Oriana nearly went in after Brigitte, but she was relieved to see the girl walk out just a few minutes later. The blonde strolled right out the gate and towards Rora's car.

Knowing that Brigitte was safe changed everything for Oriana; the assassin slipped into the shadows near the house and made her way to the rear. One open window- someone was listening to Pagliacci with a light on. Oriana risked a peek inside and saw a woman- probably Olimpia- in a chair. Backtracking slightly allowed her to pick the lock on one of the doors.

A few moments later, she was moved with feline grace through the hallway with her gun in one hand and her knife in the other. Walking into the lit room, she silently locked the door and walked around the chair- and found Olimpia pointed a gun at her as well.

Oriana speaks calmly and lowly so as not to be overheard, with a steady, businesslike tone.

"Buonasera. Make too much noise and you die. Crassly stated, but accurate. I am here not for your life, but for information." She slowly moves toward the window as she speaks.

Olimpia mimics her tone, "Oh good, I thought you were here to save the slut in my son's bed." Olimpia un-cocks the gun and sets it on the side table next to her.

"Ah, you wish you were that lucky- by now they're probably in the shower. The information I'm looking for is about Giancarlo Mattaranzi. You seem intelligent enough to know what a shitshow he started by killing a U.S. senator and his family. Not good for business. I've been hired to remove him. Tell me how."

"Well, you could follow the girl in the morning when his men come to take her away. You could wait a few days and see how his approach to Milan goes. He should probably make his face seen by the people when that's over and he anoints my son in that city. Or, Miss Montini, you could beg Il Duce to add him to his great list of La Cosa Nostra. You do know that Benito is not a fan of our way of life after all yes? Of course, if I were you, I would be a good girl, forget all of this and take Francesco up on his offer of helping your new sisters. He might forgive your indiscretions if you come along like a good girl."

Olimpia resets the needle on the record so the song does not end.

Oriana narrows her eyes. "I'm not a particularly good girl. How do you know Francesco?"

My husband is a Senator. He works for the government. How do you think he gets his funding?"

Oriana shook her head. Goddamn confusing. And Francesco involved, too. She wanted to help Rora and Brigitte and... Tara. But she didn't want to make things difficult for Francesco either.

"What... what do you want?"

"To finish my opera." She gestures to the record.

 "Having an affair of your own isn't enough?"

"Affair? With Francsesco? Oh darling, we're work colleagues, nothing more."

Oriana keeps a steady face, but hates herself for how much she wants to believe that.

"... how did you know my name?"

Olimpia reaches to her desk drawer and pulls out a folder. "I asked."

 "Francesco?"

 Olimpia pulls out a second folder, and then a third, and a fourth.

"And Aurora, and Brigitte, and Billy right?"

"Why go after them? Just for revenge? You seem smarter than that."

"Oh I don't care. But my brother does, and I need him alive for now."

 "Until when? Milan?"

 "Now you're starting to think."

At the car, Aurora gives Brigitte cash, tells her to go to a hotel in the city. Call the apartment in the morning. DO NOT LEAVE. If you can't reach us by noon, call your father for extraction. "I love you Petit Ange." Aurora kisses her daughter and checks her weapons. "Okay mom," murmurs Brigitte. Moving stealthily through the aftermath of the drunken celebration, Rora sticks to the shadows and circles the house to the open window.

 "I was always better at killing than thinking," said Oriana. "So why shouldn't I just fall back on what I'm good at and kill you right now?"

"Because you would piss off the one person in this world who loves you. And Francesco would never forgive you for cutting off his funding and making all of your sisters orphans and useless women."

Oriana freezes as Aurora slides into her view. Oriana speaks low to Aurora without moving her eyes from Olimpia. "Everything okay?" Rora nods once, slow and quiet.

"What was that? You got quiet dear."

"You said you don't care about Giancarlo after Milan. Tell us how to get into his complex and remove him- unseen. And I give you my word that nothing happens to Giancarlo until after your son is presented in Milan."

Olimpia sips her glass of wine, thinking, then nodding. "He attacks Milan in three days. I'll see you at the cafe of Algiso's in two."

Aurora listens and stays out of sight - waiting for the right moment as she unsheathes Gavin's knife.

"I'm not asking for a second date. Give me my way in."

"Two days, or you can figure it out yourself. And you can explain to Francesco why you didn't use your head."

 "I was never very good at that."

00:26 * AuroraMastrosimone[MR] enters the window if it doesn't happen instantly and silently

Oriana leaps forward, her knife gleaming in the single electric light. Olimpia manages to reach the gun, but doesn't even get to turn it as there is a commotion in the hallway. Her throat is split and you hear shouting and stomping in the house. Aurora enters the window as Oriana confirms the kill and gathers up the folders and documents.

From the window, a quiet voice says, "Mom?" Aurora stops suddenly and looks toward the voice as it says "We gotta go." Shocked, Aurora looks at Brigitte, then moves to get her to stay down.

"Mom!" said Brigitte, "he's dead." Aurora takes hold of her daughter.

"What in God's name...." said Aurora, checking her daughter for injuries. Aurora's mouth falls open. "Did you?" Brigitte shakes her head.

"Never got the chance," said Brigitte. "I think it was Algiso."

Oriana finishes gathering up documents and information and heads toward the window, encouraging the Mastrosimones to make their exit. Rora does so as well, and all three make their way to the car. With the commotion inside, there doesn't seem to be anyone left in the remnants of the party. Rora gets behind the wheel and starts the car as Brigitte climbs in the back and Oriana heads into the passenger side.

"I was gonna kill him," said Brigitte softly, "and scream and create a distraction so you guys could get away."

"GOD DAMN IT!" shouted Aurora.

 "But when I got up there, him and Algiso were both dead already." Brigitte wipes away a tear.

"The two of you..." Rora sighs, annoyed. "Putting yourselves in danger like that! YOU COULD HAVE DIED!"

"Hold on," interrupted Oriana. "Brigitte, I just had one of the most frustrating conversations in my life. Rora, shut the fuck up and focus on the mission. Brigitte, take me through it step by step. What happened? You went inside with him..."

Rora sighs, gripping the wheel white knuckle tight, the weight of her father's knife on her calf more pronounced than ever.

Oriana changes her voice to be more soothing, drawing the clear story out of Brigitte.

Brigitte began unsteadily.  "Mom and I were sitting in the car waiting for you. She gave me cash and told me to find a hotel. Do you have any idea where there is a hotel around here? No, didn't think so. So I went back into the house and pretended like I was just getting a glass of water. Guards let me right in and back upstairs. I took the knife you lent me, and when I got into the room, well. Algiso wan on the floor in a pool of his own blood, and Ansovino had a knife in his chest and a gun in his hand. The gun had one of those thingys on the end, I guess it's to keep it quiet."

"So Algiso tries to kill Ansovino, but Ansovino shoots Algiso as he's doing it?" asked Oriana.

Brigitte shrugs. "I guess."

"Were there any exits or windows in the room that someone could have killed them both and escaped before you got in?"

 "If you got stabbed in the chest by your best friend and you had a gun, would you shoot her?"

 "That's what usually happens when my friends stab me." Oriana smirked. She was on cloud nine.

"Oh yeah, there was a window, and a balcony too."

Rora steadies her breath and tries to focus on the road and the plan.

"Okay. Are you hurt at all?" asked Oriana.

 "I saw two dead guys." Brigitte glances at her mom.

"So no. Good," said Oriana.

"And one of them was really nice to me tonight."

"Well, they both worked for the guy who decided he'd be fine blowing up your uncle, his wife, an eight year old, and your other uncle. Hate them It makes it easier."

Rora is staring ahead almost as if possessed.

"Are you ok?" Brigitte asked Rora.  "You look like you saw a ghost in there."

"You're both freaking out actually."

 "Didn't see any ghosts. Just made one. And not freaking out- just making sure I understand."

"Mom?" asked Brigitte.

 "No," said a steady, thoughtful Aurora. She grips the wheel tighter.

 "Next step," said Oriana. "Long road back, make sure we're not followed. Call Billy ASAP. He needs to know that Ansovino is dead. In our defense, at least we didn't kill him." Oriana is smiling, though she's trying to downplay it.

Rora grips the wheel tighter.

 "Oh I'm not calling Dad on this one, you can do it."

Aurora, looking pale, says "No one is calling your father tonight."

 "He needs to know about Ansovino," said Oriana. "It could help whatever else he's working on. What's the matter with you, Rora? That was a clean job.... mostly. The only parts that were messy were the parts that we didn't have anything to do with. We got in, got information, and got out with no injuries and at least one dead enemy."

Brigitte watches as Aurora starts going pale, and the car starts to veer. Oriana lunges for the wheel. 

Rora slows down. "Ori ..."

"MOM?!" asked Brigitte.

Oriana holds onto the wheel, keeping the car steady as it slows down. As soon as it stops, she's going to take over driving. "What, Rora? You're fine. Stay with us, huh?"

Rora blinks and tries to catch her breath as the car comes to a stop.

 Brigitte remains frozen in the backseat. couldn't quite hold it steady as it goes off the road- but not too far.

"What's wrong?" asked Oriana

 "You ... you went off script. We're a... a pack. Family. No ... lone wolves."

Aurora looks at Ori trying to slow her heartrate.

"Ok mom," said Brigette. "I'm sorry. Please, I won't do it again, pro..."

"Deep breaths, Rora."

"Close your eyes."

"You. You could have died..." Rora closes her eyes and does not make clear who she's talking about

"Don't think about that right now. We're all safe. All of us." said Oriana

"Everybody is ok mom, promise, nobody's hurt, we're all ok." added Brigette.

 "BUT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE BEEN!" roared Aurora "And I ... I can't lose anyone... else."

 "So CALM DOWN!" yelled Brigitte. Everyone takes a deep breath. "Sorry mom, but if you don't try to relax you are GOING to lose someone."

Oriana gets out of the car and gently slides Rora to the the passenger side enough that she can squeeze in and drive. Her voice is soothing as she starts up the car.

  "Brigitte, get back in the zone. I'm going to need you to work your magic here and talk your mom down. Nice and calm. Maybe... avoid sensitive topics." That earned a glare from Brigitte.

Rora swallows. "Milan. Airport. Don't risk the drive..."

 "My mom is tougher than that," said Brigitte. She doesn't need kid gloves thank you."

"Well right now she's whiter than an Irish asshole in winter, Brigitte."

 "Stop fighting you two." She says as if talking to Brigitte and Tara.

"Mama? Look at it this way, three down, one to go right?"

 "Milanese Dons. This place is going to be on fire now. We need back up and we can't trust your friend now."

Oriana starts driving to the airport, assuming they're putting Brigitte on a plane. And maybe Rora.

"Almost done, just relax," says Brigitte. "if the next one is half as easy, this will all be over before dad even realizes we're gone that long."

"God knows he won't be able to sleep without you taking up half the bed."

 "The next one will ... take an army." says Aurora.

 "Then we get one in Milan." said Brigitte.

Oriana had been thinking, "Mattaranzi was planning on making a move on Milan. I'm hoping that there's proof of that in these folders. You can talk to them,, we'll show them the proof... and we'll get enough allies to storm Mattaranzi's castle."

Aurora puts her hand over onto Ori's leg. "When people... show you who they are... with actions... believe them."

 "What are you talking about?"

Brigitte nods, but didn't want to ask out loud.

"She was a skilled liar," said Rora, drawing a deep breath. "He's not the only one who cares about you. I won't say more, but... I hope you see that."

Ori froze, confused. She'd assumed that the "lie" was about Francesco being involved with all this.

Rora takes her hand back. "Milan. We'll get an army. And... *I* will talk to my husband."

"No arguments from me," added Brigitte.

Rora  mutters, "I'm still in charge regardless of both of you being stupid fucking heroes tonight..."

 "Do you feel any better?" asked Oriana.

Rora smiles and nods slowly. 

"Only slightly... and only because... you two remind me of two people I once knew a long time ago."

"Good. Brigitte, we're going to take care of you. It sucks, but it gets easier."

Oriana rolls down the window and hits the gas, grinning.

"Because I feel fucking fantastic..."

Aurora  closes her eyes and rests until they get to the airport. She knows calling Billy tonight is going to be the toughest part of this mission yet.

The Mandarin Oriental in Milan was a far cry from the small apartment they'd left behind in Venice.  It was, for one, highly visible and it was - secondarily obscenely expensive.  Lastly, created from four 18th century buildings there were tactical advantages which both Oriana and she agreed made the location ideal for their residence in town.

By now, their actions in Venice were known by Giancarlo and his people were out for blood again.  Hiding would only offer Giancarlo's men a chance to do their work without the Milanese Dons knowing about it... if he were to come for she and the girls, the old man would have to lay siege to a historical icon that brought in thousands of dollars in tourist revenue.  He would incur their wrath not only by attacking three unaccompanied women in their own city - but doing so with a flagrant disregard for the order and illusion of security which the Cosa Nostra so loved.

She wanted the Dons to know she was here, to have time to look into who she was and to invite her to break bread with them.  The fastest way to do that was to put herself and the girls where they could be easily found and met with under a white flag of neutrality and peace.  By first light, the rumors of what they did would be reaching the Milanese.  No one hit a Godfather as powerful as Giancarlo without other families hearing about it - especially when the people said to have committed those murders were foreign women.

That she was here, in Milan, would make them nervous.  They would fear Giancarlo saying they were harboring her or that they put her up to the hit ... though everyone by now knew of his bounty on her head and would KNOW that was utter bunk.  Still, a grain of truth was all the fires of war needed to erupt - especially with Giancarlo having an army at the ready and his pride having been pricked anew.

Unpacking silently, Aurora wondered if the old man knew anything of what happened in Vegas.  Did he know she'd stood up for his daughter at her wedding?  Did he know how much she'd cared for her... and her husband, Silvio?  Catching sight of herself in the mirror she stared for a long while.  Gone was the fresh-faced girl that Silvio had persuaded with such passion... if she closed her eyes now, and she let her mind wander, she could still see the desert sky above her and barely remember the feel of his touch. 

For a long moment, the sounds of the desert at night was all she could hear, the smell of the heat lingering in the air carried her back, the feel of cold steel on her back and the warmth of his unspeakable kisses ... Aurora cleared her throat, sighed, and shook away the amorous touch of the ghost she had not thought about in many long years.

Her amber eyes glistened.  Silvio had saved her, in more ways than one and all she had ever wanted was to give him some small measure of happiness.  She'd prayed back then, as now, that he and Lia had found that for a time before the end.  Aurora believed in True Love, believed in the power of two people and the destiny that pulled them together in spite of everything the world did to keep them apart.  It was a story she'd seen repeated so much in life... in the journal of Lucy DiCaprio and her tale of a love that began in childhood and could not be stopped by time nor space.  It was the story of Marie and Salvatore reuniting even though Marie had moved on believing him dead, it was her parents' story that despite their scars both Bella and Gavin overcame the world by clinging to each other, Silvio and Lia who had despite the intentions of a powerful and ruthless parent ... still came together for a time. 

It was her story... she and her Billy who not death, not all the families of the world who had targeted them, not Satan himself could keep her from - the son of her mother's right hand.  In another life, they would have grown up as playmates.  But the world had conspired to pull them apart and even when they found each other all those years later at Hollowpoint - it tried to again with her mother's refusal to give her blessing.  And it tried again when the Conti family took her.  And again when she thought Billy was dead.  And again with countless conflicts since then... but her Billy would always find her.  In this, Aurora put all faith. 

Her youthful beauty wasn't the only thing that had faltered over time.  The atheist realist of her childhood had also melted away revealing a faithful romantic who not only believed in God, but that HIS hand sheltered her through all these storms.  Even this one.  Aurora Luciano Byrne Mastrosimone, the Lioness of Race Street, was a survivor and her family would survive this, just as they had survived all the conflicts of the past.  She would accept no other outcome.

Looking away from the mirror she finished putting her things away and yawned.  Outside, despite the dark, she could hear the lark's song.  Dawn was coming fast.  The day was going to begin and she was weary, though she had done little tonight.  Frustration at her inability to go days and days without rest rose up in her for not the first time on this trip.  She crossed the room to the patio doors and stepped outside.  Settling into a chair she thought to just breathe the cool morning air for a while, to wake up.  Instead, she dozed off.  The same nightmare she'd been having every time she closed her eyes played on repeat. 

Will smiled at Angie, both aglow with love for one another and their happy life.  He turned the key and then died scream, burning alive.  The flesh melting off his bones - his wails in her ears.  And through the flames, she could see the anguished faces of her parents staring at her.  She had failed.  She had failed at her most important mission in life, a thing they had tasked her with both on the first morning she'd met William & both with their dying breaths. 

Protect your brother.

Rora's body was restless in the chair, soft moans and whimpers came from her lips as her mind played the death she could not stop - a death her pride had caused, again and again.

Oriana hated Rora's decision about where to stay.

Fucking. Hated it. 

She felt naked, weaponless; all their enemies knew where they were. For Oriana, who preferred to work in the shadows, it was hell. She understood the rationale, but that didn't mean she had to like it.

Mostly, she tried to sleep to past the time; she hadn't truly slept since leaving Philly with Tara Camping with Tara, Oriana had had nightmares, but now she slept peacefully- albeit with a twisted, snakelike smile on her face. Why had she run from Francesco in the first place? Mostly, Francesco dominated her dreams; she often woke up expecting to find him standing and waiting for her, the way he had so many times. Still, there were other dreams. Lucia stroking her hair. Tara, kissing Oriana's forehead after binding her. They intruded in quieter moments, but they were always chased away by the bloody, bestial romps of Francesco. 

Aurora seemed focused on diplomacy. Winning allies. If Oriana had her way, they'd be pointed directly at Mattaranzi. Finishing him now would finish the family- end this. 

Oriana was troubled by Olimpia's mention of Francesco; he'd never been a criminal. Willing to bend rules, sure. But he'd always served the government- or at least the Minister. She wished she could leave the room, track him down. Get more answers.

Brigitte, understandably, was rattled by what had occurred. Oriana did her best to support her. 

Oriana's Beretta leaped out of its holster when she heard the noises in the early hours of the morning. Rora? Oriana moved silently toward the woman's room, glancing inside. There were good moans and bad moans. If they were good, Oriana would clear out. Bad, and she'd see what was up.

"No. No. Will. Nooooo-"

Bad moans. Oriana holstered her gun and walked over to Aurora, gently shaking the older woman and ready to jump back if she woke up holding a knife.

"Hey. Wake up."

Aurora shot awake, her father's knife in her hand, white knuckle tight - but years of having children kept her from swiping until she knew her target.  Practice, muscle memory, and instincts, not real intellect.  

Hotel.  Milan.  Oriana, friend. Safe. 

It took her only a second to put the weapon down from a readied position, realizing that her heart was racing, realizing that it was her own nightmare which had put her into a fighting state of mind.  

"Oriana..."  She said the girl's name as if trying to make her more real, chasing away the last vestiges of the nightmarish apparitions.  Her chin fell and her dark hair cascaded around her face like a curtain.

"Is everything okay?"  She asked trying to calm down and wake up fully.

"Yea. You were moaning. Didn't interrupt you right away- wasn't sure if Billy was on the phone- but I wanted to stop you before you woke up Brigitte. She finally fell asleep."

Brigitte, after everything she'd seen on the mission, was rattled. Oriana had tried to support her... but it was hard to handle some things the first time. Oriana couldn't remember the first time she'd seen a dead body. And as much as she hated to admit it, she couldn't even perfectly recall the first time she'd killed. There was one in Rome. Another in Tuscany. Things get fuzzy when you never talk about them.

"Speaking of, did you call Billy yet? We've got to update him ASAP. I've also been reading these folders... got some more information here for you, if you're up."

Aurora's eyes had finally sharpened, and she saw that Oriana was still dressed the same she'd been from the job. She was also still wearing the same excited smile, albeit a more tired one.

"You look like you kept watch last night for us... maybe it's your turn to sleep now?  I can't have my muscle looking tired when the Dons call me to sit with them.  I might need to demonstrate how serious we are, sexist assholes sometimes require demonstrations of might before they are willing to hear a woman's words.  I need you on your a-game."

Aurora rose up and walked over to the dresser where she'd put her things and for the first time this trip, produced a dress.  She sighed at the sight of it.  

"You can't wear that, silly!"  Aurora said bouncing on Tara's bed.

Tara arched an eyebrow at her young niece.  "And why not?"

"We're playing work.  You need to wear work clothes."

Tara chuckled, walking over to her bed with dress in hand, she kissed the overly excitable child on her brow.  "You're right, these aren't work clothes like your father wears.  They're better."  She smirked playfully, "These are my war clothes." 

Dropping the dress she grabbed Aurora and began to tickle her mercilessly.  When she stopped she was pinning Aurora down and smiling at her.  "Your father can stop half a dozen bad men in his work clothes on a good day... me?  In my war clothes I can stop whole armies by talking to the right person at the right time and best of all, I can do it without even picking up a gun."

Aurora narrowed her eyes.  "No way."

"Way.  And if you listen close today, maybe you'll learn a little bit about how I do it.  Would like that, Aurora?"

Aurora smiled brightly, "YES!"

"I called home last night."  Aurora began, her voice low enough not to be heard in the next room where her daughter was asleep.  "Tara answered.  Billy was finally sleeping, him and Malcolm both actually.  I gave her the vital changes to our situation, told her to tell Billy that I'd call again in a few hours.  He's not been sleeping. I wanted him to get some rest.  His heart needs it."

"So," she walked towards her bed and put down the clothing she intended to wear.  "What have you found in those folders?"

"I was thinking about that. On the one hand, having a man with us could make it easier for them to listen. On the other hand... fuck that."

She shrugged. 

"And I'm always on my A-game."

Oriana was in an arm chair, and she'd twisted so that her head draped over one side and her crossed legs hung over the other. Since the night at Ansovino's, she been as relaxed as Aurora had ever seen her, outside of combat.

When Aurora was sleeping, Oriana had been reading. As soon as Brigitte and Aurora had left for their beds, Oriana had ripped open the folders. There were five: Oriana, Billy, Aurora, Brigitte, and Ave Capua. Oriana had looked at her own to begin, desperately flipping through it until she found the line "Parents/Family: N/A". After that, she'd skimmed more slowly.

"One file each on the three of us and Billy; I'll get to the last one later. They had info on all of us. Mostly stuff that I'd read before. But ah, one thing you'll really want to call Billy about... so the US government was paying for Will Byrne and his family to live in Hollowood. Billy owns the deed. Now Billy paid all his taxes and everything, but since the government has been paying the rent for Hollowood they've got the legal right to search it- and they might do more digging now  that Will's dead and they don't have anyone stopping them. Our friend Olimpia wrote a note down you should see..."

She handed the file to Aurora, pointing out the line that read Have Jim unload some excess cargo to be shipped to that house in Billy Mastrosimone's name. Tip the Mole off to the cargo. Should put him behind bars.

"You should call Billy and tell him. Whoever the Mole is, they're going to try to frame him up."

Oriana kicked her legs and flipped their positions with a grin.

"I also have our next target: Ave Capua. She's Mattaranzi's LHM, and she's been the one growing their power and pushing for the move on Milan. My two cents: she needs to go if Mattaranzi goes down, otherwise she'll just regroup and get revenge. It's clear from her approach that she was going to put Ansovino in charge, then marry him... although it seems like she is or was Mattaranzi's Obviously, Olimpia saw her as a threat. Ave has no formal training... arranged her husband's suicide to take his spot... mid 30s, long brown hair, around 5'6", 150 pounds. Sticks close to Giancarlo, doesn't have any other locations she appears at regularly. Got her own bodyguards, and..."

Oriana looked up at Aurora.

"... she lives at the Mattaranzi compound in Favaro Veneto. Address included."

Aurora's face went through several expressions, serious thought, a confusion that might have looked like she was going to interject with a question or two at one point, and then finally a smile.

"Alright, I'll say it... Good work Oriana.  If I'm being honest I would have done the same as you and gone after Olimpia too, all of this is just more complicated with Brigitte here.  She's smart and capable but she's my kid.  I have a hard time thinking about her as anything but needing protection and I feel only slightly less worried for you."

She nodded to herself, "But between your prowess and this ... these files of yours, I can see that my instinct are off.  I motivated by my fears right now, and a fair amount of hormones no doubt.  I need to lean more heavily on my logic rather than feelings right now.  Clearly.  Thank you for being here.  You've greatly increased our chances of success."

"I'll call Billy after I'm dressed and after you explain to me what you meant by 'stuff you've read before' ... did the person who hired you to kill me give you information about my family?  If so... what did they share?  I'm curious to know what others think they know about my family."

"I have a hard time thinking about her as anything but needing protection and I feel only slightly less worried for you."

"You should feel a lot less worried for me, just for the record. I can take care of myself."

Still, she practically purred with the praise about increasing chances of success. Oriana was generally aware of people complimenting her to manipulate her, especially considering her upbringing, but that didn't mean she didn't like it. She'd thirsted for praise her whole life, and although the fact that it was coming from Aurora instead of Francesco was disappointing, it didn't mean she ignored it.

"When Mari- and we can still try to hit him too, by the way- hired me to kill you, he only gave me the basics."

Oriana paused, thinking. How much should share? Whatever, didn't matter.

"I read your journal, the one you gave Tara. She offered to read it out loud to me, for the record, but I borrowed it and read it myself. I think Tara wanted to make sure I understood you so I wouldn't stab you again."

As Oriana remembered Tara beckoning Oriana to her bed to sit next to her, no doubt wanting to read her to sleep, and the reality of Tara waking up to find Ori not only there, but mostly done with the journal, she couldn't help but smile. Her expression changed; previously, Oriana had been wearing a smile that looked like it'd been burned onto her face, with some of the blaze left over behind her eyes. Now, the fire faded and Ori seemed to relax, at least slightly. Thinking about Tara reminded her of Lucia. God, Oriana missed her. She'd been her only real friend for just about her whole life. He killed her. Francesco killed her. He was lying about his death. How could she believe that lying sack of shit. The next time she saw him she'd put a fucking knife through his-

As Oriana bared her teeth with anger, Aurora took a step back. Oriana raised her hands apologetically; she didn't blame the older woman. How long had she spaced out for there?

"Uh... sorry. I'm tired- started thinking about something and got lost in a memory. But yea, Tara... wanted me to understand you, I think."

"I read your journal, the one you gave Tara. She offered to read it out loud to me, for the record, but I borrowed it and read it myself. I think Tara wanted to make sure I understood you so I wouldn't stab you again."

Aurora's mouth opened slightly.  There was a pain of betrayal in her eyes, but only for a moment.  The lioness closed her eyes and mouth, biting her bottom lip, as she reflected on the fullness of the picture from Tara's perspective. 

Silence.

Aurora opened her eyes and looked at Oriana who was clearly lost in her own thoughts - angry?

"Uh... sorry. I'm tired- started thinking about something and got lost in a memory. But yea, Tara... wanted me to understand you, I think."

Walking over to the door to the other room she opened it and peeked out to see Brigitte soundly sleeping.  She closed the door again and came back inside.  "When I found Tara had shown that to her siblings I was... upset.  Showing it to you though..."  She shook her head.  "No offense, but I don't know how I feel about you knowing my life experiences and thoughts about those things.  It's more than I would have shared with my children while I was still alive.  And I know Tara cares a lot about you and that she's chosen to put her trust in you, but I wish she'd asked me before letting you into my head like that."

She sighed and sat on the edge of the bed.

"Maybe I should have taken the books back.  I suppose I just thought she would understand that giving someone that kind of knowledge was dangerous - not just to me but to our whole family.  Obviously I need to talk to her some more about Omerta."

Aurora folded her hands in front of her, leaning out over her knees, "I feel rather exposed.  There are very few people who know me the way that journal would someone know me.  Billy hasn't even read it, though he lived a large chunk of it - there are parts of me in there that he still doesn't know.  My years working alone, before he and I became involved mostly.  A lot of dead bodies in that part of my story.  I saw a different future life for myself back then, one that maybe looks a little more like the one you've been living.  I sure as hell never dreamed of having a family, definitely not half a dozen kids... no white picket fences.  That was William's future.  He was going to make sure my parent's bloodline didn't die with him."

She looked at the floor and her brow furrowed with bitterness.  "The world needed more children with Gavin and Bella's blood than Marie and Salvatore's."  She wet her lips.  "I can only hope..."  The words choked off and she closed her eyes.  She drew a breath to steady herself.  The girl already thought her soft.  She didn't need to further the image.

She cleared her throat, "Before we go to meet with the Dons... I need to know some things about you that I wasn't going to ask, but seeing how you know every secret I ever thought to hide in a journal not meant to be read until I was dead, I don't feel as bad asking."

Her amber eyes came up to meet Oriana's.  "The agency you worked for, Francesco and his people, what's the odds they come for you either to reacquire you or dispose of a potential threat to what they're doing.  Cause, I realize we did not do as he asked - we left.  And I have the distinct impression from how you take orders, from your demeanor and skills, that he's not a man who often disobeyed.  I need to know what we might expect from having taken this course of action - so we can prepare to protect ourselves."

"No offense, but I don't know how I feel about knowing your life experiences either. But if it makes you feel any better, it has actually benefitted you. Helped me understand you better, about the blank check you offered me. Helped me realize that I had to get Tara back to you quickly after what happened with your brother. And it helped me to not shoot you in the face when I saw you in the window last night, because I was expecting you to not be able to stay in the car and come after me."

Oriana shrugged.

"Tara wants to turn me into you, I think. Assassin with a heart of gold. She's not an idiot- must have thought about it and decided this was her best move. She needed a friend. It worked, I guess. And, uh, I do recall that when you broke a promise to me to keep something secret, your husband made the point that there were no secrets between family and that I was now family, so... I wouldn't be too hard on the kid."

She stiffened noticeably when Francesco was mentioned, almost as if she stood straight at attention by the presence of the name alone.

"Francesco will come for me; I know he will. I'm... a little concerned about this whole business of him working with Olimpia. It's not like him to do that. He was a government man, not one who'd work with criminals. Send us to kill them, sure, if they became a big enough issue..."

"He'll understand why we left, I'm sure. Besides, he was going to get us to Milan, and he we are. I'll... just have to make it up to him."

Her voice got somewhat quieter.

"He'll understand. And maybe he'll help us some other way."

Aurora kept looking steadily at Oriana, who'd looked down to inspect her fingernails. Eventually, Oriana sighed. 

"Fine. In terms of resources... there's two other girls from my 'group'. Viola and Serena. Viola is... actually nice. Nicer than me."

Not as nice as Lucia, but no one else was close.

"Serena's a bitch. They'd be the only mature operatives. Olimpia said that he was training a new group, but I don't believe her."

"The assassins who killed my brothers & Angie were women."  She said flatly.  "Now you tell me two of your team are alive.  And now we know Francesco had some ties to the family of Mataranzi.  We'd be foolish not to consider it was them.  After all, you were tracked down and offered one-hundred million for my head, yes?"

"Whoever got the better of Volkov did so because they had logged at least as many hours as him and had better resources and support considering the nature of the bomb used.  The list of trained female assassins in the world is a short one.  The list of female assassins who could get the better of Volkov, even shorter.  Two of them might be having this conversation."

Aurora expected Oriana probably wanted to interject but pressed on, "Even if I'm wrong, it seems unwise to put our heads in the sand about the possibility that your team is the enemies of my family just because Francesco worked with the government and not criminals in the past."

"If there is anything life has taught me its that government officials ARE criminals... just in nicer suits... and that things do change.  I don't know how long you've been away from your old team, but chances are good a lot could have happened even in a very small amount of time.  Especially after their best operative left.  Who knows what impact your departure might have had on their ability to keep support and get funding from the state?"

"Francesco might have had to make some tough calls.  He wouldn't be the first man to think that the ends justify the means.  After all, *IF* your teamates took out my brother, they just displayed to the world their ability to successfully perform a hit on, not just a government official from a foreign country, but one of the most feared countries in the world since the Great War."

Aurora tilted her head to the side her voice trying to be compassionate and empathic, "You've changed, maybe a lot, since you came into the group?  Perhaps he and the team have too?  You have to consider that maybe making him understand isn't going to be possible and trying might not be in your or our best interests.  And you don't strike me as someone who can live with being a martyr ... going back to be an obedient soldier in the possibly vain hope that he agrees to disengage with whatever he's started with Mataranzi.  More importantly, if he's the sort of man I suspect he is, if he got into bed with criminals to keep his team going, he's not likely to stop for anyone."

She sat up straighter again.  "So... let's make the assumption he is working with or for Matranzi.  What's his play?  You know him better than anyone.  One of the great secrets of being trained to the level of competence you have is that the connection between mentor and trainee goes both ways.  Many people only see it as a one-way bond... but you have knowledge about him, and that IS power."

"We've fucked Giancarlo's plan on some level, have inside information, surely he'll realize we at least questioned her sister before we let her die.  She was a chatty cunt, too proud of her power by half, they'll know she said too much.  Question is: With the board set the way it is, what play will he suggest to the old man?  Tell him to delay his move on Milan?  Send assassins instead of an army?  Maybe just recall Serena and Viola to come after you and I before we can cause any real damage to his agenda?  Or something else entirely..."

Oriana looked steadily back at Aurora.

"There are a lot of female assassins in the world. You and me, as you said. Shit, we just killed another one last night. There's no need to assume that it'd be them, either. If you want, I can ask about it. It doesn't sound like the sort of jobs we would do in the past- at all."

She bit her lip, thinking.

"Although neither does Francesco working with a bitch like Olimpia. Fine, we can't rule it out."

Oriana would give Aurora that much, at least.

"But... Francesco..."

loves me.

Doesn't matter. Aurora wouldn't understand.

"I guess he might just be looking to move up in the world? I don't know. He always seemed content with me- with our team. I know what he likes, but he never really talked about what he wanted. I could seduce him in twenty seconds, but... he just never talked about the big picture beyond our team. There wasn't one."

"The team might BE his bigger picture.  Some men build things, families and teams.  They like to be known not just as powerful people but as people who command power.  People to whom greatness is obedient.  After all, a great man is a hero, a man who has the obedience and love of heroes... well, that person is much more."

She shrugged.

"Some men inspire the best in the people they bring together.  They stand on those shoulders to reach heights that they themselves couldn't have ever hoped to reach alone.  It's why the Cosa Nostra asks for a life long commitment from those who become Made Men.  It's not just about the sentimental idea of a family... it's the fear of losing the power you gain by having greatness obedient to you.  Of course, there are exceptions, but you've read my journal... and even people, people I would call good and kind and wise, have had moments I'm not proud of."

Aurora would not say who and what those moments were, she would let Oriana make her own assumptions.

"Still, your loyalty to him is a credit to both your character and his ability to lead effectively.  It doesn't tell me the sort of leader, the sort of man, he is... but it does tell me that I should not underestimate the important role he likely plays in the life of every member of your team... and you.  I think you care about him and, if you do, it probably pains you to think of him being at odds with your new life.  It complicates things, doesn't it?"    

"... yes."

Bella had always chattered.  Her mother was the queen of exposition, talking on and on to the point that it was a joke with Aurora and her father about Bella's lectures being more painful to endure than any punishment Gavin had ever invented.  But there was a reason why Gavin found those things painful to endure, more than Rora did. 

Gavin might not say much when her mother spoke, but he always thought.  Just as Volkov did when she talked.  And now, here was Oriana, as verbally inclined as the other two assassins she knew in her life and she was SURE the girl wasn't likely to open up and spill her heart before her... pressing her to do so wouldn't help either.  But being open... honest... talking to her might make her do as Gavin and Volkov would.  Perhaps she'd think.

Aurora wasn't gifted like Bella, or Tara, or William at saying the right things.  More often than not she'd made a mess of things when she tried this sort of thing.  And yet, there were a handful of moments, rare as they were they were special, that Aurora had connected with people in a way that might have changed them for the better.  Volkov had been her greatest success.  Thinking of that now, only made the loss of him all the more painful.

"Life is a strange journey.  I find myself thinking that more and more over the forty years I've spent on this earth.  I began life with a clear road in front of me.  I should have the heiress to a great empire.  My father's murder of my mother changed that path.  But I was given another path on Race Street."

Aurora chuffed, "Billy's love changed that too.  And again my path twisted upon my mother's sacrifice and once more upon meeting Volkov and yet again after the death of my father Gavin.  Each person was my guiding star for a time and I loyally followed the course they illumed for me.  I've spun round and round, twisting and turning in the winds so often that I have had moments where I wondered if I knew myself at all."

A silence hung between the women for a while.  "Francesco was your star and I suspect you love him as I loved Gavin in his time, and Billy now.  If my father were to walk through that door and give me an order, I think you know what I'd do.  And if that order countermanded Billy, there was a time in my life when it would have thrown me into such a devastating state. I might not have been able to function properly if I hadn't found my own star by which to navigate this life."

Aurora touched the space above her heart.

"You were right to know I wasn't going to stay in the car.  The journal served you well in that regard, but that's not something Gavin or Billy... or any other mentor I ever had, taught me.  That's ME.  It's who I am.  It's shown through in small moments, generally when I've been at my best."

She looked down, feeling ashamed, "But I couldn't see it.  I was blessed with so many good people in my life who were willing and able to take the helm, that all I ever had to do was trust in them to tell me what to do next.  I knew these people I loved and respected would always have the answers and I never sought to make myself the master of any vessel, not even my own.  That's why at the end of the journal you read I was so damn lost.  I was adrift in the world, alone even beside my husband and children - but thankfully the story didn't end there."

"For five years we lived in the woods.  If I'm honest, it was a good life.  Simple.  Quiet.  I had children who needed me.  I had a husband who loved me.  We had food and shelter... we had no real needs and our enemies had no idea where we were.  And yet, I was miserable.  I toiled every day with chores I resented, raising children instead of hunting my enemies, and ... feeling as though I had lost a war I hadn't even been able to begin fighting.  I was jealous of Billy's trips into the city, his connection to the world and life I'd been forced to leave behind.  Even though I was pushing him to step up... I felt like I'd lost all direction of my own.  I'd sacrificed everyone I loved, everything I thought I was, and what was left for me?  What was left of me?  Who the fuck was Aurora Byrne now if not dead so many years earlier?"

The pain in her voice was only controlled by how softly she spoke.

"I'd let my family down.  They were dead.  I was alive.  And I was doing NOTHING.  Why had I run?  Why had I... done any of this?  I hadn't wanted to be a wife and mother.  I sure as fuck hadn't wanted to be a simple housewife... I was a killer.  A predator.  My enemies were laughing at me and I was where?  Cowering in the woods while worms made a good meal of my parents' corpses and my childhood home fell into disrepair."

She sighed.

"So on the fifth anniversary of my father's death, I broke out a bottle of whiskey that I'd taken from his things.  I drank it.  All of it.  And drunk as I ever had been before I stumbled out into the woods and bled my heart of all the venom within it.  I said things, ugly terrible things that I'd only ever allowed myself to think.  My hatred of my life, my choices, and myself."

She swallowed the lump in her throat.

"I wished that I had died rather than living in the place I had found myself.  I hated the dead for leaving me to this fate and I told them as much."  She shook her head.  "At the height of my fury, I threw my father's knife out over a large crag and slipped down myself.  I hit two trees and a large rock for my troubles which was less than I deserved for my childish temper tantrum and for the hurt that I'd inflicted on my daughter who watched & heard the whole damn thing."

"I was out cold for only a moment but when I opened my eyes and began looking for the knife.  I knew the mistake I'd made, I was beside myself.  That knife was the only thing I had left of him after having drunk all his whiskey.  I was frantic, but drunk and disoriented and in the dark... I was useless.  The knife, I thought, was lost forever.  In my mind, I was truly alone."

"The days that followed were some of the worst ones.  I finally resolved that we would probably never go home.  It was a bitter pill to accept.  I didn't want to.  I fought it at times, but I thought less and less about what I'd lost and more about what I had.  I realized I had these people around me who needed a star to follow.  And at times, I was all they had.  Billy spent his days with us working almost constantly, and then he'd be gone to the city.  If I did not set the course for my children, then no one would.  And for the first time, I had to ask myself... who is Aurora?  Who will she teach her children to be?  No one else could tell me that.  I could use all the wisdom given to me by my parents and all my mentors but ... in the end, I could repeat what they did.  I couldn't BE who they were.  I had to find myself."

"That's the long hard process you don't see in that journal.  The mistakes, the victories, the days I will never forget... the ones where I found the woman my parents always knew was there.  The one you see hints of in all my actions in that journal but... never see embraced.  Not completely."

Aurora stood up, picked up her dress, and walked over to the chair where Ori lounged.

"Francesco was your star.  You could make Catalina your new star.... or Billy... or me... but my advice to you is to keep going on the path you started on.  Figure out who Oriana is.  Make mistakes.  Fall backward sometimes, but forgive yourself and never stop trying to go forward.  I know you care about Tara, and my family, and I love you for that and for how much of myself I see in you."  She shook her head, "But I also see how you light up talking about him... and how much he terrifies you as well.  This struggle is your dark night.  I don't know if you find the knife in the darkness and end up back with him... or if you lose it and are forced to find yourself.  Regardless, please know you DO have a choice and if you decide that you don't want to stay here with him, you are NOT alone."

Aurora placed her hand gently on the girl's shoulder.  

"I'm going to go change.  If you... do want to talk more, we'll do that when I come out.  If you don't... the bed is there.  Get a nap.  I won't let you sleep more than a couple of hours.  Less if we get orders from Billy.  Okay?"

Oriana didn't interrupt. She'd read enough about Aurora to understand what was happening here, so she just braced herself to be hit by the wave. She was right about some things, but not everything. Aurora had had so many people in her life that helped her; Oriana had had three. Sister Cristiana and Lucia had cared for her and carved out islands of love and connection, but Francesco was the ocean. Aurora compared Oriana's love for Francesco to the way Aurora had loved Gavin, when in reality it was more like the way Aurora loved Billy, Gavin, and Bella together. And more.

She'd said only two things that had really hit Oriana.

"Francesco was your star."

Oriana was surprised at how wrong this felt. It didn't feel like it was in the past-tense, now that she'd seen him. A week ago, that sentence would have felt like right. Now it felt like a question mark at best.

"I know you care about Tara, and my family, and I love you for that and for how much of myself I see in you." 

In all her life, Oriana had only had three people tell her that they loved her.

Throughout her childhood, it had been Sister Cristiana, after Oriana had sung particularly well, or helped someone, or even just randomly sometimes putting her to bed.

Then it had been Francesco; his love had been something doled out to her like a drug. Just as painful, sometimes, and always just as addictive. But conditional. 

And then, in a way that took Oriana's breath away, she remembered Lucia saying it. She remembered the girl's wide, mischievous grin,  when no one else was around and she could whisper it into Oriana's ear. She remembered the feel of her, her laugh, her fierceness. It hit her like an electric shock, and in remembering that love, she finally put the pieces of the puzzle together. Oriana had gone to Lucia to protect her. Francesco had killed Ginevra. He'd said that she was sick, that it was a mercy killing, but away from Francesco the explanation rang hollow. That last day suddenly made sense to Oriana for the first time. Ginevra had been killed, then Francesco had sent three girls to kill Lucia. Oriana had killed two... but the last one had shot her.

And then she'd woken up on a bus.

Lucia must have taken the guns, held someone hostage, and gotten Oriana to safety. Done something. 

And then Francesco had killed Lucia for it. For disobeying him, for destroying the program, for sending Oriana away.

For jealousy.

Francesco had killed Lucia for protecting her. Or Lucia had died to protect her. They both felt right. 

Oriana was suddenly consumed by the desire to see Lucia again- and to ask Francesco some very pointed questions.

If she could even trust the answers. Every time she looked at him, ten years of conditioning took over her mind. She'd think about him later.

For now, she indulged in the memories of the only real friend she'd had since she was 12. 

Aurora must have seen something in Oriana's eyes, because the older woman leaned forward expectantly. But Oriana didn't even know how to start putting what she felt into words. To start, she closed her mouth, which was hanging slightly ajar. But Aurora was standing; she rested her hand on Oriana's shoulder and walked away.

Oriana spoke to Aurora as she was leaving.

"Thank you. For sharing all that."

When Aurora came back, Oriana was asleep. 

Oriana walks into the room dressed in a hotel bathrobe with her hair up in a towel.

Aurora had heard the shower turn on. She looked at the clock and decided that maybe it was time to try to reach Billy again. Picking up the phone she dialed home and waited to be connected. After a short while, Tara answered. The conversation had been going on for some time, when Oriana emerged.

Aurora says, "I'm glad he's talking, even if it's only a little. Progress is progress. Please, keep doing what you're doing. He needs someone."

Aurora was silent, listening to Tara explain more about Malcolm's progress.

Aurora says, "Well, I knew you could handle this. How's Gavin?"

Aurora listens and nods. "But he hasn't woke up yet?"

Aurora sighs.

Oriana returns back to the bathroom. A few minutes later she walks out wearing clothes, but with wet hair. She walks over to the dresser and starts checking her weapons.

Aurora says, "He'll wake up. I know your father is underselling the seriousness but he's not wrong. Gavin will wake up soon. Just keep talking to him. Let him know you're there."

Aurora says, "Yes. Reading to him is nice. Even if he doesn't remember it. Some part of him knows you're there, Tara.

Oriana glances to Aurora.

Aurora says, "Hey um... you know, Oriana is awake now. Did you ... want to talk to her?"

Aurora gives Ori a smile

Oriana raises an eyebrow.

Aurora says, "I realize that, but um..."

Oriana says, "Can I talk to her?"

Aurora laughs

Aurora says, "Yes that was her. I love you, Squirt."

Aurora hands the phone to Ori and leaves her room.  She goes out into the other room with Brigitte.

Oriana takes the phone and lies down on the bed, splaying out her hair so it doesn't dry strangely.

Oriana says, "Hey."

Tara's voice sounds happy, "Hey. How's Italy?"

Oriana says, "Me first. You haven't been practicing, have you?"

Tara says, "Gunplay indoors wasn't something my teacher wanted me to do and my father is convinced I look too much like mom to let out of the house after Gavin was shot - mistaken for Dad. So... no."

Oriana says, "There are silencers in the armory. Earplugs, too. You can get those and practice in the basement. I think I saw a range down there. Sorry about your brother. How do they know he was mistaken for your father?"

Tara says, "They got the bastard who did it."

Oriana says, "Good. And yes, you should stay in the house."

Tara says, "Doc says it went clean through his gut. Nothing short of miraculous it didn't shred something he couldn't live without. Gavin apparently has grandpa's luck."

Oriana says, "Good. He seemed like a good kid. He'll be fine."

Tara says, "He'll have scars... more than the one on his gut, but he will. He'll be okay. A lot going on around here. I'm keeping very busy."

Oriana says, "Yea. Based on what I know about men, he's just waiting for a hot nurse to be there for him to wake up. Have them pop a button. He'll be up in no time."

Aurora laughs. "Or cute waitress... from what I hear he's been seen flirting quite seriously with a waitress at a diner down by the docks."

Oriana says, "Worth a try if nothing else seems to be working. That and prayer."

Tara says, "You're a believer?"

Oriana says, "That's a complicated answer. I guess the simple answer is no. But I know there've been cases where people praying out loud in a group have triggered something in patients in comas or with memory losses- not through divine intervention- but because the act of a repeated ritual often jump-starts the brain. Worth a shot if tits don't work."

Tara laughs.

Oriana says, "It's true."

Tara says, "I'll keep that in mind... tits and prayer." she sighed. "You know, I nearly left the forest and joined a nunnery? I gave it serious thought."

Oriana says, "Why?" Oriana glanced at the clock. She felt a little restless, but where else would she go? Stuck in this damned hotel.

Tara says, "That's also a complicated answer. Simple answer is because the world is so full of darkness and hopelessness that it seemed like a path to do some good. I could study, focus on my faith, and do good works... maybe put some weight on the other side of the cosmic scales for my family. Try to ... be something for someone. For Christ, for the people, I'd help. Living a life of service isn't such a bad thing. We all serve someone in life. It's just a matter of who." She paused before adding, "But in the end I decided ... it wasn't the right choice for me."

Oriana stretches her hand down between her legs, adjusting herself, she reaches down and removes the knife from one of her calves. As she listens to Tara, she plays with the knife, looking at it and occasionally flipping it where it won't hit her if she misses.

Oriana says, "Why not?"

Tara says, "Also complicated." She sighed. "Maybe two reasons for it though? I think I wanted to be a nun to hide. Which wasn't a good motive" and I'm sure that God would know I was living a lie on some level. And the second reason ..."  

Tara pauses before she continues, saying, "Brigitte isn't the only one who believes in impossible things. You're right to poke fun of me with the Cinderella story, I want that sort of thing too - that kind of happiness. It's something we have in common. It's just less complicated for her. As a nun I would have had to give up on my dreams of that sort of life. I wasn't ready. I don't know that I ever will be."

Oriana says, "You would have been a shitty nun."

Tara says, "Gee... thanks?"

Oriana says, "They're different from each other. All different sorts. But they're all content. You're too curious."

Tara says, "Curiosity is my sin?"

Oriana says, "No, your curiosity is a punishment to me some times. But it's a good thing for you."

Tara says, "A punishment? What do you need to be punished for? Surely God hasn't gone to all the trouble of sending me your way just to punish you? He's much more complex than that in my experience. Besides, he sent you to me. I was the one praying for a friend."

Oriana rolls her eyes before realizing Tara can't see her. "For the record, I just rolled my eyes."

Tara says, "I could hear it in your voice."  Tara chuckles.

Oriana says, "If God sent me to you, you should change religions and hope for a better result."

Tara says, "Never. I got lucky as hell to meet you. Who else could ever understand my mother well enough to give me the stellar advice you have so far."

Oriana says, "Hell is the keyword. there. Anyways, you said you were keeping busy. Doing what?"

Tara says, "Everything. I've been talking to a dozen different gangsters from all over the city. Sending people to and fro... tracking people, answering phone calls, herding the kids and keeping them out of the way... please don't tell mom but another member of our family was badly hurt."

Oriana interjects, "Who?"

Tara continued, "Nearly killed. I've been taking care of his kids too. This house is full of kinds with death hanging over their heads. I feel like am wearing all Mom's hats. I never realized how hard that was. Taking care of the family, making sure things keep running for dad's businesses, meeting with gangsters he needs me to send off to do things... It's a zoo. I don't know how the hell she does it all."

Oriana says, "I won't tell."

Tara says, "Uncle Charlie. A man bashed him in the side of the head with a ... a tire iron. It took his eye. They don't know if he'll be right when he wakes up after the swelling in his brain goes down. He could be fine. He might be... not the same." She sighed. "Aunt Addie is with him at the hospital. Turns out the guy who did it is the brother of the man that caused Aunt Addie to get some bad pain meds - years ago. Levey Posner and his girl Tamsyn caught the guy and handed him off to Charlie years ago. Apparently the brother was told where to find Charlie by Mattaranzi's people."

Tara sighs, "Aunt Addie also lost her brother Gio a few months ago when this all began. She's... not doing well I think. Gio was the first. Now though, they've struck at all sorts of folks connected to the family. My dad has even sent people to the asylum to retrieve Brigitte's mom for her own safety. No one connected to us is safe."

Oriana says, "Well if it makes you feel any better, Mattaranzi is losing people too."

Tara says, "Who?" She perks up at hearing Mattaranzi has lost people.

Oriana says, "His sister and his nephew."

Tara is quiet for a moment before asking, "You and Mom and Brigitte... you're okay though?"

Oriana says, "Yea. Brigitte's a little rattled. Saw dead people. Your Mom's... well, she just wants this over with as soon as she can."

Tara says, "Not surprised on either of those things. Brigitte is tougher than she looks though. The crap she went through when she was young, well, you read about it. And mom, well, I know the last place on earth she ever wanted to go back to was Italy. She's a touch superstitious, I think."

Tara says, "So... can I ask you something?"

Oriana says, "Yep."

Tara says, "When all this is done, and you're back home, what are we going to do next? Where do you want to go? When this is done, you're back to being the Right Hand of the head of Manhattan and me the daughter of the guy in charge of Brooklyn and there's literally nothing in our way. So... we can go anywhere you like, do anything. You name it. I have access to a plane, a father who will want to show us his gratitude which translates to a shit ton of money burning a hole in my & your pockets. So, what's your pleasure friend?

Oriana says, "I can't think about that right now. Too much of a distraction."

Tara says, "Oh." She says. "Well, okay then. Something to discuss later. What's on your mind that you do want to talk about?"

Oriana says, "It's just- look. I had some killer go for a gun on me last night. My knife hit their throat a split second before they could pull the trigger. And I feel great about it. Cloud nine. But if I start thinking about myself lounging on some beach, I might move a half-second slower and then I'm fucked and so is everyone else. I can't get distracted with ... stuff like that."

Oriana catches the knife and sighs. Now she was imagining a beach. Fucking great.

Tara says, "I get that. I don't want to distract you." She lied. She wanted to be a distraction more than anything, but in these circumstances, she knew that was a horribly selfish thing to desire. So she tried to think of something work-related... "My accuracy wasn't too bad out in the woods but I do need to work on it. Could be a long time before I'm good reliably, right?" ... of course, the thought of Ori's arms around here didn't feel very work-related.

Oriana blinked, trying to get rid of the beach.

Tara says, "Ori?"

Oriana says, "Yea. Yea, just keep practicing. And keep your gun around, just in case. You may not be very good right now, but you know how to point and shoot. Never know what could happen. Just don't shoot any of your family's guards by accident." Oriana glanced at the clock. Oriana blinks, eyes wide. How the hell it's been almost an hour?

Oriana says, "Hey, I gotta go. Soon. Anything else?"

Tara says, "No. I don't suppose there is just... please stay focused and come back to me. Us. New York. We all miss you. I'll... talk to you soon I'm sure. Tell Mom I'll have Dad call as soon as he's awake."

Oriana had thrown the knife up for the hundredth time. "... come back to me..." Oriana froze, caught in a memory, then realized there was a knife in the air above her and had to twist out of the way so it wouldn't land on her. She was quiet for a long time.  

Oriana blinked, remembering. The corner of her mouth trembled for a moment, then settled.  "I'll tell her. Bye, Tara."

"Bye, Ori."  Tara hangs up.

Oriana sat on the bed thinking for a long, long time. Then she started imagining ways she'd kill Francesco Bianchi. She fell asleep with a smile on her face. 

Brigitte finishes up eating her lunch as her mom goes into her room to take a call from Billy. Brigitte is dressed and, at least outwardly, looking no worse for the wear of last night's adventure. Oriana walks in and curls up in the armchair facing Brigitte. There's a couch closer to her that Brigitte could sit in, but Oriana doesn't want to start out by crowding her.

 "Glad to see you've got an appetite, Brigitte. How are you feeling?"

 "I've been worse I guess. Sleep helped. You want a panini?"

"Sure. 

"How are you doing?"

 Brigitte puts one of the sandwiches onto a plate and passes it to Oriana.

"Fantastic," says Oriana with a grin. "Last night is what I do. It can be tough when you're not used to it, though. And thanks." She accepts the sandwich and tears into it.

 Brigitte sighs. "I thought I'd be ready for it. You know, I did watch someone dying once before... I just... l don't like to think about it. Last night brought a lot of that back." Brigitte furrows her brow and has a distant look in her eyes.

"When?"

 "There was a guy who used to work as a bodyguard for Nona Bella, eventually worked for my mom and was on my protection detail when I was a little girl. His name was Neil. I loved him. He was like a big brother. Always carried this rusty old nail around him, chewed on it when he thought no one was looking. Couldn't talk but I always understood what he was trying to say. Anyway, I was about six when one day after school, these guys tailed us. He tried to get away but they set a trap and we crashed. Neil was dying when he gave me his nail... and the men pulled me out of the car and kidnapped me. I knew in my heart I'd never see him again, I knew he was dying, alone and even though I fought as hard as I could, I couldn't get back to him."

 Brigitte stares at her panini.

 "That's tough," offers Oriana. Brigitte nods, her eyes glassy.

"Eat," says Oriana, "Force yourself. Even if you don't feel like it, you'll need the energy."

"I didn't know those guys well, but I was so into the role last night ... that's how I do it you know, I have to feel it and make everything so real so no one questions if it is. I know it's stupid but I felt like... I loved him." Brigitte brings the sandwich up to her mouth and takes a tiny bite.

 "I get that. I've done a lot of infiltration work, and it's the best way. Just makes things harder with some results."

 "I'm trying to remind myself what this is, and the truth, but I dreamed about Neil last night for the first time in years."

 "Natural."

 Brigitte nods. "Does it get easier?"

 "The more you do it I mean?"

Oriana nods."Much, much easier."

 "Kinda makes you wonder though..."

Oriana continues, "But... I'm kind of fucked up. So for you... we'll say it'll get just a little easier, huh?"

 Brigitte hesitates and looks up to Oriana. "Okay." Brigitte forces a smile and bites again.

 "Those assholes were killing your family. If they knew who you were, they would have killed you, too. Everything last night? That was self-defense."

"I know you're right about everything last night. It's just gonna take some time to sink in. That's all. When I take on a role, I commit fully. Ocupational hazard I guess. Doesn't help that I hope for a little of what I dreamed up to one day be true... the story was a sweet one. The sort of thing any girl would want to be true." She smiles. "Romantic. If somewhat crazy because of all the complications but in my family... complications is par for the course, the garnish on the plate of greatest love stories." She swallows and says, "Did I tell you I was cast in a Broadway show? It's doubtful I'll get to be on stage now, I've missed so many rehearsals while we've been on this trip... but getting cast even as a chorus girl... it's something to be proud of."

 "You'll get what you want, Brigitte. I wouldn't bet against you. In love and on the stage."

She smiles, "Thank you.Like I was telling dad, the secret is visualizing it... making it real. One you can see what no one else can, you can get it. It applies to everything really."

Oriana nods.

 "So... can I ask you a question? If it's too personal, you don't need to answer but..."

Oriana ,trying to figure out how to phrase her own question and failing, seems relieved for the interruption."No, go ahead."

 Brigitte nods, "The person who came to the apartment, your friend, how good of a friend is he?"  Brigitte watches Ori closely

 "Depends what you mean by that, I guess."

"Are you or were you... a couple?"

 "That's... a very complicated situation."

 Brigitte nodded. "You don't need to say more. I just... wondered." Brigitte takes another bite of her sandwich.

Oriana sits quietly for a while, eating her sandwich and thinking. "Look, it kind of sucks to talk about a lot of it. But you earned some answers with what you did last night." Brigitte shuts up and listens. "Keep this to yourself?"

 Brigitte hesitates but nods slowly. Oriana notices the hesitation and cuts a few details as she says, "I grew up with a bunch of girls. We all got training to be... what I am. He ran the program."  Brigitte narrows her eyes but doesn't interrupt. "It's complicated."

 Brigitte nods. "So he's a mentor, a teacher... a father figure then?"

 "Among other things. I... really don't want to talk about this anymore. "Tell me about this guy you mentioned on your father's payroll."

 Brigitte softens and gets up and comes over to the couch closer to Ori.  She reaches a hand out, seeming to request Ori's hand. Oriana hesitates, but eventually gives Brigitte her hand. She seems tense. Brigitte will hold Ori's hand and absently stroke it with her thumb as she talks, "I barely know anything about him. His name is Bowman from what Dad spilled. He was waiting for me back at my place that night I took Tara all over kingdom come looking for you. He's big... handsome... a dock worker or woodsman unless I've missed my guess. Very folksy sort of plain talk. Might not be super bright but... I want to know more."

 "When were you and Tara looking for me?"

 "Well it was right before you and Tara disappeared together. We were out until like three in the morning. She had showed up at my apartment all in a tizzy, we talked about a lot of things, and then we called Papa to ask where she could find this new friend of hers... you. Dad was willing to call up Catalina or send out an army of goons to find you ... he's always going over the top for us girls though. So I talked him down. Asked for a few locations we should check and then spent the whole night driving to every bar in the five boroughs. Tara was really disappointed she couldn't find you. I'm glad you two met up again and became friends after all."

Oriana can't figure out why Brigitte was holding her hand; uncomfortable with the extended contact, she gives it a friendly squeeze and laces her hands together.

"Yea, me too. Your dad must work overtime keeping boys away from you and Tara, I guess?"

 "No. He wants me to find a nice boy and settle down actually. And Tara... well, she's never had a relationship."

"How about you? Many boys? I mean... the nonwork sort?"

Oriana nods, halts, then shakes her head.

 Brigitte sighs. "Well, you know New York is a huge city full of guys who'd love the chance to meet a bold, confident, attractive woman like you. I'm sure you'll have no end of men knocking down your door... of course, unlike Tara I don't think I need to worry about you scaring off the unwanted ones. By the way... thanks for helping her with that." Brigitte smirks, "That ring of yours, it was a great idea."

"Thanks."

 "Pretty basic way to ward off the polite boys. Granted, I still worry about the aggressive ones but maybe your training will help with that part. Her first week up at Vassar she went to a party with someone in her dorm and there was a handsy fellow from another school ... it turned her off to the party scene even though she really wants to fit in. I tried to give her some ideas on how to avoid situations like that but... she doesn't have the same sort of confidence. So... I think that was the end of her party days."

Oriana narrows her eyes. "She didn't tell me about that."

 "I'm not surprised. She was humiliated. Swore me to secrecy, afraid of what Dad would do - that he'd make her leave Vassar." Brigitte shrugged, "But she didn't tell me I couldn't tell you." Brigitte smiles.

 "Right."

"Seems like a thing a friend can help with." she shrugs.

 "So today should be quieter, at least. Diplomacy, instead of what we dealt with last night."

 "Tara's big problem is she's ..." She stops when Ori begins talking

 "She what?"

"She's always trying to be the best at everything. School is just one area. If she thinks something's important she goes WAY further than anyone else to excel at it... and then downplays how much she nearly tortures herself trying to reach perfection. She's like mom. Worst part is watching her beat herself up about short comings with people. It wasn't something I saw much in the woods but when we got to New York... God. I realized then why she didn't want to leave the woods - at least a small part of the reason. I think she knew how hard it was going to be for her to adjust to the outside world. In the woods she was just happy, introvert Tara... at Vassar, she's ... odd. She doesn't feel like she fits in. A square peg in a round hole who is trying her damnedest to fit in even if it is crushing a part of herself. If that makes sense?"

"Yeah."

 "It's why I'm glad you two met. I mean, crazy ass way to meet... honestly... there were better ways for Tara to make friends but Tara's not one for easy ways. Complicated is her middle name." Brigitte laughs and finishes her panini. Brigitte cleans up after the sandwich is done.

"Alright. I'm going to go read those folders again. I'll see you when we head out."

 Brigitte nods, "I'm always here if you wanna talk."

Later that day, Oriana found herself pacing back and forth inside. When Aurora finally looked up at her, Oriana sighed and stood with her hands on her hips.

"I know we need to wait, but will you at least tell me what the plan is here with the Milanese? Do we even need them? We've got our address and our two targets, and we seemed to do just fine before."