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The Family Name, part 2 of 4

Mickey refused to turn around. She clenched her fists. "Bennett..." she grumbled.

"Fancy seeing you here, huh?" the voice said again.

Finally, Mickey swung around to look at him. Marcus Bennett. The son of the CEO of Synchroniety. Synchroniety, who took her grandparents. Her grandparents, of whom she loved dearly. Synchroniety took them. And they experimented on them. And they killed them. Synchroniety, who's been enemies with her family for generations.

"I'm fighting off the urge to stab a knife into your face," Mickey hissed. "Go away."

"Oh I will. But I need you to pass this on to your Dad for me," Marcus said, passing Mickey a folded up piece of paper. "And also, I wouldn't hang out with the school's nerds if I were you. They're weird. Oh, and don't scare my school. This place mine to mess with, not yours."

And with that, Marcus walked away. 

"You know Marcus?" Tibby asked.

"Family history. Long story short, his family is despised by mine. He's just as much of a jerk as his parents," Mickey replied, unfolding the piece of paper.

'You have something that belongs to us, Jones. Our daughter. Give her back. You brainwashed her like the monster you are. 

Hand her over, and we'll refrain from shutting your business down. Keep her, and you're dead. Bring her to us by sundown tomorrow. And maybe you'll still be safe.

- The Bennetts.'

Mike Jones burst out laughing. Mickey looked at him in confusion. "They can't shut us down!" Mike exclaimed. "Try as they may, but we can hold them off."

"You said hold them off. You mean we can't shut them down?" Mickey asked.

"We could, but... that'd be sending so many out there away jobless."

"We could have them!"

"No. Remember, we can't play soft on them. Besides, shutting Synchroniety down would take away half the fun!"

"But they hurt us, Dad! They hurt us bad!"

"They did. But we aren't monsters. And it's funny when they think they can get rid of us for good. We're keeping Laura. She doesn't deserve such a horrible family like the Bennetts."

There was a soft knock on the door. "Come in!" Mike shouted.

The door opened, and Terrance Kingston stepped in. "Um..." he mumbled. "We have a problem..."

"A problem..?" Mike asked. "What?"

"Laura's gone... ur, she's disappeared..."

"Disappeared?! Shit. Fucking Synchroniety. We need to send a gang out to fetch her. I'll go with them. Terrance, help me get some of our best recruits."

"Dad..." Mickey whimpered. "They'll kill you."

Mike got up from his desk and went to his daughter. He bent down to her small height and said, "I promise I'll be back here alive. I'm leaving you in charge. I'll be as quick as I can."

"But... you won't take longer than a day, right?"

"Mickey... you know better than that. Planning to get into Synchroniety itself may take half a week at least. I'm trusting you. I love you."

"I love you too, Dad."

Mike hugged Mickey tight.

Mickey sat at her Dad's desk that Sunday, fidgeting with her pen. She glanced down at the notebook in front of her. A letter she was going to send to her friends, to her school. She had to explain her absence, and she sure as Hell couldn't go to school in this situation. Finally, she had something written up.

'To Mearl Jenkins,

My father has had to leave on business, and he has left me in charge of his mafia. Due to this, I will be unable to attend school. This is a big responsibility, and takes lots of work to keep controlled. I'm sure you know how running something feels, the pressure and what not. 

There are three other teens who I would like this news to be passed onto: Embeth Pegg, Billy Baker and Tibby Devin. I'd at least like my friends to know what's going on, and I simply don't have the time to tell them myself.

I hope you understand, and I'll work hard to make up for the time I've missed from school.

Safe regards,

Mickey Jones'

Mickey sealed the note in an envelope and placed it on the desk. She'd get it to school tomorrow. She stared out the window at the cars driving along the rainy roads of Kollok. The sun was setting, and the amount of cars slowly decreased. She stood and placed a hand on the window. As she looked down, she saw a figure sitting in a box. Curious, she made her way through the building, nodding and waving respectfully to those she passed. Mickey slipped out the door and made her way over to the person in the box across the road. She recorgnised the face as... Skye Hawkins?

Skye's muddy face glanced up at Mickey, pain in her eyes. "Why are you sitting in a box?" Mickey asked.

"You weren't meant to see me like this..." Skye frowned, looking away. "I'm strong! I totally don't live on the streets..."

Mickey sighed and sat down on the wet pavement next to Skye's box. "I'm not going to judge you if you need help," Mickey assured Skye. "You can talk to me."

"But... someone like you, with a Dad like... your Dad... seeing me like this... it's humiliating!"

"How long have you lived like this? You look fine at school."

"I've been this way for like six months..."

"Oh Skye... come with me."

"Come with you? With you."

"Yes, with me."

Mickey stood, offering a hand to Skye. "Why are you being so nice to me?" Skye asked.

Mickey began leading Skye back to the epic mafia building. Skye looked scared, but calmed a bit at the sound of Mickey's voice. "My Dad and I have been in horrible situations ourselves. I often found myself sleeping on the streets because of my drunk Dad's temper tantrums. I want to help people."

"And you're gonna run a mafia with that attitude?"

"Oh I'm only nice when I wanna be. I just don't want any bad relationships with anyone."

They entered the building. One of the dudes who worked for Mike gave a look of confusion. "Who's that?" he asked.

"Is it really your business?" Mickey snapped.

"No, Miss."

"Exactly. Now stop prying."

"Of course, Miss."

The man scurried away. Mickey gave a small smile in satisfaction. "My Father started this place when we were kicked out of our apartment three years ago. Him and a few mates did bad things just to get by, and I had to live with the burden of what my Dad was doing," she started explaining. "However, I slowly started to feel less and less about what he was doing. When Synchroniety fired half of their workers because they 'weren't good enough', Dad took them in. After all, his grandfather was a Synchroniety reject. And the company has done many bad things to the Jones family in the past. My Dad and his workers began committing more crimes for cash, and eventually, became independent. After about a year, things really started kicking off. Dad was soon feared, and now here we are."

Skye looked in bewilderment at the place around her. "All of this... from getting kicked out of home," she gasped. "After my Dad went missing, my Mom kicked me out. I've been surviving from stealing and digging through trash ever since."

Mickey stopped at the top floor. The place where her and her father lived. She opened the door. It looked just like a regular apartment. No snazzy technology or anything. Skye smiled. "This place looks quite homey."

Mickey chuckled. "It really is. Now, I'm going to let you shower. I'll go find you some clothes. The bathroom is just down that hall." 

The only clothes Mickey could grab from was Laura's closet. It upset her walking into the bedroom of the girl who was like a sister to her, who was now in the clutches of the enemy. Mickey found some stuff that would suit Skye. She was walking down a hallway when a harsh knock echoed through the place. Mickey put the clothes on a coffee table as she made her way to the door. She opened it to a man in a tux and sunglasses. "Yes?" Mickey asked.

"Where's Sir?" asked the man.

"He's away on business. He's left me in charge."

"And you are..?"

"His daughter? What are you after?"

"I... I was hoping to talk to Sir. But, since he isn't..."

"Talk to me."

"It isn't something for a ch-"

"He left me in charge of this place, I've been through shit just like him, what did you wanna tell him?"

"Ugh. Blood has been shed in the shooting range. Something went wrong, everyone's started shooting each other."

Mickey's eyes widened. "I'll be right there. I just have something I need to do first."

"Of course, Miss."

Mickey grabbed the clothes and knocked on the bathroom door. A muffled "yeah?" came from the other side.

"I've got something I need to do, I have clothes here for you, if I'm not back when you get out, feel free to raid the pantry and chill in the lounge!"

"Okay!"

"Clothes are just in front of the door, I'll be back soon!"

Mickey stared in awe at the dead bodies in the mafia's shooting range. "Oi, kid!" a woman's voice growled from behind her. She heard a gun cock and a chill rest on her temple. "You weren't meant to see this," the woman's voice hissed.

Mickey grabbed her own gun as she turned swiftly to face the woman. "What's going on?" Mickey demanded.

"You aren't meant to know."

"I think because at least five people have died in my Dad's mafia, I have every right to! Who are you?!"

"Your enemy. I work with Synchroniety. We're taking your Dad down."

Mickey gave a small chuckle. "You hurt my Dad... and you'll fucking pay," she warned.

"You think you can stop me?"

In a moment of panic and anger, Mickey shot the woman in the head. The woman's body fell to the ground in a pool of blood. "I think I can stop you," Mickey nodded at the dead body.

She soon felt guilt. Then it hit her. She killed someone. Mickey pushed the thought to the back of her mind. Defence. Self defence. Yeah, that's what it was. 

Skye was munching on a bag of Cheetos. As soon as she saw the blood on Mickey's clothes, she panicked. "M-Mickey..?" Skye stuttered. "Wh-what happened...?"

Mickey sighed. "I'd prefer to not think about it..." she said quietly.

She grabbed her gun from her pocket and threw it across the room. "I killed a woman!" she cried. "I... I-I... how am I meant to run a mafia with a heart like this?"

"That's... a question for your Dad."

The phone started to ring. Mickey walked over and answered it. "Hello..?"

"Mickey!" came her Dad's voice. "I know it's only been a few days, but... I'm coming back. The gang insisted I stay with you..."

"I need you Dad, please..."

"I'm about to head home now."

"Be quick..."

"Mickey, what's wrong?"

"I killed someone, Dad..."

"What? Why?"

"She threatened me. You. Everything."

"Your heart's softened over the years. We'll have to fix that."

"You're gonna put me through trauma?!"

"What?! No! I'll be home in an hour. I love you."

"I love you too."

Mickey hung up the phone. "Dad's coming home," she told Skye.

Skye held back her questions about the phone conversation, but not the most important one on her mind. "Will your Dad be okay with me being here?"

"I'm sure... with some convincing...?"

"You didn't sound very sure about that."

"I'm hoping he's okay with it."

"Aren't we both?"

A restless hour went by. Mickey turned off the TV. Skye wasn't very happy, you can't watch The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air on a black screen. But the door opened a moment after. Mike Jones walked in. He froze when he saw Skye. "Hi Mr Jones..." Skye greeted awkwardly.

"Mickey...? You have a friend?" Mike asked. 

Mickey frowned at him. "I've always had friends," she grumbled.

"No, but... from school? Sorry, sorry, that was a bit inconsiderate."

"This is Skye. She's been on the streets, so... I decided to bring her out of the cold."

"Skye... Skye... I recognise your face. Your name... Hawkins?"

"How'd you know?" Skye asked. 

Mike smiled. He chuckled. "Hawkins! You're... you're his... I'll be back."

Mike returned a few minutes later. He had a man with him, a man who looked quite like Skye. Both the man and Skye grinned as soon as they made eye-contact. Skye dropped her Cheetos and ran to the man, embracing him in a hug. "Dad!"

"This is where you disappeared to?" Skye asked.

"Yeah..." her Dad replied. "It was the best way to get money for you and your mother."

"Mom kicked me out as soon as they declared you 'missing'. I've been on the streets for months. But Mickey brought me here, and..."

"Oh... sweetheart..."

The pair hugged again. "Considering there's two of you now, take one of the guest apartments. Can't have you both in with the rest, I think you both deserve your family time," Mike smiled.

"Really?! I'm living here now?!" Skye exclaimed.

"Only the best for my best worker."

"Best worker..?"

"Your Dad has skill."

"Can you train me?! I think I'd look cool with a gun."

"That's not all it takes to be cool, Skye," Mickey giggled.

Mike looked at Mr Hawkins. "Well... the longer you're here, the more likely you are to be attacked," Mike said.

"Wait, will I die here?" Skye frowned.

"No! No, this place is heavily guarded, but just in case..."

"I think we should," Mr Hawkins nodded.

"We just may have to fix the shooting range first..." Mickey mumbled.

"Why?" Mike asked.

"There... may be a few dead bodies down there..."

"Oh..."

"Only one of them was by me, I swear!"

"Mickey, I'm not mad at you. You needed that. We need to have a chat."

"We can leave, Sir," Mr Hawkins said. "Thank you so much. For everything."

"You gotta help a mate out. Call me Mike."

"How can I repay you?"

"Just keep at what you're doing."

Skye and her father left the apartment.

"Now, Mickey... we need to have a discussion about the future of this place."