"Tristan, I need to go to my apartment tomorrow. I need more clothes." Eva says that night as they go back to their room.

Tristan sighs and swallows heavily. "Eva, would you consider moving in with me? I know you haven't given me an answer about being my girlfriend yet, but would you think about it?"

Eva looks at Tristan with a smirk, "You are the one that told me to not answer you about being your girlfriend before the gala dinner. Now you want me to move in? Won't that be more than a little awkward if I tell you no on being your girlfriend?"

Tristan looks down, "Yeah, it would. It's just your apartment is small. Too small for the girls and you and besides, you already need Elenia's help with the girls. I was just hoping you'd stay full time." Tristan blushes.

"There was a reason you didn't want me to answer you before the gala, Tris, but it was your reason, not mine. I've been ready to answer you since our second date. Would you like the answer to that question now, or do you still want to wait for the gala in three days?" Eva hides her mirth at Tristan's indecision. She knows that he wants her. He hasn't let her sleep in her room since he got back. Not that she's wanted to. She doesn't get nightmares while Tristan is holding her.

Without Tristan her sleep is riddled with nightmares. The last few days have dredged up a lot of horrible memories for her. She's relived every single day of her youth, those that she could remember, at least. The memories of the rapes wake her up shaking and sweating, stinking of fear. When that happened after a nap Tristan informed her that she won't be sleeping in her room, at least not alone.

Honestly, Eva was relieved. Even awake the memories intrude at the worse possible times.

Tristan says something and it pulls Eva away from her thoughts. She's more than thankful about it too. "Sorry, Tris, lost in my thoughts. What did you just say?"

"I said, my reasons still stand." Tristan gently caresses her face, "Tomorrow we'll go dress shopping instead of the day of our date."

Eva shakes her head, "No, I really do need to get the rest of my clothes. It's not good to leave the apartments empty without being seen going into them for very long. Mine is more secure than most, because of those that live there, but it's still a good idea for me to be seen going in tomorrow."

Tristan is less than pleased but he can't force her to make the decision he wants or he'll lose her completely. Sighing he says in defeat, "Very well. I have some business I can deal with while you do that. I just want you to take not just RJ, but either Tom or Lassiter as well. Preferably Lassiter since he's familiar with the area and friends with Jamie."

Eva is less than thrilled to have even more security, but also more than a little relieved. She has a weird vibe about things and it makes her more than a little leery about going to her apartment. "Alright. I'll take RJ and Lassiter. You do realize that will take away precious time that he should be preparing for his last fight the next day, right?"

Tristan smirks at her. "Aren't you the one that said he doesn't need to prepare?"

"Ah, you are twisting my words around." Eva says stifling her laughter.

All amusement leaves as they open Tristan's door and there's a female in his bed. A half naked female at that. Eva is less than pleased. She shuts the door silently and watches to see what Tristan will do.

"Who the fuck are you and why the hell are you in my room?" Eva has never seen Tristan so angry. Not even when Elenia came unannounced and unwanted to the house. Eva, grabs his arm to keep him from advancing on the female now cowering on his bed.

Tristan looks back at Eva and something happens. He shakes his head and lets the anger go. He can't let his rage out in front of Eva. Not if he wants to keep her by his side. Once he has himself under control he turns back to the terrified female.

"Let's try this again, who the fuck are you and why are you in my room?"

The female is terrified and can only look at Tristan with wide fear filled eyes.

"Tris, will you let me question her?" Eva asks more than a little diffidently. She doesn't want to set Tristan off again.

Tristan gives  the unknown female a hard glare before turning to Eva and softening his gaze. "Yes, you seem to be able to get answers out of those that are trained to resist torture."

Eva moves in front of Tristan, but when she goes to move closer to the female Tristan stops her. Making eye contact Eva holds it as she softly questions the female. "Who are you?"

The female desperately wants to break contact with the one questioning her, but she can't seem to be able to do so. She answers the question, "My name is Gina. My master brought me here and told me that I have to seduce and kill Mr. Wederer or he'll kill me and my child."

At first Eva could feel Tristan tense up but at that last he relaxes just a bit, not completely but enough that Eva knows that he's not going to harm the girl before her.

"How did you get in this room? Tristan keeps it locked and only a few people have a key."

Gina looks at her wide eyed with fear. "M-my m-master had a key and opened the door." Eva can feel Tristan tense up once more. Only the most trusted of his men and Eva have a key. He has another traitor amongst his lieutenants.

"What is the name of your master?" Eva knows that Tristan is impatient for this information.

There is fear that overtakes Gina with that question and she starts quivering on the bed. "M-mason. That's the only name I know him by. I only heard him called that by others though. He told me if I called him anything but master he would h-hurt me."

Eva shakes off Tristan's restraining hand and goes to the girl that couldn't be much younger than she herself is. She holds the girl until she stops shaking.

"How did you become Mason's slave?" Eva asks gently stroking the girl's back, they no longer have eye contact.

"My parents owed Mr. Wederer a great deal of money six years ago." Tristan stiffens up again. He'd just taken over the mafia at that time and had abolished slavery. Before that many that owed him money would offer up their children or even their wives as payment for what was owed.

"Master said that he would take me and the debt would be paid. My parents agreed and I was taken by master." Gina replies in a much younger voice, that of a young child that she'd been.

"How old were you then, Gina?" Eva was doing her best to remain passive at Gina's words, but is having a hard time doing so. How could her parents do that to their child?

"I was twelve. Master took me to some place that had a bed and started my lessons. After that, I was in his bed whenever he was home. At times he would have people over and had me share their beds.

"He thinks that my child is his, but it isn't. He had a party almost a year ago and had one of Mr. Wederer's men take me to a room. He is the father of my child."

"How do you know that?" Eva asks her voice gentle trying to calm the girl even more.

"The man looks much like Mr. Wederer but has golden eyes. My daughter has the eyes of her father."

Eva looks up sharply at Tristan. "Tom, the child is Tom's child, Tristan, and that bastard Mason is threatening her life."

"Gina," Eva waits until Gina looks up at her. "Why are you covered in bruises? There are many faint ones but several are only days old." Eva knows well how to judge the age of bruises, having had many in her past.

Tristan pays closer attention then to what Eva says and finally notices the bruising covering the young lady. His temper is beyond soaring at this point and it's only Eva's presence that is keeping him from letting out his rage.

"I refused Master when he ordered me to seduce and kill Mr. Wederer. He beat me nearly senseless. Then after letting me heal a week he ordered me to do it again and I again refused. So he beat me a second time. But the third time he took my Calli and told me if I don't do it that he'll kill her and me. Please, I had no choice." Gina turns from Eva to Tristan with that last part.

Eva looks at Tristan he nods.

"You are not to blame for this. Your child will be found. Does the father of your child know about her?"

Gina shakes her head. "No, he thinks that I was just a whore my master brought in to entertain my master's guests. He has no idea that I am my master's slave. Master has threatened me if I tell any one." With that last bit she is confused. Why would he need to hide the fact that she is a slave? It's well known that slavery was accepted by the mafia when she was taken as payment.

"I abolished slavery when I took over. Your master was well aware of this fact. He betrayed me by taking you as a slave and didn't want to be caught. The father of your child would have told me if he'd known. Don't worry, Gina, we will retrieve your daughter from Mason and you will be freed. As a matter of fact, consider yourself free as of now."

Eva holds the now crying girl close to her and lets her cry out her relief. She knows just how the girl feels.

"I've ordered Mason to be brought here and a room across from mine to be prepared for her. There will be a crib brought in for the baby. Tomorrow when you go to your apartment stop at the store and get things for Gina and her child. I think I'll send Tom with you as well." Eva nods, she's not surprised at Tristan increasing her security even more now. Three of his most trusted have proven to be traitors within the last two weeks. It must come as a severe blow to him.

Gina looks at Eva then Tristan with disbelief being taken over with hope. "You'll get my baby back?"

"Yes, and you'll live here until you are able to live on your own and wish to leave. We'll get you signed up for online schooling tomorrow." Tristan says and a knock stops him from continuing. "The maid, Anita, will take you to your new room and get you something to wear. There is a bathroom attached to your room, feel free to use it. If you are hungry you are welcome to ask for food or anything else you wish. Consider yourself a guest here for as long as you wish."

Eva helps the stunned woman get off the bed and to the waiting maid. She can't believe the change in her life after six long years of hell.