"Be a girl with a mind, a woman with attitude, and a lady with class."

The words rolled through my mind as I sat beside Adelaide's bed. She'd woken an hour earlier, drowsy and weak. Maybe two words left her lips before she fell back into unconsciousness.

I swapped between the two girls, making sure I was always there when Adelaide woke. She was more important at the moment. Until I knew she'd recover fully, I wanted to be there for her the best I could.

Then, Thalia woke. I had been staring at the roof, leaning back in my seat. A groan filled my ears. Quickly sitting up, I watched her carefully. Pain covered her face, as to be expected of course, she had basically just had surgery.

As her eyes opened, I knew she'd want to leave. Who honestly wanted to be taken by a mafia and stay with them after being beaten senseless? Nobody.

She had a bandage wrapped around her head as well as under her clothes around her ribs. It was a stupid question, but it was all I could think to ask. "How are you feeling?"

I sat back in the seat, studying her body as she tried sitting up. "Like death," her voice sounded like sandpaper had scraped down her throat.

"You'll feel like that for a few weeks." I replied, frowning slightly at her actions. It was obvious she didn't want to be here. Even I didn't want to be here, I would've rather been with my sister, but no, little miss can't-shut-her-mouth needed my attention as well.

"I guess." Hearing her suck in a few breaths, her face and body paled quickly. I knew what that meant, doesn't mean I moved to help though. I'd never been in this situation, not when someone else needed my help in this way. "Is-is there a bucket or something?"

She was growing frantic, which caused my heart to race. My eyes danced around the room, even though I knew there wasn't any buckets in here. Victor normally brought them around on his trolley.

"Sink." I muttered, holding my hand out for her. It was a brutal thing, standing up when you feel sick. I knew from personal experience; three weeks personal experience. Through that, you'd think I'd know what to do.

Feeling a weight fall against me, I quickly grabbed her arm, helping her reach the sink just in time for bile to leave her small body. My mind raced, trying to think of things that had helped me. Subconsciously raising my hand, I gently rubbed her back. It was different for everyone when they were sick, hard to know what they liked unless you asked them and now wasn't exactly the best time for that.

I zoned out after a few seconds, memories flashing behind my eyes. The hands, the strength of the drink. Everything from the night of my sixteenth birthday came rushing back.

It was the cut off of water that brought me back, the words leaving my lips before I could stop them. "Are you okay?"

"No," her voice was too quiet, "no, I am not okay, Madora." She paused, giving me a weird look that I couldn't decipher. "I can call you that, right? Or should I call you Boss?"

This girl was exhausting. Did she even know the word 'respect'? I felt like knocking her out again. "You can call me Madora."

Even though she frustrated me, it was hard to see her so upset. She reminded me of myself. I've said it before and I'll say it again. It was good in a way because it meant I could figure out her thoughts easily. Her expressions, at times, also made that easier.

I nibbled on my lip slightly. "They said you have a broken rib and a concussion."

She turned her gaze to me, leaning against the counter. "I'm not surprised. What else did they say?"

I hated that question, and the answer to it. This woman would not like it. I could tell just by looking at her that she wouldn't react kindly. "They have you on antibiotics so you don't get any infections, and also medication for the concussion. They don't want you doing anything tedious, and they don't want you moving around a lot for long distances."

Just as I thought it would, her face dropped. "I'm guessing you're going to have someone show me to my room, then? Or you can give me directions and I'll walk there myself."

She was hopeful, I'll give her that. I didn't even know her name and the dang woman was already growing on me. She had what seemed to be an endless fight. I raised an eyebrow at her, fighting back a smile. "Nice try, princess, but no. You're going to be staying with me."

I managed to persuade her to sleep until Victor arrived back. A guard stood outside her door, making sure she didn't try and leave when she woke, as I was with Adelaide.

She finally woke, more aware of everything and wanting to chat. It was relaxing to know Addie was fine, that she'd only have a large scar left. That, and the fact that she couldn't have children. Now that, that I wasn't looking forward to telling her.

We talk for a moment, until Victor let me know he was back and then I went with him back to the payment. How frustrating it was having two of my members in the medics block.

Victor gave our new recruit a check up, just poking and prodding. Something that was not by any means gentle. I wanted to break his hand. He made sure she had no internal bleeding before sorting her medications and placing them in her lap as she sat down into the wheelchair.

I had a feeling, this little niggling feeling about the woman in front of me. I couldn't describe it if I wanted to, but it was there and taunting me.

"I don't have to stay with you." And the convincing begins, well, at least she tries. Glancing at my watch, I notice school was almost over, meaning the house was going to be rather crowded soon. I sped up.

"I know, but the little time you've been here I noticed you attract trouble." The niggling feeling returned, except this time, I realised I recognised her attitude. That's what it was. I must have met, or seen her before she was given as payment.

"Excuse me?"

"Princess, have you seen yourself? You nearly got yourself kill d back there. You're mouthy and rude." My brain didn't want to work with me, it didn't want to even try and help figure it out.

"I'm mouthy and rude? You're the one leading a mafia."

Thalia Brookes, of course it was her. I froze. Adelaide had told me about the young girl who had a crush on me, the one who couldn't help but stare. She only told me because she had a crush on the woman herself, as you can see, it didn't happen.

My lips formed a small smirk at the knowledge as I moved to lean down in front of her. The smirk wanted to grow bigger, give away I knew more than I let on, but I kept it small. "Does that scare you?" I purred lowly.

She shrunk back into the wheelchair, eyes wide. I swear I even saw her swallow. "No." Lie.

I leant down, whispering softly, "does it attract you, Thalia Brookes? Are you..." shifting my fingertips to brush up her thighs and waist, "...excited by it? Do you like that I'm a dangerous woman?"

I'm not sure if I even wanted her to answer the questions. If I wanted a yes or a no. So I stood and moved back behind the wheelchair, pushing her down the hallway and towards the elevator. I didn't even get a glance at her face.