DISCLAIMER: See installment one.

"""""

Vercetti Estate - Tommy's bedroom - 1:47 PM

Angela stood in the walk-in closet in Tommy's bedroom. Glancing at her luggage that still lay on the plush carpeting, a pout formed on her mouth. She left everything she built for herself to come back here with Tommy. Her good job, nice friends, and even her son had sacrificed for his father. A little understanding and compassion was all she wanted from him. But Tommy, he had other ideas and was so stuck in his ways that he couldn't even see what he was losing again. Well, she wouldn't allow it this time. If he couldn't see the forest through the trees, then he was going to spend more time camping.

Today she'd finally get to use what those checks that Tommy was giving her was going towards. He asked about it a few times, but she kept her lips sealed, not wanting to even think about it until it was fully paid off. However, she had used more than half her savings to complete the purchase after Tommy had become upset at her. She was hoping that Tommy's checks to her wouldn't stop either. She would need them soon enough.

She hoisted the medium size purple bag onto her shoulder. In it was a few outfits for her and Justin, along with a few other accessories they would need. This was her only chance that she knew of to leave while she could, although she hated leaving the protective watch of Tommy. But while he was out of town, she'd make her way out of the mansion and to a house she'd seen for sale in the paper. After closing the deal earlier that day, she had one of Tommy's guards take her to the car dealership.

Making her way downstairs, she quietly slipped out of the front door, not wanting to attract the attenion of Dee who sat in the kitchen reading the newspaper. With a soft click of the door, she promptly made her way to her new vehicle. It was a dark red hybrid, not quite a truck, but not a sedan that she desparately disliked. Somewhere perfectly in the middle, and it would suit her and Justin's needs just fine. After giving her other car to Kit before she left New Jersey, she felt a sense of losing her independence. But now, with this vehicle, she got it back.

She sighed, looking up at the mansion. Rows of windows rose up four stories, columns supporting the overbearing rooftop. The house she'd mortgaged out earlier looked similar, and it even sat by itself like Tommy's estate. She proceeded to toss the bag over into the front passenger seat as she scooted into the driver's seat. The engine started with a rumble and she smiled to herself, patting the wheel. But a frown quickly replaced it.

"I'm sorry, Tommy," she whispered as if he were sitting next to her. "We can't get along, we can't live together, we can't be together." With another deep breath, she reached up to open the sun roof, and took off out of the curved driveway.

"""""

Vercetti Estate - Kitchen - 8:12 AM

"Gone? What do you mean gone?" Tommy nearly choked on his coffee.

"She left the day before yesterday."

"And you didn't stop her?" He placed the mug on the counter, gritting his teeth.

"I don't think this is a problem I can solve, sir." Dee passed Tommy the newspaper from the day Angela left. "She circled something."

Tommy looked over the paper, seeing where she had circled a listing for a house in a red marker. "It's the only one circled."

Dee nodded. "She bought it."

"She bought it? Oh, fuck me," he said, slapping the newspaper down. "There's no protection on that house!" He rubbed a hand over his face.

"She has Justin with her," Dee informed him. "My sources say she's safe though."

"Thanks, Dee," Tommy grumbled. "This stupid shit has got to stop today. It's getting ridiculous now. She can't just keep leaving."

"Perhaps a more tender touch is needed for Miss Angela." He shrugged and nodded his head to the side as Tommy looked at him.

"This is my fault," he sighed. "I got angry with her over senseless stuff. Something that wasn't even worth being mad at." Glancing once more at the newspaper, he gathered his thoughts. He could go there and barge in like a storm, or he could use a more cautious approach. A half a smile creeped to the corner of his mouth. "I know what to do. Thanks, Dee!"

Before Dee could blink, Tommy was sprinting towards the front doors.

"""""

8 El Swanko Drive - 4:38 PM

"You like your room, sweetie?" She hugged the little boy close to her hip.

He nodded his head against the palm of her hand. "Yeah," he said slowly, "but I like daddy's better."

"You'll be able to see him. I promise. Daddy just needs some time alone."

"Okay," he sighed, then he stalked off to sit on his bed.

"You have homework to do?" At his nodded, she gestured to his bookbag that he dropped off near the closet in his room. "Make sure you get it done."

After seeing to he had pulled out his homework, she went downstairs to the kitchen. She was preparing dinner when the phone rang. Goodness, I just got it connected and already a call, she thought.

"Hello?" she answered sweetly.

"Are we going to play this game again?"

Her hand flew to her chest and her eyes rolled in the back of her head as she sighed deeply. "Are you going to stop acting like an animal?"

"Was I like that the first time you ran away?"

"I didn't run away. Either times. I'm not a child."

"You have my child."

"And you found us anyway... again."

"Where are you?" he asked, already knowing.

"Ocean Beach. That single house that sits by itself. You know I really liked this house years ago." She took out a handmixer, accidentally hitting a big mixing bowl with it.

"What was that?"

"I hit the mixing bowl. Why?"

"What are you making?"

"Dinner."

"I'm coming over," he said.

"Not even going to ask. Just going to invite yourself over."

"I own that piece of land."

"Wha - " her mouth dropped, but before she could finish, Tommy hung up on her. "Oh, the nerve of him!"

"Are you and daddy fighting again?"

The sad little voice make her whirl around, forgetting that she flared up in anger towards the speaker's father. The sadness in his eyes overcame anything else the little boy was thinking. Angela set the utensils down, holding out her arms to him. He slowly walked over to her open, waiting arms and she gave him a long hug.

"I know it must be hard for you, sweetie, but me and your daddy are going to be just fine."

"Doesn't he want to be around us?"

Her brow furrowed and she let him go. "Of course he does. He adores you, Justin, and don't ever think anything differently."

Just then a knock on the door pulled her attention away from Justin. She went to go answer it, but as she stepped around the wall that was in front of the foyer, the visitor was already in the house. Her hand went to cover her forehead as she held out her other hand to him, her lips pressed together.

"Well hello to you too. I haven't seen you in days and you greet me by wanting to get the keys to the house off me."

"Give me the keys, Tommy," she said, ignoring his welcome. "You only own the land. You don't need keys."

"I used to just own the land. When I called you, I was waiting for the papers to go through on the house."

Her jaw dropped and her eyes went wide. "How could you buy the house?" she hissed out in a whisper. "I mortgaged it! Is that even possible?"

"When you mortgaged it, the bank took it. All you have to do is buy it from the bank by taking over the mortgage. Nice deal on it, by the way, and I went ahead and paid the taxes on it."

She closed her mouth, giving him a lazy-eyed look, and turned away from him walking back into the kitchen. She crossed her arms as she walked, which accentuated her curves from behind, and that enticed Tommy as he watched her walk away. A low growl came from his chest, and he had hoped she hadn't heard it.

"Do you want to stay for dinner?" she asked, pointing a knife in his direction as she cut potatoes in half. "I'm making oven-baked barbecue chicken, mashed potatoes and corn."

"Sure," he said sitting at the kitchen table. The sound of feet coming down steps perked his ears up. He saw Justin looking down at a piece of paper as he walked slowly down each step. "Hey Justin."

"Dad!" He ran to Tommy, all but forgetting the paper in his hand, wrinkling it up as he hugged his father.

"What's that in your hand?"

He scrunched up his face. "My homework."

"You didn't finish it?" Angela asked as she finished rinsing off the potatoes and tossing them into a pot.

"No, but I'm stuck."

"On what?" Tommy asked as he took the paper from him. "Oh, math. Okay, let me help you."

"Okay," he said excitedly as he took a seat next to Tommy.

Angela watched Tommy help Justin, knowing that Tommy was probably the best person she knew at mathematics. She continued cooking as they did the worksheet, straining the potatoes and putting them in the mixing bowl, turning off the small steaming pot of corn, and pulling the chicken out of the oven. She began taking plates out of the cupboard as Justin went back upstairs to put his homework away. Before she turned around again to put their plates in front of them, Justin was already back at the table, sitting on his knees.

"Sit right," Angela said, patting his bottom. He pulled his legs from underneath of him and stabbed his fork in a piece of chicken.

"Thanks, mom," he said, shoving a forkful of mashed potatoes in his mouth along with the chicken.

"Yeah, thanks, Ang."

She turned around to see Tommy wink at her. "Mhm." She placed a basket in between Tommy and Justin. "Honey-butter biscuits," she said at Tommy's inquiring look.

"Try them, dad. They're really good."

Tommy took one from the basket, smelled the succulent honey, then looked at Angela.

"It's not poison," she immediately said upon his inspection. "As much as I would like to... " Her words trailed off quietly as she popped a piece of chicken in her mouth.

"Hmm," she heard Tommy say in a muffled tone. "This is good. I like them." He leaned over to Justin and spoke to him in a hushed tone. "Did you know your mother is the best cook I've ever known?"

Justin simply giggled, taking another bite out of his own biscuit, as Tommy winked at Angela. A smile came across her face, loving to see them together.

"""""

8 El Swanko Drive - Angela's bedroom - 11:45 PM

"Tommy, what are you doing?" Angela asked as Tommy came through her bedroom door. "You know, there's three other unoccupied rooms."

"None of which have any furniture in them yet," he stated as he sat on the edge of her bed.

"So sleep on the couch downstairs."

"Putting me on the couch, are ya?"

"I would put you in the dog house, but there isn't one... yet." She rolled over, burying herself under the comforter.

"Ohh-ho, aren't you so funny... " Finishing undressing, he threw his clothes onto the floor. He slid underneath the covers with her, pulling her to the middle of the bed. "You know you made me upset today, right?"

"What else is new?" she asked, laying a bunched up pillow flat under her head. "And you know you're going to pick up after yourself. I already have one child to clean after. You're not going to mess up my house."

"Oh, your house?"

"Yes, my house. I don't care if I have to buy it from you or not."

"You don't," he said, his voice low and deep. Moving on top of her, he brushed his lips over hers, "I know what type of rent I want."

"Oh, you do?" At his lazy nod, she asked, "And what would that be?" He trailed his lips down between the valley of her breasts, but before he could reach her stomach, she grabbed him by the chin with her fingertips, pulling his head back up. "No."

"You know I'm not taking money from you."

"Tommy, please don't make me find an apartment."

"I'll just buy it. I already own an apartment building." His lips pressed against her neck, nipping at the tender skin.

"Why do you think you can buy everything?" she asked, taking his head into her hands.

"Because I usually can... except... "

"Me," she finished for him, her fingers grazing over his cheekbones. "I don't want to love you."

"Then why do you?" His voice rumbled deeply, making a swirl of heat pool in Angela's abdomen. He moved his head slightly to the side, letting her finger slide into his mouth.

"Why do you do this to me?" she asked, her own voice surprisingly husky.

"I need you, Angela. It's not even a want anymore, and it's not because you had my child. I love you, and I've never wanted to be without you since I first saw you in the club. I got to know you, and I've wanted to build my family with you, and I can't thank you enough for having my first son."

"All the others had girls?" she asked with a smirk. She bit her bottom lip, waiting for him to make the next move. And she didn't have to wait long as he returned a smile to her then sealed her mouth with a kiss. Taking her bottom lip into his mouth, he sucked on it, then moved his passionate suckling down her neck to the humps of her breasts.

She arched her back as he left a hot trail from the top of her cleavage all the way down to her thighs. Even more heat pooled in her loins as she threw her head back into the pillow. As she threaded her fingers through his hair, he pushed her knees up, slowly making his way back to her mouth. He settled himself firmly between her thighs, hoisting her legs up around him. He supported himself with one arm as the other rubbed around her back, then thumbed her panties. She wiggled her hips as he slid them down, sliding each leg out.

He already felt her hot and wet for him. "Want to tell me again you don't want me?" A simple smile from her sent sparks down his chest, and right into the body part prodding her fold. She shifted up slightly, urging him. He placed his hands around to the small of her back as he plunged into her, the soft moan from her lips leaving his neck tingle. He whispered sweet little nothings as he rocked her, gently at first then picking up pace as her legs wrapped tighter around him.

His name echoed in their ears as she came to release, him right after. "Tommy!"

"""""

Turn Tables - Liberty City, New York - 3:05 AM

Marcus sat calmly at the head of the table, his feet perched up on the dark mahogany. Tapping his fingers patiently on the arm of the chair, he was pleased when the door creaked open.

"Welcome, John. Sit," he ordered, pointing to a row of leather chairs on the side of the table. "You have any new information for me?"

The man nodded, and placed a folder on the table. He slid it over to Marcus, who slowly opened it. "Vercetti. She's living with him again."

"Well, he strikes again, doesn't he?" He closed the folder, bitterness cloaking his words as he spoke. "I had my eye on her for years and she turns me down for a wannabe don?"

"They're at his estate with their son."

"Their son," he repeated with a short laugh. "Their son. Perhaps I should go teach little Angela just what it means to deceive me." He looked up from the folder to see John nod in agreement with him. "So, we leave in the morning?"

"Yes, sir. Flight's all set up."

"Good," he said dragging his pen across his top lip. "What about the estate?"

"It's all been arranged, sir."

Marcus clasped his hands and laid them on his chest, a wide grin on his face.

"""""

8 El Swanko Drive - Angela's bedroom - 8:57 AM

Her eyes slowly fluttered open the next morning. She could see Tommy sitting on the edge of the bed, his arms stretching up for a second as he pulled off his wifebeater. Her arms stretching upward as well, she yawned and shifted in the bed.

"Good morning," he smiled, looking behind to her.

"Morning."

"Feel good?"

"Mhmm," she grinned, closing her eyes once more. "Justin at school?"

"Just took him." He laid back onto the bed, leaving on his jean shorts and his chest bare. "So," he began, scratching a rough incoming beard. "Where are we at now?"

"Now that I finally gave in?" she asked, opening her eyes, cocoa darkness looking at him. "I don't know. You tell me."

"Want me to tell you... Okay. You're my woman. And that's it."

"Do you care what I want?"

"If it involves you ever leaving again, no." He paused, rubbing his chin with his fingers. "But you know I'll always give you what you need."

She couldn't help but smile as she laid back into the bed. "I need someone who's not hulking over me constantly. I'm not a child, Tommy."

"I know you're not," he added quickly before she continued.

"I have a child of my own now. I don't need someone baring down on me all the time. I don't need you to breathe for me. Obviously not only can I take care of myself just fine, but I'm responsible enough for another body and soul. More than anything, you pushed me away. Nothing else."

He thought carefully at her words as she spoke. "I know I wasn't always the greatest, but you know I love you. That's all I ever asked for. Was for you to love me. I never asked or wanted anything else from you."

"What do you think I did? Hate you? Tommy, I know you think that what you ask seems simple, and to some extent it is, but when you really think about it, it's not that easy. I gave you my love. Always. It never faltered. Never for a second. But I had to do what I thought was right, and it had nothing to do with not loving you."

He breathed in deeply, contemplating what to say. Before he could turn to her and respond, the loud noise of his cell phone rining jarred him from his thoughts. Quickly, he made his way to his jeans thrown down carelessly on the floor beside the bed. Angela listened closely, not expecting Tommy to burst in outrage.

"They raided the mansion? Who? They couldn't have found anything! I'm not stupid! Alright, okay, okay, start cleaning up. I'll be there tomorrow. I'm keeping Justin and Angela away from there for the time being."

She sat up, the sheet wrapped tightly across her chest. "What happened, babe?"

"The estate's been raided. Someone who has to have connections, because the feds have been off my back for years."

"Who do you think it was?"

He looked at her, those deep, dark eyes swirling with worry. He stepped up to her side of the bed, framing her soft face in his hands. "I have an idea, but I don't want you to worry about it."

But she did worry, and she knew almost instantly who Tommy thought it was.