A/N: OMG it's here. The climax. But not in the fun way. Each of the big 6 gets their own part (they're very short - so you're getting the first 3 all at once) - each has its own important piece of new information (okay, cliffhanger), hence why they're split.

François

I'm speechless. For maybe the first time in my life.

Dexter sits on the other side of my desk, his mouth a harsh line.

"You aren't going to take this out on Dae, are you?"

I start. I hadn't even been thinking of that. The life that boy has had...when Dex gave me the details from Dae, and what his team came up with now he has more specifics to work with – how long he's been trapped with those vile men. What his stepbrother has done.

"Of course I'm not. Even if he was doing it willingly, and it's obvious he wasn't, he's been conditioned. Brainwashed. In fact, just that he fought against it... I'm impressed. He'll be okay, Dex. We'll make sure."

He's still in the hospital. All the boys are refusing to leave his side. Gray tells me that Amir said even Owen is going to him on every break he has, and Nikki and Ellis are just camping by his side, with Connor watching over them all.

This news though, it changes everything. I'd assumed they wanted the club for the money laundering opportunities. I'm sure that's what Andrei would have been interested for. It gives me an idea though, and I call Andrei, inviting him to the club.

* * * * *

"I don't wish to generalize, François, but you must take great care. The Asian gangs are very well renowned, and for good reason, in their ruthlessness. People smuggling is sadly still common in our industry, though my family don't participate as the risks far outweigh the benefits."

I'm certainly not here to investigate which crimes his family do still see benefit in, but it reminds me, again, that for all Andrei's easy geniality, he's a dangerous man, with a malevolent past.

"Do you have any contacts with those families?" I ask, instead.

"Sadly, no. Organized crime is not conducive to friendly alliances. We struggle enough with branches of our own families. I know of the Jo-Pok, of course. The strangest thing is this apparent obsession with your club. If a business is willing to fight back, a family has to weigh whether a fight is worth it. In this day and age, it rarely is. We don't want attention drawn to us, and the usual method would be to go find a different business that's more amenable, as I did."

"But don't you have to worry about maintaining your reputation?"

"Our reputations almost always precede us. And even given our day to day dealings, we have enough opportunity to maintain a strict front, without intentionally going out and seeking trouble, as it seems the Jo-Pok are currently doing. And I don't mind telling you, as I'm quite sure you will not bandy such information around, that the far greatest area where fear has to be maintained is within our own ranks. That's the area where true danger lays."

"So, I think you're suggesting there is something personal about this situation?"

"It seems likely. Otherwise, why would they not simply seek a connection with one of the many other clubs in the area?"

He isn't wrong. Hell, the way some of the other clubs operate, it's likely they'd welcome a mafia connection. But it seems that someone in the ranks of the Jo-Pok is taking this very personally.

I call Jax and Mike into my office. Mike already knows what's going on, and I know he'll explain what needs to be said to Jax.

"All of our membership records older than three years are in paper files," I tell them. "I need you to go down to the basement and search all of the rejected membership files for each year and look for the name Yi Chul-moo. You can search the closed members as well, but I have a feeling you'll find this in the rejects."

Fortunately, the records are in excellent order, as it used to be an easy job to keep newly trained subs occupied. In fact, back in the day, it was Jax who totally reorganized the system, so I'm not expecting it to take them long, even if I've rejected a lot of Doms – far more than the number of subs. More recently, we've had Dexter's company running in depth background checks, but before that, I used to rely on my instincts a lot, and I'd never allow any Dom who gave me a bad feeling to join the club, no matter how many fees – and bribes – they were willing to pay.

I've thanked Andrei for his time, and ordered tea from our new kitchens, but had no time for anything else when a breathless Jax appears at my open office door.

"Found it, Sir. You rejected the membership application six years ago."

So the club was in its infancy then. And Yi Chul-moo obviously gave me a bad enough feeling that I didn't want him as a member. I review the file Jax passes me, and note that Yi refused any Dom training, and offered to pay additional fees, which I read as 'bribe'. His file also marks him as a sadist, and that he wanted to 'use' club subs – his wording, which would have been a huge red flag. I'm not surprised I rejected him.

My phone rings just after I've thanked Jax. It's an unknown number, which is strange, so I consider myself prepared for anything. Except I'm not.

"François Girard?"

"Oui."

"My name is Dr Richards. I'm in the Emergency Room at Mount Ararat. I understand you know Connor Martin?"

"What has happened? Is Connor okay?"

"He's been shot. He's in emergency surgery right now. But the last thing he said before he went under was he wanted me to call you. The police are here. There's been a kidnapping."