Chapter 1
Lisa looked like an angel in her white dress, her blonde hair packed in a neat ponytail and her bold earrings dangling on her ears. Adam would have teased her even though he knew deep down his little sister was something picked from God’s garden. No matter how much Vida tried to ignore Lisa’s eyes, she couldn’t. They were swollen and bloodshot red; she had been crying for days, and sleeping in her house didn’t help either. How was she supposed to comfort Lisa when she would begin crying first? She wanted to hold, hug, and be there for her. Someone that beautiful and innocent, shouldn’t feel this pain. She didn’t deserve it; no one did, especially Adam.
“Miss Vida? Miss Vida?” the prosecutor Rachel Johnson called, getting Vida’s attention.
Courtroom 12 was packed, the air thick with tension. Vida stood in the witness box. Every color that once danced on her face had faded. She looked pale and in pain. Everyone could see her fight to stay put, especially her dad.
Vida’s eyes stayed glued to Lisa and her parents; she was doing this for them. They deserved justice, and if she were the option for that, she would lay down her life for them to get it. She owed them that much; she owed Adam that much.
“Miss Vida,” Prosecutor Rachel called again, this time approaching Vida with her gentle voice.
Rachel was a good prosecutor; few were in their little town. She had a contagious laugh and a daring personality, which is why she was Vida’s close friend. She could see Vida struggle to stay present, and she understood her pain. After all, Adam was her favorite cousin.
“Yes, sorry. I’m here,” Vida replies after drawing some strength from Lisa’s sad smile.
“Vida, can you describe what happened on the night of Adam’s murder?” Rachel asked
“We were walking home from dinner. Adam received a call, and he went to investigate. I waited in the car...” Vida stopped, memories of that night flashing through her mind.
Why had she insisted on going for dinner straight from work? Why didn’t she let him get home and change? Why had God let it happen?
Rachel nodded. “And then?”
“I wasn’t sure what it was about, so I called for help through his telecom and followed him,” she replied.
She would not cry in front of him; he didn’t deserve to see her tears, he didn’t deserve to breathe even. Vida’s eyes flashed to Rafael, who sat stone-faced in the defendant’s chair.
“I saw him... Rafael... he had a gun...” he was threatening Adam, telling him to leave and say nothing about what he saw, then he saw me.” Vida stopped, swallowing the lump in her throat.
“Do you need some time?” Rachel asked with a worried tone
Vida clears her throat and sits straight
“No! I’m fine,” she said
“He pointed the gun at me and Adam tried to protect me...”
She was fighting back tears; she couldn’t look at the Browns; she didn’t have it in her to stare at them while she said these things. It was all her fault; she should’ve stayed in the car, just like Adam had told her.
Her voice cracked. And Rachel handed her a tissue. “Take your time, Vida.”
Rachel was human and in pain, too; she didn’t care if she was on the job. Her friend needed some support, and Rachel would give it to her no matter how she could.
Vida composed herself, her eyes blazing with anger at Rafael. She didn’t know what hate was until she met him after the shooting. All her life, she was taught that the only person to hate was the devil, but seeing Rafael smile at her made her realize something: he was the devil.
“He shot Adam... twice... I screamed, and that was when he tried to run.”
Rachel’s voice was firm. “And what happened next, Vida?”
“My dad’s a cop. I know a few things about a gun, so I took Adam’s gun and shot him; that was when help came.”
Vida’s gaze dropped.
“I held Adam. He died in my arms. I tried to save him, I did, but I couldn’t.” A picture of Adam smiling at her flashes through her thoughts.
He had the perfect smile, while Lisa had the sweetest voice; Adam’s smile could improve your whole day. And he smiled at her, even when she didn’t deserve it.
The courtroom was silent; Rafael’s expression remained unreadable, but his eyes flicked to Vida with a hint of malice.
After a few more questions from Racheal, Vida returned to her seat and sat next to the Browns. She was like a daughter to them; even though she wanted them to blame and hate her, they didn’t. They asked her to stay by their side because it was what Adam would’ve wanted. But how could they know what he would’ve wanted? He was dead, and it was all because of her!
Vida had zoned out more times than she could count, but the last thing she heard was the courtroom cheers. Rafael was found guilty; she watched as he was led away in handcuffs, his eyes glued to hers, and she returned the stare. She would not crouch in front of the devil; she would never.
Justice was supposed to feel good, so why was she still crying? Why did she still hurt? Why could she still hear her heartbreak into smaller pieces?
“We’ll get through this, I promise,” Lisa said, wrapping her arms around Vida.
Would they? Could they ever get through this? Adam was gone, and he was never coming back! How could they get through that?”
“It’s over, mija. Justice has been served.” Vida’s father rushed to her side, embracing her tightly
Justice? Rafael was still alive when he had taken a life. Was that what justice was?
As they left the courtroom, Vida’s dad and partner shielded them from the chaos. The fleet of reporters who came to get an earful filled the hallway. A young church girl took down The notorious mob leader, which was an interesting topic for tomorrow’s news. They were finally at the elevator. Vida held Lisa and Isabella’s hands as they got in.
But Vida’s relief was short-lived as the elevator door halts. It was Donato, Rafael’s cousin, his eyes blazing with fury.
“You think you’ve won, Vida?” Donato sneered. “You think you’re safe? I will make sure you pay for what you’ve done.”
Vida’s heart raced as Donato’s words hung in the air. Her father stepped forward, his eyes flashing with anger.
“You threaten my daughter, you threaten me. Leave us alone, Donato. Your cousin deserved what he got.”
Donato sneered. “You can’t protect her forever, Victor. She’s a witness, a liability. We’ll get to her, no matter what it takes. Nowhere is safe for her, and I know you know that.”
Vida turned to her dad, realization hitting her as she remembered their conversation the night before. He had begged her not to testify; he had said she would be putting her life and family in danger, but she thought he was only saying that as a way for her to find closure rather than revenge. Now she knew what she had done.
“What was your plan, huh? Witness protection program? She’s as dead as that white fool who thought he could take on my cousin.”
How dare he talk about Adam that way?
“Donato! That’s enough,” Luca shouted
Luca had been Vida’s dad’s partner for as long as she could remember. He was a second dad to her and the coolest guy in his late 40s that she had met.
“Your family can protect you, but not her” Donato smiled at him
What did he mean? What family?
“What?” Vida’s dad asked
“He doesn’t know” Donato laughed
“You let his fucking daughter take the stand, yet you keep secrets. You have changed Luca, didn’t they say a Ballera never lies?”
“What?” Vida’s dad shouts
“We need to go, Victor,” Luca says, paying no attention to anyone as she pushes Donato and lets the elevator door close
“You will never be safe, be dead before I get to you. I will make it hurt”
Vida’s world went cold as she watched the words leave Donato’s lips. What had she done?
