Chapter 2 - The Iron Walls of Costa
The Bentley Mulsanne hummed quietly as it navigated the slush-slicked expressway leaving downtown Chicago. The interior smelled of dark leather, expensive scotch, and rain. Nora sat on the passenger side, her hands folded neatly over the thick wool of her winter coat. She looked out the tinted window at the blurred neon signs flashing past, her reflection ghosting against the glass.
In the span of a single evening, her ownership had simply been transferred from one ledger to another. Richard and Diane had pocketed the extra five hundred thousand, signed away their parental rights with the cold efficiency of corporate liquidators, and disappeared back into their high-stakes poker games. She was no longer a Hayes. She was a Costa.
Arthur drove in absolute silence. He didn't turn on the radio.He didn't glance at her.His massive hands gripped the steering wheel at ten and two,his knuckles pale against the dark leather.The best,rust-colored smear of blood on his left cuff was still there,a stark reminder of the violent ecosystem they both inhabited.
"The rules of the house are simple,"Arthur said finally,his gravelly voice breaking the heavy silence as they turned down a private,iron-gated drive flanked by towering pines."You keep the children alive,You keep the estate running.and you don't try into my business.In exchange,My name protects you.No one in the Midwest will ever lay a hand on you or demand anything from you again."
"And if your children hate me?Nora asked,Her voice is calm.
"They will," Arthur answered without hesitation,pulling the car to a halt in front of a sprawling,limestone estate that looked more like a modern fortress than a family home."They've eaten through every nannying soul sent into this house.They're feral,Nora.They've killed their mother.their father is always bleeding or burying bodies,and they treat every newcomer like an invading army."
"I am used to difficult environments,Nora replied,reminds the icy cruelty of her mother and the transactional coldness of her father."Children can't be much worse than my family."
Arthur turned the ignition off,the engine dying with a soft sigh.He looked over at her,his dark eyes narrowing slightly in the dim dashboard light.Don't underestimate them.Leo is eleven and sets things on fire when he's bored.Maya is nine and bites.Toby is seven and refuses to speak.And Clara...Clara is four,and she cried for her mother every single night until she passed out."
He opened his door and stepped out into the freezing night air.Nora followed him,her four-inch heels crunching slightly on the gravel.
As they walked up the grand stone steps,the heavy oak front door swung open before Arthur could even touch the brass handle.Standing in the foyer was a towering woman in a black maid's uniform,Her face was carved from stone.
May you like
"Mr.Costa," she nodded,then cast a sharp,Assessing the gaze at Nora."The children are still awake.They barricaded themselves in the east wing nursery.They threw a lamp at Mrs.Gable before she packed her bags and fled through the back gate."
Arthur pinched the bridge of his nose,letting out a long,Excess breath.Thank you,Mrs.Potts.Leave the bags in the hall.He looked at Nora."Welcome to your first night on the job."
