Cursed

7

Eadlyn snuggled with me the entire ride, refusing to let me go. I kept whispering to her reassuringly the entire time. We arrived from the front of the building before going around back. Despite its luxurious inside, it looked well passed abandoned on the outside. I guess that's how they stay hidden. They board up the windows so no one would expect anything to be happening.

"Can you carry me?" She asks as I lift her out of the car.

I shake my head, "What about the bags Eady. Later, okay?"

Zack hope out and grabs our bags, "I'll take them."

I nod at him before lifting Eadlyn on my hip, "Thanks."

I follow him inside and we go to what I assume used to be the hotels front desk. It kind of looks like a bar counter now, just with a laptop on it, and a plump old lady sitting behind it.

Zack slams a hand on the desk, but not aggressively, "You got their rooms ready Karen?"

She looks up and nods, "Yes Boss. I have adjoining rooms on the seventh floor open, is that good?"

Zack looks at me, raising an eyebrow. Eady open her mouth, "But-"

"Shh," I say cutting her off before looking back at Zack. I know she was about to say she wanted to just share a room with me. That's fine, she can just stay in my room, I'm not going to cause a scene and make them find us a new room. I nod to him, "That sounds great, thank you."

Karen hands me two room cards and I follow Zack into the elevator. This place is really nice. It doesn't seem like headquarters for a mafia. It seems like a man-cave version of a hotel.

He leads us down the seventh floor hallway and we stop outside room 728. I swipe the card through and walk in. It's beautiful. There's a large white bed in the middle of the wall. A TV is mounted on the wall across from it. There's a big bathroom and a small bar in the hallway with a mini fridge, microwave and coffee pot. It looks like an average hotel room, maybe just a little bigger and nicer.

I look at Zack as he puts our bags down on the bed. He unlocks the door that joins our rooms together. It's basically identical to mine.

Zack clears his throat, "We can get you guys whatever you want to make these yours. Once we know we can trust you, you can get an apartment or house wherever you want. You're welcome to stay here if you want as well. Until then, you can only leave the compound when accompanied by a member of the mafia."

"Is there a phone around here somewhere? I need to make some phone calls." I say.

"Do you not have a cell phone?"

I shake my head, a little embarrassed. I never wanted to spend extra money on it. I always had access to the diner phone or the school phone if there was an emergency.

"Yeah. There's one in the lobby. We'll have to monitor the call of course. All calls are monitored so don't try and betray us. You won't like the outcome."

I nod, "Okay. When do I start working for you? And what will I be doing?"

"For now, you'll just train for a few weeks. Probably two, maybe more depending on your skill level. You came at a good time. This years graduating class starts their training on Monday. You'll get some sparing partners and such. They may be a little younger than you. They graduate at 16 here. How old are you?"

"17. I'll be 18 in a few months. What about my sister? I want her to go to school."

"We have a school here in the compound. The children go there and learn basic skills and lessons and when they turn 12, they start learning the ways of the mafia and combat strategies. At 16, they graduate and can be in field soliders."

I nod. It's going to take me awhile to get used to all this. It's so different. I never even knew this kind of thing was real. And here they were, their own little society. I don't really want Eadlyn in that sort of environment, but it doesn't seem like I have any other options. She's going to grow up in the gang life now.

"You're free you explore and socialize until Monday. I'll send someone by tonight to brief you girls on the rules and give you a tour."

I nod, "Thank you."

I go back into my room where Eady is laying on the bed. She looks up at me with big blue eyes, "I want to go home Shay. I miss Hannah and Marie."

I frown, "This is our home now baby girl. This will be better for us, I promise. I have a better job here where we are away from Dad. And you can still see Marie anytime. Remember? She comes with me wherever I go!"

She smiles, "Oh yeah. I forgot."

I sit down next to her and wrap her in my arms, stroking her hair, "We're going to be alright. Our life will get better now. I promise."

I just hope I'm not promising something that isn't true.