Itturned out that Brian's family had also brought along their owncamper vans, three as it turned out to be. Not all of them werestaying the entire weekend, Tej and Rome had some business or otherback in LA. That meant Dom, Letty, Brian and Mia had a camper vaneach and I guessed Jack was in the smallest one.

'Aren'tyou staying all weekend?' he asked me as the sun was nearing thehorizon and the sky had turned an orangey pink colour.

'Ididn't plan on it. Besides, I had to give Ali and Jas a lift up.'

'Can'tyou ask your friend, André, to take them back?'

'Meh,I could though I don't know what he'd say to it. He's been allfunny with me lately.' I huffed. 'I dunno.'

'Andyou have no idea why?' he asked, folding his arms and leaning backonto his passenger door.

'Whatare you on about?'

'Ohmy god, even a blind man can see.' He shook his head and chuckledpretty loud. 'He fancies you.'

'What?No way. André's just a friend. That's all.'

'Maybethat message hasn't got through to him.'

Therewas a beep of a horn to my right. 'We're going to eat out. Youwanna come, Ella?' It was Fern asking, with Carl driving and Alisonand Jasmine in the back.

'Erm,sure. Where were you thinking of?'

'Don'tknow. We were just gonna drive around until we found somewhere.'

Jackhad been here enough times so he decided to help them out on that.'There's El Tacocho on the right just past the hospital on ThirdStreet. Just past that there's a Domino's and past that, on thecorner with North Lena Road, is Phil's Burgers. Reach the Sheriff'sOffice and you've gone too far.'

'Tacossounds good,' Fern said. I knew she'd like to go there more thanDomino's. After all, she was half Mexican herself. Fern was just anickname from her surname of Fernandez; her real name was Ayva.

'I'llcatch up.' Carl drove off. Oddly, I hadn't seen André for awhilethough he could just take care of himself. 'You wanna come along?'I asked Jack.

'Erm.'I turned my eyes to the ground. 'Alright but can we walk?'

'Sure,fine by me.'

Youcould never tell with Jack, I figured out, if he ever had a plan forthings or they just unfolded along the way without any previousthought. We trekked our way along Third Street. There were a coupleof Auto Repair shops right next to each other and by the amount ofcars parked outside of them, they were in the perfect location fortheir business.

Itdidn't take us too long to get to El Tacocho and there was onceagain another Auto Repair shop which was also surrounded by sportscars. El Taco was busy but it appeared that my friends had arrivedjust in time since we joined them at a table for eight. They hadordered but it was so busy that they had to wait awhile. That wasfine for Jack and me as we had ordered at the door (we had pointed tothe table as we could see them from the door). A lot of laughter andtalk passed between them, even Jack seemed comfortable enough beingaround my loud friends.

*****

Aftera lot of mince meat and beans, I was very full and, seeing as the sunhad set hours ago, was rather sleepy.

'Youweren't thinking of driving back home, were you?' Jack asked as Iyawned in the chilly night air. We decided to walk back since Carlcouldn't fit us in his car.

'Iwas but I'm far too tired.' Somehow, I knew what he would saynext (near enough). 'And before you say anything. I'm gonna booka cheap hotel room nearby. Think I can manage doing the wholeweekend... just about.'

'Nah.I can't let you do that.'

Iwas immediately and deeply offended. 'What?' I stopped and facedhim sharply. 'Listen. I don't need youlooking out for me. Okay? Before we ever met I could take pretty goodcare of myself. I still can now.'

'That'snot how it seemed to me when that guy nearly choked you.'

'Thatwouldn't have happened if you hadn't brought your trouble to mydoor.' Running out of steam as to what to say, I stormed offleaving him in the middle of the street.

Inthe state I was in, it didn't take me long to get back to theairfield. There seemed to be a massive party going on but I shoved myway through easy enough. I was just about to get into my car whenJack's dad came up to me.

'Hey,have you seen Jack?' Brian asked.

'Yeh,we were walking back from the taco place down the road. We split atthe gate,' I lied. Brian said nothing more to me so I got in my carand went in search of a hotel. From what I remembered, there was acouple of motels just off the San Bernardino Freeway. I went insearch of them.

Justas I reached the Domino's junction, two cars squealed into sightfrom my right. They stopped right in front of me and the front doorsof each car opened. Out stepped three muscular, pumped up men and onethat was more lean and smooth. I recognised one from Jack's fightoutside my place. My right hand gripped harder on my steering wheelwhilst my left shifted my car into reverse. Unfortunately, I wasneither quick enough nor brave enough to move my car. As I glancedbetween the four of them, I noted that one of the passengers wieldeda black, silenced pistol in his hand. Not knowing what else to do, Ilet go of the wheel and the shift stick and raised my hands up. Maybethat didn't make any difference to what was about to happen.

Mybody remained completely still but my eyes followed the man who cameup to my door and opened it. 'Out,' he ordered.

Withouta thought, my left hand unlocked my seatbelt, my right turned theengine off and I slipped out of the car. He grabbed my upper arm andforced me to walk in front of him towards the others. I decided mybest option right now was to remain silent. I dropped my eyes watchedthe tarmac pass beneath my feet.

'You,girl,' spoke the driver of the first car that had raced into thejunction.

Therewas a nudge on my shoulder, I looked up. 'My name is Ella,' Isimply couldn't be bothered lying.

'Whateveryour name is. Jack O'Conner, you know him?'

Itilted my head. 'I might. Why? Who are you?'

'Thatdoesn't matter.' At that point, I thought it would be best totake in what he looked like. He had black trousers on with shinyblack shoes and an open top button to a blue shirt; it was less whathe was wearing that I focused on but rather his face and stature. Hehad stern eyes and a stern face to go with them. Cropped black hairatop his head with a hint of lustre in the streetlight. He wasn'tthat old either. If he didn't have someone armed with a gun then Imight have been more relaxed about this strange meeting. 'Where ishe?'

Thequestion I would have asked if I had felt braver was how did theyfind me? Of course though, I didn't ask it. 'Somewhere. Ihonestly don't know where he is and neither do I care.'

'Youhave a cell, call him.'

'Idon't have his number.'

Theman with the gun shouted out. 'Liar!'

Theboss man hushed him with a simple gesture. 'If you don't callhim, there might be some misfortune come to you.'

Didhe really think I was that stupid? I'd rather not get Jack intotrouble again, even if he was neck deep in something already. 'Whatdo you want with him?'

Thehard, calculating look he gave me wasn't enough to scare me morethan I was right now. 'Some financial issue.'

Idid wonder what he could mean but I wasn't given the chance to sayanother word. My knees were pushed from under me and I dropped to theground; both hitting the hard tarmac and sending a jolt up my spine.I wasn't certain I could have been more scared but now I reallywas. My breaths were very short and were more like gasps than actualbreaths. I didn't know what they would do but I was sure I wouldfind out.

'Weknow he spends a lot of time with you. You must be close.' He gaveanother hidden hand signal and the armed man walked up to me. Mythroat seemed to clamp almost shut as my eyes focused on the gun.They too clamped shut and I dropped my head. The cold metal of thebarrel pressed to my left temple. I waited for the bang of the hammerand waited and waited. It never came.

THWAK.The knock forced me forward onto my hands and then I slumped sidewaysas my head began to spin. Soon things began to blur, the tarmac, themen in the distance, the shoes of another. That was when the worldseemed to fall away into darkness.

*****

Theheadache was unbearable. I grumbled into the pillow. Wait... Pillow?Forgetting my headache, I pushed myself up and looked down at awhite, down-stuffed pillow beneath my head. 'What?'

'Ohgood. You're awake.'

'Huh?'I bolted around onto my butt.

'Breakfast?'

Iscowled. 'You! What the hell are you doing? And how did I gethere?'

'You'rewelcome would have sufficed. Nonetheless, I got you some fancy foodbrought up.'

Justthen my headache made an unnecessary bang inside my skull. 'Ow!'And I turned back over and buried my head under the soft pillow. Howdid Jack find me and why had he brought me to a hotel? An expensivehotel at that. Whilst I scowled at him, I swiftly took into accountthe queen sized bed, the golden metal framed mirror, the hardwooddoors, the shag pile rug, the crystal droplet chandelier and otherstuff besides.

Iknew I had fallen asleep, for how long, I didn't know. All I feltwas something heavy drop onto the bed. 'Wake up, lazy.' It wasJack.

Myheadache had suppressed. 'Go away,' I mumbled from under thepillow.

'I'mnot moving until you get up.'

'Fineby me.' A pressure started on my shoulders, a rounding pressure.Round and round my shoulder blades and between them; then up and downmy spine. I was glad for the massage and then not so when he wasinches away from my lower back. 'Get off!' I shouted and pushedhis hands off as I rolled onto my side and so turning my back awayfrom him.

'Butyou were enjoying that. I could tell.'

Isquinted my eyes. 'So what? You have a lot of explaining to me andmore for making up for what happened to me.'

'I'm...'

'No.I was pulled from my car and forced onto my knees for refusing to getyou shot and knocked unconscious in the middle of the road. I'm notafter sorry.' Feeling how empty my stomach was, I shuffled alongthe bed (a bit too big for my liking) and went over to the silvermetal breakfast cart. On top of it were shiny platters of strangeEuropean type pastries as well as toast and jam and fruit. Thinkingthe carbs would fill me up best, I piled a loud of fancy pastriesonto a plate and took a seat in a lavish armchair. 'Aren't youeating?' I asked, pulling apart a croissant.

'Iate whilst you were sleeping.' He joined me by taking the otherchair with a slice of toast in hand. 'You never let me apologise,'he began again whilst I was too busy munching on a croissant. 'As Iwas about to say, I'm sorry for what they did to you. Although, Iam curious who it was that assaulted you.'

Closingmy eyes, I tried to remember the point where I was forced out of mycar and laid my eyes on the four men who confronted me. 'There wasone, I remember the most. The three that tracked you to my place thattime. The third one, who just stood there. He was the one thatknocked me out.'

'Justthe one?' He looked awfully confused.

'Wellobviously not. The main man... he had black hair and wore a suit. Hewasn't much older than you. I don't remember the other two.' Ibarely even looked at them whilst I was being, what I would havecalled, interrogated.

Thelook Jack now portrayed worried me more than it should have. He wasjust about to take another bite from his slice of toast; instead, hestopped and lowered it slowly. His eyelids tightened but barelynarrowed. His chest still rose and fell as he breathed though hisnostrils showed no sign of him inhaling or exhaling. It was hard forme to tell whether he was worried or angry. 'Jack.'

Hesaid one word. One name. 'Nico.'

'Who?'

Hestood up and walked towards the breakfast trolley. Grabbing an apple,he turned back to face me. 'He's my cousin.' My eyes widenedand he corrected himself. 'Sort of.' His eyes watched me whilethe apple got rotated in his right hand. 'Do you remember thepictures I showed you? At my uncle's?' I nodded my head. 'Thepicture of my uncle's old team, Vince...' He hesitated. 'Nicois his son. He was born in Rio and grew up there. I've only met hima few times and that was when we were really young.'

'Andwhy is he after you?'

Jackshrugged his shoulders before coming to sit on the arm of my chair.'Try asking him that. Envy, jealousy. He never knew his dad and yetI know mine.' He was merely throwing out assumptions. Slipping hisarm across my shoulders, he leant back into the chair, I placed myhand over his leg. 'Like I don't blame him but he grew up in adeep set mafia neighbourhood. So you can imagine...' He stopped andI had no idea what he meant by that last sentence.

*****

Jackchecked out as I made my way to the lobby. The bright sunshine warmedmy skin and for a moment I couldn't see anything. Someone took myhand and began leading me out into the open; knowing it was Jack, Imerely walked along closing my hand my fingers around his. We passedthrough the car park and continued down the street. I read one of thestreet signs and realised we were nowhere near home, San Bernadino orSanta Monica.

'Jack,where are we?' I asked.

Beforehe replied, he placed his hand around me and rested it on my waist.'Somewhere new. I hope you don't mind.' The smile he gave me was oneof apology and simplicity.

Mimickinghis gesture, I put my arm round him too. 'I suppose I should get usedto you randomly kidnapping me. So, go on, where are we?' I askedagain, hoping this time he would answer me.

'It'snot exactly kidnap if it means you're safer here. If Nico is after methen it's better to be somewhere he doesn't know very well.'

'Herebeing where?' I tried for the third time.

'Thisis sort of home away from home to me.' We passed a few market stallsas we headed past a beautiful water fountain. Jack turned to theelderly lady on the other side, spoke something to her and theyexchanged items and money. Returning back to me, Jack had a bag inhis hand and offered me to take some of what was in it. Taking a fewinto my hand, I realised they were cashew nuts. I then decided to payattention to the language that was being spoken among the rest of thestalls.

'Italy!'I exclaimed. 'You brought me all the way to Italy?'

Hechewed a few more nuts and nodded. 'Milan to be exact.' I gave him asceptical pout, ate my cashews and followed him about on the streets.He took me down pretty alleyways, along a river embankment, aroundthe city square and then took me to a small café.

Iordered myself some pasta and a coffee whilst Jack ordered some sortof pizza. We sat down outside and as we waited for our food, Icontinued out conversation. 'So how did you manage to drag me out allthis way? I mean you couldn't have done on a plane.'

'Ican if it's private. Trust me, we are safer here than back home. Nicowon't dare cross my uncle or my dad, he's not stupid enough to dothat. But if he thinks I owe him something then he won't give upchasing me.'

'Yousound like he will know where you've gone.' My coffee had a hint ofcaramel to it but it was still too hot to even sip. 'I guess yourfamily won't know where you've disappeared to.'

Witha shake of his head, he leaned forward. 'No, but they will know thatif I need them then I will get a message to them somehow. Tej hasways of finding things out.'

Ourfood arrived just then and I set about trying to eat SpaghettiCarbonara the proper way whilst Jack simply used his hands with hisown. It was really creamy and the mushrooms were delicious. 'Jack?'

'Yeh.'

'WhyItaly? I mean, of all the places we could be, why here?'

Hetook a moment. 'I like it here. Plus it feels like home, somehow. Andthere's one other reason...' By now we had finished and were headingback across the city, in a taxi, to Chinatown. We pulled up outsideone of the long terraces and paid the driver in Euros. I waited onthe pavement, looking up and down the street. A small group ofchildren passed by on the other side; they waved and giggled at meand I waved back politely. Jack had knocked on one of the many reddoors.

Itopened to a woman standing in a pair of long shorts and a denimjacket. Her long wavy blond hair didn't really match the tone of herskin. 'Jack, what are you doing here?' she asked.

'Hi,sis. You still got that spare room.' I felt rather agitated but whenthey both began to laugh and hug each other, I let my breath out;that was when she spotted me. 'Oh, Ella. This is my sister.'

Shegave me a shifty look though more in the sense that she seemedworried rather than annoyed. 'Nice to meet you. You'd best come in.'Jack waited for me to enter first and then he followed. 'Excuse themess, guys. I had a few friends over last night.' What mess she meantexactly was beyond me. Apart from a few wine bottles near the sinkand a few blankets in a pile on a sofa then there wasn't reallyanything I would associate with the word 'mess'. Though by theneatness of everything else and the sparkling granite worktops in thekitchen, the turquoise and cream living room then I could tell sheliked her comforts and order. 'You're not in any trouble are you?'And then her shifty look from before made a whole lot of sense.

'Oh...no, no. Nothing like that,' I replied with a giggle and a flush of mycheeks. Jack bit his lip and seemed to stiffen. 'Jack's in troublenot me.'

'Ella,my brother is always in some kind of trouble. It is a trait that runson our family.' Putting the kettle on and taking three mugs out aglass fronted cupboard, she set about making some tea. 'What kind oftrouble are you in now?' she asked without even looking at herbrother.

Oneword seemed to do the trick. 'Nico.'

'Oh,'was all she said for a moment. 'Why? I thought he was in Chile.' OnceI had my had my tea, I went to sit down on the leather two-seater. Idecided not to listen to them talking and focus on the fact that Iwas half way round the world without anything but the clothes I waswearing and Jack as company. Everything considered, I wasn'tpanicking; I most probably should have been screaming at him andmaking my way to the nearest airport but I wasn't and that did scareme a little. Was it that I trusted Jack, I had no idea.

Justthen, Jack came and sat beside me with a strange grin plastered onhis lips. I scowled at him and then continued to sip my tea. 'What?'I remained quiet. 'We can stay here as long as we need,' he stated.

'I'mnot worried about where we're staying. I'm more worried about whatyou're going to do about your cousin.'

Drapinghis arm across my shoulders, he gave me his funny bemused look thatnormally made me giggle. 'So you're telling me that you're notworried about being in Italy? You really don't make sense to me a lotof the time but the times that you do make sense, I really like you.'

Thatwas when I giggled and also when he touched his forehead to mine.'You don't ever make sense.' I waited a moment until he pulled away.'So, since we are in Milan, do we have any plans?'

'Ihave many plans, which one to take is the problem.'