Jessica POV

Earlier today, Moira had been shot by someone on a motorbike and Oliver tried to chase him down, but he got away.

Now, Oliver was working out in the lair, shirtless, hitting a wooden dummy repeatedly and vigorously.

Jessica walked closer saying “Oliver, your mom was nearly killed. I think you can take a day off from training.”

Oliver stopped hitting the dummy, turning away “My mother wasn’t the target. This man was” he pointed at the computer. “Paul Copani, he was trying to close a deal with her when they were shot at. Copani works for Bertinelli Construction and Frank Bertinelli”.

“The mob boss?” Jessica asked.

Olive nodded, sitting down and saying “I did some digging. Copani isn’t the first member of Bertinelli’s crew who’s been hit”.

“You did some digging” Jessica repeated, raising her brows making Oliver sighed “Bertinelli has a lot of enemies. The best way to figure out who’s trying to target his organization is to get inside of it.”

Jessica scoffed “So let me get this right, Oliver. Your mother’s shot at, nearly killed and the best way you properly process this emotionally is by undercover with the mob”.

“I’m not trying to process it emotionally” Oliver told her.

“Yeah, well maybe that’s your problem” Jessica leaned against the table next to him and continue saying “ Have you ever thought about just being there for you family?”.

“I tried that today with Thea. She told me I wasn’t being honest with her and she’s right” Oliver told her.

Jessica expression changed and she replied “Well she telling that since we came back to both of us Oliver and this issue we both have been facing with everyone. Well we can’t explain to her that you left your mother alone and bleeding on the pavement because you and me are fast enough to almost run down the attacker. But what we can do is protect our family and Oliver, when I find out who this guy is I promise, he’s a dead man. But your family needs you right now, Oliver. You need to be with them” her expression changed again but it was frown so she continue “At least yours still doesn’t totally hate you. So let me get close to Frank Bertinelli and get to bottom of this. Then I’ll let you know what I find”.

Oliver furrowed his brow, curiously “You’d go undercover with the mob? Why?”.

“Are you serious, It’s Moira. She has been a second mother to me since I met her and she been always good to me and You’re not the only one who want to protect your family, Oliver” Jessica replied.

Oliver looked at Jessica with gratitude and brotherly love.

Later that day Jessica arrived at the Bertinelli’s house as Frank Bertinelli himself came to greet her.

“Mr. Bertinelli” I greeted as I offer him handshake.

“Call me Frank and please come in.” Frank says as he shakes my hand and Jessica said “Then call me Jessica” while shaking his hand.

“Thank you for agreeing to meet me at my home”  Frank says.

“As Mr. Queen used to say, living room makes the best conference rooms” Jessica said.

"I'm going to have to steal that one." Frank replied. "Come let's have some drinks.."

At that point, I noticed a woman with dark brown hair wearing a black dress at the top of the stairs.

"So, I have to admit that I'm surprised that you wanted to talk." He declared as he gave us our drinks. "It was my understanding that Mrs. Queen did not want our contracts. If you don't know. I want to build the new Queen’s Applied Science Building."

"I'm considering to use everything in my power to giving it to you." Jessica replied.

"How is your friend Oliver’s mother by the way?" He asked.

"She's recuperating at home." I stated.

"Your father is a member of SCPD, isn't he?" Frank said to me.

"He is and I'll have you know that he's on the case right now." I answered. "If he finds anything out, he'll let you know."

"Paul was a good friend and a good man. Ugh, the violence in this city." Frank replied as he wiped a tear from his eye. There was a little bit of irony to him saying that.

"I've had the same thought." Jessica said which made Frank surprised.

"So, why did you come back? After that island, you could have gone anywhere in the world." Frank said.

"Because Starling City is my home, and my family is here." Jessica replied.

"Non importa in che modo si va o si, si finisce sempre a casa," The young woman she had just seen walks into the sitting room, "No matter which way you go or turn, you always end up at home."

Bertinelli stand up and smiles as he introduces her, "Jessica, this is my daughter Helena."

"Hello." Jessica says as she shakes her hand.

"Nice to meet you." She replies before looking to her father, "I'm heading out."

"All right. Take one of the guys with you."

"I can take care of myself." She replies.

"I wasn't asking, sweetie."

Just then Salvati walks in, "Frank, that meeting you requested. They can do it. Now."

"I can come back another time." Jessica interjects but Bertinelli shakes his head, "No, no, no. Just, uh. Just excuse us for a moment, would you?" Jessica nods, "Thank you." He says as he, Helena and Salvati move into the dining room.

"Jessica Lance, associating yourself with a cop's daughter now?"

Frank turns to his daughter, "Look, um... I've got to go to this other meeting, but I need someone to take her to dinner."

"So, you pimp out your daughter." She shoots back.

"No. I ask her to help me close a deal. A reminder that the family business is dying and that we need this connection, and Jessica can give it to us. Please, Sweet Pea. For us. For me. Hmm?" She smiles lightly, "That's my girl."

Jessica is lead into the room by Salvati who hangs in the back once they're into view, "Jessica, I'm so sorry. Something has come up. But Helena would love to take you to dinner and discuss the deal further."

"Oh. Well I was asked to speak with you." She replies.

"Well, as you speak on Queens behalf, my daughter also speaks for ours." He replies as Jessica looks at Helena who also doesn't seem to like the idea.

"It's... It's really not necessary." She begins but Helena interjects, "It would be my pleasure."

"Sure." She says as Frank shakes her hand.

Later at an Italian Restaurant….

Helena and Jessica are taken to a table by the owner of the restaurant, "You are an angel, Helena. So, beautiful. Well, we are gonna take good care of both of you tonight." He says looking at Jessica and handing her a napkin, "You'll tell your father hello from us?" He says as he points to his daughter.

"Of course, Mr. Russo." Helena smiles back at the man.

"I'll give you a minute."

"Thank you." Jessica replies as Russo walks off with his daughter in tow.

"I heard about the accident at Queen Consolidated. Is Mrs. Queen alright?" Helena asks earnestly. "Is she going to be okay?"

"She's going to be fine. More shaken up than anything." Jessica replies with a smile.

"I'm glad. So, why would are you helping the Queens go into business with my father?" Helena asked her.

"You don't approve of your family's enterprises?" Jessica asks her back.

"We share a name, and that name defines us whether we want it to or not. You've already made judgments about me, just like I've already made judgments about you."

"Right. I'm just a cop's daughter, after all." Jessica replies with a grin.

Helena sighs, "Sorry." But at seeing Jessica’s grin she smiles a little herself.

"That's okay." Jessica says honestly.

"Hey, can I ask you something?" Helena asks as she begins to touch the necklace around her neck with a crucifix.

"Yeah."

"I know it must have been hell for you, alone only with Oliver on that island for 5 years, but I'm..." She begins but is hesitant to continue not wanting to pry.

"But what?"

"But was there ever a day when you were just... Happy to be away from everything? No pressure from your family, no need to be the person everyone else expects you to be. Was there ever a day when " Helena finally speaks with sadness in her voice, "When I didn't feel lost and I felt... free?" Jessica finishes for her as Helena nods.

"More than one. And, uh... Those are the days that I miss." She says and they both smile, any awkwardness vanishing

Jessica and Helena are the last people remaining in the restaurant, "People are always asking me, what did I miss the most?" Jessica breaths, "Air conditioning. Satellite radio. Tagliet uh ta "

"Tagliatelle?" Helena offered.

"Right." Jessica smiles.

"Mm." Helena nods

"But those are the answers that I give people because those are the answers they're expecting."

"Why can't you just be truthful?"

"I don't know how truthful I can be."

"You've been through a crucible, and it changed you. How can it not?" Helena asks.

Jessica remains quiet, thinking before breaking the silence avoiding the question, "That's beautiful. Your cross."

"It's a gift. From my fiancée." Helena says sadly holding onto the cross.

"Fiancée."

"Mm." Helena continues to touch the cross fondly.

"I didn't know you were engaged." Jessica says a little disappointed.

"I'm not. Anymore. She died." Helena informs her.

"I'm sorry."

"Me, too. That was my crucible."

"It's nice to... It's really nice to be with someone that I can be myself with." Jessica tells her honestly.

"It's nice to be with someone who knows how hard it can be."

Jessica’s phone rings, "I'm really sorry."

"It's okay. Take it."

"Thank you." She says as she answers, "Yeah."

"It's Diggle. Something came up. You got to get out of there and call me back." She hangs up and looks at Helena sadly.

"Helena, I have to go. There's something that I have to do. It's about Mrs Queen, otherwise I would, uh, I would stay."

"And I would like that." Helena says honestly.

Jessica puts money on the table but Helena puts her hand on top of hers, "My father would kill me if I let you pay." She leaves the money anyways.

"I have a confession. I didn't want to go out with you tonight." Jessica tells her and Helena replies, "That makes two of us."

"I'm really glad that I did."

"That makes two of us."

"Hmm."

"Jessica. Be careful with my father."

Jessica nods and makes her way to her car as she calls Diggle, "What happened?"

"Yeah, it's what's about to happen. Bertinelli's enforcer Nick Salvati Yeah."

"I saw him and Frank together. He seems like a real stand up mobster."

"Yeah, well, he's been paying visits to everyone who owes the mob protection money."

"Diggle, I'm trying to figure out who took a shot at Mrs. Queen, not take on all of organized crime."

"Well, listen, Jessica, Salvati and his goons have already put 4 people in the hospital tonight, and if somebody doesn't stop them, the poor b*st*rd who owns Russo's is going to be next."

"Wait, wait. Russo's?" Jessica asks, turning around looking at the restaurant she came out of.

"It's at the corner of Adams and "

"I know where it is, Diggle. I'm here right now."

"What?"

"I was having dinner with Bertinelli's daughter."

"Jessica, you're supposed to be going undercover, not speed dating, although that explains so much."

"Hey no judging, plus I didn't have a choice."

"Yeah, well, uh, I've seen her on the web. You made quite the sacrifice."

"Salvati's here." Jessica says noticing a car stop in front of the restaurant, she hangs up and heads to the trunk of the car to grab her gear.

Inside the restaurant Salvati walks in as Russo's daughter was about to close, "I'm sorry, we're closed." Salvati just walks over to Russo.

"Oh, Mr. Salvati. Buona sera. I have some fresh made lasagna." He tells them nervously.

"We're not here for food, Mr. Russo. Your payment's due."

"I already made my payment this month."

"You need to pay again."

"Please. I can't afford to make another payment if I'm going to " Russo tries to explain but is caught off, "Going to what? Restock your bar?" Salvati throws a couple of bottles of wine on the floor.

"Break his fingers." He commands to his two goons.

Russo's daughter tries to stop them, "Leave him alone!" It just annoys Salvati, "Break hers, too."

Russo screams at the men, "No! Don't touch her!" Just then the Jessica as the hood shoots the breaker sending the restaurant into darkness, and proceeds to attack the goon grabbing Russo's daughter all the while using the bow as a staff to attack Salvati, "GO!" she yells to the Russo's who do so, the second goon takes his gun and shoots at the hood but hits the other goon.

During this time the shooter from QC busts through the door and opens fire on the goon with the gun, shooting him first on the thigh then the heart. The shooter then turns to Salvati and manages to fire three times, not one of them hitting a mark, before the hood throws a dart disarming them.

They engage in hand to hand all the while Salvati makes his escape through the back, the biker is skilled and hold their own against the hood up until the hood gets a knee strike to the side of the helmet causing the biker to almost fall before they regain their footing and come back up, when the hood gets in an elbow strike shattering the visor of the helmet consequently hooking it and removing the helmet to reveal, Helena.

This causes Jessica as the hood to pause in shock during which time Helena flees the scene leaving the Jessica to wonder what is going on.

Jessica was back in the lair with Oliver and Diggle. She was sitting down with her leg popped up on the table to rest after the night she had.

“I don’t understand. Why is she targeting her family?” Oliver asked.

“I don’t know” Jessica answered, honestly.

“Here I thought Oliver had parental issues” Diggle joked.
“This is not a joke, Diggle. Any attempt on his right hand is gonna send Helena’s father on a warpath” Oliver told him.

Jessica kept quiet as she was still processing that the first girl she liked after coming back is behind all of this. Not knowing what to say, Jessica stood and grabbed her jacked before walking out which made Oliver and Diggle confused.

The next Jessica was in the Queen Mansion. There was knock on the front door , so she walked through foyer and opened the front door revealing her father Detective Lance standing outside.

“Detective. Is everything okay?” Jessica said not forgetting what happened few weeks ago that her father made her relive her worst memories. Jessica was already not in a mood to deal with her father as what happened during her and Oliver polygraph pissed her so much that she was calling her dad as Detective but she was still talking to Laurel.

Lance walked in already getting annoyed said “Your, um, your buddy with blue hood was at Russo’s last night”

“And I was there earlier on a date with a beautiful girl. So what, you thing I am the girl in the blue hood again?” Jessica retorted back.
Lance shook his head “No Jess, your date Helena Bertinelli. If I were you I’d stay away from her. Her family is bad news on a good day.”

Jessica also getting annoyed said “Why the sudden concern for my well being, you already ruining our relationship want to try new ways to be rude to me?”

Lance sighed “No, you are my little daughter” which made Jessica even more annoyed saying “Doesn’t seems that way” but Lance continue “Last week I made a mistake which almost cost you and Oliver their lives and what you said on the polygraph shocked me to my core but you are not angry at Laurel then why me”.
Jessica still annoyed answered “Laurel wasn’t trying to prove that I’m some nutbag with bows and arrow and wasn’t making me relive some of the worst times of my life”

“Sorry for that please I didn’t expect that happened. I just want to clear off the books” Lance said and left.

Just then Thea arrived as Jessica’s dad left which surprised her as she knew about how much angry Jessica was for when he arrested her and Oliver. So she decided to ask her saying “Good morning and what your dad was doing here?”.

Jessica expression changed from annoyed to relived “Just trying to warn about a girl I was on date last night and Good morning. How’s Moira by the way? I made sure Oliver was there with her”.

Thea smiled despite it hurt her that Jessica was dating someone else but she still smiled and answered “ She getting better and thanks for Oliver and speaking of Oliver I remember Tommy wanted to talk to you and Oliver about something but you weren’t here so he told Oliver what was it so you should talk to him.” While started to leave but turned around and said “By the way if you want to talk about your date or want some fashion advice tell me”.

Later at the Church Cemetery

Helena is at a grave paying her respects and going to touch her necklace but she doesn't have it on and she gets a worried look, Jessica walks up behind her, "Helena."

"How did you find me here?"

"I followed you from your house. Your fiancée?"

"Yeah." Helena nods, she lays flowers on the grave and stands to face her.

"You said that losing her was your own crucible. That it changed you. You didn't say how."

"When you love someone as much as I loved her, with all of your heart, and you can't just turn that emotion off when they're taken from you. You still feel things as deeply. And if it can't be love that you feel, then... then it becomes hate."

"Hate for who?"

"Jessica... you should stay away from me." Helena walks away as Jessica goes after her, "Helena?"

A van stops in front of them and Salvati gets out of the van along with more goons who point their guns at Helena and Jessica, "Get in."

Later at some Abandon Warehouse..

Helena is sitting in a chair her hands are zip tied behind her, "My father is going to kill you for this." Salvati smacks her as Jessica clenches her jaw and works on escaping from her own zip tied hands, "I've been wanting to do that for years. Spoiled bitch. I knew it was someone from the inside waging war against your father and me. I just never thought it'd be this inside."

He takes her necklace out of his pocket and shows it to her, "You dropped this at Russo's."

"You're smarter than I gave you credit for, Nicky."

"You're not." As he raises his hands to hit her again Jessica yells at him, "Hey! You're a businessman, right? So, let's talk business. I can offer you a lot of money courtesy of the Queens if you let us go."

"This isn't about money or power. This is about loyalty."

"She's got nothing to do with any of this." Helena points out drawing his attention back to her, "Then what the hell is it about?"

"My father had Michelle murdered."

Salvati laughs, "Of course he did. He didn't want you to know the truth. Your rat of a fiancée was gathering evidence. He was talking to the friggin' FBI. The love of your life was going to destroy your father!"

"You're wrong."

"Uhh. I found a laptop in Michelle's bag, Helena. Everything that could send your father and me to prison for the rest of our lives was on it. That computer " He is interrupted by Helena's revelation, "Was mine. Michelle wasn't the one talking to the FBI. I was."

"You?"

"My father is a monster. He doesn't care who he hurts to keep his money and power, and I wanted it to stop."

"Well, then it's your fault Michelle's dead. Not your father for ordering the hit or me for carrying it out. Yours." Salvati tells her getting into her face.

"You shot Michael." Helena realizes as Salvati gets his gun and motions the way he did it, "In the chest, so he knew it was me. Just... like... this." However, before being able to fire Jessica broke free and tackles him away from Helena, who in turns breaks free in the commotion and engages Salvati.

Jessica in turn kicks a goon coming for after which she grabs the goon as a shield as the other fires, she throws him at the other one and then engaging him in hand to hand disarming him and then using the butt of the gun she knocks him in the head before twisting around and grabbing him in a chokehold. Helena having fought with Salvati pins him up against a forklift with her hand on his neck, "You're gonna burn in hell for what you've done."

"It'll be worth it." She replies as both Jessica and Helena snap the necks of the men just as Oliver arrived as the hood looking surprised at both of them especially Jessica knowing the look which concern him. "Helena..." Jessica says softly as Helena looks at her, "I didn't have a choice, Jess. No one can know my secret."

Later at Laurel's Place…

Jessica was talking to Laurel about their dad and her date with Tommy while also discussing the fact he wanted to tell Jessica and Oliver beforehand just then they both hears a knock on the door and walks to answer it, they finds a gloomy Tommy, "You okay?" Jessica asked

"I spoke to my dad today."

"I bet that was fun." Laurel said as they walk to her living room.

"He explained to me what happened with my credit card yesterday. And my checking account, my savings account, my brokerage account, my stock portfolio. He cut me off completely."

"What?"

"My car got repossessed. That was fun. Oh, and I have to move out of my apartment by the end of the month."

"You are going to be fine, Tommy. In fact, you are going to be great.

Merlyn money or not. And you know, I have a mushroom and olive Mario pizza in my refrigerator waiting to be eaten." She tells him as she holds his hand and intertwines her fingers with his.

"I suppose it's already paid for, right?"

"Exactly." They sit there looking at each other smiling and then they remembered the fact Jessica was still there so Laurel asked her “You are welcome to join too Jess”.

“No Laurel continue your cute moment. I have my date with someone.” which made Laurel smiled even more while Jessica turned to Tommy “ And you. If you need any help talk to me and Oliver. Also if you hurt my sister I will break you” which made Tommy gulped in fear.

“Just kidding, see you later guys and have fun” Jessica said while leaving.

Later at Helena's Room…

Helena walks out from her bathroom and sighs, "I'd ask how you got in here, but the female Starling City vigilante comes and goes as she pleases, doesn't she?"

Jessica remains where she is looking out the window, "How'd you know?"

"I saw you fight." She walks toward her as Jessica turns around, "And I saw your eyes. That island changed you in ways that only someone like me could understand." Jessica walks towards Helena, "No. What you're doing right now, I know that if feels like justice, but it's not. It's revenge."

"Sometimes revenge is justice."

"Your father killed your fiancée. And what did your father do to you? Isn't the man in the hood fighting to set things, right? Why is your vendetta more valid than mine? We're the same, you and I." She says but Jessica looks at her, "No, we're not."

Helena scoffs looking at Jessica who she knew was still denying her feeling towards her said, "Hiding in plain sight. Concealing our anger with smiles and lies. Don't lie to me, Jessica. You feel the same as I do, I know it." She says with tearful eyes.

"Why are you crying?" Jessica asks as she steps closer.

"I don't know. Maybe it's because I have been alone in my hate for so long.”

“I feel" Jessica finishes her thought, "It feels so good to tell the truth."

Tears fall down Helena's eyes as Jessica embraces her, and kisses her.