"Did you enjoy your day?" Ralphie asked as Adelaide sat at his table in Flannigan's. Spot sat at a separate table with Fire and Blade.

"Yeah," said Adelaide, smiling. "It was nice to see them."

"I'm surprised it took them so long," said Ralphie, taking a drink of his soda.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you've been here a week already, and your brother and boyfriend are just now visiting you?"

Adelaide hesitated. "I wouldn't expect them to be jumping at the chance to come into your territory. Especially after the threats you made the last time you were in Manhattan."

Ralphie waved his hand. "The point is, they came and you had a good time." The waiter came over and Ralphie didn't hesitate. "I'll have the corned beef and cabbage and another soda. She'll have a bowl of clam chowder and some bread."

Adelaide watched the waiter nod and walk off. She hated that Ralphie always insisted on ordering for her.

"So how've you enjoyed being back home?" Ralphie grinned.

"This isn't home."

"What are you talking' about? You were born on these streets."

"No," said Adelaide. "I was born in Brooklyn Heights. I resorted to living on these streets when I had no other option."

Ralphie's grin faded into a hard stare. "You had plenty of options, darlin'. When your pop stopped sending money, and then your mama never came home, you had plenty of options to feed yourself and your brother. Or don't you remember what I did for you?"

Adelaide looked from him to the street outside and chewed on her lip, remembering that fateful afternoon when she was twelve years old. Her mother hadn't come home from work and the rent was due. They were going to be kicked into the streets to beg - until Ralphie stepped in. He paid their rent and they were his.

They spent two years under Ralphie's protection. He taught them how to pickpocket, making them give him everything they managed to steal. In return, they never wanted for food or clothing. When Adelaide could turn a blind ear to her conscience, she had been content to live like that. Until Ralphie tried to sell her to a brothel. She'd screamed and cried and made such a fuss that no one would buy her. Exasperated, but kinder in his younger years, Ralphie took them back to their tenement. The next day, Adelaide took Tumbler and a sack of their belongings and headed across the bridge.

"Yeah," said Adelaide.

"I did you a favor," said Ralphie.

Adelaide didn't say anything.

"Anyone ever give you trouble in Brooklyn?"

"No."

"You ever go hungry or cold when you're with me?"

"No."

"Doesn't sound like a last resort to me." Ralphie smirked as their food came. "In fact, you should consider yourself lucky. You're the only girl I never sold off to a brothel."

"Not for lack of trying."

Ralphie raised an eyebrow. "You woulda been makin' money."

Adelaide rolled her eyes. "You and I both know I wouldn't have seen a cent of that money. So what is it you want?"

Ralphie chuckled. "Like I said. You're my girl."

"I'll never be."

Ralphie chuckled as the waiter came over with their meals. "You'll change your mind about that soon enough. For now, let's just enjoy our dinner. Tell me about this Elizabeth Home."

Adelaide took a spoonful of soup and closing her eyes as she swallowed. As much as she hated Ralphie ordering for her, she'd never tasted anything so delicious and rich.

"It's just a girls lodging house," said Adelaide. "In order to stay there, you gotta have steady work, and after work the matrons give us lessons. Nothing fancy. They just make sure we can read, write, and do simple enough arithmetic to keep ourselves employed until we get married."

Ralphie took a bite of his dinner. "Sounds tedious."

Adelaide shrugged. "It's not so bad. They teach us other stuff too, like sewing and cooking."

"Training you up to be good wives."

"I guess."

"You any good at what they teach you?"

Adelaide nodded. "Mama taught me how to do most of that stuff."

"I remember you were quite the reader back then." Ralph chuckled. "Anyone who wouldn't buy a paper coz they couldn't read, you'd read them everything they wanted to hear about for a nickel."

"I did whatever I could to impress you back then."

"Seems like times have changed."

"You're perceptive."

Ralphie chuckled and they eat tucked in to their meals.

After they finished eating, Ralphie snapped his fingers. "Spot."

Spot stood up and walked over.

Ralphie dug into his pocket and pulled out a few coins. "Take Addie and buy her some dime store novels. Whatever she wants. Then take her back to the basement. I got some things to do."

"Why?" asked Adelaide.

"What kind of leader would I be if I didn't try and make you comfortable?" He gave her the grin and wink.

She stood and followed Spot out of the restaurant and across the street. They walked into the store.

"Alright. Pick what you want. You can get three."

"There are over a million girls in New York City. Why me?" She browsed the rack.

"Ralphie does what Ralphie wants. You know that."

"So what's our leader doing tonight?" she asked.

"I don't want to know."

"Are you bitter because he's not takin' you with him and you got saddled as my babysitter?"

Spot scoffed and rolled his eyes. "Trust me. If I'm not going, sure as hell no one else ain't going. Ralphie is probably just off to a brothel or visiting his sister or something."

"Oh." Adelaide was quiet for a few moments, picking up a couple of the thin books. She had never known Ralphie had a sister, but she put that to the back of her mind. "What are you gonna do tonight?"

Spot shrugged. "I might get something to read. Or see how many guys are at the warehouse. Maybe play poker or craps if they're up for it."

"Well I'm ready," said Adelaide holding three small books.

Spot took them, looking at the covers. "These are all Frank Merriwells." He rolled his eyes.

Adelaide frowned. "What? I love this series."

"Typical."

Adelaide scoffed. "Well, what are you getting?" Spot held up his find. "Old Sleuth?" Adelaide rolled her eyes. "Typical." She smirked at him.

Spot teasingly swatted her arm with the books. "Come on, let's get out of here."