"Good afternoon, I got you some sweet bread from Elizia, I can't remember the name but it's got chocolate!" Paloma says cheerfully as she enters the office, pulling out a paper wrapped bundle from the paper bag she held. "It's really good, I had one on my way over and - hey why are you looking so upset?"

Mitzi sat at her desk sporting a dark expression, her hands clasped together in front of her while glaring at an opened pale white envelope on the desk. Her usually neat hair was looking like a disheveled mess right now, most likely from her running her hands through it anxiously and there were dark circles under her eyes, as if she hadn't slept in weeks.

"Uh, señiora?" Paloma calls out cautiously. "Maybe I should just...leave and-"

"Asa's inviting us to his club." Mitzi finally says, her shoulders drooping as she points to a crumpled letter that sat next to it.

Paloma walks up to the desk to set her grocery bag down on it and grabs the opened envelope to turn it, and dumps out several marigold flowers onto the desk. She recalled Atlas having one or two of these on hand, specifically for visiting the Marigold Room. She used to like marigold flowers, as a child she and her cousins would collect them from a nearby field or buy a bunch in the market for the day of the dead festival to scatter around the farmhouse and wear in their hair, but now the sight of them made her stomach twist in disgust.

"This feels like a threat or trap." She comments with a frown as she picks one up. "So...what do we do?"

"I don't know honey, I agree this does not look like a friendly invitation." Mitzi says with a tired sigh as she slumps her head down on the desk. "I just...it's..."

"Shh, it's okay, you've been stressed lately haven't you?" Paloma asks as she walks around the desk as her boss lets out a choked sob and puts her arms around her in comfort. "You're worried this means Mordecai will make good on his promise?"

"I'm afraid he would, what if we went and it was all a set up to kill us?" Mitzi sobs as she clings to the younger woman. "What if we don't go and he tries to kill us and destroy this place?"

"He won't if Selena knows, maybe we should call her?"

"I could try, but I don't know how much she could do. I suppose we really don't have a choice, do we?"

Paloma nods grimmly. "If we go, Asa could send someone to destroy this place, maybe we should have someone stay behind to keep watch?"

"Sounds like a good idea, but who do you have in mind?" Mitzi asks as she is released and hastily wipes at her eyes.

"My brother, he's a great shot, and maybe Calvin too just in case. Should we close the speakeasy for the night just in case?"

"It'd be best if we did. You and I are obviously going, but there's a lot of these flowers, why's he sending so many?"

"Feels like a mockery sending this many. So two of us...perhaps we should have Rocky come along? And Zib? No...can he hold a gun or does he know how to fight?"

"Does that man look like he's ever gotten into a fight and won?"

If anything, Zib often looked like he'd lost one too many fights, or that he was too tired to even fight anyone at all.

"Okay fair point." Paloma says with an annoyed sigh and pushes two flowers aside. "Maybe Viktor can come as well as Rocky? They can look like extra muscle for us."

"Hmm...true, but perhaps we should wait until everyone shows up to discuss this." Mitzi says as she gathers the flowers and letter into the envelope. "I may be the boss around here, but I'd like to get everyone on board with decisions like this."

----

Once evening had rolled around and the other employees had arrived, Paloma gathered everyone at the stage. Even Wick was there, having been called by Mitzi to show up early.

"Alright we should be opening soon, but I wanted to talk to you all about something that had just come up." Mitzi announced as she stood at the edge of the stage.

"We're not closing forever, are we?" Sy asks. "Last time you gathered us like this was to tell us we hardly had any money to keep this place afloat."

"Oh no honey, this is a much different matter I promise. Many of you here know of the Marigold gang, right? And their boss, Asa Sweet?"

"You mean the guy we used to work for until Atlas?" Mozzi asks.

"Yes that man. Earlier today, he sent a letter inviting us to...come to his establishment."

The other employees looked at each other in worry, whispering to each other until Calvin raises a hand.

"Uh, may I ask why this is serious?"

"Marigold is our rival, those thugs you and Rocky dealt with the other week were from that gang." Paloma says as she climbs onto the stage and Mitzi steps back to let her speak. "And then those other thugs from the graveyard? Also Marigold. Now the reason why this is serious, is because we have no idea why Asa is doing this, and we have suspicions that it's not for a friendly chat. And, we don't know if he'll do something to destroy this place whether or not we go, so we've decided it'd be best to leave some people here to guard both entrances.

"So when is this?" Wick asks.

"Tomorrow night." Mitzi responds. "Paloma's brother will be coming to guard the garage entrance. Freckle, while we decided you would also stay to guard the entrance of the pantry, we wanted to ask if you were willing to do it. Are you okay with that honey?"

"Umm, sure? I suppose a stake out wouldn't be so bad." Calvin says with a nod before Ivy grabs his arm.

"I'll stay with him too! I'll have his back!"

"Sweetie, are you sure?" Mitzi asks with a concerned look. "You told Paloma and I what happened when-"

"I can handle it! Please! I'll be useful this time!"

"Okay okay, you two can stay and guard. Anyone willing to come with me and Paloma?"

"Me, I go." Viktor says, raising a hand.

"Honey I don't think-"

"I go." He insists.

"I'll come too." Wick offers. "It wouldn't seem right to let you two ladies wander into the dragon's den alone."

"Fine, I'm coming too." Zib sighs, raising a hand. "And to keep an eye on that one."

"Oh my god, I'm not going to do anything with Mordecai! Put your hand down!" Paloma groans. "If anything, you'll have to restrain me from slugging him in the face!"

"That I'll certainly do."

"Miss M, I'd like to come along too!" Rocky says, raising a hand. "I could act as extra muscle!"

"No offense, but...are you sure you can survive a fist fight?" Paloma asks. "You're quite... scrawny."

"Like spaghetti." Viktor adds.

"Well I can still help! How many times have I gotten punched or whacked by Viktor and still came out fine?" Rocky argues. "I got run over by a car and survived!"

"You did not! And that forehead injury is exactly why I think you should stay behind!" Paloma retorts. "Yes you are quite sturdy, but I'm very sure your aunt will have my hide if you got badly injured under my watch! She may be cross with you over half the time but she still cares!"

"Yes yes, but I'm still going!"

"Group of six it is then." Mitzi says and looks at the others. "Anyone else? No? Then that's it. Paloma, tomorrow you are to come straight to the apartment so I can help you get ready."

"Oh but, I've got a nice dress in mind for the occasion." Paloma says but Mitzi waves her hand dismissively.

"Honey, where we're going, I don't think the cute garden party dresses I've bought you over the years are suitable for this. Think more... the dress you wore for your first Christmas party in this speakeasy."

Oh...that sort of dress. Well, she couldn't squeeze into the only flapper dress she owned, that one was meant for a much more scrawny girl like Ivy. Actually that dress was probably in Ivy's closet.

"You sure I can't just show up in my bartender uniform? I'd look a little more serious and business-like if I showed up like that minus the bandana." Paloma asks once everyone was leaving the stage to go get ready to open the speakeasy.

"No, we're putting you in a dress. Now, let's get ready to open for the night."

----

"I think that gun's been polished enough." Zib says as Paloma runs the cloth along the pipe of the gun for what felt like the millionth time today. "You only excessively clean and polish that when you're really anxious."

"Really? I couldn't tell!" The younger woman mutters sarcastically. "Thanks for telling me!"

"Alright don't get your pants in a twist, you're nervous aren't you?"

As much as she didn't want to admit it, she was. This invitation was not friendly at all, and for all they knew, Asa had plans to get them while their guard was lowered and destroy what little of the Lackadaisy and it's crew was left. Sure she and Viktor could take out a few thugs on their own, but with his bad knees and any weapons on them confiscated before they could even enter the speakeasy, their chances of getting Mitzi, Zib and Rocky out were very slim.

"Judging by your silence, I am right." Zib says as he plops himself down to sit next to her. "That's fine, if you weren't I'd be calling you crazy. Not looking forward to seeing him again?"

"No, especially after last time." Paloma admits. Zib still didn't know that her actual last encounter with Mordecai involved a kiss, but she wasn't eager for a lecture from him if she ever told him about it. She was already feeling stressed for tonight, and she didn't need to be feeling even more stressed now.

"I'm gonna head upstairs to get changed, and see if my brother is already here." She finally says, tucking the cleaning rag into her back pocket. "You should get ready too, can't have you showing up like you let your odd friend dressed you."

Zib simply shrugs as Paloma hops off the stage and hurries up the stairs leading to the trapdoor, only for it to not open like something heavy was sitting on it. Annoyed, she rammed her shoulder against the door, earning a muffled yelp from above followed by muffled swearing before the door opened.

"Dumbass, I was down there!" She yells at her brother, who is rubbing his sore rear.

"Didn't have to ram so hard!" Gabriel retorts before his twin thrusts her shotgun into his arms. "I have a gun."

"Yeah the peashooter is gonna do you no good, keep that good one in hand."

"How long are you all gonna be gone?" She hears Michael say from inside the car he was seated in.

"A few hours, we'll have to see." Paloma responds. "If we're not back by sunrise, Mitzi says you can all storm the hotel and open fire."

"Oh wonderful, I can add shooting heathens to my long list of sins I've committed this week alone."

"Sarcastic little shit are you? You do know you didn't even need to be here, right?"

"Well who else was gonna keep your brother company and make sure he won't fall asleep on the job?"

"He thought I was gonna be lonely here, that's why he came." Gabriel laughs. "I don't mind the company, it'd be weird not to have him around, he's been by my side since we became roommates. One would think we were cemented at the hip!"

"It's glued at the hip." Paloma corrects him. "Anyways, I gotta go get ready. Don't touch anything in here unless you want Viktor to stab you through the hand."

She then makes her way out of the garage and turns down the street to get to the cafe, digging out the spare house key from her pocket that Mitzi had given her this morning to unlock the door leading up to the small apartment the older woman lived in. Upstairs she found her employer in her bedroom clipping on a pair of earrings, already dressed while Ivy laid on the bed reading one of her fashion magazines, dressed in the same clothes she wore last time they encountered the Marigolds.

"Ah, just the lady we were waiting for." Mitzi says as she gets up from her vanity to walk over to Paloma to take her hands. "Oh this reminds me so much of when I helped you get ready for a proper first date."

"Well this is going to be far from it." Paloma says, glancing at the boxes next to the bed. "I assume that's for me?

"Just a few of my old dresses that I outgrew, I figured you wouldn't want to go spending money on a whole new dress you were going to wear once." The older woman says as she pulls a few dresses out of a box. "Hmm, no this shade of blue does not look good on you. Gold, no. Green? Oh this would look perfect!"

She holds up a smoky olive green dress, motioning for Paloma to come over to hold it up against her.

"Ooh that actually looks pretty!" Ivy gasps.

"Put it on, I think I have some accessories that were supposed to go with that." Mitzi says as she stuffed the other dresses back into the box. "Those earrings you have will do for now, I just need a good necklace for you and-"

"Oh, I thought I'd keep this on." Paloma says, touching the ribbon around her neck. "I wouldn't want to lose your nice jewelry if we got in a fight with the Marigolds."

"Oh honey, isn't that the necklace Mordecai gave you as a gift?" Mitzi asks, putting away a necklace she had in hand and closing her jewelry box. "I haven't seen that around your neck since he left. You started wearing it again a few weeks ago."

"I just got a bit nostalgic, that's all. Plus he shouldn't keep me from putting on one of the nicest pieces of jewelry I've owned."

"Well, if you want to keep it on, you can and I won't stop you. I still need to do something about your hair, you can't go in there with a messy bun and bandana."

"Well I'll just brush it, it's fine."

Paloma then proceeds to undo her hair, using her fingers to comb out some of the tangles before taking a comb Mitzi hands her to get everything else out. It had been so long since she ever got dressed up like this, when was the last time she did it? Well, probably for Nico's birthday, but aside from that time.

"Alright I think we'll just go with a simple bun for this, and I have a hair clip you can use so don't lose it." She heard Mitzi say before the older woman took the comb to start brushing back some of the hair and twisting it behind her head. "I can never get over how pretty your hair is, you certainly don't need that short hairstyle everyone is trying to go for these days."

"I quite like it." Paloma says with a shrug. "Maybe in the future locks like mine will be in high fashion."

"It's a pain to maintain." Ivy points out as she hands something to Mitzi. "I don't know how you do it."

"Easy, patience. Something you should learn, it'd be quite helpful as a gangster."

"Okay fair, but not everyone can be like you or Mordecai."

"Well you can try to be, patience is a good virtue one must cultivate, as my grandmother used to say. Are we done?"

"Yes, now you certainly are gonna make Mordecai jealous when he sees all sorts of boys falling at your feet." Mitzi chuckles. "He's certainly going to regret leaving you."

"I'm not going just for the sole purpose to make him jealous and regret leaving me, if anything, it's to make Asa uncomfortable. Make him squirm and get anxious because my mere presence puts him off."

"And you did a good job of those last times you've seen him. Oh look at you, you look just as gorgeous as I did back in my youth when I wore this."

"I assume make up will follow."

"Well you can't just show up with just lipstick, let me at least do something about those lashes of yours, make you look a little more fancy."

Paloma rolls her eyes but allows her boss to apply mascara to her lashes, trying hard not to flinch as the brush tickles her face slightly. Once that was done, she slips some shoes on and stands up to examine her reflection in the mirror. She really did look like those girls who used to frequent the speakeasy with their glittery dresses, though she didn't really like how short the skirt of hers was.

"Oh you look so darling!" Mitzi gushes.

"I feel like a floozy." Paloma mutters as she tries tugging at the skirt to adjust the length. "And exposed, do you have a shawl or something I could put on?"

"Sure, I have one that matches, now lets get going before the boys leave without us."

Once downstairs, the three women made their way into the garage where Michael and Gabriel were, now being accompanied by Calvin, Zib, Rocky, Wick and Viktor. The second they heard them, Michel turns to grin at them, before his face fell.

"Sister why is the skirt so short?" He asks as Paloma hugs the thin silk shawl around her chest.

"Don't ask." Paloma mutters.

"Heathen." Michael mutters before ducking behind Gabriel when his sister drops her purse to try and remove a heel. "Gabriel do something!"

"Well you both certainly will be turning heads." Zib comments as Mitzi walks over to remove his hat and starts trying to fix his hair and tie.

"And you look like you rolled from your apartment all the way here." The older woman scoffs. "You could have put on a tux, at least Viktor did."

"Don't have one."

"Wick could have lent you one!"

"Do I look like I'd fit in one of his suits?"

"He looks so grumpy all well dressed." Rocky snickers quietly to Paloma and Ivy. "Apparently his wife made him clean up super good."

"Well a good thing too, we're going to a fancy place." Paloma scoffs as she reaches to adjust his tie. "Now behave yourself, we are not going to risk a gang war if you opened your mouth and say soemthing stupid."

"Would it kill you to have some faith in me?"

"Perhaps."

"Alright let's get going, you kids get to your designated spaces and stay vigilant." Mitzi says as she heads to the door of the garage with Wick and Zib. "Viktor, you get to ride with Paloma and Rocky. Do behave yourself."

"Be careful hermanita, don't do anything dumb!" Gabriel says, giving Paloma a hug.

"Don't hermanita me, I'm a good half an hour older than you!" She scoffs and smacks His arm. "You stay focused and ready to fight, and don't die. Last thing I need is another dead family member. Take care, all of you."

"Bye!" Ivy yells after them as they get into Rocky's car.

Paloma couldn't ignore the uneasy and queasy feeling in her stomach as they arrived at the hotel, and now she was really wishing they didn't agree to this. After what happened at that party, the last thing she wanted was to see Mordecai again. It's not like the kiss was bad, she was still feeling confused about how she should be feeling. And the fact that she kissed him back...did she actually still like him deep down despite everything? And did he even still like her.

"Hey Pal, you gotta exit the car." She hears Rocky say, thankfully interrupting her train of thought. Paloma nods as the car door opens and allows Rocky to help her out before they walk with Viktor to the entrance where Mitzi, Wick and Zib were waiting for them.

"Hey you're still looking neat!" Paloma laughs as she elbowed Zib. "Not a hair out of place!"

"Yeah well let's see how that lasts." The older man mutters as they walk into the hotel.

At the front desk was a short well dressed man with very fluffy brown fur and sporting a large marigold flower on the front of his suit.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen, I assume you're here to see Mr Sweet?" The man asks politely.

"Yes, we have the letter to prove it." Mitzi says as she removes the letter from her purse.

"Good! Now, I know we are all gangsters here, but by any chance did any of you bring any weapons? Mr Sweet asked us to confiscate them, for safety reasons."

"Please tell me you do have your revolver in your purse." Rocky whispers to Paloma.

"No, if anything I'm stealing a gun from one of these thugs if trouble arises." Paloma whispers back.

"Now, do follow me, it's impolite to keep the night manager waiting." The fluffy man says as they follow him down a few hallways until they arrive at the one place Paloma had been dreading.

"Wow, nothing changed." Zib comments and gives a small whistle. "Now...where is that old man?"

"Hush now, and there he is with his wife." Mitzi says, pointing to a table where the Sweets were seated. "I'll head over to them, you all find somewhere to sit, or go mingle and dance with folks, try not to cause any problems."

The men nod before they broke away, leaving Paloma to stand awkwardly alone. She scans the room trying to look for someone, anyone she at least knew. The only somewhat friendly faces she could see here were the Savoys, who were over at a gambling table. Serafine looks up and quickly smacks her brother before pointing in Paloma's direction. Nico's annoyed glare turns to a confused one before it lights up when he spots her, quickly abandoning his game to hurry over.

"Hey, where have you been cher? You disappeared before I could even reach the front doors of the hotel!" He says when he reaches her.

"Oh I...wasn't feeling too well, so I had to leave." Paloma says, tightening the shawl around her shoulders a little more tightly. Well, that wasn't exactly a lie.

"What a shame, I would have sent you off with a slice or two of cake to share with your siblings. So...what brings you here again? Fat man wants to recruit you again?"

"Not sure, he asked for my boss, me and anyone of our choosing to come along for whatever reason."

Nico looks around before his eyes land on Rocky and Wick at the bar. "Ah, I spot the little crazy fella from before."

"He better not have any dynamite on him." They hear Serafine say as she walks up to them and squints at Paloma before looking down at her dress. "Oh you actually got dressed up this time, surprised Nico isn't saying anything about it."

"What? I can't quietly admire her?" Her brother laughs. "She would have slapped me if I said anything."

"And you would have deserved it." Paloma scoffs.

"You seem well acquainted with her, Savoy." She hears Asa say and turns to see him approaching with Mordecai in tow. The moment their eyes locked, Paloma felt her whole face grow warm and bit back the urge to scream.

"What, am I not allowed to be friendly with someone who could become our ally in the future?" Nico asks, putting an arm around Paloma's waist. She could see Mordecai, who was looking flustered as well a few moments ago, looking quite enraged now. Wait, was he...jealous? "She was one of my...flings."

Dear god if Mordecai wasn't looking angry earlier, now he certainly was. Before he could even do anything, Paloma feels Nico quickly turn her away and move her towards the tables with Serafine in tow.

"One of your flings, are you serious?" Paloma asks once they were out of earshot.

"Well it's more believable, isn't it?" The boxer says with a shrug. "The fat man seemed to fall for it, though something tells me Peekon didn't."

"Because it sounds far-fetched and he knows." Serafine says with a scoff as she removes his hands from the younger woman's waist. "Now you best keep your hands to yourself unless you want him to shoot you like he threatened."

"He can try." Her brother laughs as they arrive at a table where the other Lackadaisy members were now seated. "So, are you going to introduce us cher?"

"Pal, please explain why the guy who tried to kill us with a car and the madwoman with the gun are with you?" Rocky groans when he spots them.

"Wait aren't you the crazy one who was throwing dynamite at everyone while commandeering a bulldozer?" Serafine asks, squinting at him.

"Oh that was fun." Nico laughs.

"Wait, you wrecked my quarry?" Wick gasps.

"Okay enough!" Paloma exclaims, smacking her hands over the Savoys mouths before they could talk. "For tonight these two are not going to do anything to us, you have my word. Right, Nico? Serafine?"

"Fine, peace for now." Serafine scoffs when the hand is removed.

"I promise if I get a kiss out of it." Nico says with a smirk before his sister smacks the side of his head. "Okay okay! Won't be starting shit with them for whatever reason!"

"Wonderful! Now let's sit and enjoy ourselves before your boss decides to make things awkward or frustrating." Paloma says as she drags them over to another table to sit at before removing her shawl.

"Peekon looked quite pissed seeing us together." Nico comments as a waiter walks by and hands him and his sister drinks. "Who would have thought?"

"It's been a while since I saw him look that angry before." Paloma admits. "Though I don't think he still has feelings for me."

"Wanna test that out now that he's close by?"

"Nico!" Serafine hisses. "Behave!"

They hear someone clear their throat behind them and turn to find Kuura looking at them nervously, sporting that red dress from before at that party.

"Hi..." She says softly as she takes a seat between Serafine and Paloma.

"Oh hi! It's been a while, how are you doing?" Paloma asks. "Oh...you don't look too well."

"I'm fine, really." Kuura assures her with a tired smile. "So, why are you here?"

"The boss invited her and her crew for whatever reason." Serafine responds. "You sure you okay?"

"Yes, very fine."

"If you say so."

"I know what he did to you." Nico whispers to Paloma.

She stiffens. "I don't know what-"

"I had to clean lipstick off him." Serafine interrupts and grins. Paloma then felt her whole face grow warm when she realized what she meant.

"Shoot me, someone shoot me please!" She groans and covers her face.

"Why?" Kuura asks, looking confused.

"She went and necked Hatchet Man." Nico snickers. "The minute I saw the red lipstick I knew that was why they spent a little too long in my room."

"Oh my god, just kill me!" Paloma groans. "That was your room?!"

"So how far did you two even get?"

"I'm not telling you that!"

"Alright enough partying!" They hear Asa yell and turn to see him looking over at them and the other Lackadaisy members. "Since our lovely friends from Lackadaisy are here, why don't you give us a little...performance. Most of you I am aware are from the band, or could at least sing."

Paloma looks over at Mitzi and Zib to see them looking annoyed and quite upset. Rocky was looking quite uncomfortable, fiddling with his hands as Viktor glared at Asa with disdain. None of them were liking this sudden attention as some of the surrounding guests watched and whispered to one another.

"Fine, I'll do it." Paloma finally says, standing up. "I can carry a tune quite well, but I'd like to have a partner on stage with me."

"Fine by me." Asa says with a shrug. "Which of your friends you want on stage?"

"How about one of your gangsters gets on stage with me? I'm sure one of them can carry a simple tune. Or are they too scared to be in the same vicinity as La Llorona, or the Devil Dove as some of you have been calling me behind my back?"

This earns her some nervous laughs from some of the other guests and a snort from some others.

"No one? Really? Are you all really that scared of me?" Paloma asks with a small smirk. "Guess even without a gun I can still scare you all."

"Fine, at least make sure it's a good performance." Asa says with a shrug. "And let's see...oh Mordecai, you can carry a tune, right?"

"I'm not doing this." The mentioned man mutters loudly.

"Aww, too scared to join me on stage?" Paloma teases. "How about one of your friends?"

"They're not my friends, we're merely-"

"Fine, I'll do it." She turns to see Nico arise from his seat after downing the last of his drink from a glass. "Since my friend doesn't seem so interested in singing. This should be fun."

"Very well, let's see if you can carry a tune." Paloma says with a shrug, allowing him to take her hand to lead her towards the stage.

----

It was hard for Mordecai to ignore the twisted feeling in his stomach as he watched Paloma and Nico climb on stage, still holding hands. They were now in deep conversation with the band That had been playing earlier before Paloma hurried off the stage to grab the violinist who came in her group and drag him to the stage where he's handed a violin.

"I didn't know the Savoy boy could sing." He hears Selena say. "Or your golden girl, Mitzi."

"Well Paloma has been known to be so full of surprises." Mitzi says with a strained smile. "A girl of many talents when she puts her mind to it."

"Maybe when your little bar goes under we can hire her as a singer." Asa says and his wife smacks his arm. "Oof! What?"

"Don't say that, why can't you be civil?" Selena says with a frown.

"Shh, they're starting." Mitzi whispers as they hear a violin start to play.

Paloma now stands at a microphone, holding onto it as she sings, swaying slightly. He almost forgot how beautiful her singing voice was, at least until Nico started to sing too. Now both their attention was on each other as they continued to sing, at one point they even started to dance together.

Mordecai felt that surge of anger and jealousy swell in him again as he watched them, especially since now Nico was holding Paloma quite close. Just as he decided he would just look away and hope these emotions would just fade off, Paloma suddenly stops singing to pull Nico down by the front of his shirt and kisses him right on the lips.

"Oh my!" Selena gasps as the two break away to continue singing. "Well, I knew she was quite bold, didn't think she'd do...that."

Mordecai felt like he had just been stabbed in the chest, he could see Mitzi looking at him in worry as he clenched his fists, attempting to calm himself down with deep breaths.

Don't get mad, she was right, I have no right being angry for wanting to be with anyone. He tries to tell himself. Maybe she had a sudden lapse in judgment, that's probably it and nothing will come of it. Maybe now Nico will leave her be and-

As the two were climbing off the stage after finishing their performance, Nico suddenly turns Paloma to face him, pulls her close and kisses her. For a moment, Mordecai felt like everything was silent, the only thing he could hear was his pounding heart. He quickly turns and bolts for the door, trying his hardest to remain looking composed. Instead of going towards the lobby, he starts to stumble towards the side exit of the hotel, through the area where the staff would come in and out of and store their things.

Mordecai stumbles out of the hotel, trying to steady his breathing as he leans against a wall for support. The still fresh memory of the two kissing was still seared into his brain, and right now he was feeling a mix of uncomfortable emotions. Grief, anger, rage. Anger at himself for being so foolish to believe that Paloma still loved him because of that kiss, anger towards Nico for knowing of his feelings and still having the gall to kiss Paloma, rage towards Nico for the same reason, it made him want to kill the man. Damn how Serafine and over half her congregation would react, the urge to physically assault and harm the man was too damn strong to ignore right now. As for grief, well, he didn't know why he was feeling that. It's not like he and Paloma still had something, perhaps it was because whatever they could have had was possibly now gone.

God and there was Kuura, he knew if he even did anything she was going to stab him. Despite her short stature, he'd seen what she was capable of with knives and other various sharp weapons, as well as her own teeth. He'd seen her stab and cut up a man before, and heard that awful story she would laugh about where she once ate someone out of desperation to not starve. Actually, he saw her with Paloma and the Savoys, she must have seen what happened, was she still there?

"Oi...you're that Heller man aren't you?" Mordecai hears someone say and glances behind him to see a raggedy looking man with black fur and a very pissed off expression.

"What do you want?" Mordecai asks, his ears flattening in annoyance.

"You killed my brother!" The man snarls.

"I've killed far too many people, you'll have to be specific."

"Herman! Tall guy with a glass eye and a New Yorker accent! You killed him for no reason! Now I'm gonna get rid of you too!"

He wasn't in the mood tonight to deal with anyone, but right now he needed an outlet for this surge of anger. Without hesitation, Mordecai whipped out his gun and fired multiple sounds right into the man, shooting at his shoulder, his leg, his chest and finally his head. At this point he didn't care if anyone heard, and it wasn't until his gun ran out of bullets did he stop. The man was now lying dead on the floor, bleeding from multiple wounds while a gun laid on the floor a foot from the body. The anger still hadn't gone away, he still felt it in his heart.

Damn it...what have I done? Mordecai thinks as he grabs the body by the arms to drag it away from the view of the street. So much for being the most level headed gangster in Marigold.

Once the body was out of sight, he decided he wasn't going back into the hotel. The last thing he needed was to see that damned man kissing her again. Mordecai then proceeds to walk away from the hotel, briskly moving and ignoring everything around him until he reached his apartment, which he quickly unlocks to enter and relocked behind him.

Once he made sure the door was locked, he then walked to the living room couch and sat down, letting out a tired sigh while removing his coat.

So much had happened in the span of an hour, his emotions were leaving him feel like a wreck, and all he could do was just bury his face into his hands and let himself cry.