August 28, 1929

Daphne shivered and tried to make herself unobtrusive. Sharing a car with the NYPD's Deputy Chief was nothing if not nerve-wracking. The man in question, Vincent Alzey, seemed like a down-to-earth, pleasant man—he had slung his jacket into the backseat, and was wearing his blue uniform shirt with his sleeves rolled up—but he had barely spoken to her since they got in the car, and the prolonged silence was making her nervous. Finally, he spoke, looking in the rear-view mirror at the squad cars following them. "Are you sure you're alright, miss?"

She blinked at him. "Me…? Oh, I'm fine. Just worried about Mr. Eraclea and Mr. Beretta."

He offered her a reassuring smile. "You don't have to worry. If they're at the Eraclea building, my men can get them out just fine. And thanks to the information you gave us, we might finally be able to bring Delphine herself into custody."

"Hmmm."

They drove on in silence after that, through streets lined with buildings of increasing opulence. The Eraclea Building was set apart from these by its hourglass-emblazoned doors and by the two burly guards standing in front of it. They both appeared startled at the sight of no less than twelve police cars pulling up in from of them.

Vincent flung open the car door and strode up to the doors. "Police! We have a warrant, stand aside." The guard on the left clenched his fists and started forwards, but the other one stopped him. As the police trooped in, Daphne joined them.

Inside, it was surprisingly quiet. An expensive-looking table had been knocked over in an apparent struggle, sending the bowl of fruit on it crashing to the floor. A group of men stood in the corner; they had plainly been heading to the door on the other end of the room when they spotted the police. Someone in the back of the building screamed suddenly, making Daphne wince.

At Vincent's command, his officers surged forward to collar the men; being clearly outnumbered, they didn't put up much of a fight. While they questioned them, Daphne settled herself into a chair with a sigh. Her head hurt. Bored, she glanced down the hall, only to twitch in shock at the sight of a familiar head of white hair. "Mr. Eraclea?"

As he came into view, with Luciola by his side and holding Alvis by the hand, Daphne realized with horror that he was splattered with blood and, strangely, carrying a violin case in his hand. When he spoke, it was very quiet. "Yeah, it's me. What are you doing here?"

She looked from him to Luciola, who was if possible bloodier. "Your clothes…"

Vincent came up to them, eyes narrowed in suspicion. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

Luciola shivered, but met his gaze. "Officer…" His eyes flickered to the name embroidered on his uniform. "Officer Alzey, please send your men up to the top floor. There's a dead man there, and Delphine has escaped. We think we know where she's heading."

The Deputy Chief glared at him and motioned one of his men over. "Where?"

Dio did not look at him. "By the docks. We're not sure where. We can look, but we need you to do something for us. Take Alvis to her home for us, okay?"

The little girl looked up at him with wide, nervous eyes. "Are you sure?"

Dio smiled at her. "Yeah. These cops are good people; they won't let anyone hurt you. We'll get your parents back before you know it."

Vincent looked at his men, most of whom were busily handcuffing the men that had just been questioned, and sighed. "We can get her on charges of kidnapping Miss Alvis and illegal importation of intoxicating spirits, but we'll have to search this place to come up with evidence for more. I wish Alex was here; he's a real bloodhound when it comes to sniffing out mobsters. I'll need all my men to go through this building, and after what she's been through I won't trust just anyone with Alvis. Do you know anyone who could come pick her up and take her home?"

Daphne spoke up. Her voice trembled only a little. "I don't have a car, but I could make a call to Miss Head. She's been taking pretty good care of her; we can definitely trust her to pick her up—and I'm pretty sure she's not at work today."

Vincent shrugged and waved her off. "Go find a phone, then."

He walked away to supervise his men. Once he was out of earshot, Daphne's curiosity could no longer be contained. "Why did you go off and leave me without a word? I was worried about you, boss! And what—what happened to you?"

As she reached for his arm, Dio pulled away. "We'll tell you when we get back. We have things to do. Watch Alvis for us, please."

He walked out of the building, leaving her standing there. Alvis looked up at her. "They wouldn't tell me where they were going, either."

She shook her head sadly. Deep in her heart, she prayed they would come back from whatever they were doing safe and sound.

&

The car ride was very quiet. Dio sat in his usual seat on the passenger side, willing Luciola to look at him. Please. Am I so horrible to you that you can't even look at me? What did I do? "Why did you leave me alone?" He didn't realize how he sounded until the words were already out of his mouth, and immediately felt his face heat up. I sound pathetic.

Luciola swallowed audibly. "I…I was worried about you. I didn't want to put you in danger, sir."

He glared at him. "And what about you? Do you think your life is worth nothing to me? Luciola, you could have died in there! And then…" He shivered. Without him, I don't know what I'd do. I couldn't stand to lose him. He reached out and put a hand on his arm. "Don't ever do that to me again."

The older boy pulled away. His face was red. "I won't. Just…let me concentrate on driving for now, alright?"

That's right. If she's having the Hamiltons make drugs for her, she'll be at the warehouse she owns. We need to hurry, so… "Pull over. I'll drive."

Luciola blinked at him in shock, even as he followed what had unquestionably been an order. "Why?"

They got out and switched seats. Dio buckled himself into the driver's seat and started to smile faintly. It just figures that the only time I get to drive Luce's car is in a situation like this. "You're too cautious. We need speed." He patted Luciola's knee in mock sympathy. "Don't worry. I won't damage your precious car too much."

Luciola blushed and glanced out the window. "Umm…"

Dio stared at him. He's blushing? Why, because I touched him? Is he really attracted to me? Is this what he's been hiding from me? "You know, you don't have to—"

Luciola cut him off. "Please. Just…drive."

Dio slammed his foot down on the gas pedal and took off, weaving in and out of traffic. He was fairly sure he blew through several red lights, and he knew the other drivers were cursing him out as he cut them off, but he didn't care. He couldn't even enjoy driving; he was too preoccupied. We'll have to fight Delphine's thugs, or maybe Delphine herself. I'll have to be careful with my bullets; I might need to kill her. He shivered. My own sister. No…she's not my sister anymore.

The warehouse by the docks was deserted, save for the cars parked outside. Many of the windows were boarded up, and the one door was padlocked. Dio screeched to a stop in front, allowing Luciola to slump forward with a groan. "Dio…never, ever do that again."

He flashed a smile at him. The adrenaline had done its work; he felt exhilarated. "Let's go."

He broke the padlock with a few good blows from the stock of his gun, and entered the warehouse to be met by a fusillade of bullets. Dio dove behind a packing crate and returned fire, while Luciola scrambled for cover. When the screams stopped, Dio raised his head. Two dead men lay sprawled on the concrete floor, in pools of their own blood. Luciola walked out from behind a stack of crates, unsheathing his knives. "It'll get worse from here. Can you cover me?"

Cover? He felt his face heat up. I know what he means, but… "Sure."

More men poured out of the upper catwalk, all bearing guns. Before they could stop and aim, Luciola was moving. Dio had no time to think; he just braced the gun against his hip and fired as he ran forward, mowing his enemies down and miraculously not hitting Luciola with any bullets. The men were bleeding, and he wasn't sure if it was from his bullets or Luciola's knives. Eventually, the coast was clear, and they moved up the stairs and into the upper level, where Dio knew Delphine kept her equipment.

Something bubbled ominously in a large vat in the center of the room, but Dio didn't have time to check it out before the lone guard opened fire. Luciola slammed into him, knocking him flat and pressing a knife to his throat. "Where are the Hamiltons?"

The guard gazed up at them, eyes filled with fear. "Those two? The boss's been keeping 'em in one of the back rooms, where the drug labs are." The knife dug in, drawing a drop of blood, and his eyes widened. "Hey…Marco, old buddy, come on. You wouldn't really—"

He would. Dio winced and stepped back from the spray of blood. "Luce, you didn't really have to do that. Now your clothes are all bloody, and we'll stick out like sore thumbs when we try to leave."

Luciola sighed. "My suit's already ruined; it can't possibly get worse."

He began to walk away, and Dio followed. Luciola… "You should think about things like that. We're going to have a life after we get out of here, you know. One that hopefully won't involve jail." Although even if the cops throw me in jail because of what I've done to stop my sister…I don't think I'd care, as long as you were with me.

&

There were more guards, of course; Luciola barely gave any of them a second glance as he cut them down. Those with guns posed only a small problem; Dio was surprisingly accurate with a submachine gun. Finally, they fought their way over to that part of the warehouse where Delphine made her drugs. It was, of course, locked.

Dio smashed the hinges with the butt of his gun. "I should've listened to old Joe when he offered to teach me lock-picking, huh?"

Luciola said nothing as they stepped into the room beyond.

It was scrupulously clean and filled with long tables on which a makeshift laboratory had been set up. Glass beakers filled with liquids of various colors were being heated until only powders were left, powders which were then combined in varying degrees by a middle-aged couple in shabby suits at the far end of the room. Even from a distance, Luciola could see they looked ill and run-down. Those must be Alvis' parents. "Excuse me?"

The woman glanced up from her work. "I already told you, the next batch won't be ready until—oh." She took in their battered and bloody appearance and elbowed her husband in the ribs to catch his attention. "Who are you?"

Dio smiled at them. "Friends of your daughter. We've come to get you out of here."

The man—William Hamilton, Luciola remembered—shook his head. "We can't leave yet. That madwoman will kill our daughter if we're not here when she inspects this warehouse—and today's the day she's coming back from whatever law-breaking endeavor she's planning. We can't risk it."

Luciola sighed. "Alvis is safe; she's with the police." Not technically true, but… "The NYPD will be here soon; you can leave when they get here." We can't just let them out to the car; there might still be more guards in the building, especially if Delphine's coming. "For now, stay here. Do not leave this room."

Anna Hamilton blinked at them. "But what about you two?"

"We'll be fine." Dio smiled, but it looked forced to Luciola. "Just leave everything to us."

Oh, Dio. How can he sound so confident when he knows he'll have to face down Delphine if he's going to be free? Luciola closed the door behind them and turned to Dio. "Are you…are you alright?"

Dio sighed. "I've never really killed anyone before today. I should be horrified, shouldn't I?...But I'm not, not right now. Maybe it'll bother me later or something, but they deserved it." He glared at the bullet-ridden corpses in the hall. "That man was a rapist, this one here beat his children, that one in the corner robbed an old lady. They all deserved what they got."

Luciola had to shiver a little at the look in his eyes. I've never seen him so cold. No, I don't think he'll have a problem facing Delphine.

Footsteps sounded down the hall, and Luciola drew his knives again as three men came into view. Delphine was following them. Only three guards? Did the others abandon her?

The white-haired woman smiled at them. "It's you. You've been very naughty boys, killing your own comrades. I wonder how I should punish you…oh, I know. Men, kill them. Yes, even Dio. He doesn't deserve the protection of the Eraclea family anymore."

As the men lifted their guns, Dio fired. One dropped, while the others, now wounded, fell prey to Luciola's knives before they could pick up their dropped guns. Delphine was left alone, her eyes wide with fear. "You wouldn't dare. I'm your boss! I pay your salary! And you, Dio, my dear sweet brother…I raised you. Is this any way to repay me? Me, your own flesh and blood?

Luciola did not move. She was well within range, and his fingers itched to drive a blade into her chest, but he stood still. It's not my place. Dio is the only one who can decide her fate now.

Dio's eyes were narrowed in rage. "For what you've done, for all the lives you've ruined, I should kill you. However, death would be too quick for you." There were sirens in the distance, and they were getting closer; Dio smiled. "I imagine the NYPD would be more than happy to have the leader of the Eraclea crime ring in their hands…especially once they learn of your other crimes. So sorry, sister dear."

Luciola stared at him. Of everything he could have done, I hadn't expected this. Who knows…maybe with Delphine away behind bars, the police will be grateful enough to do us a favor or two. If my record was wiped clean… He swallowed hard. I'd be just an ordinary man. I wouldn't be Dio's bodyguard anymore…just his friend. Even with the way I feel about him…I think I can live with being his friend.

Vincent Alzey and his men arrived not five minutes later to take Delphine into custody on a list of charges so long and impressive that they made the arresting officer wince. Dio and Luciola were utterly ignored, save for a tense and awkward five minutes in which Vincent assured them that Sophia would have any trace of their involvement in this whole thing erased and that they had nothing to worry about, really. The Hamiltons were led out to great acclaim before being packed off to their home with a police escort. It was late afternoon before Dio and Luciola could sneak away.

No sooner were they in the car than Dio laid a hand on Luciola's shoulder, ignoring the dried blood there. "There was something you were going to tell me earlier, about why you kept avoiding me."

Luciola kept his eyes on the road. This is it. I can't avoid it any longer. "It's because…I have feelings for you. Feelings that I should not have. If nothing else, it's unprofessional; I'm your bodyguard, after all." He felt his face heat up, and had to fight the urge to blink back sudden tears. "And so, I couldn't…"

They came to a red light, and Dio forced Luciola to meet his eyes. "Luce. I'm not stupid. I could tell you were attracted to me, but I didn't want to force you into telling me. You don't need to worry anymore; we're just people now, remember? You're not my bodyguard, just my friend." He went red and glanced away nervously. "And…maybe more."

Luciola flinched away. More? It's not that I don't want to, but… "We won't be able to live like that. If word gets out, we'll be stoned in the street."

"So?" Dio grinned at him. "I'm not scared, as long as you're with me."

His heart felt as though it was about to jump out of his chest. "I…I will be." Dio…I don't know how long it will last, but I hope I can be by your side for the rest of my life.

&

As soon as they got home and locked the door behind them, Dio pulled Luciola down for a quick kiss. When they broke apart, he found he couldn't keep a smile off his face. "I've wanted to do that for a while."

Luciola's blush intensified. "Really?"

Dio grinned. "Yeah." A year, actually. It's been a year since I first noticed how handsome he is…but I don't think he needs to know that.

This time it was Luciola's turn to kiss him, long and slow, before breaking away. The hands he had placed at Dio's waist had blood on them. "…Maybe we should get changed. These clothes are ruined."

Dio sighed. He's right. I feel disgusting in this suit. But if we're going to remove clothes anyway… He started to smirk. "Yeah, let's."

Someone banged on the door, hard. Luciola reluctantly went to answer it, blinking in surprise when opening the door revealed William Hamilton. "A pleasure to see you, sir. Won't you come in?"

Dio watched him nervously as he entered the room. He had bathed and changed his clothes, but he still looked exhausted. "I wanted to extend my most heartfelt thanks to you, Mr. Beretta and Mr. Eraclea. I…my wife and I didn't think we would ever see our daughter again, but you made that possible. And…I know it's not much, but here." He pulled out a checkbook from his vest pocket and wrote out a check, which he then handed to Dio.

Dio's eyes went wide at the amount. Ten thousand dollars? We're rich! And I finally have money that doesn't come from Delphine. "Thank you, sir." (1.)

He smiled faintly. "Don't mention it. There's something else Officer Alzey wanted me to tell you, as well. With your sister in jail, all her legal assets are now yours. I understand your grandparents ran a shipping company?"

He blinked at him. Eraclea Shipping…it's mine now. I'll be able to make an honest living; Luciola and I can live off this now. We won't have to break the law anymore. "Oh, yes. I guess there're lawyers or something I have to meet with, right?"

"Well, not now, but yes. Officer Alzey will tell you more. Now, if you'll excuse me, I should be getting home."

Luciola nodded. "Of course. Thank you, sir."

He left, and Dio flopped down on the couch. "Isn't this great? We'll be able to live now."

He received a raised eyebrow in return, and sighed dramatically. "Okay, so I don't know the first thing about running a company. But I can learn. And with my sister behind bars, we can actually have a life now."

"Yes, we can." He sat down on the couch next to Dio and covered his hand with his own. "Together."

Yeah. Dio leaned his head against Luciola's shoulder. Everything will be fine from now on. (2.)

&

Author's Notes

1. Ten thousand dollars in 1929 equals roughly 122,941.52 dollars in today's money.

2. On October 29, 1929, Black Tuesday hit, marking the start of the Great Depression.