Revenge

His eyes were welling with tears as he looked at the man on the ground. I tried to speak but he just shrugged me off. My guardian, as the state calls him, isn't exactly the emotional type. Zorion Yago was one of the most ruthless gang leaders in the world, according to the America's Most Wanted list. Known for his gang's brutal acts of violence on the streets of Providence, most people wouldn't expect him to be crying over a stabbed man, but I knew better. It wan't the killed, it was the killer.

Zorion ran the streets of Providence ever since he immigrated to the United States from Nicaragua. Most people look at him like he's the godfather, but to me he's more like the epitome of the American dream. He came with nothing, and in two years time, he had an empire. It was just built on the blood of enemies. He was coming up on his tenth year when he got bad news. His third cousin, Isabela, had overdosed in some crummy apartment in the Bronx and her three kids were alone in that apartment. Once the constable found out the kids were illegal, they were due to be shipped back. Zorion sent a few guys to talk to the sheriff while he got the papers. Eight hours later, I saw him for the first time in my life.

I don't remember much about my life before Zorion came on the scene except that my mom always had needle marks and my brother never stopped crying. That's the lie I tell him. I didn't want him to worry, but I guess now I have to come clean. We came when I was three. That's what Yesenia says. She was five and can remember it better. Mama came for a better life for us but that all changed when she met Eden. I can remember him perfectly. Green eyes, slick blonde hair, a cigarette always dangling from his mouth... Mama was turned on by his words and within two months, he was living with us. Mama worked three jobs to crape up enough to eat while Eden cheated on her with any girl he saw. It wasn't until our cousin Dolores talked about me wetting the bed that she noticed something was wrong.

But, Mama was pregnant and dumb and in love. When Lazaro was born, Eden was at our house with the neighbor. When Lazaro would be up crying, Eden would slip out, leaving my mother passed out and me and my sister to try to assuage his cries. When Lazaro was saying his first words, my mother was through with Eden. She had caught him in our room and grabbed a knife to cut him. She didn't kill him, but he was gone. We were fine, so it seemed. Our mother took us to a doctor, but there were too many forms to fill out so she just left. But, the stress was building inside of all of us. Our mother only made it two weeks with knowing. She overdosed on Lazaro's first birthday. Yesenia was on the right path until she met a guy who tried to manipulate her. Zorion buried him a few months into their relationship, but not before Yesenia got pregnant with twins. And then there was me...

Zorion wiped the tears from his face. The whole way home he blasted Lil Wayne, but I could see he wasn't in the mood. I turned the radio off, and received the coldest glare ever. We were locked in it for a few seconds before he turned away. More tears were forming.

"I had to do it," I mumbled.

"You don't have to do anything. You should've called."

"It would've been too late."

"No, it wouldn't have! Dammit, Erlea. You were going to college! You were going to be something. Now, you killed someone. We can clean it up and get rid of the evidence but it doesn't erase what you did!"

Tears were falling from my face. He ignored them.

"And why were you even at that damn club? You're only eighteen! Didn't I tell you not to drink until you're legal? Your sister drank when she was too young and nearly got herself killed. Is that what you want? Do you want to end up in a fucking grave, Erlea?"

Sobbing, I turned away from him. I hated when he compared us. Me and Yesenia may have been through the same thing but we were not the same. Yesenia had three kids, no husband, and three jobs. I was going places. Twelve years after everything, I had turned my life around. I worked my ass off in school to make sure I didn't have to drop out when I was sixteen like she did. I babysat and saved and worked to pay for my own college so Zorion wouldn't have to give me anything. I didn't even want to go to that club, but it was too late. It was all too late. The man who had ruined my life before was ruining it again.

"What do you have to say for yourself?" Zorion said.

"That was Eden," I sobbed.

"What?" The car was stopped and his mood had completely changed. Angry drivers whizzed past us.

"That was Eden," I said a bit louder.

He just nodded, put the car back into Drive, and continued home. Lazaro was up waiting for us.

"Where were you guys?" he mumbled, rubbing his eyes.

"I had to help your sister. Go to bed," Zorion replied. He kissed his forehead and directed him towards the stairs. "Night, Laz. Love you."

"Night."

I tried to saunter upstairs, but he pulled me into the parlor instead. Blood still stained my dress, and I couldn't stop crying. Zorion handed me some tissues and waited until I stopped. After a while, he looked at me and sighed.

"I didn't know that was him," he said.

"You were right. I ruined my life."

He pulled me into his arms and patted my head. "You didn't ruin your life, okay? We're going to fix this."

"You shouldn't have to. The therapist said I should be okay. The doctor said it too. But, he kept trying to hit on me and said he'd hurt Yesenia if I didn't go out back and- and-"

He just held me tighter as I cried. "I understand."

"No you don't. He did things to me I can't begin to get over."

Zorion looked at me. "I know, Erlea. I understand. It happened to me too."

"But you're a-"

"Stone-hearted killer?" he laughed. We'd always laugh at how the media portrayed him, but this time, I couldn't find the humor. "I didn't start out this way, you know."

"But who could hurt you? You're-"

"Zorion. Yeah, I know. Listen, I don't like to talk about it. Just know that what you did was right, okay? Any jury could see it, but we'll just let that dirt bag rot like he deserves, okay? Not even a mother can love someone who does that to a child. We're going to get you cleaned up."

He stood and offered me his hand. I hesitated. "Does that mean you don't believe I'll be like Yesenia?"

"I know your sister made some mistakes, but that isn't you. You're destined for greatness, Erlea. Now that that scumbag is dead, you can get it."