The flight to Brazil was long. Clayton hated long flights sitting coach, he was too tall for the seats, awkwardly standing up in the aircraft to gather his belongings.

The airport was busy as Clayton passed security, the amount of people flowing past him was amazing.

One or two people stared at him due to his sheer height, something he had grown accustom to.

He ignored the glares, adjusting his sunglasses as he kept on walking.

The heat hit him as he walked out of the large, glass airport doors.

It was a wet heat, Clayton could feel it deep down in his lungs. He thanked god that he had quit smoking, this would have killed him if he hadn't.

He scanned the crowd and saw Samuel, smiling with that cocky grin and a sign reading: senhor idiota

Clayton couldn't stop grinning as he greet Samuel with a hug.

"You took long enough," Samuel said as he grabbed Clayton's bag from his hand.

"Yes a twenty-five hour flight with two stops is actually a short flight," Clayton said with a yawn, he was eager to have a shower and call Alice, he knew she would be wondering where he was in the world. He just hoped she was safe driving that death-trap of a car of hers.

"Ruth and Danny will be here by Thursday I believe. They are enjoying the honeymoon period too much. So gross" Samuel cut in with a smile as they climbed into the Jeep.

Clayton hated Jeeps. Too small for his legs, he missed his red truck, now in Alice's care.

He was tired as he rested his head against the headrest, "and you're not in the honeymoon stage with Catherine, no, Chloe? You have been spending a lot of time with her. What's the deal?"

Samuel stared at Clayton for a second before turning his attention on the road, pulling away from the curb, "It's Celia. She's a good girl, a little annoying. But I don't know, I'm not willing to give up the whores just yet for that little firecracker. Just don't tell Alice, since they are best friends and all. I'm pretty sure she will hurt me."

He wasn't wrong. Alice was scary when angry, in a cute way, his thoughts happily admitted.

There was a short pause before Samuel continued, "I can't believe y'all are engaged. I'm being push aside by a chick....only a few years your junior. Girls hearts' will be breaking all over the world now Clayton. We need to plan a bachelor party for you. As your unofficial best man, I'm thinking strippers, cocaine. Tijuana?"

"How about Vegas? or Nashville? Miami is fun too, but without the hookers and drugs," Clayton quickly added, he was nervous.

"Maybe keep it in the United States, Sammy. Not international," Clayton enforced, as Sam arching his eyebrow.

He knew Alice was being taken to Cancún, Mexico by Celia and the rest of the bridal party....he was sworn to secrecy

They laughed together, only a slight hint of awkward shuffle from Clayton as he repositioned himself within the car. He knew Samuel's game, love and leave. Clayton on the other hand, was trying the one girl thing, faithfulness, but it was going to be hard.

A bachelor party could be fun. One final hurrah. No strippers. Clayton had to be a good boy, no matter what.

Shaking dangerous thoughts out of his head, Clayton turned on his phone, a silver iPhone and very beat up with a cracked screen.

He was pretty sure that he could crush it with one hand.

The thing buzzed. It was Alice, he smiled as he read it.

"Hey babe. Um hope the flight went well. I'm ok, just finished at school and just starting work. Call me when you're free. No pressure. I love you. P.S. Thank you for the truck x"

His fiancée was keeping busy. He missed her

Clayton breathed, texting back, "Hello babe. I've arrived in Rio, Samuel picked me up from the airport. Very tired and hungry....not for food. Hope you're behaving and thinking about the wedding. I'll call you later when I've slept."

Alice was quick with her reply he thought, "Ok babe, glad you're safe. I've started saving, picked up a few extra shifts, much to Celia's dismay. I've been checked out by the doctor, everything is fine. Expect a huge New Years wedding. I.....we have ten months to save. I've found a venue, it's called Alden Castle. I'll send you the link. I love you and will be thinking about you tonight."

Clayton smiled, all of this is worth it for her.

They drove quickly through the crowds, the signs of poverty very visual as they parked in the neighborhood.

The new place was tiny, guarded with old iron gates. The smell of sidewalk trash filled his nostrils.

This will do, Clayton thought as he picked up his bags and walked up the steps with Samuel.

The house was simple and basic. Wooden floors and no tv, unlike Boston. Paper thin walls that he would hear the neighbours have an argument, and he was pretty sure that when Ruth and Daniel arrived, he would hear their porno sexlife in the next bedroom.

He placed his bags on the bed and then laid down, once again the frame to small from his tall size that his feet hung off the end.

Clayton sighed, pulling himself up to find the shower which was located by the kitchen. Samuel was in his own room, he was talking to someone.

The bathroom was small and in need of a clean Clayton thought. He was pretty sure that the former owners were drug addicts or at least dealers by the smell of bleach and cigarettes.

He changed quickly and climbed into the shower, and it felt amazing as the hot water rushed over him.

Shit, he thought to himself.

He had one month to find that prick, his future father-in-law. Clayton was pretty sure Fredrick was helping him in some way. It wouldn't surprise him if he was. He would start with Carlos tomorrow, his old friend, he was man to deal with when you needed something from the black market.

He had information. Anything you needed, he had or knew where to get it.

Clayton was in the shower until it ran cold, he couldn't stop thinking about the Three Kings and their next move. They wanted Richard alive surely, but why target his illegitimate child, with Philip as the enforcer? It didn't make sense.

With that in his head, Clayton got out of the shower, wrapping a towel around his waist. He brushed his teeth, able to see the true damage of his life in the Army and the years after. The scars all up his chest that were roughly stitched by Ruth....he knew she took pleasure from his pain.

She loved it.

Walking out of the bathroom, the place was quiet. Samuel was out, possibly, for the night. He is not sure how Alice dealt with being alone - He dreaded it even. He found some clothes for bed and quickly made a turkey sandwich, the only thing that was eatable in this whole house.

He made a mental note to find some food and a TV tomorrow, Ruth wouldn't be able to handle an empty kitchen and no cable, she was great like that.

A true mother hen.

Clayton hated the quiet as he sat down on the old brown couch, the only sound of cars outside and loud neighbors keeping him company,

He quickly fired up the Apple Mac, gracefully paid for by the boss. Clayton began searching for leads on Mr. Richard Booth.

Within twenty minutes, Clayton was struggling with no sleep. He made his way back to the bedroom, not even bothering to pull the sheets over him because of the heat as he laid down.

There was nothing on Mr Booth, no Facebook page (which Clayton had now, Alice made him), no records with online bankings, he was mostly paying everything with cash. Using a fake name, staying at one star hotels.

Clayton grunted in anger, he didn't like feeling three steps behind.

Clayton managed to count to forty-eight before he fell asleep, only dreaming of Alice.

He woke up a jolt, rolling over in the small bed with difficulty as he checked his phone.

Two missed calls from Alice.

He dialed the number and she picked up within seconds.

"Hello," she whispered, the sound of her heavenly voice making him smile

"Hello Miss Allie," he whispered, checking his clock.

It was midnight back in Boston.

"Hey Mr Clayton," Alice said with a yawn, and Clayton thought she sounded cute when she was half awake

"Honey. I don't want to wake you. But missed hearing your voice. It's so hot here," Clayton said, hearing Alice giggle.

"Maybe it could be a honeymoon?" Alice said.

"Maybe babe. Look I'll call you later when it's morning and you're awake. I love you." Clayton said, trying not to be a little disappointed.

Alice said back, half way through a yawn, "Okay babe. I'll call you later. Love you."

The phone went dead and Clayton was left alone in the hot darkness of Brazil.