After her confrontation with Junior, Lauren locks herself in her room for three days, unwilling to expose her roommates to what Junior said and did. She now fears that she and her roommates are at risk of being targeted by the mafia. She worries that she is not deserving of love and reflects on Junior’s genuine regret when he yelled that he killed Tommy. When someone enters the apartment, she calls out, then grabs a whip when no one answers.

Junior slips into her room, and Lauren assumes that he is about to kill her. He then reaches into his jacket and pulls out an envelope, not a gun, explaining that it contains the deed to Velvet’s building. Junior also clarifies that he did not kill Tommy, though he understands that Lauren might never believe him. He shows her a picture and video of Tommy in Italy, saying that Tommy went to Lorenzo when law enforcement started investigating him. Rather than killing Tommy, Lorenzo rewarded his loyalty by getting him out of the country. Lauren realizes that their fight hurt Junior as much as it hurt her. After he explains how he got the deed to Velvet’s building, she insists that he keep it because she knows that this is his opportunity to leave the mafia. Overcome by worry that Junior will be corrupted by the mafia before he gets another chance to leave, she faints.

Junior catches her and brings her onto the bed. They both apologize for hurting each other, and Lauren reflects that she has always been waiting for people to hurt her the way Junior and Kelly hurt her in high school. Junior admits that he should have told Lauren about Tommy’s disappearance and about Tommy’s long-ago threats to kill Junior if he publicly revealed his high school relationship with Lauren. Lauren is shocked to realize that her father, not Junior, was the one to ruin her life.

Junior tells Lauren that when they were both in high school, Tommy beat him up and threatened to kill him if he ever talked to Lauren again, and he also reveals that Nico Sr. then reciprocally threatened to kill Lauren. (Junior’s distancing behavior toward Lauren was intended to keep her safe.) He now plans to use the next family dinner gathering to tell his father that he is quitting the mafia, and Lauren asks to come with him. She does not forgive Junior for everything, but they both want to make their relationship work. She apologizes for tasing him, and he shows her the burn. They have sex, and Junior resolves to become a better person for Lauren. Afterward, they admit that they are still angry at each other, but they do not feel any hatred. Lauren arranges to attend the family dinner in a few weeks, and Junior explains his plan to leave the mafia. He also promises not to hurt Lauren again.

Two weeks later, Junior and Lauren nervously drive to Nico Sr. and Moira’s house. Aly and Josh meet them there, and Moira greets the group, approving of Lauren’s presence but predicting a confrontation. Junior tells Moira that he does not want to lose her, and Moira reassures him before leading everyone inside. Moira tells Junior that she already warned Nico Sr. of Lauren’s presence. Junior’s father enters and greets everyone but Josh, then asks Lauren if she has heard anything about Tommy. Lauren lies, saying the police are investigating, and Junior’s father backs off. They join the main room along with Greg, Alec, and Stefan. Alec is excited to see Lauren, but the brothers bicker among themselves until their father comes in. Junior’s father asks Aly about work, and she says that she reattached a basketball player’s finger. Junior’s father pointedly asks Lauren the same question, and she confidently replies that she got more subscribers, caught up with her filming, and convinced another politician to back the Expanded Safeties for Sex Workers Act. Lauren then asks about Nico Sr.’s work, but Moira stops him from answering. Junior’s father gives Moira a loving smile, and Lauren wishes that he were not both a bad person and a loving husband, as it would be easier to hate him.

Over dinner, Nico Sr.’s mood deteriorates. When he calls for the plates to be cleared, he tells Junior that he does not approve of Lauren. Junior tells the family about buying Velvet’s building and insists that he is not going to put it to illegal purposes. He announces his intention to leave the mafia, infuriating Nico Sr., who unsuccessfully tries to get Aly, Josh, and Lauren to leave the room. Junior’s father calls Lauren a “whore,” but she remains unfazed. Junior tells his father never to speak to Lauren that way again and threatens to leave the family altogether. Nico Sr. knows that he cannot force Junior to stay, so he throws his wineglass at Junior in fury, then stands up, yells at Junior, and blames Lauren.

Josh steps in, threatening to do something on his phone if Junior’s father moves. Nico Sr. threatens to kill Tommy but retracts the threat when he remembers that Aly, Josh, and Lauren are still there. Junior repeats that he is leaving the mafia, and Junior’s father lunges forward, tackling and strangling him. Junior is shocked, noting that his father never hit him, and calls his father “Dad.” Hearing this, Nico Sr. releases his grip, but Lauren is already tasing him. Moira runs over, Josh vomits, and Alec spits on his father. Stefan says they should all leave to punish Nico Sr., but Moira insists on staying, insisting that Nico Sr. was not always angry and violent.

Junior tells them that his father was about to cease his attack, and he acknowledges that in that moment, he caught a glimpse of the father he remembers from his childhood. Stefan leaves, but Greg and Alec stay behind to help Moira. Aly, Josh, Lauren, and Junior leave, and Aly worries that Nico Sr. will try to hurt Junior or Lauren. However, Junior knows that Moira will convince him not to. Aly, Josh, Lauren, and Junior all agree to have their own family dinners, rather than coming back to Nico Sr. and Moira’s house.

In the aftermath of the family dinner Moira and Nico Sr. go to couples’ therapy. Junior takes some time to relax and accept his new freedom, and he and Lauren begin renovating Velvet’s building. They also start subletting rooms for photographers and others, increasing their revenue. After two months, Junior and Lauren are still desperate for each other, and they decide to perform at Velvet. Lauren is excited and nervous because Junior has developed an interest in bondage and exhibitionism. They have spent almost all of the last two months together, and Junior has stayed true to his word not to interfere with her filming and her contact with subscribers. Junior warns Lauren that she might not like some parts of the performance, but she is excited by the element of mystery involved.

They go on stage, and Lauren sees a bondage-related furniture and objects. She avoids looking at the crowd as Junior takes off her robe and declares his love for her. She returns the sentiment. Junior then puts Lauren on one of the pieces of furniture, tying her legs and neck to stop her from moving. The crowd is excited, and Taylor shouts encouragement, making everyone laugh. Junior and Lauren have sex on stage, and Lauren loves it. She turns her head during the performance and sees people in the crowd having sex as well, which arouses her further. After they climax, the crowd cheers.

Lauren and Aly appreciate the weather as everyone gathers for their third family dinner since Junior left the mafia. Ryan brings wine, and Taylor and Jackson carry plates of food. Ben arrives with beer, and Josh begs Aly to let the cats onto the catio. Lauren finds Junior inside, sitting on the couch with both cats lounging on top of him. He follows Lauren outside and explains that Moira is not coming. When Junior left the mafia, Stefan also disappeared, and Alec and Greg have both threatened to leave if their father does not change his ways. Recently, Junior’s father has started asking Moira about Junior.

Josh says that Tyler is also coming, along with a date, and Lauren reminds herself that Tyler’s involvement in the purchase of Velvet’s building is a secret. She also wonders what secrets Josh and Aly might be keeping from her. Tyler arrives with his date, Stella, whom Lauren thinks is beautiful. Stella apologizes for eating before the party, noting a dietary restriction, and Aly encourages her to let them know what they can do for her in future gatherings. Lauren offers Junior another beer, and they flirt together, growing physically demonstrative until Aly stops them. Ryan starts telling a story about catching Lauren and Junior having sex, but Josh interrupts to ask Tyler where he met Stella. Tyler says that this is a long story.