Venice: 3:11 PM Local time

It had been a long flight, silent for the most part. Just three women, and a pilot in a transatlantic flight to what all three of them somehow deeply knew could be their doom. Just a short while ago, the pilot came on the speaker to tell them they were almost there. OrianaMontini had been sharpening and oiling her knives. AuroraMastrosimone had been checking her guns. Everyone was tired. Though apparently Aurora wasn't tired enough to try to convince her daughter to stay on the plane. An hour into this, when the thing finally came to a full stop and the door opened, she was done being yelled at like she was a child, she wasn't anymore.

"Mom! Enough! Dad Sent me along with you for a good reason, so either keep me with you, or use me for something, but don't try to make me sit on this plane because I won't."

The woman's long golden curls fell in front of her face as she shook her head and she tucked them back up into the brown wig she was wearing before looking at herself in the plane window as if it were a mirror. She adjusted the jacket she had on and then grabbed her bag as she made her way out onto the tarmac. She never did understand how her sister Tara wore pants so well, but they were more comfortable than they looked, at least when they were properly tailored they were. Not to mention the fact that they had pockets, and pockets could hide all sorts of small things. Like the rusty old nail she was rubbing on for luck at the moment.

Billy had sent his wife and, as he put it her would-be assassin, off to Venice to take care of the Godfather, Giancarlo Mattaranzi. He sent Brigitte to keep an eye on her mother and to make sure they all came back alive. It meant more to her that her papa trusted her with this, in this moment, than anything he had ever given her as a gift. It meant that he knew not only what she was capable of, but that he had been paying attention. He knew mom had trained her, and he also knew that Brigitte never forgot it either. So now, she stood with her mother, ready to hunt the man who had taken everything from their family. He stripped them of their lives in Las Vegas, and he had taken Brigitte's Grandpa Gavin at the same time. She had not forgotten, and neither had anyone else.

"Well? Are you coming or not? Dad got us a place to stay and a car already, so you two can dawdle, or you can move your ass."

During the long flight, Oriana mostly focused on her weapons. Her three guns, the Beretta, the Colt, and the pocket pistol on its ankle holster, were already prepped. She the focused on her knives, sharpening them with a whetstone, then oiling them. Oriana tried to tilt her head back and rest as she listened to Brigitte and Aurora argue. What a job this was shaping up to be.

Trying to lighten the mood, feeling at ease to be back on a proper mission again, Ori cracked an eye open towards Brigitte. "You look better as a blonde, you know." Smirking, she waited for the plane to land. "I'd recommend sewing your wig into your hair. Makes it a pain in the ass to get off, but it's helpful if you're with anyone who likes pulling your hair..." Brigitte grinned wickedly as Ori continued. "Or it's windy."

The plane touched down, and the three women prepared to disembark. Oriana stood and put on the long black coat that covered her gunbelt. As they readied themselves to leave, Ori took out the piece of paper that Billy had given her. 

Stefano Govoni - Equivalent to a Senator in Italian Government, corrupt, keeps cops and govt. from looking too deeply at Venice.

Ansovino Mattaranzi - Nephew and last surviving blood-relation to the Godfather, not well known, very well hidden. May be leverage (DO NOT KILL).

"So like I said, looks like we've got two leads to start. The corrupt senator and the secret nephew. Personally, I think the nephew should be our first move. It says here that he's not well known and well hidden- but well hidden doesn't mean well defended. At least initially, we might have the element of surprise on our side. But if Mattaranzi finds out we're here, he might put that nephew of his inside a fortress. Besides, if we can nab him and keep him in storage, we can potentially use him as leverage."

Oriana looked at Rora and handed her the paper.

"What do you think? We could start sniffing around for the nephew? If Mattaranzi is old the nephew's probably... 30? 40? Or do you think it'd be better to start with the senator?"

"Either way," continued Ori, "we should find a base of operations. Personally, I'd recommend renting an apartment. Who gives a shit if we lose money on the lease; it's a lot more hidden than a hotel. We can get our heavy supplies delivered there, make sure no one peeks inside."

She grinned.

"If anyone asks any questions, just say you're setting up a brothel and that you'll be kicking up a cut to the boss, right?"

Billy's handwriting... 

He'd given the 'assassin he didn't trust' this note but not told her these things?  Billy should thank his lucky stars she was half-the-world away from him at this moment.  She'd have a few things to say to him right now that he might not appreciate hearing.  Aurora adjusted the coal-black M1911s under her jacket.  The holster was hers, well-broken in, it shouldn't have felt different.  The guns were twins to her normal pearl-handled ones and yet, maybe it was her imagination, but they felt different somehow.

The apartment they got was decent enough, and they didn't have to use much of a story either.  The landlord seemed far more interested in the cash than their reasons for being there and that suited Rora just fine.  Settling in the three women continued to speculate about their mission and what might be the best course of action.

Rora ended up agreeing with Oriana's thoughts on the matter of the nephew.  He needed to be the first priority.  It wouldn't do to have the only leverage they could possibly hope to have, go missing.  Besides which, and she didn't share this detail, she fully intended to end this bloodline root and stem. 

This wasn't just about Giancarlo now... his family had to be eradicated with extreme prejudice, for two reasons.  The first was so that her family would not live in fear of future generations coming for retribution.  This was just practical.  The second reason was to confirm what should have been known all along about her... Aurora Mastrosimone was her father's daughter.  As feared as he was, as feared as Volkov was, she was every bit as capable of being just as brutal and cold when required to be.  If someone came for her family - if someone ever touched her children - she wanted the world to be on notice that someone would hunt them too.  Aurora feared if she didn't leave a very large swath of blood in her wake, someone else with similar ambitions might try something in the future.  She wanted to discourage such thinking in the most extreme way possible and this was it.

"I think," She said after they'd settled in, "I might have a way for you to be useful Brigitte.  This boy is hidden somewhere and Oriana you're right... hidden doesn't mean protected.  Let's face it, after so long in hiding people get sloppy... careless.  They don't live in fear anymore and they make mistakes.  So, we're going to roll the dice with that idea in mind."

She looked to her daughter, "Ansovino Mattaranzi and you had a weekend of unimaginable romance - passionate, overwhelming in every way, it changed your life forever and now after time away, you're back hoping to rekindle your affair.  This is a dangerous thing to sell since we don't know what this guy looks like or anything but... the idea is to get people gossiping and hopefully your story reaches someone who knows where the guy is and wants to get in good with the next potential Godfather.  Maybe this leads to us getting the low down on where we can find him."

She looked at Oriana. "Figure we can take her out on the town, keep an eye on her, let her do some leg work ... I don't like hanging her out in the open like this but we honestly have too few good places to start to find the nephew and the next best options aren't great ones.  We'd be shooting blind.  My thought is our best hope is flying under the radar and Brigitte's natural affinity for getting people to talk.  What do you think?"

Oriana approved of the apartment. Seemed to be a good enough spot, and it was a part of town that she knew well. They relaxed and talked- well, as much as they could relax given the circumstances.

"I agree, Brigitte should take the lead here. I moved around a lot, but Venice is where I started out. It's highly unlikely that any recognizes me outside of a couple government ministers, one fucked up "doctor", or my two surviving colleagues. Still, it'd be good to..."

Oriana picked up a small bag and headed to the bathroom mid-sentence. In a little while, she'd emerged, causing both Rora and Brigitte to do a double take. Oriana's hair had previously fallen far below her shoulders, but it had been cut and styled to rest just below her chin; the largest surprise, however, was that her dark tresses had been replaced with golden blonde hair.

"There we go. I'll have to reapply often, but that should help me fly under the radar.

She took a seat near Rora and Brigitte. 

"I like the plan about sending Brigitte out fishing here. I can be in the neighborhood on the ground. Rora, I doubt that rank and file soldiers here will be keeping an eye out for you, but you've still got a hundred million dollar bounty on your head. I brought a long range rifle for you, since I know you know how to use one."

"And Brigitte, the key is going to be your tragic separation. This wonderful weekend of passion, but then an emergency called him away or something. Basically, you want to see if he still loves you... but we don't want to oversell this to the point where some goomba scoops you up to deliver you to the Godfather-Chairman as a prize, you know?"

"That sounds good to me. It's possible, I suppose, that Mattaranzi has his nephew on the mainland. But Mattaranzi is a king, and Venice is his kingdom. I think it's more likely he's here on Venice where the GFC can keep an eye on things. I guess it's possible that he's in some secret compound with a bunch of guards, but that tends to draw more attention. More likely, I think, that's he's hiding in plain sight."

Oriana, glancing up at her new blonde hair, looked at Brigitte.

"Well, looks like we're going shopping."

Then she turned to Rora.

"What do you think? We should be able to find the bars around here with a bunch of mobbed up guys, yes?"

Pale soft skin. Freshly shaven.  

"Can I try, Daddy?"

Pant leg, rolled up to the knee.

"Over and under, Squirt.  There you go."

Supple leather.  Every line, every crack, they are known as well as her own two hands, wrapping tight around taunt muscle.

"It's not a toy Rora. You don't pull it unless you mean to kill."

Aurora stood up, her pant leg falling over her father's knife, at long last back where it belonged... strapped to the calf of a Byrne.  The straps were strong like her father's fingers, gripping to the body he helped shape over many long years of training, the body he died protecting.  A part of him was with her now, she could feel him there in a way she hadn't imagined him in years.  Silent.  Thinking.  Not yet ready to act... urging her to remain focused to not dwell on thoughts of Will and Anton whose deaths strangled her heart every time their names passed through her mind.

"Ready, Mom?"  Brigitte called out to her.

Aurora merely nodded and picked up the black case at her feet she followed the two blondes out of their apartment and into the streets of Venice now covered in the long shadows of twilight.  Decidedly, she had become increasingly less chatty since the first phase of the plan had been decided upon.

A bar, not far from the apartment was the first place they would work.  Another was chosen for tomorrow.  Another for the night after that.  The lioness didn't think they would be needed.  Perhaps it was an eagerness to be done with this, but a part of her moved with the certainty that Brigitte would find who they were looking for sooner, rather than later.  

Two blocks from their destination, Rora moved down an alleyway as silent as the grave, making for the position she and Oriana had scoped out earlier in the afternoon. The perch was ideal.  She could have a decent view of the front of the bar and a side alley.  From here she could make sure anyone coming in and out had a bead on them and if she had to... act.  If all went as it should, Aurora hoped to be very bored tonight.  Once on the roof of her building, she moved with precision and speed assembling the rifle as she'd done dozens of times before. Crossing herself, she kissed the barrel of the gun and settled down into position and waited.

---

Brigitte had been at the bar for hours and talked to nearly a dozen guys.  Italian men had a certain stereotype for a reason and it was well earned if tonight was any indication.  She didn't dislike it.  The truth was if this had been a vacation and not a mission... oh she would have had one hell of a time!

Each person took work though.  Real work.  Getting past the initial pleasantries, the overt sexual advances, or the mundane discussions was time-consuming.  You couldn't just probe people, quizzing them about where a man was if you wanted it to feel natural.  She had to get them talking, drinking, and open to suggestion.  

The problem with all those things?  It usually meant that disengaging took just as much time.  Consequently, she had a small crowd of fans as closing time got closer and closer.  She'd just finished telling her story again, the reason for her return, her courageous quest to seek out love that hadn't gotten its fair shot.  Of course, she knew that he might have moved on since then, perhaps he'd found another, but in all this time she'd never forgotten... and the memory of what could have been, well, it was relentless.

A good actress could pretend to feel those things... a great one, she became the woman.  And so Brigitte dug deeper than she ever had before.  She didn't just imagine herself in love, no she felt it.  There WAS someone out there for her, the great love of her life that she had not met yet and this story was hers.  If she could but meet up with him she'd change the stars in the sky itself to make possible the impossible.  She'd build love from nothing just as she had done as a child.  The dream of a family, the dream of home... each one, in turn, she convinced herself she'd have and then... she did.

That was the great trick of life, as far as Brigitte was concerned.  The difference between the greatest men and women in this world really was just the ability to see and feel the yet unknown.  And so Brigitte had learned not to master pretending... but seeing truth no one else had the courage to see yet.  Tonight's truth: she was still searching for the great love of her life, and if only these good men could bring her to him, she could do the rest.  It was a kind of magic the way the men hung on her words, the way her eyes teared up at the right moments and her voice strangled with an actual fear of never meeting with a man to whom she'd given so much already.  If she thought too hard about how much she could make herself feel a thing, it scared her.

"Did you say Ansovino?"  

Brigitte held up a hand and looked at the heavy-set older man who spoke,  "Yes?"

"I know an Ansovino though most people call him Algiso.  Algiso De Dominicis.  He is a friend of mine.  Not much older than you I'd say.  He lives here... in the city.  Perhaps I could arrange for you to meet him?"

Brigitte smiled.  Payday.

"Yes."  she said, meaning her words utterly.  

The man nodded, "There is a cafe not far from here.  Do you think tomorrow, at lunchtime, you might be there?  I could bring him to see you."

Brigitte's face split into a grin that lit up her blue eyes and almost touched her golden curls.  "YES!"  She said so excitedly she almost fell off her barstool. A few of the men lept to catch her and laughed.  She did too.  Surprisingly a tear really did slide down her cheek as she again repeated, "Oh yes.  Thank you.  Thank you so much."

Oriana felt alive walking the streets of Venice between Aurora and Brigitte; it was like slipping on an old pair of shoes that had perfectly broken it to fit your feet. She could almost imagine Lucia and Viola at her side instead- except that reminded her once again how things had ended, how Lucia had died to protect her, and the illusion was shattered.

She'd found some sort of team here, though. Ori had a mission, and she was content. She had the start of a new team: people to rely on, people who were there when you needed something. She'd started to forget it. 

In between her constant scans for threats, she was surprised how much she missed talking to Tara. Rora had barely said two words, understandably. And talking to Brigitte... well, that was practically dueling, and Oriana didn't want to lose focus. Tara could be a know-it-all at times, but it'd been different near the lake. No, Oriana needed to focus. 

Oriana entered the bar ten minutes after Brigitte, and promptly did her best to fade into the background. Objectively, Ori knew that she was beautiful, even if that beauty always felt like something that had been created by someone else, rather than earned or nurtured by herself. If she'd wanted to, she could give Brigitte a run for her money in terms of attention, but... but that was the emotional manipulation of her childhood given voice, looking for rivalries when none existed. Instead, Ori dropped into a seat with a couple nice looking men and explained she was waiting for her boyfriend, but didn't want to be bothered, so could she sit with them? She spent half her energy charming the two men, and the other half paying attention to Brigitte, who was playing the crowd like a fiddle. No, not with those fingers. A harp.

She increasingly watched Brigitte throughout the evening, as surreptitiously as she could manage. The girl was good. Maybe Billy was right, sending her along. Oriana imagined that if she'd been pawed at this much she would have put a knife through someone's hand by now.

"Well hun, I don't think he's coming." said one of the men who'd sat with her for the evening.

Ori flashed a wicked grin. "Looks like I'm not either, then."

"Well, don't be too hasty what if-"

"Goodnight, gentlemen. Thank you for your company- and your stories."

Standing, she made her way out. Brigitte would follow, and they'd take the long route to make sure they weren't tailed. They were quiet when they traveled, but Oriana spoke after the door to the apartment was closed and they'd checked it for intruders.

"Got to admit, Brigitte. That was pretty impressive in there."

Brigitte smiled and nodded. "I know, but thank you anyway. Also I now have a date for tomorrow, and a name." She raised a finger to her lips. "That's for later though, back at the brothel." With a wink and a smile, she reached into her purse.

Brigitte moved a few items around and then pulled out her compact. She turned it so that the mirror was facing up toward the building on the other side of the street, just the right angle to make sure her mother was up and moving. Once she was certain, Brigitte turned the makeup mirror back to herself to make sure that she was still presentable. The moonlight wasn't exactly a stage mirror, but she was confident nothing was smeared or out of place, so she re-applied lipstick and snapped the compact shut just as her mother joined them.

"Good news. I'm going to get coffee tomorrow."

Venice Local Time:  2:13am   ...   New York Local Time:  8:13pm

Aurora goes into her room, closing the door behind her and walks over to the phone.  She picks up and dials home.  Aurora settles onto the bed and waits.

Billy says, "Hello?"

Aurora listened to her husband's voice and smiled.  She could hear him breathing and for a moment she just listened before whispering, "... luce dei miei occhi ..."

Billy tries his best not to let his panic show in his voice. "Thank God, Aurora. Please tell me everyone is alright."

Aurora stifles a yawn.  "Yeah.  I hate to admit it, but when you're right Billy... you ARE right.  Brigitte was all aces tonight.  Things are coming up sunshine and rainbows here.  We're making progress.  If Oriana and I do our jobs right tomorrow we'll have some good news for you by the time I make my next call home.  I'm sorry I doubted her for a second.  Our daughter was fantastic tonight.  Really, couldn't have been more of a pro.  Oriana was even impressed and she's not the sort to give praise easy I think."

Billy nodded "That's great to hear. Just be careful, something happened today and I have a feeling we're not entirely unknown to be on the offensive. They might know we are coming."

Aurora says, "We had to know it was possible, but it won't matter.  Inside of the week this will be over one way or another and I'll be back in your arms again.  Everything is going to be okay Billy.  This man is done taking from this family."

Billy says, "You're right, it will all be over as soon as we can make it over." he paused "I do have bad news though Roar, I think you should know. It's important that you know, but I have to say first that everyone is alright, nobody is really that much worse for wear." He braced then as if his wife were in the room and about to hit him.

Aurora went silent and still.  Her heart thundering in her ears.  She felt frozen and flushed all at once, a little dizzy even... she hadn't felt this way in a very long time, not since she was pregnant with Gavin.  "Who?  Who is it Billy?"

Billy sighed and took a deep breath. "Gavin. The stomach. Nothing vital says the doctor, should be up and about in a week or so. Knowing our son, sooner even than that. He's sleeping right now, but I'll move the phone and wake him up if you want to talk to him. Cause he's fine. Just tired, just like I was after the governor's ball."

Aurora says, The floor fell away.  The world was spinning.  She was suddenly breathing harder, audibly.  Billy was talking but she didn't hear anything after Gavin and maybe something about his stomach.  Billy had prefaced with that everyone was fine but her baby... her baby WASN'T fine or Billy wouldn't have been so scared to tell her.  Someone - NO- Giancarlo had HURT her baby!  

Aurora says, "..."

Billy says, "Roar? I need you to either talk to me, or put Brigitte on the phone."

Billy says, "Where is my Lioness?"

Aurora says, "Hell."

Aurora tries to catch her breath

Billy says, "Alright, let's get you out of hell then. To do that, we're going to kill a few people though, you're alright with that yeah?"

Aurora says, "My baby... my babies... Billy, the kids, did they ... did they see it?"

Billy says, "No, Gavin was moved to the basement quick, Tara is the only one who actually saw. The rest of them heard me falling down the stairs."

Aurora finally has enough breath to sob.

Billy says, "Doctor also told me that I have a problem with stress and need to relax or my heart might give in. Told him to butt out or his head might give in."

Aurora 's mind wandered from images of her son bleeding all in their basement to her father telling her that his liver giving out wasn't worrisome.  If Billy didn't catch one of Giancarlo's bullet's the stress of it all might kill him.  It was a mortal wound to all she had left in this world and for Rora all she could see was red.  Blood red.

Billy says, I" have people on it Roar. They are coming in the morning to track him down."

Aurora felt the guilt of leaving her children.  Felt the guilt of having pushed Billy to take leadership - leadership that might well kill him.  If she hadn't been so scared of becoming her mother - if she had just had the fucking courage to stand up and lead the way he wanted her to; then her Billy might not be dying of the stress now when their children needed him most.

Aurora swallowed the lump in her throat and ended her sobs with a sniffle.

Aurora says, "Do what the doctor tells you."

Billy says, "Not you too. You know what needs to be done right now. Fuck the doctor, I'll relax when you come back, promise, but not a minute sooner."

Aurora 's voice became colder - calmer - even if her breathing still sounded as if she'd just stopped running a race.  "Billy.  I need you to help me."

Billy nodded "Always my love, every second of every day I am yours. What do you need?"

Aurora says, "My son was shot today.  My children, even if they didn't see it, are scared... even and maybe most especially the one you're leaning on most now.  I can not screw up now.  Brigitte's life is in my hands tomorrow.  I have to stay focused.  I need you to do what the doctor says so I know that at least you, the rock on which my whole life is standing, isn't going anywhere.  I need to know you're there with our children.  So please, if not for you or them, then for me.  Tell me you will do as the doctor asks?"

Billy says, "Roar, I'm being as relaxed as I can be. I'm calling the shots here, but I'm not the guy on the ground. The only reason I got worried today was because of my family. Nothing else is wrong, and I'm not leaving the house. I promise. I can't really be much more relaxed than I am given the current situation. But I promise, Gavin is fine, and that is making things a lot easier."

Aurora says, "I will end this soon, il mio toro."

Billy says, "I know you will. But I need you to hug my little girl for me. Remember how much I love you, both of you, and what I would do to this whole goddamned world without either of you."

Aurora says, "I know."

Aurora took off her jacket, keeping the phone under her ear and began to unstrap her shoulder holster. The midnight black of the guns seemed to absorb the light itself and as she put them on the bed beside her she could not tear her eyes away from them.  

Aurora had once been in a situation, what seemed another lifetime ago, where her mother had needed her to get information out of a man.  It required a set of skills she had learned but never practiced.  Aurora had always been a straight forward contract killer.  Honorable, clean kills of men and women who had richly deserved their fates.  Until she'd killed Don Conti and his wife, she'd never killed anyone who wasn't clearly deserving of it and she'd certainly never done so up close - personal - intimate.  She hadn't wanted to.

Aurora wanted to now... very much so.

Aurora reached down and began taking off her father's knife.  She had supposed she would finish him with the knife - at the end.  As the blade came free and she could see the shine of the metal in the dim light drifting out through the cracked bathroom door, she knew then it wouldn't just do to kill him.  For all he'd taken, for all that she was going to yet lose, she would carve a piece of him away at a time.  And when it was done, she'd only lament that she could not make him pay more for he would never know the amount of pain he'd inflicted upon her both directly and indirectly. 

Aurora says, "You should rest."

Billy says, "You too dammit! You never told me you would hug Brigitte for me, or let her hug you either."

Aurora says, "I'm sure she's in bed by now.  I don't want to wake her.  I will hug her for you though.  I promise."  She sighed.  "Where are you in the house right now?"

Billy says, "My office. Still have plans to make and orders to give before bed, it's early here yet."

Aurora says, "Hm."  She unbuttoned her pants and slid them off.  "Forgot the time difference. Kiss Gavin for me."

Billy says, "I will. But you'll kiss him when you get home too."

Billy says, "Right?"

Aurora says, "Of course."

Aurora unfastened her bra and pulled it out from under her shirt and cast it to the floor.  She put the guns under her pillows.

Billy says, "Good. Then I'll tell him you're doing well and you'll be home soon enough."

Aurora says, "I love you, Billy."  She said picking up the knife and staring at it.

Billy says, "I love you eight times over Aurora, and all eight of us are going to make it out of this."

Aurora says, "Eight?"

Billy says, Gavin, Brigitte, Tara, Bella, Jack, Baby, Aurora, Benedict.

Aurora chortles, "Since when are you going by that?  Or are we naming another yet conceived baby after you finally?"

Billy says, "No I already said baby. And I thought it might mean something to you in this moment to know that you are the only person left alive on this world who fully understands me. I picked you Aurora, and you picked me, and God blessed our union."

Aurora sighs, "I sometimes question if God is half as committed to me as I've become to him."

Billy says, "He is, in his own way.  Think about it this way, if you were supposed to shoot a man the size of me, would you call it quits after one shot?"

Aurora sobs.

Billy says, "God stayed someone's hand today, and Gavin lives. He suffered, but he lives. All children of God are meant to suffer, for how else should they know the goodness of heaven if they do not understand the wickedness of The Beast?"

Aurora is silent.

Billy says, "You fall asleep on me?  It was the preaching wasn't it?"

Aurora says, "I don't know how to tell you everything I'm feeling right now."

Billy says, "I don't think anyone could fathom that. It's why I need you to come home to me, because neither one of us have ever been very good at talking to each other. We always needed to just feel it together."

Aurora says, "You haven't found it yet."  

Billy says, "Found the note you mean?"

Aurora says, "So you have - is that why you're stressed?"

Billy says, "It's one reason."

Aurora puts the knife down on the nightstand.  She stands and pulls back the covers and slips down between the sheets.  Billy can hear the bed rustling.

Billy says, "You know all of the reasons, I don't need to list them for you. You're dealing with each and every one of them too. Nice thing is, you took my guns, so I know you and Brigitte are going to be safe. That's what those are for."  Billy picks up the rusty nail and twirls it in his fingers.

Aurora says, "My guns are in Gavin's room."

Billy says, Good to know. But I've got a gift from an Angel to keep us safe. We will be fine.

Aurora says, "Billy... I can't lose anyone else."

Billy says, "You won't on this end. It's your job on that end. I know you've got this."

Aurora says, "Our promise to each other... the kids before anything else ... it still stands, yes?"

Billy says, "Yes. But that doesn't mean you have to throw your life away either. There is always a way. Took me a long fucking time to learn that shit. Might have been able to avoid a bullet or two if I was smarter, quicker learner."

Aurora stroked her womb gently trying to calm herself, if only for the sake of the baby growing somewhere deep inside her.

Aurora says, "Billy... stop. I need you to know..."  Aurora sighs.  "I've got more than Brigitte with me.  This little one deserves a shot at a happy life too and he or she is just as important to me as the big ones.  I'm not going to do anything to put this baby in danger - if I can help it.  So please, let that ease your mind.  I didn't come here to die.  Our baby needs me breathing so it can meet you. I would die for all of them... happily, but I won't disregard the one I'm carrying just because I can't yet see it.  It's still my child."

Billy nods

Aurora says, "OUR child."

Billy says, "Ok. You think it's going to be a boy though huh?"

Aurora thinks.

Billy says, "Cause if it is... Well, if it is, I won't say a flat out no to Benedict this time."

Aurora says, "No.  I don't.  Not now.  I think, after everything that's happened, it's going to be a girl.  God help us."

Billy says, "Nah, it's gotta be a boy, even up the score."

Aurora says, "Girl.  To spite what I hope for."

Aurora shakes her head.

Billy says, "Although, to be very fair, all of our girls seem to be way more, um, well just better really. At just about everything..."

Aurora says, "She's going to be ornery this one.  I can tell."  

Aurora closes her eyes.  "Already giving me headaches."

Billy says, "Well get some sleep, and tell her to behave for her family's sake. If nothing else, Brigitte will yell at her."

Aurora says, "She will.  Please tell Tara that Ori wanted me to ask after her but that she shouldn't bring it up that she knows. And Brigitte sends you her love, Papa."

Billy says, "The children all send hugs and kisses. Tomorrow, call at the same time if you can. I'll make sure to get each of them on the phone for a minute.  And Aurora?"

Aurora says, "Yes?"

Billy says, "I love you."

Aurora says, "I love you too, Billy."

Aurora says, "Goodnight."

Billy says, "Night."

Aurora reaches over and hangs up the phone.  She then pulls her knees upward towards her chest and closed her eyes imagining the feel of her husband's arms around her, wishing for nothing more at this moment than to be back where she was really needed... home.  Between Gavin being shot, Billy's health and how she was feeling now... so similar to how she felt carrying Gavin... Aurora began to question the wisdom of their current plan.  Silently she resolved that upon waking up, she and Ori would have another discussion.  There might, after all, be more than one way to skin a Godfather - even in Venice.

Oriana knocked twice, but she was already walking into Rora's bedroom before the sound of the second knock died.

"Hey."

Oriana locked the door behind her, so Brigitte wouldn't follow her in. The blonde had seemed fast asleep, but better to be safe. The assassin quickly spun to sit on the edge of the bed facing away from Aurora, so the older woman would still have her privacy. Ori sat with her elbows resting on her knees and her laced hands under her chin.

"So what's going on at home?"

Aurora looked at Oriana.  Dare she hope for Tara to have gotten a crush on a girl who could return her feelings?  Or was this concern practical?  Or just the worry for a friend who had been kind to her?  It was an odd thing to focus on at this moment, the desire for Oriana to be here worried about Tara, but perhaps she was just that desperate for some good news that even such a small thing was better than nothing?

Aurora put Oriana's fears to rest quickly, "Gavin,"  she said softly.  "He survived a bullet to the gut, but it's clear there really is nothing sacred to this fucker.  If hitting poor Angie at her home wasn't bad enough now he tries to have men pick off my sweet bambino, the kindest most gentle soul who ever breathed. He used to cry if someone squished bugs rather than carrying them outside, he can't bear hunting for fear that an animal might suffer if you don't make a clean shot.  He's never shown any signs that he wanted anything to do with the life... he's a genuinely good man who has only ever wanted to work an honest day and take care of his family." 

Emotions were rising in her tone, she tried to push them down but it did nothing for her blood pressure.  She was sure of it now.  These were the same symptoms she'd felt with Gavin.  She was younger then, stronger, what it did it mean for her at this age?  For her child?  She could only guess.  She should see a doctor, but in the middle of this, that wasn't happening.  

Aurora paused before she went on, "Billy's heart... there's something happening to it.  The doctors, they're worried about the stress and how it's affecting him, of course, it's not as though he can just slow down or stop worrying when people are shooting at all of us."    She shook her head, "He won't stop worrying until I and his kids are safely back at home."

Oriana had heard it.  She watched the other woman freeze.  She was obviously wondering if she'd meant that another of the kids had gone off somewhere or if she'd just admitted...

"And I'm realizing tonight that this pregnancy isn't going to be an easy one so things just got a lot more complex here too."

When Oriana looked at her she nodded.

"Two and a half months.  Just found out a week ago.  Hadn't even told the kids yet.  Most of them were really simple, with no complications.  I could have taken contracts the whole time I was carrying them. I was out hunting and training even on the days I pushed them out ... all except Gavin.  I was hypertensive in that pregnancy... bad.  Nearly killed Gavin and me, but that was so long ago.  I've had two pregnancies since then so, I didn't think that I had to worry about it."

She closed her eyes trying to hold back the tears, "Apparently, this one is taking after her brother.  I didn't tell Billy I had suspected I was hypertensive again, I had hoped that fainting over the news that Will had been killed was just me going into shock."  She shook her head, "I'm sure of things now.  I nearly fainted again when I heard about Gavin being shot."  

She sighed.

"Physically everyone else back home is okay."  

Tara is okay, Oriana.

"But Mattaranzi has to know I'm coming for him now.  With my family's history, and my own personal history here in Italy, he's expecting me.  I know he has to be waiting for us.  This ... this isn't a hit anymore.  It's a trap.  We have to ... change plans or accept that there's a very real possibility we don't walk out and I promised Billy and the kids I'd do everything to come back to them so... I don't have the luxury of hunting this fucker and watching him die slowly for what he's done.  This mission is now officially about ending a threat as fast as possible and with as few losses as we can manage."

Aurora sat up.

"We need help.  Normally I'd tell you to take my daughter on a plane home to her family - get you out of the line of fire and try to slip in and out... just kill the old man.  Twenty years ago... maybe even ten years ago... I could have been sure of my ability to do it.  Now, in this condition, it's a non-starter."

She shakes her head.

"I'd ask you, you're capable of it I'm sure... but if something were to happen to you, I'd never be able to look at Tara again.  She'd be right in assuming that because I don't know you so well that I had weighed your life against my want for vendetta and made the most horrible choice ever.  So... that's off the table."

She wet her lips and sighed.

"I have a thought.  It's crazy, at least, for me it is.  All my life I've thought of Will as the natural heir to my mother and my Aunt's many gifts... Billy has always said otherwise, but I know he says it out of love.  Love makes people stupid.  The truth is that I'm far better at killing men than manipulating them.  I'm far better off sticking to cold steel and hard truths.  It's not always as pretty, and it certainly has put more lead into my body, but at least I always know what to expect."

She chortled. 

"Poor Tara, that girl is just like me."  Rora put a hand to her mouth and tried not to think about that night in the woods when she'd thrown her father's knife and all that Tara had seen and heard.  Her hand moved up and rubbed the bridge of her nose, trying to will away the dizziness.

"Truth is my strength.  I think... I think you should be my bodyguard for the rest of this trip.  I think I should try to sit down with some of the other Dons here in Venice.  I need to tell them what's happened, the delicate state I'm in, how I want nothing but to raise my family in peace an ocean away from them but the old man has lost his mind.  He's gone far beyond vendetta for a daughter who chose to run off and join the life.  My father's death should have been enough to balance the books or Will's... or Volkov's but Angie too?  And now Gavin?"

"He goes too far now.  He ignores Omerta and now the American families are looking here to Italy.  They may not fear Billy and I but if there is one thing you can bet on... none of the families are ignoring what the Venitians are doing to us.  And they're all thinking that if Venice has such balls to do this to us... then they might do it to them too.  Venice is making enemies.  They do not want the American Mafia to stop doing business with them out of fear of this sort of chaos.  Order is what makes the wheels of commerce turn.  No.  I think I can get them to turn on their own and kill him for us."

Aurora drew breath.

"I have sympathy on my side, I have the fact that I am a woman, I have that I descend from noteworthy families here in the Old Country.  I also have shit tons of money and weapons and I can make the point that I'm willing to give both to whatever family steps up first to end this man so I can go home to my husband and children the way I want.  That if I must stay here, to ensure the safety of my family, I will make sure that the American families realize that Venice could not take care of it's own problems and that ... of course ... is bad for all of them.  They may not like American Mobsters but they need our money.  They need our guns."

Aurora nods, "If I were mom or Aunt Tara, I know this would work... they could sell ketchup popsicles to Eskimos in white.  But me... I've never done shit like this before, so I need some perspective Oriana.  I need you to be honest with me... does giving a fortune and an arsenal to the Venetian families in exchange for their help in killing my enemies make sense?  Or... more importantly, am I insane for thinking I can do it?"  

Oriana's face was expressionless as she heard about Gavin. He might be the sweetest kid ever, based on what his mother was saying, but Billy had still called him off the bench for this one. He was involved. Billy's heart... another factor for the mission. She'd have to consider holding back information, in certain circumstances. 

More complications.

And then, pregnancy complications.

"I know you'll probably reject this, but take a minute and honestly think about it? You should at least consider taking Brigitte home and letting me handle this. You being home is safer for you, especially if you might become medically compromised. Safer for Brigitte as well- and less stressful for Billy. I'm used to working alone."

"If Billy didn't tell you to screw the other leads, then we should stick to the mission. If it's a trap, we'll plan some surprises of our own, but I don't like the idea of skipping steps. Maybe one of them is a dead end, but if Mattaranzi has a fortress, we need information. I hate to say it, but this mission has always been about "ending a threat as possible and with as few losses as we can manage". Charging in unprepared... definitely the quickest way to end it."

She kept her tone respectful, a colleague sharing her thoughts, the way doctors would ask for a second opinion.

"We might need help, though. I don't trust anyone local, but I can try calling a couple guys I know in Milan. Mattaranzi put them out of business, killed one of their friends. They hate the guy. Even if they hang back with Brigitte, it'd make me feel better to have a few more guns. This isn't an infiltration anymore, like you said."

"If something were to happen to you, I'd never be able to look at Tara again."

The girl really did get attached to friends fast. Or- no, the mission.

"I need you to be honest with me... does giving a fortune and an arsenal to the Venetian families in exchange for their help in killing my enemies make sense?  Or... more importantly, am I insane for thinking I can do it?"  

"Yes, I think you're insane- but only partially. The only Dons here in Venice were authed by Mattaranzi. It's possible we can find a weak link... but most crewleaders would rather die than turn on their Godfather; even if they think he went too far, he's run this city for decades. I'm not rejecting your idea, just... Venice is his. But Milan? Bologna? They're not as powerful as Mattaranzi, but they probably don't like the attention they're getting, either. Mattaranzi's actions reflect on all of them; maybe he's gone far enough that they'd be willing to help? Milan's only 3 or so hours away. Those families don't want more attention from America, and they don't want it from their own government, either. Off the top of my head, if you met with the Venetian dons, half of them would try to kill you during the meeting, another would try to lie to you and betray you later, and maybe one would listen to you. But Milan? More than half would probably join you, and the others would be more likely to stay neutral than betray you. If you offer them Venice..."

Oriana still didn't turn around, leaving Rora her privacy.

"... I think it could work. But I still think we should spring the trap at the cafe tomorrow first."

Aurora nods.  "Spring the trap.  Question whatever survives.  Change up the plan.  Us outside, Brigitte inside.  When the shooting starts, Brigitte goes out the back an gets the car.  We take our hostage and we see if we can't find some sort of angle we didn't have before.  If that fails then we look at other means and methods... maybe the outside help."

She puts a hand on Oriana's shoulder.  "Thank you.  I needed a sounding board tonight.  I'm actually calmer already.  No coffee for me in the morning."  she chuckled.

"Get some rest.  We'll both have to be on our best tomorrow."  Aurora hesitated and then said, "If you want to call Tara it's only like eight over there.  She's had a really hard day.  She might like to hear from you too.  I can give you the number."

Oriana paused, and Rora saw the girl bite her lower lip for a moment before standing and speaking.

"I... don't think that's wise. If she had a hard day, I'm not sure what I'd even say. I'll focus on the mission."

"You might listen to her ramble.  Probably tell you things you can't do anything about, but it's not about what a person says in moments like these... it's more about hearing the other person's voice so tomorrow your mind isn't wandering.  Of course, it's your call.  I get not wanting the distraction.  Not everyone is like me ... the wondering, the worry, I find it's worse than the knowing."

She shrugs.

"Just thought I'd offer."

"I guess that makes sense. Um."

Oriana paused at the door. She didn't need a distraction; she needed to focus on the mission. 

"Maybe tomorrow."

Venice 2:07 AM Local Time

Brigitte woke to the sound of a loud banging at the front door of the apartment. She scurried to the side of the bed and picked up a nightgown quickly while she slipped the nightstand drawer open and grabbed her knife. Slowly, and as quietly as she could she made her way toward her bedroom door and opened it.

"Mom?" She whispered as loudly as she would dare to get her mother's attention. She couldn't see in the dark, but she heard the bang on the door again. A muffled voice came through.

"Oriana, I know you are in there, I know you have friends. Don't do anything stupid, come along quietly and we can get you back into the program."

"Oriana?"  Aurora tilted her head to the side, her amber eyes catching the little bit of light coming in from the hallway, shining like the dying embers.  

"If things go bad tomorrow, your job is to get Brigitte home safely and then do what you can to protect my Tara.  Billy won't survive me long, no matter what I want at this point.  Even if he does, he will never be the same man he was & everything will change for my children, just as it did for me."

The pain in her eyes is clear.  She was stuck in what felt like a vicious cycle with no way to break free of it and, perhaps, no hope of sparing her children from it.

"Tara will lead our family.  Any hope my children have a future will rest with her and she'll need someone with your skills at her side.  Promise me that you take these black guns and lose them.  I don't have time to explain what they mean to me - but just trust that it's not a legacy my children need to carry.  Somethings should be buried and left to die."

Aurora shook her head, "I don't know the demons who chased you into our lives Oriana, but ... you're part of this family now for a reason. Perhaps God sent you to us because I couldn't bring myself to prepare my children for this - perhaps you can protect this family if I fail it."

"In any case, for what it's worth I just want you to know ... "

A thunderous authoritative knock on the front door startled Aurora, instantly she grabbed for the guns, unsure of where Ori was by the time she was out of the bed. Brigitte was in the doorway whispering "Mom?" 

"GET IN HERE." Aurora said assertively and pulled her daughter inside, "Into the bathroom, lay in the tub, do NOT lift your head out no matter what!"

Pushing her daughter towards what she hoped was safety if this became a gunfight, she raced after Oriana in nothing but her t-shirt and panties.

Oriana's eyes widened, as a voice that she heard only in dreams seemed to be coming from the hallway. Involuntarily, Oriana's arms wrapped around herself and, for a flash, she looked like a scared fourteen year old girl. Then, realizing what she was doing, Oriana forced her hands back down to her side and set her teeth. She'd moved toward the door immediately, and she saw Rora approaching quickly.

"I'll handle this," said Oriana. Her voice broke. "But we're moving soon; consider us compromised. And..."

There was more banging. Oriana waved Rora away, but she could tell that Oriana looked more animated than usual. Taking a deep breath, and checking the knife at her back, she opened the door, stepped out, and shut it quickly behind her before Rora could be seen.

"Francesco..."

Oriana practically gasped the word, and she knew he could read her eyes like a book. There was fear, yes, hatred, but also desire. Thirst. 

She noticed the two police standing near him.

"... what's... can you send them away? So we can talk... privately? Just down the end of the hall?"

The man blinked, then nodded and waved a hand toward the end of the hall. His next moment would be critical, so he used it to reach out and put both of his hands on Oriana's shoulder's. Touch, it went a long way toward convincing someone you were familiar with them, and they you.

"You've been away too long. I know you have missed being home, and you should not fear retribution, you've done good work while you were away. You've helped us a great deal. Now we have work to get to here."

He nodded once and looked to the police as he lowered his hands and his voice.

"I knew you wouldn't cause trouble. They were here in case the whores you are travelling with decided to get uppity. But I will let you say goodbye to them before we leave. If you would like, I will even take you up on your invitation to have coffee."

He gestured toward the door behind Oriana.

"After you, and then when we are done I will introduce you to the others and you can help them along yourself."

Oriana hated herself for trembling when he rested his hands on her shoulders, the way he always used to. She looked up into his familiar face, and she cursed her eyes for filling with water. Cursed her heart for exploding with joy, even as the uneasy fear in the pit of her stomach chilled her body. 

She could have fought it, probably, and won- but she didn't fight it. She kissed him- perfectly, the way he'd always insisted. Her eyes welled up, and in the back of her mind she wondered if one could cry tears of joy, fear, and rage at the same time.

Then she remembered Lucia, who'd died rescuing Oriana from him- from this- and she remembered Ginevra, and the chill from her gut seemed to move to her brain and help Oriana think just a little more clearly. 

"I was scared, when I left. The other girls came to kill Lucia- they said it was on your orders, but I never believed them. And then I woke up on a bus and I was hurt. At the orphanage, I knew Beatrice was the bad one, that you just wanted to help me. You said it yourself. I believe you. I know you want to help me."

"I... have a mission. A job. Mattaranzi is the target. I know we did jobs to help him in the past, but he's gone rogue. Killed a U.S. Senator and now he's killing children. The Minister of the Interior won't like it; Mattaranzi has gone too far."

Her eyes looked up at him desperately. 

"Let my do what you trained me to do and finish my mission. Remove Mattaranzi. Solve this problem for the Minister and for you as well. When it's done..."

Their eyes were locked; no deceit between the two was possible.

"... I'll come back with you. I promise."

It seemed to break her, as she took the edges of his jacket and pulled herself forward to rest his head on his chest, precisely in the way that she liked it. Her voice was a murmur, even as she could hear his heart beat faster.

"Help me with Mattaranzi. Then I'm yours."