Then, in an attempt to retaliate against Quiet Storm, Gail Esposito, retainer of Zakk, was kidnapped, raped, and tortured by Hell's Kitchen. When they got information from her, they called Zakk. Lisa Shields wanted to meet with him. Alone. When Gail was released, Zakk called his ghoul, Scarlet. Scarlet was to retain the services of Alex Straus (a hitman), kill Gail, cut her head off, dump the body, and let that serve as a message to all of his retainers that don't do what they're told (apparently when Zakk says to lay low, he means that sh*t!). Ned, after being chastised by Nicolai about the Carlito incident (which was all over the news), became quite upset and impatient. He forced Zakk to come along with him in order to tell Nicolai and the other primogen that Nicodemus is NOT a member of Quiet Storm. It was hurting his reputation. He then offered Zakk $1 million to get back Cherry Hill. As Miles and Cornelius became more and more insubordinate, Nicodemus lost control and actually became Colchester, beating the hell out of Miles and putting him through a wall. Miles, visibly upset, abruptly let the coterie, went hunting in Druid Hill Park, and a Garou walked away with his head.
Meanwhile, Zakk was to meet Lisa Shields at Heaven and Hell, a two story club that was becoming increasingly popular in the Baltimore area. It was at this meeting that Shields and Zakk formed a truce. In fact, they decided to do business together in terms of Cherry Hill's drug trade. Zakk would later receive a tour of an advance drug operation, and the Setites figured out a way to make their drugs more addictive with an obscure ritual. Upon moving back into Cherry Hill, a meeting took place between Quiet Storm and Cherry Hill Mobsters (Zakk explained that Nicodemus looks the way he does because he has herplsyphilaids). CHM would run heroin, and Hell's Kitchen would now be selling marijuana. When CHM left, Quiet Storm met amongst themselves. Zakk was particularly interested in paying off Nicolai's numerous boons as soon as possible. They also set about getting halogen lamps and Cornelius got Siegfred to coerce Adrian (who for the first time EVER, didn't answer to an authority) into putting a ward vs. Ghouls on numerous parts of the house. This plan backfired, because Adrian put it over the entire house and Cornelius' ghoul ended up in ICU (Nicodemus would later try to kill her at the hospital). Nicodemus was forced to embrace his ghoul Joe just to get him out of the house safely.
The primogen then had another meeting. Aldred informed everyone that Garlotte would no longer be attending primogen meetings, since his childer, Katrina, blew up his boat. It was also revealed that Vitel was a Sabbat traitor, and he had been destroyed by Theo Bell, Jan Pieterzoon, and several others (Jerzee was torpored in the fight). Jared Tice was again made acting primogen. At this meeting, Nicodemus dimed out Cornelius yet again. Nicodemus and Cornelius have plans to take over Annapolis, Nicodemus lied and told everyone that Cornelius is going to become the Prince. Cornelius has taken a serious hit to his status.