Chapter 3

Hadina

Hadina was filled with a level of rage she didn’t know she possessed as she listened to one of her men make excuses down the phone. She slammed her hand down on her desk, ignoring the needles of pain that shot through her bones.

“I don’t fucking care! ?Escúchame con mucha atención! I do not give a flying fuck how difficult it is. They didn’t just disappear. Find them or I swear I will skin you al-”

"Hadina!”

Piper’s admonishment cut Hadina off in the middle of her threat. If it had been anyone else other than her little sister, she’d have contemplated using her dagger to make a point. But as it was, Piper was one of only two people who could get Hadina to do what they wanted.

But the other person was the love of her life who was probably being tortured just for being part of her life. So, Piper was treading dangerous ground because Hadina had never felt so unstable in her entire life.

“Just do what she’s asking. Next time I won’t stop her from saying or carrying out her threats,” Piper said before hitting to end the call. She turned to Hadina with a disappointed look on her face. “You have got to calm down, Hadina. Screaming at the people helping you isn’t going to do anything.”

Hadina glared at her sister, trying to force herself to cool down. She drummed her fingertips against the edge of her desk, but her thoughts were consumed with Peyton. Every time she allowed herself more than a second to breathe, her mind conjured images of the terrible things Peyton was enduring. While she couldn’t know for sure, she knew what she would be doing to a prisoner…

“Don’t tell me what to do, Piper. Please, just leave me alone.”

Piper sat in the chair across from the desk, crossing her arms as she looked at her sister. “Oh, don’t start that shit with me. And you being on your own right now is quite literally a terrible idea. Did you even hear the way you were speaking to one of the people on your own team?”

Pinching the bridge of her nose, Hadina took a steadying breath. She loved Piper, but if she didn’t stop trying to organize her like she was some sort of lost puppy, she was going to snap.

“I did, yes. Because I have been running my team for years, Piper. Remember how you didn’t want to be part of Adis & Co.? Well, it means you don’t have to get involved when I’m talking to my team.”

“Screw you, Hadina. I’m involved because it’s not just some random puta that’s been taken. Peyton is one of us. ?Ella es familia! This has nothing to do with the company.”

“Of course she’s not just some girl. ?Ella es mi corazón y la amo! I’m not fucking around, Piper. I’ll handle this however I see fit!”

“What’s with all the shouting?”

Hadina rolled her eyes as Harris walked into the office, his wounded shoulder held up across his chest with a sling. He looked at Piper with a soft expression before turning to Hadina with a steely gaze. “Why are you yelling? What do you need me to do, boss?”

“She’s threatening your team and being fucking unhinged because she’s barely sleeping.”

“ ?Cierra la puta boca!”

“?Detener! Enough, Hadina! Don’t speak to her like that.”

"Adrian, I don’t know who the fuck you think you-”

Piper jumped from her chair and stormed from the room, slamming the office door behind her. Hadina sighed, resting her head in her hands. She heard Harris take a seat in the chair Piper had just vacated, letting out a small groan as he moved his arm and disturbed the wound.

“Hadina, seriously, what the fuck? I’ve never heard you speak to Piper like that and I’ve known you my entire life.”

“I know,” Hadina said softly, rubbing her temples. Guilt churned in her stomach at her actions, but it somehow did not outweigh the absolute devastation she was feeling at the loss of Peyton in her life. She knew in her heart that she would get her back, but also knew that Peyton wouldn’t be the same when they did. “I’ll apologize to her.”

Harris sighed. “Hadina, you can’t do all of this on your own. You’re going to run yourself into the ground. We need you to be on top of your game if we wanna get Peyton back.”

“Adrian, I… I don’t know how to do this. I’ve never cared about anyone the way I have about her. You know what we’ve done to people. Can you imagine that being done to her?” Hadina’s voice broke and she cursed herself internally for being so weak. “Demi is going to break her and I don’t think I’m a good enough person to be able to piece her back together.”

Harris leaned forward in his chair and using his uninjured arm, he took hold of Hadina’s hand. She was tempted to throw him off, but she honestly didn’t have the energy to keep fighting.

“You’re the strongest person I know, Hadina. But you know what? Peyton is strong as hell too. She can absolutely handle whatever Demi throws at her. Hell, she fell in love with you so the girl obviously loves to live life on the edge.”

She couldn’t help the snort that escaped at his attempt at a joke, but it turned into a strangled sob at the back of her throat. “I can’t lose her.”

“We won’t let that happen. But you’ve got to sort your shit out, jefa .”

Hadina nodded and stood, wiping her face with the backs of her hands. Throwing her hair over her shoulders, she steeled herself and forced herself to become the Hadina Adis everyone knew her to be.

“ Tengo esto. But first, I’m going to apologize to my baby sister.”

Making her way upstairs, Hadina took her time to consider what she was going to say to her sister in apology. She hated that she’d snapped at her, and hated the fact that she had sounded a bit too much like Zelina.

Stopping outside Piper’s bedroom door, she tapped lightly. She knew Piper was inside from the light filtering under the doorway, but her sister didn’t answer.

“Pip, I know you’re in there.”

“Go away, Hadina.”

Hadina rolled her eyes, suddenly transported back to when they were teenagers. It wasn’t the first time she’d stood outside this door, waiting for entry so she could beg forgiveness for her quick temper.

“Piper, I’m coming in.”

She opened the door and the sight before her caved her chest wide open. Sitting on top of her duvet, Piper was curled up by her headboard, sobbing into one of the turquoise throw pillows. Mascara streaked down her pale cheeks, black smudges staining her chest and the pillow she clutched there.

“What happened to that tough girl who just yelled at me? I think I liked her.”

Piper sniffled, wiping her nose with a tissue from her nightstand. “You yelled back at her! If you liked that version of me so much, maybe you should go work shit out with Zellie.”

“Oh, Pip,” Hadina said, making her way inside the room. She closed the door behind her and walked over to the plush bed, kicking off her heels before climbing up beside her little sister. “ Lo siento, cari?a. I was an asshole and I’m sorry for taking my pain out on you.”

“I’m worried too, you know. I know Peyton is, like, your person…but she’s my friend too, Hadina. Besides Kaira, she’s one of the only people who know about our life and didn’t run for the hills. She’s family and I’m worried too.”

The dam of her tears burst again and Piper buried her face in her hands. Hadina pulled her by the shoulder and enveloped her in a hug, rubbing circles across her back.

“I know, Pip. I know. I was being selfish. I just—this is new to me. Caring is new to me. I feel like my chest is being ripped open and there’s nothing I can do but bleed out.”

Hadina hadn’t expected to make such an admission and the honesty of it took her aback. It seemed like Peyton had created a new, softer side of her and she couldn’t bury it, no matter how hard she tried.

Pulling back a little so she could look at her, Piper caught Hadina’s gaze. The pity in her eyes was abundant but honestly, Hadina was pitying herself too. She thought she was going to be able to keep it together but the second Piper leaned forward for another hug, Hadina found herself crying too.

“I hate this, you know. I hate being weak and emotional.”

“Hadina, emotions don’t make you weak. Your love is what will save her.”

“I’m scared, Piper,” Hadina admitted solemnly. “The last time I was this scared, Mami was sick and we lost her. I can’t love someone so deeply and go through that loss again.”

Piper sighed and grabbed a few tissues for each of them. Hadina dabbed at her eyes and let out a soft chuckle as Piper blew her nose loudly, competing with an elephant for noise level.

“Losing Mami was something none of us will ever get over. But it doesn’t mean you should shut yourself away from emotions so you don’t get hurt. You realize that you admitted to me earlier that you loved her?” Hadina’s eyes widened and Piper shook her head. “Yeah, I didn’t think you’d have realized what you said. But you did. You were so busy yelling that you just let it slip.”

Hadina blew out a breath and leaned her head back against the wooden frame. She let her admission settle for a second, contemplating her feelings for once.

“I was so angry and frustrated and worried… I just let it all out at once. But yes, I love her. I’m not ashamed of that, even if it does make me terrified.”

Piper smiled, taking Hadina’s hand in hers and squeezing softly. “Stop letting fear rule your life. If you love her, you’ll do anything to get her back. And Hadi, nobody loves as fiercely as you. It doesn’t matter what version of Peyton we get back—you’ll be the one to help her heal.”

Hadina felt the tears roll down her face as she looked at her little sister. She looked so much like their mother that sometimes it took Hadina’s breath away. But it also meant that she always had a reminder of her Mami whenever she needed it.

“God, I miss Mami . She always knew exactly what to do or what to say.”

“No, she didn’t. You and Zellie think that she was a Saint, but she was human. And yes, she was the absolute best person, but don’t put her up on a pedestal like that. Our humanity and mistakes is what makes us strong. Our flaws and our faults are what we learn from. Mami learned from hers so that she could teach us to be better. So that her daughters knew family mattered most.”

“You’re so smart, Piper.”

Piper rolled her eyes and smacked Hadina with the pillow she was holding. “Yes, I am. You should listen to me more often.”

Hadina smiled. “I think I can manage that.”

“We’ll find her, Hadi. But we’ll do it as a family. Just like Mami would have wanted.”