We left the van parked in the alley. I was fine getting out of it for good, given what had happened in the back. I wanted to set it on fire, but Frankie had said that it would either be stolen or towed, and we didn't need to worry about it anymore. He'd said that he had enough money to rent us a car to get out of town after we rescued my friends, and that was good enough for me.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Frankie asked as the taxi pulled up to the penthouse. It was the first taxi ride I'd taken, and I thought it would be something special. It wasn't. But I could now check off riding in a yellow cab off of my bucket list.

"We have to try," I replied as I got out of the car. "What's the worst that could happen?"

Frankie closed the cab's door. "I don't know. Somehow Madam can lock you up again."

"I don't think you'll let that happen."

He reached for my hand and laced our fingers. "The only way that can happen is if I'm dead."

"Don't say that. It scares me."

Frankie leaned in as we walked and whispered into my ear, "I have my gun. Nothing is going to happen to you."

We walked into the building, and the doorman looked at me, confused. I had shorter hair now, so maybe he didn't recognize me. I hoped he didn't because I didn't want him to call Madam and tell her I was in the lobby. I wasn't sure how prominent the bruises on my face and the busted lip were, but maybe that was why he was looking at me.

"I wonder how long we need to wait," I said and sat down on the couch. I knew clients came and went at all hours, but I wasn't sure how much time it would take before one arrived per the plan.

Frankie sat next to me. "I hope not long."

"What if your dad shows up?"

Frankie pulled his disposable cell phone out of his pocket to check the time. "Auction should still be going on."

"Unless he left because of the fire."

"Right. I just don't know if I did a good enough job."

"I think you did." I had confidence in him.

"Thanks, princess." He kissed the side of my head.

I kept my eye on the doorman to make sure he didn't go to his desk to grab the phone to call Madam. Instead, he stayed by the door and let people come and go. None of them went to the monitor on the wall for the elevator to the penthouse.

Finally, one man did.

"Showtime." Frankie stood.

I quickly got to my feet and walked behind him slowly as we waited for the guy to call upstairs. When we heard the elevator start to come down, Frankie took a few quick strides, reaching for his gun at the same time, and came up behind the man.

"Let us in the elevator with you, and I won't kill you," Frankie growled, pressing the gun into the guy's back.

The man held up his hands, and I looked over my shoulder. Thankfully, the doorman wasn't looking at us.

"Zell!" Frankie snapped, and I shot my gaze to his. "Let's go."

I ran inside, and the doors closed. Frankie still had the gun against the man's back, and I hoped that he knew this wasn't about him. We were there to rescue my friends, and I didn't want anyone to get hurt.

"When we get up there," Frankie spoke, "you need to go inside with us."

"Please just let me go," the guy begged.

"I can't do that, and chance you'll run to the cops."

"I won't run to the police," the man argued. "We're going up to a whorehouse. I don't want anyone to know that."

Frankie glanced over at me, and I shrugged. "Yeah, I can't take that risk," Frankie answered.

The elevator came to a stop, and the doors slowly opened. Ricardo was waiting, but when he saw us, he drew his head back in confusion. "Zell? Ah, boss?"

"That's right," Frankie seethed. "I'm your boss. Now, I'm here to take all the girls with me, and we'll be on our way." He pushed the client into the room, and Leanne rushed toward him, pulling him back to the line of girls who were waiting. I gave them a warm smile.

"I … What?" Ricardo questioned.

"Look, man, I like you, so don't make this more difficult than it needs to be." Frankie pointed the gun at Ricardo, and he held up his hands.

"You're not going anywhere!" I turned my head quickly, seeing Madam standing with her own gun. I'd never seen her with a gun before. "I had a hunch you'd show up."

Frankie moved the gun to point it at Madam instead of Ricardo as he pulled me behind him. My gaze went between the two guns as I peered over his shoulder and then back to Ricardo to see what he would do.

"Please?" I begged Ricardo. "You know all of this is wrong."

"Beg all you want, little girl, but he works for me, and he'll do as I say," Madam stated. "And what the hell did you do to your hair?"

"Wrong," Frankie argued, ignoring the hair question. "He works for the Russos. He will do as I say."

Madam chuckled. "And what do you think I am?"

I drew my head back slightly. What did that mean?

"Excuse me?" Frankie asked.

Madam gave a sinister laugh again. "Why do you think your father trusts me so much to run his whores? I was married to his twin brother."

"Yeah, right." Frankie laughed. "My father never told me you were my aunt."

"'Your uncle died before you were born. There was no reason to tell you."

Frankie paused for a moment and then said, "Doesn't matter. My father was teaching me everything to take over. Therefore, I am the boss."

"That was before you took off with my daughter."

"She's—"

"I'm not your daughter!" I screamed.

"What are you talking about, girl?" Madam questioned. "Of course, you're my daughter."

Frankie chuckled. "Actually, we had a nice morning with Jackie and know all about you taking Zell."

The girls gasped, some of them covering their mouths in shock.

"That's right," Frankie continued. "You can't control Zell any longer. Not only is she eighteen, but she's also not yours. Just like none of these girls are legally here."

"I've had enough of you," Madam stated, and then there was a loud pop.

I jumped and screamed as did all the girls until Frankie turned, grabbing at his chest as blood seeped through his fingers. He fell to his knees, and so did I, holding him in my arms.

"You shot him!" I roared with a sob, seeing Ricardo move to stand in front of Erin as though he was protecting her.

"Of course I shot him. I'm not going to let some kid ruin my business," Madam seethed.

I reached for Frankie's gun. “Some kid?" I stood and pointed the gun at her, tears rolling down my cheeks. "He's a better person than you'll ever be."

She snorted. "What? Are you going to shoot me, girl?"

My hand was shaking as I pointed the gun at her. I didn't know what I was going to do. This wasn't the plan. Frankie wasn't supposed to get shot. We had only wanted to save my friends.

I looked over at Ricardo and saw that he had his gun out, but it wasn't pointed at anyone. Was he conflicted on what to do? Who to help? He still stood in front of Erin—and only Erin—as though he was her shield.

"Please?" I begged him. "Help us leave."

"Oh, please," Madam sassed. "He's not going to help a little girl, especially now that her big bad boyfriend is bleeding out."

Was Frankie dying? He was groaning as he clenched his chest. I couldn't let him die for nothing. I couldn't let him die, period. He had killed the man who had raped me out of revenge, and now it was my turn to step up and help him. To get retribution for everything Madam had done to me over the years.

With a shaky hand, and still aiming the gun at Madam, I roared, "And no one will help you!" I pulled the trigger, another pop echoing in the wide space of the main floor. This time, I didn't jump. This time, I was the reason for the gun firing.

I watched Madam's eyes grow huge with confusion, and then she grabbed her stomach, blood seeping through her fingers. I pulled the trigger and shot her again, the force of the blow causing to jerk Madam back. She fell onto her back, groaning and moaning in anguish. No one went to check on her.

"Let's go!" Ricardo ordered, waving the girls to come to him as he pressed the button to the elevator, Erin's hand in his.

"What about Frankie?" I cried and rushed over to him, dropping the gun from my grasp as I knelt down beside him. His eyes were closed, and I didn't know if he was dead or alive. He had stopped groaning in pain or making any noise.

"I'm a doctor," the client stated, stepping forward. "Let me help." I moved aside, suddenly thankful for this man. "I need something to stop the bleeding. Grab as many towels as you can, and something to sterilize the wound with."

Krissy and the girls ran off to help. I looked toward Erin, pleading for her to help me. This was Frankie, and if she knew what he had done for me with the man from last night, she wouldn't hesitate to help. "Please?" I begged her. "He saved me."

Erin looked up at Ricardo. "I can't leave her."

"Please?" I pleaded to Ricardo. Frankie couldn't die.

"Okay." Ricardo finally nodded and stepped away from the elevator. "We better hurry in case Frank Sr. comes."