<div style="text-align: center">《 Hale 》<br/>
<i>Location: Abendblume conference room<br/>
Addressing: Alvaro, Sou</i>​</div><br/>"We had one little hiccup but perhaps it got people motivated. Silver linings, I suppose. Otherwise, it's going well." Men were falling into line, proving out who was loyal. Proving out who wasn't.<br/><br/>"It's showing me the ones I can trust from the ones that I cannot. Who knows. There may be an uptick in the work needed for you shortly. I think Armando has it though for right now, but thank you for the offer." Hale appreciated a man who was as cold blood as Alvaro and one that understood the necessary evils of the world.<br/><br/>"I most certainly do. It is a shame, truly, how that all went down." And After, Hale had refused further business with them. When Alvaro had turned up at his door, he was certain it was so that the cartel could snuff him out for cutting ties. Instead, it had been the start of a friendship. Alvaro respected Hale's decision to work with no one else after his boss had lost his life, and when the cartel hitman ran into some trouble and landed himself in prison, Hale used every bit of power he had at his disposal to see him a free man again.<br/><br/>Alvaro was fully on board with what Hale had in mind for Sou, as he knew he would be. He nodded to the guards at Alvaro's suggestion.<br/><br/>"Discreetly, please." They didn't need to add to the chaos by dragging a struggling woman across the grounds. Sou took to begging.<br/><br/>"You weren't frightened enough, evidently," Hale mused. "You walked in here like you owned the place! You disrespected me and Alvaro holds a special place in his heart for lying, disrespectful women."<br/><br/>He shook his head and sighed.<br/><br/>"I've disrupted Alvaro's day. Brought him all the way here, and given him a fresh new canvas. I can't go back on my word now. What sort of man would that make me?" He motioned to indicate that he was done talked to her, then leaned in close to Alvaro.<br/><br/>"Don't kill her. Don't cripple her. If you want to have some fun with her before, I don't care, just don't pass her to the guards and for fucks sake, if you do, use protection. I don't want her turning up in nine months with a little Alvaro, or sooner making claims."<br/><br/>With that out of the way, Hale smiled.<br/><br/>"The children are doing well. Recovering from the loss of their mother. We've found closure in knowing that she was finally released from her suffering. We've kept ourselves busy with matters at Abendblume. Amira is painting again, and Roman is studying under Mr. Frazier. Ray Jr. wants another target practice lesson with you. I told him that would be fine, when you aren't busy. He said Armando is not any fun."