[b]Gratia Mindaro - A Friend in Need[/b]

Gratia's demeanour remained unchanged as the piece of scum gripped against her shoulder, face still schooled in that cold, impassive expression many had come to associate with her. These two were irksome in their methods of gauging her, especially that receptionist. The voyeuristic gaze seemed to linger irritatingly upon her back even as she silently walked past, the strange upbeat cheer that exuded from every pore ... it was unnatural.

Her experience with organised criminal syndicates like the Dodici was limited; the larger, transnational entities would have extended their filthy tendrils into the industrial slums she called a home, but they had always been part of the backdrop of the salt-scented docks, preferring to stick to their storage warehouses than actively court power in the district. 

They collected their fair share of thugs and enforcers seeking to fulfil their pitiful little ambitions, and she could remember a number of encounters with those worthless sacks of shit in the past. Yet the pathetic unwashed fools were still so utterly petty, so detestably sinful, so human. 

Here, in a major center of their operations, they were different, unnatural. 

Fake.

Scum that fooled themselves into believing they were some higher fucking class of criminal. Base animals indulging in their sins under a veneer of professionalism, of etiquette. 

She would enjoy ripping that facade apart. 

The teenage Huntress banished her thoughts to the very back of her mind, obediently following her escort into the backlot. Her onyx eyes coolly studied the area, gaze sweeping over luxury vehicles, armoured cars and a myriad of thugs before resting upon the central figure. 

The man with a bloody collar. 

So this was Sonny Dodici.

A wild beast hiding in a poorly crafted disguise of professionalism. Powerful enough to give not a single shit. Her glance lingered on the giant man's weapons for the merest of moments. 

He was impressive. Unnaturally so.

"[color=66cd00]I am Gratia,[/color]" she replied immediately, tone colder than ice. Criminal scum or not, this was a powerful man. One did not survive long in this world by being an irritation to the strong. "[color=66cd00]Gratia ...[/color]"

Providing her surname would bring danger to her family. She refused to implicate them here.

"[color=66cd00]... Fiordilatte.[/color]"