My cousin when he threatened to kill me wasn't making an idle threat caused strong emotions. He was relaying the message sent to me from his father.

The thing is that until the inheritance hearing - it is appointed at 6 months from now. Because I need to be officially 21 to receive everything.

What a stupid rule. I wish I could hate my parents for doing this to me. But I miss them terribly. My anger is overshadowed by a feeling of loss whenever I think about my biological father and mother.

But they were wrong. They made a wrong decision. Simply because they didn't take into account that my insane uncle will try to murder me before I reach age 21. Just to make sure everything gets to stay in his hands.

I thought about it for half the night and finally fell asleep with zero ideas in my head. There was no way I could find solutions to my problems. At least that's what I thought.

♦️♦️♦️

Casey my lovely but troublesome sister appeared at home early in the morning as if she didn't disappear for a whole night without being reachable or giving any sign if she's alive or not.

Casey Jenkins. We weren't blood related but we were sisters. She was someone I wanted to take care of just like her parents took care of me. I wanted to return the favor.

Casey's parents died tragically like mine and if you think it's an insane coincidence you aren't alone. I think so too. But I digress. They died three months before my 18s birthday. As soon as I turned 18 I tried to get custody over Casey. The only reason why the court granted me temporary guardianship was a strong bond between me and Casey.

The other reason might be because my sister was a little terror and she was kicked out from every temporary house she was assigned to.

The breakfast we ate in silence, neither of us really wanted to talk.

"Milk's out," Casey grunted.

"Bread's out too," I replied sipping my morning black coffee as if it were a cure for all my problems.

"They kicked me out of school," Casey said, casually. I choked on my coffee and went into a coughing fit.

"What? Why don't I know anything about this?" I jumped right on my feet. Oh no, I can't panic I can't. I'm panicking, aren't I?

"I'm telling you right now," Casey said as if she didn't understand what my problem was. She dared to look slightly bored meanwhile I was one step from pulling out all of my hair.

"The principal tried to contact you, but what was I supposed to tell her? That your crazy ass cousin came here and threw your phone against the wall when you tried to call the police on him?" Casey shrugged and popped a grape in her mouth, completely relaxed.

"At what time am I supposed to be at school?" I asked with my face in my hands.

"At 9.00"

"Jesus, I will be on my shift and I can't lose my job"

It was not a problem for Casey.

"Don't go then" she gave me shitty advice.

"I can't ignore it! Can you kindly explain to me what the hell is going on? What have you done again? "I hissed, getting carried away.

"Nothing, they rail against me for no reason"

"Who?!"

"Everyone," Casey replied, "You also need to meet that old bitch, the social worker because I'm sure she has already written somewhere in the papers that she has to start bothering us more"

"Casey, I can't do this anymore," I whined. Casey gave me a blank stare

"Then let social services take me, you will have no troubles then"

As usual, that was the end of the discussion with Casey. I knew that she was scared too. She was just showing it differently but I still wished it'd be easier to communicate with her.

♦️♦️♦️

The next day social worker showed up and the conversation with her really left me trembling. She warned that this was serious and if anything else happens that garners her attention Casey will be assigned to a foster family that will be able to control her better.

When the world collapses, it collapses from all sides, my wounds were not healing very well, perhaps due to the small amount of food that I was providing to my body. I couldn't sleep due to injuries. Ethan's fist marks change colors, they got less and less visible, and yet what he did to my mental state seemed to be far more damaged than the physical one. I don't remember when in my life I cried so much, I think the last time after my parents died.

What should I do? Every time I asked myself this question my mind went blank.

I was desperate. At the same time, I had zero funds for doing anything crazy. I'm not even talking about hiring bodyguards, but about getting a simple gun, or even some good anti-burglary door to my apartment, it was an expense not on my pocket. Speaking of doors, Ethan broke the lock and I can only replace it in a week because I lack funds.

I did something I always do whenever I am in crisis, I used Casey's phone to call my friend, Eva, who showed up at my house an hour after my call. She was really someone I could count on. Actually, the only person I could count on at the moment.

"I can't believe he did this to you," said Eva angrily, "Now what?" she asked a rhetorical question knowing I had no answer.

"I don't know," I moaned in tears, taking a sip of red wine.

"Okay" Eva sighed as if she had made some important decision "I need to get more wine, wait" she snatched her car keys from my kitchen counter and disappeared for 10 minutes, more or less.

She bought two bottles of the cheapest wine convenience store can offer. After half of the second bottle, we were completely drunk.

Suddenly in Eva's head, a "brilliant" idea appeared.

"I know what you need. A husband"

"Me? A husband? For what?" I completely didn't understand what Eva meant by that, how would having a husband help in anything?

"It's not about getting involved permanently or starting a family," Eva waved her hand dismissively. "Think. Marriage could help you with getting permanent custody over Casey. If you're married your husband has the right to inherit after your death. Marriage would solve the problem of both social workers and Harvey"

She was right. Holy shit I needed a husband, of course. And I was drunk, ah what the hell "Do you know any candidates? Which male wouldn't mind an arrangement like that?"

"Well, not in person, indirectly. Maybe "

My eyes widened. What?

"Remember how I went to that school for the rich kids, right?"

"Yeah. Of course" I said getting myself mentally ready for plan-making.

"Well, there was a family there. They were helping to solve problems in exchange for favors or money, I think it depended on what person wanted from them"

"But it was a school-specific situation, right?"

"No. They weren't doing it just in school. This was something their family does. Some of my friends from that time still hear about them now and then and they're still powerful, capable of doing things most people aren't that's why when you have a problem like that you go to them for protection. So we could perhaps contact one of them and ask if they know someone who would be fine with this temporary marriage arrangement in exchange for cash"

"But how do you want to contact them?"

"I don't know yet. I will need to ask around"

"You went with them to school, right? Let's recap what do you know about them then maybe it will be easier to find them"

"Their names were Rafael and Lorenzo Vincenti. They were driving expensive sports cars as soon as they got their license and anyone who did as much as looked at them in a wrong way was brutally beaten up"

"Holy shit. But it's just high school, right? Mean kids at high school can be totally mediocre in adult life" Eva shook her head impatiently as if I wasn't understanding what she was trying to say.

"They weren't mean. It was power. They knew they will never get in trouble with the law no matter what they do. That's because their family wasn't normal. I don't know how to be more clear about this Eliana. They were from the mafia, okay?"

"How do you know this?" I asked, now concerned about my friend.

Eva remained quiet for a while as if she was trying to figure out if she should tell me her secret or not. Then she sighed heavily to prepare herself to speak.

"My father was working for the Vincentis. He never spoke about the business but I knew that things he does for them aren't legal. I don't think I ever mentioned the cause of his death - he was shot by the enemy"

„I don't know what to say Eva... this is... a lot"

"Yeah, I know. There's a reason why I'm telling you this now. We should find Vincenti brothers and ask them for help"

"But if they're dangerous doesn't that mean I'm just getting myself in more trouble than I already am?"

"You still believe that Harvey won't follow up with his threat, after what Ethan did? You still think Harvey will hold back because you're his niece, right?" Eva asked softly looking me straight in the eyes and I teared up.

"Yeah" I admitted reluctantly "Because how can a person kill someone? If he came to me to talk... we could split the money I don't need all of it I just need a little to-"

"But that's the issue here, don't you see?" Eva said in exasperation. "He wants all of it. He doesn't want to share or talk to you. You either give him all of it or you die. That's how he thinks, he's not a good person Eli"

"But I don't even know how to make a contact with people like that and I'd be too scared to try to seek them out"

"But if you had an opportunity to meet them, would you do it?"

"Maybe?"

♦️♦️♦️

Dear Readers,

Please leave a comment or a vote to let me know if you like this story or not. It would really mean a lot to me ♥️