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to Aurelia, their faces still, a serene air surrounding them. So we did too, after exchanging a few confused glances with one another.
    “Play your cards right, and you three just might be the youngest inductees into this exclusive society,” Aurelia said. “Everyone in Chicago wants in. People would give their souls to be part of it. You’re very lucky, you know. Come, we’ve much to discuss.”

3. Your New Surroundings
    “So, welcome,” Aurelia announced as we began the official tour, the low pitch of her voice melodic and calming. The Outfit, still surrounding Dante, Lance, and me, swept us along as we followed our leader past the front desk and the grand staircase and straight down the center of the lobby. In our hands now were gift bags brimming with swag: pens, mugs, notepads, postcards, T-shirts, and candies all bearing the hotel’s gold-on-black LH logo. “Today we’ll walk you through what you’ll be doing, show you your accommodations, and get you situated and feeling at home.” She paused, turning to look at each of our faces. Inside the open doorway to our right, I caught a glimpse of walls lined with floord-to-ceiling bookcases and one of those ladders attached to a gold-plated track running along the top near the high ceiling. Stacks of books lined the floor near a fireplace and an emerald-hued velvet sofa.
    “We’re almost in place for our grand opening, but there are still projects to be conquered and we will be depending on you and on the Outfit.” Aurelia gestured to them with a delicate hand. “You will have a privileged look at how this establishment will be run. What will be expected of you? Anything and everything. That’s why you were recruited—we know you’re among the best and brightest. We are proud to have you and hope you will be just as proud to be aiding us.” The register of her voice had hypnotic powers, an ebb and flow that had the effect of a lullaby. Beside her, Lucian watched us, hands in his pockets. His eyes met mine for a second and seared me. I pushed up the sleeves of my shirt and hoped I didn’t look like I was sweating. “Keep in mind we wouldn’t be providing room and board for you if we didn’t expect to be able to call on you occasionally at odd hours, but it will be worth your while. You’ll find that a job well done here will translate into enrichment and success elsewhere. We can open doors.”
    At that last promise, I straightened my back, standing as tall as possible. Now she really had my attention. She seemed to know it too. She held my gaze. I had the feeling she could tell by looking at a person whether or not they would disappoint her.
    She spun back around, heels clicking, off again. We scurried to keep up. “A few things you may or may not know, but that you will need to know. We are a reincarnation of the original Lexington Hotel, and are as respectful and mindful of that history as possible. The legendary Chicago gangster Al Capone once lived here, and we allude to this infamy often, while also trying to brand ourselves as an arbiter of cutting-edge taste and a vanguard in the art, culinary, and nightlife worlds. We intend to be a celebration of both the dangerous and the beautiful, because these are the things that everyone most craves. We are going to be a destination for Chicago natives and visitors alike. We open to the public in mere weeks, on February 14, in honor of the St. Valentine’s Day massacre. I’m sure you know what that was, correct?”
    I knew roughly that it had to do with Capone’s gang killing a bunch of members of a rival gang, but I was too scared to give any detailed answer. I could not bear to be wrong in front of this group. My stomach knotted up. I glanced at my compatriots. We all wore the same in-over-our-head expression. Silence. Aurelia stopped short and turned to us again, shaking her head. “Oh dear,” she chided. “You’re going to need to brush up on your Chicago history, my lambs. You’re