The car drove us all the way to the outskirts of Gotham City. At this point, I couldn't turn to look at Zsasz anymore, so I just kept my eyes glued to the outside of my windows. The tint made the world look a few shades darker than usual. Every now and then, Zsasz would ask my opinion on something, or try to drag me into a conversation, but I mainly just ignored him.

"Pretending that you're not in this situation isn't going to be of any help to you." Zsasz said slyly. "You've already stepped into the car; you're meeting Falcone whether you like it or not."

"I'm aware, Zsasz." I said with an accidental edge in my voice. I glanced at him to see that Zsasz's brow was raised higher. For a brief moment, I tried to imagine him with eyebrows, eyelashes, and a head full of hair. But the image was so foreign that I couldn't even start to imagine it. I decided to change the subject. "Are we going directly to where Falcone lives?"

Zsasz nodded, looking mildly entertained by this conversation we were having. The amused look on his face did nothing but make me unsettled and a tad frustrated, so I just turned back to the window to watch the darker world go by.

Our ride lasted for another twenty minutes of awkward silence before the car pulled in through the front gate. I leaned forward and got a good look at Don Falcone's house-or mansion. Tall white pillars framed the front porch and there were countless windows going up five stories. Including the front porch, there were two more porches on the front side of the house alone. I sat back against the seat after getting my look at the place, and I spotted Zsasz watching me with an amused expression. I pointedly ignored him until the car pulled to a stop in front of the house.

Zsasz slid out first and then held the door open for me as I got out of the car. The driver was still inside the car, and didn't bother getting out at all. In fact, the second Zsasz shut the door closed behind me, the driver started to drive off. I watched the car leave, feeling a sense of hopelessness sinking in. There goes my ride out of here.

"Hey, Rook," Zsasz said sharply. I looked back to where he was standing on the front porch steps. Zsasz was watching me with narrowed eyes now, and he jerked his head towards the door, gesturing me to go first. I bit back my nervous sigh and led the way up the stairs and past Zsasz. The door was unlocked when I pushed it open.

The inside of the mansion was just as impressive as the outside. Zsasz sped up until he was in front of me and he started to lead the way deeper into the oversized house. We passed several doors on our way to the second floor, and I couldn't help but wonder what all of these rooms were even used for. Surely the mob boss didn't need all of this space.

Zsasz opened the door to a room right next to the stairs. I looked at him as I passed and allowed myself to give him a nod. Zsasz nodded back and gave me a smile as he shut the door behind me. I turned away from the closed door to the large room that looked like it was a formal living room. There were nice couches that looked like they belonged in a palace, and there was a large granite fireplace. At this fireplace, a man was standing in front of the fire, which I could only assume was a gas fire.

"Welcome to my humble home, Sydney." The man said in a loud, low voice. "Please sit. My good friend, Liza, will be here shortly with refreshments."

I was too scared to even try to disobey, so I did as he said and took a seat on the stiff sofa. Don Carmine Falcone stood at his fireplace for another long moment, shifting some pictures on the mantle around before turning to me so that I could get a look at his face.

Carmine Falcone was probably in his sixties. His face, though weathered from age and stress of the mod business, still looked strong and commanded attention. Falcone struck an impressive figure. I, to say the least, was very intimidated.

Falcone had just sat down on the sofa opposite of me when the door behind me opened again. Zsasz was standing beside the open door, narrowed eyes pointed at the woman who had just entered the room with a tray of finger food. Zsasz looked at Falcone. "She just walked in, sir."

"It's quite alright, Victor." Falcone said, startling me with his politeness. He waved the woman forward and she walked until she was able to set the tray down on the coffee table between me and the mob boss. Liza and Falcone locked eyes for a moment before she walked out of the room again. Zsasz watched her like a hawk until she walked past him. Zsasz snapped the door shut behind them. Falcone and I were alone again.

Falcone reached for the tray and took one of the tiny sandwiches. "Take a sandwich, Sydney. Liza worked hard." I took one and was surprised to find that the sandwich was just a ham, cheese, and lettuce sandwich. I had the feeling that Liza didn't know how to make a lot of stuff, but I was definitely not going to tell Falcone that. So I ate my whole mini sandwich before Falcone started talking again.

"You're probably wondering why I brought you here on this lovely evening." Falcone said. "I imagine it'd be very alarming for Victor to show up at your home and bring you all the way out here."

"Yeah, well," I said. "Zsasz-I mean Victor, was very polite. Kind of scary, but still polite."

"That is his way." Falcone said, plucking up another mini sandwich. He gave me a pointed look and I took another too. There was an awkward silence where we both ate our sandwiches. When I swallowed the last bite, I looked up at Falcone.

I cleared my throat. "I don't mean to offend you, Don Falcone. But I was wondering why you brought me here. I'm sure it had nothing to do with inviting me to have dinner."

Falcone smiled and had a very amused expression on his face. "I must give you credit, Sydney, very few people would come to my house and ask why they were there in such a manner. But because you've been so polite, I'll tell you what I found about your relations."

I frowned at him, wondering what he could mean by that. Falcone continued. "Your last name is a very interesting one, Sydney. There aren't a lot of Rooks around Gotham. I tracked a few in Metropolis; I'm assuming you have some family there?"

"A few cousins." I said, feeling my stomach start to tighten.

"Yes, but a quick amount of research told me that those cousins are all on your mother's side. This told me that you took your mother's last name of Rook." He paused, taking his time with taking another bite out of a sandwich. I stared at him, not able to move. Falcone continued, "I found this information quite interesting. So I hired someone to figure who your father was, and why you seemed to take such an interest in your mother's name. They found it very simple, seeing as your mother kept your father's name.

"So I guess, by all legal means, you should actually be called Sydney Dessen."

Was this the moment where I was supposed to break down and start begging for forgiveness, even though I had no idea why I should? I swallowed so hard that it hurt. Falcone sensed my gathering panic and smiled calmly again. "I remember Jonathon Dessen. He was an unforgiving man, to say the least. It wasn't a secret that he was a drunk, who would occasionally beat his wife. There was never a mention of a child, however."

I had felt panic well up inside of me a few moments before, but now I stared at Falcone, confusion replacing the fear. "You knew Dessen?"

"Of course I did. He worked for me on the lower side of town. Really his job was just to guard some warehouses, some times participate with low operation missions; I only met him once, but that left me a lasting impression of who he was, and I did not like who he was."

I snorted. "No one really liked who he was."

"I brought you here to see how his only child fared, and I see that you are better off without him." Falcone said with something that sounded like approval. But then his gaze darkened and he tilted his head slightly. "But then, one of my people informed me that you were seen with Mr. Cobblepot. Now tell me Sydney, what is your relationship with the man called the Penguin?"

"His mom lives next door to me." I said. "I met him because the music from her apartment was too loud and he answered the door. We kept kind of running into each other, and eventually he told me about what happened between him and Jim Gordon, him and you, and what's happening between him and Don Maroni right now. Other than that, he's pretty much kept me out of the know."

Falcone blinked and sighed. "I believe you, Sydney. But that still begs the question: why in the world would the Penguin confide all of that crucial information with you?"

"I've been trying not to think about it." I said. Falcone smiled and nodded.

"It's getting late, Sydney. Would you like a ride back home?"

I looked over to the wide window and saw that the sun had already set. The sky was stained dark pink and orange. I nodded at Falcone, who stood up and said, "Keep a wary eye on Cobblepot, Sydney. I wouldn't trust him if I were you. No one who shares information so willingly is ever doing it out of the kindness of their hearts."

"Then what will we call this meeting?"

"Call it a warning." Falcone said gravely before turning his back on me to open the door.