The halls were immediately filled with laughter when I entered the house with a victorious Rose in tow. She won her soccer game and we went out for ice cream afterwards. Her pretty little blond head in a messed up ponytail from running around the field and her cute little cheeks still covered in chocolate syrup from her hot fudge sundae.

It's been just over a week since we brought in the Hernandez and he still won't tell us where Eduardo is hidden. None of our methods have been of any use up to this point and I'm banking on my men to be able to track him down in the city.

Unfortunately, this hasn't been much use either. We've checked every hotel, stormed every motel, searched every apartment. Nothing. He must either be in a business or hiding with someone. 

Who would Rico trust with his brother, though?

I left Rose in the living room watching some cartoon version of The Swan Princess that was airing while I went to my office to deal with my swimming head.

If things were up to me I'd just write to Homero and tell him I have both heirs but I know his tactics. He'd check. Then he'd find Eduardo and I'd be left with the bastard.

How can I find Eduardo? How do you make Rico crack? What will make a big brother hand over his younger brother?

Would I hand over Joseph?

This isn't about me. Knock it off. 

Rico's POV

I've been cursing myself since she said "Angels". Well, not myself exactly and buddy down there. Always getting me into trouble. Just had to choose the mob boss.

Different men have come in everyday since to interrogate me. I won't tell then where Eddy is. He's my little brother and my responsibility, I promised Father I'd watch over him. I might not be able to do that but I won't hand him over to the enemy. No way in hell.

The room was substantial, probably the highlight of my "stay" in casa la angel. That and the fact that she at least has the decency to send someone to clean me up after the messier guys that come in. 

I was staring up at the ceiling again- it was actually a beautiful ceiling with the paintings decorating it- when I heard a small pair of lungs calling for help. Curiosity got the best of me and I used the mock key I'd made while one of the men was in the bathroom. It's amazing what you can do with a razor, wood and soap.

The sound was coming from down the hall which led to a small-ish living room where a small girl around the age of 10 with blond hair and big blue eyes stood by the couch. 

"Who are you," she asked me, tiny eyebrows scrunching together.

"I just came to see what's wrong."

"But.... who are you? Auntie Mary showed me everyone here. Are you one of her business people?"

"I'm Rico. What's your name?"

"Rose."

"What's wrong, Rose?"

"The TV turned off, I don't know how to fix it."

"Well, I can't help you with that."

"Can you help me get some juice then? It's too high for me to reach in the fridge."

I breathed a laugh and nodded. She smiled and grabbed my hand to drag me towards the kitchen in search of a glass and apple juice. 

Rose turned out to be quite the charming little girl. Intelligent too, she got me to sit with her and drink my own glass of orange juice while she drank her apple one and told me all about her game of soccer. Futbol if you ask my father. Her entire face lit up, it reminded me of the way Eddy looks when he talks about his games. I wonder if she's as good as he is?

"So you really like school, don't you?"

She nodded vigorously. I smiled at the small human being.

"Not many people do. It's good."

"Did you like school when you went?"

"How do you know I'm not still in it?"

"No way," she shook her head," You're too old."

"Me? Old?" I slapped my hand over my heart and fell back in my chair," I am wounded."

She laughed at me and I pinched her side, making her scream loudly. Oh, shit, I thought and threw my hand over her mouth. She scrunched her eyebrows together and licked my hand. I pulled it away and wiped it on my shirt as Mary came running into the kitchen looking around frantically.

Then she saw me and she didn't look frantic anymore.

She looked pissed.

"Rose, I left you in the living room. Why are you in here?"

"I couldn't figure out the remote, Ricky came when I called. He got me juice!"

"I think it's time for 'Ricky' to return to his room and you to get back to your Grandmother's house. She'll be here in a few minutes to pick you up."

Rose nodded climbed down from the seat before coming around and hugging my waist best she could with me sitting in the chair. 

"Thanks for playing with me, Ricky!"

"No problem, Rose."

She skipped off to the living room. Mary smiled at her while she left but turned hard the moment she was out of the room. I stood and walked to her with my hands in my pockets and she crossed her arms.

"Give it," she stuck her hand out. I sighed and leaned back on my heels. To give the wooden key? Not to give the key?

I leaned close to her ear and whispered to her," You'll have to take it from me."

When I started to walk away but she grabbed my arm and pulled me back. Her hand went into my pocket and dug around for a second before she found what she was looking for. She pulled it out and held it in front of my face.

"You'll be needed for my next mission."

"You're taking me on a mission?"

"Since you're here we might as well use you. Go get changed into a new set of clothes. Quinton will come get you when he's done with his present job."

She walked away before I could say anything else. 

Why would she want me to do a mission? That's something that people can only do after harsh training and they've proven their loyalty to the boss in another way. 

What does Mary Duke have in store for me?