Song above for chapter: "Holding Out For A Hero" --Cover by Nothing But Thieves

FEDERICO

"You have a video call from Rosetta," Domani tells me as I work the buttons on my dress shirt.

I curse under my breath. "We don't have time for her bullshit."

"You know how relentless she can be, better to deal with her now so you can focus on tonight," Domani advises.

I walk out of the bathroom and he turns the laptop toward me, hitting the unmute button.

"What?"

"Where are you, Federico?"

"Out."

Rosetta says nothing for a moment. "I assume all of your secretive dealings have to do with your estranged wife?"

"What do you want?"

She scoffs, "When were you going to tell me that your beloved wife was the one who shot you?"

"She didn't. But think what you want."

"You thought I wouldn't find out? I've been doing this a lot longer than you Rico." She stands and the screen moves with her. "Mickey held out pretty well, but in the end everyone has a breaking point." Mickey slumps in a chair, his bloodied face stares back at me.

"Sorry, Boss." His chin quivers.

"You left me no choice, Rico. Our men should not be put in a position where they keep things from the family...from me. " Rosetta says, lowering her voice.

"They're my men!" I shout and pick up the Ipad. "I already found the ones responsible for shooting me and taking Elenora. Right now, you're dangerously overstepping your position, Zia. While my men know the dangers of this life, they are not expendable to me. I found Mickey, he works for me, not you. You or your overgrown cocksuckers lay a hand on him again or any of my men, you will answer to me!" I end the call and throw the Ipad against the wall, shattering it in pieces.

"You do know that was my Ipad, right?" Domani questions. I glare over at him breathing heavy.

"I can get another one."

"Call Smiley, tell him to get Mickey away from Rosetta. Then make sure Mickey knows to lay low until we get back."

I grab my jacket and phone. "Does Duko know the plan then?"

"Yes, he said he'll be waiting for my text. He knows to give us twenty minutes to get out before the raid."

"If this goes sideways, I need you to get Elenora out and get her home. If you get caught up in the middle of it, you know what to do." Domani nods in response. As we head out, he makes the call to Smiley.

Mostro and Ciccio are waiting in the car at the front of the hotel. "I still think we should go in, Boss," Mostro tells me as Ciccio pulls away.

"No. You two will stick out and I don't need anything coming back to us, especially if she's there," I tell him. "If shit hits the fan, then you can barge in, but it will be every man for himself at that point; Duko can't be compromised trying to get us out. Whoever finds her, leaves with her. Do not stay behind for anyone. Capiche?" (do you understand?)

"Yes, boss." They agree in unison.

We pull up to the theater-like building. Several men dressed in suits ascend the steps headed toward the entrance. Domani hands me one of the masks required to keep your identity hidden. They don't want to know your face, just your organization. Domani arranged it so we are expected as Diego's associates.

Once inside, Domani and I are led to an open area with several tables. There are seats with small pedestals spread throughout the room; giving it a club-like feel.

There are cocktail waitresses handing out champagne to the guests. "What does the main guy look like?"

"Vetone, mid-forties, salt and pepper hair, gold tooth, snake tattoo on the left side of his neck, missing part of his right ear," Domani tells me, sipping the champagne.

"There he is." I find him conversing with a group of men. "Let's go."

I stand near the group while Domani waits for the opportunity to create an opening for us. A waitress walks by and Domani bumps into her, causing her to drop the tray in her hands and I get sprayed with the champagne.

"Mierda!" I curse, grabbing a napkin from a nearby table and dab at my suit. (shit)

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!" The waitress apologizes and like we planned, Vetone pulls her to the side, berating her before he hands her off to another man who takes her away.

"I apologize for the waitress's incompetence." Vetone approaches me.

"No apology needed, women are only good for one thing," I state in a fake Spanish accent which earns a smirk from Vetone.

"I couldn't agree more. Vetone," He extends his hand out. "And you are?"

"Benjamin, an associate of Diego Mendoza's." I shake his hand and then introduce Domani. "My right-hand, Gustavo."

"I was surprised to hear the Mendoza brothers were not coming. They are the main reason for the event tonight after all considering they supplied the product. But I hear they had a death in the family. Nothing is more important than family."

"I agree, but their misfortune is our gain as we are looking to negotiate with future partnerships in this business."

"It's a growing commerce and only getting better. The money's good, especially if you can combine the products that are moving. Women, drugs, children. The opportunities are limitless." He tells me, puffing his chest as he looks around. "Please join me as my guest at my table. We are about to begin. I'd like to hear your feedback on what you see and experience tonight, as your first time."

"Of course." I gesture for him to lead the way and he and another man walk to the center of the room and a couple of other men join us as we sit on a large curved sofa.

The curtains on the stage draw open and several scantily clad women, hidden under cloaks stand in the middle of the platform. Judging by how they fidget or sway, it's clear they are drugged. I scan over each of the girls, but they're too far away to be able to know if Elenora is among them.

"Good evening gentlemen, and welcome. As customary, before the purchase portion of the evening, the selective product is on display for your pleasure. Proximity is encouraged." A female voice resonates throughout the room.

Domani straightens and leans forward, also scanning and searching each of the women to find Elenora. Several men start escorting the women off the stage and spread them throughout the room, placing them on random pedestals.

I lean back to appear calm, but I'm fighting to stay under control not knowing where she is, but she's here. I can feel it.

"Vetone, as requested."

A guard walks up to us with two girls on either side of him. The hood of the cloak hides their faces from us. He places one of the girls on the left side of the table closest to Vetone and the other one in front of us.

"Thank you, Uendi." Vetone smokes his cigar, then gestures to the girls. "Gentlemen, a sample of the product we are known to obtain and have at each of our events." He pats the calf of the girl next to him and then drags his hand up behind her leg and I hope to God it's not Elenora. The girl sways and ends up almost falling off but the guard holds on to her, straightening her.

Vetone chuckles. "The effects of the relaxant they're given differs from girl to girl." Both of the girls' body language indicate that they are out of it but the one in front of us has her hands on her hips and seems to be in better control.

"Zog këngëtar, why don't you grace us with a song," Vetone asks. (Songbird)

"Do they not speak English?" Domani asks. I look over at him wondering why he made his voice so high pitched with the accent he's doing. He pulls at his collar, focusing on Vetone.

"They do, both Americans. We have all kinds of...flavors for you to enjoy: pure, clean, and slightly used." He chuckles. "Ages range from sixteen to twenty five."

"Zuskë, here," Ventone points his cigar to the girl in front of us, gesturing to the guard to remove her cloak. "She is eager to please, early twenties, slightly used, but still very good." I'm conflicted; feeling both frustrated and relieved that it isn't Elenora.

Vetone now glances at the girl next to him. "Zog këngëtar, came with no identification. We estimate between nineteen and twenty-one. She's clean, though I must give disclaimer upfront; testing we conduct alerted us that she's pregnant, but we have ways of dealing with that if she is purchased. The men nicknamed her Zog këngëtar, meaning songbird." He snaps his fingers at the girl next to him to grab her attention.

"Zog këngëtar, sing for me." He slaps her ass, causing her to jump at the contact. He snaps his fingers at the guard, who rips the cloak of her and I fight not to react at Elenora's appearance. Her makeup is heavy, but it's obvious she hasn't been eating or fed, but my mind is stuck on the revelation he shared with us.

She's pregnant.

We're having a baby.

Her eyes are vacant and dull as her gaze roams over us. There's bruising on her arms and long narrow welts on her legs and thighs, indicating she's been whipped. The champagne glass starts to shake in my hand.

Domani nudges me, when he adjusts his position on the couch, but it's his warning to control myself. Elenora's head swivels around the room, almost like she's looking for someone.

"Zog këngëtar, sing!" Vetone orders, shaking her arm to get her to focus.

Her head shifts down to him and she squints her eyes and then widens them as she stares at him. "Okay, but it won't sound good. Undies' over there, gave me too much...much too much," She slurs. Vetone laughs at the name while the guard sets his mouth in a thin line.

"Any requests?" She looks at each of us, blinking slowly. "No? Okay." She attempts to clap her hands but misses entirely and almost falls down but she catches herself, holding her hands out to balance herself.

She starts snapping her fingers and Vetone joins in with her, bobbing his head. A waitress comes by, offering the men a pastry-like dessert. Domani and I both decline and focus on Elenora as she begins to sing.

"You walked into the party, like you were walking onto a yacht

Your hat strategically dipped below one eye

Your scarf it was apricot"

"She's good, right? Maybe I'll make her a singer instead." Vetone smiles up at her and I picture breaking the glass in my hand, stabbing him in the throat repeatedly.

"You had one eye in the mirror, as you watched yourself gavotte

And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner

They'd be your partner and..."

She points at Vetone as she continues with the song and even starts to dance; others around us are now listening.

"You're so vain

You probably think this song is about you. You're so vain

I bet you think this song is about you

Don't you, don't you?"

Domani snorts. Vetone chokes on the pastry and it drops down this pant leg and onto his shoe. "Fuck!" He grabs a napkin and cleans the cream that fell on his pants.

Elenora giggles, covering her mouth and continues dancing as she hums on the platform. Vetone yanks her off of the platform and she falls forward on her knees. I glare at the other girl on the platform who laughs.

"Lick it off," Vetone orders. As much as I don't want to, I hold Domani back as he starts to move forward.

Elenora gasps when Vetone grabs her behind the neck and pushes her head down. He repeats himself slower this time. "I said lick it off."

I grind my teeth, watching as Elenora dips her head and cleans off his shoe. She wipes her mouth, sitting back on her heels, with her eyes down.

The guard leans down whispering something to her before helping her back on the platform. I tear my eyes away from him when Vetone speaks.

"Americans. They forget their place at times, but it's not hard to remind them." He leans back finishing his drink.

Domani tries to steer the conversation, but I can't help being distracted by his ridiculous accent. "Does this one sing, too? Zuskë, mean to sing or no?"

Vetone focuses on the other girl in front of us, chuckling as he winks at her. She gives him a flirtatious smile back.

"Zuskë means slut." The girl's smile fades.

Feeling satisfied at the girl's karma, I focus back on Elenora. "How does it work? How do we test the products?"

"We have rooms for you to sample."

"I'd like to sample this one." I nod my head towards Elenora.

"Of course, however, payment is required upfront," Vetone tells me, gesturing to the guard who takes Elenora away. She tries to resist but he pulls her forcefully to follow him.

"How much?"

Vetone exhales a cloud of smoke from his cigar. "Depends on what you want to sample?"

I sit back and rub my beard, appearing contemplative. "For the sake of curiosity, let's say everything."

"Three."

"Three hundred?"

Vetone laughs, "Three thousand, friend."

I let a few moments pass, as he observes me. The reality is, I'd give him everything I have.

"Done." I gesture at Domani and he takes out money from his pocket.

"Let me know what you think, she is resistant at first but she warms up after a few times." Vetone grins.

I force a smile on my face, even though I'm making a mental note of slicing the grin off his face first when I get the chance.

"I'll have someone take you to a room." He snaps his fingers and another man approaches. Vetone speaks to him in Albanian and then the man gestures for me to follow him.

I trail behind him as he leads me down a hallway and then we turn a corner. A few doors line either side of the hall; they appear to be dressing rooms.

"We watch." The man tells me in a heavy accent, pointing at the camera at the end of the hall and then shows me the camera inside the room.

Dammit. I won't be able to show myself to her yet.

Elenora is blindfolded, laying down on a mattress. It's clear the mattress is only planted in here for this specific night. The man walks out of the room and I step towards her.

Her lips are moving and as I come closer, she's whispering to herself in a chant: "I'm not a whore."

Her voice shakes and my heart hurts watching her body tremble. I kneel down beside her and reach out to touch her face but she flinches, recoiling away.

I retract my hand and wait a moment, watching her breathing heavily. Unable to hold myself back any longer, I lean down and brush my lips against hers. She whimpers, pressing her lips tight and then something hits my head.

"Fuck!" I groan.

She shoves me back and rips off her blind fold, scrunching her eyes trying to get them to adjust as she scrambles off the bed. The door bursts open and the man that led me here blocks her exit.

"We get other girl for you," He tells me, grabbing Elenora, but I shoot up from the floor and pull her back.

"No, I paid for her; she's mine," I tell him in my accent. He shoves her back at me causing her to stumble into my arms.

I wait a moment after he shuts the door as Elenora struggles against my arms. "I'm not going to hurt you, mia patatina." (my little potato)

She stops fighting, panting as she stares back at me. "Rico?" She whispers, her chin trembles and her eyes brim with tears.

"It's me, Elenora."