A/N:

TRIGGER WARNING. EXTREME VIOLENCE, SEXUAL ASSAULT!

Mmmmkay if you've got the guts read it, if not run away now. Don't say I didn't warn you. It's not going to stay dark forever, but this chapter is not for the faint of heart. Feel free to review. You will be mad at the end of this, FAIR WARNING! And all that being said...here we go!

...

Maura

Gerald Ingles noticed my car pull into the hanger first. He looked at me and frowned slightly. Consuela, Gerald, Arthur, and Molly were huddled in a circle on the side of the plane chatting animatedly with one another. Consuela had Angela in her arms and Molly was holding her infant daughter. I imagined the boys were already on the plane. Everyone started noticing I had arrived and I saw eyes widen and faces go pale. Where was Jane? And James? Were they already on the plane? Somehow I thought not. Something was amiss. Sickness settled in my stomach. Why was everyone so nervous? I unbuttoned my seatbelt and sprang from my car walking swiftly toward the gathering. Everyone stared at me incredulously. I looked down at myself. I forgot I was dressed in biker gear and my face was painted up like a two dollar hussy and cheap fake tattoos adorned my body. I brushed off the looks. I knew I was a sight. I also knew I didn't see Jane...or James. Where were they? Why was everyone not on the plane? Why had the engines not even started? What was going on?

"Dr. Isles, we weren't expecting you to join us this evening," Gerald Ingles said approaching me with a forced smile.

I walked right up to him. "Where is Jane? Where's my girlfriend?" I asked the only question I cared to know the answer too.

Gerald sighed.

"We haven't been able to get a hold of Jane, or James. We lost them at a stop light and haven't seen them since. We thought they would catch up but it's been almost thirty minutes and they haven't called or arrived." Gerald informed me, though his face was slightly pinched in worry.

I felt my heart drop right out of my body. I took two steps back and looked at Gerald like I couldn't believe he had the nerve to say what he just said and wasn't doing anything to fix this situation. Gerald fidgeted and looked nervous under my gaze.

"I'm sure it's nothing ma'am perhaps they got a flat tire," Gerald tried to reassure me.

I closed my eyes and shook my head. I knew it wasn't a flat tire. I knew something was wrong. I knew it deep in my soul.

"Why didn't you keep a closer eye on Jane? I told you to watch her; I told you she was extremely fragile. I told you she might do something silly and try to run away from you. Why didn't you do as I asked?" I spat at the man hatefully.

Gerald Ingles was three times my size; he towered over me like a giant. But under my barrage he shrunk into himself and his face looked pained and guilty.

"In her condition, we deemed her incapable of taking a self-imposed risk. Mr. Licton insisted he drive her himself, assuring me he would get her safely to the plane. I had no reason to think..."

"...I'm not paying you to think. I'm paying you to follow-my-orders. I'm paying you to keep my family safe!" I growled in frustration.

Gerald hung his head and scratched the back of his neck.

"Yes ma'am," Was all he could find to say in his defense.

My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, none of them good. I knew Jane. She'd proven to me already there was nothing she wouldn't do to get to me. She'd said with her own mouth she'd follow me to that club if she had half the chance. Dread enveloped me. What was going on?

"Have you called her or James?" I asked, my voice was soft but laced with contempt.

It was taking all I had not to rage. I couldn't afford to lose my temper right now. I just needed to think. Gerald seemed hesitant to answer. Impatience overpowered my best efforts to remain calm.

"WELL!" I spat at him.

Gerald sighed and frowned nervously.

"They aren't answering, either of them." He said looking away from me.

I knew my face was twisted in rage. I cursed to myself and gritted my teeth. I was about to start berating him again when Molly's cell phone rang. I looked around Gerald's hulking body as Molly exclaimed...

"...It's James," before answering her phone.

I glared at Gerald before rushing over to Molly. Angela squealed when she saw me and wiggled in Consuela's arms to be released to me. My heart melted when I saw my daughter's pretty smiling face. I pulled her into my arms and kissed the scar at the base of her neck. Angela wrapped her arms around my neck and leaned her head on my shoulder. She was sleepy I could tell. It was past her bed time and she was exhausted from the excitement of the day. I patted her back and whispered to her to be still and go to sleep. I felt her sigh against my neck and wrap her fingers in my hair like she always did when she fell asleep in my arms. I closed my eyes and shushed her softly, hoping she would fade away to sleep and when she awakened her world would be restored and her mother would be safe in my arms where she belonged. Consuela gave me a nervous smile. I had no strength for smiles. I was beside myself with apprehension and uneasiness. Where was Jane? What had she done?

"Hello?" Molly answered her phone nervously.

I could hear James' voice on the line, he sounded a bit frantic.

"A flat tire?" Molly said her voice high and disbelieving.

I snatched the phone from her hands.

"James," I said as gently as I could.

I couldn't yell with Angela in my arms.

"Dr. Isles?" James' voice became immediately panicked now that I was on the line.

"What's going on James," I said threateningly.

"We, well...flat tire...had to pull over..." James started.

I gritted my teeth. Who did James think he was trying to deceive? He'd been my attorney almost ten years; I knew when he was lying...he never dared lie to me before. But he certainly was lying now.

"...What's going ON James?" I cut him off.

I knew he could tell by the tone of my voice that I wasn't playing games and I knew he was full of shit. I heard him sigh.

"Jane...forgot something at the house. We had to come back to get it...we'll be there as soon as we can I promise." He tried to sound as honest as he could but I still knew better.

"Why weren't you two answering your phones?" I pushed him.

James stuttered and stumbled over his words.

"I...we...our batteries were dead..."

"...you have a car charger and so does Jane," I said cutting off the lie before he completed it.

James' voice was becoming more and more upset and frantic.

"We'll be there as soon as we can...Jane's just changing upstairs and we're on our way."

"Why is she changing? What's going on?" I said my voice rising.

Angela whimpered in my arms. I forced myself to calm down though my heart was beating a mile a minute. James sighed. I heard him growl in frustration.

"She got away from me Maura. She held my own Taser to my neck and forced me out the car. She left me in the street! I had to run five blocks to the rental car we left at the restaurant earlier. Thank God I remembered I still had the key. I sped back to your house like a maniac. I'm surprised I didn't get pulled over. Jane was already here. She's all dressed up like...like a stripper or something Maura! She thinks you're at that strip club...wait...why aren't you at that strip club?"

My jaw was hanging open. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. Then again...yes I could. Hadn't Jane already proved to me she was willing to do everything she could to keep an eye on me? What was she thinking? Was she planning on going to the strip club to what...spy on me some more? This was insane but thank goodness James got to her in time to stop her from making a huge mistake. I couldn't stand the thought of Jane undressing and debasing herself for the amusement of the very men who'd conspired and killed her family. I was furious and frustrated with Jane, but I breathed a sigh of relief that at least she was safe and I could protect her again, the right way. These last 24 hours had been extremely hard on our relationship. I shuddered at the work it was going to take to repair so much damaged faith and hurt feelings. Jane was far more damaged from her past and in her heart than I realized. In my joy to truly care for her, and my zest to show her how much I loved her, I had overlooked the actual help and protection Jane may really need to get better. I made a mistake that could cost me everything. I closed my eyes and shook my head. Consuela pulled Angela from my arms and carried her onto the plane. She could tell I was dangerously close to exploding.

"I was pulled off the case. Detective Korsak is going to collect the evidence for me. I'm going to help as much as I can behind the scenes but the undercover operation lies with him. Let me speak to Jane, James," I said in an unsteady but demanding voice.

"OH Thank GOD! I'm so glad to hear you say that. Let me go get Jane...I could sure use your help with her. She's impossible to reason with sometimes. She needs to hear it from you that you finally found your senses; she's right upstairs." James said excitedly.

I just sighed. I didn't feel like arguing with him. Everything he said was true anyway, no use denying it. I'd made mistakes, but I was woman enough to admit them. I waited patiently for James to hand Jane the phone. I couldn't wait to hear her voice. I couldn't wait to tell her I loved her. I couldn't wait to have her in my arms again. I couldn't wait to tell her how she was the most important thing in my life. I couldn't wait to kiss her pain and help her come to terms with what happened to her family and between us this past 24 hours. I thought the best way to help Jane was by solving the case, but I was wrong. I'd only made everything so much worse by getting as close to it as I did. I realized that now. It must have been horrible for Jane to look at me and know I was planning on infiltrating the same gang that killed her family. What terror must I have caused her? For her, looking at me must have been looking right at her pain, directly into the face of the shadow of death. For her knowing I was walking into the gang was paramount to me walking out of her life completely. Guiltiness overwhelmed me. I sighed impatiently waiting for James to find Jane. Finally James spoke again.

"Ok here we go... OH MY GOD!" James blurted out before he could stop himself.

My heart started racing twice as fast. I could hear how James' voice had changed into hysterical panic. I clenched my fist and my jaw.

"What's going on NOW?" I screeched.

"Hold on," James screamed into the phone.

I heard a loud clatter. It sounded like James had dropped the phone. I heard him screaming Jane's name before his voice faded away. Terror seized me. I cursed loudly. Everyone around me stared wide eyed and curious. Molly looked terrified. I ran toward my car and climbed inside starting the engine before even putting on my seatbelt. Gerald Ingles slid into the passenger seat. He said nothing, he just sat there waiting on me to drive or scream or give him further instructions. Molly looked like she wanted to cry. She ran to my window and started pleading for information. She looked as desperate and hysterical as I felt. I didn't bother saying anything to her. I didn't have time for coddling or explanation. I forgot I was still using her phone. Everything in my being was screaming to get to the house and Jane as quickly as possible. Something was wrong. I heard it in James' voice. I put the car in drive and sped out the hanger in a fog of smoking tires. I drove like a woman possessed. I had the sickest feeling I knew why James had dropped the phone and ran away. He was running after Jane. Jane who was dressed like a stripper. Jane who was going to 1532 Cavalier Blvd. I knew it before James picked the line back up gasping and sputtering for breath.

"She...she's gone!" He exclaimed.

I felt tears run from my eyes.

"Where are you?" James demanded between heaving breaths.

"I'm going to stop her. I know where she's going. I'm off the case, but she doesn't know James...I'm not even going undercover but Jane's still going to that club." I wailed.

James sighed. I heard him starting a car engine.

"I knowMaura, I'll get there faster than you. I'll stop her if I can." James assured me.

"Why won't she answer her phone," I cried.

I heard James whimper.

"I have her phone. I didn't trust her not to call a cab and sneak away...I didn't know she was going to climb down the second story balcony like a fucking monkey and had a spare key to her Escalade!" James exclaimed.

"She climbed down the balcony...upstairs?" I screeched.

I heard James cursing under his breath.

"Yeah...she did! She's crazy and you know what Maura, so the hell are you! This whole thing is crazy. You should have never gotten involved in this mess. Jane's...she's not all there sometimes. She needs help or something. She's all fucked up about her family and you're all she's got. What were you thinking trying to get involved with the same people that murdered her family? Did you stop to think how that might affect her? She loves you Maura. You want to run around engaging in danger when you've got a damaged girlfriend and a baby barely out of the hospital and a nephew to take custody of. You just walked out the door and left her on the floor in the state she was in and left everyone else to deal with her. ! I sat back and I let you take the lead but this has gone on long enough. This is your mess...you created this monster and now we're both running around town trying to stop your crazy ass girlfriend from making a huge mistake that could get her killed." James screamed at me.

I was shocked by his tone. I'd never been spoken to like that before except by Jane when she was furious with me. James had always done as I asked, always respected my authority, always been on my side. But he was berating me and cursing at me and screaming like a maniac. His words cut me. I felt them in my heart and in my soul. I didn't know how to defend myself. I didn't know what to say. I thought I was doing the right thing but in my desperation I'd brought out the worst in myself and Jane. I'd neglected her, deceived her, pushed her away, and abandoned her when she needed me the most. I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"James..." I started.

I had to pause to keep my tears at bay.

"What Maura?" James sighed heavily on the line. He sounded beyond exhausted.

"Get there as fast as you can. I'm calling Detective Frost to put out an APB for her license plate. Detective Korsak isn't carrying his cell phone. If you find her, do everything you can to stop her," I pleaded with him.

"I've been doing that all along, why haven't you?" James spat at me maliciously before the phone went dead.

I felt myself breaking inside again. We pulled up to a stop light and I tried to dial Detective Frosts' phone number but my eyes were blurry with tears and my fingers were shaking uncontrollably. I tried to settle myself, I tried to think, I tried to gain control but everything escaped me. I was crippled with fear. My girlfriend needed me more than she ever had before and I was failing her...again. How could I have let it come to this? I dropped the phone from my trembling hands and covered my mouth with my fingers. I choked on a million sobs and all the anguish in my heart. I was breaking. I was falling apart. I was losing control of everything.

Gerald said nothing; he just put the car in park and looked at me. I looked back at him. I don't know what expression was on my face but I could see his expression become soft and sympathetic. He unbuckled his seat belt and got out of the car closing the door behind him and walking around the car. I just slid into the passenger seat and tried to wipe at my tears. Gerald climbed into the driver's seat and buckled his seatbelt again.

"Don't worry, we'll get to her." Was all he said before we sped away.

...

Jane

I could still hear the music blaring in the dark, unflattering dressing room in the back of the club. The bass thumped in my chest to match the rhythm of the thumping of my heart. I was the only girl in the dressing room. The other 'ladies' were elsewhere, drinking at the bar or dancing on stage or giving private lap dances. I didn't want to drink. I had to be sober. I had to find Maura.

When I walked into the club every eye turned to look at me. The other dancers looked spiteful, the men looked, well I knew what those looks meant. I knew what they were thinking. Those looks always disgusted me, but in the past I found comfort in them. They meant money, they meant food for my child, they meant survival. Tonight those looks meant so much more than just money, but they still meant survival. Survival for the woman I loved. Maura promised me long ago that I'd never have to do this again. That I'd never have to take off my clothes for men for money. She told me she'd take care of me. For all intents and purposes she had done just that. She gave me everything, far more than closets full of name brands, far more than comfort and security, far more than a lavish lifestyle still beyond my comprehension. She gave me hope. She gave me love. She gave me peace. She gave me everything. Even with all she had given me already, she was still desperate to give me more. She was trying to give me justice for my family, but she didn't understand how little that meant to me compared to the thought of losing her too. I owed her my life, my happiness was because of her, depended on her. Yes she promised me justice for my family, but I'd made promises too, my conviction would not be swayed. I would stand by her side even if it meant debasing myself in the lowest way possible, I would not leave her alone.

I walked into the club as confidently as possible my eyes hid my nervousness but they searched desperately for Maura. I couldn't find her. The swagger of my stride set eyes on fire and imaginations ran wild. I brushed off three requests for private dances from groping drunken men before I even found the manager. It hadn't taken much convincing to get the manager to let me dance. The manager, a slender stick of a man with rotten teeth and a greasy beard, took one look at me in my costume and his eyes lit up with lust and dollar signs. With a flash of my smile and the wink of my eye I was now the one every man wanted to see tonight. It made me feel cold and disgusting, but I had no choice. I was doing this for Maura. The manager ushered me to the back immediately, saying he wanted to keep me under wraps until it was my turn to dance. I didn't get to look around for Maura or Korsak. The club was extremely crowded, but eyes followed me all the way through the club until I disappeared out of sight.

I wasn't surprised at the looks, I wasn't surprised by the whispers, I wasn't surprised when all the ladies cleared the dressing room when I walked inside. They hated me, I looked like sex and money and so they hated me. I could not take it personally. I knew the drill. There was no kindness to be had here. I'd navigated places like this for five long, horrible years and I'd survived...just barely. I knew what was expected of me and what to expect from others. Maura knew nothing about this. She had no idea what she was getting herself into. She didn't know how to speak to these types of people. She had no idea what she was doing. She was here alone, with that old detective, playing a role she had no idea how to play. I had played this game for years, but Maura would make a mistake. She would be caught. She would give herself away and then...God only knows. She needed my help whether she wanted to admit it or not.

I hadn't been there to protect my brother or my family. Tommy was a street wise kid and still he had failed in this very club. Tommy and I used to be as thick as thieves. We told each other everything. He was my greatest friend, my ally, my confidant. But I moved to New York, I left him behind, I left him alone. Still he encouraged me more than anyone else to chase my dreams. To become the detective I'd always dreamed of being. He believed in me, and I loved him for it. But now I felt only pain. I felt only misery and grief. I left him behind, absent my counsel, absent my protection. Had I been with him maybe I could have stopped him from making so many mistakes. Maybe I could have seen what was coming. Maybe I could have protected him. But I was selfish in my ambitions and left him with no one to turn to in his darkest hour...now he was gone. He and my entire family. The thought haunted me. I'd lost too much already. I could not lose Maura too.

Maura could dress this up as pretty as she wanted. She could claim she had it under control. She could claim she had police protection. But what good was that protection for my brother? What good was that protection for the undercover officer that also lost his life? How was I to leave Maura in the hands of an over the hill detective that had long since seen his prime? Korsak didn't know Maura. He might have had the purest of intentions...but he didn't know her like I knew her. He didn't know how to guide her conversation, he didn't know how to filter for her, he didn't know how to quiet her with a look or encourage her with a smile. It was his idea to bring her to this place; he didn't know her at all. She needed me, they both needed me. I had no other choice. I wouldn't lose her to these horrible, awful, dirty people. I couldn't stand the idea of Maura in this place. My beautiful Maura that couldn't even ride a bike or tell a lie. What did she know of anything besides nanny's, French boarding schools, Ivy league colleges, fine dining, top floor apartments, and designer everything? Maura even bought her whores from the most elite escort agency in the country. She'd never so much as set foot in a strip club before. How could she fit in? What was she even thinking? It made me sick. Worse, I couldn't stand the idea of her being anywhere near the person or people that killed my brothers and my mother. I couldn't stand the idea that they may take her from me too. I sighed and closed my eyes.

I thought of Angela. I thought of how my baby might have ended up just like me, working a pole for money if it weren't for Maura and all the opportunities Maura showered on her. Angela would never have to do this just to survive, she would never know of places like this, she would never associate with people like this. Angela was a princess in Maura's eyes. There was nothing Angela couldn't have. My child had the best of everything from the shoes on her feet, to the pillows she laid her head, to the bag that carried her diapers, and I loved Maura even more for it. All my misery, all my drunken drug induced sexual escapades, all my time spent on a pole just to feed my child seemed almost like distant memories. The tears I cried, the longing to provide more and be better for my baby still haunted me, but it was more the fear of losing the one that had saved me that drove me to so desperately save her also. Maura changed everything, my knight in shining armor, my love, my angel. Maura was too good for this place, she was too good to die here amongst these people. She deserved better. I folded my hands in my lap and stared down at my bare knees. We just had to survive the night...then maybe just maybe Maura could get what she needed and bring this club to its knees.

I was pulled from my thoughts when a man entered the dressing room. He was young, maybe a few years younger than me. He saw me sitting in front of the mirror and smiled. He had a pretty smile. He was small, maybe five feet four inches and skinny as a stick. He was clean shaven and nicely dressed. He looked sweet and his smile was friendly and warm. He walked toward me his bright blue eyes shining. He reminded me of Albert for some reason. I turned around to face him. I studied him as he walked. He looked awkward and out of place. Like he didn't really belong in a hell hole like this. I grew curious.

"Do you work here?" I asked curiously.

The pretty man took a seat next to me and crossed his legs as he faced me. I noticed his nails were manicured and his hair was long and probably flat ironed. Not a strand was out of place. He sat straight and cocked his head as he looked me over.

"I'm Henry. My brother's friend owns this place. I'm like the janitor, or the bus boy, or the dishwasher, or a cook sometimes, and I help the girls dress and stuff. I heard there was a pretty new girl here tonight. All those guys out there are talking about you. I had to meet you myself." The boy said extending his hand toward me.

I hesitated, but I shook his hand anyway.

"I'm...I'm Emily. It's nice to meet you, Henry." I smiled kindly.

Henry's blue eyes sparkled.

"You don't seem like a stripper or a whore!" He said looking me over again.

"Who said I was a whore?" I spat at him.

Henry rolled his eyes but kept smiling.

"Your pimp is here. He told me to give you this." Henry said holding out a pretty glittering locket with a little crystal stone in the center. "He said it was your good luck charm,"

I was floored. What the hell was he talking about? Who was saying they were my pimp? Who was out there? Why were they sending me gifts? What was going on? I took the locket and studied it. It was cheap costume jewelry, but it had to have some significance right? It didn't seem spectacular in anyway. It was oddly heavy though. I noticed Henry studying me. I pulled the locket over my head and shrugged my shoulders. I had no idea what was going on but I decided to go with it. Someone knew I was here. James maybe. Or Korsak and Maura. What were they trying to tell me with the locket?

"Yeah um...thanks I forgot it." I said casually.

I couldn't appear to be bewildered. Henry picked up on my nervousness though. He laid a hand on my knee and smiled.

"Don't worry...I don't judge you. I don't judge anybody. I got no right to judge. I've seen lots of girls come in here and do all kinds of stuff for money. Most of them are on drugs, or they get on drugs when they get here. You don't seem like the drugs kinda girl though, you seem...smart!" Henry eyed me sideways.

I didn't know what to say. Not many people ever called me smart, especially when I was dressed up the way I was. I shrugged my shoulders.

"I don't do drugs, I just gotta make ends meet." I said casually.

Henry nodded his head.

"I understand. I don't think this is the right place for you though honey. This club...it aint what it seems. There's shit that goes on here...shit you don't want to get involved in. You really do seem smart. You should get the hell outta here. The stuff that goes on here...you've attracted a lot of attention to yourself. This place aint for you." Henry said, his eyes nervous and bright.

I looked at him curiously. What did he mean? What was he talking about? Whose attention had I attracted? What went on in this place? I grew nervous, but I couldn't let on. I couldn't seem afraid or weak, and I certainly couldn't leave. Maura was out there somewhere. If what Henry said was true, I sure as hell wasn't leaving her now.

"I can handle myself," I said confidently.

Henry just sighed.

"The guys here...they aren't normal strip club patrons. My brother he...he aint the best kinda guy. You don't want to get mixed up with him; I'll look out for you as best I can, but stay away from him." Henry said kindly his big blue eyes sparkling.

I smiled.

"Who's you brother?" I asked.

Henry rolled his eyes.

"You'll see him. You can't miss him. He's the biggest one out there in the blue motorcycle jacket. He's an ass. He's gonna love you though, you're just his type. But don't let him take you outta this place," Henry warned me.

His eyes grew wide and earnest. He leaned in close and fixed me with a level gaze.

"He ain't a good person. He's just got back in town and he's been drinking all night, and the drugs." Henry sighed and looked extremely sad for a moment.

I noticed he was wearing long sleeves despite the heat in the club. I thought I noticed the remnants of a black eye under foundation on his face. His lip looked a bit swollen too. I frowned. Who had beaten this man? Henry saw me studying his injuries. He tried to turn his head but there was no hiding it now. I knew what I saw. Henry looked ashamed. He hung his head.

"He gets...crazy! Don't leave with him! The guy with the blue leather jacket...remember that." Henry whispered softly.

I nodded my head growing nervous. A blue motorcycle jacket? Like the one Maura and Korsak were looking for? I felt my heart pounding in my chest. Was I sitting next to the brother of my family's killer? I tasted vomit in my throat. I felt my face go pale and my palms begin to sweat. A woman poked her head in the dressing room.

"You're up honey," She said winking at me.

I smiled nervously. I didn't speak. I was scared vomit would come out instead of words. I rose on trembling legs. Henry stood with me.

"Don't worry so much. At least your pimp cares enough to show up and watch out for you. He's a big guy too. You'll be ok, just don't leave with my brother," Henry said leading me toward the door.

I still couldn't speak. I was terrified. I let Henry lead me down the dingy hallway toward the stage, the blaring music growing louder and louder in my ear. I took deep breaths to steady myself. I could do this. I was doing this for Maura. I had to keep her safe. I had to watch out for her. I was doing this for Maura. I was just about to walk up the steps to the stage when a strong arm caught me from behind and spun me around. All I saw was the blue motorcycle jacket. My heart dropped to my feet. The jacket was just like the one I'd seen Detective Korsak wearing. Dread flooded me. I looked up into the eyes of the man that very likely had killed my family. He had cold, dead grey eyes. His long hair was pulled back in a pony tail, he was tall and thick of neck, his body was corded with muscles. He towered over me like a beast. His eyes scoured me emanating the vilest lust. His undisciplined demeanor and overbearing nature sickened me. I felt like an ant compared to this man. I felt dirty, the way he stared at me, the way his eyes lingered on my breasts and my bare stomach and my legs, it sickened me. I felt weak and vulnerable. I was trapped backstage with this awful man and his slight frail brother who couldn't hurt a fly. I was terrified, but I swallowed my fear. I was here and I could not run. This was it. This was the man that had stolen my family from me and broken my heart and my spirit for five long years. This is why I was here. To protect what was left of my family from this awful, smelly, horrible beast of a man.

"Well there sugar. Ain't you a sweet little thing," The man said wrapping his arms around my waist and pulling me into his body.

I was crushed against him. The stink of the alcohol on his breath made me choke. His body was sweaty and his beard scratched my face. I felt a lump in his pants press into my stomach. Bile rose in my throat. My stomach turned and my skin crawled. I could feel his hands roaming my back and his hips press into mine. He disgusted me, but here I was, so close. I fought down my fear and forced my mind to think. I had to play the game. I had a job to do. I was as close to the man as Maura wished she could be. I just needed a hair sample or a finger print. That's what Maura said right? I had to play the game.

"You're a big strong man," I said in a high stupid voice that drove men crazy.

The man sneered and grumbled deep in his throat.

"I've never seen you before," The man said in his deep bass voice running his hands down my body. "Why don't you let me introduce myself back at my place. I'll show you just how big and strong I am,"

The man's eyes were laced with bad intentions.

"Jo, she's gotta dance. Leave her alone it's her first night." Henry said next to me.

Jo sneered at his brother and shoved him roughly. Henry went flying. He stumbled and lost his balance and his neck slammed against the back of the stage. A horrible choked sound escaped him as he fell to the ground groaning in pain.

"Take your little sissy dick and get the fuck back to work," Jo growled at his brother hatefully.

The violence in the man's eyes terrified me but he held me firmly against his body. Henry rolled on the floor whimpering and sobbing softly. I wanted to run to his aid, but I couldn't break free. Jo turned back to me.

"Don't mind my brother. He's a faggot, he don't know about being a man. Not like me." Jo said with a sickening smile.

I felt his giant hands travel down my body and grab my ass tightly. I shuddered and gasped.

"Get off me..." I said pushing at Jo's huge barrel of a chest but the giant man wouldn't budge.

Jo laughed and spun me around slamming my body against the wall and knocking the wind out of me. My head spun and my chest heaved to try and fill my lungs with oxygen again. Jo pushed his body into mine and pressed me against the wall so I couldn't move.

"You're a feisty little whore," Jo said nipping at my neck. "That's good, I love a screamer,"

I was overcome with terror and disgust. I flailed my arms and pushed at the huge man. I almost got away but Jo grabbed the necklace around my neck and yanked it off my body before I was free of him. My head snapped back violently and the necklace broke and went scattering across the cold dirty floor. I cried out and grabbed at my throat, I felt a searing pain and choked as if my windpipe had gotten bruised in the assault. I heard Jo laughing. He pushed me against the wall again, this time locking me firmly with his hips. Terrified I lashed out at him.

"If you don't let me go my girlfriend will kill you," I gasped in a trembling voice before I thought better of it.

The words just flew out of my mouth. But for some reason I had no doubt they were true. Maura was overprotective to a fault with the power of her money and her name behind her. I'd seen her in the most trembling of fury and always over me. If she even knew I was here she would be furious, if she knew this man was touching me and hurting me...I shuddered at the thought.

Jo snarled at me. His face amused but evil and gross.

"Oh, so you're a little lezzy cunt? I fucking hate faggots and gays." He spat at me.

His spittle showered my face and his breath sickened me.

"Let me GO!" I screamed at him struggling harder.

Jo just sneered.

"You just aint had a real man fill you up." He laughed in my face. "Don't worry, I'll fix that for ya,"

He buried his face in my hair and sniffed, his beard scourged my soft skin, his stink filling my nose, his sweat dripping on my clean washed body. I trembled in fear and horror and loathsome disgust. I was pressed against the wall so hard it was difficult to draw breath. Jo's face was right against mine. His tongue slid over my skin at my neck and I sobbed furiously at the violation. He grumbled in lust and excitement. I felt him groping at my breasts. I felt my skin crawl again, I felt tears in my eyes, the humiliation was crippling. I was terrified, horrified. I struggled as best I could but I was just no match for the man. He pressed himself into me harder, the lump in his pants mashing against my body repulsively. I willed myself not to cry but it was growing harder and harder each second I was trapped backstage with this monster that had killed my family, incapacitated his own brother, and now had his eyes set on me.

I felt his hands slide up my inner thigh between my legs. I struggled wildly. My legs trembled in my effort to break away. I cursed and screamed but Jo placed his giant hand over my mouth nearly suffocating me. I wiggled and squirmed but I just couldn't budge the man. His dead eyes were wild with excitement. I was more scared than I'd ever been in my entire life. Jo wrapped his free hand around my throat and bit my earlobe. I screamed in pain and terror but my voice was muffled by his hand.

"I saw you walk in here tonight, with those long sexy legs. I've been thinking about you ever since." He growled in my ear.

I felt his tongue circle my ear. I thought I might vomit from terror and fear. Anxiety and adrenaline sent my heart pumping and my lungs heaving for breath. My eyes were wide and wild with disbelief. How could this be happening?

"Me and my boys own this place. I've been gone a while and this is my welcome back party. After everything I've done for this club I deserve a reward and that's you sweet cheeks! I get anything I want tonight and I want you. I'm gonna wrap those long legs around my body and fuck you like the little whore you are,"

Jo's voice was thick and menacing. He dripped sticky sweat all over me. The smell of alcohol pouring off of him made me dizzy. I became lightheaded and disoriented from lack of oxygen. I felt only crippling terror. I'd made a terrible mistake. This man was far more dangerous and awful than I could have imagined. I hadn't even made it on stage before he attacked me. How could Maura help me now? How could Korsak help me now? What was I going to do? I couldn't move and even if I could scream no one would hear me back stage over the blare of the music and the chaos in the club. I was alone. Alone with the man that killed my family. I lost all confidence in myself. I lost all confidence in everything. I should have listened to Maura. I should have stayed away. I should have gotten on that plane. I should have trusted her. Now I very well might not survive the night.

I closed my eyes and prayed to God from the depths of my soul to save me. No one else could hear me except maybe God. If there was a God did he not see my pain? Had he not watched me suffer for five long years? Was there no mercy to be had for me? Was this how my story ended, raped by the man that had stolen my family? Perhaps it was appropriate. This man had taken everything else I held dear, fill my heart with grief and despair. It was fitting he take my body too and my life along with it and relieve me of the horror and torment he'd inflicted on me for years and years. Should this man take me and rape me and violate what I'd promised to give only to Maura, I'd just rather die afterward. The humiliation and shame were too much to bare. I was so afraid.

"When I'm done with you, I'm going to find that sweet little girlfriend of yours and fuck her too," Jo said, his cold eyes laced with malice.

Jo's laughter taunted me. My hatred for him doubled and tripled each passing second. He could not, have Maura. Maura was mine! The thought of this man's hand on her body sent my mind wild with dizzying rage. I wanted to kill him. I wanted to rip out his eyes. I wanted to torment his body and torture his soul like he did mine when he stole my family. I wanted to scourge him and break him and hear him scream. All my fury was boiling to unprecedented heights but the fact that I was helpless, hopeless, trapped, and being sexually assaulted by this man tore at my mind and my soul making me crazed with desire to just get away. Jo's laughter taunted my efforts to break free. He grinned wickedly at my fruitless struggle. He tortured me with his smile as I screamed behind his hand as he violated my body. He was enjoying this. He licked my tears and bit my lips, forcing my lips open with his tongue and plunging it inside my mouth. I screamed into his mouth and bit his tongue hard. I tasted blood. Jo roared and slapped my face so hard my neck almost broke and my brain rattled in my head. My lip was bleeding and my ear went deaf for a few moments. My vision blurred and my lips trembled in pain and fury. Jo just laughed at me again.

"You're going to like this part lezzie cunt," Jo laughed in my face.

He spit the blood from his bleeding tongue in my face, pulled my g string aside and sank his fingers deep inside me. I screamed as loud as I could but Jo covered my mouth again laughing. Tears streamed from my eyes but my screams were muffled by his hand, my desperate cries were useless and unheard. I scratched and beat at Jo but my blows made not so much as a dent in the huge hulking man. His fingers pushed even further into me. His deep moan resonated in my ear. I cried and cried, struggling with all my strength.

"Is this how your girlfriend fucks you? You like that don't you? You're nice and wet for me aren't you, you little whore! I'm gonna show you what it really is to get your pussy fucked." Jo growled in my ear.

He pulled his fingers from inside me and started fumbling with his belt buckle. My insides felt scratched and raw, my legs trembled and my face was burning with humiliation and shame. Anger engulfed me. I wasn't his to have. I was Maura's, only Maura's. I felt horribly violated and impossibly disgusted. Maura would never want me again. She'd never touch me after this awful man robbed her of what I'd promised her. My heart and soul screamed in terror and torment. Maura would hate me now. Despair overcame me. I wanted to die. This man touched me in my most sacred place. Violated the best part of me. I hated myself. I hated this man. I hated my life. I cried and cried pressed against the wall, suffocated by the man's gross hand, helpless to free myself from this nightmare.

I thought of my baby girl. I was scared to death but I couldn't give up. I couldn't leave her to suffer all her life over losing me like I'd suffered over losing my mother. I wouldn't let this man rape me and rob me of my dignity. I was NOT a whore! Strength unknown to me exploded through my body. Jo was moaning excitedly as he fumbled with his belt with his free hand. His eyes belied his very real intentions to have me, to rape me, to torment me. I hated the man with all my heart and all my soul. He'd robbed my family from me, he would not have me too! I bit his greasy hand as hard as I could, I tasted his blood in my mouth again. Jo screamed in surprise and pain. The horror in his eyes only encouraged me. I kneed him in the groin so ferociously he went flying backward. He roared in rage and pain.

I didn't stop to think. I ran for my life toward the back exit. If I hadn't been so hysterical I would have run the other way, onto the stage where people would see me and save me. But I could barely think. I just had to get away. I ran as hard as I could. The back exit was so close. I was only feet away. I cried and screamed as loud as I could. I could get away. I could make it. This man would NOT rape me. Victory was near but I stumbled in my heels, my ankle rolled and I fell to the floor painfully. I cursed and screamed in frustration and terror. I tried to crawl the last few feet to the door but Jo recovered from my blow. His pain numbed by alcohol. He rose to his feet and chased me down. His long legs caught up to me quickly. I screamed and cried in terror. Jo grabbed my hair at the back of my head and lifted me too my feet dragging me down the hallway, his eyes wild with fury.

"You're going to pay for that whore!" He hissed at me.

Terror consumed me. I kicked and scratched and screamed at him. I dug my nails into his neck and punched at his face with the desperation of one who knew she was fighting for her life. I would not give up. I would not quit. I would fight until my dying breath. I went at him like a maniac, enraged and terrified. Jo roared in fury as I beat at him. He struggled with my body cursing and hissing in anger. I felt my hair ripping from my head, I felt his nails digging into my scalp. I fought like a beast but I could not overpower the man, I was only making him more angry but I would not quit, I could not quit. My body was not his to have, my life was not his to have. I fought and I fought but Jo was fuel by alcohol, drugs, lust, and rage. He spun around and back handed me so hard I saw stars and my vision went black. The blow lifted me from my feet, I flew through the air and landed hard on my back. The pain in my body was tremendous. I couldn't see straight. My ears were ringing. I couldn't move. I blinked and blinked to get my eyes to focus. Jo was dragging me by my hair across the floor. I knew I was screaming. I knew I was pleading for my life. Every muscle in my body trembled.

He dragged me into a cold dark dungeon of a basement cursing me and promising all manner of torture and rape. He lifted me by my hair and threw me down a flight of stairs. My body hit every step painfully. My head rattled and I bit my tongue. I tasted blood in my mouth. I felt my eyes swelling from the vicious blow to my face. I felt my arm snap. Pain surged through my body. I landed at the bottom of the stairs in a twisted heap. I screamed and cried. The pain in my arm was tremendous. Blood poured from my tongue out of my mouth and down my throat making me choke between heaving breaths. Tears streamed down my face blinding me. Jo grabbed the back of my hair again and flipped me over on my back. He tore my skirt over my hips and ripped my g string painfully from between my legs. He pressed my face into the cold cement of the basement floor. I could hear him unbuckling his belt again.

"You're a fighter, I'll give you that. But you aint getting away from me girl. Nobody is coming to save you. The thing about whores is...aint nobody gonna miss you. My boys will handle that pimp of yours, he ain't gonna come back for you when they're done with him I promise you that. He'll go find another nasty cunt to make his money. But ain't nobody gonna miss you whore! I'll teach you to behave. I teach you to mind your manners. You'll be a good little girl when daddy's done with you!" Jo spread my legs with his knees and crushed my body with his.

I knew I was screaming for my life.

"You're mine now whore. You're going to make me and my club a fortune with your pretty long legs and your pretty long hair ain't you girl," Jo sniffed at my hair and groaned in yearning.

"I've pimped and sold a hundred whores just like you. You're gonna be a real nice fuck with that tight, wet little pussy you got." He taunted me.

"Go fuck yourself!" I hissed through the blood pouring out of my mouth.

Jo laughed wickedly. I heard him spit and felt it land on my ass between my cheeks. I felt him slide his penis through my slit, I screamed and cried in fury. I felt him spread my ass cheeks preparing to enter me.

"Where's that girlfriend of yours now?" Jo teased me viciously.

Fury engulfed me. I flailed my good arm and tried desperately to get away. I managed to make contact with Jo's face with my elbow. I heard him curse and scream. I felt the blood pouring from his broken nose dripping into my hair. I'd distracted Jo enough to crawl out from beneath him. I knew my arm was broken. I screamed in pain but I stood on my trembling legs and ran anyway. I ran up the stairs of the basement as fast as I could. I had to get away. I had to run. I had to find Maura and get her the hell away from this place.

I gritted my teeth against the pain shooting through my body. I heard Jo running up the stairs behind me. He grabbed my hair again but I was tired of being tormented. I was tired of living in fear. I was tired of suffering. I was tired of crying. I was tired of being weak. I would not go quietly into the night. I would not let this man have me and rape me and sell me in bondage and slavery. I kicked his knee cap viciously with my heel. Jo roared and cursed, stumbling slightly but he never released my hair. I felt my scalp rip as he stumbled. I screamed in agony. Jo pushed me forward as hard as he could. I stumbled on the stairs and hit my head on a step. The world went fuzzy and dim again. I felt blood streaming down my face. He was on top of me again, ripping at my shirt and my skirt. His face was wild and manic. Blood poured from his nose and mouth into his black greasy beard. I could see his penis pink and erect ready to take from me what wasn't his to have. He grabbed my hips and pulled my legs around his body. I was screaming and crying for my life. I beat at him with my one good arm scratching at his horrible, cold eyes that were blazing with evil and lust. He punched me so hard in my ribs and I gasped and screamed as I felt several of them break. He wrapped his hand around my throat and squeezed so hard my eyes were popping from their sockets. His own eyes radiated hatred, evil, and malevolent contempt.

I was terrified beyond belief. I knew if I didn't do something my life would be stolen from me. My dizzy head swam with visions of my brothers and my mother. I could see Angela and Maura and James and Consuela. I could hear them screaming at me to get up, to fight back, it wasn't my turn, it wasn't my time. But the pain in my body was excruciating. I could not breathe. Tears of misery, terror, and horror streamed from my eyes and mixed with the blood covering my face. Jo flattened his body on top of mine and I felt his penis trying to find the entrance of my vagina. The dim lights of the room were fading from my vision. I was losing consciousness with Jo's hand around my throat. If I did not fight now, I wouldn't live to fight at all. With the last bit of strength I had I kicked my legs wildly trying to throw off Jo's balance before he shoved himself inside me. Adrenaline and fear were the only things driving me. Jo screamed and cursed trying to steady my flailing body. I felt around desperately for anything I could get a hold of and pull myself away from the man. When Jo pushed me my head hit the step so hard the brittle old wood had splintered. I grasped at the broken wood desperately. My finger nails ripping and bleeding. My vision was going black. My throat was being crushed. My brain was screaming for oxygen. My body was shutting down. With one final effort exhausting the last of my strength I ripped off a shard of wood and plunged it deep into the side of Joe's face just at the moment he shoved his penis inside me with a powerful mighty heave. I screamed in pain, and rage. I felt my vagina tear as Joe's hot sticky blood poured all over my face and chest. My body was broken, violated, and spent, but I had won the war. I cried out from my soul in victory, a guttural sound that consumed me and made my hair stand on end. Jo's hand released its choking hold on my throat. I gasped as deep as I could trying to refill my deprived broken body with breath.

Joe screamed from the depths of his soul. His body seized and his back arched. He howled and trembled in agony. His penis shrunk and went flaccid inside me. I pulled myself away from him with my good arm, my broken ribs howling in agony. I kicked him backward down the stair case with all the strength my fury provided.

"FUCK YOU!" I screamed, my voice shrill and high and hysterical.

Jo's body thumped and thudded heavily all the way down landing with a sickening splat at the bottom of the steps. I stared down at him my eyes wide and my entire body shaking. Jo lay unmoving, his leg was twisted grotesquely and blood pooled around his head. I started laughing hysterically. I could not stop it. I was in shock, terrible horrible shock. My mind could not process what had happened to me, my mind and body were shutting down. Every part of me hurt. I laughed and cried in hysterics but I was still consumed with terror. I could not stand. There was too much pain. My limbs shook beyond my control. I felt my thighs become sticky with moisture. I cried when I pulled my fingers from between my legs and saw the bright red blood. How could Maura love me now? I was torn and molested, violated in the worst way possible.

I doubled over in defeat. I crawled on skinned knees up the steps and out of the dungeon. I could barely see through my tears. I was covered in blood both mine and Jo's. My broken arm hung limply at my side, dragging grossly across the floor. My shirt was gone, Jo had torn it off my body along with my underwear. My thighs felt bruised, my vagina was throbbing from the assault of Jo's fingers and the vicious thrust of his penis into my body, my broken ribs howled in agony. I crawled down the hall gasping and choking on the blood pouring from my tongue. My body was so broken and my head so damaged I felt like a zombie barely holding on to consciousness. The world was fuzzy and my vision swam in and out of focus. I left a trail of bright red blood behind me as I crawled. It was becoming harder and harder to keep moving but I had to get away. I wasn't safe yet. It was very likely I had killed a man, a member of the horrible club responsible for the death of my family. Someone else could come. Someone else could take me and rape me and kill me and I had no more strength to fight. I had to get to my car. I had to find James. I had to warn Maura. Maura, my sweet Maura, I had to get her out of this place.

I tried to keep moving but I lost my balance. My one good hand slipped from under me and I collapsed to the floor. I tried to crawl on my stomach but my body gave out. I thought of Maura. I could see her smile in my mind's eyes. I thought of Angela. I just wanted to hold her. I wanted to hear her laugh. I wanted to kiss her cheeks. I wanted to tell her I loved her one last time. I began to sob. My heart ached. I lay on the cold hard floor bleeding out barely able to see and to abused to move. It felt like the life was draining from my body. It felt like I was fading away. I didn't want to leave, I wanted Maura. Where was she? Where was my Maura? I wanted to see her one last time.

I felt slender arms wrap around me and turn me over. I saw Henry's face. He was speaking to me but I couldn't hear him. He pulled off his shirt and held it too my head. Why was he crying? His face was bleeding. His skin was pale. He looked terrified. I saw another face I barely recognized. Gerald was it? Gerald Ingles. He pulled his jacket from his body and wrapped it around me. I saw James, he was crying. His face was bruised and beaten. Blood was matted in his hair. He was screaming something at me, I couldn't hear him. He smiled at me and brushed my hair from my face. He was gentle, his tears dotted my chest. I tried to smile, I tried to speak, but I only choked on more blood. All the faces above me looked horrified. Why were they so afraid? Where was Maura? Why was there so much smoke in the hallway?

I felt my mind darken. My vision was nearly gone when the back door flew off the hinges and dozens of police officers stormed inside guns pointed and eyes fierce with determination. Relief flooded me. I was saved. I'd fought for my life with every bit of strength I had and I won. I began to sob from the depths of my soul as the officers approached me. The pain of my body and the pain in my soul bubbled over and I lost control. Footsteps thundered around me. People were pulling James, and Gerald, and Henry away from me. James was screaming and fighting back. He was so angry. Flashlights flashed in my eyes. Voices rang in my ears. EMT's hustled a transport bed inside. They bustled about me shouting orders to each other. They went wild around me bandaging my wounds, staunching the flow of blood, monitoring my pulse, poking me with needles, trying to sling my arm. They were hurting me. Everything hurt. I was so tired. I just wanted to sleep. The darkness was coming for me. I saw only one face hovering above me, I didn't know if it was real. Her hand was so warm as it held my own tightly. Why was she crying, she shouldn't cry. I loved it when she smiled.

"Maura?" I whispered but I choked on blood, my entire body seizing in violent coughing.

Somewhere in my head I heard her voice screaming my name. She had such a pretty voice. The world faded away.

...

A/N: And SCENE! Bring on the hateful reviews, this chapter hurts...