Solazzo and I get to know each other a bit more. He sometimes lets me have a drink with him, then we flirt a little. Nothing more. It's going too slow to me. My patience is wearing out. I need a plan. Or should I contact Mr. Iero. Well... I need to keep him informed anyway.

Though I am picturing my situation as honorable, I am still feeling uncomfortable.

Mr. Iero hasn't reached out since our last encounter. It may be because of that incident... I just hope that he is doing okay.

After preparing myself mentally, I muster the courage to walk to the nearest phone booth. The phone rings for quite some time before he picks up.

"Hello, Mr. Iero?"

"How are you doing, Mr. Way?"

It might be because I haven't heard his voice in a while, but my heart stops beating for a second, and I answer softly. "Well... I suppose that things are progressing. I met him. It's just that... we aren't close yet."

"Hm, it's better than what I was expecting. After all, he is a careful man."

"He is? He didn't seem like it. I thought... I thought that I wasn't attractive."

Mr. Iero suddenly lets out a quiet laugh. It's so subtle that I think I only imagined it. "Don't worry, Mr. Way. You aren't exactly destitute in that field."

I am dazed and I don't know what to answer. We stay quiet for a moment, then Mr. Iero puts and end to the awkwardness by speaking up.

"I understand the current situation, Mr. Way. Don't worry, I took some measures..."

I nod, then I realize that he can't see me. "Hm... Alright. Goodbye, Mr. Iero."

"See you soon, Mr. Way. See you very soon."

'Very soon'? I think as I walk back to the Sparrow Hall. Is Mr. Iero referring to anything specific?

My doubts are confirmed the following week.

As planned, I am going to perform on stage this evening. As soon as I go on stage, I spot Mr. Iero! What a surprise! Why is he here? Choc makes me skip a few steps and Madam Lana glares at me, making angry gestures.

My eyes always come back on Mr. Iero, but he doesn't do anything out of the ordinary and barely looks at me. What is he up to?

Mr. Iero comes three times this week. Besides the fact that he pointed at me several times while talking to people whom I guess belong to the underworld, he acts like a regular client. I finally start to figure out his intentions when the weekend arrives.

"From now on, you will rehearse with Sofia the new dance," Madam Lana tells me, taking a drag from her cigarette holder.

"Why am I the only one to rehearse this new dance, Madam?" I inquire.

"Because you must train hard, little fool. That's good for you!"

"Madam? I..."

"Come on! You will understand soon enough," Madam Lana tells me. I am starting to get tired of being surrounded by enigmatic people who never reveal anything about their plan, even though I am a little bit concerned with aforesaid plans.

______

The other girls have been ostracizing me since I started rehearsing in solo. Even Claire avoids me. We even started to eat together... I am doing everything on my own, alone...

After the end of today's rehearsal, Sofia tells me that I can perform this dance on stage. I don't have time to object before she drags me backstage so I can do my makeup.

While I apply my concealer; some girls start making sarcastic comments.

"Claire... you didn't earn anything from your kindness. The new guy you took under your wing became your superior," I hear Rose say.

"Right?" Jody chuckles. "He met someone important and now he's the one doing a solo dance. And poor Claire is just a replacement dancer now..."

Visibly hurt, Claire rushes out of the loges, her eyes teary. I stand up to go get her but I sit back down almost immediately when I realize that I don't have time at all. I can only finish putting on my makeup quickly.

Rose and Jody keep making aggravating remarks, and I end up snapping at them. "Are you two done?"

"Oh no, you're scaring me. How ferocious, Arthur..." Rose laughs. She reminds me of my old bullies, like Daisy.

"Lily, we'd better keep quiet, before this celebrity decides that we must disappear." Jody pouts at me mockingly and I ball my fists.

"I swear that if you two keep opening it, what you said might just become a reality," I state seriously. The two of them stop and silence sets in the room. Everything slows down, the tension is palpable.

An assistant enters to tell us to hurry up, and the usual agitation resumes. My solo show is programmed to be the last part of the evening. I am feeling agitated, but I also have the feeling that things are falling into place.

I don't know which part Gerard Way will have to play today, but I suppose that I have to trust the one who is currently pulling the strings of my fate. I hope that you know what you are doing, Mr. Iero...

"Arthur darling, it's your time to shine!" Madam Lana says merrily.

Everything that happens next is a blur. I remember getting on stage, I remember jazz music echoing in my ears and bright lights hurting my eyes. I perform my dance, my mind empty.

I perceive whistling, clapping, flowers and compliments... Ah yes! Compliments, praising, I remember... Then I got off the stage and took a glass of martini at the bar. And here I am.

"Would you like to have dinner with me, Mr. Arthur?" The voice makes me snap out of my thoughts.

Mr. Iero?!

"I..."

Before I can sort out my thoughts, I feel a hand on my shoulder and hear a familiar voice near me. "Well, if it isn't Frank!"

Solazzo?

"Angelo," Mr. Iero salutes the taller man with a smile that seems so genuine.

"A rare guest..." Solazzo grins through his cigar.

"I came here a few times," Mr. Iero chats casually. When I say 'casually', I am of course referring to Mr. Iero's usual level of casualness, so this adjective would immediately become an exaggeration if it were applied to anyone but him. Let's say he doesn't look as strict as usual.

"Do you... know each other?" I ask, my gaze oscillating between the two of them, genuinely surprised and curious.

"Of course. That's my boy, Frank Iero." Solazzo grabs the base of Mr. Iero's neck and the latter takes the infantilizing gesture docilely, imperturbable as always. "He was my protégé a little while ago. When something unfortunate happened to his mentor, I took the boy under my wing so he got back on his feet. You should have seen him, kid barely knew how to manage."

I am taken aback, not only by what I just heard, but also by how open Solazzo is being about it. Though he didn't specify anything about the mafia, he is a bit too arrogant about it... I can work on that.

"Anyway, it's been a while. Let's go have a drink!" Solazzo tells Mr. Iero.

"Hold on a second, I still haven't got an answer from Mr. Arthur," Mr. Iero turns to me. Solazzo peers at me and burst out in laughter.

"Thank you for taking care of my Arthur. Arthur, did you say thank you to Mr. Iero?" Before he even finished speaking, he holds me tight in his arms. It seems like a silent threat.

I remain quiet and look at Mr. Iero. He still has this courteous expression on his face. It's almost as if he didn't notice that I was in Solazzo's arms.

"Would you like to have dinner with me, Mr. Arthur?" Mr. Iero insists with a soft voice, as well as the utmost gentleness and affection in his smile.

Solazzo frowns angrily. "Don't you understand what I mean, Frankie?"

He suddenly appears very threatening and the tension rises. I can see from the corner of my eye that a few of his men have their hand on their weapons. A confrontation seems imminent. Mr. Iero waves his hand carelessly and his own men quickly holster their guns.

"I don't want to come to blows with you, Angie. I simply admire Mr. Arthur," Mr. Iero says. All eyes are on me. The audience, the staff of the Sparrow Hall, the mobsters... they are all looking at me. I have trouble breathing.

"Answer him, Arthur. Are you going to accept?" Solazzo says. I shiver. He is wearing an odd smile. His grip on my waist tightens, increasing his threat.

I look at Mr. Iero, in hope for a sign... in vain. It's like we didn't know each other. We are trying to gain Solazzo's trust, aren't we? Why hesitate now? I must make a decision...

I could have rejected his invitation right away, but when I look at him, I remember this incident on the couch... My refusal is part of the act, but I can't help but to feel like I am rejecting him for real.

"I-I am sorry, Mr. Iero..."
I blink and don't know where to set my eyes.

"It's alright, Mr. Arthur. I hope that we will have the chance to, another time." He gives me a warm smile nonetheless, like a man who could never reproach me any wrong.

Solazzo lets go of me and pushes me away a little. I end up scooting closer to Mr. Iero.

"Perfect! Now, let's have this drink." Solazzo decides. Mr. Iero nods at me before following Solazzo. The crowds moves on and the usual activity resumes in the hall.

I stay alone near the couch... Aria is the only one who comes to me after this episode. She tells me in low voice, "There are no good souls in the mafia. Don't trust anybody, always stay on your guard."

"Aria, you..."

"It's my way of thanking you. That's it."

"Why... why are you saying this? Those two...?" I question her.

"You didn't know? Mr. Iero and Mr. Solazzo..." She trails off. I can't decipher her expression.

"Is there anything I am supposed to know?" I inquire.

"I should clap at your bravery. I almost didn't get away with it last time... They almost put me in Solazzo's brothel, just in case you didn't know what you saved me from."

I wasn't expecting Aria to tell me about this. I already knew all that but I'd still better look surprised. "Oh no! Why would they..."

"Why not?" She interrupts me. "They wouldn't hesitate to treat us that way. They even use children that way too!"

"Children! What do you mean?" I gasp.

"Better not to know too much."

"How do you know that much?" I ask.

"I can tell you, I suppose. One of Solazzo's men was my lover. He told me. Too bad that I was blinded by love. Look where that got me. If I hadn't met him again, I wouldn't be there, and I wouldn't know so much..."

"Oh, Aria..." I breathe out.

She frowns. "I don't need your pity!" We are even now!"

Aria turns around and walks away casually. She sways her hips and gives the clients a few winks. I think about what she just told me.

How dare they lay their hands on children? Does that include the missing girls? Emily's daughter? Mrs. Ekaterina's?

The place slowly gets empty and I go back to my bedroom. So much has happened today. I need some time to process all that information. I suppose that I am closer to Solazzo now...

______