01. Arrival

"Brave women are not born from comfort zones, they are made in the fire"

~ Cheryl Hale

"Hurry up!" The angry old driver yells at the poor girls as they get on the trash looking bus. I follow behind the queue, if I said that the outside was trash looking, then the inside is a shame to trash. What can be expected from the mafia? They won't provide luxurious buses for their new batch of maids.

I find an empty window seat in the third row, I hurriedly run and plop down, the girl behind me gives a displeased look then moves on, I desperately need ventilation for this trip or I'll pass out.

I push my face outside, taking in gulps of fresh air. Did someone die in here? The bus smells like something has been rotting in here for years. I try my best to not show my discomfort on my face, but I can't help it.

Soon the bus is filled, another girl has taken a seat beside me. I don't pay much attention to her as I'm gawking outside the window at the guards who are discussing something with the old irritated driver. Few more minutes pass then the driver enters the bus, one of the guard takes a brief look, circling the bus, checking everyone through all the windows, he makes sure that everyone's settled in.

His eyes stop at me, he winks. I roll my eyes at him, he smirks before continuing his inspection around. I'm not one to be intimidated easily, I know these mafia men aren't of any good. I'm not going to be scared of them and let anyone take advantage of me. I'm here to work, not to entertain them.

The bus starts after a few attempts, in no time we're on a deserted road, en route to the Italian mafia palace. It will take us 7-8 hours so most of the girls get comfortable, I too lean back in the hard seat, sighing softly. I shut my eyes, pondering over my situation. I see the face of my poor mother, my 3 younger brothers and one teenage sister. I see our broken house, our poor living condition, my mothers tired face, my siblings torned clothes and empty stomachs.

Unknowingly a tear escapes my left eye, I quickly wipe it away, I'm not about to cry, I'm here to change my life, I'm here to provide a better future for my. I belong from a small village near Sicily, mostly all men of my village work for the Italian mafia and some of the women work as maids or whores for them.

My papa too was a guard in the mafia, who got killed in a crossfire with the enemies 5 years ago, I was 16 at the time. Our situation turned upside down, papa was the only bread winner of the house, we weren't too rich but lived a comfortable life.

Mama had to struggle a lot after papa's death to raise us, we requested the mafia for compensation, hundreds of men die every year for the mafia, they don't care much for the lives lost or the broken families. They know if they loose one man, then 3 more are standing in queue to take that position.

After 5 years of continuous request and struggle I was finally offered a job as a maid in the mafia palace. Every year, a new batch of mafia men, maids and whores are hired by the place to accommodate their growing space and fill in positions for any life lost. Yes, we do have mafia royalty. It's a whole system here but instead of a King, we have a Capo.

Mom was reluctant to send me off but later agreed after she and I had a brief discussion. Working as a maid in the palace is nothing less than a great opportunity, which only the luckiest girls get, most of the girls only get entry in the mafia as whores and that is not the most desirable job.

As a maid I'll be exclusively working for the Italian mafia family, no one will try to take advantage of me. Maids cannot be used for pleasure by the guards without their consent. Only the men of the family can sleep with them, since we are their property from the moment we associate ourselves with them. I'm sure there are plenty other maids to choose from so chances of me being forced into that position are almost zero.

The pay is also good, I get a vacation after every 6 months, which is fine with me, as long as my family is well fed back home. I have so many plans for them, mama and I have discussed that as soon as she receives my first pay check, she and the kids will eat a good hot meal. The kids will start going to school so they can have a good future. Mama will be able to afford her medicines and the house can come back to a more livable shape.

I had to drop out from school but I will make sure my siblings make something good of themselves. Soon, everything will get back to normal. We can't go back to being the happy family we used to be, but I know everything will turn a lot better than it is now.

I decide to take a small nap before our arrival at the palace, I'm unsure if I'll receive proper sleep there. I just hope that for the time I work for the family, I don't get myself in any trouble.

________________

New mafia book, new beginnings.

Vote and comment my loves... ♥️♥️