"Well,"  Isabella smiled.  "Never say never.  I've picked up a few tricks over the years and so far I've had very good luck with these methods, but I'm not going to lie to you, Jace..."

Linval put the table in front of Bella in sight of the man she was going to work on.  She put her case up on the table and opened it up revealing the shine of surgical steel, small vials of various odds and ends, and sharp edges that only the most steadfast man would not be shaken by.

"This isn't going to be pleasant.  I'm afraid some of your very firmly held illusions about what I'm made of, might be tested if you resolve to stay here in the room with me while I work.  I can not, in strongly enough emphasize how much you might want to consider leaving me to do this on my own.  You've done the hard work, getting him here, but I'm capable of handling the next steps alone if you prefer."

She looked to LouisMezzo as well, "That goes for both of you."

Jace watched as Linval got things ready for Isabella and smiled back at her. "I know it's not going to be pleasant but this...all of this....it's my fault and my past I need to know I need answers." 

Jace stared at the man bound and gagged currently angrily at someone who knew more about himself than he did. "No these answers.... I need them I'll stay, I'll help whatever you need. I can't speak for Louis but I'm not going anywhere I'm at your disposal Bella." 

Louis looked at both JaceCorso and Isabella-Luciano.  There had never been any real opportunities for Louis to get information out of people.  There had been that one time on the flight to LA but he wasn't sure he really had the stomach for it at that point.  As he tried to get further from just being a street thug, these were probably the things he needed to get more comfortable with.

It's not really a spectator sport though is it Bella?  I'm happy to stay and help.

Louis started rolling his sleeves up just in case.

Bella nodded and began putting out her instruments, mostly medical in nature but some from a garage, onto the tiny table. 

Then, the lamp and bucket of water were brought out as instructed.  

"Break it, half way up.  Expose the wires."  She instructed Linval as she walked over in front of the captive.  

"Do you know me?"  She asked him.  He didn't immediately respond so she added. 

"You can nod.  If I like your answer, I might remove the gag and ask more friendly questions.  If you don't, we'll just go to work right away."  She watched the man glance at Linval, clearly knowing what the items on the table were for but not yet understanding the lamp.

He nodded yes.

"Good."  She pulled the gag from his mouth.  "Who do you think I am?"

"Byrne."  The man said flatly.  "Bella Byrne.  One of Mezzo's fucking bitches."

Neil did not like Bella being called a bitch and moved to strike the man.  Bella held up a hand to stop her overly protective, if somewhat slow, bodyguard.  

"No... he's right."  Bella stifled a small chuckle.  "I am Mezzo's and I'm pretty sure even my husband would say the title bitch is sometimes deserved.  I'm not always pleasant... but, let's face it.  It's a damn sight better than I used to be before I was married."  Linval offered the broken lamp, which was now little more than a wall plug with a cord that was frayed with wires exposed on the end.

"Nice."  Bella said.  "Plug it in."  

Linval didn't hesitate to obey.  Dante's electrical flickered but a fuse wasn't blown, thankfully.   

"We're likely to go through some fuses tonight Linval.  Please go find spares and stand ready at the fuse box to replace them."

With that, she turned back to the man in the chair.  "Were you aware that Byrne is my married name?"  She continued speaking in a conversational tone as if she didn't have implements of torture laid out all around.

He nodded, clearly beginning to put together what his night was going to be about.

"I'd considered not discussing this with you for fear you might decide that you were a dead man no matter what you did... some guys get tight-lipped at that point.  Hell, many guys hold out for hours hoping their bodies will give out and they can at least die knowing they were loyal to their bosses until the end."

Bella nodded to herself, "But while age has made me slower... less quick to pull a gun in public, and any number of other negative things... it has made my mind sharper.  I've gained so much experience over time and observed the world in ways that the younger me couldn't yet fathom.  So, when I tell you that I am the eldest and last living daughter and protege of Salvatore Luciano,"

Recognition flared behind the man's eyes.  Her father's reputation proceeded him... and therefore, her.  Even beyond the grave Salvatore was still helping her.  And now, the man's legend was larger than life.  The stories of the dead were often more vicious than the realities ever were... and living Salvatore had been pretty damn bad.

"... I am confident that should you try to make a heroic endeavor to die obedient and faithful to your masters... that I can and WILL break you, no matter how long it takes.  And, since I have someone to look after my daughter tonight - my innocent beautiful little girl whose life is in danger because of your boss and his desire to retrieve or punish Mr. Corso, I have days to get the job done."

Bella picked up the bucket of water and very slowly poured it over the man, making sure to get him wet everywhere and to leave a puddle on the cement floor.  The man was already beginning to offer that he'd cooperate.  Corso's working him over before they even got here clearly had been helpful.  He promised to tell her things, make sure she understood that he was a low man on the totem pole and didn't make decisions. 

Bella didn't react, she simply put her bucket down and stared at the man. 

The most important step in this stage was to plant seeds that you were rational, that you might give mercy, and that you had absolutely no trust that anything he had to say was the truth.  Fantasy, hope, and terror all in one tiny neatly wrapped package.  In time he'd cling to the fantasy and the hope... but not yet.  At the moment some small part of him was still convinced he could get away with silence, that he could protect his masters.  That difficult delusion was going to take time to shatter.

"Who do you work for?"  She asked simply knowing the answer before he gave it.

"I can't.  You don't understand..."

She picked up the frayed end of the cord and began the process of introducing her friend to the wonders of Mr. Edison's invention, one broken fuse at a time.  She didn't stop.  She didn't offer him another chance to answer.  She just kept burning him, not letting him know when or if she intended to ever ask a second time.  It was ugly work.  The sort Bella didn't delight in anymore ... perhaps being a mother had made her heart softer?  She tried not to think about it and went on as long as she could endure before she put aside the cord and began to pace the room speaking as if to herself.

"You see, we don't know each other... not really.  You know me only by reputations and so you can't possibly understand who you're dealing with and for that, I'm ever so sorry.  If you and your friends had any idea who you were targeting, I'm sure you would have turned your guns on yourselves or your boss before making the grave error of coming after me and endangering my family."

Bella walked over to the table of implements.  The man began pleading more frantically.  The electricity and burns had softened him considerably and faster without the blood loss that was sure to come from the rest of her work.  It was why she'd opted to use it first.  He would give her a lot now... she might talk to him.  Hope he'd see sense, but he probably was still keenly aware he was going to die tonight.  And dying men came in two sorts, the first was those who became so stubborn they could endure about anything and not give the important bits or the second which either through desire for an end to pain or their own guilt eventually said everything that needed to be said.

Bella put her gun on the implement table.  The silent promise of a quick end to pain.  Then she picked up the pliers.  The man began screaming out his promises to work with her, to tell her everything, as she came towards him, still disinclined to ask her question a second time.  She looked at his fingernails.  Had she ever hesitated to do this before?  Her stomach lurched a bit which surely was new.  For a moment she thought about not doing it and then her father's words came back to her.

'Protect our family.'  

She thought about Aurora and what could have happened if the little girl had been with her that day and suddenly she wasn't so soft anymore.  She gripped the begging man's fingernail with the pliers and pulled.  The man's screams matched up with the images in her head, the ones in her mind where she wailed over a dying child or a tiny coffin that these fuckers might have given her a need to buy.  Before she knew it a second nail came free. 

She stopped at two, hoping the man would not faint.  If he did, they would be a while waiting for him to wake up.  Bella went over to her purse and pulled out a photo of Aurora.  The man would never leave the room and so it was only to increase his understanding really, to ensure he knew without a doubt the true depth of his fuck up and how far and long she was willing and able to go on. 

She showed it to the asshole.  "Beautiful, right?"

The man covered in water, blood, sweat, and snot was shaking like a leaf but managed a nod.  

"The day my guys were killed and your thug jumped me here in Philly she could have been with me... my only child.  The only child I will ever have, that's was what your friends put at risk.  So, understandably I'm quite upset.  And you?  You weren't even fucking here.  You had nothing to do with what happened to me."

He began nodding eagerly.  Hopefully.  That spark of hope, the fantasy that she was rational, returning so fast.

"So as you can imagine the person I really want, the dumb fuck who really should be strapped to this chair, isn't even you!  So... I'm going to leave you with Mr. Corso for a few minutes while I go to the bathroom and get a drink.  And you can either talk to him and let him know everything he wants to know while I'm gone... or I can go back to venting my frustrations against your boss on you.  Think about it.  Okay?"  She put Aurora's photo back into her purse and looked to Jace.

"I'll be back in ten.  If he's not talked by then... I'll show you what I do with the clamps and bone saw."  With that she took her purse and turned to walk up the stairs, followed by her guards, trying to leave behind the images of Aurora dead that she'd dreamed up just to find the strength to brutalized this sorry sack of shit.  

God help me... I'm getting too old, and too soft, for this shit.

Jace stood back not knowing Isabella-Luciano had this side of her but he stood his ground and watched the woman work. He knew he should feel bad or disgusted by what he was witnessing or at least have some pity for the screaming man in front of him, but there was nothing just coldness and anger in Jace's eyes. The young generally shy nervous kid was gone right now, his face an expressionless mask as he took in the site.

After a while of Isabella going at him she turned to leave telling the man Jace was going to......."talk to him" before she came back, Jace wanted answers and revenge he had to make sure to get both and not one at the expense of the other. 

Jace slowly walked over to the man, his face still completely expressionless until he remembered all the times his attackers seemed to mock him for knowing more about his past and life than he did. A quick flash of anger appeared on Jace's face and he punched the man directly in the gut before calming down to speak.

"Alright here's what's going to happen I'm gonna ask you questions, you're going to answer said questions if you don't I am going to make what my friend did to you look like child's play, do you know why? Because she has a family she has stuff to live for and people who depend on her and she needs her humanity for that, I don't, I don't have anything because something on that boat took it from me I am a blank canvas so who gives a fuck if I muck it up a little right?" Jace said this angrily and hopefully convincingly, he meant what he said he just didn't know if he had it in him or the "creativity" of Isabella. At this point this guy knew a lot about him and that he was dangerous from whatever in his past life so he was hoping his reputation would help at least a little bit. When the man didn't answer originally Jace sighed dramatically and moved to get the pliers before the man screamed "OKAY OKAY!!! Ask ask!!" Jace still turned away smiled cruelly before turning back.

"Let's start with a few easy questions, Whats your name? Where are you from? and why were you at Port Louis?" Jace questioned before waiting the man to answer, he looked around hopelessly before speaking. "We don't have names we get a number assigned to us I am designated 17, I was sent from the compound, and I was there to remove any and all information on The Raza and it's crew members of ours." Jace raised an eyebrow at what the man said and then replied. "Compound? I want a name who do you work for and what was the Raza and what crew members of "yours, what were they sent for and what does this have to do with me?!"" The man chuckled finally realizing Jace really had no clue the rumours were completely true. "Ferrous Corp, that's all I know I don't know who runs it but that's the organization and I'm sure YOUR crew mates would be so sad you forgot all about them."

Being mocked again Jace saw red before striking the man several times in the kidneys and various sensitive places, he eventually calmed down and spoke. "Assuming you don't want this worse than it already is I'd suggest you lose the condescending tone and words, what do you mean my crew members and then where the hell did they go and why was I on that ship?" The man was groaning in agony and took time to get his words and breath together. "Fuck you Corso, fine you wanna know the truth? Maybe it'll be funny to break this stupid illusion of a real life you got here right now. You're designated One, you're an enforcer and assassin for Ferrous Corp, the Raza was the chip you and 4 others were sent to go to Chicago and kill a target, the ship was attacked by a rival Corporation I'd assume at some point this happened to all you 5 idiots and by the time you got there your target was dead. Upon Ferrous finding out they were dead we were sent to clean up any loose ends and bring back all agents, you were far to valuable to just lose."

Jace's head was spinning as he took this in, as much as he didn't want to believe any of this a lot it made sense and would explain his combat prowess as well as why no one would talk on the ship and how a mayor would cover up the Raza. There was a pit in his stomach as he asked more. "Where are the others of my "crew" and who was the target? " Once again the man laughed as he knew Jace's little world was about to go upside down. "Well little Corso since you asked so nicely the rest of your crew has been recollected and undergoing...........reconditioning just as you will when we get you and your target? You didn't think it was a coincidence you just happened to have your brothers journal and information with you did you?" Jace looked like he had just been punched in the face. "Wh-What?" The man just stared at Jace "That's right kiddo you were sent to kill your brother Jason Lee Scott, too bad your reunion got cut off short eh?"

The mans words and tone was too much Jace was gone before the giant of a man could let out another fucking chuckle Jace grabbed his gun and shot him clear through the head twice before tossing the gun to the side and wailing away on the corpse while tears streamed down his face....

Bella heard the gunfire and immediately rushed back down the stairs.  "Son of a..." 

Bella came up beside Jace, speaking to LouisMezzo saying, "Get a few guys we're going to need to get this shit cleaned up."

She turned her attention back to JaceCorso saying, "Come on now, come here..."  She literally pulled the man off the dead body and into her own arms in a similar fashion to how she'd handle Aurora. 

"Look at me..."  She let him fall apart for a moment or two before taking his face between her hands, "Whatever he said, whatever it was... just breath.  In your nose, out your mouth.  Calm down and try not to think of anything but your breath.  I don't need you passing out.  In and out.  In and out.  There you go..."

She slowly urged Jace away from the corpse and got him to slowly calm down enough to speak.  "Let's talk.  What did you learn?"

Jace was sobbing into Isabella-Luciano uncontrollably as his hands were covered in blood, the man on the floor now looked completely unrecognizable between the shot at point blank range and Jace's assault afterwards. The kid was hyper-ventilating as he tried to calm down to speak to Bella. 

"I-I'm" Jace breathed in slowly and deeply a few times to try and speak. "I'm apparently one of these people" Gesturing at the body on the floor. "An assassin for something called Ferrous Corp there were 4 others on the ship like me they've been "recollected" for reconditioning, none of this is ringing a bell but I know it's true...he's not lying I could see it in his eyes......I'm a murdering assassin. I wasn't sent here to help Jason or cause I was ready to learn the ropes we......." Jace paused as he looked down and the rage filled him again. "We were sent here to kill him, the attack on the ship that took my memory delayed us by the time we landed Jason was dead and none of us could remember anything even if he wasn't."

Jace turned around and yelled and kicked the corpse again. "Bella I'm a monster whatever I was I agreed to kill my own brother!! They're not going to stop coming for me either apparently the conditioning and training in me is too valuable to lose. What am I gonna do? I can't stay here and endanger everyone?!"

"You're not going anywhere,"  Bella said softly as she comforted Jace.  "That's not how we do things in this city, we don't send people away when shit gets hard and I may not know what you were... but I know who you ARE.  And that's more important than anything else."  She kissed the top of Jace's head in a motherly fashion.

"Take a breath, focus and keep in mind that this shit doesn't know the whole story... he wasn't in your head.  He couldn't know for sure what you were planning to do... you might have had a double cross in mind the whole time or maybe you were a plant on the part of your brother.  I don't know everything in this world but I know for sure that Jason was no slouch and Marie didn't suffer fools.  It's very likely your brother might have known where you were and maybe you were working with him to take down a bigger problem.  Don't let this bloody meat sack tell you who you were or what you were going to do.  He doesn't know you.  He doesn't know shit."

Bella pulled back and looked in his eyes drying his face with her sleeve.

"We're going to get you cleaned up.  We'll talk some more when you're thinking straight and then we'll decide what needs to happen next but whatever it is... you're not facing it alone.  I can promise you that.  Come on now.  I'm sure Will has something you can change into, you can shower in the gym."