Chapter 10

Night with the King

Dedicated to FurySaidtoaMouse. Thanks for the review and support!

~*~ The Bronx~*~

Luciano paced in his office. Back and forth occasionally pausing to take a swig from his glass of whiskey.

"Look Boss," Gavino started to say as he rose from his chair to face his leader. "We'se can't let I get away with dis. He has Belle."

"You think I don't know that!" Luciano yelled back. "Conlon, made the first move and now the war is starting. Now we just have to find some way to turn the tables to our favor."

"How are we going to do that?" West asked as he too stood from his chair.

"Someone had to go to Brooklyn and get ahold of her."

"Like a rescue mission?" West asked.

"No. As much as it pains me, we can't get her out of Brooklyn yet. That would only raise suspicion and get Conlon angry. No, we have to play this very carefully. We have to talk to her, make sure she's okay, then leave her in Brooklyn."

That was when Gavino had herd enough.

"How can you do that! Leave your own sister in the hands of dat-dat, bastard! Who know's what he's doin ta her there! Who know's f she's even still alive!"

"Calm down!" Luciano ordered. "Look I don't like this anymore than you do, but if she stays in Brooklyn, she could be of more use to us than she would be to Spot. He's going to try to use her to get something, but she knows where her true loyalties lie. That's why someone had to go to Brooklyn, find her and talk to her."

"What do you want me to say?"

West's voice surprised the other two boys.

"Who said you were goin?" Gavino said walking towards West. "If anyone is gunna go, its gunna be me. I'm closer to her."

"Yeah but I'se wont scare her. She hate's you, everyone can see it."

"Enough!" Luciano's voice echoes through the room. "Look West, I'se need you here to help me with some of this war stuff, Beau, go to Brooklyn, find Belle."

"What do you want me to say?"

~*~In Brooklyn~*~

Spot kept moving though, his grip around my waist and knees firm as he carried me through the streets of Brooklyn. I had begun to rain and I could feel the energy from my body begin to drain out as I realized how cold it really was. Spot came to a stop and I looked up blinking to keep the falling raindrops out of my eyes. We had gotten to the warehouse much quicker than I had expected, but once my sight cleared, I realized we were not at the warehouse. We arrived at what seemed to be and abandoned storm cellar of some sort, but I guess Spot knew exactly what he was doing as he walked up the few stone steps in the front standing under the balcony to protect us from the rain. He placed me down and reached around his neck, but I did not watch him for long, I turned around and gazed through the rain into the Brooklyn roads. I had been so close and now here I am again with him. I guess I did owe him my life though. But why had he come after me, other than the fact I was still a "chess piece". Now that I think about it that was probably the only reason. He must have noticed me looking out to where we had walked form because he grabbed my arm hard and twisted me around to face him.

"No ya don't. Ise ain't gonna save ya from ya own stupidity again. Ya hear me? If youse weren't so important ta da war I woulda left ya there ta die. Ya got me?"

His eyes are sharp and angry as his tone, the lines clear. So I had been right about why he saved me. But why did I feel, disappointed? Was it because I had maybe wanted there to be more? No, it would never happen.

I glanced at the ground looking away from his eyes. I went to nod but that made my head hurt, so I simply said, "Yes."

I felt the rough skin of his free hand take hold of my chin and turn it up to him. "Look at me when you'se talk if you're gonna be the one who makes dis war worse dan it has ta be. You'se is lucky I didn't let dose men do what dey was gunna."

He was so present it was overwhelming and so was my headache. My legs knees began to buckle and my shivering was extreme . God damn could this night get any worse? I thought. Apparently it could for a few moments after that thought, I fainted.

When I woke up, the night had taken its full grace on the sky. What little light left in the sky from the last time I was conscious was now gone. I was lying down on my back, but I wasn't outside like I had been with those men. The men! I looked around but they weren't there, the ni remembered, Spot came and then he carried me. The last thing I remembered was looking at the rain, my chin in his strong grasp before everything went black. I looked down and saw I was lying on a rusty old cot in the corner of a room a ratty hole filled blanked barley covering me. Water was leaking in from above in a few spaces and it smelled of mildew. My breathing became heavier as I sat up and scooted against the hard metal backboard of the cot thinking of what could have happened to me.

"I'se didn't touch youse, c'ept ta carry youse in." I heard a mocking voice say.

There in the corner stood my captor.

I glared at Spot, my hair still wet from the rain, drops falling from my head. I threw the blanket off of me and pushed my legs from the top of the cot to dangle down the side of it.

"Stay." Spot told me. I rolled my eyes. It wasn't like I was going anywhere. It's not like there was anywhere to go. I had no idea where I was after all! My head was really hurting too. Ignoring Spot, I slid down from the bed andlanded on my knees on the ground furiously running my hands along my arms trying to warm myself up.

I heard Spot stand up from his chair in the corner of the room and he lit a few candles and oil lamps scattered around the room filling the darkness with the little light they would provide. Shivering I heard my own teeth chatter and I began to rub my arms faster. Spot chuckled at my antics.

"Take ya shirt off." He told me as he crossed the room. I just stared at him. He rolled his when he saw I had made no progress and he began to undo his own articles of clothing shirts, sliding his suspenders down to dangle at his hips before he began o unbutton his blue checkered shirt. I cast my gaze away from him and scooted away from him pushing on the floor with my feet. "If I'se wanted ta take advantage of ya I'se would it have already ya dumb broad." He said as he tossed me a clean-ish shirt and new skirt.

Normally I would have yelled at anyone for calling me that but at the moment my brain was still wrapping around the concept of why he wanted me to do that in the first place. Right, I thought, the shirt is cold and wet and you need to take it off to get dry. I remembered reading a book about general health and common colds.

Slowly I regrettably fumbled with the buttons in the back of my dress but my numb fingers were slow and shaking too hard to get the job done. With a scoff Spot got tired of watching me fumble with my own fingers and came over, crouching down next to me his hands quickly leaving his own shirt open before he started on the buttons on my dress. There was a speed to his obvious experienced fingers that had made me uncomfortable. I must have somehow shown it on my face because he smirked down me but did not say anything.

I considered apologizing him to make him happy, but realized I wasn't sorry. How could I be sorry for trying to escape captivity and gain my life back? I wasn't sorry, and I never would be. The only thing I was sorry for was not planning it through before I went.

Spot undid all of the buttons on the back of my dress faster than I had ever seen anyone, and I squirmed under his touch as his fingers lingered on the last button.

"You'se is a fool," he said to me at last. "What did c'ho think was gunna happen? You'se was gunna run all da way's home ta big brotha? I'se should ave let dem have you'se," with by back still turned he leaned closer to me, his soft breath on my back as he whispered to me, his anger not going anywhere. Instead it seemed to be growing the more he spoke about tonight's events.

"Should ave watched while each of dem had their way with you," he growled, eying me as he grasped my shoulders in his hands spinning my torso around to face him.

He narrowed in on me, kneeling in front of me as he glared at me with hate.

"I'se would ave enjoyed it," he growled, running his hands down the length of my arms and back up to my shoulders.

"Such a stupid goil, why do you'se continue ta defy me when you'se know it ain't gunna get you'se nowheres," he said, his breath coming out in short spurts, hot on my face.

He reached forward and wrapped one of his strong hands through my hair at the base of my neck, as he forced me to look at him, a familiar position I had experienced just about 24 hours ago. "You'se won't defy me like dis way again, Belle. You'se will never get out of Brooklyn. You'se will stay in dis place forever, you'se will rot here, and you'se better start getting dat through dat pretty little head of yours. Do you understand?" He hissed.

Being too shocked and stunned for words, and not being capable of nodding my head, I did nothing. In a flash he pulled my hair harder forcing y neck back more ejecting a cry from my lips. He shook me with his other hand that grasped my arm.

"I'se asked you a question," he roared before shaking and pulling at me once more, this time harder than before.

"Yes," I croaked finally able to get something out.

He let out a huff of breath from his nose and shoved me out of his grasp.

He was right, I had been stupid. He had every right to be angry, but what I didn't understand was what he had come after me and saved my life, and what I didn't understand even more was why I'd offered to do the same for him. I could have ended my problems and had stopped the war, one of my goals for coming to Brooklyn in the first place.

I shivered as the tears formed in my eyes. I had never felt more broken or helpless than I did right then, not even when my father dead or my mother abandoned us. At least those times, I had Luciano. Who I was beginning to wonder what was taking him so long to get me out of Brooklyn. I wanted nothing more than to be held by someone I loved. His gaze shifted back to my frightened form and I noted the casual way he was watching me, one arm draped across a knee raised in calculation.

"Stop shaking will you'se? If I'se wanted ta here to hurt you, I'se would ave done it already, like I'se told ya." I tried to stop my trembling, but I was cold and scared. Those two didn't add up to make a good 'how to act brave' combination.

"I'se still can't believe you'se ran," he said at last.

"How could you expect that I would never try to," I asked incredulously.

"You'se betrayed my trust."

"You have to understand why I did it."

He nodded. "What I'se still can't figure out is da stupidity…you'se didn't think it through at all. I'se expected you'se would calculate dis huge elaborate escape plan, not just a little run through the streets of Brooklyn on a whim. I's was expecting a challenge ta catch you'se, knowin who you'ar brother is an all." he added with a small smirk.

I closed my eyes with a sigh. "That's the thing, I'm Luciano's sister and everyone expects much out of me because f it, yet," I whispered sadly. "He had taught me nothing of survival and as for my not sought out escape plan, I saw an opportunity and I took it. I had to … get… I had to get home to know Luciano wasn't getting himself into any trouble because of me okay…I just…" I sighed. "I don't want anything bad to happen to anyone just because of me. If I'm going to be trapped here for the rest of my life, or at least until you get bored of me, I don't think I could have lived with the regret of not trying And I'm glad I did. At least for an hour, I was free," I whispered, staring at the ground as I clutched the material of my dress close to my chest, afraid at any moment he would take it from me. "What would you have done?" I asked him hoping he could somehow understand my situation.

"I'se would ave ran away like you'se. But I'se would ave gotten away."

He was quiet for a long time, watching me as I pondered his words.

He took a deep breath and told me once again to take my dress off.

I kept my back turned to Spot as I slid the dress down around my waist revealing my camisole under it as he slipped his own shirt off revealing his white wife beater undershirt. I pulled the dry skirt under my dress and replaced it with the wet one. He pulled me over closer to him on the ground next to the cot. When I tensed up he said, "Oh relax."

But honestly how could I? He was the one who had yelled at me in the first place causing me to run away and almost get kidnapped and possibly-dare I say raped from those men, but as much as I hate to admit it, he saved me. And now he was telling me to relax as he sat next to me.

I nodded to him unable to speak my understandings and he pulled me into his lap. I caught my breath believing he was going to hurt me, but he never did. I felt something that I never had before stirring deep in my stomach. As you can imagine, I'm not one for being violated, though I don't know if this really counts since he was helping me. He placed one arm around my back to support it holding gently onto my shoulder, and wrapped the other arm around my waist. Despite having been in the rain his body was much warmer than mine. He rubbed his hands in slow circles bringing the blood flow back into my body seizing my shivers, and I slowly began to feel myself relax in his arms.

I was so tired at that point. This had been one of the most exciting days in my life- if exciting is the word you would use. I had been though a lot in the last-say 16- hours and I was exhausted at one point my eyes started to close. "Don't fall asleep." He ordered his voice gruff and demanding yet no louder than a staged whisper.

"I'm sorry…" I mumbled back.

"You'se damn well should be." But something in his voice made me feel like he might have been happy he saved me, and not just for the use of battle.

In the low soft candle light I could see the muscles in his arms flexing as he moved them back and forth, his hands floating along my skin. Much needed warmth spread through me, and my chattering stopped.

Though I knew I was okay now, or rather that would be okay, I wanted to move away from him and I should have moved away from him, but something in my mind was telling me not want to. His strong hands made it hard to move away from him. I tried even though I really didn't want to, for what reason I have no idea. I took a moment and thought about my scenario:

I was sitting in a storm cellar, all alone with the fiercest newsie leader in all of New York, in my camisole, in the arms of the man who I was afraid of most in this world.

And yet, for some reason, I felt safe.

I needed space.

Pushing myself up I scooted away from him, squiggling out of his grasp as my now thawed fingers went to the buttons on the new shirt.

"What? Not happy with me company?" He smirked at me cockily.

"I'm sure there are others who would be." I told him back. I was tired and though thankful he had saved me not in the mood for the sarcasm of a boy who got every girl he wanted.

"Don't worry I'm not in the mood for yoah's either. Just needed to make sure ya survived."

I paused for a moment before saying. "Thank you."

That stopped me in my movements for a second before I continued. He still leaned against the wall on the cot, watching me. It was a bit unsettling now.

"You don't own me." I told him. I was surprised at my own words. Sure I had thought about this a thousand times since I had been in Brooklyn, but I had never said it out loud, especially not in Spot's presences. But he had to know that people aren't property, you can't physically own someone, especially someone whose loyalties aren't to them.

His eyes jerked to meet mine aggressively. The storm rolled slightly in his glance. "Oh yes I do. I'se own your ass. I'se can do anything I'se want with ya, and right now, I'se would watch what I'se sayin if I'se was you'se. Remember my rule about talkin?"

I nodded, just to make him happy. I had indeed remembered the first time I "spoke out of turn" and I did not like it. But what I didn't understand was why he had not hurt me like he did then? Maybe he was just as tired as I was and had no intention of using his energy?

There was a creak as he went to lay on the cot. He pushed himself up onto it lying on his back and put his hands under his head as he looked at the ceiling. "Ya got a sweetheart Belle?"

I had not expected a question like this. If anything I was expecting more insults or yelling, but not his. Bluntness was his specialty at the moment I suppose.

"That would be none of your business."

"Of course it's me business." His voice was cool, commanding. "I'se told you'se I'se own you'se. dat means your thought too."

"No it isnt." I told him as I finished buttoning the buttons on my shirt getting them straight, before turning my back to him once more. He laughed. That confused me. "What's so funny?"

His face immediately became blank in the candlelight as he shrank back against the wall out of the line of light. "Nothin'."

Boys could be so frustrating. "Well, obviously it was something!" My voice rose a bit as he laughed again, louder. Oh I could see the smirk now.

This boy confused me so much. First he was angry in a shouting rage, the next he's almost kind. But now he's mocking, laughing at my confusion. "Where are we anyway?"

Sitting back up, he slid his suspenders over his shoulders. "Brooklyn."

I rolled my eyes at him and then added, "I meant where are we, meaning this room."

He smirked and looked up at me. "It's where I take me ladies when I'se want some privacy."

My eyes narrowed as my brow furred together. My lips pursed and my hands balled into fists. He said he wasn't going to hurt me!

"You lying-"

"I'd watch what I say if Ise was youse little goil." He told me, his voice suddenly become dark again. Like it had before. "I'd remember where I'se am and who I'se is with."

I had lost count of how many time he's said that to me, and very quickly my brain started to remember who I really was with, who I was being sassy to, and who I honestly did now owe my life to. Spot Conlon. I don't know why I hadn't felt this before, but his presence was intimidating. Maybe it was due to the fact that he could not stay on one emotion for more than 2 minutes, and I had never once seen him act genuinely nice.

"You were bleeding." I said to him. I wondered how I didn't notice this before, but he had a steady stream of dried blood plastered down the left side of his face. He reached his hand up to his wound and pulled it away revealing blood stained fingers.

"Eh, whatever. Nothing I'se haven't got before." He said nonchalantly, brushing it off as if a gash on his face was nothing.

"But you have to tend to it." I reached for his arm. He pulled away from her with a growl. "It will become infected if you don't."

I went over to one of the bowls catching dripping water from the ceiling and brought it over to Spot, picking up my dirty apron as I walked passed.

"Here, let me help you." I said dipping the corner of the apron into the water holding it out for hi to come.

"I'se is fine, I'se don't need some goil fixin me up."

I reached out and snagged his arm, pulling him close and pressing the wet cloth to his wound.

"Arg! That hurts!" He yelled, pulling his head away from my hand.

I scowled and narrowed my eyes, trying not to be intimidated by his angry displays anymore. If he were truly going to hurt me he would have done it already, like he reminded me so many times. "If you wouldn't move around so much it wouldn't hurt!"

"If you'se hadn't ran aways, den dis wouldn't ave happened in da foist place!" He snapped back arrogantly.

"If you hadn't been such a bully and terrified me I wouldn't have had to run away in the first place!" I snapped right back.

His eyes glinted dangerously at me. "You'se defied me! And it ain't me fault if me reputation scares you'se!"

I rolled my eyes at this. Obviously he wasn't aware of his own anger swings.

"It's not your reputation that frightened me you idiot." I said as I smacked his arm with the apron in a fit of frustration. "It's your damn temper!"

He opened his mouth to respond, then shut it again, clearly bemused. "Me temper?" He finally muttered.

"Yes, your temper. You don't have to go around yelling and terrorizing people all the time, scaring them into submission to respect you." She reached for his arm again. This time he didn't fight her, wincing as she cleaned his wound.

"I'se is not da only one. You'se brother's temper ain't so nice either."

"you leave my brother out of this, and his temper is just fine!"

Okay so maybe not, but hey we're Italian's we have an excuse. But by the look in Spot's eyes, I could tell he meant something more serious.

He watched me quietly before finally stating softly, "It's hard for me."

I peaked up at him looking at him from under my lashes. Now that she could really look at him in the light I was finding his looks rather pleasing, just like the day he had first taken me. "What is?"

"Controlling it, da rage." He sighed, as he sat back down onto the cot.

I leaned down and he allowed me to finish cleaning his wound.

"There." I said as I tried to smile at him. "All fixed."

He looked at her, his blue eyes glittering. "You'se has never smiled at me before."

"I've never had a reason to before," she replied softly. After all, this was the longest period of time I had gone without Spot getting angry at me.

If only this moment would have lasted longer.

Spot got up and started pacing around looking for his discarded shirt. There was a silence between us. Just the sounds of the slowing rain outside the drops of water landing into the respective bowls, and the sound of Spot's heavy footsteps as he paced back and forth. I had to break this unbarring silence, so I asked Spot a question that I could not get off of my mind.

"Who is Ellie?" I asked him. Ellie was the name scribbled on the note beneath the key on his desk on the third floor. I could not stop thinking about who she was.

Spot immediately stopped pacing. He turned to me, his eyes darkened and dangerous. At that moment, I realized I had struck a nerve. I wanted to know his answer, but at the same time, I regretted saying anything. I would take a silence over this any day. His eyes narrowed so much that if they did anymore, his eyebrows would touch his nose, he said to me in a quiet, almost deathly calm manner,

"What did you'se say?"

Not giving me a chance to respond, he grabbed the collar of my shirt, hoisted e up from my new found position on the cot, stood me up and he slammed me into the wall next to the bed. My breath was knocked out of me as my back hit the wall, my back complaining, and sending waves of pain up and down. And at a loss of words, I didn't respond. I couldn't. Once again I was scared. We had just talked about his non ability to control his temper, but that was no excuse to throw someone up against the wall. Since I hadn't given a suitable answer to his question, he repeated dangerously loud,

"What da hell did'ya say?"

Spot looked absolutely livid, as rabid as a lion. I half expected him to start beating me up. After regaining my breathe, I answered his question,

"Ellie. Who is she? I've never heard you talk about her befor-ugh!"

Spot cut my off with a vice grip to my neck, causing me to gasp once more.

"You'se don't need tah know 'bout her."

He growled shaking me as he slammed me hard up against the wall.

Clawing at his arm, I tried to get him to relent before he caused permanent damage. Why is he doing this? Is it really such a sensitive topic... I couldn't think much more because of the deprivation of oxygen. Finally he released me, causing me to crumble to the floor in a pathetic heap. I put a hand to my neck, massaging it gently hoping that there weren't going to be any bruises.

"You'se shouldn't be concernin' yourself wif my life,"

His deep growling voice, and his sadistic smile sent shivers down my bruised back. The dark atmosphere was only increased by the sheer gap of height between us, causing him to literally tower over me.

"I'm sorry," I said trying to calm him down so he didn't do anything stupid.

And then all of a sudden he was there, crouched down beside me once again, leaning his face close to mine.

He stared down at me for a moment, I could almost feel the silence covering the room before he said, "Ya too nice foah Brooklyn."

I opened my mouth, then closed it, then opened it again, thinking of something to say. Because he was right…I was too nice for Brooklyn.

His gaze softened for a moment before he turned away. "Before I'se came chasin afta you'se I'se sent a boid ta give am message ta Chip, es' my second. E's gonna come and get ya in about ten minutes. Don't try da go nowhere until he does."

"What? You're just going to leave me here? What if I decide to run again? Why can't I just go back now?" I asked stupidly.

He didn't even turn to me as he began to walk towards the cellar doors. "Because I'se ave places ta be, and even if I'se wasn't goin ta lock da door, you'se wouldn't run." Then after a pause he added, "See ya around doll."

He walked up the steps towards the door, they creaked and cracked as he moved up them sounding as tired and weighted as I felt.

"Oh and Bell?" He said from the top. I looked to him, curious for what he might say to me now. "Try not ta need any more savin' tonight. Other goils might start to get jealous." He said to me before opening the cellar doors and slamming them shut behind him. Just like he said, a moment later I heard something jiggle in the door and then he tried opening the door making sure it was locked.

Locked in again. I thought to myself. But he was right, after what had happened earlier tonight, I would not be doing any more escape stunts for a while. I had almost been hurt more with those men than I had ever been with Spot believe it or not, despite how many time's he's harassed me. Nothing he did came to scale of what those men wanted to do, and for that I was grateful. But I had to remember who I was dealing with. Spot was a monster-they didn't' call him The Best for no reason. But besides a few choice ties tonight, he was actually-calm, almost nice even. As long as I knew "my place" he would not get angry. But why he had saved me and left just like that, I don't know. Maybe it was a meeting he had or something.

My thoughts were interrupted when I heard a jingling at the door as if a key was unlocking it. A second later I saw a figure standing in the doorway, he must have been the boy Spot said would come, I didn't know who else had the key to this place, so for all I know it could have been anybody. That thought kind of scared me.

The boy entered the room and looked around. His eyes landed on me and a crooked smile appeared on his face.

"You'se is Belle I'm guessing?" he asked.

I nodded my head, not wanting to talk, jsut in case.

"I's Chip." He introduced himself walking into the candlelight. "Spot sent me ta take you'se back ta da warehouse. Are you ready?" he asked holding his hand out for me.

"Yeah, I guess." I got up from my spot on the floor hesitsnt to take his hand, but did anyway. His grasp was gentle and he pulled me up from the ground. I stepped in the light towards the boy trying to take in his features. He was taller than Spot and had light blond hair and had brown eyes the color of chocolate. They reminded me of my brothers. He smiled a full smile at me revealing a chipped tooth.

Now I know why they call him Chip. I thought to myself.

"Now you'se don't ave ta worry bout a thing, I'se ain't gonna do nothing ta you'se."

I guess he was good at reading thoughts because I was thinking if I could trust him. My mind flashed back to the party in Brooklyn when Spot first announced I was going to be staying. I remembered Striker and his bud's, but I don't remember Chip being around them.

"Thank you, I've just had a rough night."

"Understand. I'll get you'se to da warehouse fast as possible." He said leading me to the door and outside.

We walked for a while talking about little things, how he had moved to New York from Delaware and had lost his Pa to the factory. I told him I was visiting Brooklyn from Bronx, trying not to give out too much information, but he knew everything. He was Spot's second in command, so I guess he had to know who I was. We were walking for about 15 minutes before a loud grumbling sound was heard. I hoped Chip would believe it was leftover thunder from the storm but he knew exactly what it was. Any street kid as herd that sound before.

"Are you'se hungry?" he asked. My stomach answered for me with another growl.

"It's okay, I don't have any money.

"I'se do." He said.

"No!" I protested. "Chip, I can't take your well earned money!"

"Actually, Spot gave it to me, said to get you something if you'se wanted it."

This really confused me.

"Alright, if you insist."

He smiled and led me down a side road to a small tavern. It was a bit crowded, but the customers kept to themselves and ignored us. Something I was grateful for. Chip led me to a table in the back and told me to stay put as he got us some food. But I wasn't going to run away, for a few reasons actually. As much as I hate to admit it, Spot wasn't here to save me if I got into trouble. Not that I doubted Chip, I just didn't know him as well. Two if I did run away, I didn't know where I was going to go; I had no idea where I was. So I figured staying here would be my safest bet.

"Mind if I join you?" a voice to my left said. I looked around and saw a boy wearing a long trench like coat and a bowler's hat down covering his eyes. I grew suspicious, but then recognized that hat. It had a small red feather in the brim, and I only knew one person who had that hat.

"Gavino!" I shouted in a whisper. "What are you doing here?!"

"Look." He said to me in the same tone of speech. "We knows dat bastard Conlon took you'se, and West was stupid enough to let him. So we'se need ta make a plan for I'm not ta mess with you'se."

"Gavino, go home, get out of Brooklyn it's dangerous. Spot isn't going to hurt me-"

"Yous don't know dat! Look we'se need you to tell us where da Brookies go after sellin so we'se can get our hands on one a dem."

"Why, so you can beat them up, kill them? Gavino that's horrible, my God cosa c'è di sbagliato con te!" What is wrong wiht you?i asked in italian, a language we both knew.

"Non io che era tuo fratello." Not me it was your brother.

"No, Luciano would not order somethig like that. He's more respectable than that."

And then an idea popped into my head. With Gavino here, i would have a guide. He could bring me home, and protect me on the way!

"Gavino, please take me home, yo have no idea what it's like here. I need to let Luciano know what he's getting himself into."

"Look Babe, i'se cant take ya home. Look, your brother sent me here to find you, not t otake you home but to give you a message."

"What are you saying?" did Luciano not miss me, did he wan me to stay here?

"Okay, you is gunna hate us for dis, but we'se need you to stay in Brokolyn jsut for awhile longer. Look, you want to help the Bronx right?"

I nodded.

"You dont want any more people to get hurt right?"

I nodded once more. "Yes but-" i was going to protest but his fingers upon my lips prevented me fro doing so.

"Just listen. Bronx needs ta know who Brooklyn is working with in dis war. Manhattan says dey's dont want any more fightin, but Conlon still might want paybac kfro Cowboy for da strike. If we'se can get Harlem ta side with us, Brooklyn dont' stand a chance. But we need ta know if dey is already with Brooklyn. Knowing who's on who's side will make everything so much easier. We'se desperate to know what they's planning so that we can take them by surprise. The only way tah do this was tah bribe someone within their crowd and get answers from them. But youse just made it so much easier. We need you ta bribe secrets out of Spot, get information on the war. Win his trust and he'll tell ya. Den, ya can come back home and tell yer brother all the details. Whaddya think?"

"I hate you," I told him with utter resent. "How could you put me up to this? I'm not going to spy on the enemy for you! I want to go home! I hate Brooklyn and everything having to do with Spot. Voglio andare a casa" I want to go home.

"Listen, this is the best way to make shoah that no one else gets hurt. The more information ya get for us, the less people we'll have tah kill. How's that sound?"

I looked away from him disgusted at this plan, and crossed my arms over my chest. "I've always disliked you. From the time we first met, I knew you were a rat. But I only want the best for Luciano; I don't want him to make hi life worse than it already is. So fine, I'll do what you say, but you must promise me that I can go home when it's all over."

"Promise." He said leaning down towards me. "Seal it with a kiss?"

Repulsed I pushed him away from me as he leaned in more.

"Hey, your friend is commin!" He slapped his hat back on his head and tilted it down covering his eyes once more. I'se gotta go, I'll talk tah youse latah!" He hurried to the back of the tavern and exited the building through the employee's entrance.

Chip came to the table some food in his hands and he placed it on the table. I had suddenly lost my appetite but ate anyway knowing I would be sorry later if I didn't. Plus I didn't want to waste Spot's money.

We finished eating and Chip got us back to the warehouse which was relatively close to the pub. We got into the common room to see Spot talking to a few other boys. The yall looked up at me as I walked passed them one boy spoke to Spot something I couldn't understand to which Spot answered "Collateral." He told me to go upstairs and wait for him as he finished up. I did as I was told, too tired and overwhelmed to do otherwise.

In no time Spot appeared at the top of the stairs and grasped his hand around my arm surprisingly gently as he led me down the hall.

"Now Bell, you'se can sleep in da bunkroom with da other boys, or you'se can stay in my room-with me."

"Oh Spot Conlon you infuriate me! I choose the bunkroom. I can take care of myself." I told him, even though we both knew I really couldn't. Earlier this night proved that I could not take care of myself.

"Well, you'se ain't getting a choice." He said to me as he led me further down the hall. He opened the door to his room and pushed me inside.

And the moment I entered the room, my stomach dropped. The realization that we would be sharing a bed hit me with full force and I was compensating weather or not to say I would prefer the dudgeon room I had yesterday. But I did not. My heart began to race.

"Now, I'se have ta finish up downstairs. Get ready for bed, we'se both need it."

He left the room as I wondered what I was supposed to wear to bed, but upon glancing at his mattress again, I noticed that again he had cloths waiting for me like that blue dress. Folded on the bed was a short sleeved long white nightdress. I reached forward, stroking the soft material, wondering where he had gotten all this girl's clothing from.

Though upon slipping out of my dress and into it, I realized that is was pretty modest. It covered my chest well and was long enough to be decent. I had thought these cloths were one's his own flops left behind. Maybe they were, but I doubted it. Quickly I pulled the nightdress on, disposing of the shirt and skirt he had given me earlier. I pulled my hair out of the braid I had done earlier, letting it fall freely across my shoulder and down my back as combed out my soft curls with my fingers, untangling the still damp tresses. Once all the knots were out, I stood awkwardly in the room unsure of what to do next, so I walked around. I went to his dresser, an old one tarnished and beaten and looked at the contents on its surface.

My eyes wondered and landed on a framed photo that was turned upside down placed to the right side. Carefully I flipped it over and brushed the dust off of it. I gazed into it and saw a younger looking Spot holding hands with a young girl who looked about ten years old. Behind them were two adults, the same one's in the portrait in the room on the third floor.

"What is it with you and snooping?" a growled, behind me. I sharply turned and saw Spot standing there leaning against the doorframe. Quickly I put the picture face down back on the dresser and back away, clamping my hands behind my back tilting my chin down, like a child who had just been scolded.

"I'm sorry, I-I didn't-"

He didn't say anything so I bravely continued.

"Was that your family?"

Expecting to Spot to run over to me and beat me, was surprised when he slowly sauntered over to the desk and picked up the photo.

"Yeah." He breathed out.

"Your family is—"

"Dead," he finished curtly.

"I'm sorry," I said honestly, though I'd suspected as much.

He glanced at the portrait in his hands, pain crossing over his features.

"My Elle…she brought sunshine into the world. She was a joy. So young, so bright," he whispered, "and so beautiful," his voice broke on the last word.

"Was she a sister?"

He shook his head.

"She was my best friend., my next door neighbor."

"It was taken five years ago, but it feels like yesterday."

I nodded, sadly, surprised at how much he was opening up. I was expecting shouting, yelling possibly choking since that is what he usually did. But instead I get a story. His story.

"Was that Ellie?" I asked remembering the note in the room upstairs.

He caught my gaze, holding it for a long moment. His silence answered my question. Yes.

"What happened to them?" I pressed gently.

He was thoughtful for a long moment, glancing back at his family as he spoke. "A fire."

"How did it start?"

"Don't knows," he shook his head, his gaze hardening as he looked past me, lost in thought. "I'se always suspected foul play. Me father was one of da wealthiest people's around." This surprised me, Spot had been a rich boy? He continued. "He was very successful. A lot of people was jealous I guess."

"You…survived?"

He swallowed hard. "I wish dat I hadn't," he admitted. "I tried to help them. I could hear coughing…but I couldn't see, I couldn't breathe. I had to leave. I ran out just for some air but before I could get back in to keep searching, I blacked out from the smoke. It wasn't until hours later that I woke to the sound of the fire brigade. I lost everything" His features were tormented as he spoke, but he maintained his composure.

There was a moment of solemn silence.

"Losing your family is…well there are no words to describe the pain," I offered, realizing I understood him in this moment better than I ever had. We were so different yet so, so similar.

The agony etched in his features as he stared back at me made him more sensitive than I had ever seen, which to my defensive was not alot, almost never. He look confused at me.

"I lost my parents when we got to America from Italy. My father died I a factory and my mother abandoned my brother and I. that was the same day we first saw each other in that alley." I reminded him.

"Anyways, I'se became quite da rebellious young man after that, which is presumably how I'se got me reputation…the one you said they talk about in da other boroughs."

I nodded.

"And here I am, da king of Brooklyn" he finished. He gazed at me thoughtfully.

"What happened to Ellie?" I ventured.

His features became pained once again.

"Her father shunned me. He didn't want his goil being seen with a street rat, so he forbade er ta see me. He did a good job. I haven't seen er since."

He put the picture back face down and went over to his bed, slipping off his suspenders as he went. And I got scared all over again. Maybe tonight he would finally hurt me like though he would do my first day. Maybe tonight he would take all his frustration out on me.

I began to tremble, hugging myself slightly as a sick feeling pitted itself in my stomach.

I wasn't sure if I was allowed to climb into bed without his permission, or for that matter if he was going to make me sleep on the floor.

I had never lain with a man before. I'd barely kissed one, although I had turned Gavino down dozens of times.

I moved towards the wall and sat down on the space between the bed and the wall on the floor. I pulled my knees up to my chest and hugged them tightly.

Surely he wouldn't be so cruel as to do something like that. He was mean, that much was clear, but I found it hard to believe he could be that much of a monster. He had just opened up to me about something that was clearly personal. Why, I had no idea, but all that could change in a second.

He looked around the room briefly in curiosity before finally spotting me in my hiding place on the floor.

A look of amusement crossed his face yet he said nothing. He just continued to undress. I tried to look away as his naked chest came into view, but found it difficult to tear my eyes from his toned torso. He paid me no mind as he shed the rest of his clothing and slipped into his own night pants. I looked away as he undressed.

"Get off the floor, Belle." He spoke firmly.

I stared at him with wide fearful eyes.

"I'se ain't going ta hurt you," he said at last with a sigh, moving towards me and extending his hand.

I didn't believe him and I remained huddled in my spot.

He reached forward and pulled me up. "Come on, get in bed. I'se promise if comfyer dan da floor."

I hesitantly climbed into the bed and pulled the blankets up immediately.

He moved to climb in beside me and I stiffened at his proximity.

I glanced at him fearfully. His face creased into a look that almost resembled pity as he gazed at me.

He pulled the thinning fraying blanket over himself and lay next to me, just watching me. "Relax," he said at last.

"I'se ain't gunna touch you," he spoke softly. "Get some sleep, you'se needs some sleep." he spoke, his eyes wondering my frightened face.

"I'se bout you'se is gunna try anything, but I'se is gunna warn you I'se is a light sleeper. Don't make da mistake of thinkin you'se can sneak off inta da night. You'se will regret it," his tone held a firm warning. "If I'se have ta, I'se ties ya ta da bed." This scarred me. "But I'se don't think dat's what either of us want."

I nodded sadly as I turned away from him, hugging my knees tightly to my chest as I stared out the window into the darkness. I was tense for a long time after that, waiting in anticipation for him to go back on his word and ravage me in a sudden act of violence. He never touched me though, true to his word. He blew out the candle at his bedside and the room went dark. I did however feel his gaze burning into me long into the night until my exhaustion finally got the best of me and I slipped into awaiting darkness.

A/N Hey guys! So I know that was a lot to take in, but my schedule is getting busier and busier so I don't know when the next time I'm going to be able to upload is. So I thought I would make it up by writing a super mega long chapter. Originally it was not going to be this long, so I had to keep thinking of ideas to make it longer (if that makes sense) and that's why it took some time to upload. Sorry about that. But any who, please, please let me know what you think! I love getting reviews and if you have any ideas, they are all welcome. Please follow and favorite (it only take like a second- two tops). It would mean a lot to me! Talk to you guys in the next chapter! Thanks! P.S Cheers to the longest chapter I have ever written. A whopping 8500 words! Yayyy!