Chapter 10

Ethan arrived at his father's apartment to see that Luke had a bag packed and ready to go. "Where are you off to?" he asked curiously. "Well Dodge I'm getting out of town for awhile. Heading to Monte Carlo. Not before stopping in Zurich to funnel some money through my Swiss accounts." Ethan was not expecting this. "Why? Is Tracy going with you?" he questioned. "No . I want to give my popsicle a chance to miss me. This is a great way to do it. Anyways Ethan I wanted to know if you want to go with me." Ethan was surprised. A part of him really wanted to go with Luke. The chance to go on a father and son trip that he never shared with Luke growing up. Still he had other priorities to take care of like the Haunted Star. Then there was Kristina. Not that she was his responsibility, yet he felt compelled to keep an eye on her. Being friends with Johnny was putting Kristina at risk and Ethan wanted to Keep an eye on her.

"Sorry Dad. Maybe another time. I'll stick around and keep things going at the Star." Luke understood. "There is something I need you to do. Can you give this envelope to a guy name Marco. He will be at the docks at 10 pm on Friday. Just make sure he gets this. It's money I owe him and I cant lose his business. Cigars you know." Ethan smirked, knowing his dad's fondness for cohibas. "Of course dad. Friday at 10 on the docks. Anything else?" he asked. Luke thought on this and then replied. "Check on Tracy will you. I just want to make sure she is ok. Thanks Dodge."

Suddenly there was a knock at the door and Lulu and Ethan were there. "Hey Dad, Ethan. You going somewhere?" asked Lucky. "Heading to Monte Carlo son. I'll be gone awhile you guys but I'll try to be back soon." Lulu pouted. "Why do I always hate it when you say goodbye?" Luke pulled her to him in a hug. "That's because we don't do goodbye sweetheart." Luke hugged lucky goodbye and picked up his bag. "Remember to check on Tracy. I love you guys and will be back soon. " Opening the door he waved his final goodbye.

Shutting the door lucky turned to Ethan and Lulu. "Why do you think he really left?" Ethan didn't understand what his brother was trying to say. "He left for Monte Carlo to do some gambling. He always leaves you guys tell me. Atleast twice a year for these jaunts." Lucky glanced back at the door their father walked out of. "Something tells me there's more to it this time." At that Ethan wasn't sure of what to say. He obviously didn't know Luke's habits as well as his two other siblings do. He then began to wonder what his father was really up to.

meanwhile...

Kristina arrived at Johnny's penthouse with Coffee in hand. "Hey Johnny I hope this isn't a bad time." Johnny looked at Kristina in surprise. He hadn't been expecting her. "No no. Come in. What's going on Kris?" he asked accepting the coffee she handed him. "Nothing really. I just wanted to say hi and see how you were doing. I haven't seen you since the other day when Ethan came over you know." She replied looking down at her feet awkwardly. She still couldn't get the fight with Ethan out of her mind. It frustrated her still to know that Ethan still thought her a child.

"Well come in and sit down. There must be something. You're looking different I see. Good but different. Care to share?" he asked gesturing her to take a seat on the sofa. Kristina sat down across from Johnny secretly pleased that he would notice a change in her appearance. If Johnny, a guy who wasn't even interested in her, noticed her appearance had changed then Ethan was bound to notice. "I just needed a change." Johnny smirked into his coffee knowing exactly why Kristina was going for a new look. "A change huh? Wouldn't have anything to do with a certain friend of ours would it?" he laughed. Kristina shrugged trying to appear non- committal. "Kristina you look great you really do. You do know though that you didn't have to change a thing don't you? I mean Ethan would notice you in a paper bag." Kristina snorted at the ridiculous statement. "You have got to be kidding me! He doesn't notice me at all. Atleast the way I want him to. He sees me as a friend and nothing more. Probably as a pesky little sister or something." She whined.

Johnny couldn't help but laugh at her dramatics. "You don't see what I see Kristina. I know part of you must or you wouldn't have been after him this long. Ethan cares about you more then he would like. He just doesn't know it yet." Kristina's interest peaked. "Oh yea?" Johnny nodded. "Yes. Now Kristina let me ask you something and don't be offended but what is it you see in Ethan? What do you like about him so much? I mean a girl as beautiful as you could have anyone. You're from a rich family and go to private school. What do you see in a conman with no education that works for the likes of me?" Johnny hoped Kristina didn't take offense but he had to know, He really liked Ethan and he wasn't just a business associate but a friend but he really wondered what she saw in him when she could have the cream of the crop so to speak.

Kristina thought on this for a moment before responding. "I'm not offended. See Ethan is one of the best guys I have ever known. Money and social standing have never meant anything to me. There is a lot of rich snobs that go to my school that care about nothing but status. They are also some of the worst people I have ever come across. Ethan cares about everyone around him. If you are his friend then he would give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. He is loyal, compassionate, and just has a genuine heart. Sure he has conned people but there are people in the business that do worse to people then Ethan ever has. He is adventurous and lives in the moment. I love that about him. He worries about the next five minutes, not the next five years. I love that he can fly by the seat of his pants and take things as they come. I guess what I am trying to say is I love everything about him."

Johnny sat back in awe of the girl before him. She was not expected to say the least. He hadn't expected her to say any of the things she did about Ethan. He expected her to be about the physical and maybe have a bad boy complex but not this. She really did care about his boy Ethan for the right reasons. He knew in that moment that this girl was a keeper. This girl would always do right by his best friend. Now if only he could get Ethan to see that he would be a fool to give that up and push her away.

Downstairs...

Max and Milo watched as Sonny's daughter came out of Johnny Zacharra's building and head to her car parked on the street. She went in with coffee and came out an hour later empty handed. Max couldn't remember Kristina ever having a friend that lived there and was concerned. Something wasn't right about this situation. "Hey Milo you ever see Kristina have a friend that lived here?" Milo shook his head no. "The boss made us know who every friend that the kids had and where they live. No one lives here that she is friends with that we know of." Max knew it. The only thing he could think of was that Ethan Lovett worked for Zacharra and Kristina was friends with Ethan. Maybe she was meeting him here. That was not a good place for Kristina to be. She knew that Zacharra was her father's worst enemy. Max couldn't begin to see what Kristina was thinking. She was a great girl but was volatile and unpredictable like her father. Max felt he had no choice. He had to tell Sonny.

Max followed Kristina home and then turned to head to his boss's house. He walked in to find Sonny sitting with his on again, off again girlfriend Brenda Barrett. "Hello Miss Barrett. Boss. I have to talk to you about something important." Max gave Sonny a look that meant he was talking about something extremely important. Sonny excused himself and followed Max into the study.

"Boss sorry to interrupt but Kristina was hanging out at Johnny Zacharra's building today. I tried to think if she had any friends that lived there but I can't. The only thing I could think is that she is was meeting Ethan Lovett there. I didn't see him though. She was there an hour." Max cringed internally as he watched his boss's expression darkened. "I see. Interesting. I guess I need to have a talk with my daughter and see what's what." Sonny walked out of the room without another word. Max almost wished he hadn't said anything at all.