“I wasn’t lying, I feel like I’m dying.” He grabs me, shoving me onto my feet. Startled at the sudden movement, my head starts spinning. “Well, you’re not, so whatever happened to you, deal with it. I’m taking you to the opera.”
“That would be a no.” The thought of getting up and dressing myself makes me want to scream.
“Don’t test me,princessa.” I look at him and snarl. “I’m not in the mood to watch a woman screaming for hours to old ass music,” I say.
“You’ve always loved the opera, don’t lie to me. I know you better than you know yourself. So, we’re going because I have something to deal with tonight.”
“If I go, I will not be left alone for a minute, because you know how the other cartel Dons herd towards me like mosquitos.” I give him a look and just stand there.
“You won’t be. Vio is coming with us.” I run my hands through my hair and accept the fact that he’s going to drag me out, like the good brother he is. He knows that when this happens, I need to dress up and do something. But I do not want to do that right now. “You need to stop getting her hopes up, you know.” He rolls his eyes. “I’m not doing that. She knows that we would never work in the slightest. Her little crush isn’t even a thought anymore; it’s the past.”
“Hmm.” I look at him in judgment. No matter what he does, she will always like him, and sadly, I have no idea how to get it into his head that she’s every man’s wet dream.
“I’ll see you there in three hours, and Vio will be there as well. I swear to God, Ale if I don’t see you there by the time it starts, Lucero and Sebastian will come and drag you out.”
“Okay, I’ll go.” I hate this more than the situation I’m in with Luca. He walks out, the door shuts, and I get off my ass. My feet hit the floor for the first time in days, and I make my way to the bathroom, dreading having to put a fancy dress on then slather myself with makeup.
“Apparently, it’s really good,” Violetta says next to me as we walk up the stairs inel Palacio de Bellas Artes. Following León up the big, old, extremely expensive steps, he is greeted by everyone and their mom.
I however have all of León’s admirers glancing towards me. I keep the conversation going with Vio to show I don’t want to talk to anyone I don’t know without saying go away.
“If he stops one more time, I will strangle him with the exact same tactics he taught me on how to block someone’s air duct.” I shoot a sweet smile in Vio’s direction, and she bursts out laughing.
“He is the CEO of one of the most important companies in all of Mexico. Everyone wants to talk to him,” she tells me like I don’t already know that.
“You mean the drug trade empire? The one that includes killing people without a flinch.” She gives me a harsh look. I throw my hands up. “What? You know it’s true.” Sighing, she looks the other way. “I know. That’s just the worst part of it all. He was such a sweet boy, and something corrupted him. I just want to know what.” I observe León shaking hands and smiling at people. “Not a what, but a who.Mi Padre.”
“I have a feeling it’s more than that,” she says.
“Listen. My brother is a killer. He was trained by the best, my father. He grew up as his bastard child. His mother was constantly being beaten by the sperm donor who created us. Because he didn’t like the emotions he was feeling towards her. Don’t get me wrong, León would never lay a hand on a woman; it’s too personal for him. My father was great to me, but he would do anything for that little boy to become exactly like him.” I point at my brother. “My father didn’t succeed; he’s so much worse,” I say before I walk past her towards our viewing box. The one designated to our family name is all the way at the top with a perfect view.
I’m exactly what Luca said I was. I come from a long line of murderers. That doesn’t mean I don’t love them with my whole heart. It’s selfish of me, but if that’s a crime, so be it. I’ll be the woman with her murdering family at her side.
I sit down in my black Valentino dress that has jewels encrusted at the top of the cleavage. There’s a huge slit at the bottom. I slicked my hair back and put on stilettos. This is all anyone is getting from me tonight, nothing more, nothing less.
The opera house is beautiful as always, but it’s much different than a European one. Instead of the gloomy look, there’s a stained-glass religious Catholic piece on the ceiling. The stage is a wood color, and the seats are covered in red velvet to match the curtain that is currently covering the main stage. I was introduced to the opera by my brother. He has a taste for the finer things.
Just like Luca.
He sits next to me. I reside in the middle of him and Violetta. The crowd goes silent when the lights dim and the curtain goes up. The opera isLucia di Lammermoor, one of León’s favorites, and with reason. It’s a creepy take on Romeo and Juliet, but not exactly. Basically, there’s this girl who comes from a rich family in Scotland, whose feuding with another family. She falls in love with a member of that family. Her parents and brother disapprove. She gets married to another man, and on their wedding night, she kills her future husband after going crazy because she can’t marry the man she truly loves. The mad scene is spectacular, and I’ve never seen it live before.
I turn to Violetta. “Who’s playing Lucia?”
“This new breakout American opera singer, her name’s Amelie Fox.” I nod and turn my attention to the first act. A bunch of men come in and start speaking Italian.
Of course, it’s in fucking Italian. I forgot most operas are. It’s like he’s following me everywhere I go.
The whole vibe of listening to and watching the opera is that you, as the viewer, don’t understand jack shit. But through the way they act and use their voices, the storyline is clear. Even though the language isn’t universal, the story is. That’s the beauty of opera.
Suddenly, a red-haired woman comes out and I immediately know it’s Lucia, or should I say, Amelie. Her mouth opens and I freeze. This woman is exceptional. I could listen to her voice for days. Luckily, I have three hours and fifteen minutes left.
Act one finishes.
It’s time for the first intermission to start. I stay in my seat, stretching my limbs carefully. León walks out without a word. I turn my head to Violetta, who’s looking out into the crowd.
“I wonder what’s up with him?” She turns her head towards me and nods. “I’ve never seen him so entranced in a performance before.”
“Violetta, please don’t tell me you were staring at him the whole time.” I groan. “It’s not like that, when she started singing, I heard him stiffen in his chair. You were too entranced in her performance to take note.”