Chapter 9

Maria

"Have fun my love", Mom bleamed covering Daniels face in kisses as Dad opened the car door to the plane.

Daniel kissed mom's cheek and grabbed his Nike backpack,"I will".

"Bring me back some Hobbit merch", Fitz said preoccupied on his phone.

"Okay", Daniel got out of the car and I watched as he and Dad boarded the plane. I wish I was going with them.

"Why dose Daniel get a trip with dad?" I asked looking over to my mother. I love my baby brother but he was just a nerd.

"Its something they've been meaning to do for a while", she answered then told the driver to head back home.

"Why do you care? It's not like you want to spend two weeks learning Elvish or whatever", Fitz laughed on the other side of mom.

"I want a trip with Dad too", I'll go anywhere.

"You'll each have your turn. And the three of us can have fun", mom smiled.

"Can grandpa come over now that Dad is gone?" Fitz asked mindlessly.

"Sure---"

"Wait! Can I go over to grandma's house?!"

"You baby", I snickered.

"Forget you. Have ever in your whole life been treated better than when you go to meemaw's?" He was right. I felt like grandma Yvonne and Celine treated us better than royalty.

"You right".

"Okay, but you have to call---"

Fitz was on the phone in a flash. And after one ring I could heard Grandma Celine answer,"Can I come over for the night?"

"Say hello first", mom chastised.

"Hello, can I come over tonight?" He repeated. I heard grandma say yes and and Fitz started dancing like he was having a seizure. "Love you too. Bye!"

Fitz screamed,"She said yes!"

"We heard genius".

Mom rolled down the partition and told the driver to take us to grandma grandpa's house. 20 minutes later we were rolling up to their Mega Mansion dad had made. Fitzgerald got out not bothering to say goodbye or even shut the door. As soon as he saw Grandma at the door we were dead to him. The driver shut the door and and got back in the car. We slowly started to take off heading back home. I stared out the window watching the houses come and go out of sight.

"What's on your mind", mom asked softly.

"Nothing..."I perked up sitting up straight. A moving van. "Someone's moving in?"

We've never had neighbors. Dad kept buying all the land and basically now the entire block was just our house except one little cottage at the end of the block. Dad said it was too expensive to bulldoze down because it was a historical building and to ugly to buy.

"I guess so". We slowly drove by and out of the back of the van a boy jumped out holding a box to big for him. He land roughly on the sidewalk and looked over to the car. I knew he couldn't see us with the blacked out window but it felt like he could feel my stare. The world lowed as I looked into his eyes. He had the bluest eyes I've ever seen framed with dark brown. My heart jumped to life. "We should say hello".

"What?! No" I gasped.

"Don't be silly it's the neighborly thing to do",  mom told the driver to pull over and she all but pulled me out of the car.

My hair wasn't brushed, I was still in my pajamas and I didn't wash my face today. Mom didn't have to worry about that she was already dressed in a black a-line dress with her pointy heels. She kept pushing me forward only for me to retreat behind her. I was now super aware of every little thing that was wrong with me. No one was going to talk to me and my Hello Kitty pajama set.

Did I put on deodorant?

"Maria, we're just saying hi. What's gotten into you?" I knew we weren't just saying hi Mom would stand out here all day. And looked homeless!

I couldn't let the boy with the blue eyes see me like this. So I did the only logical thing I could think of; I ran back into the car  locked the door behind me. I peeked out the window to see that the boy had seen me and was staring confused at the car.

Kill me now.

Jennifer

I've never seen Maria run so fast.

I snapped out of my shock and announce myself not wanting to sneak up on anyone,"Hello".

"Hi", a brown haired boy said running up to me,"Mom's in the back".

"Malcolm!" A fiery redhead shouted stashing over to us in stiletto heels, zebra print pants and a tank top that was four sizes too small but served its purpose to show off her ample chess. "Stop bothering people. We got work to do".

"Mom I didn't do anything. She---"

"Hi", I smiled extending my,"I'm Doctor Jennifer Caffrey. I live in the house next to yours. I just wanted to introduce myself and welcome you to the neighborhood. It's not often we get new comers".

The women shook my hand revealing her claw like fingernails,"I can only imagine. You have the whole block".

"Yes. A big family calls for a big house", I smiled.

"You must have an army then", she laughed.

Didn't like the way she stated that but kept my smile on my face," I'll be the first to admit I wanted a big family. Keeps you humble and on your toes".

"Malcolm did that and plenty more".

"Well I'll get out of your hair and let you finish moving", I started walking back to the car but turned around realizing I forgot to ask for her name," Im, sorry I didn't get your name".

"Tina Conrad", she smiled as my blood ran cold.

"O... any relationship to---"

"Yes", she grinned proudly,"And Caffery? Any relationship to..."

I had two ways to play this. Each of them required me to stay calm and collected but also threatening at the same time. I could make Tina understand who she was talking to or I could play dumb. I've heard Adam talk about the Conrad family they were young and up-and-coming ready to do whatever it takes to conquer whatever Market they were dipping their toes in; from selling fake Prada bags to sex trafficking there wasn't much they didn't have a part in. Adam  made  the other houses play nicely with them because I don't think he even knows the full scope of their power. But that's what this was, a power move-- moving in next door to us. Coming to Paris. This is a message.

Tina wasn't ringing any bells all I knew was Harry and he had about six brothers.

I took a step forward making sure I was in her personal space and lowered my voice so only she could hear me," I don't play games so let me be clear. I've been in this game much longer than you have. I've done unspeakable unimaginable things. If your family threatens my family I will make sure you watch as I slit your boy's throat and feed his entrails to the dogs. And for you there are worse things than murder and rape. Test me and you will find out", I stepped back and smiled as warmly as possible,"Welcome to the neighborhood".