Being the Mafia's Surrogate

Emilia's POV I checked the time, it was 1:58 pm, 2 minutes to my break. I'd usually get 30 minutes everyday to see my friends and of course this was only granted when my dad was around which rarely happens. I ran upstairs to change cause I had just finished scrubbing the toilets. After changing I headed downstairs, I didn't need to take permission since my dad was around and my step mother wouldn't shout or torture me as much whenever he was around. I got to my friend's place and as usual she always had something to talk about or a game to play which was what I needed to take my mind away from reality. I gulped my drink as we enjoyed a TV show. I checked the time again and it was almost time to head back. "I always wish you wouldn't have to return home." Anna said to me immediately the show ended. "You suffer a lot there. It's been 10 years." She was right. 10 years, 10 years since my mom died and my dad married this witch of a wife, Stella. The face of my mother is now getting blurred in my memories but pictures help, at least the one I was able to sneak into my room. I remember my mom making dinner and I'd want to help and she'll make me watch and then my dad would return with a toy for me and we'd enjoy dinner together. But that was no more, my mom died of cancer and it was too late to save her. And since then my life has been a living hell. I only get to breathe a little when dad's around. I checked the time again and hurriedly bid Anna goodbye hoping to see her tomorrow. On getting out I checked my phone and realized I had missed two calls from my boyfriend Jason. I tried calling back but he wasn't picking. On getting home, I found the police and the ambulance at my doorstep, my step sisters were crying and my step mom was hitting Jason and shouting at him. "You killed him!!!" I heard her say. Killed who? I wondered. I ran to the house, throwing questions, trying to figure out what had happened. A police officer approached me asking who I was and after introducing myself he said the one thing I had hoped was a lie. "I'm sorry to inform you about the death of your father". I couldn't believe it. I was in shock and very confused. He was fine when I left. But I wondered what Jason had got to do with it. Why did they cuff him? I tried to talk to him but the police only dragged me away, as they tried to put him in the vehicle. "I didn't do it!" That was all he kept saying. I was confused. I still couldn't understand and believe my dad was dead or that Jason did it. He couldn't have. He was the one person I could count on when my mom died and my dad would go on business trips. We went to the same high school. He would sneak in through my window just to bring food for me after my stepmom and sisters decided to starve me. We planned to elope once we gathered enough money. I followed the cop car in hopes to talk to Jason at the station. After a while I was able to talk to him. I could see the innocence in his eyes and I knew and trusted that he had nothing to do with it. I wished I could hold him and tell him everything was okay but it wasn't. He explained how he had tried calling me before getting to my house and when I didn't pick, decided to show up thinking something was wrong. But he found my dad laying on the floor. He tried helping him up only to realize he was already dead. Then my stepmother walked in and called the cops and framed him for the murder. It clicked. My stepmother! She had probably wanted him dead for a while now and did so the minute she found the perfect opportunity. God I wanted to kill her. But I didn't even know what step to take next. I had to say goodbye to Jason and head home in order to avoid more trouble. I got home and still had to do more housework. I wasn't even able to mourn my dad. I hadn't even let the thought hit me or maybe I just couldn't believe it yet. After the last chore I went upstairs. It then hit me like a wave, my dad had gone, my only source of strength was in jail, I might not be able to see Anna again. It felt like I was going crazy, like a crazy nightmare. At night, I couldn't sleep, tears rolled down my cheeks. I cried in silence not wanting to wake the household. My life was already a mess and a big struggle and this was worse. I couldn't imagine what else could happen to make my life any more miserable. I tried to sleep as I had to get my strength for the next morning. A loud knock on my door woke me. I jilted from the bed, a bit scared. I rubbed my eyes and headed for the door. I met the eyes of my stepsisters. They never came up here. They smiled at me like something good was about to happen. Except my father was resurrected and Jason out of jail with Stella replacing him, nothing seemed good to me. "Mom wants you downstairs now," They said and ran downstairs. After freshening up I headed downstairs. Two muscular men were in the living room. Obviously, my stepmother proved me wrong, there was something she could do to add to my misery. She flinged a paper at me as she explained what was happening. "SOLD?!!!"