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Two months later Satine and Chris were still successfully hiding their affair from everyone. They had been worried for a few days that, somehow, Nini had found out about their secret, but she hadn't said a word to them about it and they were once more beginning to let down their guard. Slowly, as the gangs of the neighbourhood began to accept each other, Chris and Satine felt it was becoming more safe for them to spend time together. They were working together to make the neighbourhood a safer place, after all, it was just natural that they spent long hours together.

That afternoon the Cobras were absent, the Duke told Zidler and Satine that they had business to attend to in another neighbourhood.

Zidler frowned. "Nothing violent I hope."

The Duke laughed. "What do you take me for? We agreed to no violence and there's not gonna be any violence."

Ray was sitting near the window in the small restaurant and he snorted. "You tellin' us that you've given up violence Duke?" he sneered. "You except us to believe your bullshit."

The Duke turned his angry eyes in Ray's direction. "What're you suggesting?"

Ray laughed. "I ain't suggestin' anything. I'm outright tellin' you, I don't believe a goddamn word you say. You're still the enemy to me."

Zidler laughed uncomfortably and stepped between the two men before a fight could escalate. They were in a public restaurant and there were other people around, watching curiously as the Duke's face turned red and he sputtered angrily under his breath.

"Watch what you say," Zidler warned Ray, glaring at him.

Ray shrugged. "Whatever man. Just lettin' the world know that I don't trust this fucker."

"And what if I don't trust you?" The Duke suddenly burst out. "Where the hell does that leave your fucking gang? I could wipe the Deuces out with a single call, you doubt that?"

Ray raised one of his eyebrows and chuckled. "Like I said; whatever."

Chris and Satine watched as the Duke struggled for something to say, angered more by the unconcerned look on Ray's face. The tiny man took his cigarette pack out of his jacket and lit the end of a smoke, drawing it into his mouth. He grinned and winked at Satine before blowing the smoke right into the Duke's face.

"Jesus Ray!" Zidler burst out. "I don't need this shit, not now."

"And we don't need this dipshit," Ray responded, jerking his thumb in the Duke's direction.

"Another word," the Duke breathed angrily. "Just one more word Ray and I'll be giving Warner a new target when he gets back tonight."

The restaurant fell silent and Ray held up both his hands defensively, leaning back in his chair.

"Good," the Duke muttered, then turned toward Satine. "I've planned a perfect dinner for us tonight my dear. Say eight o'clock?"

Satine swallowed hard, then glanced carefully at Zidler who was still scolding Ray. "Eight o'clock? Well, Chris and I . . . we uh, we had some more plans to go over for the merge you know. We really wanted to get them done tonight," she said slowly.

Chris shook his head. "Don't worry about it. You guys have your night, the plans aren't important."

Satine feigned shock. "Are you kidding? These plans are the most important plans of the entire . . . plan. They must be put into vigorous testing before being revealed . . . and I won't reveal anything until we've tested them from all angles."

Chris had to suppress the smirk that was rising on his face, then nodded carefully and stood. "I'll see you then tonight Satine," he said, grabbing Ray's arm and pulling him from the building.

Satine watched him go, then brushed past the Duke muttering, "Excuse me."

The Duke whirled around, turning viciously on Zidler. "Make her come to me," he growled.

Zidler took a step back, surprised at the sudden outburst. "W-what?"

"Make her come to me tonight," the Duke repeated. "Make her have dinner with me or the entire deal is off. If I don't see Satine at eight o'clock tonight I'll have the entire neighbourhood slaughtered!"

Zidler drew in a deep breath, then nodded. "I'll make sure she meets you at eight. I promise."

"Good," the Duke hissed, glaring at him for a moment longer before he turned on his heel and stomped out of the restaurant.

"Satine," Zidler whispered, following the path she had taken toward the back room of the restaurant. "What the hell have you gotten into now?"

He pushed open the door slightly, staring into the stockroom, boxes of food blocking his vision slightly, the meat freezer near the back wall. Zidler frowned, squinted into the dusty sunlight that filtered through the only window beside the freezer. A glint of sun off red hair caught his eye and he turned, finding Satine leaning against the wall of the stockroom, Chris's face nearing hers.

"I love you," he heard her whisper just before Chris kissed her quickly, then disappeared out the back door.

"You didn't," Zidler hissed, making his way past boxes.

Satine gasped, placing a hand to her mouth.

"Tell me Satine, tell me you didn't fall in love with him."

She stared at him. "Harry? What are you talking about? He just has some silly crush on me, I promise it's nothing."

Zidler cocked his head sadly. "I heard you Satine, you can't lie to me. I heard you tell him that you loved him."

Satine's eyes widened and she glanced at the floor. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"End it. If you don't . . . everything is in the Duke's hands. Don't you understand that?" Zidler asked. "If he finds out about this everything will be ruined. He'd have the entire neighbourhood staked out as his own in seconds, he'd be selling his junk on our streets, killing our families. End it!"

Satine nodded slowly. "All right Harry," she murmured. "You're right, I'll end it."

"You have to meet the Duke tonight at eight," he told her. "You don't have a choice, my love."

She nodded again. "I'll meet him."

"I'm sorry it has to be this way," Zidler offered.

Satine's eyes met his and she smiled sadly. "So am I."

Together they made their way back to the front of the restaurant, ignoring the strange stares they received from the customers.

"I'll go prepare the Duke for your arrival," Zidler said to Satine. "You freshen up."

She nodded, then walked down the street toward her apartment. In the simmering heat of the afternoon, Satine could hear the distant shouts of children who were playing in the street. A sound she would never hear come from a child she would truly love. In the weeks she had spent with Chris, Satine had realized how much she wanted a child of her own. A child that was hers and Chris', a child that had her hair and his eyes. But she would never have that, not if she had to be with the Duke.

With a sigh, Satine slipped into a day dream, her fantasy of life with Chris in Montmartre, a life where they could escape everything that threatened them daily. She was so wrapped up in her dream that she didn't notice the dip off the sidewalk and stepped hard into the street, her ankle rolling forward.

With a shriek, Satine fell, her palms slamming down onto the hot cement, pain burning up her leg. She tried to stand, but the pain in her ankle prevented her from going anywhere.

"S'tine!" a voice cried and she looked up to see Nini running out of their apartment building. She reached the fallen woman and helped her up, half dragging her up the stairs and into her room.

"You twisted it badly," Nini said. "You're not going anywhere tonight."

"I have to call Harry," Satine told her. "I have to tell him that I can't make it to see the Duke tonight. And I have to call-" she stopped short. "Never mind."

Nini nodded and reached for the telephone. Satine quickly dialled Zidler's phone number, but she was answered by a busy signal. With a sigh she hung up and called Chris. The phone rang and rang, but no one picked up the other end.

"Keep trying Harry for me, will you Nini?" Satine asked, wincing as the pain in her ankle flared.

"Sure thing," Nini said, leaving the room.

Satine sighed, staring at the angry bruise that was already creeping up her leg. This was definitely the last thing she needed.

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