"It's imperative that you take time off John Paul. The lake house trip with your family, will do you good but don't over do it there either," Damien lectures JP as he completes his discharge paperwork. 

Damien smiles and wishes me luck before he turns to leave. 

JP turns to face me and I feel body hum under his heated gaze. "I thought he'd never leave," He says walking towards me.

I laugh loudly as JP wraps his arms around me bringing me closer to him, my eyes travel down to his enticing lips and I peek back up at him. 

"You're giving me that look, princess..." He says smiling at me with amusement in his eyes.

"What look?"

"Like you want me to kiss you." 

I smile, biting my lip and nod. He places a kiss on my forehead and I frown, but then he places a kiss on the right side of my face, then my left. Then just when I think he's finally going to kiss me he places it on the corner of my mouth instead.

"Hows that?" JP leans back, smiling.

"I think I need to go find someone who can thoroughly kiss the hell out of me." I start to walk away but he pulls me back and his mouth comes down on mine with such force it takes my breath away. 

His lips move over mine hungrily and I return the intensity of his kiss pulling him closer to me. His hands move from my face, down my back and he grabs my ass, squeezing as he presses himself against me. 

A moan comes deep with in my throat and I hadn't even noticed JP moved us so I'm pinned against a wall. 

His lips move down my jawline and throat and I feel a hunger and longing for him reignite in my blood. His mouth moves over my shirt and he bites down on my breast and hardened nipples; I gasp from the pleasure and desire he makes me feel. 

"Damn, you two seriously don't waste any time." 

I gasp and JP groans in annoyance while Enzo chuckles at our expense.

"It looks like I got here just in time; hospitals are not the cleanest environments to get your freak on," Enzo says walking in the rest of the way. "I mean, TV and movies make it seem so romantic and shit, but do you have any idea how many germs are breeding all around you right now?"

JP is slightly out of breath as he glares at him but then looks down at me. "Would have been fucking worth it," He kisses me again. 

"Everyone's packed back at the house," Enzo informs us as JP, pulls away from me, his lips lingering on mine as he rests his forehead on mine, while I'm still trying to catch my breath. "They were heading out to the lake house when I left to come back. We'll have to take the long way out, there's a shit ton of press outside. Word is out that you're getting out today and everyone wants an exclusive interview with business mogul, Johnny Santiago," Enzo tells us.

The fact that JP's alter ego is considered a low key local celebrity is still mind boggling to me.  Adonis does a great job of intervening and the guards and security detail are well versed on what to do to avoid too much attention.

Enzo hands JP a hooded sweatshirt and glasses and gives me a hat and sunglasses too. 

"This is so strange," I comment as I put on the glasses.

"What is?"

"This, having to hide because you're so well known. Doesn't that work against you?" I ask JP.

"I'm not sure I know what you mean?"

"Well, Timo always talked about not drawing unnecessary attention to yourself and you literally have paparazzi every where you go; the gala, the hospital and now you have people camped outside the Villa," I inform him. "But given your involvement in...the organized crime life, doesn't that put you at risk?"

JP puts his arm around my shoulders. "I guess that shows how well Timo did at hiding his life from you, amore." He smiles at me while I furrow my eyebrows in confusion. JP nods in acknowledgement to the guards that were outside of his room and lets them know to head back to the Villa.

"Timo had paparazzi following him all the time, too. It was one of the many reasons why he had only a few outings with you in public," JP tells me and I think back to how little I went out with Timo and the sadness comes over me on how much I resented him growing up. "Trust me, this is nothing like what Timo had to deal with."

Noticing my quietness, JP kisses my temple as we walk out of the elevator and into the underground parking of the hospital. I look around when I don't see the usual black SUVs that JP rides in. 

"Where's the car?" I ask.

"It's right here," Enzo tells us and leads us to an Audi S5 with tinted windows. 

"Oooh, can I drive?" I ask excitedly. Enzo throws me the keys, grinning at me. 

When I unlock the car, JP and Enzo argue over who sits in the front seat, but JP ultimately wins since he can't really maneuver to the back seat from being sore, even though Enzo says he's only milking it.

"You don't have another security detail? I'm shocked," I comment as I pull out of the stall and make my way out of the parking garage. 

"Nicky and Paulie are in that SUV right there," Enzo points to a black SUV I hadn't noticed before and then I see as they follow us out. 

"Where to? Are we heading back to one of the houses or are we driving straight to the Lake House?" I ask JP.

"Back to the Villa, I need to go over a few things with Adonis before I head to the lake house, but I'll meet you there," JP tells me, he rests his hand on my thigh.

"No, I'll wait and we can go together," I tell him and he smiles squeezing my thigh. I get on the interstate to head back to the Villa.

"So, what's at this lake house, everyone is buzzing about?" Enzo asks from the back seat as he looks at his phone. 

JP begins telling him about the lake house and all the stuff we've done during the summers we've spent there. 

I find myself grinning and chuckling, enjoying the smooth ride the car is and how fast it goes. "Slow down tiger, the last thing we need is to be pulled over," JP says.

"Oh come on, JP, live a little. We all know you'd talk your way out of a ticket and by talk I mean, with your wallet. But..." Enzo turns around, "you did lose Nicky and Paulie, Stella." 

I glance at the rearview mirror and I don't see the black SUV behind us anymore. "Whoops," I smile over at JP. 

His phone rings and he answers it putting it on speaker. "Capo, ti abbiamo perso," Nicky tells him and I laugh. (Boss, we lost you.)

"Si, niente cazzate," JP replies. (Yeah, no shit).

"JP!" I scold him. 

"Aspetta che ci vediamo ora," Nicky says through the speaker and then he curses. (Wait, we see you now)

"Capo, mi dispiace ma ci sono due macchine che ti seguono," Nicky notifies JP. (Boss, I'm sorry but there are two cars following you)

"He's right," Enzo says looking out the back window again.

"Sì, li vediamo. Cercheremo di perderli," JP informs Nicky. (Yes, we see them. We'll try to lose them.) 

"What?" I question as my heart begins to race, wishing I wasn't driving.  

"You don't have a choice, Stella," Enzo says from the backseat while he cocks his gun. "Speed up, they're coming up on your left."

"You can do this, baby," JP encourages me.

I glance at the mirrors and I see the two black cars coming on the left but then they split and now they're on either side of us. I look over to my left and see one of the windows roll down and a gun comes out and I floor it. "Shit, they're going to shoot at us!" 

"Focus on driving, Stella, we got this," Enzo tells me and hands JP a gun. 

I swerve out of instinct when the bullets start flying. I floor the gas pedal and weave in an out of the traffic trying to lose the two cars. 

Enzo hits the one of the front tires of the car on the left and the car swerves and overcorrects and smashes into the cement median. 

"Gottem!" Enzo says and he moves to the right side of the back seat and rolls down the window, but the second car slows down and moves behind us. 

I focus on losing them but then I'm sandwiched between two semi's and the slowest damn car in the world in front of me. 

"Move Bitch! Get out of the way!" I yell and honk the horn.

The car in front finally speeds up and switches lanes and I speed past them, grunting in frustration. 

"Take the exit, Stella," JP instructs. "You'll make it," He stresses when I hesitate and then swerve to get off the freeway. 

I drive through the city, taking different turns and then JP tells me to park in an alley and I drive through to the other end and park the car. 

JP's phone rings and Nicky's voice comes through again. "Li stiamo ancora seguendo, Capo." (We are still following them, Boss)

"Boun soggiorno con loro, e corri le targhe." JP orders. (Good, stay with them and run their plates)

He hangs up and looks over at me. "You okay?" 

I'm still breathing heavy, but I nod as I look over at him. I don't know if it's the adrenaline, but as my eyes meet his, I feel this undeniable electricity in the air, I take my seat belt off and climb on JP and begin kissing him. 

"Um...yeah...I'm still in the car, remember?" Enzo's voice zaps me out of my crazy lustful moment. 

I pull away from JP and we both start laughing. I lean my forehead on JP chest and then I look back at Enzo. "Sorry, Enzo, I don't know what came over me." I climb off of JP and sit back in the driver's seat trying to catch my breath. 

"Really, 'cause I do." Enzo says cheekily and I laugh again. 

JP smiles at me and rests his large hand on my thigh again, squeezing gently as I start the car again and head back to the Villa.

<><><><>

"And then Stella was like 'Move bitch! Get out of the way!' " Enzo is telling Joey and the others about our little adventure.

"Where are the kids?" I ask as I walk into the kitchen of the lake house, hoping to distract him from telling them about how I had forgotten he was in the car when I climbed on top of JP.

Enzo smiles, knowing exactly what I'm doing. "They're down by the lake with Isabella, Cristian, and Dot," He tells me.

"It seems you keep adding to your many skills, darling," Tej tells me as he puts an arm around my shoulders. He's staying with us for a couple of days before he leaves on another job that will take him to Singapore.

"Word of advice, Tej," Enzo begins, "Unless you want to lose limbs, you don't want to be found touching, holding or breathing too close to Stella when JP's around. Or he might end up naming a pet after you, like he did with Topo."

Topo grunts in displeasure, sipping his beer as we all laugh.

Tej chuckles, as he keeps his arm around my shoulders. "Is that right? Well, friend, I've seen you do all of those things; not to mention kiss her cheek, hand, etc. all in front of JP."

"That's because JP knows Stella is like a sister to me--family, but you, I'm sure he sees you as a potential threat and he'd go all caveman or Tarzan on your ass," Enzo says, as he cuts a pear with a knife, eating the slices.

"He doesn't see you as a threat," I assure Tej as I laugh at Enzo's over the top description of JP's jealous tendencies.

"I'm not exaggerating, I mean, even level headed Sean didn't like Tej holding you. I saw how he peeled his arm away from you that first day we met Tej, but we're talking about JP here," Enzo says.

"What about me?" JP's deep voice startles us as he walks into the kitchen followed by Adonis. JP's eyes zero in on Tej's arm on my shoulders and then I see his jaw muscles tick. Tej must have noticed as well as he removes his arm quickly.

"I was just telling them how awesome I think you are," Enzo says, grinning at him and JP narrows his eyes back at Enzo, clearly not believing him.

"For reals, you're my hero. I want to be you when I grow up," Enzo says and I can't help but laugh.

"Yeah, right." JP states as he walks over to me and wraps his arms around me and then kisses me; his hands move down squeezing my ass in front of everyone.

"See, total caveman," Enzo laughs and JP pulls away as I smile up at him.

"Yes, I see it, now," Tej comments appearing disturbed. "Yet he seemed so refined before." I chuckle, leaning my head on JP's chest.

"Yes, well, that was before Stella was with he who shall not be named," Enzo replies.

"Grow up, Romano," JP tells him.

"Nah, I don't think I will," Enzo quips as he walks to the fridge.

"Alright, that's enough you two," I tell them both before I look at Adonis. "So do we know who they were?"

"Albanians. The plates are fake, but with Tej's help, David and Mateo were able to find street camera's and we have images of the drivers," Adonis comments.

"Man, you really are putting David and Mateo to shame, bro, how are they going to manage when you leave?" Joey aks Tej.

Tej chuckles. "They know what they're doing; I just helped refine their processes is all. I'm just a call away if they need help, though."

"JP!" Lola screams. "You're finally here." She runs to him and holds on to his leg in a tight hug.

JP gets down on his knee and hugs Lola. "I told you I'd be here, Lolabug."

"I have so much to tell you!" Lola pulls away holding on to his face. "I have all my husbands ready to go."

Enzo chokes on the water he was drinking.

"You do, huh?" JP looks at her amused.

"Yup," Lola nods. "You're still my number one, though." She turns her face to the left as she gives him an exaggerated wink with her right eye.

"I better be," JP tells her. "So, who else am I sharing you with?"

"Well, I tried Uncle Enzo but he said he's never getting married, can you believe that ri--rid--riddic--ridicolasnes?" Lola struggles and mispronounces ridiculousness as she places her hands on her hips, shaking her head at Enzo; he winks back at her, sitting at the counter next to Topo and Joey.

"And I tried Uncle Joey, but Aunty Anna said she doesn't share," Lola pouts and I bite back a smile as Annalisa hugs Joey from the side as if to prove her point, chuckling.

"It's their loss, cucciola," JP tells her as he tucks some of her curls behind her ear, smiling at her.

"That's what I said!" Lola says. "But I didn't have to try too hard with the others. There's Miles, Santino, Jake, Topo, Nicky and Tej."

I look over at Tej and he grins at me. "What can I say? She's hard to say no to."

"Who's Jake though?" Annalisa questions as she maneuvers herself in front of Joey and he wraps his arms around her.

"Marco's friend," Lola says shrugging. "The really cute one with long, dark hair like JP's." JP narrows his eyes at that and I chuckle. "I asked Kai, but he says he doesn't share his women with Miles." She shrugs again.

The back door bursts open. "JP, can you please tell Marco and his stupid friends to stop hogging the jet ski's they've been on them for too long and won't let anyone else have a turn!" Carmen storms in, her faced flushed.

"No, we haven't," Marco comes in with a couple of his friends, dripping wet. "Quit being such a snitch, Car."

"Yeah, Carmen; snitches dig ditches," Lola tells her and a few of us gasp.

"Lola, that's not very nice," I tell her, surprised to hear her say something like that. I look at JP and he looks just as concerned.

Lola looks over at me innocently. "But that's what Uncle Enzo taught me."

We all turn and catch as Enzo is trying to sneak out the back door. "Enzo!" I call out to him, but he keeps running out, as he laughs.