Billy nodded.

"It makes sense to me. I have no idea how I can stat that conversation, but you're right. That's the way it should be done. Bella invited me here Don to Don to thank me for what I did for her family. She even asked me why I didn't come asking to date you like I should have. To be fair, we went on two total dates, and neither of them I knew about until they happened. That's why. Yeah, that makes sense."

Billy looked back to the side table down the hall.

"So, you mentioned m1911s. You wanna talk about that now, or later?"

Aurora glanced at the kitchen.  "I suppose we have a minute." 

With that, she walked back into the den.  The giant moose seemed to watch you no matter where you stood but Aurora ignored it utterly.  She walked directly to a painting on the wall of white flowers in a forest glade and pulled it away from the wall like someone opening a door.  This revealed a combination lock.  With speed and precision, Aurora put in the numbers and then pulled open the door.

Inside there was cash, a good deal of it.  There were some bags full of what might be jewelry, some papers, and a box not too different from the black one which held the pair of guns which Bella had given Billy.  Once out, Aurora closed the safe and put the picture back in its spot.  She opened the gold latch and on a bed or red velvet rested two nickel plated m1911s, with mother of pearl handles.  Like the black guns, they bore the Luciano crest featuring three fish.

"These are mine."  She said softly.  "Mom uses them mostly though because their purpose is to protect the family & my dad won't use them anymore.  I get the feeling my dad never really could forgive Salvatore for what he did to Marie.  My dad cared a lot about her.  Besides... the guns are something of a family heirloom... Salvatore had left them for mom after he killed Marie and your Dad."  

There.  She'd said it out loud.  She wondered now why she felt it would be so hard before.

"I know the black guns look like these and that he always had them... I never thought about it much before because it wasn't important.  I figured he must have had a new set made when he gave mom the others.  Now, however, seeing that you had them... I think maybe there was more to them than I realized."  

Aurora closed the box and then looked up from the case holding her guns, "Did he use those guns to do it?  Is that why mom gave them to you?  I'm not upset.  I don't... care, not really.  I just... I'd like to know."

Billy nodded slowly.

"Except that she didn't give them to me. I took them in a way."

He took a deep breath, this was not quite as hard as he thought it would be.

"He used them to kill, and your mom didn't want them, she said she couldn't give them to anyone in the family, and she offered to melt them down. But I told her I was taking them. They still have a purpose. Knowing what very little I know about Salvatore, if he had those made, they are of the finest quality. if he used them, they are well maintained, and accurate. And there's no reason to throw them away when they can be used for good just as easily as they were used for evil. Guns don't make the man, they are just a tool to carry out the will of the one who holds them. And I intend to hold them differently, I am a different sort of man."

He laid it bar for her. Those were his guns now, and if anyone else wanted them, they were going to have to kill him for them. He was going to take them with the crest and everything to remind him every day of what family means. It means sacrifice, and hardship, and loss. It means having to pull the trigger even when you don't want to. Billy never wanted to. he had a feeling those guns would make it just a little easier, and that's what he needed.

She stepped nearer to him and spoke softly, so Will could not hear if he did happen to be spying as he so often was.  "If I had any doubts before, they're gone now."

Her amber eyes held onto his for a long moment.

"When my mother met my father... she was grieving like you are now."  She said softly.  "She told me that my dad and my Uncle William saved her life.  They saved her from the grief that was eating her from the inside out."

She began to put the guns back.  "How strange is it that you're muscle made good just like both of my fathers were.  That you're from New York like my mom was.  You were raised by your mother and your father was in the mob... just like my mom.  You're mourning someone you loved and our relationship is helping you cope... just like my father helped my mother."

She closed the safe back up once the guns were safely inside and turned back to Billy.

"I don't believe in fate... but, even I have to admit there's quite a bit of coincidence happening here."  she smiled and asked him quietly.  "Will you kiss me once more?  For luck?  Then we can go toss the dice with my father and see where that gets us?  Maybe you can just... talk to him until you find an in and ... then, when you do, let it come up naturally?"

Billy smiled and stepped close to Aurora, gently sliding his arms around her he leaned in and stopped just shy of touching her lips with his own.

"For luck huh?"

He closed the rest of the gap and held her as their breath and lips mingled in the air. if she felt anything like he did in that moment her skin was awake with a fiery fury seething just below the surface. He held her there for just long enough that he didn't want to stop. Which told him it was time.

"My dear Aurora Byrne. If there is one thing I have learned it's that I don't lose when I toss the dice."

He did not smile then, he let his lips curl, but it was more mischievous than smiling.

"I'll do everything in my power, and I will talk to Gavin, but you need to play your part too and stay calm around your mother. I know the kind of temper you all have in this house, or at least, I know the stories. Can you keep calm?"

He let his hand slip to the small of her back, but no further. She did not want to think poorly of him, and then he had an idea. His hand moved to her hip, and his other slid up her arm to take her other hand. Then, without any music but that of the music in his head, Billy began to lead and Aurora flowed into her dance like he knew she could.

Aurora spun outward, away from Billy in a twirl and that familiar sensation came over her - a sense of freedom.  With every foot put down on the floor she forgot more and more about the twin sets of guns, the choice of in or out, the dragon's rage, the consequences of playing the Wolf card, poor dead Kenzi, her murderous and beloved Salvatore, or even the dinner waiting for them just a few rooms away.  There was only the motion, the feelings, and Billy. 

She could hear the music in her mind as clearly as if someone had turned on a record player and despite the lack of actual sound, her partner never took a misstep, he was in perfect time with her.  He lifted her, spun her, moved her with the greatest of ease; she found the dance even more effortless than it had ever been before. 

By the time they were nearly done, they'd gone through several dance types seamlessly and fallen into the Tango once again. She was barely aware of the increased tempo they moving at, her eyes closed she let her mind drift into a sublime abyss of feelings - trusting him completely to lead the way.  Detroit had been a pale imitation of this, true test of their limits.  This was perhaps the most amazing performance of her entire life and Aurora had no doubt in her mind that the former enforcer was every bit her equal in grace and skill.

The dance finally came to an end with her wrapped tight in Billy's arms, rising up to meet his lips, eyes closing in anticipation of a kiss. 

To the best of Aurora's knowledge, there were three floor boards in the hall leading to the den that were loose.  The odds of stepping on one if you didn't know where they were at, were fairly good.  Two?  Maybe.  Three?  No way in hell - especially if you're a master of stealth such as her father Gavin Byrne was. 

When the second board complained loudly, she was sure it was his throat she heard clearing and so she disengaged from Billy's arms just in time to not be seen in a romantic embrace.  Though, she wondered if he thought something unspeakable was happening none the less.  After all, they were both flushed and still catching their breath and Aurora couldn't wipe the smile from her face.

"Dinner's ready.  Hope you're both hungry... Bella cooks like a ninety-year-old Sicilian grandmother when she's in a mood."  He chuckled, "And something has her scaly tail in knots.  Come on."  With that, Gavin turned away from the young lovers and began walking towards the dining room giving no indication of whether or not he saw or knew what they were up to only moments ago.

The scent of dinner was heavenly.  Bella had a gift for art, but cooking had become a passion over the years as well.  She'd had the sauces resting overnight in the fridge, the pasta had been made fresh from scratch, the three different flavors of cannoli were to die for.  William was hovering over the pots and pans on the table like a man preparing for his last meal.  Bella looked at the three newcomers to the dining room and smiled.

"There you are.  Take a seat.  Billy, do you say grace?  Gavin and the kids don't usually pray with me, but they're kind enough to be silent while I do."

"Can I have cannoli first?"  Will asked. 

"Absolutely not."  Bella said.  "You'll try some pasta first.  Those mushrooms alone cost more than the dishes we're eating them on."

Will threw out to Billy conspiratorially, "The strawberry cannoli are best.  Be sure to get one before my dad hits the plate or there won't be any left."

Billy nodded.

"Only in company, but I never forget it."

He lowered his head and began quietly and to himself,

"Benedic, Domine, nos et dona tua, quae de largitate tua sumus sumpturi, et concede, ut illis salubriter nutriti tibi debitum obsequium praestare valeamus, per Christum Dominum nostrum."

He looked around the table and realized that this is exactly what he wanted, good food to be sure, but family. Just a family that could sit around a table and have a meal. He only had it a few times in his life that he could remember, and every one of those memories was wonderful and he cherished them deeply.

"Thank you all for having me as your guest this evening. Bella, this looks delicious, much better than pizza."

He couldn't help but smile. A smile that went far beyond his customary grin. It was the smile of a happy man, one who was not simply satisfied or trying to please others.

He waited patiently then for the others to begin taking their food. He wasn't entirely sure how traditional this family got. Whenever he had gone to his Nonna's house, none of the men were even allowed to serve themselves. She would have smacked them with her spoon if they tried. He did not want to take that chance. It was likely Bella had a gun closer than she had a spoon.

That is when he turned to eye up the pasta himself. He always had a weakness for pasta. He swore that he couldn't have been born anything but Italian if for no other reason than his love of pasta.

“I made the mistake once of bringing pizza home. I never made the mistake again.” Said Gavin.

“Oh it wasn’t that bad. I just let you know that we can do better than takeout pizza. And I think I’ve done pretty well to keep my promise after all these years.”  Bella chuckled, swatting William’s hand when he started for the main dish before his sister.   Once the ladies had been served, she once again slapped Will’s hand as he tried to reach for it.

“What!?!”

”Guest first young man! I know I raised you better than that!”

”Mom it’s smells amazing, we all know what a great cook you are and I’ve been waiting all day you haven’t let me eat anything!  I’m starving to death!”  

“Apologize to Billy.”  Gavin instructed making Bella nod in satisfaction.

“Sorry that you have to watch me waste away, Billy.”

Aurora laughed. Gavin shook his head and Bella cuffed her son on the back of the head gently.

”I would’ve hit you harder but you’re right I do make good food.”  Bella passed the dish to her son finally.  “So what’s this about a poker game in town I’d hear about tonight?”

”Low stakes game, couple of the guys from the docks.  Nothing too serious or dangerous.  In fact I even promised Will that I would take him. The invite is open to Billy if he like to join us. But I understand if he would rather spend some time with Aurora. Or you, if that’s what he would like, he is our guest after all.”

Isabella looked to Billy and asked, “so are you thinking you’re going to join the boys for poker tonight or will you be sticking around here with me and Aurora?”

Billy was halfway through a bite of pasta in the very moment that the question was leveled at him. Not to be rude he tried to finish the bite and wound up slurping the pasta just a bit. Well. Everyone knew he was a big eater. He would have to shrug it off.

"Actually, I was thinking about possibly joining the fellas tonight. I know things have been relatively tense lately and I'm hoping we can all maybe relax for one night and God knows I can't pass up an opportunity for some gambling."

Billy looked to Gavin then.

"Of course, that's if you'll still have me. I also might ask if I could borrow, or purchase something from you, but we can discuss that away from the table as it's business related."

Billy continued his meal and tried to make subtle eye contact with Rora to assure her that he would be ok without her. More importantly to remind her to be calm with her mother tonight. Everything hinged on both of them doing their parts with equal skill and precision tonight. Lucky for Billy, skill and precision menat just being honest.

Dinner wrapped up without incident and by the time Billy, Gavin, and William were grabbing coats to head out - Aurora and Isabella were clearing the table and already chatting about her life at Vassar and whether or not she should look into a new apartment.  

Gavin kissed his wife & daughter on the cheek, William said a quick goodbye to his mom before dashing out to the garage ahead of him.  A second car prepared to leave - bodyguards.  They didn't ride with the Byrnes and Billy, but followed instead.

"Can I practice driving?"  Will asked his dad as they were reaching the car.  Gavin looked fixed to say 'no' but then hesitated and gave a nod tossing the boy the keys.

"No speeding, Hotrod." He cautioned his son.

"I'm hurt Dad, we both know that I'm the only bastion of law-abiding goodness in this devils debauchery we call a family."  He chuckled. 

Gavin rolled his eyes at his smart-ass son.

"Well, 'bastion' thanks for the heads up about the poker game."

"I live to serve.  Besides, no one wants to see what mom would have done to Billy if she had a whole night to get worked up talking to him.  I'm sorry, Friend," he said to Billy, "You got no chance making mom see sense right now.  When she gets an idea in her head she locks her jaws and shakes for no good reason until she's damn good and ready to let it go."  

Gavin shot William a glare, either because of his language or the insult about his mother, it wasn't clear which.  Then the car roared to life.  Gavin had sat in the passenger seat allowing Billy to take the back for himself.

"How DID you hear about the poker game?"  Gavin asked William.

"Ciri."  He said pulling out onto the street.  "I don't think she's gonna go but Felix and Floyd will be and if I don't go Floyd is sure to get in over his head.  So it was either sneak out or get you to take me.  Billy showing up made the choice really easy."

"You know how your mom worries when you sneak out."

"I do.  Which is why I preferred doing it this way, but after the laundromat incident..."

Gavin nodded to his son's words.  Whatever the laundromat incident was, clearly both of them agreed on its serious nature.

"Well, back to Ciri a moment... if you think your sister has headaches over her relationships..."

Will shrugged, turning on a street that led back out of the woods and into the city itself.  "I'm an absolute gentleman.  I'd never put moves on one of mom's enforcers."

Gavin shook his head, smirking, clearly proud of his son, if amused at his mischief.  "So she's the aggressor, is that it?"

Will gave a smirk that matched his father's precisely.  "I prefer to think of her as a professor of physical education as to an aggressor."

"Well, I'd put the brakes on a bit.  There's a whole section of the club dedicated to the bodies of your sister's bodyguards and I'm running out of room.  Besides, I like Ciri.  If I have to start throwing people out there for stealing kisses from you, Louis is going to start noticing."

Will rolled his eyes at his father's obvious exaggeration but got his point giving a little nod.  "You got siblings Billy?"  The young teen asked.

Billy winced, but reluctantly nodded. It was still sore to think about it.

"Only the one now, and by choice, not by blood."

He could only imagine how Integra was holding up knowing that she could not be here with him so shortly after everything had happened.

"I do have to thank you for getting me out for a few hours. I can't think of anything I would rather be doing right now than giving away some cash. Poker was never my strong suit, anything to do with dice though. You'll never tear me away.

Billy smiled into the rear view mirror and then lowered his gaze at Gavin.

"Before I leave, I am going to need to either send someone, or fetch for myself over the shoulder holsters for a pair of gifts. That's what I wanted to mention. So if you happen to know somewhere, please, let me know."

Billy sat back in the seat again as William made a turn slightly too fast and too sharp. The kid was good at driving, if a little aggressive.

"Then later or maybe tomorrow, depending on our state when we get back, we can share another cigar. I won't lie, I very much enjoyed the silence of the patio when I was able to steal some with you Gavin."

"I enjoyed it too."  He admitted.  "And as for the holster ... I have a spare that I'd be willing to part with.  You can pay me for it by leaving me another one of those cigars.  I enjoyed it a bit more than I expected and Bella liked how they smelled so I think I'd like to share one with her."

Will made a noise which suggested the idea of his mom smelling his dad was gross.  "Yeah well, that's all good but if you want to lose money tonight Billy... maybe you could do it at my buddy Floyd's table.  He could use the cash."

Gavin made a noise which meant he agreed but also suggested that Gavin thought the boy could use a good many things beyond money.

"He's a nice, just doesn't always make the best choices, but whenever I'm in a pinch I know it's him I can trust most.  He's never let me down."

Will drove the car down into the warehouse district of the docks and pulled up to the curb near a building that had some muscle standing outside.  It was an unassuming place and the three nearest streetlights were knocked out so it was quite dark here.  Few people would be able to make out the facial features of those coming and going from any distance.

Gavin and Will got out of the car and were quickly shadowed by two goons who worked for the Byrne family.  Both men seemed to ignore the presence of the bodyguards utterly as they approached the door.  The muscle at the door, Billy noticed, instantly stood straighter upon seeing the silver of Gavin's hair.  Even in this dark part of town, it stood out like a flag in the dark.  There was no mistaking Gavin Byrne for any other man in all Philly.

The wolf straightened his jacket and as he and Will strode towards the door, Billy would easily see that Will carried himself in the very same way his father did.  It was almost a strut, like a graceful cat crossing the courtyard of a great castle.  There was a swagger to it, confidence, and to both Byrne men, it seemed to come naturally.

The goon at the door opened it, quietly saying, "Welcome Don Byrne.  I hope your wife and daughter are well?"

Gavin slipped the doorman a folded bill from his jacket pocket.  "Both doing well, Gates, good to see you tonight.  Any trouble?"

Gates shook his head, "No trouble yet."

"Yet?"  Gavin hesitated rather than walking in as was clearly his intention.

"Heard a rumor that Durden has a few boys in town.  Heard it's the Lurves gang.  Rabble-rousing assholes.  Doubt they'll know about this place, but if they catch wind of it - I suppose it's possible they may come by.  Oh and Victor Peel is here."

Will made a noise at the mention of Peel that sounded excited.  And while Gavin's mood soured at the mention of Durdens, he smirked at the mention of this Victor Peel.  He looked to Billy, "Peel runs one of the best dice games in all Philly.  Looks like you might get to shake some bones after all."

Gavin looked to his guys, "Perimeter.  I want to know before any of the Lurves people get to the door."

"Sir."  Both men responded and walked off to set up a watch.

Gavin looked to William, "If I say to bolt..."

"I'll already be running."  William agreed with a smile.

Gavin nodded to his son.

"Alright then..."  He said turning back to Gates who was no opening the door.  "Good luck Don Byrne.  Will.  Good to see you as always."  Gates gave Billy a polite nod, not knowing him but wanting to pay respect to the Don's guest.

The inside of the room was well lit & quite inviting.  Music was playing on a record player that was set up on a stool in the corner near to where a large crowd was dicing.  Around the rest of the room men between the ages of twelve and sixty were playing cards or standing around talking.  Two cigarette girls were walking around bringing drinks and smokes... this was a far more organized operation than just a few dock workers getting together to play low-stakes games with their paychecks. 

Someone was paying those girls, the muscle and insuring the bets.  It wasn't Mezzo or Bella would have known about it.  This meant the operation was either independent or it was being run by one of the families under Mezzo and Bella didn't have her finger on the pulse of every pie in the city.  

"WILL!"  A young man called out to the younger Byrne from his place at a poker table.  This teen, about Will's age, could only have been Floyd as Will instantly left his father's side to go join him without so much as a goodbye to either Billy nor the Wolf.

"I'm more of a poker man myself... but if you wanted me to join you for dice, I'm not opposed."  Gavin looked at Billy, curious as to what he would do now.

Billy watches Will shoot away toward a friend and then turned to Gavin.

"I don't want to drag you around all night. I'm a grown man, I won't be in trouble, or a bother. I'm happy for you to come to the dice table if you really want to. I plan on earning a little bit of money while I'm here tonight."

Billy made his way over to the dice table then after patting Gavin on the back. He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out his gambling cash. He always kept him some cash for gambling with, specifically for dicing if he could find it. He waited patiently, though once he flashed that wad it wasn't a long wait.

He picked up the dice and suddenly he was $50,000 richer. He would keep the bets low for a little while while he figured out whether or not there were any loaded ones in this set.

Bella knocked on Aurora's bedroom door and opened it.  

"So..."  Bella began, "I just realized I didn't buy enough bacon for the big breakfast tomorrow and a few other things.  What do you say about us going to the market and picking up some Neapolitan ice cream?"

Aurora, laying on her bed, turned to look at her mom.  "Don't you think vanilla would be better, all things considered?"

Bella shrugged.  "I don't know that we're at vanilla, just yet... do you?"

Aurora put down the book she was reading, "It feels like vanilla."

Bella walked in and sat down on the edge of her bed.  "I don't want it to be vanilla, kiddo, but this life... it demands vanilla.  That's the reality.  That's what I'm trying to protect you from.  I want your life to be a Neapolitan life."

"Did you always want a Neapolitan life?"  Aurora sat up.

Bella shook her head no.  "But I was young, and stupid..."

"Maybe you weren't stupid.  Maybe you were just young."  She reached out and took her mom's hand.  "Just because I'm not where you're at yet - doesn't mean my desires are less valid, does it?"

"Not less valid... but you might not live to be where I'm at if you don't listen to me."

"I might not get to where you are, even if I do."  She sighed.  "Mom, there are a lot of people - legit people - who die every day.  There are mobsters under Philly protection who die every day.  Neither situation you've offered me would prevent an early death for certain."

Bella shook her head, "It's not just about your survival, Aurora, it's about your happiness and not putting you into a position where you might have to make decisions which could destroy your happiness.  Sweetie... I don't want to fight with you about this.  Why can't you just accept that I would never ask you to do anything that wasn't intended for your own good."

"I do believe that you're doing what you think is best, Mom, I'm just saying that you could be wrong and you're not letting me have the chance to live my own life.  You're trying to control the world around you and you can't... you just can't."

Bella sighed.  "I can try."

Aurora rolled to her nightstand and grabbed the photo from it handed it to Bella without any words.  With that she got up and went to the bathroom leaving her mother staring at the photo of baby Aurora with Marie and Salvatore on the night of Bella's wedding.

---  MEANWHILE ---

Lottie giggled and wrapped her arms around William's neck as he put down the full house with a smirk.  Floyd cursed.  Joey shook his head and stamped out his cigarette.  Frank tossed his cards into the center of the table without bothering to show his shit hand.  

Will pulled the pot close to him and picked up a twenty and offered it to Lottie, "For the best and prettiest lucky charm in all South Philly."  

Lottie took the bill and tucked it into her bra.  Will didn't hide how closely he watched her do it.  

"If you were just a few years older..."  She said kissing his cheek before standing up from Will's lap and picked up her cigarette box.  She blew Will a kiss and went back to work.  Will and all the other teen boys watched her walking away with intense interest.

"Damn."  Floyd muttered.

"You know, I sometimes question if there is a God in this fucked up world... and then I see Lottie's ass..."  Joey remarked.

Frank and Floyd chuckled.

Will turned around to face his buddies, still smirking and put his feet up on the table, his arms across his chest.

"She's gonna be your very best gal one day.  Lucky son of a bitch!"  Floyd remarked to Will.

"One of my best gals."  Will said with a smile.  He wasn't in a hurry for a steady like his sister.  He had heard the stories of his father's young life and he definitely wanted a bit of that before settling down on any pretty faced dame.  Like wine, and candy, there was a lot of good stuff to try in the world and one didn't want to settle on a particular 'favorite' before getting to sample a bunch or you might find you made the wrong choice.

"So, who's the big guy?"  Floyd asked.

"Him?  Don Mastrosimone.  Detroit."  The guys nodded, obviously figuring that this was some visiting dignitary.  He couldn't help himself... "My sister's steady guy."

"What?"

"Holy shit!"

"Your father hasn't killed hm yet?"

"Nah.  Dad likes him.  It's the Dragon that Billy-boy has to worry about.  Mom is fixed to eat him.  I told Dad and him about this little thing tonight to help him out.  Guy's a straight shooter... unlike Russo or that clown Mancini.  Fucking bastard.  Anyone heard from him?"

Joey leaned in, "I heard he's in with Durden these days."

"Bullshit."  Floyd said.

"No, really.  My cousin is up in Jersey Shore.  She says he runs that way all the time and they saw Mancini one night on the boardwalk and he told them he's a goomba up in Delaware City." Joey continued.

"Damn.  That guy's hardcore, or so I hear."  Frank added.

"He's a bitch!  If any of his little wanna-bes were here right now... I'd tell them right to their faces.  If those cowards put one fucking foot in South Philly and my family will give them what-for just like we always do."

Before anyone could reply, before anyone could make sense of what the hell was happening, Will was lifted out of his seat by his collar.  All of his friends lept back from the table, chips and beers went flying everywhere.  The first fist connected on Will's left cheekbone just under his eye.  Instantly color bloomed across his cheek and his eye began to swell shut.

William hit the floor like a side of beef, the impact could be felt by anyone who heard it.  A smart man would have stayed down, taken in who hit him or why.  But William Byrne was not yet a smart man.  Instead, the youngest Byrne was on his feet and ready to retaliate before even noticing that nine other guys were reluctantly giving up their cover because one member of the Lurve gang couldn't keep his fucking dick in his pants when his boss was being called out by a mouthy young punk.  The plan was shot to shit.  Tyler would not pleased.

And just like that, the room turned into a brawl.

Billy was satisfied in taking money, smiling, smoking, and drinking for a bit. He was up a small amount by his standards when he heard Will mention his name.

"Mastrosimone.  Detroit. My sister's steady guy."... "Dad likes him...unlike Russo or that clown Mancini." ... ""He's a bitch!"

Then the place opened up. Without warning Billy found himself watching a few guys move in on the Byrnes. He turned to Gavin.

"Well, you probably should have said run a bit sooner."

He pointed to Will and shrugged as he charged one of the other guys that were moving toward Gavin's boy. He wrapped his arms around the man and pinned him to a table. He raised his head and looked around nodding at what he saw he grasped one of the still full glasses on the table. Billy raised it above his head and poured it straight into the man's eyes before flinging him headlong behind him into another of the encroaching thugs.

"C'mon then, which four of you little fucks think you can take me on at once?"

He bellowed loud enough to quiet one or two of the people scrambling, but her certainly caught the attention of what was clearly shaping up to be Durden's squad of men.

"Hey. I'm sure you guys don't want no trouble right? Problem is..."

He took a jab to his jaw then and smiled, reaching out and grabbing the man who had tried to do the damage by his face. Billy's entire palm covered the lower half of the man's face so that Billy's eyes only met his from in between Billy's outstretched fingers.

"...I need to know..."

Billy disposed of the man by twisting his wrist to turn the man's head around the other way and then kicking him in the backside, sending him falling into another table. A rainbow of clay chips filled the air as it toppled over and Billy looked for another assailant. He found them when suddenly a roulette wheel fell to pieces across his back. As her turned he swung and watched the man's eyes roll into the back of his head in the moment Billy connected with his jaw.

"...which one of you..."

This was too easy, and honestly, sort of boring. At least, right up until the moment that Billy took a chair to, well, mostly his head. That one made him blink and stumble to one knee. In response he piked up a chair leg and threw it at the guy Will seemed to be having trouble with before getting back up to take on the chair-wielder. He could feel parts of his face starting to burn. He would be bruised and bleeding from some cuts later, but nothing crazy.

"...is Mancini?"

He leveled his gaze at the man who still held one chair leg aloft and swung it down at Billy. Billy caught the man by the wrist and kicked at his knee. He felt it give under his blow and bend the wrong way. The man screamed in pain, but boy did he go to the ground quick. Billy let the chair leg drop onto his face as he looked around the room again and realized there were fewer men willing to come for him than just a few seconds ago.

Alward’s Supermarket was the only thing open at this hour.  The smaller shops of the Italian Market had long-shuttered up their doors for the day.  Aurora and Isabella went inside to look for ice cream, bacon, and a few other items they’d decided they still needed for the house this week.  Splitting the list in half the two went in opposite directions hoping to make short work of a long list.

Outside, Linval sat in the driver’s seat, tapping his hand on the steering wheel to the sound of Jump, Jive, and Wail on the radio.  He happened to look up to the rearview mirror and see a group of people walking towards the car.  Ball bats, tire irons, the group was as deadly a motley as there ever was before and leading them a face that Linval hadn’t had the displeasure of meeting before.

Throwing the car into gear and planting his foot on to the accelerator hard, the car peeled out backward barely missing two of goons from the Lurve gang.  Rubber peeled as he put the car into drive and went forward towards the street.  He’d double back, but he was alone.  A lone gun against a small army that was already nearly to the doors of the business his boss and her daughter were inside of.  These were not ideal odds.  Linval made the tough call, he had to get back up. 

Around the back of the grocery store, two men were told to keep sentry.  Meanwhile, Tyler Durden went into the store like God sent to walk among mortals.  His people smashed displays of food, scared shoppers into running out the doors and jumped atop the conveyor belts where the cashiers worked, kicking off people’s purchases.

Tyler went up to the customer service desk as his men locked and blocked all the doors.  Marla jumped the counter and grabbed the employee standing in front of the cigarette display and pulled him into the office with a sinister cackle leaving Tyler to pick up the PA mic.

“ATTENTION YOU MINDLESS CONSUMER ZOMBIES!”  Tyler’s voice echoed throughout the store and instantly Isabella stopped dead in her tracks.  So long as she lived she would NOT forget that man’s voice.  Her blood ran cold. 

Aurora!?!  Where is she?!?

“TONIGHT’S SPECIAL: A DOSE OF WAKE-THE-FUCK-UP WITH A SIDE OF VENGENCE SERVED REALLY FUCKING COLD!”  Durden’s laugh echoed throughout the store.  “HEELLLLLL-LOOOOOOO PRINCESS ISABELLA!”

Aurora looked up at the speakers and cocked her head to the side in confusion. 

What the fuck … ?  I need to find mom!

“YOU’VE GOT SIXTY SECONDS TO FIND YOUR WAY TO CUSTOMER SERVICE.  FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN ME SENDING MY PEOPLE INTO THE AISLES TO SEARCH OUT THE VERY BEST DEAL OF THE DAY:  FRESH LIONESS!”

Aurora tore through the aisles, one after another searching to no avail.  Upon hearing ‘lioness’ her stomach fell.  These assholes didn’t just come for her mom… they knew she was here and they knew about her work as a hitman?!?  Who the hell was this!  Aurora needed a weapon.  Spotting the meat department she darted into the kitchen.

“SIXTY SECOND PRINCESS… AND BEFORE YOU GET ANY BRIGHT IDEAS I ENCOURAGE YOU TO REMEMBER THAT EVERYONE FIGHTS ON THEIR FIRST NIGHT AND THIS IS YOUR BABY GIRL’S DEBUT.  IT'S HER ... OR YOU.  YOU NOW HAVE FIFTY-FIVE SECONDS!”

--- MEANWHILE ---

Gavin couldn’t help but laugh. 

Billy was fine.  Will was struggling, but the numbers were in their favor.  The Durden boys obviously weren’t prepared to take him here.  Will’s smart-ass mouth had apparently come in handy for once and now instead of being jumped in a dark alley on the way to the car, they were on their turf.  They were fist fighting as opposed to having to dodge a hail of gunfire. 

It was clear the men had come in the front door like any other gambler.  They’d been lying in wait, likely to follow them out – Gavin should have been pissed off at his men for failing to spot them, but all in all this could have gone so much worse.

Gavin wasn’t as young or spry as he once was, but he was far from a pushover.  Age and skill amounted for a lot and while he wasn’t dishing out as much as he used to, or dodging quite as much, he gave as good as he got every time.  Shattering a bottle of whiskey over the head of one asshole, and then glancing at Billy, he couldn’t help but recall the bar fight in Detroit where he’d met his father-in-law the first time.

The old man had been not too different than he was tonight.  He was all smiles, which was terrifying to see on the face of man that was opening up men’s faces with a baseball bat.  That bat had been put into Gavin’s face pointedly while Sal said hello and stopped fighting long enough to tell him to come by his office the next morning. 

He’d gotten the old man’s blessing to date Bella that morning while the two of them talked about guns, fighting, and the job of being an enforcer.  In truth, they’d said little about Bella.  Mostly, they talked about themselves and that had surprised Gavin.  He’d been lead to believe the old man was going to kick his ass or give him the riot act, but Salvatore never did.  Bella seemed to believe that was because she’d begged her father for mercy.  He knew better.  Salvatore never did anything because Bella asked for it… at least, not JUST because she asked for it.  He knew damn well he’d won the man’s respect the best way he knew how.

Gavin ducked low dodging a guy swinging a barstool and popped up with the sort of haymaker that would have made Will Bowden proud.  God, he missed him.  Will would have liked Billy Mastrosimone and that endorsement alone might have been enough to win over Bella, if he had thought to mention it.

Gavin smirked as he heard Billy calling out for Mancini.  Aurora’s ex-lover, Mancini had been a short fling, but it burned hot from what he’d heard.  The rumor going around was that Mancini had got drunk one night and hit Aurora, though no two stories seemed to agree on why.  As the story went, she’d beaten him senseless in response and left him in a puddle of his own piss, never to see him again.  Gavin wondered why the hell Billy thought that asshole would show his face here though?  If he was smart, Mancini would never come back to Philly.

Gavin crossed the room towards his son.  He grabbed the bastard who was making hamburger out of his son’s pretty looks and spun him around to return the favor.  He was a little rusty at this sort of thing, but, it wasn’t a terrible way to spend the evening.  It HAD to be better than what Bella and Aurora were doing.  That much was for sure.

Billy watched as, one-by-one men came after him and Gavin and went down some way. Gavin took more hits than Billy thought he would have, but he dished out just as easily. Will was decidedly, not good at this. He took hits and gave little and less back. Gavin had gotten over there to protect the kid pretty quick, so Billy started to shift in the opposite direction, slowly peeling guys off of Gavin and Will.

By his count there were only four men left to fight between him and Gavin. He had knocked two senseless already, and Gavin had gotten one with a nice piece of work. The guards at the front door had come in and restrained two others. So now Billy had three guys looking at him, Gavin had one approaching him and then the guy who had bothered Will in the first place.

Billy balled up his fists.

"Are you chicken shit bastards really gonna keep a secret from me? I mean, I just want to get to know one guy. You guys seem pretty..."

His little speech was stopped as a bottle was flung at his head. He dodged it and growled.

"Fine."

He lowered his shoulder and charged knocking the wind out of the guy in the middle of the three and flipping him over his back. He spun on his heel and before that guy managed to hit the ground, had grabbed both of the other guys by their belt and lifted them off of the ground. He spun around, fast as he could with these two guys making it real hard to keep his balance. They were flailing and trying to find their way back to the floor. Billy was having none of it. Instead he tossed one as hard as he could at the guy now starting to get up and heard a sickening crunch as the two bodies met. That left him with one guy, he stopped turning and lifted him over his head before bringing him down hard onto Billy's knee. Billy wasn't sure exactly how much damage had been done, but he did know the guy yelped once and then just lay there on the ground. Suddenly Billy found himself standing alone toward the back of the room as the front door burst in.

Will’s nose was bleeding like a faucet but luckily his old scar from Ireland hadn’t reopened.  Floyd was laughing as he took Will by the hand and helped him up off the floor.

“Thank god your Dad and your sister’s boyfriend were here…” 

“Fuck off, Floyd.”  Will said, but his smile was in his tone.  He wasn’t bitter, just disappointed that once again in front of his father he couldn’t hold his own.  Once again the Wolf’s son proved the apple fell far away from the tree.

The door came open so hard that he was SURE more of Durden’s thugs had come to help their friends but instead a face he never would have expected appeared in the doorway:  Linval, mom’s bodyguard.  Will wondered if mom had found out about Durden being in town and was now calling them home meaning this unfortunate scene, was how their night was going to be remembered.  Not the night he suggested they all go gamble together and won a shit ton of cash and had a few laughs like he was one of the guys… instead, it would be the night he got his ass handed to him in front of his father and his sister’s boyfriend.

Will’s father was at the Jamaican’s side instantly.  Will started towards them, intent on hearing whatever Linval had to say and Billy seemed to have the same plan.  He made it all the way to William before they both heard some sleaze ball on the floor call out, “Mancini?  The fucker set this up...”

Billy stopped dead in his tracks and went back to the guy.  Gavin must have given him a concussion.  He was writing his own death warrant by ratting out one of his family’s own.  Will closed in on the moron on the floor and Billy who had knelt down to hear the man with missing teeth better. 

“Tell me.”  Billy urged him to keep talking.

“It was Mancini who told us the Old Wolf came here to play poker from time to time, said we could get him alone like this, but we weren’t supposed to jump him until he left.  Been keeping an eye out for three days now.  We were beginning to wonder if Mancini’s intel was wrong…”  He shook his head.  “Shithead is likely to make Capo for this, he’s one of Durden’s favorites because he knew the Byrne family.”

“What sort of stuff?”  William interjected.

“Told Durden a shit ton about the Wolf’s oldest girl, about her work as a hitman, about her dead boyfriend Russo.” 

The guy smirked at Will. 

“He says she was about to lose her cherry to the guy when Mezzo’s boys put two slugs in his skull.”

Will moved to try and punch the guy, to wipe the smirk off his smug ass face for talking about his sister in that way, about something so painful to her.  Billy put an arm out protecting the Durden who was clearly still willing to talk.

“SHUT YOUR FUCKING PIE HOLE!"  Will shouted.  "YOU GOT NO IDEA WHAT THE FUCK YOU’RE TALKING ABOUT!”

“Then why you so mad baby brother?”  He arched an eyebrow and watched Will’s futile struggling against Billy.

“Where can I find him?”  Billy asked.

“Durden sent him up north to Montreal.”

Will stopped trying to get the guy.

“Montreal?”  Billy repeated.

“Yeah, he told the Boss that the Wolf and the Dragon have a secret home up that way.  Apparently, the girl wanted to take him up there to visit it.  He and a group of guys are there to track it down - Boss thinks something he wants is there.”

“Fuck.”  Will breathed.  When Billy looked to Will, he clarified, “They could have a place up there.  Montreal is a special place to mom and dad – real special.  Though I can’t believe Aurora would have told Mancini about it or why it would be important for Durden to find it.  Mancini and Aurora only dated a few weeks …” 

Gavin’s voice stopped Will from finishing his thought, “Billy.  Will.”  Will started towards his dad without hesitation, hearing the worry in his tone.

“Dad?”  He asked coming closer.

“You’re going home with Linval.” 

“Dad…”  Will wanted to tell his father that he could keep up but with blood all down the front of his face and his shirt, he knew damn well his father wasn’t going to hear a word of it.”

“Possible code 1-0, you’re on lockdown. ”  Gavin knelt down and lifted his pant leg and began to undo the supple leather holster there which held a knife to his calf. 

“Mom…?” William asked.

Gavin didn’t immediately reply.  His hands worked fast to secure the knife to the boy’s leg.

“Where is she?  What’s happening?”

“Tyler Durden may have your mother and sister.”

“I have to come with you.”  He protested.  “I can help!”

Gavin grabbed hold of his son’s face between his palms and his icy blue eye locked on matching ones set into his son’s face, “I can’t focus if I’m worried about you too.”

He kissed his son’s brow.  “If I’m not home by dawn it’s up to you to find Godfather Mezzo and get word to him what’s happened.  You tell him Durden held Alward’s Market.  Your mother and sister were there.  I and Billy went to get them back.”

“Dad I…”

“I know.  I know you can, but this is what I need right now.”  Gavin’s voice was steady.  It was reassuring.  Will could almost believe that his father had faith in him.  Almost. 

The Wolf pulled his son into his arms and quietly, almost too quiet for Billy’s ears to hear, Gavin whispered, “I love you.”

Will responded in kind, “I love you too, Dad.”

When Will backed away from his dad, Linval put a hand protectively on the boy, “I’ll keep him safe.”

Gavin nodded and with that, Will was being ushered toward the door calling out to Billy as he went, “I’ll see you tomorrow, Billy.”  The words were a friendly way to depart someone’s company… but the way the kid said it, it was as grim a farewell as the one he gave to his dad.

The second his boy was out of the room, Gavin’s demeanor changed.  He waved over one of the doorman.  “Get the regulars out.  Bullets for Durden’s men.  Take the bodies out to the club.  Lose them in the woods.  Make sure they won’t be found.”

The doorman nodded and began to chase off the last of the patrons who hadn’t already fled.  Gavin turned to Billy.

“Bella and Rora went for ice cream at a local market.  According to Linval he, Marla Singer and a dozen armed men went into the place and locked it down.  The place is in a neighborhood our people watch over… it should have been a routine outing.  Safe.” 

He shook his head dismissing thoughts of what he could do nothing about.

“You got a gun?”

--- MEANWHILE ---

“FOUR, THREE, TWO…” 

Isabella appeared on the opposite side of the cash registers from Durden, her voice cutting into the loud enthusiastic countdown that his men were engaged in. 

Men rushed forward and removed her guns from her, took her by the arms and dragged her forcibly to Tyler who was smirking like a cat who just caught the mouse and now was set to play with it.  His men yapped and hooted cheers of victory as the Dragon was forced to her knees before Tyler.

“Let my daughter go.”  She demanded as the goons handed her guns and knives to Durden.  Tyler took the guns and looked at them with disappointment.

“Not Sal’s guns?”  He clicked his tongue.  “I’ve always been told you were sentimental… why not your father’s guns?”

“My daughter.  Let her go.  I did what you wanted.”

“My condolences on Sal, by the way.  I told you a long time ago how that story would end… didn’t I?  Damn shame... I had hoped to get the guns that killed Lucania for myself.  Hmm.  Disappointing.”

+++

The back door to the store came open.  The two men who were set to guard it pointed guns at it but no one came out.  One man went forward carefully to look inside and then stepped in.  It was the last mistake he’d ever make.  As soon as he passed Aurora’s hiding spot, she popped out and stuck him repeatedly with the knife she’d stolen from the meat department.  The man pulled the trigger on his gun but the shot went into the floor.

+++

Every head in the place looked towards the sound of gunfire.  She shuddered, realizing the sound told a tale she was familiar with – it hadn’t struck a target.  In the same way that she’d known the cops hadn’t shot Elias so long ago… she knew her daughter hadn’t been shot now.  Had she gotten the gun away from someone?

“You.  And you.  Go find out if those assholes are still breathing.”

+++

The gunfire drew in man number two, ready for trouble – but Aurora was armed this time and put the bullet between his eyes.  She couldn’t spare a second shot as she normally would have.  She needed every bullet tonight.  Grabbing the second guy’s gun off him she looked around frantically – realizing that they’d be coming for her any second now.  She could have run out the door and escaped, but leaving her mom behind wasn’t an option.  It just wasn’t.  That’s when her eyes fell upon something that made her smile. 

“Will…”  She said with great relief and thanks.  She sprinted over and pulled aside the cover to the industrial air vent and crouched down inside, pulling it closed behind her just as two people came into the room and found the bodies. 

“Fuck!” 

“Gotta be the girl.  We better find her, she couldn’t have gone far.”

“She probably left out the damn door!”

“Nah, not that one.  She’s here.  Check over that way.  I’m telling you, she’s here.”

+++

Two more shots.  One.  A pause.  Than a second.  Both hit their marks.  The math was simple now.  Isabella refused to smile, but it was a challenge.  She was proud - damn proud. 

Durden was pissed.

“All of you...!”

“You said you’d let her go!  You told me you’d let her go if I turned myself in – she’s just scared!”

Durden glared hard at Bella, as if he wanted to beat the hell out of her.  For a moment she thought he wouldn’t give in but something in his face changed and he seemed to reconsider – though Bella couldn’t understand why.  The score board was now Aurora -4, Durdens -0.  So why would he give over?

“Of course.  Of course.  Look, I’m not a monster.  I don’t hurt little girls, especially ones just defending themselves.  Tell you what, she can leave right now.  LITTLE GIRL! COME ON OUT LITTLE LIONESS!  YOU CAN GO HOME NOW!”

People laughed and Aurora, as expected, did not appear.

“Well,” Tyler began, “Don’t feel too bad, Princess, way I hear it she almost never listens to your good advice anyway.  This is hardly the first time, am I right?”

“Just let me talk to her.”  Bella insisted.  “I can make her go, save you a few goombas.  What do you have to lose?  Just… give me two minutes.”

Tyler paused and thought about it.  Then he smirked.  “Sure, why the fuck not.”

+++

Aurora was well armed now, but the bulk of the people holding the store were together.  They wouldn’t keep coming back alone to fight her one at a time.  They surely now realized their mistake.  They had allowed her to get weapons and now the lioness had claws.  She wasn’t going to hell tonight and if she did, she was taking a few of these fuckers with her.

Her best hope was to try and take them a few at a time.  To do that she needed every advantage she could get.  High ground would help.  Cover would help.  Surprise would help.  If she could find her mother, the two of them could do it.  They could get out, either through the back or shooting their way out the front if needed.  Aurora went up the ladder that was used to access the heating and cooling system that ran in the ceiling above the entire store. 

The PA mic squealed.

“Rora?” 

Aurora froze.  They had her!  Her mother had given herself over to the madman just like he’d asked.  She cussed quietly.

“Listen to me, sweetie…” 

Aurora could hear the emotion in her mom’s tone and her heart clenched.

“I hate Neapolitan ice cream.” 

Aurora tilted her head to the side. 

“I’ve always preferred Vanilla and it was wrong of me to try and force you to eat it.  You’re right.  I was afraid.  Go home.  Go back to your father, and Will, and back to Billy.  You have my blessing.  Eat buckets of Vanilla and be happy for as long as you can … just like I did.  I Lo-“

+++

Durden flipped off the PA.

“-ve you.” 

“Ice cream?  Safe to assume that’s code for something?”

Bella lifted her chin defiantly, though she could feel the boney hand of death closing around her throat and she was well and truly scared. 

“She’ll go.”  She said her voice cracking.  She didn’t want to die.  She wanted to see Aurora get married and to see her grandchildren.  She wanted her fairytale to end the way she always told herself it couldn’t… old and in bed with Gavin.  A peaceful death in her sleep – not a bullet on the floor of some filthy grocery market. 

Bella asked, “Is this happening here?  Or …”

Tyler shook his head.

“I should.” He admitted.  “God knows you’ve lied to me, taken a lot of cash from my operation… but you have done me a very real favor, Princess.  Because of you, I’ve always had a very strong sense of purpose and I’ve been able to focus on the things that really matter.  It’s not about money or businesses like you fucking wops seem to think.  It’s about something much more than that, something you still can't seem to understand.”

Bella’s brow furrowed.  “If you’re not here to kill me then…”

“You have something I need.  In fact, you and your husband are the only ones in the world who have it and believe me… I have tried to get it elsewhere.  So far, all roads lead back to you Princess.”

Bella shook her head.  “I don’t understand.  What the hell could you possibly want from Gavin and I that you can’t get from anyone else?”

Durden leaned close to Bella’s face and in a tone of voice that made her skin crawl, he whispered, “Tara.”

It was then Bella remembered her lunch in LA so many years ago.  Tara and Durden had sat together for a time.  She had no idea what was said and what business, if any, the two had with each other.  Back then Gavin’s twin had been a Godmother, but now she was a retired citizen, traveling constantly to avoid anyone like Durden figuring out where she was.  Always one step ahead of her enemies, the woman had given up all hope of a normal life, but she was alive.  For the moment.

“I want to know where she is and you’re going to help me make sure I get into the same room with her.”

Bella swallowed the lump in her throat.  “I can call her… arrange a meeting…”

Durden shook his head.  “See, I’m pretty sure the answer to that will be me traveling a very long way for nothing.  I’ll get there and she won’t be – or worse she’ll leave a surprise and I’ll end up fighting my way out of a no-win situation.  Tara’s smart, far smarter than you Princess.  There’s a reason she made it to Queen and you’ve always remained second tier royalty in the mafia.”

Bella didn’t rise to his bait.  Instead, she did the basic math.  Durden couldn't trust her not to tip off Tara in the time it would take him to fly to her... so,  “You already know what city she’s in.”

Durden nodded.

“I just need a location.” 

“You have people there already?”

“You can’t expect that I’d trust you not to leave here and call her and warn her.  And if I kept you with me, your husband might call his sister for help and it would end the same either way.  No.  I made sure to hedge my bets.  I know your word is worthless, Princess.  Unlike you, I do learn from my past mistakes.”

She wet her lips.

Tyler smiled a satisfied grin, savoring the feeling of the Luciano Princess’ ultimate defeat, “Now… where is Tara Byrne?”

Billy leaned down to the man on the floor who was just spilling everything. He reached under the man's jacket and pulled out his sidearm.

"I do now."

He looked to Gavin and started for the door.

"So what's the plan old man? We show up just us two and go in guns blazing? Cause that seems to be a death warrant. Or do we call for backup and light up the place they are in and just hope we don't hit one of them? The more I think about this, the worse it gets. If I go, Durden might know me, but there's no way he's expecting me. You go? Who knows what happens? Worse than that, he's got all but one of the Byrne's in one place. You good with that?"

Billy waited and watched as the gears turned in Gavin's head. Billy was trying his best to think talk through the situation. It was a dire one to be sure.

As he settled into the car and it sped off he turned his face toward Gavin in the backseat.

"We can get em out, don't worry about that. You just gotta do me a favor. Pick a door, back or front. I'll go in the other one and all hell will break loose. And when we get our girls back we are gonna have a real nice cigar in the peace and quiet."

Billy let that hang in the air. When. There was no use thinking about if. It was just when, and how. Although Billy didn't quite have an answer for any of that just yet.

Gavin thought a moment, "I'm used the bosses calling the shots ... but in this case, I appreciate you letting me have the helm."

He gave Billy a glance in the mirror and nodded to him.

"I'll go in the back.  I'm better with the stealth side of things.  You're younger, sprier and with any luck at all, maybe he tries to talk you to death.  He has a habit of trying to cut deals when he has people of power in his grip.  Me, he'd just open fire.  I don't have anything he wants or needs, but you, you're a power player in Detroit.  He might see value in talking to you.  That could buy me time to find the girls."

--- MEANWHILE ---

Marla chuckled as Bella was plopped down in the manager's desk chair and Tyler picked up the phone and dialed.

"Mancini? I have an address for you and the guys to visit.  She's not to be hurt.  Understood?" 

Tyler rattled off the address in Montreal where Tara was staying.  Bella sat in silence.  When Tyler hung up he patted Bella on the cheek.

"Nice doing business with you Princess."  he looked to Marla.  "Patrick and the others stay behind, delay her.  The Wolf should be done cutting through our guys soon.  By the time he gets here and Patrick's gang..."

Marla finished his thought with a half-mad giggle, "We'll have Tara." 

Tyler nodded and then grabbed Marla, kissing and groping her in an obscene manner.  

"You're killing your own people..."  Bella said disgusted, averting her eyes from the god awful display.

Tyler scoffed.  "Don't act all high and mighty.  We both know that it's part of the game to sacrifice pawns to get a Queen.  They're dying in a greater cause than you yet understand.  And you..." 

He reached out and touched Bella's chin.  "You've been a very big help.  Trust me, I won't forget it."

Bella tore her head out of his grip.  Furious.

"Time for us to go Marla dear."

+++

Aurora took a head count as she peeked through the ceiling tiles.  A dozen guys.  Another man and woman in the office with her mom until, just then, they emerged.

"Patrick!"  The man called out.  It was the man from the PA system.  Aurora had a shot.  She could take it.  She might miss though, it was hard at this angle and with such limited vision.  She wanted to shoot him... so damn bad!

"Yes, Sir?"

"The Dragon stays in the office. You and the boys stay here.  No one gets in or gets to her.  You get me?"

They're leaving mom?

"You got it."

"Marla.  You're with me." 

With that, the man turned on his heels and the crack-whore looking woman followed him out.  And that, as they say, was that.  A dozen men with guns between her and mom.  If she started shooting from up here... they'd fill the ceiling full of lead.  She'd die for sure.  So... how the fuck could she get to her?  

Slowly she moved, trying not to make a sound, towards the part of the ceiling over the office.