The summer sun shot through the window at around five in the morning. Rays of warmth and joviality highlighted the sinister smirk manifested upon Richie’s sharp features, whilst gradually dissolving the rest of the shadows in the room. The room was a fucking mess; a suffocating composition coupled with an offensive colour scheme, ridden with week old stains, overrated Russian literature whilst everything was out of place. Without being biased, it didn’t take much observation to understand exactly what the owner of this home lacked.

Perhaps, had he paid more attention, Richie Lombardi wouldn’t be sitting in his kitchen right now.

“What the-” The Russian loyalist stumbled backwards, bumping into the cabinet besides him, and rushed to pull out a gun.

It has been months that Dan wanted to do something. In the middle of the whole chaos that the city found itself into, the only thing that he could think about was how Salvatore Mancini got caught up in the middle of this whole thing. Ever since he wasn't around anymore, Dan couldn't help but feel a bit lost in the middle of the entire organization, he knew that it wasn't anything personal from any of them in there but without Sal to have his back at the Mancini meetings, it was like he was always pushed aside whenever something happened and Dan knew his place way too well to voice those kind of feelings. A part of him always knew that he was never going to be fully one of them, he was never going to be Italian and it just made the boy want to prove himself twice as much to everyone else in the room and he always found a way to do so.

The Mexican boy finished eating his cheese-burger before checking the hours at his phone, making sure that he wouldn't be a minute late for the job. The restaurant wasn't far away from where he was now, and honestly if there was something that didn't belong at all in Valence was Aleksandr's and Daniel knew how the Italians felt about intruders, it was about time that something was done about that restaurant. "Have a good night." The waitresses said as Daniel exited the front door with his skateboard on his hands, ready to meet up with the rest of the affiliates.

"I'm here." He texted one of his mates that were waiting for him as he stopped the skateboard from rolling one block away and continued by foot, not wanting to have any side looks if he made a big entrance. Dan dropped the skateboard near one of the entrances and followed all the other loyalists inside and tried not to draw too much attention to himself as he made his way to the kitchen, knowing that it was the perfect place to start a flame. 

The Mexican looked around one last time as he knew that it would be the very last time this place would look presentable and then he began his part of the job. "Let's go." He heard someone shouting and that was their cue to leave the place before the fire got out of control and they lost someone that evening. Dan was on his way out before he saw a girl struggling with some of the towels that was on fire near her.

"Don't set yourself on fire." He joked as he helped her get out from her own trap without any harms. The girl offered him a silent smile before she made her way out of the restaurant following the rest and so did Dan, as he tried to make sure that no one - specially Mancini associates, were being left behind by accident but the chaos did take place at what once was a Russian restaurant incredibly fast and soon the entire thing would be on the ground, just like it always should've been. 

People began to split and make their way back to wherever they came from, or where they had to be and Dan spotted Lia ahead of him but he figured that it wasn't a good time for a chat. The work was still not done, Dan had to make sure that he never left his home, nothing ever happened and no one saw anything. "Oh shit." He said as he noticed a curtain on fire next to his skateboard, and quickly tried to remove one of his favourite belongings from the fire and burned his hand a little while doing so. "Great." He murmured to himself as the burning sensation took place on his left hand. Daniel looked around one more time before he got on his skateboard and went back to his apartment, leaving the burning restaurant behind but not unharmed by the flames.

Maya stood there hand gently laying on the gun holstered gun on her hip. A rare occurrence but because she wasn't expecting a direct threat she didn't feel the need to keep it in her hands. After all, they and many others in Brenton were currently the threat. The threat to the Russians. One that she was happy to oblige.

"If they start going bat shit crazy you know we're gonna have to step in right," Maya said softly as she spoke into the Bluetooth headset to Alex who was positioned at another point at the docks. "I'm really hoping they don't though because I promised Adrienne I'd be at the event for her speech."

Promises. She really needed to stop making them because they always seemed to get her in trouble. The plus of going to the event was also seeing Aurelie - she was worried about the woman and hoped that things were slowly getting better. Hoped that the destruction of the Russians -would soothe some of the pain that raged inside her.

It had been longer than one might have expected since she’d felt the rush of taking a life with her own hands.

Whilst she did not miss as a whole the time before she’d assumed control of the Sovrani, being without the title of ‘boss’ had offered many perks she no longer enjoyed. Even as the daughter of one of the city’s most notorious criminals, she’d revelled in a certain anonymity that was no longer viable given her position.

Now, murder had consequences. Ones that a leader would be selfish to risk facing when she had people lining up to get their hands dirty for her.

But this time had been different.

This particular attack required a personal touch; attention the woman wouldn’t have trusted with even her closest and most brutal confidants. It was blood to be shed by her, and her alone. For once, she could say ‘to hell’ with the repercussions, and mouths that dared condemn her for it would be wired shut.

The cold metal of the crowbar in her hands was a stark contrast to the white hot anger that had left her swinging until her victim was little more than bloodied pulp.

Blow after bone-shattering blow she struck, with a strength she’d almost forgotten she possessed. The wails of agony after she’d taken their knees would be sweet enough to sustain her through whatever turmoil the future held. Even those who watched on, fully aware of an evil within that could direct such actions with no remorse, seemed to have neglected the knowledge she had once been one of them. One of those who could inspire fear for reasons other than power…

Perhaps she still did.

“Maybe it’s time to go, boss,” a timid voice suggested from well behind her.

How long had she been staring at the corpse with bittersweet amusement?

She should have felt an animal for finding such relief in this, but she didn’t.

“Alessia, the event…” Sergio tried again to lure his boss away from the compromising position.

The event.

Galas such as these had become so monotonous over the years. Alessia had quickly gone from caring about the causes and the difference the money of those she despised could make, to simply attending to avoid the plague of bad press. To keep up the facade—now so transparent it was offensive—that she was a normal and legitimate businesswoman, just like the rest of them.

When the French had approached with the idea of making it, in contrast to the norm, an event to remember for all the right reasons, she soon realized that this time would be different.

The Russians would be forced to face the fact that for the first time in history, Launceston was setting aside differences that had decades divided it to destroy a common enemy.

Them.

Finally tearing her dark eyes from the mangled corpse they were so enjoying, Alessia looked down at her hands, sticky with dirty blood. It was a shame she couldn’t walk into Echelon smeared with the stuff like war paint, but for appearances sake…a nice dress and some heels.

“Do something with this,” she finally spoke, handing off the crowbar to her employee with no further instruction. “I need to get ready for tonight.”

Alessia took one final look around the room, as she wrapped her scarf around the lower half of her face.

It was amusing to her. They could live like royalty all they wanted, but they would always die like the animals they really were in the end.

“Don’t set fire to the place until you get word from me or Lombardi. Anyone comes snooping around, tie them up, and let them burn. I don’t care who it is.”

Margaux St. Clair was a vision of beauty and power all wrapped up in satin and pearls. Tonight would be a night filled with champagne, money, and revenge. A permanent smile was placed on her face and would remain there for the entirety of the night and even more important, it was genuine. For the first time since arriving in Launceston, Margaux had a reason to smile. For the first time in what she suspected was a long time, the Russians were going to be punished beyond belief.

When she had first been told of the plan, it seemed trivial and weak. What would bringing down one prostitution ring do? It wasn’t as though they were obliterating the practice all together or even retaliating in kind for what they had done to her niece. The more Margaux thought about it though, the more appealing the plan sounded. Prostitution meant money and money meant keeping the Russian organization running. Without money, Aleksandr would have no way in keeping those under his thumb appeased. The Russians ran on fear and money, much like the French. The major difference was that the Russians couldn’t control with fear alone. Their people were proven to be less than loyal in times of desperation.

Margaux swept around the ballroom with enough grace to put even the most elegant people to shame. She was looking for one person in particular. She wanted to see the look on Alexsandr’s face tonight. She wanted to see him come to the conclusion that his empire was beginning to crumble. It was just as she spotted him that Adrienne began to speak. Her sister-in-law was hosting the memorable event and even Margaux had to give her credit. Everything was perfect.

Jean stepped up behind her, leaning in close to her ear. He was her eyes, her ears, her source of all information. He waited for Adrienne to finish her speech before uttering the words Margaux had wanted to hear all night. “C’est fait.” The smile on her face grew into one of pure, undiluted malice. The LCPD had finally done their job. It would be a mere matter of hours before the news got out that they had taken down one of the infamous prostitution rings. There would be mayhem in the Russian ranks. All of this only fueled Margaux’s joy.

"Daddy has to go off to work." The Italian said as he bent down and kissed both Katie and Dominic on the head before nodding a goodbye at the babysitter.

His hand resting on the holstered gun as he picked up the 'go back' and started out the front door and towards the black pickup truck. 

He'd received the text thirty minutes ago that he was needed. A surprise to him, but nonetheless he was more than grateful to help. The Italian made the fifteen-minute drive to the department before sliding into the door and making his way up the stairs where they were all to meet to be briefed. 

Twenty minutes later they loaded into black SUV. Twenty-five men suited up and ready to move. Nate leaned forward in the back seat head falling forward as his hands gripped the shot gun a little tighter. 

There should have been a bit of fear rolling through his body, but there wasn't. For this moment was as important as running into a burning building. The cars slammed to a stop.

Doors flew open. 

Nate climbed out of the truck quickly before stepped forward and making his way towards the front of the line. One thing was always true about the Mancini loyalists.

He was always a leader.

A hand touched his shoulder giving him the go. 

"On three." 

One. Two. Three. 

The Italians foot came up fast and hard slamming against the door hard enough that it splintered off the door hinges. With the door open the men rushed in, guns high fingers on the trigger. Nate's voice boomed into the room.  

"Police! Police! Nobody move."  

The officer maneuver throughout the room around men who were barely clothed, skinny, and worn out women shook with fear. Nate started towards the back of the building towards the other rooms. Everything seemed to move slower now as Nate took it all in. Everything that he was seeing was foreign to his eyes. This wasn’t how women should be treated. Like animals. Like slaves. Nate swallowed back the bile in his throat. This was why he hated the Russians. Nate needed to take a deep breath. Needed to pull himself together and finish this job. 

Stopping at a closed door he turned the handle before entering quickly. The gun in his hand pointed at the naked man and woman who were having sex. The officer quickly holstered his gun before walking forward quickly hands grabbing a hold of the man as he pulled him off of him roughly and threw him against the wall. 

"You're under arrest." Nate continued to read the man his rights before handing him off to the other officer. Turning slightly Nate cautiously moved towards the petite blonde with curly hair and big eyes. Her hands were wrapped around her knees covering her breast. Nate knelt down as he lifted the white sheets and covered her with it. "Ssssh It's okay. You're safe now." 

She couldn’t understand him. The wide terrified eyes told him that. They had taught them a phrase before they had gathered into the truck. They all had said it aloud a few times. Now Nate fought to remember it. 

“Вы 'теперь снова в безопасности. Все нормально,” Nate said softly as he lowered his voice and used a tone that was reserved for Katie. The father inhaled a slow shaky breath as he repeated the words. “Вы 'теперь снова в безопасности. Все нормально .”

" что вы будете имя?" She questioned though Nate barely caught the question with how thick her accent was. It hadn’t needed to speak Russian to know what she had asked him. 

"Zampella. Officer Nathaniel Zampella and I promise you, you're never going to have to go through any of this again." 

Nate held his hand out for her to take before leading her towards the awaiting paramedics. After he was sure she was safe he slipped back into the room and quickly texted Angelo. 

A booming voice that crashed the silence like thunder filled her ears. He was barking orders and the woman all straightened up remarkably quickly for the haphazard way they were doing things moments later. Gray clenched onto her bag tighter, waiting till the man and the line of four girls was gone before she dared venture anywhere. She had been waiting a hour at best now and she couldn't take it anymore. She felt claustrophobic in the dimly lit house, choked by the smoke and humid nature of the place. A door cracked open at the end of the hall casted out a small glimmer of light into the hall, and she cautiously poked it open further.

While she was meant to be waiting for a direct line of order, she saw a girl sitting on the window seat in the room. She was curled up, a tiny little jean skirt exposing bare skinny legs. An over sized jacket concealed whatever she was or was not wearing, and Gray frowned as she took in the disheveled appearance from her spot in the doorway. "Excuse me," she tried, clearing her throat.

The girl startled, whirling around with wide blue eyes. Matted blonde hair followed to smeared makeup and a shinning bruise on the woman's cheek. She looked much younger than the majority Gray had seen. "I'm fine," the girl insisted, her tone sharp as she furiously wiped at the remaining tears. "Who the hell are you?" Her tone was too off to suggest it was her usual manner, and Gray gave a thought before she finally stepped into the room; fishing a notebook from her bag and holding it up. The girl immediately held up her hands. "I don't talk to the press." "I'm not with the paper," Gray reassured, moving to sit beside the woman. "It doesn't really matter who sent me. "I'm here to hear you out." The woman's expression remained shocked; nervous fingers twitching as she grabbed at the hem of the jacket and adverted her eyes. "Why would anyone want my story?" she asked, her words a mere whisper.

Gray frowned, her heart breaking for her and for the many that were forced into this. It was why she was there trying to provide comfort and a chance for them to tell their stories. It was a new venture by the law firm and one that would hopefully sink the Russian's god awful human trafficking business. She felt her stomach twist uncomfortably as she reminded herself very gently that this was not the safest place to be aimlessly wandering into and prying for answers. Thus far no one had outright bothered her, but she had also tried to blend in with the shadows of the filthy building. Reaching out a hand, Gray put it on the woman's shoulder. "Because you matter," she answered simply. "What has happened to you is disgusting and we want people to know. We want to make sure you can get out of here and get your life back on track. We'll do what we can to help ok? But you have to talk to me."

When Ji had received the assignment from one of the many Frenchmen she saw from time and time, she knew immediately that this one was different. For one, the messenger was someone higher up. He held himself differently than the lowlifes Ji usually dealt with. He also made it extremely clear to her that this was of the upmost importance and secrecy, almost to the point where if she had let the information get out, it would have been her head under the guillotine. She had wasted no time in bringing the job to Euna. It was going to be night to remember and one that the entirety of the Saints would enjoy together. 

Three weeks after the initial contact, Ji now found herself standing beside Euna at the Brenton docks. The place smelled of rotten fish and rotten Russian. She wrinkled her nose in an attempt to rid herself of the scents. Ji canted her head to the side, addressing her superior. “Don’t you just hate this place, unnie?” She said it with a smile on her face, as though it amused and disgusted her at the same time. 

Euna looked sideways at her, expression unreadable. It was moments like these that reminded her why Euna was their representative. She burned beneath her façade, a sort of silent terror that would scare even the bravest of fools. 

“I hate the people who make their money here.”

Arms and drugs moving through the place sounded rather much like business. But people? Young women, like herself and Ji, were being transported like damn commodities.

The thought absolutely made Euna want to vomit. 

The plan was simple enough. Blow up the docks. It would incapacitate the Russian trafficking businesses, both drugs and women. It would also make them look like idiots, a thought that thoroughly delighted Ji. She liked nothing more than to make people look like fools and this was the ultimate prize. Plus, they would get to enjoy a little show along with their work and of course the money they would receive from the French was like icing on the cake. 

“Do you think everyone is ready?” 

They had decided to break the work up among the neighborhoods. The Krick gang was opposite herself and Euna, down at the other end of the docks, while Emerson took the middle. This way they would be sure to cause as much devastation to the dock possible. Everyone had been itching to complete this job for weeks now. Ji hardly thought they would be anything but ready. Still, she deferred to Euna out of respect and the fact that Ji was not running the show. She had been one messenger and now a participant but there were others who would give the signal. 

“We will soon find out, yes,” Euna responded. 

The tiny woman took a deep inhale. 

Luckily, unlike most of the Koreans she worked alongside, patience was most certainly a virtue the Representative possessed.

Five minutes seemed like an eternity to Ji, however, who paced back and forth for a time before coming to stand next to Euna once more. The two stood a safe distance away from the chaos that was about to ensue. 

“Now? Now can we?” She did nothing to disguise the impatience in her voice.  

Euna looked up to the sky, as though deep in thought about something profound. It took everything Ji had not to shake her. A few more seconds. A few more painstaking seconds before Euna looked at her. She tilted her head to the side, and smiled gently.

There was the signal.

“Now, Ji.”

In an instant, the sky before them lit up. The sound was deafening but that did nothing to deter the joy that spread throughout Ji’s soul. It was a spectacle. They had placed the bombs near large oil drums, which threw flaming oil over everything within an impressive radius. Pieces of wood flew in the air. It was like a scene out of a movie, only you were in the movie and were the culprits. Ji laughed out loud, unable to contain herself. It was a beautiful sight. 

She could hear the other explosions down to her left and knew that their friends were having just as much fun as they were. Oh how they would celebrate once they got back home. Ji was sure no one would sleep for days. It was an adrenaline high that wasn’t likely to subside for quite some time. Finally they were allowed to have some unbridled, unabashed fun. 

“Want to go meet up with the others, unnie? I’m sure they’re already throwing a party.”

As Euna watched the flames rain down overhead, she pulled her cardigan around her small frame; it seemed the chill of the night air was not soothed by their destruction. This pay-off would be impressive, and she’d known that from the moment she had accepted. But for a brief moment—neglecting to hear Ji’s words about whimsical partying—she wondered. If they could no longer get their women here via the docks, what new lows would they go to, to protect their income..?