40| Happy Birthday

                                    

                                          
A S T R A E A 
                          
I heard a faint knock on my door, I knew it was Santi.  It was 11:30 PM and since tomorrow is my-our birthday, we are keeping our traditions alive. He didn't even wait for me to answer he just burst into the room. I rolled my eyes at him he always knock but never wait for an answer before entering.
                          
"Come on, everyone is asleep. You're ready?" he whispered quietly
                          
Just like every year before Santi was kidnapped, we are going to be spending the night at the roof of the hotel. I am excited to see Santi's reaction when he finds out that I renovated the hotel and named it after him. When I started my project it was meant to be a distraction and a way to feel close to Santi at the same time but now the place became even more special for me. 
                          
We quietly sneaked out, using the window of one of the guest's bedrooms on the first floor as an escape. Honestly, it was pointless to sneak out since our parents already knew about this tradition and they knew they couldn't stop us. But the thrill and the discretion made it even more fun and wild. 
                          
We evaded the mansion and hopped in my Aston Martin that I had parked outside the gates. "Fuck, I missed this" Santi sighs
                          
"It wasn't fun doing it without you" I confessed my eyes not living the road 
                          
"You still went there when I wasn't around?" He asked curiously 
                          
When I wasn't around. When I was kidnapped, he meant. 
                          
"Yes, occasionally. Mostly when I had a bad day or when I missed you too much" I admitted remembering the countless times I had visited the place without him but it never felt the way it did when we were together.
                          
"Wanna grab some Vodka to make the experience even more reckless and rebellious?" Santi smirked trying to change the subject. 
                          
"Hell yeah. I know a guy who has a store close by. He will sell us." I stated and started driving to Jimmy's. He was one of the many acquaintances I had met throughout the years. And I was sure he would sell me alcohol without needing to see an ID.      
                          
I was stationed right outside the crappy store that Jimmy owned. It was obvious that much illegal shit took place in those alleys but I didn't care, I was only here to buy some alchool and get the fuck away from those uncivilized streets. 
                          
"Astraea. What a pleasant surprise." I heard the familiar masculine voice say as I entered the shop. 
                          
"Hello, Jimmy. It's been a while" I greeted back my voice cold laced with a distant hint of friendliness that I had almost completely hidden. 
                          
"How can I help you?" He questioned curiously and I didn't miss the fear in his tone. He had no reason to fear me today. I wasn't here to cause problems or hurt him. But, of course, he didn't know that. And I wouldn't tell him. It was better if people fear you. 
                          
You can't make people love you but you can make them fear you. Fear doesn't always mean respect but I could proudly say that I am both feared and respected and surely loved by some. 
                          
"My brother and I want two bottles of Vodka and a pack of cigarettes," I told him. He nodded and went to grab what I asked him. Santiago was still narrowing his eyes at Jimmy and inspecting the place cautiously.