"Can you tell your dog to heal?" She sauntered past him through the doorway, bold as brass.

Still recovering, Noah hadn't initially noticed the police officer standing behind her. "It's okay officer." He managed to say, "She's my aunt."

Boy did that sound strange coming from his mouth. He shakily closed the door but didn't turn around. That same fear he had felt the day before, when he'd first laid eyes on her engulfed him, and he prayed Luke would decide to spend a few more minutes in the yard.

"He used to leave those things all over the house…"

"What?" Still he didn't turn.

"Those dumbass pictures he insists on drawing! I swear the child's got a problem or something!"

Noah's hand tightened on the doorknob. As well as the awful realisation that she knew, he could feel anger rising. He took the biggest breath of his life and turned to face her.

Although she was still in the same clothes as the day before, she looked better somehow, more in control. She was grinning at him.

"I'm sorry?" he tried, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

The smile faded from her lips and her eyes narrowed at him. "Don't take me for a fool Noah! I know I didn't finish school or noth'in but I ain't stupid! I saw the picture on the fridge yesterday! It affected me you know? But I only realised just now why that is!"

Before Noah could stop her she was marching towards the kitchen.

"No, wait!" he yelled in desperation, "You can't go in there!"

Please! He could already feel their fragile hold on the child slipping.

By the time he reached the kitchen she had the drawing in her hand, but she wasn't looking at it, instead her eyes were focused on the yard outside where Luke and the boy still played, oblivious to her presence. The boy giggled whenever Luke caught the ball and he would run after it as Luke kicked it away from him. Noah battled to hold onto his emotions. He wanted to run outside, bundle the three of them into this truck and speed of to who knew where. But there was no hiding him anymore.

Michelle had a strange expression on her face that Noah couldn't read. She cocked her head at the scene and pursed her lips. Then she seemed to shake the strange emotion off by flipping her long black hair back and sniffing loudly.

"So?" she finally said, glaring at him as he stood helpless before her, "How'd he get 'ere?"

"Do you care?" Noah stood firm. If he had to fight her on it then he would.

"'Course I care! That's my child isn't it?"

"Then why didn't you report him missing? If you care so damn much?"

She smiled at him. "People like you! People who have money? You make me laugh! You ain't got a clue how hard it is out there for the likes of me! Life ain't so simple!"

"It seems pretty simple to me." Noah replied, "Money doesn't even play a part in it! You either love him or you don't. And if you don't then you need to do the right thing by him and just let him go."

She paused for a moment, "You know? There's one thing I still don't get? You didn't now I was your aunt right?"

"No."

"So how come you've got my child?"

"Somebody gave him to us. I guess he knew the boy was my family in some way."

"And so you just took him in?" She asked in amazement, "Without knowing? Just like that?"

"Just like that." Noah nodded then asked, "What do you want, Michelle?"

"What do you think I want? I want my child back of course!"

Noah tried not to visibly tense at that. He had to make Michelle believe he was the one in control, all the while knowing she held all the cards. "I'm sorry, but there is no way in hell I'm giving that boy back to you. Not after the way he's been treated in the past." And then it slipped out before he could stop himself, "There's no way I'm letting him near a monster like you!"

She slapped him. She slapped him hard across his face and he stood stock still with shock at first, cupping his cheek. Then he stared defiantly at her, "Why did you REALLY come back, Michelle? And don't try to tell me it's because of your child. You obviously don't love him so what do you really want?"

Michelle stood before him with a look of chilling and calculating coldness. "If I leave the boy with you what happens to him?"

"We keep him. You sign his care over to us. It's the right thing to do Michelle. He has the chance of a better life. Can't you see that?"

She was silent for a while, thinking. Then she replied simply, "Okay…"

Noah wanted to relax with relief but something told him she wasn't finished.

"…on one condition…"

"What's that?" asked Noah with sinking dread.

"You pay me. You pay me once a month for the boy and he's yours."

"Forget it!" he was quick to respond and an intense feeling of disgust and fury flared up in him again, "I'm not going to PAY you for him, Michelle!" He spat the word 'pay' as he spoke. "He's not a commodity for you to trade… to make your drug money on! He's a human being god dammit!" His voice was now laced with indignation.

She shot a look to Noah that came as close to pure hatred as he had ever seen. "Just as bad as your Pops, right?"

Noah felt a stab at that. He'd never been compared to his father before. He was surprised at how much the words hurt, even coming from a witch like Michelle.

"What gives you the right to judge me?" She continued, "Do you live my life? Hey? You're just as high and mighty as Daddy! Thing is, legally I ain't the real criminal here, am I? It's you two that kidnapped my son! All I have to do is go and speak to those nice young police officer's parked right outside. Explain how my baby went missing and I found 'im here without my knowing it. The two of you would be behind bars within hours and you know it!"

"There is no way I'm giving you any money. You can forget it!"

"Okay then," she spoke sweetly, with an angelic smile, "I'll just be grabbing my son and we'll be off."

She made for the backdoor, her cheap stiletto heels sounding like hammers on the tiled floor. Noah ran to catch up, clearing the space in a few long strides but Michelle quickened her pace and her hand fell on the door handle…

"STOP!" Noah yelled, panting hard and holding his hands out, "Please… just… can't we just talk about this civilly?"

She turned towards him smugly. "I have to leave for Branson in a few hours. I don't have the luxury of being able to change my flight. So… here's the deal! I'll leave the boy here… "

Noah lifted his head and shuddered, his eyes noticed through the pane of the adjacent window that Luke and the boy seemed to have finished their game and were making their way up the yard. He knew how terrified the child would be to see her and panic began to set in.

"… for now… I'll give you boys the chance to think about my offer… you got twenty-four hours!"

"Okay. Okay then." Noah was willing to say just about anything to get her to leave, "But you have to go now."

"I will. I will. Keep your pants on! Jeez! But I'm going to need a little something to tie me over. I've got some men on my back in Branson."

Noah kept an eye on Luke and the child outside. He didn't want to give Michelle a cent. He knew he would be contradicting himself, but at that moment he couldn't risk the boy seeing her. "Okay, how much?"

"A grand should cover it!"

Noah left the kitchen, knowing that she would follow and he flew for his writing desk, pulling out some notes he'd stored there to pay a repair man. He thrust them at her, "Here!" and he pushed her toward the door. "Okay now leave… Please just go!"

"I'm going! I'm going! Is this any way to treat your aunty?"

He watched as she made her way down the path and then he remembered, "Wait!"

She paused and he ran down to meet her by the road. She looked surprised that he had followed her.

"His name? What's his name?" He was stunned by the look on her face. She was shocked by the question, as though she'd never been asked it before. "He has a name right?"

"'Course he does!"

"So what is it?"

She frowned at him, "Nun's gave him a name when he was born. I don't remember…"

Noah was certain he actually heard his heart break in two. He couldn't stand to be around her for another minute. "Just go!" he told her coldly.

He rubbed his face in his hands before making his way back up the path and into the house. Luke had just pressed play on a DVD for the boy when Noah entered. They locked eyes and Luke, reading his expression, immediately followed him in silence as Noah headed for the kitchen.

Noah stood transfixed by the drawing of a little boy on the fridge.

"Bubby?" Luke asked from the doorway, "What's the matter?"

"Child." He said nodding his head as though Luke had asked him a different question. His voice was flat.

"What?"

"That's what he drew for us… when we asked him… a child…"

"Noah?"

"Because that's… that's what she called him!" The hands come back up to his face and he wept loudly into them as the adrenaline of the moment left him. The picture blurred behind his tears.

Luke's arms were around him in a flash and Noah leaned into their warmth, resting his head on Luke's strong shoulder, wetting his shirt with his tears.

"Luke…"

"Shh… baby… I'm here… shh…"

...

He used to have to steal food from the general store or from the garbage. Sometimes a person would leave an unfinished sandwich at the laundry mat. He'd hide food in the cupboard so she wouldn't see. When she remembered to give him food it was usually salty biscuits and maybe if he was lucky there would be some cheese.

"Here child! Eat up!" she would say.

Sometimes in the morning he could finish her cornflakes if she left them in the bowl in the sink. He would push a kitchen chair against the counter and stand on it. Then he would eat the flakes over the sink, listening out for her in case she caught him. There were times when she took ages to leave and then the milk was sour by the time he got up there. But when there was food going he would always eat it, never knowing when the next meal might be. Anything was better then the way his tummy would ache when he didn't get any.

He pretty much thought about food all the time. The only time he could forget the growl in his stomach was when he was concentrating on a drawing. So he drew a lot!

But now he didn't have to hunt for food. Luke and Noah gave him food every day. Breakfast, lunch and dinner! And it was yummy! It was the best food ever! Some mornings Luke would even make pancakes! And once he even made him pancakes shaped like people! Luke could make anything!

He was going to stay with Luke and Noah. He knew because he heard Noah say so to Maddie and Jonathan. He heard Noah say he didn't have to go back to Mommy.

Mommy had come to the house! He had been scared that she would take him away. He didn't want to go back ever! But Noah and Maddie made her go away, so it was okay now.

This time Luke helped him in the bath. And then when he was in bed Luke read him 'Noah's Ark'. It was the best story! Really, really good! He had his own bed now! So he was a big boy now! Then Luke kissed him goodnight and Noah came to kiss him goodnight. Noah was sad so he hugged Noah's neck and told him, "Be okay, No-ah…"

"You bet we will be, kid!" And Noah kissed him again.

"I stay?" he asked.

But Noah looked very sad at that. Noah didn't answer him and that made him feel afraid.

"Sleep tight baby."

He thought he saw Noah crying as he left the room.

...

They left the child with Jasmine for the following day while they undertook the dangerous assignment requested by Detective Mullins. They met him in the men's toilet of a coffee bar, so that if any of the Di Alberto clan were following them, they wouldn't be suspicious. Luke made the call, the nerves making his hands shake. He was glad Noah was by his side to hold one of them.

The phone was hooked up to some fancy gadgets so that the police could listen in.

"IL Forno's, good morning? Would you like to make a reservation?" said a sweet sounding girl on the other end of the line.

IL Forno's was one of many Italian restaurants run by the Di Alberto family. This branch was a regular hangout for Gianni and the police had confirmed already that he was currently there checking on the books.

"Um, no." answered Luke, "I was wondering whether I could speak to Gianni Di Alberto, please? Is he available?"

The girl sounded flustered, obviously uncomfortable with the question, "Oh, um, it's most unusual for him to take calls on this number, um…"

"If you tell him it's Luke Snyder, I'm sure he will take the call."

"Um, okay, um, just hang on a minute." He heard her place the phone down on the counter and he could hear her voice in the background talking to another woman. Finally a door opened and closed and he heard heavy footsteps growing louder as they approached the phone.

"Who's this?" said a stern male voice. It wasn't Gianni.

"As I told the girl, it's Luke Snyder here. I need to talk to Gianni right now." He tried to sound like a person in charge.

"Hold on." More shuffling and conversation could be heard in the back ground. Finally the same man's voice said, "Okay, but not on the phone. How fast can you get here?"

"What? To the restaurant?" Luke clarified.

"Yes. He will see you now if you can make it here."

"Um," he looked over at the Detective who nodded, "Um, Okay. I won't be alone though. I'll have my partner with me."

"Fine! But just the two of you!" The phone went dead.

"Don't worry," the Detective reassured them when he saw the unease on both their faces, "It's the best place to meet him because he'd never try anything on his own property."

...

Noah had given her the exact information she had gone back to his house to hear. They didn't just have the boy staying with them… they wanted him. And that gave her a major advantage.

Yes, of course she knew Noah had vetoed the idea of paying her for the privilege of raising her son, but she felt sure he would come around. Eventually he wouldn't have a choice if he wanted to keep the kid.

She couldn't imagine what they wanted with the boy. He was just a pain in the ass. And he never spoke so it wasn't like you could play with him or anything. (The blonde man had played with him in the yard.) The moment had shocked her. The boy looked different somehow. It took her a while to figure it out but then she realised… he was laughing and he seemed… happy. She felt a tug of annoyance towards him. Wasn't he supposed to love HER? Wasn't he supposed to miss HER? She was no saint but she was still his mother. He should feel something, right? A kid so young?

Anyway she had quickly shrugged those feelings off. The main thing was that the two men seemed to have taken a shine to the boy and they wanted him. And they were LOADED! She thought she should find the person who had taken him. So that she could thank him. That person may just have saved her ass!

It was only right what she was requesting. It was only right that she get her share of the pie. It was only fair. After all, if Winston had taken better care of her when she was younger, like he should have done, then maybe she could have turned out like Noah. Maybe she could have been successful and living in a fancy house.

She rubbed her hands on her way to the laundry mat. She had enough cash on her at the moment to pay off the sharks and score a little dope… And she even had enough to take the night off!

After that she had herself a new cash cow… or bull… lined up. It wouldn't be long…

She wasn't about to give up on it! No siree!

...

Gianni was intrigued. The phone call from Luke Snyder had been totally unexpected. The little twerp wanted an audience with him. What? Was the guy really that stupid! He laughed to himself. He wondered what in the world the guy had to say to him and he was just wondering that when the restaurant door opened and Luke walked in with his dark haired boyfriend. They looked like two deer in headlamps as they were patted down by Gianni's men! Did this wimp really order a hit on his father?

As they approached the table he stood to shake their hands. He held Luke's hand a little longer and gripped hard, making him wince. Finally they were all seated and Gianni surveyed them silently.

"I guess you're wondering why we're here?" Luke began.

"You could say that." He replied.

"We've come to ask you to remove the hit you have on me."

Gianni eyed them for a moment and then laughed out loud. He was swiftly joined by his men and Luke and Noah's eyes roamed over the laughing hoard. Once he caught his breath back he said, "Why would I want to do that exactly?"

"Because you're making a mistake." It was Noah who spoke this time.

"Noah was it?" he asked. "So how are you Noah? Healthy?"

He wanted to leap from his chair with glee when he saw the expression of sheer aggression suddenly cross his ex-employer's face. It was obvious the poisoning had really hit a cord with Luke.

"I never wanted any of this Gianni!" Luke spat at him, "I know you think I ordered Julius to kill your father but you're wrong!"

"Oh really? So you didn't hire him then?"

"Yes, I hired him, but I never told him to kill your father. It was my uncle, Anton Grimaldi."

Gianni couldn't help but start at that news. He felt a shiver down his spine. Anton Grimaldi was a big wig in New York City. What they hell was he doing getting involved in the Los Angeles crime ring. The only answer he could think of was reputation. Gianni was messing with Grimaldi reputation and Anton was taking umbrage to that! Sh*t!

"We're here to make a deal with you." Luke broke him from his thoughts.

"And what might that be?"

"I will allow you back into the company and you can continue to have full access to the ships as you please."

"Okay. And what do you want in exchange?"

"We want you to lay off our family. We just want you to pull the hit and leave us in peace. We were never really a part of any of this!"

Gianni eyed him for a second longer, "Okay but if I agree to this then I want something else thrown in."

"Name it."

"I want ninety percent."

"You can have it all Gianni! I'm not interested in your drug money! All I want is your guarantee to leave us alone!"

Gianni smiled, "Well! How can a shrewd businessman like me say no to a sweet deal like that? You've got yourself an agreement Mr Snyder."

He saw them both visibly sigh. The two wets were complete amateurs.

So the issue about access to Grimaldi ships had really become second fiddle to the bigger issue at hand. Anton Grimaldi was trying to stake claim to Los Angeles turf. It must not have gone unnoticed by those on the street! As such Gianni had no choice but to make a loud statement! It had to be big and it had to be heard across the country. Los Angeles dockside belonged to the Di Alberto's.

Anton seemed protective of Luke Snyder so it would be perfect to use the couple to make his point. He just needed a little longer to plan it, so in the meantime, he would let Luke and Noah walk out of the restaurant thinking they were safe.

...

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