I do apologies for the slight delay in updating! This is an important chapter so I reread it far too many times before posting to make sure I liked it, and life got itself in my way for a little bit as well.

I won't necessarily call this a warning, but I'll at least let you all know there's some violence and suggestion of violence in this chapter, but we are Zsasz fans after all, so really that's the kind of stuff we should be prepared for lol

It was a little over an hour into Don Falcone's dinner party, and by now everyone had finished their meals and had begun to mingle. There were fewer people in attendance than CJ expected, though that by no means meant it was a small and intimate gathering. No, over the years Don Falcone had developed a number of relationships, ranging from business to personal, and all his guests reflected the array of people he'd come to know.

Throughout the evening so far, CJ divided her attention between Umberto and her mother, and when not with either of them she took to wandering the party on her own, mingling whenever someone decided to strike up conversation, and keeping to herself whenever those conversations died down, which she had currently been doing to occupy her time. In her hand she carried a glass of champagne, sipping at it as she eyed the crowd around her; she had been hoping for an opportunity to chat with Don Falcone, but seeing as it was his party, everyone else had the same idea as her. She wasn't sure what time it was, but CJ was getting antsy and knew she'd probably have to interrupt the Don's other conversations if she hoped to get any time with him.

CJ caught herself wondering where Victor may have been―throughout the evening, she saw him pop in and out of the crowd, dividing his attention between Don Falcone and the Penguin, who he, apparently, had recently started devoting his time to. She searched the crowd, but couldn't see the man in question, and so she continued her stroll among everyone, finding her way back to Umberto, who was chatting with a young man that appeared to be about maybe a few years his senior. CJ wandered into the conversation, making brief introductions with the man named Miguel before he and her brother picked up where they left off. CJ realized very quickly there was little room for her in the discussionㅡwhat were the odds that both men happened to share an interest in the social anthropology of art? The two were talking so eagerly that there was almost no opportunity to speak up, so instead she watched for a couple of minutes. Umberto's quick comradery with the other man caused CJ to smile before excusing herself, deciding it better to leave them be, knowing they wouldn't miss her.

CJ wandered off toward a bench lining a wall, people watching and sipping her drink. A few minutes later, Umberto found his way to her, an almost uncharacteristic smile on his lips that caused his sister to raise a brow and grin.

"Don't tell me that smile is thanks to Miguel." CJ greeted, bumping her brother's shoulder once he sat beside her.

"And what if it is?"

"If someone has you smiling like that, what are you doing sitting here with me instead?" CJ's eyes drifted to the slip of paper Umberto folded in his hands, noticing a string of numbers and assuming it to be Miguel's phone number.

"Miguel said you looked like you could use some company." Umberto grinned at her.

"So even a stranger can tell I'm lonely; that's great." CJ mockingly rolled her eyes.

As CJ and Umberto sat, the young woman's gaze finally found Victor again, and as she watched him for a few moments, her brow furrowed curiously when she realized who was in his company.

"What's ma doing talking to Victor?" She questioned, eyes still trained on the pair. Though Victor's expression looked neutral from where she sat, Josephine was smiling with comfortable familiarity at him. Umberto's curious eyes also glanced over to stare.

"Huh… beats me." The siblings watched as a faint grin tugged at Victor's lips, "Ya know, Pino mentioned once a few years ago something about Zsasz as a kid."

CJ turned to look at her brother in question, "How's that relevant?"

"I mean, I don't really know anything about it," Umberto started while pushing up his glasses, "but you know Falcone took him in around the time ma was pregnant with you. Pino was old enough to remember some of it, said that sometimes when we'd come around here ma would keep Zsasz company when no one else would―he was a weird kid, it's no wonder he was always by himself."

CJ's jaw was a little slack in surprise before a small smirk crossed her lips, and her eyes turned back to see Victor saying goodbye to Josephine before he walked away, "You're kidding―ma would hang out with Victor?"

Umberto shrugged, "That's what Pino said, but I was four, CJ, I don't remember shit."

CJ hummed as her gaze followed Victor, trying to imagine what he possibly could have been like at age ten; the only difference she could really picture is that he was shorter. It was difficult to try to imagine the man before he was an assassin, to imagine him young and innocent (was he ever actually innocent?). And it was strange to picture her young, pregnant mother spending time with the assassin-to-be before her father's empire in the city was well and truly built up.

After a minute, CJ rose to her feet, too curious not to go question Victor now. She found him again with Oswald Cobblepot, which caused her to pause in her pursuit and quirk her lips with thought―she wasn't all too interested in making acquaintances with the Penguin tonight. For a few moments she lingered as Cobblepot spoke to a few other party guests, Victor silently beside him. CJ eyed him, already knowing that eventually he'd feel her gaze and spot her. And sure enough, in less than a minute, Victor's eyes fell on her, to which CJ raised a brow in hopes that he'd split off from his new boss.

The smirk that tugged at Victor's lips was so slight that CJ wondered if maybe she just imagined it. But within a moment, he approached her, and CJ noted the brief instant that Cobblepot eyed the two of them with question in his gaze, making sure to study CJ so he could find out who she was later.

"Couldn't stay away too long?" Victor greeted, to which CJ slightly narrowed her eyes.

"You and mom look friendly." She cut straight to the point with a grin as the man raised his brow.

"You're really outta the loop, huh?" CJ's expression twisted in confusion.

"Is it common knowledge that you two are friends?"

Victor tilted his head in a shrug, "No."

CJ waited for him to continue, but he remained silent, causing her to sigh with a slight eye roll, "Care to elaborate?"

"What do you wanna know?" He asked with a small smile, motioning with his chin to indicate CJ should follow him. The pair slowly began away from the center of the crowd, leisurely walking the perimeter of the room.

"Berto says you knew her as a kid." Victor nodded, "Carmine took you in when she was pregnant with me?"

He huffed out a laugh, "You were trouble even then."

"Excuse me?" CJ looked up at him with bewilderment.

"Josephine had morning sickness constantly." Victor's eyes narrowed slightly as he recalled his time with the older woman nearly twenty years ago, "You were a kicker, too, she was always asking if I wanted to touch her stomach." His face twisted as if recreating the disgusted expression his ten-year-old self had made, causing CJ to giggle. Victor paused to look down at her, his expression sobering in thought, "Aside from Carmine, she was the only person that didn't treat me like an anomaly."

CJ furrowed her brow, "So, then did you know me as a kid?"

"As if your father would've let that happen." Victor replied with a mocking expression and a shake of his head, adding a slight accent to his voice meant to mimic Maroni's, "'Carmine's homicidal pet isn't gonna come anywhere near my family.'"

CJ's eye's widened at the harsh word, certainly not expecting 'homicidal' to be the kind of word applied to a ten-year-old, "What?"

"That's what he said when he found out how Carmine met me." He found CJ's serious stare, meeting it with his own stony one.

"But you were still a kid…" She stared at him a moment before looking away in earnest thoughtㅡwas Victor really a killer before he was even a teenager?

"Ooh…" Victor's tone perked slightly in realization, "You don't know."

"What, that at ten you were already a murderer?" Her tone was both a little mocking and a little defensive, obviously beginning to make assumptions about Victor's first kill.

Victor shrugged nonchalantly, particularly unphased by the topic in comparison to how shocked she was, "Well, you don't know the entire story."

CJ narrowed her eyes, trying not to pass judgment on the man for his past just yet, "So, then, tell me the whole story."

Victor shook his head before giving her a slight smirk, though the amusement didn't seem to reach his gaze, which had become slightly clouded as he recalled his past before brushing it off, "You look like you could use another drink."

He motioned toward her empty champagne flute with his eyes. She glanced down at the glass with a brief nod, allowing Victor to lead her through the room again. They were both silent for a minute as a server handed Victor a new glass which he then brought to CJ.

"You know I kill people for a living, right?" His question was sudden, but it got CJ to meet his eyes again, her stare almost mocking how daft it was to ask.

"Yes…?"

"But suggesting I could have killed someone as a kid bothers you?" Victor tilted his head as they stared at each other for a few long moments.

"It… took me by surprise." CJ finally answered, unsure how she should respond to the question, and Victor raised his brow.

"Surprised that an assassin potentially killed someone? That checks out." CJ's eyes narrowed at his sarcasm, and yet there was something about Victor, and she couldn't help but soften despite her earlier discomfort.

Victor and CJ had spent the better part of an hour together in conversation before he finally left to find Oswald Cobblepot again. CJ was still left with questions, seeing as he never gave her further explanation regarding her inquiries, but that was to be expected of Victorㅡthe man never was one to divulge information unnecessarily.

CJ now wandered through the crowd of Falcone's party guests leisurely, so caught up in her head that she hadn't noticed Pino approaching her with an irate look in his eyes. When he was finally close enough to roughly grab hold of her elbow, CJ released a yelp of surprise.

CJ immediately turned to glare up into his harsh gaze, "The hell!?" His jaw was tightly clenched, eyes aggressive, and CJ noted the touch of sweat on his forehead, the redness of his face, and the obvious stench on his breath, recognizing the effect that alcohol always had on him immediately, "Pino, you've been drinking, calm down."

"I am calm." His tone entirely contradicted his statement as he leaned forward, "At least, I was 'til I realized you been hanging off of Zsasz all damn night."

"You're exaggerating and you know it." CJ hissed and rolled her eyes, attempting to shove away his hold on her, but Pino was much bigger and stronger than her five-foot-two frame, and his grip only tightened, his free hand grabbing her jaw in that domineering way their father used to. The look in CJ's eyes intensified to match that of her brother's as she masked the pain that crossed her face, "The fuck is your problem with him?"

Pino pulled at her face, fingers digging into her skin and forcing CJ to rise onto her toes. Her eyes darted around, but it appeared as if no one around them was taking notice of the confrontation, "He ain't got respect for this family, and he's a murderous freak."

Admittedly, CJ felt a deep fear in her chest as she stared into her brother's dark eyes, struggling to hold herself up on her toes.

"… You're afraid of him." CJ said lowly in realization, "You're fucking afraid of Victor, aren't you? That's why you always wait 'til he's gone to treat me like garbage."

Pino's jaw clenched so tightly that CJ was sure she could hear his teeth grind together, his eyes becoming vicious. He shoved back her face, causing CJ to stumble, but the death grip on her arm kept the young woman on her feet.

"Don't act like you know shit, CJ." Pino growled before he began to drag her through the crowd, CJ stumbling in her heels as they went. Now, she felt panic rise in her―Pino was forcing her away from the party, away from prying eyes, and she began to look around frantically.

"Berto!" CJ called to her other brother once she spotted him making conversation nearby. He immediately looked up, surprised by the alarmed tone of CJ's voice, and quickly spotted his siblings just as Pino halted momentarily to turn back to her.

"Can it." He hissed as his grip on CJ's elbow tightened before he continued toward the French doors that led to Falcone's back terrace. As he dragged her along, CJ's panicked eyes looked at all the partygoers, wondering if they were choosing not to take notice or if they really were just oblivious.

Now, Umberto quickly tried to catch up to them, eyes distressed as his siblings disappeared outside. CJ continued to stumble over her feet, tripping to her knees as Pino practically dragged her down the back steps to the expansive yard. He pulled her back up to her feet with ease, not even stealing a glance back.

"Pino!" Umberto called as he rushed toward his siblings, "You have to calm down!"

"I don't need another damn person telling me to calm down!" His fiery eyes turned on his brother, "Get the fuck back to the party, Berto, 'less you want your ass beat, too!"

CJ attempted to dig her heels into the ground, her brow pulled tight, but her impractical shoes slid all too easily through the damp grass.

"Damn it, Pino, just stop!" She yelled, but her protests were useless.

Pino suddenly and aggressively threw her forward, causing CJ to gracelessly fall onto the cold and slick ground. She quickly scrambled onto her hands and knees, frantic eyes turning back to Pino.

Umberto ran up behind his brother, grabbing his shoulder to turn him around, "Pino, you gotta leave her alone!"

With shocking, unexpected speed, Pino's fist collided with Umberto's jaw, causing the younger man to stumble back as CJ rose to her feet.

"I told you to go back inside!" Pino shouted, taking another step toward his brother as CJ tried to grab at Pino's arm.

"Pino―!"

"CJ, get outta here!" Umberto interrupted, "I can handle him!"

Pino shoved CJ away again, quickly reaching inside his jacket to pull out a gun and aim it at Umberto with a crazed look in his large eyes. The two younger siblings froze, eying the weapon fearfully as Pino's gaze continued to flare with anger. For a single, long beat, the only noise heard was the sound of the siblings' sporadic breathing.

"This is between me and our brat sister." Pino spoke darkly, "You get involved, you get shot."

"You'd shoot your own brother?"

"I'll shoot whoever I have to." The corrupt grin on Pino's lips sent a shiver down CJ's spine.

"You're fucking crazy." She called at him, voice cracking, and Pino quickly turned on her, "You're worse than dad!"

"CJ, don't egg him on!"

Pino looked between his siblings once more, his gun still trained on Umberto.

"I'm only gonna say it one more fucking time, butt out!"

CJ and Umberto met each other's eyes fearfully, staring for a few long moments until Umberto sighed, his face falling into a look of ashamed defeat as he took a few steps back in surrender.

"Berto―!"

"I'm sorry…" His shaky voice replied nervously while removing his gaze from CJ, and a conceited look crossed Pino's face.

"See how much easier it is when you just listen." His tone was smug as he looked from CJ to Umberto with a commanding glare, "And you stay there, else you're gonna get it later."

With a pained apology in his eyes, Umberto took another few steps away, glancing back toward the Falcone mansion as Pino trained his sights on CJ. From where she knelt in the frosty grass, the young woman looked both fearful and vexed, meeting her brother's dangerous eyes. Slowly, she rose to her feet, and for a long moment neither of them moved from their spots.

And then CJ tried to run.

She quickly turned on her heels, going as fast as her uncomfortable shoes would allow. With each step, her heels sunk into the grass, her rapid heartbeat ringing in her ears. CJ could hear Pino's heavy foot fall not far behind her, and even his heavy breathing sounded disgusting and dangerous. The rapidly closing gap between them was terrifying, and CJ knew she couldn't run forever.

And suddenly she was toppling to the ground, her toe having snagged on a tree's root. CJ let out a shout as she fell, further scraping her hands and knees and snapping one of her heels. With panicked, short breaths, she started lifting herself to her feet, hair haphazardly falling into her face. CJ was only halfway up when Pino's large foot slammed into her rib cage, causing her to cough and shout out in pain as she dropped back down.

"Don't you ever try running from me again!" Pino grabbed up a fistful of her hair, his voice shouting into her ear as he dragged CJ up onto her knees, "I'm fucking done with your attitude."

CJ met Pino's fiery eyes with one last act of imprudent defiance and spat in his face. The resulting heavy handed punch Pino landed on her jaw was devastating, leaving CJ too disoriented to even attempt to scramble away. Pino gave her another swift punch, causing the woman to fall back as he wiped the spit from his cheek, wild gaze unblinking as he stood over her.

"You just never learn, do you?" His tone was low and hoarse, and CJ's eyes widened as he made another swift grab for her.

Victor stood just behind Oswald Cobblepot, his expression characteristically hard as the new crime boss made condescending conversation with another of Don Falcone's guests. For about half an hour now Victor had been flanking his new boss, knowing that even as a party guest himself he still had a job to do; Cobblepot had made an incredible rise to power all on his own, Victor was just another unfriendly reminder to others not to test Cobblepot's authority.

As he waited, Victor began to search the crowd for Don Falcone―Cobblepot may be his new boss, but Falcone would always be his first boss, he would always have Victor's unconditional loyalty and respect.

It was a strange feeling to Victor, realizing that soon Don Falcone would be leaving Gotham; in many ways, Carmine had been like a father to him, even if the two had never let that on to the public. It was certainly common knowledge among the mob that Victor became Falcone's ward before he was even a teenager; what wasn't such common knowledge was that Carmine really did treat him like a son in those formative years. And Victor surely wouldn't admit to anyone, but he was going to miss the older man a great deal; after all, Don Falcone was the only consistent thing in Victor's life for two decades.

Finally, Victor's eyes found Don Falcone across the room, scotch in hand as he spoke to Josephine Maroni. The sight of the older woman caused the slightest of grins to cross Victor's lips as he thought back to her eccentric daughter. And now, as he thought of CJ, he began to scan the crowd for her familiar face as well.

It took Victor a minute to realize the youngest Maroni was nowhere to be found, and his brow wrinkled curiously. He continued looking over every face, and quickly he also realized CJ's brothers were missing from the party as well. If he were anyone else, Victor would have thought nothing of it, but he was a man whose job called for him to listen to his gut. And right now, his gut knew something was off.

Wordlessly, Victor left Cobblepot's side, eyes sharp as he walked through the crowd in search of any of Don Falcone's other employees, in particular, anyone that worked in the mansion; one could always trust a home's personal staff to have the most watchful eyes and ears of anyone. So, Victor made his way toward the entryway out into the hall where one of Don Falcone's butlers stood and observed the partygoers. As Victor came into his view, the man gave a slight nod of acknowledgment, noting the edge to Victor's eyes.

The assassin came to a halt in front of the butler once they were shoulder-to-shoulder, head dipping slightly as he spoke in a low tone, "Where are the Maronis?"

The older man's astute eyes didn't stop watching the crowd as he spoke, "They disappeared out a back door twenty minutes ago… it didn't look like a friendly conversation."

Victor's lips were a perfectly straight line as he slowly turned his head, eyes looking over his shoulder in the direction of the doors leading out to Falcone's terrace. His brow rose slowly as he thought, his expression unsettling. Without another word, Victor turned with intention in his step, moving slowly through the crowd with a certain degree of menace to his eyes. He stopped in front of one of the back windows, eyes studying what little of the yard could be seen under the darkness of the sky; the lights of the terrace only shined so bright, and past the stairs leading down to Falcone's extensive yard, all Victor could make out were the vague outlines of trees against the skyline. For a long minute, he observed with a keen eye, hoping to pick up on some kind of movement among the shadows, but as he stared into the darkness, he saw nothing.

Victor turned back toward the party, debating whether or not he should go outside to investigate. He slowly made another loop around the party, looking over the crowd once more to ensure he hadn't just missed CJ when he first looked (though he already knew she certainly wasn't in the room). Once he had finally reached the back again, Victor paused a few feet from the French doors leading outside. And it was that moment the doors opened.

Victor's gaze immediately trained on Pino, who had a grossly prideful look in his eyes. He was red in the face, hair a mess and suit wrinkled as he met Victor's eyes, and a dark smirk crossed his lips in a near mocking manner. Just a few steps behind him, Umberto followed, looking just as much a mess as his brother with the addition of mud slicked on the leg of his pants; but his eyes remained cast down, something akin to shame apparent in his posture and expression. Victor's critical gaze followed the pair as they made through the crowd as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

Victor soon turned his gaze back to the door expectantly, hoping to see CJ walk in any moment now. But again, his gut felt otherwise―upon the sight of her brothers, Victor already had a fair assumption of what may have happened while they were outside and away from prying eyes. His glaring gaze jumped back to the brothers as they came to stand in front of their mother, and though Victor couldn't hear them, the startled and confused expression on Josephine's face spoke volumes.

Without a second thought, Victor dipped outside, the brisk air sending a faint shiver through him as his eyes scanned across the vast lawn. For a few long moments, he heard and saw nothing, taking a few more careful steps out to the stairs of the terrace, his sharp gaze still surveying the darkness. Finally, he caught movement among the shadows of the trees, heard the faintest of footsteps as he carefully watched the dark, approaching silhouette of who he knew to be CJ. For the briestest instant, he relaxed.

"They give you trouble?" He called out to CJ in a near humorous tone. The unexpected sound of his voice startled her, and she gasped while freezing in her steps, arms tightening a little more around herself. Almost immediately, Victor's face darkened at her reaction, his gaze unblinking as she continued her slow approach. It was then he could make out the terrible limp CJ walked with, could hear the thick, labored way she breathed, as if every inhale and exhale caused her pain.

As CJ came closer, the light behind Victor began to finally cast over her. His jaw slowly tightened at the sight of her, eyes becoming frighteningly intense. He watched the way her left foot dragged at an uncomfortable angle, how her arms clung to her ribcage as if for dear life, the way blood covered her skin and soaked through her dress. When her face finally became illuminated by the light, Victor was nearly shocked that she was even still on her feet, let alone conscious. Underneath all the blood dripping from her nose and the cuts on her face, Victor could still make out the grossly crooked angle her jaw slacked at, could finally see the fog that glazed over her normally lively eyes.

As CJ got closer to the terrace steps, Victor took long strides to meet her, seeing how her eyes seemed to become less focused as the seconds passed. Despite this, though, he could still see her fearfulness, her hesitation as her body shook, avoiding Victor's watchful gaze. CJ could feel her knees going weak as her head drummed.

"Hey." His tone was authoritative, firm in a way similar to how an adult may talk to a scared child, "Hey, look at me."

Now, he was only a few steps in front of CJ, watching carefully as her lips twitched. He waited a few moments to see if she'd respond.

"Look at me." His tone, again, was firm, but by no means harsh. And slowly, hesitantly, CJ turned her gaze up, and her hazel eyes immediately began to water as they met Victor's.

He looked over her appearance from head to toe once more, as if he were waiting for the permission of her eye contact to check her injuries more closely. Both of her eyes were swollen, blood drying under her nose and over the giant split in her lip; her crooked, broken jaw was even more prominent now that he stood close. Her paling skin was slick with mud and blood, her previously light dress a nasty shade of brown with stains of blood and mud in the vague shape of shoe prints, fabric torn across her arms and skirt. Her elbows, hands, and knees were all skinned, blood mixing with dirt, and her once pretty pair of heels were in broken shambles. Her left ankle was becoming swollen as she attempted to keep her weight off of it, and it looked like even just breathing was causing her to flinch in pain. Victor could only wonder how much worse she'd look tomorrow once the bruises across her skin really began to form.

Victor's intense, analytical eyes made CJ even more nervous as she shivered; she felt exposed under his gaze as if not only her body but also her thoughts were being laid entirely bare in front of him. She could feel herself becoming more and more lightheaded as they stood in heavy silence, and her teeth quietly began to chatter from the cold.

CJ was swaying on her feet, and her eyes fluttered shut for a moment, hoping to somehow block out her headache that only seemed to get more painful the longer she stood. Victor, having notice the way she already seemed to be dipping into unconsciousness, took another careful step forward, reaching out to steady her, which caused CJ to flinch at his touch. And in that same moment, her knees buckled, her body becoming limp as she dropped down. But Victor quickly swooped to catch her, securing her petite frame in his arms as gently as he could.

"We need to get you inside." Victor finally broke the silence again, eyes trained on the sad little thing with hardly any resemblance to the CJ he was becoming familiar with. She simply nodded, eyes tightly shutting again as another pang of pain shot through her head, "You're gonna have to help me out."

They both knew he realistically didn't need her help―Victor was strong and easily more than half a foot taller than her, he didn't need any help carrying her small frame. However, Victor also knew it was best to keep her conscious until he could get a doctor to her, and if that meant he needed to give her simple tasks to keep her mind busy, then so be it.

Carefully, Victor began back up the terrace steps, CJ groaning out in pain against his shoulder as he felt mud, sweat, and blood begin to dampen the front of his suit as he moved, eyes hardset while approaching the door that led back to the party. But he quickly halted, looking down at CJ's dejected face as he realized bringing her in that way would only cause unwanted attention and drama. So, instead he turned to walk around the backside of the mansion until he was approaching an entrance on the side of the home that led into the kitchen. He took only a slight pause to glance at CJ.

"Open the door for me." He instructed, noticing the tired look settling on the young woman's face. She reached out with a shaky, delicate hand, and as soon as the doorknob was slightly turned, Victor used the toe of his boot to push the door wide open. The few cooks and servers all paused at the sound of the door creak, and when their eyes fell on Victor and CJ, their expressions were a mingle of fear, concern, and curiosity. Victor's serious look didn't falter as he walked through the kitchen, feeling CJ's head growing heavier on his shoulder. He approached one of the servers, who immediately straightened up.

"Go find Don Falcone and his doctor." Victor hardly waited for a nod of confirmation as he began walking again, calling back over his shoulder before he left the kitchen, "And find out if Josephine Maroni is still here."

Victor moved quickly but carefully up the back staircase, soon coming to another door and kicking it open with the heel of his boot. He made a beeline across the room toward the large bed lining one of the walls, setting CJ atop it as gently as he could, though she nonetheless grunted loudly in pain, brow knitting together as her closed eyes clenched tighter. For a few long moments, they both waited―CJ, for the drumming in her head to calm a little, and Victor for her to open her eyes again. He stood over the bed, posture tense as if ready to jump if necessary, his expression firm.

With a deep, shaky breath, CJ, at this point barely conscious, opened her heavy eyes slowly, thankful that the only light was streaming into the room from out in the hall; if it were any brighter, she was sure she'd be blinded. Victor's frame was outlined with the backlight, features barely discernible, and CJ simply stared up into his face, feeling as if nothing she could say at this moment would be right.

After another few long beats, Victor finally reached over to the bedside lamp and switched it on. CJ immediately turned her face away from him, frowning with discomfort and with something akin to shame as her head began to feel lighter with each passing second. The silence continued between them as Victor's eyes drifted from her face and down her body as he again assessed the injuries and mess on her, and CJ would have felt nervous under his gaze if she wasn't on the brink of passing out. She closed her eyes again, sliding down a little in the bed as she tried to get comfortable, but to no avail, gasping in pain from her efforts.

"You better not be falling asleep." Victor's voice nearly caused CJ to jump as she peered at him from the corner of her eye. Maybe she was imagining it, but the unrecognizable look of concern in Victor's eyes stirred something in CJ, and she let out a shaky sigh as she heard the sound of approaching footsteps.

~eleven years ago~

At less than a month shy of eight years old, CJ was still called Camila by everyone that knew her (and occasionally Pino called her Cami to annoy her); she was a small girl, always donned in pink with ribbons in her long hair, and as the youngest of Sal Maroni's family, she often managed to get everyone's attention. And usually, despite people's assumptions, she got the attention because she behaved the way she shouldn't. Her parents may have dressed her like a little doll, but young Camila was very much a tempermental tomboy, always interested in joining in on sports and playing rough with other kids.

Sal Maroni had progressively been on the up-and-up the last few years, gaining serious traction in the mob scene; he was slowly on his way to becoming equals with Carmine Falcone, though none of this Camila knew or understood at her age. No, to her Sal was the doting though strict father that still gave her piggyback rides around the house and yelled at her to eat her vegetables. The only worries she had at this age were remembering not to play roughly with other kids and not getting caught stirring up trouble with her brothers (both of which she was repeatedly guilty of doing).

Every year, the Maroni family Fourth of July parties got bigger and bigger. It seemed like each year there were at least two new babies born and one wedding that added to the family tree, and at her age there was absolutely no way for Camila to keep track of everyone. No, all she recognized was that there were more children to play with.

Just a year prior, Camila's family moved into their new home in a much nicer part of the city―with the incredible growth Sal was having with business, he could finally afford to show off his money. So, this was the first year in a long time where the large family party could finally be hosted out of a home again.

The family, which to young Camila felt like hundreds of people, filled the backyard, fathers smoking cigars on the patio, mothers besotted with their babies, and the older boys running back and forth across the lawn with a football. Camila sat at the kids table, letting one of her older cousins braid her hair. The other little girl talked on and on about how much she'd been practicing reading over the summer, bragging that she'd surely be the fastest reader in her class once school started again. Camila had begun wiggling in her seat a few minutes earlier, impatiently waiting for her cousin to finish with the braid so she could get up and move around. She'd been eying her older cousins on the lawn, watching as Pino tackled one of them to the ground (to which one of the mothers promptly scolded them about dirtying up their nice clothes before dinner), hoping to sneak away to play with them instead of getting stuck playing dolls with all the toddlers again.

As Camila waited, she looked around to find her parents, both of whom were preoccupied in separate conversations. Once her cousin finished tying a pastel ribbon in her hair, Camila slid out of her chair, an excited twinkle in her eyes as she glanced at her distracted parents one more time before running out to the grass.

"Pino, I wanna play!" She called while running to her fourteen year old brother, bounding up to him and pushing at him playfully with a giant smile on her face. Almost immediately, Pino sneered, shoving her away.

"Go away, Cami, football isn't for girls." He met her eyes with a slight glare.

"Yeah, Cami!" A number of her cousins chorused in a mocking tone, causing the young girl to ball her hands into fists at her sides and match Pino's glare.

"Don't be mean!" She gave a determined look while stomping a small foot, to which Pino scoffed and rolled his eyes, turning his back on her to continue the game as if it was never interrupted.

"Pino, we should let her play." Umberto spoke up in his soft voice, getting a glaring look from most of the cousins.

"Mom and dad don't want her to play." Pino argued, "Go away."

"Just for a few minutes." Umberto insisted, and now Pino glared at him, "Then I'll bring her back to the girls."

"Gonna go hang out with the girls where you belong, Berta?" Pino mocked, getting a laugh from the others, "That's what we should call you, Berta, because you're a pussy."

Umberto's eyes widened at Pino's shocking and unexpected language while the others laughed, Camila looking between them in frustrated confusion.

"And what should we call her, huh, trying to be one of the boys?" Pino swaggered around Camila, "Cam?"

"Pino, stop, I'll take her―"

"Oh, I know―CJ!" Pino leaned down to be eye level with his pouting sister, his hand clenching tightly around her braid and giving it an aggressive tug, "Want us to cut your hair, CJ? Treat you like a boy, CJ?"

CJ barked out, but her frustration was more prominent than her pain, and with all the strength her little arms could muster, Camila roughly pushed him away from her with a grunt. She managed to push Pino back several stumbled steps, and all the boys 'ooh'ed in response.

Pino stood back to his full height, looking between his cousins smugly, "Oh, so we're playing dirty now? Fine, CJ, let's play." He looked wickedly to his cousin holding the football before turning his dark eyes back to Camila, "Alright, kid, you're the opposing team."

Camila smiled eagerly, not picking up on the edge to Pino's tone and behavior as she ran across the grass to join her team.

"Pino, don't―"

"Shut up, Berta." Pino taunted his younger brother again, nudging the arm of one of his cousins while another handed him the football. He looked back at excited little Camila, who was bouncing on her toes across the lawn, and he smirked wickedly. Without warning and with all his strength, he chucked the ball at her, pegging the young girl square in the jaw and causing her to cry out in pain. Camila fell backwards into the grass, beginning to cry almost instantly as she held her face in her hands.

"Pino!" She heard the angry shout of her mother over the sound of the boys' laughter. Camila wiped at her teary eyes, glaring at her brother with a look that resembled the devastating wickedness of her father. As her parents jogged over, Camila screamed while rising to her feet, seeing red as she charged her brother and, to everyone's surprise, she lunged at him, managing to tackle the unsuspecting Pino to the ground as she began to try to claw at him.

"Camila!" She heard the angered, shocked voice of her father as he yanked her off of Pino and practically threw her back into the arms of Josephine who was just a step behind him. Josephine held tight to Camila's arms as she shushed the young girl soothingly, who continued to struggle in her mother's hold. But within less than a minute she began to calm down, turning to Josephine with new tears falling from her eyes as the older woman scooped her up and rubbed her back slowly. As her mother hummed in her ear, Camila could hear her father scolding Pino nearby.

"Camila…!" Sal approached his wife and daughter, "what have I told you about playing with the boys?" The little girl buried her face in Josephine's shoulder, losing the resolve she had just a minute prior, tears soaking into her mother's clothes, "You know you're not supposed to."

"Sal, lighten up on her."

"She's gotta learn from her mistakes." Sal replied firmly, placing a finger under his daughter's chin to lift her head and meet her eyes, "Camila, when I tell you to do something, you listen. You see what happens when you don't listen?" Camila gave a nod as she sniffed, "Start using your ears, kid. Now, go get her cleaned up, everyone's staring."

With resignation, Josephine turned from her husband to start walking toward the house, causing Camila's eyes to fall onto Pino once more. The little girl glared as her brother's eyes met her own, returning the expression with even more anger than Camila. As his jaw clenched he raised his hand to his neck, making a quick swiping motion across it with his index finger, his glare unwavering. Camila's expression faltered in fear as her mother stepped through the door, Pino disappearing from the girl's sight a moment later.