[attr="class","beck"]beckett's eyes lift from his flip phone, turning to meet a voice he barely recognizes. but her words gave her away.

"i have."

the phone flips close.

"why?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Madeleine Miro

"Why?" she rolled her eyes, a sharp but delicate edge to her otherwise silky voice.

"Because I'm her mother and I don't appreciate strange men paying her visits."

She was too important.

"What did you discuss?"

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]the sharpness in her voice does little to pierce through his skin.

"i'm not the one you should be concerned about."

he shrugs a shoulder.

"nothing much. i just gave her some food and water."

[attr="class","noodles"]Madeleine Miro

"Excuse me?"

Her eyes narrowed to slits, arms crossing underneath her bosom.

"Who exactly should I be concerned about then?"

Food and water? She found that hard to believe.

"What kind of food? She has a very particular diet she must adhere to."

Greasy, fatting foods were off the table. Melody Miro needed to maintain that model figure of hers. She barely classified as it was.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]"other rockets."

his flip phone buzzes in his pocket; he reaches for it, flipping it open once again.

"it was a chicken sandwich."

he looks down to read the text.

"and a bottled water. can't remember what brand."

[attr="class","noodles"]Madeleine Miro

Is he really answering his phone right now? Madeleine clicked her teeth and stepped forward. That wouldn't do at all. A hand quickly reached out to snatch the phone from Theo's grasp.

"Up here, Beckett. We're having a conversation."

Anyone who was anyone would recognize her tone. That of a mother addressing a spoiled child. A disobedient runt.

A boy and not a man.

"Other rockets? Explain, now."

Who in this rat infested sub had it out for her daughter? Tell her so that she might gut them like a Tepig.

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]the phone's snatched out of his grasp, and only then does he look back up, exhaling as he does.

"all i'm saying is that there are others who won't be as...gentle."

not that he's gentle by any sense of the word; quite the opposite.

"they'll want information eventually."

[attr="class","noodles"]Madeleine Miro

"They'll find out I have claws if they touch her."

Melody was hers. She decided how to treat her and how far to go with it. Del folded her arms once more, keeping the phone clasped tightly in her hand.

"They will get it in time. I'll make Melody sing, Rocket needn't worry."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]"of course."

he has no doubts about it.

"in the meantime, let me know what her diet is and i'll be sure to accommodate."

[attr="class","noodles"]Madeleine Miro

"Black beans." Madeleine snickered.

Mother is cruel Melody Miro, but she'd known that somewhere in her heart for ages.

"They're her favorite. Also, chicken is fine, but make sure it's not too fatty."

The model bit down on her bottom lip.

"Awfully kind of you to accommodate her needs. Why?"

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]black beans and lean chicken sound like the horrible cooking he used to do for Victoria Beckett. but who is he to judge? he simply nods.

"you'd throw a fuss otherwise."

a rare joke escapes, and after a moment, he adds:

"i don't see her as our prisoner."

[attr="class","noodles"]Madeleine Miro

Madeleine chuckled dryly.

"This, Beckett, is hardly me making a fuss."

She stepped closer, "But I can certainly show you one." and unlike her looks, it wouldn't be pretty.

"Oh, but she is a prisoner."

Just an important one.

"Mine."

THEO BECKETT

[attr="class","beck"]she steps closer but his demeanor never falters. she's not the first to threaten him nor will she be the last.

what does strike him odd, however, is the way she describes her own daughter.

but then again, should he have expected anything different?

"by all means, miro, make a fuss. i'm certain i could handle you."

[attr="class","noodles"]Madeleine Miro