"Will you ever let her come back?" asked Skittery, holding his side and holding a snowball to his jaw from the fight earlier. After the brawl at Tibby's died down and they all got kicked out, Skittery, Spot, Snipeshooter, and Ralphie walked Adelaide uptown to the Elizabeth Home for Girls. Jack went to go get Tumbler.
Ralphie shrugged. "Depends."
"On what?"
"On what I feel like."
"I still can't believe you're just gonna take her," said Skittery. "What are you gonna make her do anyway?"
Ralphie smirked and looked over at him. "Is she your girl or somethin'?"
"Yeah," said Skittery, turning towards him. "She is."
"Don't worry. I kept her out of the whorehouses back then, and I'll do that now. She'll be safe."
Skittery clenched his jaw, not trusting Ralphie any more than he'd trust a Delancey.
The front door of the Elizabeth Home opened and Spot walked out, holding a full pillowcase, and a sullen Adelaide behind him.
She walked over to Skittery's uninjured side and he put his arm around her. She buried her face in his shoulder, trying to soak up as much of him as she could.
Skittery's arm tightened around her and rested his cheek against hers. "What's the story with you two? You never told me you knew Ralphie Valentini."
"It was from a time in my life I'd rather forget. I'm sorry I never told you."
"I'll find a way to get you out, Aide. I promise."
She shook her head and looked up at him. "Don't mess with Ralphie. He knows people. And those people know people. And everyone owes him a favor. Just keep Tumbler safe, okay?"
"I'll come see you," he said.
Skittery leaned down and pressed his lips against hers. The intensity of his kiss brought tears to her eyes, and she held tightly onto him.
"Okay, that's enough," Ralphie grabbed her arm and pulled her away, but she kept her eyes on Skittery.
"I love you. Don't forget that, Aide."
"I love you too." Her voice cracked.
"Let's go," said Ralphie, still gripping her arm. "I want to get back home before dinner."
"What about Mikey?" she asked. "Please let me say goodbye to my brother."
"Jack should've been here by now. Not my problem that he's not."
"They're probably on their way," said Skittery. "You gotta let her say goodbye."
"Aide!" Adelaide's body flooded with relief at the sound of Tumbler's voice. She turned and saw him sprinting down the street, snow flying at his feet, with Jack not far behind.
She yanked her arm out of Ralphie's grasp and ran over to him and met him on the corner across the street. She fell to her knees and he plowed into her, his little arms tight around her neck. She became a sobbing mess again.
"Aide, please don't go."
"I have to."
"Take me with you."
"No."
"You can't leave me. We're family."
Her whole body shook as she sobbed when she heard that.
"We are," she said. "It won't be gone forever. I promise."
He pulled back and looked at her. "Be careful, Aide." He wiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.
She nodded. "You and Skittery look after each other, okay?"
Tumbler nodded. "I will. I promise."
Ralphie and the rest of the group crossed the street.
"Spot," said Jack, hanging back. Spot looked at Jack and hung back with him. "Keep an eye on her for us, will ya?" Spot raised an eyebrow. "If anything were to happen to her…it ain't just Skittery and Tumbler who would be hurt. Aide's one of us."
Spot watched him for a beat. "I get that." He nodded. "Sure. I'll look out for her."
"Thanks," Jack nodded.
They crossed the street and joined the rest of the group.
"Time to go, Addie," Ralphie said.
Tumbler frowned and pulled away from Adelaide and faced him. "Her name is Adelaide."
Ralphie chuckled. "The kid's got a lot more grit than the last time I saw him."
Tumbler just glared at Ralphie.
"It's all a front," Snipeshooter piped in. "He ain't nothin' but a little pipsqueak that hides behind his sister's skirt."
Tumbler lunged at Snipeshooter, but Skittery grabbed him and held him back. Spot held Snipeshooter back.
"Enough," Ralphie said loudly, which was enough to placate the boys, though they continued to glare at each other. "Time to go." He grabbed Adelaide's arm and pulled her down the street.
Jack, Skittery, and Tumbler were silent as they watched Ralphie, Snipeshooter, Spot and Adelaide get swallowed up by the crowded streets.
Tumbler sniffed and watched his sister disappear with tears running down his cheeks.
The sun had set behind them as Adelaide allowed herself to be led over the the Brooklyn Bridge. The sun had set by the time they walked down an alley to the door of a a rundown tenement building. Laundry hung between the two buildings, and the stairs going to the second floor were falling apart.
"Home sweet home," said Ralphie.
"You live here?" Adelaide asked, sizing up the building.
"Were you expecting the Hotel Chelsea?" asked Ralphie, opening the door.
"I guess I expected you to have moved up in the world in the past couple years." She walked through the door, and nearly fell down the flight of stairs that led down to the basement.
"Watch it, girl." Ralphie growled behind her.
Adelaide walked down the steep stairs, keeping a hand on the wall. One false move, and she'd be lying at the bottom of the stairs with a broken neck.
Adelaide walked in and looked around, having to squint in the dark of the basement. Gas lamps scattered around the room provided enough light to see cots and blankets all over the place. About half the beds were already occupied, and a sheet hung haphazardly in the corner, giving someone some private space to sleep.
"Welcome to your new home," said Spot as Ralphie passed her and walked towards the sheet in the corner.
"I almost prefer the warehouse by the waterfront you used to have," Adelaide mumbled.
"Well, my turf is spreading," said Ralphie, "and I need to be in a spot where I can get anywhere quickly. Now get your things, you're movin' in here." Ralphie opened the sheet that divided the corner from the rest of the room. He pulled the sheet aside to reveal two mattresses on the floor and a gas lamp.
Adelaide's heart raced. She looked over at Spot, who kept his face stoic, but when he glanced at her, she could see something in his eyes. Regret? Pity? Apology?
Adelaide swallowed hard, her face burning, and took her pillow case from Spot and walked past Ralphie into the makeshift room.
Ralphie gestured to the bed. "Time for bed."
He sat down on the mattress and took off his shoes and shirt.
Adelaide's heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest. What was he going to make her do? She began to tear up from sheer panic.
"I figured it's not right that you're my girl and I make you sleep near all the fellas alone," he said.
"I'm not your girl."
"Aren't you?" Ralphie smirked. "Haven't you always been?"
Adelaide bit her lip and sat down on the bed. Her heart continued to race at the thought of what Ralphie might do that she became short of breath.
"What's wrong?" he asked, his voice suddenly soft and caring.
"Ralphie, please don't do this. I know I ran away, but please don't make me do this."
"Hey, hey," he said softly, walking around to her. He knelt in front of her and put his hands on her shoulders, rubbing her arms. Adelaide wiped away the tears that had fallen and tried to get her breathing under control. "It's okay. Addie, we're not going to do anything you're uncomfortable with."
His fake soothing made Adelaide feel sick, but knowing she was safe for the night calmed her. "Okay."
Ralphie pulled her close, rubbing her back. "I didn't mean to scare you, Addie."
Adelaide rested her chin on his shoulder and closed her eyes. She was safe - for now. As her breathing returned to normal, she felt her heart rate slow.
"Come on, let's get some sleep," he said softly.
Adelaide felt herself get sleepy at his suggestion. It had been a long, hard day, and nothing sounded so good as to crawl onto the mattress and sleep for a week. She toed off her shoes and crawled into bed. Ralphie covered her with a blanket before he walked around and lay down on the other side. He extinguished the gas lamp and settled into bed.
Ralphie took her hand and gave it a squeeze. Adelaide was asleep before she could pull it away.