Thanks for beta'ing, MsSchneehiede!

Happy Halloween!

"You don't gotta grind on me, ya know."

Maritza snickers and chews on her bottom lip sensually. "Yeah, but I wanna." Her core tingles and she straddles Flaca. Her skirt rides up as she practically gives Flaca a lap dance, but she doesn't care. For once, she's not under some demanding abuser or a disgusting idiot and her body isn't betraying her.

They soon cuddle together under the covers and continue making out and moaning softly. She's wet between her legs and seeing stars, almost orgasming because that's actually the effect Flaca has on her.

"Te sientes muy bien, querida..." Flaca murmurs dreamily.

The amazing feeling within her continues as their mouths mold together and their tongues tangle over and over again. Her hands twist themselves in Maritza's hair, fingers massaging her scalp, as the shorter girl shuts her eyes in pleasure and the most sensual mewling sounds spill from her deep red lips. Whatever is left of Maritza's lipstick is smudged and Flaca giggles, knowing the rest of hers probably is, too. Maritza's hands are so soft as they caress Flaca's arms and travel under her dark purple sweater. She tastes like mint, despite smelling of pot smoke. She's so sexy and beautiful and appears older than she actually is. Like she's done this kind of shit before. Strangely enough, this was what happened in Flaca's fantasy, except they were on a bed of roses under the afternoon sun and floating in glittering water, surrounded by tealight candles. The fluorescents above her would be extremely bothersome if Maritza weren't here.

You feel so good, darling.

"Oh my, so do you, baby," Maritza responds coquettishly. "Hey, I want our skin to touch...what if my thumb ever so slightly brushed against your already hardened nipple?"

Flaca moans and pulls Maritza impossibly closer as the wetness pools between her legs. "Daaaayuuumm, chiquita, I like it when you talk dirty...mmm!"

Maritza chews on her bottom lip and reaches her hand down her skirt. "I'm gonna rub my soaking pussy right now..."

Flaca gasps as her hand joins Maritza's under the garment. "Fuck, you weren't kiddin'..."

With her free hand, Maritza lifts Flaca's shirt slightly to reveal her black and maroon lace bra. "Holy tits..." Her jaw drops.

Flaca checks her out. "Yours are big too!"

Their steamy makeout session only stops when a light knocking sounds on the door. "Espera, hold up!" Maritza calls out. Panting heavily, she gets out of Flaca's bed and sits on a chair at the side of it, fixing her hair and smoothing down her skirt so it's not quite as rumpled.

"Tengo que cortarme las uñas antes de frotarte el coño de todos modos." Maritza shows off her French manicure. Her fingertips are bright pink.

I have to cut my nails before giving you a pussy rub anyway.

"Ay, sí, those things are sharp!" Flaca giggles, inspecting her own freshly painted nails, polished with black. "Mine are long too...oh well. We gotta wait."

Dr. Burset instantly walks in with Theresa, Flaca's groggy-looking brothers, Blanca, Diablo, Raiza and Laronne. Maritza squeals out loud and races up to Blanca first. Mother and daughter share a warm embrace and everyone is beaming. Flaca notices that Blanca's face is all scratched up, but she figures it's best not to say anything about it. She doesn't appear to be in any pain.

"Oh, Mami..."

Still holding her tight, Blanca strokes her hair a few times and kisses her cheek. "Ay, nena..."

"Marisol," Theresa says, sniffling as she strides up to Flaca and pecks her temple while hugging her. Flaca kisses her mother's cheek while smiling as best she can. "Estoy tan contenta de que estés bien."

I'm so glad you're okay.

"Yeah, good thing you're still around, sis," Pedro murmurs.

"Life ain't the same when we're not at each other's throats," Marco teases her and Flaca scowls playfully at him.

Her family knows the truth and she's glad Theresa and her brothers have promised not to blab.

"Sissy!"

"Oh, bebécita..." Maritza kneels down and wraps her arms around Raiza and then Laronne. She stands up and exchanges a fist bump with Diablo. She turns when Theresa places a hand on her shoulder.

"Gracias por quedarte con ella."

Thank you for staying with her.

"¿Por qué no lo haría? La amo."

Why wouldn't I? I love her.

Flaca grins at Maritza's statement. She waves at the Floreses and the Zunigas and they return the gesture. "Yo, good thing y'all found each other!"

"Yay!" Raiza cheers exhaustedly.

"Whoo-hoo!" Laronne jumps up and down.

"Estoy tan felíz," Blanca murmurs, ambling to where Flaca is sitting up in her bed. She winds an arm around Flaca and squeezes her shoulder affectionately. "Escuché sobre lo que pasó. Salvaste a mi hija...no puedo agradecerte lo suficiente."

I'm so happy. I heard about what happened. You saved my daughter...I cannot thank you enough.

"¡Yo también!" Diablo agrees. "Eres una chica muy valiente."

You're a very brave girl.

"Gracias, todos," Flaca tells them. "It was nothin'. Like, she's my girl, yo. I can't let bad shit happen to her."

At this, Maritza beams, eyeing Flaca softly. Her face becomes flushed again. Blanca goes up to her with a quizzical facial expression. "Oye, why are you dressed like that? ¡Es pleno invierno!"

It's the middle of winter!

"That's what I said! She just wanted to look nice, she told me," Flaca pipes up.

Maritza picks up the blanket that she'd strewn on one of the chairs and wraps it around her waist, probably not wanting to be so exposed. She shrugs and then folds her arms across her chest. "Mami, no te preocupes...I didn't get hypothermia...I was actually walkin' around a lot! I'm just a tiny bit cold, but it ain't too bad. I don't even have goosebumps on my legs!"

"Okay, pero...no sin bufanda, gorro, guantes...how long exactly were you outside?"

Okay, but...no scarf, hat, gloves...

Diablo starts to unzip his jacket. "Puedes quedarte con mi chaqueta, no quiero que tengas hipotermia."

You can have my jacket, I don't want you getting hypothermia.

Maritza gives them both pointed looks. "Basta, los dos, ni siquiera importa cuanto tiempo estuve afuera, I was practically hiking up a storm! I'm fine."

Enough, you two, it doesn't even matter how long I was outside

Yes, you are, Flaca thinks with a smirk.

Dr. Burset waits patiently for them to finish their reunion. "It's true, you can get very hot easily from walkin' around so much," she cuts in. "You know, when Galina's foster daughter Tricia was homeless, she was often sweating from always being on the move."

"I got like that too sometimes, but it was mostly freezing!" Blanca glances at her oldest daughter with so many questions in her eyes. "I don't know how either of the girls could've stood it."

"Maybe I run hotter than you," Maritza says. "Tricia was probably running most of the time 'cause I heard she'd steal shit from Whole Foods and the jewelry store."

Flaca nods, remembering. "Yeah, poor kid."

"Alright, Miss Gonzales, let's get started on your sutures," Dr. Burset announces. Everyone else sits down. Raiza is cuddled in Blanca's arms, sucking her thumb, while Laronne climbs up on his father's lap. Theresa is in the chair beside Flaca's bed and Maritza squeezes her hand on the opposite side of her. Then, she moves to make room for the doctor. "Hey, I gotta warn y'all, this whole process will take four to five hours, and the hospital rules say only two at a time can visit unless it's family. Too many people and a lot of excitement ain't good for the patient."

Right away, Blanca and Diablo rise with their respective child.

Maritza groans. "You for real, Doc? She's my boo! I gotta stay..."

"Yep. Sorry, them's the rules. You might wanna say goodnight to her now."

"Okay." Maritza bends down and kisses Flaca's forehead and then her lips. "Adiós, mi princesa. Hasta luego."

Goodbye, my princess. See you later.

Flaca closes her eyes in bliss when her girlfriend's mouth brushes over hers ever so softly. "Buenas noches, hermosa mariposa."

Good night, beautiful butterfly.

Maritza beams.

"¡Buena suerte!" Blanca calls out.

"¡Mantenate a salvo!" Diablo puts in.

Stay safe!

"¡Gracias!"

"Bye-bye!" Raiza and Laronne chorus.

"Bye, niños!"

Flaca and Theresa wave goodbye at them while Marco and Pedro plop down into the now empty chairs.

After carefully removing the gauze from Flaca's cheek, Dr. Burset irrigates the severe gash with cool, wet saline solution. Then, she gives a series of small shots around the area to numb it. Finally, she begins stitching the wound while Flaca watches Bratz. She's so tired and she plans to sleep after the movie.

Meanwhile, after giving Raiza a bath and putting her to bed, Blanca showers at Diablo's house. Her oldest daughter has taken one already. She's enjoying how warm the water is as it rains down on her, soaking her curls and heating her up immensely. Tipping her head back, she hums in contentment. She's able to clean her scrapes now and the dirt she wasn't able to get off from today, is swirling down the drain as she scrubs her body with mint soap and washes her hair, massaging sweet-smelling shampoo and then conditioner into her locks. Thinking about Diablo and her girls being back with her brings the biggest smile to her face. When she'd first had a glimpse of him, she'd thought he would've left and given up on looking for her a long time ago since she was so far away and the traffic was heavy. She can't believe he'd still been there.

When she's finished, she shuts off the water and steps out of the tub. She wraps a dark blue towel around her chest so it hangs down to her knees and then pats lotion on her face and rubs it all over her body, purposely missing where her injuries are. She dots Neosporin on her scratches, washes her hands, and then sprays hair product into her damp strands so her curls can look tamer. She twists her hair around her finger and puts it into a ponytail. After putting on a few Band-Aids, she changes into her pajamas that Diablo has bought her. They're a pair of pink and black flannel pants and a white thermal shirt. She slips his cozy gray sweatshirt that he'd left for her, over her head. Beaming, she lifts the neck of it to her nose and inhales his cologne and his musky, woodsy scent. It comes to her mid-thighs. As she slides her hands into the front pocket, she walks into Laronne's bedroom where her kids are.

She's completely amazed that Diablo has this room all set up for them. Maritza is in a teen girl styled bed, complete with hearts on the headboard and pink knobs on the posts. Her comforter and pillows are light blue, her favorite color. She's staring at the purple lava lamp beside her, mesmerized. Raiza and Laronne are sound asleep in their bunk bed. Diablo has told Blanca he'd built that for his son when he was Raiza's age.

"¡Felicidades, nena!" Blanca says softly, making her way over to Maritza. "I'm so happy for you and Flaca."

Congratulations, baby!

She grins as Blanca kneels beside her bed. "Gracias, Mami. I'm blessed to have her, you know?"

"Mm-hm. As I am de tener a Diablo."

to have

Blanca runs her hand down the side of Maritza's face and toys with her hair a little. "¿Estás segura de que estás bien?"

Are you sure you're okay?

Maritza nods. "Like a brick's been taken off my chest."

"Me too." Blanca swallows hard, forcing tears of relief back. "Tenía tanto miedo de que las chicas se hubieran ido para siempre, y Diablo would stop searching for me."

I was so scared you girls were gone for good.

"Ay, Mami, that would never happen. He loves you too much and I got my powers...I would've had us return to you eventually."

"Sounds about right," Blanca murmurs. "Dulces sueños, mi niña." She gives Maritza a kiss good night, as she's done with Raiza and Laronne.

Maritza hugs her. "Sweet dreams to you too, Mami!"

She leaves the room, closing the door behind her silently. When she enters Diablo's room, she's surprised to see that he's still awake, sitting up in his bed and staring at his laptop as he types. His gaze meets hers when she approaches him and he pats the spot beside him. "Hey, ¿que estás escribiendo?"

What are you writing?

He grins, closes his laptop, and sets it on his top nightstand shelf as she climbs in next to him. "Sólo un correo electrónico a la jefa sobre el trabajo."

Just an email to the boss about work.

"I see." She nods in understanding and stifles a yawn with the back of her hand.

"¿Qué tal tu ducha?" He caresses her hair and she smiles and rolls over to face him. He scoots down so they're at eye level.

How was your shower?

"¡Buena! Gracias por la ropa."

Good! Thanks for the clothes.

"De nada."

Diablo captures Blanca's lips with his and she hums softly, enjoying their moment. Pulling back from their kiss, she looks at him in awe. "You're like our second knight in shining armor, you know that, right?"

His beam only gets wider and his hot breath fans her face as he holds her close. "I'm happy to be. El lunes será el día más frío del año, and next week, on the twelfth, they're predicting a bad winter storm."

Monday's gonna be the coldest day of the year

"¡Menos mal que las chicas y yo ya no estamos en eso!"

Good thing the girls and I aren't out in that anymore!

"¡Sí!" he agrees and rests his hand on the side of her face, stroking his thumb against it gently. "Oye, it's the first year we can watch the Super Bowl together...y se acerca nuestro primer día de San Valentín..."

and our first Valentine's Day is coming up...

"I hope Indiana wins, it's the state closest to us." She brushes her fingers along the muscles in his upper arm.

"Yeah, me too." He sighs. "You know what, though, I don't care...our team isn't playing and all I need is my girl, our niños, snacks, and the halftime show."

She giggles under her breath. "Prepararé nachos con chilaquiles, frijoles refritos, salsa y guacamole para todos."

I'll make us all nachos with chilaquiles, refried bean, salsa, and guacamole.

"Te ayudaré, darling." He presses his puckered, open mouth to her temple and she slides her free hand into his. They cuddle intimately.

I'll help you

"Gracias." Still smiling, she bites her lower lip. "Tu cama es mucho más cómoda que las del refugio."

Your bed is a lot more comfortable than the ones at the shelter.

"Estoy contento, reina de mi corazón."

I'm glad, queen of my heart.

Blanca's cheeks flush as her heart melts. "Ay, mi rey...eres demasiado bueno para mi."

Oh, my king...you're too good to me.

"¡Te lo mereces!"

You deserve it!

After making out passionately, she snuggles into Diablo and then slowly falls asleep since it's nearing two in the morning.

A couple of hours later, though, Blanca wakes up from a nightmare with a start, gasping in and out. She feels movement near her and rubs her eyes open, letting a shaky breath of relief slide through her pursed lips. Diablo turns on a light, his exhausted gaze turning to one of concern. "Hey, you're okay, querida," he soothes her and she curls into his loving embrace. "You're home."

Blanca sniffles as she makes herself smaller against him and whimpers softly. "I...I dreamt that you...me gritabas y me abusabas físicamente porque Florida ganó..."

you were yelling at me and being physically abusive because Florida won...

"Baby, I'd never do that, I promise," he says genuinely, brushing her tears off her cheeks. "I swear to Satan I won't. I care too much about you!"

"Lo sé, fue una tontería..." She gulps. "Dean se enojaba tanto conmigo cuando su equipo perdía."

I know, it was silly...Dean would get so angry at me when his team lost.

"Bueno, yo no soy así en absoluto, lo juro desde el fondo de mi corazón," he promises her. His eyes glisten with moisture and his tone of voice is incredibly sincere.

Well, I'm not at all like that, I swear from the bottom of my heart.

"Muchas gracias..." Blanca kisses her boyfriend's jaw and tries to calm her rapid heartbeat. He presses his mouth softly onto hers a few times.

She's elated, and as the rain patters on the windowpanes, they drift off once more.

"It's too dangerous, Galina, I just want you to be safe."

She cocks up an eyebrow at her husband and stares at him resolutely as they stand on their porch. He's holding her hands. "Dangerous is my middle name. I'm going to rescue my daughter."

He sighs and gives her cheek a chaste kiss. "Be careful, darling, I love you."

Galina beams at him and they lock lips. "I love you too, Pavel," she tells him when they separate. He walks her to the car and opens her door for her. She gets into the backseat with two of her kids and Lida as Pavel closes the door and Rosa starts up the car. Her man waves them off and everyone except the driver and Dmitri, return the gesture. Dmitri only flips him off and he rolls his eyes along with Galina.

"Such a child, Dmitri," she grumbles. Tricia stifles laughter, snorting into her fist.

"To be honest, Ma, you weren't too happy either when Pop moved on...even though you broke off the marriage."

"Oooh, burn," her ex mutters.

She pushes Dmitri's seat, glares at her son, and opens her mouth to protest, but figures that arguing with him isn't worth it.

"Vasily, enough," Lida scolds him. "Babe, it's too early to start fights with your ma."

"You're right." He looks embarrassed. "Sorry."

"Po krayney mere, ty nakonets sdelal yey predlozheniye."

At least you finally proposed to her.

Vasily snickers. "Hell yeah!" He picks up Lida's hand and kisses her engagement ring. She grins and leans her head on his shoulder.

"Good for you!" Rosa comments.

Tricia, squished between Galina and Lida, rests her feet in Galina's lap as she settles comfortably against Lida.

By the time they get there, Galina's heart is thumping wildly inside her chest.

"Have fun, you three!"

"Thanks, Ma!" Tricia beams at her.

In the parking lot of the Indigo Club, Vasily hugs his parents before getting out of the car. Lida and Tricia both embrace Red, one on either side of her. Then, they depart as well. Tricia skips ahead of her babysitters, who are holding hands. They're all about to have some lunch.

"Don't go too far!" Lida says loudly.

She glances back at the happy couple and spins around merrily, letting her braids hit her face. "I know these streets...I've lived on 'em, for Christ's sake! I ain't gonna get lost."

"Tricia..." Vasily says warningly. "Ma gave us clear instructions to keep you in view. You can't just wander. We don't know our way around like you do. Besides that, you're a child! You could get seriously hurt...it's amazing that you didn't when you were homeless."

"Hmph." Tricia folds her arms across her chest, deciding to let them catch up with her. As she ambles aimlessly down the sidewalk, she bumps into a young blonde woman slightly taller than herself. "Sorry," she mumbles shyly.

"'S alright, kid." The lady grins as she chomps her gum and leans back against a brick wall. She's wearing a large blue coat over a black, low-cut crop-top and gray skinny jeans. Gold boots complete her outfit. She shoves her gloved hands into her pockets and pulls out a packet of cigarettes, preparing to smoke one, as Lida and Vasily pass her, pushing Tricia along.

Looking over her shoulder, Tricia notices a Lebanese woman in her twenties strolling up to the blonde chick, waving a wad of cash. She's in a tight black leather dress, red tights, and brown UGG boots with a heavy gray jacket. A maroon scarf is looped around her neck. They're laughing about something and then they start dancing with each other.

"Come on, don't stare," Lida whispers.

"I just think I've seen 'em before. Like, while I was around this area." Tricia smirks. "They're kinda hot. I hope I get racks like theirs when I'm older," she whispers in Lida's ear.

The older blonde tenderly ruffles her hair. "Patience, small one. You still got some growin' to do."

"Still, though, it's not polite," Vasily says, but he does a double-take. "Whoa."

Lida smacks the back of his head lightly. "Hypocrite."

The two ladies go into the Indigo Club and Rosa discreetly follows them.

As she sits in front of her vanity, Maritza applies her makeup and uses a curling iron for her hair. She fixes it into a half pony with tendrils hanging down while gazing proudly at her reflection and patting her chunky silver necklace. The lights on either side of the mirror give her an ethereal glow. Now that Humps is gone, she feels just a little safer. Hellman and Dixon had roughly accused her of murdering her own pimp, but after going down on both of them and gagging, they finally agreed to check her hands for gun residue. Finding nothing, they believed her story of how the asshole was killed in a drive-by shooting. It had earned her a damn, nice job, kid from Nicky when they were alone with Shani.

While touching up her neon pink lipstick and then slipping shiny silver, diamond-studded hoops through her earlobes, she stands, walks backward, and inspects herself from all angles. She's in a fitted purplish royal blue halter dress that shows ample cleavage and there are matching high heels on her feet. She also has on nude stockings. She's hoping to leave early so she can meet Flaca for their date later on. This outfit is perfect because it's appropriate to wear when they go out to dinner and it also works for her job. She wants her girl to be wowed by her appearance.

She spins. "Ay dios mío, chiquita, you're like, so hot," Maritza compliments herself, imitating Flaca. She puts her hand to her heart and giggles, beaming. "Aww, gracias, mi amor, te amo mucho...nah, may be too soon for that, but just...muchas gracias, princesa. Yeah." She nods and raises her chin confidently while doing a beauty pageant wave. Her smile only gets wider as she really notices how sharp her eyeliner is and how smoky her blue eyeshadow looks. Before Flaca, she'd never felt so alluring. Knowing that she has a special someone who protects her and thinks she's pretty enough to make out with and hold, it's like she's floating on Cloud Nine.

Suddenly, shouts and swears explode around the brothel. Maritza gasps as a woman begins speaking in fast Russian and maybe throwing in a few curse words. She hears her vision from a while ago play out and she scrambles to a closet. She ducks inside before anyone notices her and only has the door slightly open so she can see what's happening.

"Doggett, help!" Coates struggles beneath the grasp of an older, tough-looking white woman with octopus tattoos on her neck.

"Nah! Boo told me I got Stockholm's syndrome from your ass, and you treat me like shit! I'm outta here!" Whipping her pink, fur-lined hood up over her head, she scampers away while the remaining sex workers just stare in shock for a minute.

Maritza blinks disbelievingly and her jaw drops as Annalisa the bitch is killed in the line of fire, trying to defend Hellman. He, Coates, Mendez, and Dixon are then shot dead with guns that have silencers attached to them. The rest of the pimps, with the exception of Daddy, are being pulverized by several more gray-haired, middle-aged people on Red's side-a black lady, two bearded Caucasian men, and a half Latina. Alejandro, Felipe, and his buddies are no longer moving.

"Think that's all of 'em," Red mutters, breathing heavily. Tears shine in her blue eyes as they pass over Nicky and Shani. "Okay, ladies, either we get you some help or you're on your own."

"Nooooo!" Angie whines. "Now how we gonna get our kicks?"

"Dumb ol' commies," Leanne complains as the Red's gang members drag the bodies out.

The methheads grab packets of heroin from the dead bastards' pockets and take off into a sprint.

Daddy races down the stairs and puts her hands up in surrender. Amber runs up to her and buries herself in Daddy's arms. "Please don't do anything to her, she's innocent!"

Vanessa cries while kneeling down next to Alejandro and she glares up at Red. "The fuck did you do that for?!"

Daddy and Amber pull Vanessa off the floor and then they skedaddle.

"Are you ready to go, malyshka? Or do you have things you own here?" Red's partners in crime exit with the last deceased creep, probably so she can have her moment with the woman who's like her daughter.

Nicky steps closer. "I'll have to pack my shit. You forgot the madam."

Red yanks her into a tight hug and Nicky closes her eyes as her mother figure holds her. "Where is she now, sweetheart?"

Sniffling, she rests her chin on Red's shoulder. "I...I don't know. You sure you wanna bring me home, and Shani, too? We've done pretty fucked up things, me, especially. I'm real sorry..."

"I won't be any trouble, I promise, ma'am," Shani chimes in. Her voice cracks and Maritza stifles a relieved sob.

"Darlings, of course I'm taking you back to my house! What kind of a mamochka just leaves her kids to rot in places like this, hm?" Red kisses Nicky's forehead, leaving behind a rouge lipstick print. She grabs Shani's hand, pulling her into the hug. "None of that ma'am business either, young lady, do you hear me? You can call me Red, even though my hair is almost dyed purple. Or Galina, if you prefer that."

Shani nods and manages a shaky grin. "Okay."

Red chucks her chin and smiles. A lump grows in Maritza's throat and a tear rolls down her cheek. She wipes it away.

"Hold on..." Nicky glances around and then over her shoulder. "Where's Yessica?"

Her heart skips a beat at her pseudonym and she covers her mouth with both hands, willing herself not to make any noise. Shani frowns. "I'm not sure, last we saw her, she was in her dressing room...maybe she left and we didn't notice?"

"Can we check if she's hiding under a bed? She doesn't do well with fights."

"Certainly, dear."

Before they move an inch, though, Vee barges in, ruining the peaceful and happy reunion. "Who the fuck are you?"

"Oh, shit," Maritza whispers under her breath.

Red turns and faces Vee with a steely gaze. She stands in front of Nicky and Shani protectively. "That's my line, you old bat."

"Madam Vee to you! Haven't we met already?" She raises a hand to strike Red, who shields herself as she backs up, making the wood creak under her shoes. Wincing, Maritza peeks out from between her fingers as Vee punches the poor woman, creating a bloody cut on her cheek. She groans weakly and collapses to her hands and knees. She's about to kick Red in the side, but Maritza makes a gesture that causes the madam to stumble back a few feet. Nicky and Shani scream in unison as they both help Red up. "These are my girls!" Vee growls through gritted teeth. "Do not kidnap them from me! They're my daughters!"

That's when Red goes beserk. Hollering at the top of her lungs, she charges at Vee and shoves her into the wall, knocking her head into the plaster so hard that Maritza can swear she sees a spot of blood on the white paint. "You're a monster!" Red grabs a fistful of her hair and throws her to the ground as she holds her head in pain. "Grooming those girls!" She immediately starts driving her foot into Vee's ribs over and over again, ignoring the madam's pleas for her to stop and stepping hard on her wrists when she tries to fight back. "They are not your daughters. A mother doesn't pimp out her own children!" Vee whimpers as Red stomps on her chest. She's just laying there, her whole body limp like a rag doll. "Don't...you...ever...say...that...again!" Nicky, Shani, and Maritza watch on in awe.

Vee wheezes. "Don't kill me, I'm just an elderly lady..." She sobs, but Maritza knows it's fake.

Red pauses for a moment and kneels beside her quickly. She motions for Shani and Nicky to go upstairs, and they do. "Fifty isn't that ancient. You know perfectly well what you're doing." She pounces and then starts strangling Vee, who's choking. "You can suffer, and if you try to turn me in, well...I've got the Russian mafia behind me. You'll be nothing but a cut-up corpse in my freezer next time we meet."

A shiver creeps up and down Maritza's spine and she trembles; she's never seen Red be this fierce. She wishes her mother were just as brave against Dean.

Immediately, Vee clutches Red's shirt while coughing loudly and lifting herself up, preparing to flip Red over and finish her enemy off. Her eyes bulge out of their sockets, Maritza snaps her fingers, and then Vee crashes back down, dead at last. She's not faking it this time.

"She's nowhere to be found!" Shani exclaims as she and Nicky rush back to the scene. "I suppose she returned to her mom and sister."

Red hums. "Well, I hope she's okay!"

"Same here." Nicky's eyes grow big. "Holy shit, did you actually kill Vee?!"

"Yes..." Red appears perplexed as she stares at her shaking hands. "Uh...adrenaline, I guess...but I did it for both of you."

"Oh, wow, thank you!" Shani tells her cheerfully as they assist her into a standing position.

"You're very welcome!"

Once they leave the brothel, linking arms, it's Maritza's cue to exit the place as well. She quietly tiptoes out of the closet in case Vee is the tiniest bit alive, and then flies upstairs like a bat out of hell. First, she puts on her warm, black peacoat, winds her lucky blue scarf around her neck, puts a pink beanie on her head, and slips her hands into bright purple leather gloves. Next, she gathers all of her things in a huge pink Victoria's Secret shopping bag upstairs, such as her few fancy clothes and lingerie, makeup, shoes, jewelry, and purse stuffed with cash; she'll pretend she recently bought those items specifically for her love. Then, she exchanges her high heels for tall, brown UGG boots, for she can walk in them better and not risk breaking an ankle in her rush to leave. Lastly, holding onto the rail, she bolts downstairs. Vee is still not moving, much to her relief. She walks around all the disturbing crimson stains and doesn't breathe until she arrives at the Indigo Club.

Her legs quaking beneath her, she runs past Pennsatucky and Boo; the latter rocking the former back and forth while they tightly embrace. They don't see her as she makes her way to the street. She rolls her eyes when she notices Leanne and Angie sticking their heads and folded arms inside a red convertible that has its hood up. They're chatting amiably with the driver, but more flirtatiously than anything. She waves down a cab, ready to get to Flaca's apartment.

She's so done with that life it's not even funny.

Thank you for reading and reviewing, Juliette45!