Thank you for beta'ing, MsSchneeheide!

"Oh, we had dreeeeams...but he washed them all away-hey...for a while, we had a perfect life...but we couldn't stay-hey, we never wanted this to happen, but it did...it's like somebody opened up a can of worms and threw away the lid..." Maritza croons as a crowd starts gathering. Some even drop a dollar or two into her open guitar case and Blanca looks on proudly as she sways to her daughter's beautiful voice. "Whoa-ohhhh, whoa-ohhhh...we had to go-oh, oh..."

"Yay, sissy!" Raiza hollers while clapping. She's dancing and twirling around as Maritza performs.

Blanca smiles as she collects cans and bottles nearby and deposits them into a big black garbage bag. She holds it open as people give her their empty plastic containers when they're done with their soda, beer, or water. So far, she'd gotten five dollars from the recycling center, and even if it's disgusting to dumpster dive and dig through the trash, she knows it's worth it. Every penny counts right now. She can always take a shower at the shelter when she needs it.

"The amusement park is full of those...I've gotten fifteen bucks after going through every bin at Coney Island last summer, then another ten after some kid's birthday party at Central Park," a young white woman with brown hair and glasses informs her after depositing a finished two-liter Sprite into Blanca's trash bag. She doesn't look homeless, but Blanca's heard some people just do it as a hobby or for the environment. She could also be couch surfing at friends' houses, Blanca has no idea. "Dirty as fuck, but making bank is good after I was scammed outta nine-hundred and thirty dollars."

"Really? No way! Thanks for the tip. Hope you get back on your feet soon." Blanca tells her, and she grins just before walking away. "I'll have to wait for el verano..."

When Maritza's song is finished, she strums her musical instrument one last time and is met with cheers and applause, Blanca's being the loudest. Maritza's audience disperses and she counts her cash and coins. "Twenty bucks..."

"Play more, baby girl, rake in the dough!" Blanca encourages her. "You're doing excellent!"

"Gracias, I will!"

Honk, honk!

Maritza groans tiredly in the backseat of the van and stifles a yawn. Humps had wanted to go for a drive with Dixon and Hellman and he forced Maritza by gunpoint to come with him so she could help them lure more young women into the life. She wants to rebel against all of this, but she needs the money. It's survival prostitution. Pennsatucky had said it wasn't that bad, but it is. It really sucks. She wonders why she's Humps' so-called bottom bitch if he always threatens her with violence to get her to do things for him. She thought the bottom bitch was the pimp's favorite and most trusted sex worker, but apparently, she's done nothing to prove her loyalty to Humps. It probably doesn't help that she insists on leaving every evening and never staying a night at the brothel, but they understand why she can't. Vee gets it, she has her foster kids to feed at home and isn't able to be there all the time either.

"Where are we?" she mumbles, inching away from Humps when he pats her thigh.

"Not telling you, slut," Humps answers and snickers.

She recognizes the neighborhood from the Bronx where the Diazes reside and she ducks. "Uh...I know someone who lives here, if they recognize me, they might think I'm being kidnapped and call the cops, so you better go somewhere else, Dixon."

"Oh, okay, thank you, Mexicunt," the large driver mutters.

"Good job, sugar, protecting us like that," Humps tells her, snaking his hand up her skirt. "We don't need it, though." She squirms with discomfort and tries not to gag. The car then coasts down each street until they stop at what appears to be a gas station.

"Hurry, put this on!" Hellman commands as he roughly hands her a long red wig and sunglasses. She does as she's told and sits up straight with her hands folded in her lap. She's shivering in her tight dark purple halter dress. He licks his lips. "Damn, you look hot. That magenta lipstick and those large yellow earrings are a real turn-on."

"Gracias," she says tightly, rubbing her hands up and down her arms. Her nude stockings don't really keep the chill out. They're not going to let her put on anything else to warm her up since it shouldn't take too long. She misses her long black puffy jacket so much; it would've gone great with this outfit, too.

"Invite them in here and speak with another accent if you know them," Humps directs her. He opens her door and gestures toward two women, one blonde and fair-skinned in a white shirt, blue jeans, brown leather boots and the other black and wearing a red hijab and a matching long-sleeved top and skirt to her ankles. They're just coming out of the convenience store. "Go!"

She leaves the car and approaches the ladies. They turn and she jumps in surprise, seeing her mother's younger friends, Lida and Alison. She knows they'll turn down her offer, but she'll obey Humps if it keeps her alive. Thankfully, they don't know her well enough to see her through her disguise and she hopes her Southern twang is realistic.

"How are you gals this fine mornin'?" she asks, plastering on a fake smile. She's quivering inside, but tries to push the feeling away.

"Ummm, good, I guess?" Alison glances toward the vehicle, unease flashing in her eyes. "How old are you, sweetie?"

"What's it matta to ya?"

"Well, you just sound young...and if you're in any kind of trouble, we can call your parents, but either way, you can come with us-"

"Listen..." Maritza interrupts Lida. "I got somethin' y'all can't refuse, if you wanna make a quick buck. One day and night only, if you just come with me real fast, yeah? Promise to have ya back with y'all's families in a jiffy. Sounds good, hm? Plus, the customers are begging for more exotic chicks like myself. We don't have Russians or blacks, ya know? The both of y'all would be perfect." She feels sick as she advertises the business, but she has to sell it.

A concerned look crosses Alison's face. "Aren't you too young to do this, anyway?"

"Do you have any parents or family? We can give you the number of someone who can help..." Lida offers, but Maritza shakes her head no.

"Just answer the fucking question!" Maritza says a little too harshly, close to being desperate. "You down or nah?"

"No thank you," Alison murmurs. "I'm sorry, um, we're just trying to take a road trip down the East Coast here. Being solicited for sex is not on our bucket list. Plus, I've got a daughter and a husband, and we both have a whole bunch of friends and family members. If either of us were to go missing, it'd be all over the news."

"Yeah, you're not pulling the wool over these eyes! I'm about to get married, ho!" Lida cackles and they both walk away from Maritza, jump into their car, and take off.

"Damn!" Dixon growls and bangs his fists on the wheel as Maritza returns, stunned into silence. "I thought they were just a dumb blonde and a terrorist who can't speak English for shit, and they'd fall for your charm since they were out alone and it's the crack of dawn!"

"Lo siento I wasn't convincing enough," Maritza apologizes softly, staring at the gold high heels on her feet. "Maybe they aren't too desperate for money...their lives seem great, I suppose. They don't need this."

"Whatever," Humps grumbles. "Let's go to the ghetto."

Maritza gasps as she notices Theresa's car pulling in as they leave. She sees Flaca, her brothers, and probably her Tía Mariana, talking about who knows what, and she's just relieved that she didn't have to talk to them.

Flaca knows her too well, and Theresa probably does, too. It would've taken all of Maritza's strength not to hug her best friend and never let her go.

"So, the weirdest thing happened to us," Alison announces as she enters a bakery with Lida, Joy, and Alex. A waitress with the name tag of Erica, pours their coffees and hands them each a blueberry muffin while greeting them in Italian. "Mm, grazie," the women tell her in unison, and she beams at them before strolling off. Lorna is sitting with Franny at another table. The four women are picking up the Morello sisters in New Jersey on the way to Florida.

"Yeah, like what?" Lorna asks.

"Oh, some hooker was trying to traffick us, but we didn't fall for her bullshit. Our mamas didn't raise no fools!" Lida scoffs and shakes her head. "It's a good thing Alex was behind the wheel, we told her to hit the gas as soon as we were strapping ourselves in! That was just before we got Joy."

"Awesome! Red would be proud of you, too," Franny comments.

"Mm-hm! Gotta watch out for the drug addicts and the crazies," Lorna adds. "By the way, my Christopher hasn't called yet, and it's been so long...I know he's in love with me, our romance is just like the couples' relationships in Twilight! It was fate, we bumped into each other..."

Alex gives her a wry smile. "One week. Give him time. That story is nothing but a fantasy, remember?" She sighs and Lorna scowls. "Anyway, uh...we called the police, or rather, I let Charles know about the prostitute. It seemed like she was brainwashed into this sex slavery thing, 'cause no girl or woman I know would actually want a career as even a porn star. Plus, she had sunglasses on, so they couldn't really see her eyes."

"What did she look like, otherwise?" Franny asks.

"Uh...petite, even with heels, Hispanic, red hair...wearing a skintight purple dress in the middle of winter...I guess she was wearing nude stockings, but we noticed goosebumps on her arms. We felt bad for her," Alison murmurs as she warms her gloved hands with her mug.

"Yeah, I suppose I shouldn't have called her a whore to her face, but god...if I ever have a daughter and she winds up like that..." Lida shrugs. "Well, she wouldn't. Plain and simple. Vasily and I would protect her from anything skeevy."

"Same here, I can't imagine Farah growing up and becoming a sex worker. It's her choice, of course, the profession she wants to be in, but that's hella dangerous." Alison rests her hand against her heart as it skips a beat. Thinking of her little girl near a creepy guy is horrible and she'd bash in the skull of anyone who tried to hurt Farah. She thinks something awful like that happened to her closest childhood friend Michelle, and she mentally kicks herself for not asking the lady's name or ripping her sunglasses off her face. It could've been her. She'd gone to the dark side when they were in their senior year of high school and never returned. Michelle hadn't even graduated. She'd mentioned college was for nerds.

"Some chicks feel like they got no other choice," Joy informs them.

"My mom used to be a stripper for money, she danced on poles...she was only able to afford a trailer park until Charles took us in when I was fifteen. A storm blew our place down and we were homeless in the freezing rain. It's fantastic she had him," Alex murmurs.

"Yeah, I know!" Lorna pipes up after a quiet moment.

"Very true," Franny chimes in.

Alison says a silent prayer to Allah for Blanca and her daughters' safety. The Morellos were just their nurses, so they're not aware of the Floreses' departure. That little family was just three of their many patients.

"Do you miss her?" she asks Lorna suddenly. "Nicky, I mean?"

"'Course I do. Every poster of her is a painful reminder that she's gone. She's down the hole of shitty drugs." Lorna frowns and rests her chin on her fist. "Why you gotta dampen the mood like that? You know talking about my bestie hurts, 'cause I known her forever and she ditched me for the junkie losers in community college and ran off without tellin' nobody."

"Sorry," Alison mumbles. "It's just that we have that in common...maybe we could use each other's support."

"Ah, well...I don't like to talk about her, 'cause it makes me sad. It's kinda why I don't hang around Queens too much except for if I'm working, everyone knows her there. Red won't quit saying she misses her daughter figure. Not that I blame her, but...it's easier to forget."

Alison nods. "Yeah, I get it."

"You're not the only one, Lorna. We were hella tight back then, too...like from when she was little and I babysat her. I was her favorite sitter," Alex mutters and rubs Lorna's back comfortingly. The shorter brunette sniffles and wipes her eyes.

"Mom, Dad, me, our brothers, and lil' Monica wish Cindy would come home, too, but the dumbass thinks she's better off on the streets," Joy mumbles, referring to her younger sister.

"I'm sorry, homie." Alison scoots her chair closer to them and the four ladies share a group hug. Franny and Lida join them on the outside. They'll never understand it since they didn't have a bond with the missing girls, but Alison appreciates their support anyways.

Lorna suddenly starts sobbing and burying her face in her hands, and Alison feels the waterworks coming on as well.

"Bitch, move!"

"Ow!"

"Fuck outta here!"

"Ugh! Carajo..." Blanca grumbles as she rubs her eyes open. She winces in pain and touches the side of her hip where the dark-skinned homeless woman had kicked her awake. She looks like she's had enough food to last her a lifetime, whereas Blanca is so thin that she feels like nothing but skin and bones. It's weird that Dean had always called her fat, since she's the exact opposite. He never let her eat much.

"Yo ass is in my spot."

Blanca snorts, trying not to laugh. She hugs Raiza closer to her. "Really, cabrona? You the queen of the streets or somethin'? Looks like you live in the soup kitchen and overeat. Don't you try comin' for me, gorda..."

"You wanna mess with me, skinny bean? Okay, then! I can snap you like a twig!" The lady balls her hands into fists and growls.

"No, no, look...I don't want no trouble, alright? Lo siento for bein' here, I guess." Blanca stands unsteadily and gently wakes her baby girl. "Come on, nena, we gotta go somewhere else. It's cold anyway..." She scoops Raiza up and places her inside the shopping cart. Yawning, she slings her garbage bag over her shoulder and starts trudging off.

"Whyyyy?" Raiza whines and puts her head on her arms.

"Mami wants to find someplace warmer, querida."

"I dunno what the fuck that means, but good thing you're movin'! I was 'bout to lay hands on you, fool!" The woman catches up to her, panting heavily through loud guffaws. "By the way...what the fuck you got your kid with you for? Just leave her back home with yo mama if you can't provide for her...that's what I did with mine. She thinks she's my sister. My daughter, I mean. She don't know I'm livin' in a tent. I meet with my mom in some Jamba Juice once a week and we tryin' to patch up our strained relationship, but it's hard and all, seeing that Monica's two and I been lyin' to her all this time..."

"Uh...my mom was killed by my insane ex-husband, so..." Blanca shrugs. "Can't do that. Anyway, Raiza is mi bebecita...I wouldn't ever give up on her. Or my other niña. So, what the hell happened to you?"

"I...ran away from home. Too many responsibilities, baby screamin' all the damn time...I was sixteen when Curtis knocked me up...ain't no time to be a ma. He didn't wanna stick around...he stayed with his girlfriend Jasmine."

"That sucks. I was a teen mamá, too," Blanca lets her know. "You're lucky, though...a deadbeat is a thousand times better than an abuser. He's part of why I'm like this." Blanca gestures to herself.

"Shit...and I think my own fam's so bad! Well, you win. Name's Cindy Hayes."

"I'm Blanca Flores." She extends her hand and Cindy shakes it. "I've met your mom. Lillian, right?"

"Yeah." Cindy sounds sheepish.

"You got like six brothers and sisters. Can't you just room with them?"

"Uh, three, actually," Cindy corrects her. "All successful business peeps...none of 'em would wanna take in their lazy loser super-senior sister."

Blanca rolls her eyes. "You don't know unless you try. You got nobody after you, so why not pull yourself up by your bootstraps and-"

Cindy puts a hand in her face. "Nah. Fuck off."

"Just tryin' to help and give you advice..."

"I don't need a personal cheerleader!"

"Okay. I'm out..." Blanca starts to turn away.

"It ain't like that...but look, you wanna be on my good side? Treat me as your equal, not somebody you gotta take care of." Cindy side-eyes Raiza. "Seems like you already doin' that shit for others. I ain't your child."

Blanca nods in understanding. "I'm older than you by like a decade, but okay."

"Yo, Cindy!" An Afro-Latina waves in their direction. "I found a job for ya, an elderly folks' home! You know the place, sista?"

"Yeah, Levine Home for the Aged!"

"That's the one!"

"Sweet, thanks, Camilla! Meet me there." Cindy gives Blanca a head nod. "See you around?"

"Yeah. Hey...mind if I follow you? I used to work in one of those places...it'd be nice if we could clean up in a shelter and be there for each other, like make sure we both look good and stop others from stealing our fancy clothes for interviews."

Cindy lifts her shoulders up and down. "Do what you want, man. I don't care. Whatcha gonna do with the rugrat, though?"

Blanca looks down at Raiza fondly and readjusts the tiny pink beanie on her child's head. She zippers her own large blue jacket further up to her chin. "I have another daughter, she's older...sixteen. Pero...Mari cleans houses, so...hope the filthy rich people won't mind Raizita being there, because she has to be."

"Or you could just leave her in a youth shelter."

"Hell no, I ain't gonna do that! Who knows what diseases she can catch in there. I don't trust nobody's kids except my own...and my friends' back in Queens."

Cindy glances in Raiza's direction. "I just hope Child Services don't take your babies and send 'em to a foster home. I heard they get lost forever in there, maybe siblings are even separated, and become wards of the state or some shit like that. The system is fucked, yo."

Blanca nods. "I'm always afraid of that. I should've left 'em with my boyfriend or any of my friends, but...I don't think I could survive by myself. I'd get way too lonely..."

"You get used to it, you make acquaintances...and you trust nobody, especially no men."

"Believe me, I know. The first night the shelter was filled to the max, I was so scared...I was sure somebody would stab me in my sleep and steal my youngest. I had to be aware of monsters lurking, I still do."

"I feel that, dude."

They arrive at the shelter, go inside, and sit down to relax before cleaning up so they can apply for jobs. Blanca hands Raiza her coloring book and plans to have Cindy watch her while she's in the shower.

"That unibrow needs some work," Cindy mutters.

Blanca waves off the comment. "I know, but I haven't cared about appearances lately. I get scraggly when I let myself go. I think everyone does..."

"Yeah."

A while later, they're both dressed nice with their hair in neat curls. Cindy's is naturally curly and Blanca owns a curling iron. She'd also use hers as a weapon if she needed to.

Standing in front of the mirror, Blanca smooths down her white blouse and red skirt. She rubs her lips together and bats her eyes while checking out her reflection's appearance. "Ay dios mío, I'm a person again!" she says victoriously. "A woman..."

"Hey, so am I!"

"Mm-hm..."

"Oh, shit, that's my mom in the fuckin' cab," Nicky grumbles as she hides behind Shani and pulls her girlfriend and Maritza down an alley. She must mean it in the biological sense, since Maritza knows that Red doesn't have chin-length blonde hair. Maritza had only gotten a peek at the middle-aged woman's nose stuck up in the air as she patted blush on her cheeks. "If she'd have seen me, she would've forced me to live with her or buy me an apartment so I'd be tied to her forever and feel guilty for never trying to reconnect, even though she wouldn't make an effort to bond with me, either." Nicky's hand is still wrapped around Maritza's wrist, but before Nicky lets go, Maritza sees something stunning before her eyes.

"Game's over, pig fuckers!" Red announces as she storms into the brothel with the whole Russian mafia following her. Nicky and Shani glance up at her in shock, relief, and amazement.

"Holy shit, Ma...how'd you find me?"

The pimps start groaning and running around, grabbing whatever they can as they hurriedly try to leave, but the mobsters fight them to the floor instantly. "It doesn't matter. Nicky, honey, I'm here..." she calls out. "You and Shani will both be okay soon..."

"Damn, that sucks. What if Red passed us, though, and she noticed you?" Maritza asks quickly before they can figure out she was in some other universe.

"Quite the curious one, aren't ya, Yessica?" Nicky says, twirling her straightened hair. "I'd make her come to me first. Like a test."

"Oh, I see. Why are we even walking up and down the streets during rush hour?" Maritza asks. "Johns would be busy going to work, I'd think...and a little piece of advice, don't put your thumbs up and try to hitchhike if you don't wanna get kidnapped."

"It's a brilliant idea, but we never do that anyway! We're only expected to talk to them when they're stopped in traffic and tell 'em where to meet us later tonight," Shani explains just before popping a few tater tots in her mouth. She offers some to Maritza. "Breakfast for you and your family."

"That's so nice of you, gracias." Maritza and Shani exchange a smile.

"Oh, have some ketchup packets." Beaming, Nicky reaches into her dark blue skirt's pocket and pulls them out. Maritza takes them, still grinning. "Can't have tater tots without 'em."

Shani giggles and spins around in her orange long-sleeved dress. "She's right. It's a crime."

Maritza purses her lips. "I mean, I've had french fries before, so I get it."

Nicky spreads her arms out wide and then they drop to her sides. "Hey, there you go then."

"I saw your dad," Maritza blurts out, and Nicky's smile drops. "He yelled at my mom to find some work when she was begging on a street corner. I got hella defensive. No offense, but he's a real dick."

"Nah, none taken, he is," Nicky agrees. "You didn't tell him where I am, right?"

"No, of course not..."

Nicky sighs. "Good, I'm glad, thank you. He abandoned me and all, so he deserves to be worried as fuck or at least keep wondering where the hell I am." She grabs Shani's hand again and then Maritza's. She leads them back out to the sidewalk and they stand under a restaurant's doorway to keep warm.

"Oh, there's somebody," the Egyptian sex worker murmurs. She and Nicky both wave at a van with a seemingly rich man inside. Maritza copies their actions hesitantly and he rolls down his window with interest, licking his lips in a gross manner, his eyes directed to their huge cleavages and tight clothing.

"How can I help you ladies?"

"It's more like we gonna service you," Maritza says flirtatiously, mentally shuddering at her own words. "Brothel in the back of the Indigo Club. Be there at dusk."

"See you then, sluts."

Flaca,

Remember when you fed me a Taki and we were both laughing together? Then you randomly told me you'd name your daughter after Frida Kahlo? Dios mío, I miss those times. Like, we just got each other, you know? Everything you said and did was so...you.

Oooh, and I'm earning my keep limpiando casas y cantando en las calles mientras rasgueo mi guitarra. I wish you could hear my songs...oh well, at least you were able to before all this.

cleaning houses and singing on the streets while strumming my guitar.

I hope life is treating you well, mi mejor amiga!

Xo,

Maritza

Flaca smiles down at her best friend's letter and pockets it before unwrapping her burrito. She and her group are all eating lunch at school. "Yo, chicas, I think we should try to see where Mari is in the Big Apple. Like, she's probably embarrassed to be homeless and all, but she deserves a night out in the city with us," Flaca points out. "Plus, we could give her and Blanca and Raiza all our leftovers. I'll cook 'em a meal, even!"

"Yeah, it ain't a bad idea. I own a car, and they've got the hottest clubs!"

"Mami would never let you take us, Ceci...you just got your license, remember? We gotta have someone over twenty-one in the car...and then we wouldn't have any trouble with the law," Elena reminds her sister. "The driver would have to support us in using our fake IDs, of course, so not Karla, Red, Alison, Lida, or any of our mothers."

Ceci rolls her eyes. "Sí, lo sé..."

"Well, mine would probably be cool with it...Aleida's been sneaking me into clubs since I was fifteen," Daya murmurs. "No joke."

"I didn't think you were kidding, but she'd wanna take her own friends, which include Theresa, Gloria, and Karla...so, nah," Maria says. "She'd probably blab without even meaning to."

"You're right. Maybe my sister could take us?" Ashley-Katherine asks. "Y'all know how she's cool!"

"Mm, but are you sure Alex wouldn't tell Diane?" Cat wonders aloud.

"Nah, she'd keep it a secret...probably pass it off as she wants to take us out for a night on the town."

"Oh, sweet!" Daisy comments.

Flaca beams in excitement and bounces up and down. "Muchas gracias for doin' this, I'd do anything to see Mari again...I wanna squeeze her in my arms real tight and be like her big spoon like I was before...I'd pick her up and spin her around..."

"That's mad gay."

"Hey, Taystee, shut the fuck up." Flaca scowls at her, but she just cackles, making the others around them dissolve into giggles, too.

"Nah, but she's right, yo!" Poussey smirks. "Seriously, I thought y'all were girlfriends and you broke up with Ian or somethin' like dat."

"Yeah, you bitches shared a hot ass kiss at Daya's party, I don't give a shit if it was for Spin the Bottle, you really went for it!" Janae adds.

"Damn, you melted the room with that duet," Elena chimes in.

"Light my caaaaaandle..." Ceci sings mockingly. "You want her to start a fire inside you, all right. Look at you blushing!"

"Staaaahp!" Flaca whines, covering her cheeks which are heating up. "That's the canción, stupid. Y'all are putting me on the spot! Callaos, putas..."

"The feelings were real!" Cat insists.

Daisy wolf-whistles. "Ooooh, baby! I don't blame you, she's a catch."

"Damn, you two made out like there was no tomorrow!" Katie chuckles.

"Okay, if you ain't a closet lesbian, you're at least bisexual," Maria states.

"That's cool, we're all rooting for you, but don't be shy to hide it!" Daya says.

"She's just my bestie!" Flaca protests over her friends' teasing. "I'm hella comfortable with her, that's it! We're real tight, is all...don't make it a thing."

"Suuuurrrrre, you are," Ouija and Pidge chorus as they walk by. Everyone except Flaca cracks up.

"Now, girls, quit that," Karla scolds them in passing. "Leave her alone, she and Maritza are simply very close."

"¡Gracias!" Flaca sighs with relief at Karla stepping in, and the two of them exchange a grin before Karla makes her departure.

"Yo...mind if we come with you on the trip?" Taystee wants to know, finally changing the topic. "Another black sister's gone, and we gotta find her."

"Yeah, Cindy just up and left school, never came back," Poussey joins in.

"Okay, I'll just ask Alex if she can borrow Fahri's limo! This is gonna be fuuuuuhhhnnnn!" Katie squeals and they all start cheering happily.

"Mommy!" Farah squeals when Alison returns home. The little girl runs up to her and squeezes her tight around her legs.

"Aw, Noodle..." Alison bends down and picks her up. "Did you miss me?"

Farah nods, her curls bouncing. "Yeah!" She pulls on Alison's hijab, but not enough to make it come off.

"We had a great time, just the two of us, though, didn't we, squirt?" Hassan asks, poking her tiny button nose.

"Mm-hm! Daddy got me ice cream and we saw Auntie Layla and Uncle Bart and Janae, and I played with Monica and Christina and Eva and Emiliano and Benny and Julio!"

"That's wonderful, baby!"

"Did they ever find that petite Latina hooker who was trying to get you bitches into prostitution?" Aleida questions Lida as she comes into Red's Russian Market.

"No. All the cops did was take a report and get a description of her. Since they didn't have any further information, that was that." Lida shrugs while leaning into Vasily's embrace.

"How come you girls didn't just take her with you in your car if you thought she was in danger?" Red asks.

"Alison and I thought of doing that, but we were afraid of what the people in the other vehicle would do to her if we interrupted their plans. I hope the police will find her and help."

"I do, too. Poor chica," Karla murmurs, and the others nod in agreement.

"It pains me to say it...but when anyone goes missing, my mind goes straight to kidnapping and sex trafficking. Or they're a runaway child and are homeless, so they need to sell themselves for cash. Espero que esa niña has somebody lookin' for her..." Gloria says sadly.

I hope that girl

"Nadie con el pelo rojo ha desaparecido por aquí. Maybe it's someone from out of town or even the state, if she sounded like she was from down South," Margarita ponders.

Nobody with red hair has gone missing around here.

"Mm-hm, those creeps love to take niñas y mujeres far away from where they live," Karla mutters.

girls and women

Hola Diablo,

So, I made a new amiga...she's also homeless and with her being out here conmigo, I feel just a little bit more secure. The girls and I attend soup kitchens with her and I got un trabajo...trabajando con viejos. Es aburrido, pero al menos obtengo ingresos. ¡Con suerte, volveremos a ponernos de pie pronto y podremos volver con usted, mi amor! Y nuestros amigos too.

working with old people. It's boring, but at least I'm getting income. Hopefully, we'll be back on our feet soon and able to return to you, my love! And our friends

Te amo, mi vida.

Besos y abrazos,

Blanca

He's taken quite a few day trips to New York, but still hasn't found her or her daughters. He's trekked all over creation, it feels like, and his feet hurt. She's right-it's so crowded in the city and the Floreses are like needles in a haystack. Diablo is beginning to think Blanca really just wants to stay hidden for a while, and that's okay-he just wants her and the girls to be safe from harm. He supposes that she'll come back with them as soon as they can. It's just so hard to wait and wonder if one of her letters will be her last. It's scary to think about anything devastating happening to Blanca, Maritza, or Raiza. Diablo hopes Litvack stays locked up until he's too old to be capable of doing anything and Dean has been killed somehow.

As he's driving with Laronne in the backseat listening to music on his headphones, a police siren wails behind him. It gets louder and the lights flash blue and red. "Ay coño, what now..." he mutters as he pulls over to the side of the road.

"Daddy, are you in trouble?" Laronne asks worriedly.

"No, son, it's gonna be okay...I may have just been speeding," Diablo reassures him. "Though I don't think I was..."

"Oh no, not another ticket!"

A policeman with the nametag of Officer Stratman approaches Diablo's window and shines a flashlight in his eyes. Squinting, Diablo shields his face, trying not to get blinded.

Thank you for reading and reviewing, Juliette45 and MsSchneeheide! Happy birthday, A Star in My Universe!