did it to stop our family from gaining strength through new alliances, they lied. They couldn’t just admit they were ruthless, so instead they spread the rumor that my brother was hosting auctions to sell women. They made it sound like they were saviors. The hero!Human trafficking.That is what they accused him of. Do you know what that does to a family’s reputation? Only the worst type of scum gets involved in that shit, andyour family and allianceswere completely fine with spreading the rumor that Bardil was that type of scum. My brother. My family. Do you think he deserved that? Do you think the people who lost their lives in the explosion at the event deserved to die? No, Stefania. They didn’t.”
I’m so angry I’m shaking. Adrenalin is coursing through me.
Stefania’s eyes are blurred with tears, her mouth turned down, and her cheeks flushed red.
“They wouldn’t lie…” she murmurs. “My brothers are good people…”
“Theylied, Stefania. They put Bardil through hell trying to regain respect and clean up the disgusting rumors they started.”
“I… I…” she stammers, shaking her head.
“They deserve to suffer,” I snap. “Your family is the monster. Not me. Maybe it’s time you opened your eyes and saw the truth!”
Stefania looks close to breaking down as she backs away from the table. She shakes her head, but with less conviction than before. Without another word, she runs from the dining room, heading upstairs to her bedroom.
I don’t stop her or call out for her. I’m too angry to think straight.
I was harsh. Too blunt. But doesn’t she deserve to know the truth? Doesn’t she deserve to know who her family really is, who they align themselves with?
I could have told her more gently. The shock she’s experiencing now… I didn’t mean to do that to her.
Sighing, pacing up and down along the dinner table, I contemplate going upstairs to apologize. But what is there to say sorry for?
My phone rings, and I answer, standing near the window, pushing my hand through my hair as I stare out into the night with the phone pressed against the side of my head.
“Marlen speaking,” I say abruptly.
“Doesn’t my name come up on your screen?” Simon asks.
