"Just don't shoot the waiter by accident before you get the hang of it, huh?"

Bella shot him a look.

"I'm kidding; it's not loaded. Well, still don't stab anyone."

Leaning back in his seat, he relaxed a little more. Everyone seemed to be getting on well, and Stella seemed to like her gift. He listened to her offer with a growing smile.

"Well, I've never gotten to be royalty before. I'd say we're in."

He stared at Stella, mock seriously.

"As long as you don't get shot this time. No one gets shot. Well, no one good. That's my only condition."

He grinned as he called the waiter over for more wine, then gestured in Stella's direction.

"I'll have a glass of whatever she orders for me."

"You know, we were married in Paris."  She said to Stella.  "But I've yet to find a French wine I like so much as those from the vineyards of the Old Country.  So, I had all the wine imported from Italy.  If I had realized that Gavin had a contact in the wine business, I would have used your services."

She playfully nudged Gavin who had done very little when it came to planning the wedding aside from drink and eat all the samples she put in front of him for input.

"As for your vacation offer, I've always wanted to ride a horse so that part excites me to no end.  Every since I was a little girl, but I've never been nearer to one than a race track to bet on them."  She chuckled.  "I don't suppose you have some half-dead old nag for me saddle up and pretend I know what I'm doing on?  I somehow doubt horses will be as easy to direct as cars are to drive?"

Gavin grinned sheepishly, but he didn't regret not involving Stella in the wedding. A few years ago had been closer to when they were together, and while he and Stella had parted as friends, he felt no need to invite anyone he'd been involved with to the wedding. He cared for Stella, and he didn't want to see her hurt- physically or emotionally.

Noticing how Elise's eyes were wandering through the club and not wanting her to feel left out, Gavin smiled at her and got her attention.

"Excited to dance, Elise?"

Smiling broadly, a waiter emerged to take their order for dinner.

"Gavin, don't be a wet blanket... ask the girl.  Stella and I can use the time to have some girl talk.  I've been dying to ask her some questions about your past and get all the juicy details about the sort of trouble you were up to before you met me."

She was actually laughing.  She really meant it.  Maybe it was seeing Stella with another woman and thinking there was no chance of losing Gavin to her - or maybe things really had changed in her mind and she didn't fear Gavin being stolen away anymore.  She prayed for the later.

"What do you say, Elise ... would you like to borrow my husband for a spin so I can pick Stella's brain without my husband hear to shut us up?"  she laughed.

Gavin mock-glared at Bella.

"I've never been a wet blanket in my entire life, darling. Once we ate something, I was going to be a good host and ask; after all, Stella has a weapon now to keep me in line. Not that I need it, since I'm a reformed old man now."

He grinned.

"I just thought I'd ask Elise about dancing to see what she liked."

Bella looked at Gavin with a fond smile as he spoke but when he finished she questioned his own self-analysis.  "Reformed?" 

Under the table she put her foot alongside her husbands.  Touching.  Not moving.  

"Maybe we should just split the difference and say 'in recovery' so we don't risk looking like liars should this night take a crazy left turn."  She shakes her head.  "I doubt sincerely that anyone who has known you for as long as Stella has, really thinks the Wolf has changed into a lamb.  You've just found a spot of sun you enjoy lazing in from time to time and so you have less reason to chase after trouble so often."

Her fond smile grew into a devilish smirk, "Granted, we always do seem to know where to find trouble when we want to."

At the risk of encouraging him, Bella gave her husband a playful wink.  Clearly, she was in a good mood tonight.

Genuinely smiling at the playful banter between Gavin and Bella, Stella turned to the waiter and ordered an unoaked Chardonnay for everyone to enjoy before dinner. When he walked away, Stella turned to Elise.

"You really should have a go around the dance floor with Gavin after dinner. You two can gossip while Isabella and I do the same. Besides, I've probably only got one dance in me, and you should save the best for last."

Stella lifted Elise's hand and kissed it gently on the top, then turned her attention back to Isabella.

"If you've never ridden a horse before, I've got exactly the horse for you.  She's a pretty filly named Soniareece- very gentle and rides like she's floating on air. I'll teach you myself! I'm so excited that you two like the idea.  The first villa is already prepared.  It's actually a remodeled house that I lived in when I first came to Sicily."

She cast a brief glace at Gavin, hoping that the mention of the early days of her residency in Sicily didn't touch raw nerves.  But, given his light joke earlier, she wanted to assume that he was well with it.  She hoped he was, anyway; as she never once blamed him for what happened.

Elise seemed quiet; perhaps she was just distracted? Perhaps the socialite saw something here that had commanded her rapt attention, whether it was the club itself, the people, their behaviors, or something. Gavin chuckled as Stella mentioned a "filly". Fillies were... girl horses? Shit, that'd be a good name for a club in the business district: Fillies. Sounded like a strip club, actually.

Gavin glanced at his wife, wondering her reaction if he told her he had a great plan for a strip club. Knowing her, she'd probably go along with it... nah, running a strip club would be... a bit too intense. Maybe just a bar... not a fancy place like this, but a nice little dive. Fillies. Female bartenders? More possible... but still not quite a good fit.

He smiled, bringing his focus back to the present, as Stella mentioned the vineyard.

"I'm looking forward to visiting it again under happier circumstances."

"It sounds perfect.  I can't wait to try my hand at horseback riding.  I use to have a wooden stick hobby horse that I'd run around with between my legs when I was just a bit younger than Aurora actually." 

Bella's face lit up and her mouth dropped open as she scrambled for her purse and photos of her little girl.  Bella handed out photos of Aurora from the age of nearly one to her current age of six.

"Our little girl, Aurora.  She's with a sitter tonight of course, but she's... everything."  She smiled at Gavin and then looked back to the photos.  "Just like her father really.  Spends most her days getting scrapped up knees and fighting bullies in the schoolyard and she's managed to pick up half-a-dozen cuss words already from Gavin's friends."

She shook her head, "But she's smart as Tara, a real head for numbers.  You should see her doing math.  And she dances ballet like a dream.  I've never seen anything more beautiful than her in those little dance shoes and a tutu.  I think I have a photo of her in that... yep... right here."

Bella handed out the photo of Aurora at a dance recital being held up by Gavin.  

Stella nearly squealed with delight as she carefully took the photos from Isabella and looked them over.

"My goodness, she's absolutely breath-taking. Look at that smile!"

Elise glanced at the photo that was handed to her and gave a polite smile.

"She is a true beauty, Signora Byrne."

She handed the photo to Stella and stood.

"Please excuse me, I need to use the restroom."

Nodding politely to the table, she disappeared into the dim light and crowded club.  Stella's eyes followed her for a few moments, then she passed the pictures back to Bella.

"You'll have to excuse her.  My life is a bit more calm and...well...boring than what Elise is used to.  She's 24, and still very much a 'party girl.'  I suspect she's taken a liking to opium, as I found a vial in her purse once. Gavin, you'd recognize the signs of that more than I would though. It's like I told Tara, though; Elise is a good time, but probably not a long time."

Dropping that subject like a rock into a stream, she cleared her throat as the wine was brought to the table and served.

"What about you, Isabella? I know that you're a terribly busy working woman on top of being a mother; but what do you enjoy doing when you have time to yourself?"

"Well, I'm rather fond of drawing portraits.  I mean, I can do scenes and I've certainly got a few in my portfolio but it's people I enjoy drawing most.  Charcoals and pencils are my favorite medium.  I don't let many people see my work, really it's a private passion, but there are a few of my works floating about."

Gavin began to snicker and Bella gave him a look before she continued, "Like Tara I share a love of my work... maybe not quite as much as she does, but business is in my blood I think.  I've got a club like this one in Detroit, I own shares in Lakeshore Rail which runs New York to Chicago, and then there's my ladies club out in Las Vegas which... I fear I haven't given any attention the way I should.  I really should sell it but I just can't bring myself to do it.  Anyway... work doesn't always feel like work and when it does start to feel a burden, Gavin here rescues me."

She smiled at Gavin.

"I like to travel and see new places.  Reading, of course.  And I do enjoy a good glass of wine so I'm eternally in search of the perfect glass which is part of what appeals to me about visiting your home!"  She chuckled.

"Oh!  And also I like motoring.  There's just something about driving an automobile fast that... well, thrills me.  I do like dancing when I can drag my favorite partner out onto the floor.  He's not bad at it... but he's a far better gambler which, I fear, I have nearly zero real talent for.  No luck to speak of outside of landing him in my life at least."

"What about you?  Got any hobbies outside of your work?"

Gavin beamed as Stella looked at the photos of Aurora. He listened as Stella talked about Elise, but thought it best to simply nod understandingly; that, perhaps, could be a private conversation another day. Gavin chuckled slightly as Bella talked about private portraits, content to sip his wine and listen to Stella's response.

Sitting back comfortably in her chair, Stella reached out and took her wine glass. With a gentle swirl, she released the aroma of the wine and lightly inhaled.

"To be quite honest with you, I have found it quite difficult to separate my work from my hobbies. Learning all there is to know about growing grapes and producing wine is something of a lifetime hobby. Truly, you never stop learning."

A contented smile crossed her lips as she continued.

"Horses are my other passion. I'd just begun riding when I moved to Sicily. With a little help from Papa Marco and some expert crafters, I am able to keep riding. I've gone from having three horses to owning eleven. At the end of a business day, nothing makes me happier than spending time in the stables."

At that moment, Elise returned to the table.  Stella gave her a smile and reached out her hand.

"Well, almost nothing."

The young woman giggled and ran her finger through Stella's hair. Elise's cheeks were a little rosier than they had been when she left them. She sat in her seat with her evening bag in her lap and took a drink of the wine.

"This dancing club is unlike any I have seen before. It is beautiful, but not so stuffy and haughty as the ones in Europe. You Americans have so much fun!  I like this much better."

The waiter returned to take the dinner orders. After explaining the specials for the evening, Stella looked to Gavin.

"I may be the sommelier, but I believe Gavin is the foodie here. Why don't you order for us?"

"You know what..."  Bella slid from her seat.  "I'm going to take a trip to the powder room myself.  Will you all excuse me please?"  

Bella stood up and walked towards the bathroom, taking only a moment to whisper something to the female bodyguard Kassandra before disappearing into the ladies room.

Gavin flashed a confident-looking grin when it came to dinner.

"Foodie"? Maybe not so much... but... yea, why the hell not? With the confidence of a man who loves food, knows nothing, and has the utmost confidence in himself without caring if he looks foolish, Gavin flagged down a waiter.

"Hey! You! Yea. We're ready. Okay... yea you're going to want a pen for this. We're going to get four things. One of them should be vegetarian. Eggplant? Some sauce? Mushrooms? Something like that. The second dish should be fish. Maybe... salmon... with some of those little leaves to make it look fancy... and some green stuff to eat near it. The third dish should be chicken; cheese should be involved. Very involved. And the last dish should be a steak. Medium-rare. Mashed potatoes."

He clapped the menu shut with authority as the waiter scribbled frantically. 

"Uh... and sir... which dish will be for which guest this evening?"

Gavin shrugged before replying.

"We're going to figure that out after."

Stella laughed as the waiter walked away from the table looking somewhat bemused.

"Gavin, I like your style. We'll do things Italian-style and all have a bit of everything. Perfect for dinner among friends."

This outing was going along swimmingly, really.  Any nerves she'd had about meeting Isabella were far gone. Everyone seemed to be having a good time, and Stella felt very much at home. Again, the voice in the back of her head was chiming in. "Philly can be your home, too, you know." 

The thought was coming more and more frequently, and Stella really couldn't shake it; but now wasn't the time for such complicated thoughts. Instead, she tried to get Elise a bit more involved in the conversation.

"You know, Gavin and Isabella were married in Paris. I hear the event rivaled any royal wedding that ever took place. You spent some time in Paris, didn't you?"

Nodding, Elise immediately began chatting about her travels with her family. Private tours of the Louvre, days on the Riviera, yachting with the Prime Minister. Stella just sat back and listened, a bit of a smile on her face. If anything, Elise very much enjoyed talking about herself, and her money.

Bella pushed on the bathroom door and found it locked.  She quietly cursed and walked over to the manager.

"Mrs. Byrne?  What can I -"

"Keys to the ladies room."

"Right away Ma'am."

Bella watched the bathroom door, worried the persons inside might leave before she got there with the key, but that didn't happen.  Instead,

Bella found herself unlocking the bathroom door and going in to find two women quickly trying to hide their party - laughing.

"I hope you brought enough for everyone."  Bella smirked and locked the door behind her.

"Enough.  You want a bump?  We'll fix you up on the cheap."  The brunette seemed to be the supplier, she wasn't totally gone.

"Yeah, we're all friends here."  The blonde, on the other hand, was blitzed.

Bella shook her head and said, "No.  You're not friends of mine.  Friends don't come into my home and sell poison to people I care about."   The brunette had the good sense to realize she was in trouble.  Real trouble.  "No... we're not all friends here.  Some of us are family and in my city, I always get The Family discount."

"Look ... we don't want no trouble."  The brunette said trying to close up her container and shut shit down, trying not to let Bella out of her sight.

The blonde giggled, her cheeks red like Elise's.

"The girl who was just in here, the Italian, what did she take?"

"It's no big deal, sweetie," The blonde came towards Bella, maybe to hug her?  Bella reached out and threw the woman into a bathroom stall door - hard.

"WHAT did you give her?"  Bella said still staring down the brunette.

"Cocaine."  She said quickly.  "Just a bump... nothing really."

Bella's nostrils flared.  "You cut it with anything?"

"What?"

Bella winced.  The girl didn't know shit about the product she was moving which meant she worked for someone else!

"Who's your supplier?"

The brunette looked terrified and began to explain, "I can't tell you that.  I mean ... he'd kill me."

The blonde began crying on the floor wrapped around the toilet.

"He won't get a chance if you don't fucking tell me what I want to know.  WHO IS YOUR SUPPLIER?!?"

She shook her head 'no' and Bella saw red.  She rushed the woman grabbing her by the throat and backing her into the far wall as hard as she could, squeezing and digging her long lacquered fingernails into the woman's flesh. 

From seemingly nowhere the blonde was up, out of the stall and grabbing a fist of Bella's hair pulling as hard as she could.  Bella barely stifled a cry of pain.  

Big mistake.

Bella dropped the brunette who went to the ground holding her bleeding throat, spun around and sucker punched the blonde in the face like she was William 'Fucking' Bowden.  The blonde went down.  The brunette made a run for the still locked door, her heel breaking, she went down hard onto the bathroom tiles.  

Bella lept onto the woman and covered her mouth stopping her from screaming.  Her hair was now a mess and her nylon had a run in it.  This bitch had ensured it would be VERY difficult to make a casual return to her husband's guests.  She growled the words and the knife from her garter came free and she put it near the woman's eye to let her know just how serious this had really gotten.

"I don't want to kill you... I really, REALLY, don't.  My husband is good at hiding bodies, but we're TRYING to have a nice dinner with friends from out of the country and I don't want to put him out like that but I WILL if you force me to.  Do you understand me?  You AREN'T who I'm mad at here.  This neighborhood doesn't belong to your supplier... he's fucked up... he's not going to have a chance to hurt you because I'm going to hurt him - A LOT!  All I need is a name.  If you don't give me a name I got two choices..."

She put the flat of the knife firmly against the woman's skin.  "The first is I slit you open and leave you to bleed out into that floor drain over there.  I put up a sign on the way out that says out of order.  Then I pretend nothing happened and go back to my dinner with my friends.  The second option is that I let you walk out of here and I make sure everyone in this damn city knows you are the reason that every mobster in Philly is searching for your supplier and HE finds you.  Either way... you die and I get to go back and I enjoy my dinner confident this is done."

She took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, "Or... you tell me who supplies you and you leave town for a week.  By the time you return, your supplier isn't a problem for you or me ever again and you NEVER sell in South Philly if you value your life.  NEVER.  Do all the drugs you want, kill yourself with them if you like, but you do not sell here again or our next chat won't be so nice.  NOW ... for the last time:  Who is your supplier?"

She moved her hand away and the woman very quietly said, "Enzo... a guy named Enzo.  I met him at a speakeasy out of the back of the drugstore.  A little place on third here in South Philly."

Bella nods and stands up off the woman.  

"A woman is going to come in here.  She's a lot more scary than I am.  You do what she says.  You do not talk to anyone.  You get out of town for a week and I NEVER see you selling in South Philly again.  Yes?"

The brunette nodded.

Bella walked over to the mirror and looked at her hair.  Her updo was a total loss.  She sighed.  She took her hair down and shook it out.  She tried to make it look as if she meant it to be this way - a sorta 'just woke up' or 'just had sex' look.  It wasn't the impression she wanted to give Stella but she had little choices now.

The brunette checked on the bleeding blonde while Bella examined the run in her stocking.  It was hopeless and so she slipped out of her shoes and took them off, shoving them into her purse. 

She sighed. 

Now how did she look?  No stockings and just got laid hair... 

Christ, I look like I'm trying to seduce Gavin not have a dinner party with his old friend!

She wanted to cry or to shoot the woman... but neither was a great option right now.  The blonde was coming to.  Bella had to get back to her new friends.  Stepping out of the bathroom she found Kassandra already waiting - standing guard.

The Grecian goddess arched an eyebrow in a way that reminded her of Neil.

Bella spoke softly, "Two inside.  Clean them up, take their names and home addresses.  Get any product they are carrying off them and then get them into a cab.  Pay the cabbie to take them where-ever they wanna go.  Remind them to never move product in South Philly again."

Kassandra nodded and went into the bathroom.  This was not what the woman was hired for.  She knew that the bonus would be a sizable one.  With that Bella returned to the table and slid beside Gavin, failing to have noticed her scraped knuckles on her business hand until she was seated.  The moment she realized she carefully put it under the table to keep it from being a major point of discussion.

The table was filled with a ridiculous amount of... 

Is this dinner?  What the actual fuck did I just come back to?

Bella looked to Gavin, "Sorry I took so long... um... which one is mine?"

Without looking up from the prime rib nearest her, Stella began.

"I let Gavin order for the table. Besides the amount of food that showed up, the actual ordering was enteraini-"

Her words trailed off as she looked up to Isabella, whose appearance had changed markedly since she'd gone to the restroom. Stella, sensing something amiss, sat up a bit and glanced at Gavin briefly.

"Is everything...alright?"

Gavin chewed a mouthful of steak and nodded confidently.

"Definitely. She'd tell you if it wasn't."

Gavin winked at his wife. He was... not concerned- he trusted Bella to handle her own business. Curious? He smiled reassuringly at Stella and Elise.

"And you can have whatever you'd like, dear. Steak? Chicken and cheese? Vegetables and creamy sauce? Fish and green stuff?"

He smirked.

"We got a little of everything."

Bella nodded in agreement with Gavin.  "Came across some business information that I'll need to talk to Tara about tomorrow.  Nothing that has to be dealt with immediately."

She put her hand on Gavin's thigh under the table.  

"Just a good excuse to let my hair down a little."  She made a joke of her hair emergency and then looked back to the food.

"Fish with green stuff?  Is that what we're calling it on the menu?  If so I may need to ask Heston to come talk to our chef." 

She chuckled and looked to Stella, "So where are you staying while you're in town?"