The bullet had gotten stuck in Della's left breast. There was minimal damage. Della was discharged two days later. The shooter was still at large. Perry and Della were moved to another suite under alias names. "We have got to find who is doing this," Perry said.

"They say third time's a charm," Della said.

"Are you saying that next time we'll catch him or next time he'll kill you?" Paul asked.

"Both," Della said.

"Paul, can you go brief Tony?" Perry asked. "I know he's worried and I don't want to leave Della."

"Sure thing," Paul said and left. Perry held his wife to comfort her. He could tell how terrified she was.

Two days later, Paul came over to tell Perry something. Della was in the bedroom, sleeping, so they decided to talk in the living room. Perry closed the door behind him. "I've figured out who's been doing this. I've already told the authorities what I've found."

"And?"

"It's the son of the guy who kidnapped and raped Maureen. He's trying to get revenge on Della. The cops think they know where he's hiding. They're heading over to haul him in."

"I can't thank you enough."

"You don't have to," Paul smiled, "the two of you are second parents to me. I'd do anything for you."

Perry turned and noticed smoke coming out from under the bedroom door, "Paul, look."

Paul walked over and opened the door. It wasn't smoke, but it was deadly. "Perry, go," Paul said, "I've got her." The young man took a scarf he had found and wrapped it around the lower half of his face. He rushed into the room and found Della on the floor. Clearly, the smell woke her up and she tried to leave, but passed out before she could. Paul lifted Della into his arms and rushed out of the room. He kicked the door shut to try and minimize the spread. The entire hotel was evacuated. Perry, Della, and Paul all went to get checked out. The men were fine, and Della was holding on. The gas had been on a timer. The man who was doing all of this, left it in the air ducts by the vent in the Masons' bedroom. He wasn't even there when it went off. He was, however, arrested. Della regained consciousness a few hours later. She was relieved to find out that the perpetrator was in custody. They would return to the hotel, but once again, it would be a different suite. Paul, Tony, and everyone else was in the suite when Perry helped Della inside. Once she was seated, she waved everyone over to hug her. Samantha waited until everyone else had hugged Della before approaching her.

"I'm sorry," the girl said before hugging Della.

"Why are you sorry?" Della asked.

"The night you asked us to stay away, I left without hugging you or saying anything. You were shot that night."

"Sweetheart, you don't have to be sorry."

"Yes, I do," Sam said as she began to cry, "I was mad at you and I shouldn't have been. You were trying to protect us and you did protect us."

Della used her right arm to pull Sam into a hug. It was painful to use her left since that's the breast that had been shot. "Samantha, you don't have to be sorry. Your grandfather and I love you more than anything. There's nothing we wouldn't do to protect you or anyone else in our family."

"That includes everyone in this room," Perry added.

Della had Sam look at her, "this isn't my first rodeo. I jumped off of a cliff to save your Aunt Maureen. I threatened the district attorney after he made your then eight-year-old Aunt Vivian cry on the stand. I had your Aunt Maggie and Aunt Violet get in the car because it was dark. That's why I was shot and they weren't. I got hurt in a car wreck because I didn't let either of your uncles drive home."

"I didn't know all of that," Samantha said. "You jumped off a cliff?"

"A man had just thrown my little girl off of that cliff. I jumped in after her without thinking. My instincts just kicked in."

"Nana, you're really something," Samantha smiled.

"She sure is," Perry agreed.