He squints his eyes watching as the sun burst through the slits in curtains, his massive bedroom suite suddenly bathed in golden spots of light. Stretching he yawns, arms pushed to the ceiling cracking, toes curling.

It was a peaceful sleep.

He presses his head hard into the pillow, elegant fingers resting on a soft body, which lies quietly beside him "Hmm my darling Cara, how about muffins and coffee this magnificent morning?" He squeezes the firmness of her round bottom, as he asks the question. She tenses, the squeeze is a little too hard, yet she nods her head, like she likes it- doesn't notice the pain. But he sees it, knows what he's doing and wants nothing more then too see her flinch.

Her hands dig deep into the pillow resting under her head. She squeezes the fluff, pushing all her anger into it; it's really all she can do. She knew what she was getting herself into, her brother warned her, cousin too. Their pleas fell on death ears. So this is what she gets and she'll take it, enjoy it. Whether she wants to or not. No ones coming for her, no ones going to save her, not even…. This is it; she'll have to live with it, the pain and all.

There's a soft knock at the door. The interruption eases his grip on her. "Come in" he says with authority. A small woman dressed in a maid's uniform enters the room, a beautiful dressed cart in front of her being pushed into the room. "Ah Lupe" he breaths rubbings his hands together in anticipation "what do we have here?"

Lupe gives him the prettiest of smiles, her brown eyes sparkling as she pushes the cart towards the bed "good morning sir, I think you'll like-"

"Now Lupe, didn't we already have this talk?"

"I do apologize" she pauses and smiles a delicate smile "….Damian"

"That's better darling. Was that hard?"

She bats her eyes, giggles a little. She knows the game. Play and you survive, don't and you suffer "wasn't hard at all Damian" She keeps that smile plastered on her face as she pushes the cart closer to the bed.

"So what do we have?" He asks eyeing the cart. As Lupe opens up the blinds letting the sunlight fall completely over the room.

Lupe returns to the cart and uncovers the platter that sits beautifully on it, her smile still strong as ever, if it weren't for the melanin in skin, her face would probably crack "we have bacon, eggs, crepes, fresh strawberries and muffins."

Damian smiles "ah Cara, did you hear that? Muffins….didn't I promise muffins?"

"Meg." It's said softly, very low, but it's heard and very clear. The room goes quiet; the smile Damian carried slips from his lips. Lupe takes a step back as if knowing she should get out of the way.

"What did you say?" Damian asked stiffly.

"I said-"

There's a smack, that echo's around the room. Lupe's eyes stay on the tray, her hands busy preparing. "Damian. Tea or coffee?" She says it smoothly, calm, like she knows it helps.

Damian's cold eyes land on Lupe, a bright smile right back on his lips. "You're a good girl Lupe….always do as you're told; you should teach this one how to act." The hand he used for force grabs at Meg's hair, pulling her until her throat is severely exposed. The pulse in neck beats rapidly- his eyes never leaving Lupe as he inflicts his pain. "Coffee" he says, fingers tugging hard in brunette locks. "Two sugars, light on the cream please."

Lupe smiles and fixes his hot beverage "and for you ma'am?" Lupe never looks up. She knows this Meg person, or whatever she's called, is a stubborn one. Most importantly, she's stupid, hasn't leaned too play the game. Lupe knows the game. Making eye contact and she not respond would only make things worse. Lupe instead makes a cup of tea with lemon for her; the clink of spoon on fine china fills the sick silence.

"She asked you a question Cara" Damian cocks his eyebrow, his face looks neutral. Except Lupe knows better, unfortunately this Meg person does not.

"I" Meg's mouth trembles. The way Damian holds her in place making hard to move

"Did she not ask you a question?"

The silence is there again. Lupe can see the anger behind eyes. "It's quite alright Damian" she says it quickly. "I think your wife may be ill" She my not like the woman, but she'll cover for her. However it's more for her, then Meg. Early morning beatings wouldn't be high on anyone's list of things too witness. Damian instantly stops the pull on hair and takes both of his hands and places them on her cheeks.

He pulls her close to him, their noses almost touching. "Is this true Cara?" Meg just stares at him, terror clear in her eyes. Damian gives a little pout "know wonder my pet. You've been so cross with me, now I know why. You're sick." Damian presses his palms hard into her cheeks keeping her face in place "you are sick correct?" The hold he has on her face is a warning and if she knows better she'll answer with a yes.

Meg manages too nod her head and Damian smiles, knowing he's made his point. "Good, now eat up." He releases her and she leans her body back into the head board a look of shear terror on her face.

Lupe takes this time to place a silver tray on her lap "breakfast in bed madam?" She chooses to ignore the look, it's not her place. Meg forces a smile; she really has no choice and accepts the plate.

There's a quick knock at the door soon followed by a voice "is my dear brother up?"

"Ah, Dante, what a pleasant surprise." Damian gives him a wide smile "News?" Dante frowns and falls into a chair not too far from the bed. Damian narrows his eyes at the action. "What is it brother?"

Dante tilts his head to the side, eyes going back and forth between the women. "It is best we speak alone. Do you not think?"

Lupe smiles at both men and quickly takes the tray from Meg's lap. "We will leave you two to your business. Madam?" She reaches her hand out to Meg- waits with bated breath. There's a serious chance she might not take it, her pride and stupidly fighting with common sense- her common sense always losing.

When Meg takes her hand, she almost can't believe it. "You will have your breakfast in the sun parlor madam, the sun is shining and there's a great view of the garden from there."

"Ah Cara, you'll like that." Meg just nods and allows Lupe to lead her out of the room.

"We will see you two gentlemen later" Lupe says as she closes the door, leaving them alone.

"What is the problem little brother? Have you not come across them?" Damian tucks a pillow behind his head and places his hands in his lap.

"No brother. I have not, they are hiding well."

"Did you not say you wounded the doctor?" Damian has a smile on his face as he asked the question.

"Yes"

"So then check the hospitals"

Dante shakes his head "Luke wouldn't do that, he's smart. If it were close to fatal, he'd stay with the doctor, till he died. He wouldn't risk being exposed."

"It's Luciano by the way" Damian says with a sneer. "You do not use that American shame of a name around me"

Dante nods his head and runs his hand down his face "sorry brother, I'm just trying to make you understand, your son is a quick thinker, he thinks well on his feet."

"So you'll telling me, he'd let the doctor die?" There's a twinkle in Damian's eyes as he speaks.

"No." Dante shakes his head "that's not what I'm saying. I'm saying the doctor wouldn't let him chance it. He'd make Lu- sorry Luciano, hold his hand till he passed away. Make him keep moving."

"You act as though they share a bond dear bother" The look on Damian's face is one of disgust.

Dante's face is serious as he opens his mouth "they do." He settles back into the chair. "I've seen it."

"That's not possible." Damian shakes his head in denial. "The only other person besides his parents that Luciano, would give up anything for is that insufferable Mayer boy." Damian gives a menacing smile "… and since I've already taken care of the parents, all that's left is Mayer. It pained me too do that to Lily, but the look on Mayer's face as I did it was worth it." He settles back more into the head board of his bed, a far away look in his eyes. "She was supposed too have been my wife, if only she had listened."

Dante stays quite, bites the inside of his cheek, and buries his eyes into the floor beneath his feet. Damian rolls his eyes "oh Christ, dear brother speak! I know you have something too get off your chest."

Dante's head shoots up "Your son is a force to be reckoned with. When he saw the doctor attacked, he didn't hesitate. Felix was dead before he hit the ground."

"Ah Felix, what a good little solider he was. It's too bad."

"Damian, you're missing the point." Dante's so frustrated, he's grasping at strands of hair.

"What? That my Luciano, can be as ruthless as I am?"

"No! That your Luciano, will protect those he loves."

"I know, that is why it will be magnificent when we get him here, he'll fit right in, we're his family, this is where he belongs."

Dante shakes his head and get's up; he paces the floor, hands deep in his pockets. He stops in front of the huge window- eyes looking out over a beautiful garden. "We are not those he loves" he whispers the comment. Even so, he knows Damian heard it, and will choose too ignore it.

"And what of the other two?" Dante frowns, as he stares out the window. His brother is stubborn, and wants what he wants, know matter the consequences. "You said they were not there?"

"They were shopping. Food you know. From what Felix said, after watching all four of them for a while, they stayed in pairs when they ventured out."

"And they couldn't be contained?"

Dante sighs- eyes watching a bird peck fast at a piece of muffin left for him. "No, it seems, they are just as loyal to one another. The blond one? The one whose parents you…?"

"Casey" Damian says "serves him right. Shouldn't have stuck his nose, where it didn't belong."

"Well, from what I was told, he grabbed Mayer, and ran out of there. In their haste, they left their backpacks behind… but" Dante shrugs his shoulders "there was nothing there too tell us where they might have gone anyway."

"Wait." Damian's face becomes cold and hard. He leaps from the bed, grabbing his brother and spinning him around. "I thought you had Luciano call them?"

"I did"

"So, then, how did they know too run?"

"I told you dear brother, your son is smart. He must have said something that told them to run. Although I have no clue as too what, his face, as he spoke into the phone gave nothing away."

Damian steps back from his brother and sits on the edge of his bed. "Well, as soon as we find them, we can correct Luciano- make sure he knows his place."

"I think" Dante swallow and looks away "I think we should leave him alone…leave them alone."

"Not a chance, this is where Luciano is supposed to be. Once I take care of the problems keeping us apart, he will have no choice but too come."

"He'll fight for them brother. I think you're under estimating how far he'll go."

"Quiet!" Dante jumps a little at the rage that fly's out of Damian's mouth. "He would never hurt me, I'm his family!"

"Yes but-"

"Did he hurt you? I mean you were face to face with him, surely you would know."

"You don't understand, I showed no threat, once Felix was down. I let them go; there was no need to hurt me. The doctor was all he cared about at that point- making sure he was okay."

"Well, he will not hurt me" Damian smiles smugly "I know this for sure."

Dante exhales and walks towards the door "you took away important things that meant a lot to him, his mother, siblings the man he called dad."

"Please, those people were not important; he will be fine once we get him."

"You need to leave him alone and by extension leavethem alone…for good."

Damian shakes his head slow from side to side "I can't do that."

"I think you are making a terrible mistake, I've seen what they are to each other."

"I can't" Damian bows his head and reaches his hand out to Dante. Without pause, Dante is in front of him kneeling before him.

"Please" he leans into Damian "let him go, you don't need him." He grabs Damian's face and pulls it into his own. "You have me. Please, I implore you."

"I can't… I won't" Damian says- fingers massaging at his brother's hands.

Dante closes his eyes in resignation. He pushes Damian's face back and stands up heading for the door again. He swings it open- lingers in it "I accept you brother, faults and all, but you are making a big mistake."

"I don't see it that way"

Dante turns around "he'll fight for them; they are connected in a way….." Dante stops speaking and stares sadly into his brother's eyes. The look on his face is one of longing and desperation. He shakes his head to rid himself of the thought; he knows it'll never happen. "He won't let you take that without a fight…he won't…they won't," he says as he backs out of the room, leaving Damian to ponder.

There's a small rest stop off interstate I-90. Two men sit atop a car looking up at the night sky- their hands entwined as they watch. The rest stop is quiet. A few truckers come and go, never staying longer then fifteen, twenty minutes. "There's a dinner about a mile up, you wanna get something to eat?"

"I'm fine."

"Noah, you look like you could use the food…the energy."

"Case" Noah says staring at him "if we leave, we might miss them. Besides there's still a little left of what Marcus gave us."

Casey brings his hand up and runs his palm down Noah's cheek. Noah just smiles lazily "go without me then." Noah shakes his head aggressively, knocking Casey's hand from his cheek.

"Noah, I'll be fine."

"No!" Noah turns his face away and looks back up into the night sky. Casey doesn't bring it up again; he knows there's no point.

"It was nice of Marcus, too let us have his father's car." Casey says instead.

"It was" Noah murmurs, still looking up. Casey sighs and leans into Noah's side.

"Not here" he whispers. Noah pushes Casey away and gets off the hood "come on" he says opening up the back car door. Casey follows and waits till Noah is sitting down, his back pushed against the door, legs spread out and opened- waiting. Casey crawls in and presses his face into Noah's chest "see, this is better" Noah says "plus, no one can really see, we don't know how the locals are here in good ole South Dakota."

"Sorry" Casey mutters.

"Don't be" Noah runs his hands down Casey's back, holding him close.

"How long are we gonna stay here? At some point Marcus, is going too have to report the car missing."

"No, don't worry about that, he said to call him- leave it, he'd get it."

"Oh." There's silence after that and Noah's hands continue too rub up and down Casey's back. He kneads into the parts hard, that elicit little whimpers too escape Casey's mouth making him snuggle closer to him "Noah?"

"Yeah?"

"Marcus gave us something else."

Noah's brow furrows "what?" Casey doesn't say anything, just presses his cheek harder into chest "what did he give us Casey?" Casey still doesn't answer "Case?"

Casey pulls back and sits against the seat, eyes closed, breathing hard. "A gun" he whispers.

"What?"

"Don't worry, it's untraceable, the serial numbers are scratched off" Noah just stares at the side of Casey's face- eyes wide from shock. "We need it" Casey says "so stop looking at me like that, you know we do."

"Casey, you're not a murderer."

Casey's eyes snap open at that reply and out of know where he punches at the seat in front of him over and over again. Even in shock, Noah jumps into action quick pulling Casey away from the seat. He climbs over him and sits on his lap, Casey's hands still struggling to hit something… anything. Noah grabs his wrist, squeezing hard, pushing them down until he gives up the fight "Get off me!"

"No" Noah says it calmly and keeps his eyes focused on Casey face.

"I said get the hell of me!"

"And I said no" Noah's voice is still calm. He leans his forehead into Casey's; teeth chewing on bottom lip "say it, I know you want to."

"I don't care if it would have hurt Luke, I would've killed that motherfucker if I had the chance."

"Get it out" Noah says pushing his body into Casey's. There's another moment of silence "say it, it'll make you feel better." Noah's not so sure about that, but he also knows it needs too be said and it might help- at least for a while. "Say it!" he says, finally raising his voice.

Casey's lip curls and his face is contorted with so much rage "you and Reid are weak…! Weak! I would've…. You both had the opportunity and you blew it, you had the gun pointed right at him and what do you do?" He snorts laughing wildly "you give it to Reid, and what does he turn around and do?" There's a hysterical look on his face before he answers his own question "Run! He fucking runs! All because…" he stops speaking tears starting too run down his face. He shakes his head back in forth, fighting to keep the words trapped inside.

"Say it, get it out." Noah urges.

"I" Casey voice is cracking.

"Say it!"

"Fuck Luke!" As soon as the words are spoken, he wants desperately too take them back. The anger seeps out of him and he goes limp against Noah's body. Deep guttural cries come out of him "I didn't mean it, I didn't mean it…I swear."

"Shush, I know… I know."

"I just want it over" Casey cries, hands now gripping at the back of Noah's shirt "he needs too die." Noah eases off of him and gets back into the same position he held before. He pulls Casey roughly against his body. They lay together, tightly wrapped up together. It's a small space, but right now, it works. "He needs to die Noah, do you understand? He needs…."

"Shush, when they get here, we'll discuss it."

"I don't care what Luke says, if we come across Damian again…he's dead!"

Noah closes his eyes. The rage in Casey's voice is overpowering, he wants to calm him down, make him better- at least for a while. Noah's hands reach quickly for Casey's belt buckle, the action startling him "what are you doing?"

"You need to relax" Noah says, hands still at work "I'll make you relax."

Casey bites his bottom lip, watches as Noah's hands reach into his pants "I might not be as good as Luke, I've only ever been with…."

"It's okay" Noah whispers stroking Casey's cock in his hands "it's okay" he brushes the tip with his thumb, squeezing the shaft as he does it.

"He still has to die Noah, you can't make me forget" Casey says leaning his forehead into Noah's shoulder.

"I know…I know, just let me help you."

"Do you think…" Casey stops- body reacting to the strokes "do you think, they'll be mad at us for doing this?"

Noah shakes his head, as his other hand slips into the back of Casey's jeans- finger tips trailing down the crack of his ass. "They'll understand. Wouldn't we?" Casey nods and pushes his ass back, asking Noah silently to enter his finger.

"I still won't forget" Casey murmurs, pushing back hard until Noah's knuckles are pressed into round cheeks.

"I know" he smiles I know." Noah moves in and out of him slow- a second finger not to far behind "do you want the real thing?"

"Reid?" Casey whispers.

"He'll understand…promise"

"But I might be bad"

"Doubt it" Noah strokes Casey's shaft as he simultaneously fingers him "do you want it?" Noah moans deeply and enters a third finger causing Casey, too yelp and fall into him "do you want it" He asks sternly.

"Yes" is all Casey says. Nothing else is said. The only thing else heard in the car is the rustling of clothes being shed and the slaps against skin, that help to ease the world of pain, they both live in.