"Mum... can I ask you something?..."

"Hm?" She rolls across her bed and stretches her arms out. "I didn't find you in your room when I checked earlier. You snuck out huh?" she grumbles, her voice hoarse. "You've been at that house again... haven't you?"

I really can't tell if she's sleeping-talking because her eyes are still closed, but her words are telling me otherwise. "Is there anything I can help you with? You had a nightmare and you want to sleep in my room tonight?"

"No... I'm not a kid anymore," I snap. "I just... it's about Levi."

"What? He broke up with you after what happened at dinner?"

"No... he... we were just planning a date... what would you say if I told you our date venue was a bit far from town?"

"How far?

"Chicago far... it's just a hypothetical-"

Her eyes fling open. "No. And let it remain hypothetical. I trust Levi but not to the extent that he's taking you so far... aren't you suspicious yourself? Why he would want an ordinary date to take place in Chicago."

"But-"

"No Cassi... is there anything else you want to ask?"

"No mum... good night."

•••

That's how the conversation went.

I couldn't convince her to let me follow Levi to Chicago. So she left me with only one choice.

To go without her permission.

It's going to be so bad when she finds out I ran away, but in my defense, I'm doing this so Ace won't kill me. Well, I might end up dead either way.

I fold the last of my clothes into my luggage bag and zip it up. Underwear... check... toothbrush... check.

I hoist the luggage bag and discreetly head down the stairs to wait in the living room for Levi. Immediately he comes I have to scurry out of here or my mum will catch me and end our plans. I have to be the first to answer the door.

I glance at the clock. 3:10. That's still a while away from 5. But I'm not wakeful in the least. The hardest battle you can ever partake in is the one with sleep. Such a formidable opponent. I think I'm about to give in.

I close my eyes and find myself drifting away. I surrender, and sleep. Ding Dong. I bolt up and glance at the clock. 5:04. Already?

I race to the door and open it to see Levi standing there, looking charming as always. In his messy hair bun and black leather coat. "Let's go," I state and grab his wrist, trying to drag him off the porch but he's not moving. "What's wrong with you?" he asks.

"You're already four minutes late. I just want us to get there quick."

"Cassi I'm exhausted from driving... I was hoping to get some rest before starting another journey."

"Alright we can go to Starbucks... or any place of your choice... a fancy restaurant... the bar..."

He raises a brow. "There's something up with you... is everything okay?"

"Yes, Levi... can we just go please?"

"Fine... you're not carrying anything with you?"

My bag! I race into the living room and grab my luggage bag. "Huh? Cassi?" I freeze in my position. No this can't be. "What are you doing with a luggage bag? Where do you think you're going with that?" She marches downstairs. "Don't tell me... don't tell me you're going on that stupid date anyway... you disobeyed me, again?"

"Mum this is import-"

She slaps me across the cheek, cutting me off. "Shut up! Who are you to tell me what's right for you? I am your mother! I have no idea what's gotten into you that's made you so rebellious lately. But it seems I'll have to bring you back to your senses!"

"M-Mum..." I caress the spot she struck and a tear runs down my cheek. "Get upstairs!"

It seems she's no different from who she was in the past. She was just putting on a temporary disguise. Long enough to have me fooled.

In defeat, I lift the luggage bag and head towards the stairway. "Excuse me... Jennifer." I pause and look over my shoulder.

"Levi you're the reason she's doing this huh? If that's the case I never want to see you in this household again!" she hollers.

He shakes his head. "I'm sorry. I'm not trying to hurt your daughter. Or make her run away from you. That would be very illogical..."

"Levi please go."

He shakes his head. "I can't until you let her come with me."

"Levi please, I don't want to have to call the authorities on you. So kindly leave."

"I'm sorry I can't do that," he states.

"So you won't leave my house?"

He shakes his head. "No."

"That's a shame then," she leans over to the couch, raising one of the throw pillows to retrieve a gun. Where did that come from? Has it been there the whole time?

"If you don't go I'll have no choice but to kill you. I can't have anyone stealing my precious daughter away."

"Hm... you're more of a hindrance than I thought," he mutters, unfazed by her sudden threat.

"Mum-"

"Cassi didn't I send you to your room?" she snaps, turning to me. Then suddenly a dart pierces into her neck. She draws in a sharp breath, dropping the gun to pluck out the projectile.

"Now why would you turn away from me," he sighs. "Levi, what did you do?" I shudder as my mum starts to lose balance.

"Don't worry about that. She'll pass out and forget everything that happened in the last 30 minutes-"

"How dare you!" she bellows. "Who do you think you are?" she thunders and crouches over to pick up the gun. But he kicks it farther away from her, pushing her to the couch. "Good night, Jennifer."

She reaches her hand out to him as if trying to grab onto his coat but her body won't permit her. Dilatorily, her eyes close shut after an arduous battle to stay conscious.

Levi scoops her into his arms and turns to face me. "Where is her bedroom?"

I unheedingly point at the stairs, my mind stuck on what just transpired. "Cassi," he states, getting my attention. "Right, sorry." I climb the stairs and walk him down the hallway. Then I open the door to her room, allowing him walk in. He gently places her on the bed. I take her blanket and drape it over her body. "Let's go," he states and exits the room. I glance at her one more time. I just hope all this is worth it.

I leave the room and follow Levi outside to his car. He takes my bag from me and puts it in the back seat. Then I get into the passenger's seat and lean back.

He gets in and shuts the door. "Cassi."

"Yes?"

"Are you alright?"

I nod and shut my eyes. "So this is the reason you wanted to leave so quick... because she hadn't approved of you following me."

"Maybe I should have just told you that."

"No... I would have insisted on telling her. I wouldn't have wanted her thinking I kidnapped you or something."

"Well, whatever... it was still going to end up that way." I swallow my saliva, trying my hardest to hold back my tears. "I'm just doing all this because I don't want Ace to kill me... but that's what my mum can't find out... she even tried to kill you," I sob. "You didn't deserve that."

He gently takes my hand and plants a kiss on my knuckles. "Look at me."

I turn to him, wiping my eyes. "You're going to be fine."

"What?"

He uses his thumb to wipe my tears. "I said you're going to be okay."

"How can you be so sure?"

He shakes his head. "It doesn't need an explanation. Just believe me." I nod and wipe my eyes. "Everything is going to be fine no matter what happens, okay?"

I nod again. "Come here." He wraps his arms around me. For some reason, in his grasp, I feel so impregnable. And I can comfortably believe every word that leaves his mouth without any question. I don't know why. Maybe it's his mafia charm.

He plants a soft kiss on my forehead and lets go of me. It sends a tingle down my spine every time he does that. The moment he kissed my lips at dinner, I felt like the whole world disappeared and all that mattered was that moment. I want that feeling again.

"We good?"

"Yeah," I reply with a smile. "I don't usually cheer people up. But I'm good at it," he smiles. You are. He inserts the keys and the engine roars to life. "First thing's first... do you get car sick?"

"Um... I don't go on long trips so I'm not sure about that yet." He reaches into the back seat and hands me a grocery bag. "Don't vomit in my car," he deadpans.

"Oh okay."

"If you have to pee or something, tell me. The ride will be two hours long, then we'll come down at the hangar."

"Hangar?"

"We're taking my private jet."

"Okay then," I reply, trying to conceal the furor that just ignited inside me. Because I've never been in a plane, talk less of a private jet. So I have something to anticipate now.

He jams the accelerator and we begin zooming through the darkness. "Aren't you going a bit fast?" I ask worriedly.

"This speed doesn't suit my liking... but I'll have to manage since there's a minor in the car. Buckle in your seatbelt." A minor? I get that 17 isn't such a grownup age but I don't want him seeing me as a minor.

"Go as fast as you please," I say and draw out the seatbelt, buckling it in. His gaze flicks to me and back to the road. "Okay then."

Suddenly I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. Either it's just my cramps kicking in or I'm a bit hungry. "Can we stop at Starbucks?" I ask him.

"Where is it?

"Down the street on the left."

He nods and follows my directions. Soon he parks in front of Starbucks and takes out a cigar. "Two minutes," he instructs. I glance out the window and spot someone stumbling into the building. He walks in and the light illuminates his features. That's Parker. What does he think he's doing here by 5 in the morning?

"Anything wrong?" Levi asks. "No... but I don't think I want to come down anymore."

"Hm? Why? I want you to help me get some coffee so I don't fall asleep on the wheel." What did you just say? "You've fallen asleep on the wheel? While driving? On the road? With other vehicles?"

"When I get tired it's like an intoxicating drug. So what's preventing you from going in?"

"The guy that just walked in. He's annoying," I sigh. "He's just going to ruin my mood... but to avoid us being involved in a fatal accident, I'll go get you some coffee." I open the door and step out of the car. "Cassi..." he releases a puff of smoke and turns me. "Where is he sitting?"

"Huh?"

"The guy that bothers you... where is he sitting?" Why are you asking though? "Uh..." I turn around and squint my eyes. "He's the one sitting on the third stool in front of the counter."

"Third stool in front of the counter..." he mutters. "From the right or left side?"

"Uh..." I turn again. "Left."

"Okay, you're going to do something for me now... walk over to the door and open it wide. Make sure you stand behind it."

"Why?"

"Don't question my authority- I mean... just do it."

"Okay fine." I walk to the door and push it open, then I go to stand at the back of it, still holding it open. What could he possibly want to do? Shoot Parker from that distance or something?

Wait.

I lean forward and see the sniper riffle hanging out the window. No way. Immediately I let go of the door. The bullet smashes through the glass, through a passerby's cappuccino, and into the brick wall behind the counter, missing one of the barristers by less than an inch. Parker who bent over just in time to pick up his credit card that fell on the ground, sits up and darts his gaze around. "What was that sound?"

The franchise erupts in pandemonium. Everyone starts sprinting out the door, panicked by the gunshot. I pinch the bridge of my nose and glance at the shattered door. Levi

I exit the place, avoiding all the gaggle. Then I walk up to the car and fold my arms discontentedly. He casually puts the gun away and turns to me.

"You can go get the coffee now."