The gang leaders daughter

New friends

On any average night 2am on a Tuesday is a silent time in small towns. Unfortunately this wasn't your classic sleepy town. To tourists it was just another New England place, a good town to go visit in autumn but nothing out of the ordinary.

None of them saw the things that that
occurred at night. The shadows that just brushed the windows while they slept. The hushed whispers that went quiet as they walked in or even the weary looks they were given.

They saw what the people wanted and failed to see the strange acts. Then they left never thinking about this town again.

The people who lived here never left, those few lived there their whole life. No magic held this town together as it sometimes appeared for this town was made of danger, blackmail, threats and gangs.

Adeline untied her apron. Walking over to the sink she watched out the window. She knew the dangers of this town far too well.

Her mother has been killed just four months before by her uncle who was also now dead. She turned the handle and warm water poured out heavily. Washing her hands after the long day at the bakery was normal. It was like flour and sugar would appear glued to her hands after a long day of work.

She brushed her grey hair behind her shoulder. She wasn't crazy or out there, her hair fit her quiet elegance well. She was an introvert with a slight edge. She appeared average and she liked it that way, she didn't want to appear all amazing or special. Looking at the clock she knew she had to hurry home. Her father wouldn't be happy if him and his friends were kept waiting for diner.

She walked into the house, smiling like always. She had a smile whether fake or real that lit up the room and was definitely contagious. She had had no boyfriends in the past and very few friends.

She walked towards the kitchen and took the pork out of the fridge. She put a pan with sauce on and then put the pork in the oven. She got some carrots covering them in orange juice and putting them in with the pork. She warmed up left over mashed potatoes from the night before and set the table with old silver wear and China. After everything was set up she started making the lemonade. She knew her mothers recipe by heart and she made a large pitcher not knowing how many people were coming over.

The door slammed and she heard multiple footsteps. She stepped forward to hug her father

"hello daddy, how was your day?"

"It was good baby girl" he responded as she looked over his shoulder at two men. One was young, maybe 20 only two years older then herself and another looked like he was in his 30s and was probably involved in the gang. She blushed and stepped away.

"Hello my name is Adeline" the older man stepped forward first

"hello I'm Steven and this is Lucas, we are the new neighbors" she smiled "nice to meet you both" with that we started diner.

As per usual She was zoned out ignoring what they were talking about, the gruesome qualities of some conversations taught her to not listen a long time ago.

"Honey would you mind going upstairs?" He asked it as a question, but She knew that was her fathers nice way of saying go upstairs it's important. She put her dish in the dish washer and went upstairs, it was only 9 but she was completely wiped out. Slowly she dozed off not knowing of the life changing conversation occurring beneath her very own feet.

"Adeline" she heard a name cut through her dreamless sleep

"Adeline wake up please" above her, was her father. She looked over at the clock realizing it was 2:46 am. It had to be important for him to wake her up.

"please come downstairs darling" she nodded grabbing a sweatshirt to put over her sports bra. She ran down the steps slightly stumbling over her tired feet. Sitting down she looked up at the two men pacing as though waiting. Then Lucas in the corner quiet and thoughtful.

"Darling I need you to leave, the gang violence is out of hand and much worse then I thought, you need to be safe." She was shocked, how could a father ship his only child away. Especially right after she lost her mother. She was scared, she didn't want to be alone anymore.

" no daddy please! Did I do something wrong? I'll do anything daddy don't make me leave you! I can't lose another parent" her grief stricken face and her plea brought tears to her fathers eyes.

"I love you so much baby girl, you did nothing wrong, there's no way you could! I just need you safe and the safest place right now is with these two men. We were going to have them live next door but with the worsening violence you're gonna go hide. It won't be long by girl and I'll come for you I promise!" She nodded crying. She reached for her father hugging him and sobbing into his shirt. Other then when her mother died she was never like this, always composed and put together, barely ever showing signs of cracking.

"Come love, we'll go watch a movie until you fall asleep so I can spend time with you. You'll be leaving tomorrow night. We can pack up together tomorrow. You'll get a new wardrobe and makeup and you will get a new chance with these two men." She just hugged him. He carried her upstairs and he put in the movie but they both soon dozed off her father praying for this violence to end soon and his daughter praying he would be back soon for her. She didn't want to be alone anymore and especially not with these strangers.

In the morning her father told her to get what she wants whether pictures or anything else, sentimental things needed to be taken care of so they could move on to letting her leave. They were to go to a small beach town. Right near a city yet far enough away to still be peaceful and not have the city bustle. It had a strange calm effect it seemed.

She stared out the window her father and there house getting smaller and smaller as they drove. She was really leaving, her father who had been there from the start wouldn't be there for who knows how long.

She then looked forward again. It was useless to dwell, she needed to look toward what would come. It could be anything. She was in danger and she knew it. She was leaving with two men instead of going to visit a relative, it had to be bad.

These men were strange. Lucas was very straight faced. Showed no emotion. It was as if he didn't feel anything, and Steven well he was kind but he wasn't her father. She just needed to accept that she wouldn't see him for a long time and that she needed to get comfortable with these men.

The car ride was long and silent. They stopped at a small restaurant along the way, getting some sandwiches before getting back into the car. Lucas seemed to move with a grace. Steven stumbled a bit more, as if he didn't know the length of his arms and legs at times. The differences between them were comical and entertaining. I watched in silence with my head phones in, taking in information silently, I knew so much more then anyone thought.

I would have to start a new school, Lucas would probably have to be with me in some way... or maybe I'd be homeschooled. None of them actually cared, so I knew my opinion wouldn't be asked. All they saw was a pay day like everyone else who knew my father. I was too trusting and too easily forgiving and that's over with. I would protect my feelings with everything I had and protect my heart with twice as much fierceness. After one betrayal a second wouldn't be happening.

Finally they were at the house. It was old but God was it beautiful! The White House with peeling paint against the dark shutters and the red door. The widows peak with obvious cobwebs. She'd have to ask someone to clear that out, spiders just weren't her thing.

As she got out of the car she felt a new sense of self wash over her. This was a new start and she would protect her family with every last breath. She has a new life ahead of her and she wasn't going to ruin it by being naïve, not again at least. This was her beginning and it was like a rebirth. She wasn't ever going to be the same person again.

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Hey everyone!

I'm Cat and this is a new idea I've had for a while! I'm not certain how it's turning out but I would love some feedback, whether comments or votes or reads, it makes me want to write when I see you all enjoy it! Thank you and I hope that you all liked this!