Carter’s POV
The door was opened by one of the maids standing beside the door.
Rodrigo strode into the room and came to where I was sitting, leaned down and started whispering into my ears.
My eyes darkened and my fist clenched as Rodrigo’s words cut deep.
I felt a surge of anger and frustration but I pushed it aside focusing on the task ahead.
When Rodrigo was done with the message, I got up from the chair and followed him out of the dining room.
“Where are they?” I asked when we were outside.
“Let me take you there” he replied then led me towards the section of the house which was locked up.
As we walked, I asked Rodrigo who gave them access to this part of the house.
“I think it is the Kingpin,” he replied.
“Of course it is him, that sly old man wanted to follow the family tradition” I said.
“Tradition?”
“Yes, someone that will inherit an empire must follow the tradition to prove that he is worthy,” I explained.
“What does..”
“Don’t worry, by this time tomorrow everything will be over,” I interrupted.
“That’s the room” he said, pointing at a room that is on our right side.
“Let’s go in” I said and walked to the door.
I could hear people murmuring inside the room, I took a very deep breath and turned the doorknob.
When I walked into the room, the first thing my eyes went to was the batons stacked at the center of the room.
The people in the room, five men, were all dressed in black with a mask around their face and a cap on their head.
One of them was wearing a cap with a written leader on top of it.
I think he is the leader.
“Now Carter, let’s begin” the leader said.
“Good” I replied and then walked to the center of the room and stood. Enjoying the story? Read on at g.com.
I glanced at Rodrigo who was wondering what was going on.
“It is fine Rodrigo, you can go now” I said.
“No he should stay, that’s the Kingpin’s orders.
He needs to know about the tradition” the leader insisted.
“Well let’s get on with it, time is going” I said.
“Boys !, let’s start” the leader yelled and they all took one baton each.
“Before we start” the leader began.
“We want to congratulate you on your new Kingpin position” he added.
After he had made that statement they all started hitting me with the batons.
I heard Rodrigo call my name but one of them told him to shut up and just watch.
This was one of the said tradition one has to do if he wants you inherit an empire.
He has to beat a pup to test his endurance and strength, I could still remember when my father inherited his own.
He was beaten by batons and I was the one watching as that happened.
It was really an unforgettable memory, I thought that my father was dead after the beating.
The next day he went through another test but I don’t know its content.
The strikes kept coming and I felt some liquid on my back, “it must be blood” I thought.
Even through the beating, I never shouted or made a noise.
That would be termed as weakness and unfit to rule.
Just then one of the strikes landed on my head and I slowly began to lose conscious.
Abigail’s POV
After Carter left the dining room with Rodrigo, I finished up my food and went back to my room.
I couldn’t sleep for no reason so I decided to go to the living room and watch a movie.
Halfway through the movie I heard footsteps approaching the living room so I immediately switched the TV off with the remote, and went behind the couch and hid, my heart racing with curiosity and surprise.
From where I was hiding I saw the person who entered the room, an old woman dressed in a maid outfit.
“Who was that?” I wondered.
I watched as she walked to the front door and gently opened it, a man came into the living room wearing a hat.
Does Carter know he was here?.
I couldn’t help but wonder.
A shiver ran down my spine like a cold finger, and my mind whirled with questions and concerns, one more pressing than the other.
I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was not right.
The Kingpin’s presence and the old woman’s nervous energy and the way they seemed to be waiting for something or someone.
It all added up to the sense of unease that was making my skin crawl.
As I continued watching them, I saw the Kingpin talking to the old woman, his voice low and serious.
The old woman nodded her eyes darting back and forth like a trapped animal.
Suddenly, the Kingpin turned and looked directly at the couch.
I froze, my heart skipping a beat.
Had he seen me?.
I held my breath waiting for him to talk or make a move.
But instead he simply nodded at the old woman and then walked into the house.
I let out a shaky breath and tried to calm my racing heart.
The old woman then locked the front door and followed the Kingpin.
“Should I follow them?” I asked no one in particular.
A part of me screamed to follow them to find out what was going on.
But another part of me warned me to be cautious, urging me to just go back to my room and forget everything.
I decided to follow the latter so I got up from my hiding place, my feet felt heavy as I slowly and quietly walked to the hallway.
After passing two rooms, I wanted to pass the third one when its door suddenly swung open.
The scream had already come out of my mouth but it was prevented by a big hand covering my mouth.
I felt a jolt of fear as I realised that I had been caught.
And of course I must be punished.