Five

Melissa

"Come on Bob, go potty." I smiled as he trotted outside enjoying the weather. He's become such a good dog. Joe said Bob was rambunctious and destructive, well of course he would be Joe was hardly home.

Bob was so sad after Joe died, he moped around the house or would lie on his bed. Never having a dog, I didn't know they too can become depressed after the loss of a loved one. I've seen videos but never experienced it until Bob. It was the saddest thing.

It wasn't until Callie and Bob were in the back yard, she had fallen and was crying; Bob helped her up and barked like crazy for my attention. That was the day he changed and found his purpose. It's as if he realized he had a little one to take care of, since then he's been the best dog.

I'm looking forward to going out tonight. It's margarita night at Steph's favorite Mexican restaurant and we're all going to enjoy a girl's night out. We haven't all had a chance to get together for a while so I'm looking forward to it. Steph should be here soon to pick us up then we'll head over to Mom Angie's house to drop off Callie.

I've began calling Mrs. Morelli Mom because that's what she's become to me. I'd never describe my childhood as great, quite the opposite to be exact. My parents were drug addicts and dealers; they died during a drug deal gone bad, and shot to death when I was six.

I remember it clearly, it was a few days before they died my father sat me down and gave me a black and white stuffed kitty. It wasn't your typical toy because it had a secret compartment. At the time, I didn't know what was inside but all he said was "when you turn eighteen and something happens to your mom and me, open up the belly. Promise not to open it until you're eighteen because you'll need what's inside to help you, don't let it leave your side okay baby?"

I guess my father was the more caring of the two; my mom was too busy getting or trying to sell dope. On the outside, we appeared to be a normal family but inside the house was a different story. They got so hooked on their drugs they began to neglect me. I learned to fend for myself at an early age.

After my parents were shot, it was foster home after foster home for me; the families complained I wasn't blending in. I always had a suitcase packed and ready to go at a moment's notice. The second I turned eighteen, I told the family I was living with at the time that I was leaving, and they gave me an envelope with six hundred dollars, so I packed the rest of my things in the ready to go suitcase and took off never to turn back.

I checked into a hotel for a few nights to decide my future. I had just finished eating a juicy steak, baked potato, and dessert that I had ordered from room service. I was playing with my kitty that had become my best and only friend which I named booboo kitty.

I kept my promise to my father, carefully opening booboo kitty's belly and took out a wad of stuffing which contained a small envelope with a note and a shit load of one hundred dollar bills. Each bill was folded into small pieces wrapped in plastic, I guess it was my dad's idea to make them feel like part of the stuffing and to be able to hold all that money.

The note read, 'Lissa,' that was his nickname for me. 'You're alone now baby so take the money and start a new life for yourself in Philadelphia, contact these people and they'll help you get settled. Don't mention a word about the money. We're sorry for being such bad parents, we did love you, especially me. Love Mommy and Daddy.' I began counting the money and I about fainted when I counted ten thousand dollars.

The next day, I called the people on the piece of paper I told them about my parents' death and I had been instructed to contact them when I turned eighteen. They told me to take a cab to the airport and there would be a plane ticket waiting for me. I paid my hotel bill and left a huge tip for the staff who took such good care of me and I never looked back.

When I arrived in Philly, a uniformed driver was holding a card with my name on it; he led me to a stretch limo and drove me to meet the people who would help me get settled. To say I was a little scared is an understatement, I was freaking petrified. I had no idea what I was walking into but felt it was better than what I've already lived through.

We drove for about an hour and arrived at a lavish compound, the gate opened, and we took the driveway which was at least a mile long to a huge southern style mansion. A middle aged couple met us at the driveway, the man looked so much like my mom, it was crazy.

"Melissa, welcome to our home." Mrs. Montrose said as she hugged me and led me inside the house.

"You look so much like my mother." I said to Mr. Montrose.

"That's because I'm her older brother, Mel. You were actually named after me; my name is Melvin Issa Montrose."

"So, you're my Aunt and Uncle?" I asked in shock, I had no idea I even had relatives.

"Yes, we are." Mrs. Montrose answered. It was obvious they were filthy rich and I didn't want to know the source of their income but also wondered why I was meeting them for the first time.

"Why haven't I met you before?" I asked.

"We met when you were born and still very little, but your mom pulled away from me." My uncle replied. "Come now, there's plenty of time to catch up, you must be tired. Let's get you settled in your room and we can sort things out later." He took my bag and led me to an area of the house that would be my own little wing. I had a huge bedroom, bathroom, living room.

The Montrose Family owned a variety of businesses and they taught me all the aspects of the restaurant world. I was hired to run a new family style restaurant, it was a great job, and I was the manager, bartender, and server. I loved it. I still had that money hidden in booboo kitty. I didn't put it in the bank until I began working at the restaurant. With each paycheck I would deposit a small amount of cash. My life was good, my Aunt and Uncle were good people, their daughter on the other hand was an absolute bitch, and she hated me from the second she set her eyes on me. She was older than I was by at least ten years.

I remember the night I met Joe, he came into the restaurant with a group of guys who worked for my uncle. They would come in every Friday for dinner and drinks. I was under the impression that he and my cousin Vicki were into each other, even though he flirted with me I didn't give him the time of day. There was no way I was getting in a battle with Miss. Hateful.

Joe started paying more and more attention to me and I noticed Vicki no longer came around, so I finally agreed to go out with him. He was a smooth talker, Sade's song Smooth Operator had to have been written about him. We hit it off pretty good; he would always ask me questions about the Montrose Family and about their businesses. I cared about Joe a lot and I thought he felt the same way, the sex was fantastic, well at the time I thought so because I hadn't really had many relationships prior to Joe.

At the time, I didn't know him as Joe Morelli. One night after work, we went back to my apartment and had a fantastic night of sex and in the morning, he had made a huge breakfast for us. He asked me questions about the restaurant, profits, where the money goes etc, and I told him what I knew. Later that day I was coming out of the shower when I heard him answer his phone. "Morelli here, yes sir. Got it sir, tonight, yes sir."

"What the hell was that all about, who's Morelli? Who the fuck are you?"

"Melissa, the less you know the better, I suggest you go away for a few days, you said you were off for the next four days." He said with concern.

"Who the fuck are you?" Is all I could say.

"Listen to me, get dressed, pack enough for at least one week and get the hell out of here, I'll meet you in the morning. Tell your Aunt and Uncle you're going on a trip for a few days."

"Why, what the hell is going on and who are you to give me orders?"

"Shut up and listen to me Melissa, just fucking do what I say or else you'll be in a world of hurt trust me."

The look on his face told me not to argue any further so I did as he said. "Hi Uncle Mel, just wanted to let you know that I'm heading out of town for a few days, going to check into a spa resort while I have the next few days off. I'll see you when I get back."

"Okay Melissa, enjoy and call if you need anything."

I left that day thinking that Joe was going to meet up with me in the morning, but he never showed nor could I reach him, his phone said not in service. I was in my room at the spa watching the news when I saw that there was a raid at the Montrose Estate, tons of DEA, ATF, Sheriffs, FBI, and a host of multiple agencies all over the property.

My Aunt and Uncle were among the many dead people and the agents were carrying out box after box of evidence. I took off and went back to the Estate to find answers and saw agents escorting Vicki.

"You fucking bitch, you did this. You and that damned cop, I'll get you back for this."

"What cop, what the hell are you talking about?" I replied in shock, I had no clue what she was rambling about. They took her away and that's the last I saw of her and everyone else including Joe. It all made sense, he wasn't the man I thought he was, his name was Morelli, could he be the cop Vicki was rambling about?

Days later, a few detectives showed up at the restaurant to ask me more questions about the Montrose family and business. They informed me that I was listed as the owner of the restaurant which was news to me and that I needed to meet with the DA.

After my meeting with the DA, I was cleared of any suspicions they may have had with my involvement in what was one of the biggest money laundering and drug smuggling businesses to infiltrate Philly. The DA found out that my parents were the drug distributors for my Uncle and the reason they were killed was because someone had put a hit on them and it was believed to have been someone in the Montrose organization. I was told I had nothing to worry about, the restaurant was clear and a legitimate business.

Business at the restaurant began to grow because of all the press so I threw myself into my job to keep my mind occupied, people just had to come and eat at a place that once belonged to the scandalous Montrose family. I continued acting like a typical server and not as the business owner. I again was alone and wondered what happened to Joe or whoever the hell he was.

Five weeks had passed when I found out I was pregnant, the father was none other than the man of mystery. I tried unsuccessfully to find him and even asked the DA and detectives if they knew what happened to him, but I didn't get any information so I did my own digging.

I remembered the name Morelli and traced him to Trenton New Jersey, where he was a cop. I waited until Callie was born before I made the trip to Trenton to confront him. He wasn't a happy camper when I showed up at the Trenton PD station but after multiple DNA tests proved he was in fact the father, he seemed to be a little nicer. He explained he had been undercover and told me in more detail about the Montrose family and business. He went on to explain the reason behind me not being implicated in the case was due to him telling the Feds I was innocent and had no clue of what was going on. I was a non-entity in the Montrose business other than the restaurant.

After Joe and I spent a few days together, I sold the restaurant and moved to Trenton to start a new life with my baby girl and possibly Joe. We were just friends in the beginning, getting to know one another, at some point we both felt it was time to take our relationship to the next level. We had a good life; he was such a great dad to Callie. Joe told me the story behind his and Stephanie's relationship as well as his cheating tendencies, but he was good to Callie and me and we were going to have a great life together. I was devastated when he died; it took me a while to be my old self. I was left with his house, money and his pension for our baby girl. We were set financially but what's money when the one you love is gone?

Woody was assigned as my security detail; he made sure we were safe. Joe made Ranger promise that he would protect us and keep Callie and me safe always. I loved Joe, I really did but things changed between Woody and me and I fell in love with him. Joe came into my life when I was lonely and searching but my love for Woody is different

I'll never forget the look on Woody's face when we passed in the hallway at Rangeman. Even though I wasn't ready for any relationship, I knew there was going to be something special between us. He's been amazing with Callie and he has no ill feelings for the fact that she's Joe's baby. He was honest with me from the beginning telling me how much he disliked Joe for how he treated Stephanie.

"Bob what are you barking about?" Stephanie must have pulled up in the driveway. I thought to myself.

"It's open Steph, I'm upstairs finishing up." I shouted. When I came down the stairs, I stopped dead in my tracks. "Who the fuck are you? Put my baby down." Next thing I knew it was lights out.

What the heck, where the hell am I? I mumbled as I woke up groggy with a pounding headache and in shear panic. Where's Callie? I couldn't figure out what happened, why I felt so terrible. Did I pass out and hit my head? I began to panic because I couldn't see or hear my baby.

"Callie, where are you? Come to Momma." I called out while I fumbled in the dark to find a lamp, panic had already hit me not knowing where my baby is.

I turned on a small lamp and realized I was alone in a room that was not my house.

"CALLIE!" I shouted and dropped to the floor in tears.