Ava couldn't sleep a wink that night, she was thinking of what her dad said and that made her really disturbed. She kept turning from one end of the bed to another holding her teddy bear tightly to herself trying to distract herself but her father's words kept ringing in her head and she groaned lightly.
**********
The next morning, she prepared to go to college. She pretended like she heard nothing last night and put on her cheerful smile as she walked downstairs for breakfast.
" Morning Mom and Dad," Ava said when she got to the dining room. " Morning my little princess" Mrs Thomas replied putting on a big smile on her face as she served the dishes.
Ava settled down for breakfast and she began to eat when her father cleared his throat which made her heart skip. She knew she couldn't avoid the topic not now or ever, but she was praying her father would never bring the topic of giving her to the Cosa Nostra.
" Ava," Mr Thomas called and she slowly looked up her eyes not leaving his. " There's something I have to tell you for the safety of all of us," he said and Ava nodded.
" I am all ears".
Mr. Thomas took in a deep sigh before continuing, " I am sorry for what I did. I regret ever using you as collateral but I wasn't thinking straight then. I told the Cosa Nostra that I would give you to him when you turn twenty years old. I thought he would have forgotten by now but he sent a letter last night to prepare you for the wedding with his son Vincenzo" Mr Thomas said. The only thing that caught Ava's attention was the last name she heard. Her stomach churned on hearing that name and fear took the better part of her.
Her left hand which was lying on her lap began to tremble and her knee became wobbly. Ava has heard about all the sons of Cosa Nostra, the Italian mafia and the most ruthless merciless one was the last son, Vincenzo. He is known for his ruthlessness and he is a cold-hearted man with a heart of stone.
" Ava..." Her mother called but she couldn't hear. Her mind was in turmoil that she didn't hear her mother calling her.
" Ava" Mrs Thomas tapped her on the shoulder and she jotted out of her thoughts. " What are you thinking about?" Her mom asked but she shook her head and smiled.
" Nothing" she muttered and faced her dad who was waiting patiently to hear what she has to say.
" Aren't you surprised about all what I said?" Mr Thomas asked and Ava nodded slowly biting her lower lip. " I heard all that you said last night" she muttered as a single tear dropped down her delicate and soft cheeks.
" Oh" her father mouthed and sighed loudly. The tension between the family members was palpable and it was suffocating the hell out of Ava.
'If only she has the money'
'If only she has the power that the mafia bosses and Lords have.'
'If only her father never asked for money from the devil.'
That was the thoughts running through Ava's mind. Her future and life are both hanging on a thin thread and any slight mistake she would lose both.
" Why should it be me? Huh? Is Ciona not your daughter? " Ava asked as tears dropped down her cheeks uncontrollably. She has beginning to wonder if her father ever cared for her because it was obvious he likes Ciona more than her.
" For Christ's sake, I am not your only daughter. Why not give your favorite daughter to the Cosa Nostra?" Ava yelled at her father and he stood up and gave her a slap across her face. She has been trying to make her father love her but it seems all her efforts were in vain because he stated it clearly that Ciona took after him and as such his favorite daughter.
Ava touched her cheeks as it sting badly from the slap but it couldn't be compared to the pain she was feeling in her heart. " You will do as I say you little brat" Mr Thomas barked but Ava said nothing as she picked up her backpack and left the house angrily, slamming the door behind her.
Mr Thomas sank back on his chair breathing heavily. " I will teach that useless daughter of yours a lesson she would never forget in her life".
" Why did you make it obvious that you love her elder sister more than her? Huh? Isn't she your daughter? Or the fact that she didn't take after you makes you hate her to the extent of using her as collateral for money" Mrs Thomas yelled.
" You're the most greedy man on Earth. Now you hide your favorite daughter in New York and want to get the youngest married to a devil" Mrs. Thomas chuckled.
" What a loving father you're" she hissed, left the dining room and went upstairs.
" Ahhhhh" Mr Thomas used his hand to clear all the dishes on the table in anger before breaking into tears. " I love her. I love my daughter Ava, but I am helpless" he buried his face in his palms crying his eyes out.
      VENOMOUS ALLIANCE CLAN
Cosa Nostra was in his study room when the door bursted open revealing the angry face of Vincenzo.
" What am I hearing from my brothers?" He asked standing in front of his father's desk but the Mafia Lord was calm as he flip through the book he was reading.
" You heard right. You're getting married on Saturday" his father said sipping from the red wine on the desk while Vincenzo chuckled.
" You're joking right?" He gritted his teeth glaring at his father with nothing but pure hatred.
" Do I look like I am joking son? " his father raised his head from the book looking at Vincenzo who looked extremely furious. Vincenzo folded his fist in anger, " I am not getting married" he said and began to walk to the door. Just as he was about to twist the door knob the voice of his father halted him on his track.
" I will kill your sister and mother if you don't get married."