Billie had stopped at a thrift shop and bought fresh clothes for Barbie. When Barbie tried to decline the friendly gesture, Billie said they were a family now. Also, Barbie needed to wear less revealing clothes. They made her stand out, and Billie didn't want that.

Now Barbie wore brown trousers, an under-bust brown corset vest, and a brown shirt. Ah look like Billie. She hated dressing like a man, but she didn't want to complain after Billie spent money on her.

They arrived at Sin City General Hospital. Barbie got off the motorbike, then Billie went to look for a parking spot. Barbie stared at the clouds and admired how fluffy they were. When they parted, Virtue City came into view. It had sizeable threaded metal rods at the bottom that held many nets in case someone wandered off the edge of the city. They changed the nets every three months as a precaution.

Are ya still there, John? Please, come back to me.

"Babe, let's go," Billie said, taking Barbie off her trance.

They entered the hospital. A reception booth stood to the right, a waiting room to the left, and a long hallway between them. The smell of detergents and medicine filled the area. Barbie covered her nose with her hand. She never liked the smell of hospitals; they reminded her of her mother's death.

"Who are we looking for?" Barbie asked.

"Whom, babe," Billie corrected her. "It's Marcus Carlton."

"The son of Edge Carlton?" Barbie's eyes widened in surprise. Edge Carlton was the Marquess of Sin City. Lady Camilla had appointed him to look over the city because she didn't have the time. "Why him?"

"Edge has been meddling in La Familia affairs over tha last five years. He warned him to stay away, but he didn't listen. Now, we're sending him a message."

"By kidnapping his son?"

"Kidnap?" Billie chuckled. "If ya think so, babe."

Barbie's face creased with worry. What is La Familia planning? People underestimated her, but she noticed when things weren't right. Her gut acted like an alarm. And now it was buzzing, leaving her troubled. Why did Gigi go through all that trouble to get me to join them? Am ah part of her plans?

Barbie heard the last parts of Billie's words after she got out of her thoughts: "... smart by bringing his son to a general hospital, hoping his enemies wouldn't find Marcus. He should have left him at the treatment facilities."

"Marcus is a drug addict?" Barbie prided herself in knowing such matters involving high-profile people in the city. Being friends with wenches allowed her too.

"Not just an addict, but a manufacturer too," Billie replied. "He had invented a drug called Sewer, made from the ashes of magicians. The rumor was whoever used Sewer could see and communicate with spirits of the dead for six hours. But Edge found out and stopped Marcus' operation before the public knew. It would have ruined Edge's reelection campaign."

"Then how do ya know?"

"Radar."

Ah should have known. Barbie had never met Radar, but she knew he was a private investigator. No one knew how he looked like, not even the wenches. And those who had met him said he hid his face with a scarf. He must have told Gigi ah killed Sandie.

"Come on, babe." Billie beckoned, then headed for the elevators beside the reception booths.

"Do ya know where Marcus' room is?"

"Yes, babe."

They entered the elevator, and it closed behind them. An awkward silence passed between Billie and Barbie. They had never spoken much before today. John was the talkative one when dealing with locals. Barbie preferred to stand beside him and remain quiet. She believed men and women had different roles in society, and each needed to play their part. Equality destabilized everything, and she didn't want that. But she couldn't say that, not to the women whose whole crusade was equality.

The elevator stopped, then the door opened. "We're here, babe." Billie walked out.

Barbie followed her, not saying a word. If John found out she had joined La Familia, he would ask her to leave them. And Barbie would. Even if it meant she wouldn't get an unlimited supply of Pew Pew. She couldn't help herself with him. She loved him more than anything in this world. Nothing would change that.

They arrived outside Marcus' room. Billie unsheathed her gun from her left leg, took out a suppressor from her pocket, then put it on the muzzle. Barbie didn't know what the woman wanted to do. They were there to retrieve Marcus, not kill him. So why did Billie take out her gun?

Billie knocked on the door, and a man in a camouflage suit opened it. She shot him in the head, then pulled his dead body inside. Barbie locked the door when she got in.

Marcus hid under the bedsheet. He was shaking so much; it made the bed's steel legs ting against the marble floor.

"Show yourself, babe," Billie ordered.

Marcus removed the sheet and revealed his round face. He was a fair-skinned twenty-four-year-old with blonde hair. "Who-Who are ye?" Tears ran down his cheeks. His lips trembled with fear. His brown eyes glanced between Barbie and Billie.

"Not important, babe. Tell us what ya father is planning against La Familia." She aimed the pistol at him. "Ah won't ask twice."

"Father knows La Familia is hiding in Modish Forest Reserve. He plans on bombing it."

"When?"

"Tomorrow."

"Thank ya for the information." Billie turned to Barbie and handed her the pistol. "Kill him."

Barbie glanced between the gun and Billie, then focused on the woman. "Why?" She was confused. "Aren't we supposed to take him to Gigi?"

"Mother Queen meant his head."

"Why me? Can't ya do it?" Memories of her shooting Sandie flashed in her mind. The girl hadn't seen it coming. They had left her outside eating ice cream while they were inside talking to Doctor. And when they got out, Barbie didn't waste time. She shot her fast, not wanting to overthink it and back out.

"This is what it takes to be a member of La Familia."

Barbie shook her head. "Ah don't think ah can do it." She backed away from Billie. "Ah can't. Ah am sorry."

Billie sighed. "If ya don't, then ah will tell Sky ya killed Sandie. Do ya want that?"

No, ah don't. Sky will kill me if she finds out. And ah won't be with John if ah am dead. She went to Billie and extended a hand. Billie gave her the pistol. "Ah only have to do this, nothing else?"

"Yes."

Barbie aimed the pistol at Marcus. He pressed his hands together, begging for mercy. "No," Barbie said, then shot him five times in the head. She was a marksman, thanks to Sky's training. She handed the pistol back to Billie, who sheathed it on her leg. "What now?" Her hands shook. She hated killing, especially when it wasn't for John's benefit.

Billie patted Barbie's shoulder. "Now ah can officially tell you; Welcome to La Familia."