Rowan Marino

Time passed, minutes that felt like hours. Lucas, Theodore, Scarlett and I sit in my office trying to think through every possible angle. Ideas are thrown out, shot down, and tossed aside in frustration.

I've promised Scarlett to get them back. I have to keep my word.

"We could trace his movements, see if he's been spotted anywhere unusual." Theodore suggests, but even he knows it's a weak idea. We would be caught.

Marco Rodriguez isn't the type to leave a trail. He covers his tracks well.

"We don't even know where he keeps them, if we go in blind, we could be walking into a trap." Lucas says his voice tight with frustration.

Scarlett crosses her arms, the fear never leaving her face. "He wouldn't just hide them anywhere. He's too paranoid for that." She says then takes a seat on the table, leaning on her arm.

"He's also desperate." I add. Leaning back on my chair. Trying to think of every place her father might go to.
"That bastard is in debt, he wants money. But this is more than just that. He's using them to control us."

Scarlett nods. "He has always had control. Over me...my sister and..." It's like something clicks in her eyes. Like an idea.

"My mother." Scarlett stands back up, as if she's found a way.
"If I could just talk to her, find a way to put a..."

"Hidden mic!" We both say at the same time.
That's my girl. A smart fucking woman.

"She can help us with this. If I can get her to plant a mic in their house, we can listen. Maybe it'll lead us to Anthony and Asuka." She says so sure of her mom.

"I'm not sure she'll do this though." I admit. She's talked about her mom a lot, and their about relationship. To me, it sounds like a bad idea to try to convince her.

"I have to try. She's my only option right now." She says.

I nod. "Alright. Let's go. I'm coming with you." I say reaching out, my hand brushing her arm.

She shakes her head. "No, she won't talk if you're there. She's already scared of dad, you being there would make it worse." She says.

Shit.

I nod knowing there's no point in arguing. She's going either way. "Fine but I won't let you go in there i unprotected. Lucas will follow, just in case." I say.

With Lucas there I'll feel better about not going with her. I know he'll protect her with his life.

She calls her mom and puts her on speaker.

"Scarlett?" She says shocked that her daughter called her.

"Mom. I need you to meet me." She says simply.

There's a pause.

"I don't know, Scarlett. I'm not sure your father would like that." She says and I roll my eyes. Scarlett however seems to recognise this behaviour from her mother.

"He's not going to know. We'll meet somewhere safe, you don't even have to be gone for long. Please mom, it's important." She says.

There's another long pause, but I hear her shift on the other end of the line.
Finally she speaks.
"Send me the location." She says.

Scarlett tells her the location of a small cafe not far away from here.

Scarlett and Lucas leave, while me and Theodore prepare the check on 10 million.

If we can't find her friends in 24 hours I'll have to give Marco the money. But what difference does that make? He'll kill the friends either way.
We've got to find them before that happens.

________________________________

Scarlett Mila Marino

The cafe is small. I sit in a corner booth, my hands wrapped around a cup of tea.  I'm too anxious to drink it.

Finally the door creeks open, and I see her. My mother.
She walks in, her eyes darting around as if she's expecting someone to jump out and confront her.

She looks the same as I remember. Fragile, tired, like a woman worn down by years of fear.

She gives me a small, nervous smile and she sits down across from me. Her hand fidgeting with the strap of her purse.

"Thank you for coming mom." I say.

She nods but I can see the fear in her eyes. "What...what's going on?" She asks.

I take a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I need you to help me stop dad."

Her eyes widen and she immediately starts shaking her head. "Scarlett, I can't..."

"Mom listen to me," I interrupt, my voice firm but pleading. "He's going to hurt my friends. Asuka and Anthony are in danger. Mom please, don't let them down." I beg.

Har face pales, and she looks down at her hands, trembling in her lap.
She loves my friends. Probably more than me. She saw us grow up together. She played and took care of them when they were kids, she can't just let them...die. She has to do something...anything to save the ones she once cared about.

"I...I don't know what I can do. He watches everything. If he finds out I helped you—"

"He won't know," I say quickly. "You just need to plant this in the house." I reach into my bag and pull out the small mic Rowan gave me.

"It's tiny, he'll never notice it. I just need to know what he's planning and where he keeps them." I say.

She stares at the mic, thinking. For a moment I think she's going to refuse. I wouldn't blame her. She's spent years under his control, terrified of what he might do if she ever disobeyed him.

But then...something shifts in her eyes. Her gaze meets mine, and for the first time, I see a flicker of determination.

"Where...Where do I put it?" She asks, her voice barley audible.
Relief flood through me and I quickly explain where to hide it.

"Are you sure about this?" She asks, her voice trembling again.

I nod, my heart pounding. "I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important. I need you mom. Please."

She nods and takes the mic from my hands. "I'll do it."

"Thank you." I breathe.

She glances around. "I should probably go before he notices I'm gone."

I stand up and hug her, feeling her stiffen in my arms before she relaxes slightly. It's been a while since I've hugged my mother, I've missed it. "I love you mom." I say.

"Love you too, Scarlett."

I watch her go and immediately pull up my phone. I text Rowan.

- It's done.

Lucas walks in. "So how'd it go?" He asks.

"Just like planned. Now we wait." I say as we head back to the car.