Black Satin

Eight

"Just keep playing the part of the innocent girlfriend, okay?" Billy had said to me. "Give Madani everything she wants, and I'll take care of the rest."

And that was why I was sitting here now, waiting to talk to Dinah Madani. Finally, I was led into the same room where I'd met the woman herself that first time. I sat down, across from a camera she had set up. It didn't look to be on, but I'd have to be extra careful of my words regardless.

I gave a sigh, feigning frustration.

"Do I need a lawyer, Agent Madani?"

"What?" She lanced at the camera. "Oh, no. That isn't for you... Listen, (Y/N), I'm sorry to keep dragging you into this, I really am, but you should know that I now have hard evidence connecting Billy to his criminal activities."

That was news to me. Did she have Frank Castle? Billy said to give her what she wants... so that's just what I'll do.

I let my lower lip tremble, as if trying to repress tears.

"I- I believe you... I didn't want to... b-but I thought about what you said, about... any reason to be suspicious. There was just too much he wasn't telling me, I could feel it." I gave a fake sniffle and swiped at my eyes. "What do you need from me?"

Dinah came around the table to sit next to me. Her way of being comforting, I assume.

"I don't need anything from you, (Y/N). I... I wanted to offer you protection."

I was unable to disguise my frown of confusion, so I played into it.

"I- I don't think Billy would hurt me," I stammered, "...Would he?"

"Honestly, at this point, I don't know what he's capable of," Dinah said.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair, attempting to look like I was losing my cool, businesswoman composure.

"Okay. Okay... if you think he might hurt me, then... I want to be protected. And I want to help you catch him, however I can."

Dinah nodded.

"Alright, then... Come with me."

She led me to another meeting room, where a man and a little girl sat together.

Micro.

Another man stood in the corner, arms crossed. That must be Frank Castle. Hm... if I can get into his good graces, I could give Billy an edge over him.

"Gentlemen... this is (Y/N) (L/N). I brought her here to keep her safe from Russo."

How sweet.

"Come on, Madani," Frank Castle said. "What are we waitin' around for? We're wasting time."

Dinah sighed.

"Alright... Just give me half an hour to finalize things."

With that, she was gone. Maybe now would be a good time to get into Frank and Micro's good books. I didn't want to seem too eager, so I subtly sniffled, dabbing at my eyes with the sleeve of my shirt, glancing nervously at Frank.

"(Y/N), right?" came the voice, not of Frank, but of his friend, Micro.

I looked up at him, nodding just a bit.

"Y-yes... Who are you?"

"I'm David," he said. "You're... you're Billy Russo's girlfriend, aren't you?"

I glanced at the little girl, pretending I didn't want to talk about it in front of her. The clever girl cleared her throat and looked at her dad.

"Dad, I'm gonna go ask if somebody can get some food, I'm kinda hungry."

He nodded to her, and as soon as she left the room, I sighed.

"Yes... Yes, I'm... I was Billy's..." I stopped and shook my head. "You must think I'm really stupid, huh? Not to see the truth about everything he was doing..."

"Hey," Frank spoke up, "Don't. He fooled me too..."

I looked up at him and smiled softly.

"Frank Castle... he always spoke of you so highly... I wish we could've met under better circumstances."

He gave me a look I couldn't quite read, which I found odd. I could read everyone.

"Yeah..." he finally said. "Me too."

Just then, Madani walked back in.

"We have a problem." The three of us looked up at her expectantly. "Frank, there was a new message on the phone you used to arrange the swap. Russo wants her, too, or else the deal is off."

I put up an expression of panic.

"No, no, no, I can't- Why does he want me? Is he going to kill me because I came here?"

"We can't do that," Frank said firmly. "We can't drag her into this."

"He was very specific. He said 'I know you know about the woman. You bring her for me or you get nothing.'"

"He'll kill my family if we don't, Frank!" David said agitatedly.

I let myself pause at that.

"Your family?" I crossed my arms tightly over myself and sighed. "I'll do it."

"Kid, are you sure?" Frank asked me.

I took a deep breath, then nodded.

"I can't let anyone lose their family just because I'm scared..."

"Russo won't touch you," Dinah promised vehemently. If only she knew how much I wanted him to touch me. "We'll rig it so the deal doesn't go down right. He has no idea Homeland knows about it, he thinks it's just David and Frank, operating independently."

I nodded again.

"Okay... So... I pretend like Frank abducted me?"

Dinah nodded.

"That's the plan."

"Then... I'm ready." I looked at David, trying to seem as sincere as possible. "Let's save your family."