080:

She sat at the long picnic tables with her sisters and cousins. Her babies were being held by admiring aunts, and she felt relaxed. Ryan was out playing football; he had his own admiring fan club. She didn't have to worry about him. Steve and Megan kept an eye on her from time to time when they weren't schmoozing in a corner. The weather was ideal; the conversations were non-threatening and simple. She had the secret of her new found interest in Robert to warm her soul and she felt a clinical detachment come over her. It was nice to not be the center of attention, or feel like she had to entertain anybody or put on a show for the image seekers.

She went to bed early, listened to the night sounds of children coughing and crying all around, glad that her two were fairly quiet, worn out from all the attention. What could be better? Surrounded by family, surrounded by friends, surrounded by love and security? If only Ryan would get out of the picture, she'd be free to just explore who she was by herself, and maybe get a fresh start on her life. She actually looked forward to this new idea.

But the next morning dawned bright and clear and cloudless and full of trepidation. Megan came and got her and Ryan. There had been bad news. Kell's connection in Chicago had been delayed, he'd taken a ride with others planning to go to New York and in the process had been abducted, beat up and threatened with more pornographic and indecent pictures. As they walked the pathway toward her grandmother's back door, Melia felt a deep fear overcome her. Fear.... Real fear....

She listened carefully, while staring at Kell's still, black and blue form in the fluffy white and yellow guest bedroom reserved for her grandmother's most intimate sisters only.

She had nothing to hold on to. Nothing. Ryan stood stoically, exuding no emotion whatsoever. She wanted him to tell about the threats they'd received, the pictures... it was no coincidence.

He gave her a look meant to silence her desire to tell all, and quietly took her father aside finally and told him of the recent events that had been happening to them. She gave her mother a look and then walked back toward the living room, on the blue shag carpet silently.

"Mom, this isn't the first time pictures have come up. Recently Ryan was approached with pictures and instructions for us to stay together for several family events. It's like we are being set up." She sat on the blue and white delft china looking upholstery carefully, and she smoothed her tan Capri's flexing her sandals under her toes nervously.

"I know about the other pictures you were sent years ago. Ryan told us about those when you were in witness protection with Jared. Jared looked into them and determined that they were put out there by a very sick porn ring leader named Carlos Villarino out of Cartagena Columbia. It's that man Jerry's brother, Micharichio Antonucci was going after. I don't know the outcome of whatever happened with Jerry's brother, but I know that this new development must be related."

Melia stared at her mother, whose long tawny gold hair hung in tight ringlets to her waist, tied back in a gently falling cascade. Her eyes were sincerely worried, but also confident in her husband and his resources.

"Kell's hurt because of me?" Melia's voice was small. "These people will never stop until they have what they want. Jared only got the one traitor, he trusted Micharichio to get the real threat. I guess he didn't get them, and now they're coming after us again."

"Kell isn't hurt because of you, Melia." Tracy's voice was very sure. "This has more to do with other considerations that we have to determine than just you."

"If it's money they want... I'll give it to them. I don't care about money. I have that money right now. I'll just go there and give it to them."

Tracy's eyes widened and she reached out and grabbed Melia's wrist. "No! Don't you even think about it. Do not go there; do not put yourself in more danger. It isn't for you to do, Mia. Let Dad and the guys figure it out. They have done this before, and they can do it again now."

*****