CHAPTER 1

.It's been 6 years since I lost my mom, still no one knows who the shooter was, no leads, nothing

A great part of the Velasco family died the day we were told my mom had passed. Everyone isolated themselves trying to get over the pain

My dad barely came out for months and when he did he wasn't himself... he drowned himself in investigations trying to find my mom's killer

And now six years later he's still at it, every single day he goes through the same routine, sometimes I feel like he has forgotten he has a daughter.

I must say tho a part of me understands, I also want my mom's killer to be found. I just wish he had a little more time for me

I used to wish my 18th birthday would never come... and now I have just one week until then

A lot scared me, taking over the cartel, becoming the new leader of the Velasco mafia, the world's second largest cartel

I mean let's face it, basically no one believes I would ever be able to lead.

that's just it they think so, I am more than determined to prove them wrong and that's exactly what I'll do

.......

It's may 19th already. I'm all dressed up in my overpriced ball gown with makeup that I rarely ever wear

I stood in my room stairing into the mirror... "i hope i don't have to go down soon" i thought to myself as my heart pounded rapidly in my chest

A knock sounded on the door and then came Rossa's voice " Delilah come down already the guests are waiting" she said giving my dress a quick scan with a small smile plastered on her face

Oh my God, is she a witch or something...

Nonetheless the time has come, the time i have to step out, the time the whole organisation stops seeing me as a little girl but their leader

I rushed out of my room, walking down the hall until I crashed into something hard and huge like some kinda annoying wall...

" oh my, I'm so sorry I didn't see you there" i said to the huge man who stood there just looking at me.

He looked a litte older, maybe in his late 20s

What a jerk. I apologised and he couldn't say anything... I was in enough hurry already I wasn't about to waste more time here

I brushed passed him and went down the hall where I knew there were hundreds of people waiting to see who the new head of the Velasco cartel would be.

As I got to the entrance of the hall I signalled for some guards to accompany me inside... I wasn't about to walk in there all by myself

as soon as I took those first steps into the hall a tall man standing right by the door announced my entry

" miss Delilah Velasco"

"Brace yourself Delilah you can do this "i constantly whispered to myself As I walked down the stairs I couldn't help but wonder how it was possible for their necks to snap my way under split seconds... it seemed to me like the music had stopped

"Who am I kidding it was probably in my head,

But wait why is the sound of my heels so loud... oh that's because they're all looking at me... shit they're all looking at me!!!

Is my makeup still okay, I hope i don't have to talk to too many people today"

I kept blabbering to myself in my mind until I heard a very familiar voice one I had missed for so long

Ethan, Ethan is my cousin growing up we were best friends, he was a really big tease we stayed best friends until he travelled to Canada 2 years ago for school

I never thought I'd even see him here but I was really excited that I did

"Del, wow you look beautiful I see those braces have been removed"

I couldn't help but chuckle, Ethan had always been like this I was happy though,that he didn't change like everyone else

"I'd like you to meet someone, Alonzo hernandez, son of Santiago Hernandez.

... Alonzo, Delilah... Delilah, Alonzo" ethan introduced, gesturing with his hands

It was the same man the rude one I bumped into earlier

"hello"

Hello? You just totally caused me a headache when I bumped into your stone like chest.. well that was what I was thinking but instead I said

"Hi, pleasure to meet you again".

"Again?... you two have met before?"

Why did Ethan have to talk right now?... ugh now I have to explain

But before I could say a word Alonzo cut in

" yes we have, she bumped into me today"

"I did and I apologised but your mouth was too sealed to apologise too"

He didn't reply

"Whatever, Ethan excuse me I have to get to my table it was really nice talking to you I hope we can catch up later"

As I sat at my table I prayed silently that I wouldn't have to meet him again tonight...

For as long as I've known the council members and the new leaders always sit together at the first gathering... so I had prepped myself.... I wasn't gonna make a fool of myself.

Although I thought they would actually converse with each other it was so quite here... now I wish I didn't rush to my table so soon

As I was about to pick up my whine I felt someone pull the chair at my right then I looked up to see who it was.

"Oh Lord fucking God it's him again... is he some kinda weird stalker? Why's he sitting at this table he looks too young to be a council member, hmm he's probably a new leader too"

And then another guy came and sat on the other chair, it was Ethan

"Ethan? What's he doing here oh well at least he's someone I'm familiar with".

My thoughts were interrupted when this old looking man started talking

"A toast to the soon to be Mr and Mrs Hernandez"

What does he mean the soon to be Mr and Mrs Hernandez

Who's the Mrs?

But then I looked up and saw they were all looking at me, Ethan too only Ethan looked at me with pity in his eyes

"I am, am I being married of to this, this man?

What's going on? "

"Ethan?, what are they talking about?"

I just had to be sure I wasn't thinking off track

"Del, it's a tradition you can't lead the cartel without a husband, that's why we waited until today to tell you, it's for the best, we would be uniting two of the greatest cartels"

"He knew and he didn't tell me, how could he have not told me, why would he keep such a secret from me"

"So you knew and never told me... you didn't think I had the right to know I would be married off when I turned eighteen?"

"I'm sorry Del, I just couldn't bring myself to, I know we haven't seen each other in years I was gonna tell you the moment we met today but I could never say it"

" this isn't happening

I'm not getting married to him, I refuse to let that happen"

"Miss Velasco, if you refuse this proposal, your cartel and everything your family worked so hard to get would be taken... passed on, you are not allowed to lead without a man by your side.

That has been the council rule for years and it'll continue just like that"

"Who do they think they are to decide who I get married to?, why isn't Alonzo talking either, did he know about this too?"

" I am not marrying a man I do not know, that will never happen."

" you have 3 days to decide,

You must know there are a lot of people who want your cartel" he said moving his eyes for a second

"Was he staring at Ethan?... so that's why he's sitting here, the cartel goes to him if I don't agree to this marriage"

" Excuse me, I have to get some fresh air"

One after the other they bow their heads showing respect, one I was sure they didn't have for me.

DELILAH VELASCO

ALONZO HERNANDEZ

ETHAN VELASCO

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