The Hooded Beauty

Don't Get Killed

"Kady, Jesus Christ, why are you so difficult to wake up" My dad says as he shakes me vigorously awake.

"IM AWAKE STOP SHAKING ME DAMMIT!" I shout frustrated. I hate being woken up. I love sleep too much. I hate parting with my true love, my bed.
It has been years since my father has woken me up.
It must be important.
Who died?

"There's a meeting in ten minutes, someone will come get you and take you to the board room" and then he walks away.
Ok, no one died. Good news.
Bad news, I have to look presentable, I'm obviously not allowed to attend in my pj's.
I rush around getting ready. How can someone look decent in 10 minutes?
Then I look in the mirror. Ew. I wipe the 'sleep' crust from my eyes, gross I know and then I get changed. A simple jumper and leggings. I ain't putting actual effort in, it's a meeting, not a wedding.
Bob knocks on my door and I answer it.
"C'mon, little lady you've got a meeting to attend to" he says in his rich Scottish accent. He's such a pleasant man.
We walk to my fathers office and then Bob reaches underneath my fathers desk and presses something that triggers the bookshelf to move. It looks like something from Harry Potter.
This is borderline creepy.
I never knew this was here.
How can it be hidden?
To be honest, I have never seen my father read, why didn't I figure out it was a fake bookshelf?
Once it has stopped moving it reveals a set of descending stairs.
Ok, now my anxiety is creeping up.
"Go down the stairs and down the hall, then open the door and there's the board room. Don't worry, it's well lit" he says and walks off.
This looks like something from a scary movie, I swear if I get killed, I'm gonna be pissed.

I do as he says regardless, down the stairs, down the hall and into the door. I twist the door handle and push, I'm met with the brightest room that I think has actually damaged my retina's. There is a huge table in the centre filled with people that I assume are in the gang. Around 40 people in attendance.
Did they all come in through the bookshelf? That's a lot of foot traffic.

At the head of the desk, is my father. I take a seat in the only available space, next to my father.
"Thank you for joining us" my father announces and people begin to mutter an agreement.
My father then begins to talk about the recent events that have happened, where I was injured at a party that the rival gang intruded. My father starts to get angry about them so I reach over and place my hand over his and he looks at me and sighs and then lets out a little smile.
He pulls a board forward and flips it over, it's filled with faces, names and connections. This is the rival gang.
"I seek revenge" my father borderline shouts. Then starts talking about a plan.
It goes like this: 3 females (Kassy, El and I) and 4 males (Jace, Parker, Benny and Joe). We go on a stakeout to spy on the gang while they are at a club that they own, it is public knowledge that they attend in groups every Friday night in the VIP area. We need to find out information about what they do and how they do it. My father wants to know about weapons and security, he wants to find their weak spot. Everyone has a vulnerability.

"Any questions?" He asks.
"When is it?" I blurt out.
"Tonight, Jace will talk you through everything before you travel to the location" he says.
I had totally forgot. Jace is here.
I look around the table and my eyes land on him. He was already staring at me.
I zone out staring at Jace. Remembering last nights date. I still can't get over how perfect it was.
My father places a hand on my shoulder, I come back to reality.

"And lastly, don't get yourself killed"