Jo had been back in Florida for two week, rather then go through the hassle of trying to get back into classes she'd dropped, she was taking a break. She'd moved into an apartment with a friend in Miami, and was looking for a job. She'd spoken to Leon twice since she'd been back in Florida, but she hadn't tried to talk to Vince and he hadn't called her, which was why she'd been moping around her new apartment for the last 2 weeks.

"Jo, get up, and put this on!" Melissa, Jo's roommate, said barging into her room and throwing a slinky red dress at her.

"Mel, what the hell are you talking about?"

"You've been moping around here for two weeks, all you do is sit here, or look for jobs, you haven't been out once since you got here. And I just wrangled an invite to the opening of Club Ultra, everyone's gonna be there and so are we. Now get dressed, we're leaving in an hour."

"Mel…" Jo groaned.

"No, we're going out tonight; I'll drag you there in your PJ's if I have to. So one hour, got it?"

"Yeah," Jo said with a sigh, "I got it." As she slowly dressed she couldn't help but think of Vince, he'd love me in this dress, she thought looking herself over in the mirror. She pulled her hair back into a pony tail and headed out to the living room where Melissa was finishing her makeup.

"Ok," she said standing from the mirror she'd been looking at, "you're turn."

"No, no, no, I'm fine with the way I look."

"Yeah, you look good, but goods not gonna cut it tonight baby. I'm doing your hair and makeup so sit down, we don't have much time."

"Melissa…come on."

"Jo, you been moping around here two weeks over that jackass in Cali, tonight you're gonna go hook up with some hot ass man at the club."

"Ok, first of all, I don't hook up with people, but you're right. I shouldn't let Vince piss me off like this, so do your thing." Melissa let out a squeal and hugged Jo around the shoulders.

"You're gonna look so hot when I'm done with you." Half an hour later Jo and Melissa were in the long line to get into the opening of Club Ultra, Jo was wearing the slinky red halter top dress Melissa had thrown at her, her hair was down in curls around her face, Melissa had done her makeup, doing a very smoky eye, which, according to Melissa, was the focal point. Melissa was wearing a short, tight leather strapless dress, and her hair was straightened falling to her shoulders. They been in line for about half an hour when Melissa started talking to the guy in line behind them, Marcel, the two flirted for the rest of the twenty minuets they were in line and when they got inside she immediately disappeared onto the dance floor with him. Jo walked straight to the bar and found a seat in a corner, she liked to dance but just wasn't up to it. Despite her best efforts the only thing she could think about was Vince and how it felt to wake up next to him, feeling totally safe and happy. She was happily adrift in her day dream about Vince when it was interrupted by a voice.

"What?" Jo asked, knowing she'd missed the first thing he'd asked her.

"Anyone sitting here?" he asked again, indicating the bar stool next to her.

"No, all yours." She said not really paying attention to him until he sat down. He was pretty tall, with dark red hair; he had pretty blue eyes, and was wearing an all black suit.

"Can I buy you a drink?" he asked boldly, laying a hand on her lower back to get her attention. Jo smiled at him and gently pushed his hand away from her back, holding up her wrist, demonstrating that she had no wrist band and was underage.

"Sorry." She said without really meaning it.

"That's ok, I'm the owner of the club, so I think I can make an exception for you. Hey." He said snapping his fingers at the bar tender, who immediately came over.

"Yes sir Mr. Verone, what can I get for you?"

"Two shots of tequila from my stores."

"Yes sir." He said hurrying away.

"What if I don't like tequila." she asked.

"Everyone likes high quality tequila baby." He said leaning over her, and speaking inches from her face.

"Here you are sir." The bartender said returning with the shots and handing one to Jo before scurrying away to tend to the other customers.

"Bottom's up." He said throwing his shot back, and staring at Jo quizzically as she hadn't done the shot. "What's wrong?"

"I don't take drinks from drug dealers, Mr. Verone." She said coolly walking away. He smiled, threw back her shot and walked towards two men who'd been standing nearby throughout the exchange.

"It's her?" Verone asked.

"Yes sir."

"Good, Enrique go pull the car around out back, Roberto, you know what to do." Verone slowly circled the dance floor, spotting Jo again at the bar, this time surrounded by people. "Smart girl" he thought coming up behind her again and resting his hand on the small of her back.

"Come with me." He whispered into her ear so no one else could hear him.

"Back the fuck off." She growled into his face. Verone gripped her arm, stood her up and spun her to face the dance floor. Before she could do anything in response he whispered to her again.

"See your friend out there. Now look at the large man behind her. You don't do what I say she's gonna be in a lot of pain. Understand?" She glared at him fiercely, but nodded anyway. He smirked and led her across the dance floor, his arm low around her waist. He walked her straight across the dance floor, and out the back exit, where she saw a car waiting.

"Oh fuck no." she said trying to pull away from him, getting in the car with Carter Verone, a known drug dealer and all around bad guy was NOT a good idea. He chuckled as she struggled with him, at least until she landed a hard punch to his jaw. In response he pushed her towards the car, causing her to trip and fall to the ground right next to the car. He strode forward pulled her to her feet and forced her into the car.

Back in the club Roberto was hovering around Melissa, waiting for the call from Carter. He only had to wait for a few more minuets when his phone rang, he answered on the first ring and heard Carter's voice; "We're clear" was all he said before hanging up. Roberto pocketed his cell phone and approached Melissa; her dance partner had gone to get drinks. He tapped her on the shoulder and she turned expecting it to be the guy she'd been dancing with all night, instead she saw a large Hispanic man.

"You came in with a brunette in a red dress right?" he asked.

"Yeah…" she said unsure of what was going on.

"She won't be coming home for awhile, you tell anyone and she'll be killed. Understand?" he asked happily. She stared at him in silence for a few seconds, but when he tightened his grip on her arm she nodded yes. "Good, have a nice night." He said disappearing into the crowd.

Back in Carter's Car

"So you've heard of me?" Verone asked Jo putting an arm around her shoulders, and pulling her against him. She tried to pull away but he only tightened his grip on her. "Not gonna answer my question?" he whispered into her ear.

"I'm from South Florida, everyone knows about Carter Verone. Now let me go."

"I'm flattered."

"Well you shouldn't be, none of it was good, now what the hell do you want with me?" She asked impatiently, again trying to pull away from him.

"Well," he said switching his position so one of his hands was on her bare leg. "I got a call a couple of weeks ago from a contact of mine on the west coast, seems the Chinese triads were looking for a girl, fits your description, name of Jo. Said she'd be coming to my area, and they'd pay big for her. So…basically we've been following you since you got here. Don't look so shocked" he said responding to the look on her face, "how else do you think you're roommate got invited to the opening of my club." He asked with a smirk.

"So what happens now?"

"Now, we go back to my place until I get my money and they come get you. And, you behave until then, or its gonna be a long couple of days for you. Understand?" he asked leaning over and kissing her neck. She pulled away as far as she could, but his arms around her held her tightly to him.

"Do you understand?" he asked again, tightening his grip to the point that it was hurting her.

"You're hurting me. Let Go!" she snarled at him, he just laughed and again asked if she understood, still kissing her neck. She pushed him hard and spit in his face. He pulled back and stared at her, his blue eyes hardening noticeably as he wiped her saliva from his face.

"That was a mistake." He snarled at her as the car pulled up to a large mansion, and into a small garage. As soon as the garage door was shut Carter got out of the car, pulling Jo roughly with him. As soon as they were both out of the car he slammed her into the closed door, back handing her across the face, drawing blood in the corner of her mouth. Before she could even react, he'd hit her again, this time hard enough to knock her to the floor, she instinctively curled into a ball where she remained as he kicked her repeatedly with all his strength. After a few minuets Carter calmed down enough to once again pull her to her feet and hold her strong against the car.

"Don't do that again." He threatened, increasing his grip on her arms hard enough to leave bruises. She nodded but stared him straight in the eye; he laughed at her futile act of defiance, but began to pull her stumbling up the stairs. He dragged her to the third floor into a room with a large bed, walk in closet and huge bathroom…but no windows. Rather then push her inside Carter walked in with her, and he felt her stiffen in his grip.

"Don't worry; you're only worth any money to me if you're untouched…so to speak. So you're perfectly safe…unless you piss me off any more, in which case the money isn't worth it to me anymore, and we'll have more of that fun we had in the garage. See you in the morning." He said forcing a kiss on her bruised jaw, until she yelped in pain. He smirked at her and left the room, locking it behind him.

As soon as he'd gone Jo explored the room. She walked into the closet and found it full of women's clothing, very few of them tasteful in Jo's opinion, but they were there. She walked into the bathroom and found it stocked full of different shampoos, soaps, and lotions, but no razors, which was what she was looking for. There was also no lock on the bathroom door, in fact it looked as if it had recently been removed. She grabbed one of the towels on the counter and took the fastest shower in history, not wanting to give Carter or one of his cronies an opportunity to walk in on her. She got out and walked over to the closet, hoping beyond hope to find something to sleep in that wasn't a leather skirt or bikini top, although it seemed unlikely that such a garment would exist within this closet. Just when she was about to give up hope, she spotted a mans button down shirt, it was lavender and made of silk, Jo pulled it on and it fell down to her mid thigh, which was the best she was gonna get. She slipped into the bed, convinced she wouldn't sleep, but knowing she needed to keep her strength up if she were to survive whatever Carter Verone and Lance Tran had in store for her.