A New Family

“Oh God, this feels good,” I muttered as I laid on my bed. 

  After hours of the others questioning me about what it was like working directly with Dante and each talking about their experiences with him, I needed a good nap. 

  Somehow that was more tiring than cleaning two huge rooms. 

  At least Pete gave me food after. 

  Before I closed my eyes, I put an alarm on my phone. 

  Once bitten twice shy. 

  ——————

  The moment I heard that alarm sound, I knew hell day two had started. 

  I stared at it for a few seconds before turning it off. My body didn’t even feel like it had rested properly, but I knew I couldn’t sleep in. 

  I got out of bed, showered and changed into my uniform again. 

  Immediately I stepped into the hallway…all eyes were on me. The bodyguards were intimidating. The other staff Ken didn’t introduce to me moved in silence, like they didn’t want to be talked to. 

  I walked toward the kitchen since I still had a few minutes left before starting. Also, I was hungry for Pete’s cooking. 

  Pete was already there, stocking up the fridge. 

  He looked back and nodded when he saw me.

  “You’re early,” he said.

  “I didn’t sleep properly,” I answered.

  He gave a short laugh. 

  I sighed and sat down. 

  He stopped what he was doing and fixed me a plate of pasta. I immediately started eating. 

  “The food’s not running,” Pete joked. 

  I ignored him and kept eating. 

  “He really did a number on you huh?”

  His eyes scanned my wounds. 

  Only a few of them were visible. 

  “Not him exactly.” 

  Before he could say anything else, the entire kitchen changed energy.

  I felt it before I even turned around.

  Dante.

  His eyes passed over the room once before landing on me.

  I feared he was about to yell for not being in his room yet. 

  If it wasn’t obvious already…I was very sensitive to things like that. 

  “Luca,” he said.

  “Yes sir,” I answered.

  He walked closer, stopped near the counter, and looked at me for a second longer than comfortable.

  “You’re coming with me,” he said.

  I blinked once.

  “To do what?”

  I was really starting to hate my intrusive thoughts. For whatever reason I felt like I could say anything, challenge him. 

  “Are you questioning me?” 

  I froze. 

  “Are you deaf?! Get your ass to the car.” 

  I rushed out of the room. 

  I saw three guards surrounded by a black car. I ran towards it, but I didn’t stand too close. 

  I didn’t want the guards showcasing their superiority. 

  When Dante came out, they opened the doors for him and he got in. 

  I stood like a fool, waiting for a command. 

  “Get in,” one guard opened the door. 

  I slowly got in and sat as close to the door as possible. 

  I kept glancing at him throughout the ride. 

  His eyes were fixed on his phone and he paid no attention to me. At some point, I stopped trying.

  After a while, I spoke without thinking too much.

  “Where are we going?”

  “Don’t ask me stupid questions,” he said flatly. 

  I stayed quiet after that. 

  After a while, we stopped in front of a building I didn’t recognize.

  He got out first, I followed.

  The driver and the other guard stayed back. 

  Of course the entrance was filled with guards. Nobody questioned us, some of them greeted Dante, but none acknowledged me. 

  I stayed close behind him without being told to.

  Eventually, we entered a room with a large table.

  People were already inside.

  They all stood when he walked in. He didn’t greet them, he just sat and gestured his hands to let them know they could carry on. 

  I stayed standing for a second too long before realizing I was supposed to sit as well.

  I sat at the edge of the table.

  I looked around and noticed a pattern. 

  It looked like every leader came with someone else. Someone from their trusted circle probably. 

  One of them across from me looked at me for a second, then looked away like I wasn’t important enough to question.

  The meeting started without introduction.

  They spoke mostly in code. I kept hearing names and codes I didn’t understand. Which only made me more suspicious of him. Why would he bring me with him if he it was supposed to be a top secret meeting?

  Dante spoke occasionally, and when he did, there was no room for disagreement.

  After about an hour or two, they finally finished. 

  Dante stood up first. I followed immediately. 

  When we got to the car, he spoke

  “Your job as a cleaner still stands. You were just replacing someone else.”

  l nodded and stayed quiet till we got home. 

  The car eventually slowed down but it didn’t fully stop. 

  I heard the doors unlock but Dante didn’t move,

  So I got out first. 

  He sped away immediately after. 

  I went straight to his room, did the needful and then to Amelia’s 

  She still wasn’t there.

  And I was relieved, 

  I didn’t want another version of Dante breathing down my neck. 

  I walked around the house after. Even though literally everyone made it hard to feel comfortable. 

  I explored hidden entrances. 

  One door especially caught my eye…so of course I went in. 

  As the door creaked open, the first thing I saw was a huge portrait of Dante and Amelia. They were both smiling, but it looked very fake. 

  The portrait was dusty so I cleaned a bit of it with the rag I still had in hand. 

  Although they didn’t look happy enough for me to feel something, it still made me think. 

  I had a loving family once….

  Every time my brain thought of it, I felt weak. I thought I had to move on as soon as possible. But the harder I try, the more painful it gets. 

  Then Marcel’s betrayal came to mind. 

  It made me wonder if anyone in the warehouse was genuine. 

  I felt a spark of rage coming, so I stopped thinking. 

  I put everything I touched back in place and left the room. 

  “Luca!” Emily called. 

  “Dante needs you.”

  “What? When did he come back?” 

  She shrugged. “He’s in his room.”

  I nodded and walked past her. 

  “Sir?”

  “What’s this?” He pointed to his drawer.

  I immediately knew what he was talking about. I tampered with his perfume box before leaving. I must’ve forgot the put them back in place.

  “Um…”

  “I told you not to touch anything, didn’t I?”

  “Yes. I was just trying to clean them.”

  He chuckled, “Really?”

  “Y-yes sir.” 

  His smile faded instantly. 

  He moved closer to me. “Do not forget you’re only alive brcause I allow you to be. Don’t test me.” 

  “Yes sir, I’m sorry.” 

  “Get out”

  I hurried out without saying anything else.

  I got out of his room panting like I had h just finished a race.

  The guard standing opposite me laughed. He didn’t even try to hide it.

  I straightened.

  “You’re gonna have to be a lot tougher than that if you want to live little guy.” 

  I ignored him and walked off. 

  “She’ll be here tomorrow.” 

  “I hope she’s no longer in a mood.” 

  I overheard a maids conversation with Emily. 

  I wasn’t sure who they were talking about, but I hoped it wasn’t Amelia.