'Woah, what the fuck?!' Paul said coming out of the back of the cave followed by Marko, who stopped and looked around the cave, decidedly unimpressed. Dwayne and David were already up and had been talking and smoking at the cave entrance together. David walked in upon hearing the other two come out and he headed straight towards Marko and Marko was under no illusion that David was pissed.

'You have no reason to look like that. You're the reason I had to do this, not her. What the fuck were you thinking?' David demanded, in his cool calm demeanour.

'How was I to know the jacket would be found that fast?' Marko said and almost instantly he regretted it.

'Since when do we leave anything from our kills lying around? Fucking stupid, Marko.' David told the boy off and turned away. 'Get out.' David threw his cigarette butt into one of the barrels and the boys all looked at him. 'Get out, I've got some serious damage control to execute. You're on your own tonight.' David walked over towards Star's bed where she lay still sleeping, yet the boys didn't move, they just looked at each other unsure if he was serious. 'Now!' He ordered and they bolted leaving the cave straight away He brushed her hair off her face and sat down next to her bed and she began to stir, her eyes flickering open.

'Are you OK?' He asked her and he saw her large auburn eyes open and focus on him before she looked away and lightly shook her head. He picked up two flowers and placed one alongside her. 'I'm sorry about your family and I hope they find your friend.' He was telling her exactly what she needed to hear. It was all bullshit, he didn't give a fuck about her friend or her family and he almost resented having to do this but he was in a situation where he felt he had to. His momentary feeling of empathy had passed and now he was merely doing what he had to in order to calm her down and stop her from going to the cops. He sat and watched her reaction to the mass of flowers around her. 'I figured you could do with some beauty around you. You're too special to me to be sad.' He was speaking the truth, he did think she deserved beauty for she was beautiful and she didn't realise exactly how special she was to him and what he was jeopardising to be with her.

'Thank you.' She smiled at him.

'You're welcome.' He said getting up and walking over towards his chair, grabbing his jacket and filtering through his pockets to find the money he'd taken from last night's meal. They'd had a surprising amount of money on them, nearly $600. Dwayne figured they'd just sold an ounce but David didn't care where they'd gotten it, it was theirs now. He gave $300 to the boys and kept the other $300 for himself.

'Where are the boys?' She asked walking towards him. He turned and once again was taken back by how stunning she looked, but he wanted her to change her skirt, it wasn't right for the restaurant he wanted to take her to.

'They're out. It's just you and me tonight. Change that skirt, we're going out to dinner.' Her eyes displayed her surprise in what he'd just said and he watched her turn and go and change her skirt. He couldn't help himself and his eyes followed her slender legs as she stepped out of her skirt and into another one, she held a definite appeal for him and simple gestures from her turned him on. He looked away and put his jacket and she walked back out and he was happy by the change.

'Nice.' He said placing his arm around her shoulder and leaving the cave. Bocci's Cellar was the oldest restaurant in Santa Carla and he wanted to be around a touch of class and elegance, looking at David, you wouldn't think he cared for such things but in his time on this earth, he'd grown to appreciate certain aspects of human culture and tonight he wanted to show her a different side of him. They were shown to a table outside and upon seating, the wind blew and he saw her shiver. 'Are you cold?' He asked.

'No, I'm OK.' She assured him but he didn't listen and he slid his heavy overcoat off and placed it around her shoulders. 'I'll get you a jacket.' He decided, looking at her tiny frame being swallowed by his huge coat.

'Can I get you a drink?' The waitress swung by.

'I'll have a JD and Coke.' He said and she looked at Star.

'Just a water thanks.' Star said and the waitress flitted off returning within five minutes with the drinks and ready to take a food order, there weren't too many people in the place which meant the service was quick. Star ordered some chicken something while David declined to order anything, eliciting a nervous look from his date.

'Why aren't you eating?' She asked.

'I'm not hungry, not for food anyways.' He smirked at her. 'I'll eat something later.'

'OK.' She looked away a bit awkwardly.

'Star, are you planning on going to the funeral?' He asked. He wasn't interested in her answer, he was baiting her really, there was no way he was going to allow her to go to any fucking funeral but he wanted to know if she was thinking of attending and he wanted to put across the idea that he cared.

'I don't think anyone would pay for a funeral for my dad. Besides, if anyone did, it's probably been done already, they'd been looking for me for a week. I would like to go back and get the rest of my stuff though, if it's still there.' She was asking him if she could, if she was permitted to do so and it pleased him, she was getting used to the way it was now, the way it would continue to be between them.

'No, you're not going back. I told you, anything you want I will provide for you. You're my girl.' He paused, watching her take in his directive. 'To new beginnings.' He willed her to cheers with him, to solidify their relationship and the confirmation of her now firmly belonging to him. She looked at him and he lay his influence thick on her and she was easy to manipulate being only 16. 'Next subject, what would you like to do for your birthday?' Her eyes shot up from her glass. 'You told me at the concert, remember?'

'Oh.' She relaxed a little, he had the feeling this dinner date had her a little anxious.

'What day is it?'

'The 14th'

'Ah, next Friday. A good day to celebrate. Of course, we celebrate every Friday, but next Friday will be about you.' He took hold of her hand across the table, feeling the slight tremble of her fingers. 'Are you happy with us?' He pushed her for an answer and she contemplated the question before answering him.

'Why don't you live in a house?' It wasn't the response he expected.

'The cave suits us better, don't you think?' She shrugged her shoulders. 'Well, once you get to know us better, you will see.' It wouldn't be long before she knew the truth, the entire truth about him and his boys and then she would be with them forever. He watched her looking around the room, the candle light framing her features beautifully and creating complex shadows along her cheek bone and jaw line. In the moment of silence, of intimate closeness, he really felt like they were a couple. He felt like he was sitting there with his girlfriend, someone he actually cared about and he'd never felt like this before. He noticed her smile at someone and his eyes flicked over towards the bar and he saw Max sitting there drinking his Chivas and watching them. How long had he been there? David was disturbed that he hadn't sensed Max's presence and he knew it was because of her. What the fuck did he want?

'She's pretty, beautiful even.' Max's voice tormented David's brain. 'Romantic dinner, is it? I see you haven't forgotten the chivalry I taught you.'

'What are you doing here?'

'I saw the boys out without you and I thought I'd find out what my favourite son is up to. And here you are. And you lied,' Max's glasses reflected the lights of the bar as David glared at him, 'she's not turned.' David rolled his eyes away from Max and looked at Star, whose meal had arrived. 'You're playing with fire David, and she's not the only one who will get burned. You both will.' David looked back to him and Max finished his drink sliding his glass across the table looking back at his son before he got up and left. Fucking Max, he wasn't going to let up on David and the last thing David needed was to be pressured about her. As she took her last bite, he asked her if she was done and she nodded and he left a fifty dollar bill on the table and they walked out. He rode down to the Boardwalk and upon getting off the bike she asked him if they were meeting the boys down here and he said no, he had no intention of the boys ruining tonight for him, even though Max had basically done that for him already. They walked down and away from the rides and, as he walked, his thoughts were consumed with Max. He couldn't believe Max had tracked him to the restaurant, Max had never shown too much interest in what David did or where he was unless he wanted him to do something for him. Max and David had been together for long enough that Max had a level of trust for David and his boys to maintain their anonymity so it perplexed David that Max was now overly interested. He saw her stop and look as some cheap jewellery and he glanced around and spotted a jacket he liked in the store behind them. He walked in and knew it would be perfect for her so he took it and came back out with it.

'For you.' He helped her into it.

'Thank you, this is great.' She said appreciatively.

'Love, do you want anything? I'm closing in five minutes.' The shop keeper interrupted them.

'Oh, no thanks.' Star answered her but David countered her.

'Yes she will. She'll have those and those and these.' David chose three pairs of earrings and paid the lady winking at Star. He wanted to leave, he knew it was going to rain and he hated riding in the rain.

'Thank you.' He heard her say and he continued walking without saying anything. 'I'm sorry.' He halted and looked at her. 'For last night, I just couldn't put it all together and I was freaking out. I didn't mean to go off at you and Marko, I know he didn't do anything because Paul told me he was with him when she left and I'm sorry.' He had her again, she no longer believed they had done anything wrong and she was no longer a threat to them. He didn't need to pamper her anymore. It was spitting now and he wanted to get off the Boardwalk.

'Come on, let's get out of here.' He couldn't help but get wet on the ride back to the cave and, before they'd reached the cave it began to rain heavily. She was moving too slowly for his liking so he turned and picked her up and hurried down into the cave. As he tried to dry himself off, he tried not to be so annoyed, which he already was. Max had soured his mood let alone the rain and he looked over at her and she was placing a pair of her new earrings into her lobes.

'You like?' He asked her.

'I love. I pierced my own ears last year.' She informed him.

'Will you do mine?' He looked at her sideways watching her response.

'Sure, if you want.' She sat on the couch looking relaxed for the first time.

'I want.' He said lighting a cigarette.

'OK, I'll need a needle and a lighter and ice and some antiseptic.' She told him.

'What's the ice for?' He asked, genuinely unsure and forgetting the mortal apprehension to pain.

'To numb it.'

'You won't need that. I like a little pain.' He curled his lip. 'I have a pin, do it now.'

'I don't have a ring to put in it or any antiseptic.' She said and he pulled out a barbed wire hook out of his pocket and handed it to her. He then handed her a safety pin that he'd pulled open and a lighter.

'What about antiseptic? I don't want it getting infected.' She said almost worried.

'Don't worry about it.' He brushed her concern off.

'Are you sure?' She asked, looking at him with her head cocked to the side and he smiled.

'Do your worst.' He said seductively. She jumped up and went to her bed and rummaged around her bag for something. He came up behind her and saw her twisting a piece of black leather into the hook and he smiled. In her action, it was like she knew him already. He sat on her bed and watched her burn the pin until it glowed and then she placed it down on a piece of cloth then once it had cooled, she took it and kneeled next to him.

'Are you ready?' She asked.

'You have no idea.' He watched her as she got closer to him and took his ear in her hand and pricked the lobe with the pin and pushed it through his skin.

'Did that hurt?' She asked him screwing up her nose.

'No.' He said quietly and she slid the earring into his ear and adjusted it slightly.

'There, do you want to look at it?' She asked getting up motioning to the mirror and he grabbed her arm, stopping her.

'No.' He repeated and she sat back down next to him, her face close to his. 'Thank you.' He said as his voice pulled her in.

'You're … welcome.' She stuttered as he reached up sliding his hand beneath her hair and around the back of her neck and gently stroked her skin. She closed her eyes and he pressed his lips against hers and as the kiss deepened, he pulled her up onto the bed with him and on top of him before he began to devour her with his tongue. Their interaction became more acute and he began to undress her, and taking in the sight of her beautiful body, it made him even harder and made him want her more. Suddenly a commotion came flooding down the entrance of the cave and the boys appeared looking like drowned rats hooting and laughing. Obviously they'd made good use of the money they had and they were suitably wasted.

'Woooo!' Paul howled as he caught sight of Star and David and she grabbed her top covering herself up and David was pissed. He didn't like being interrupted, especially doing what he was doing. It was then he realised Star needed some curtains or something, no he wanted one of the old hotel beds stashed in one of the back caves to be his to do what he pleased with his girl without Paul's perving eyes, or Marko's judging ones. He'd never cared before, but he did with Star.

'Get out.' David demanded again.

'Nah, we like the show.' Paul laughed.

'GET OUT!' David roared and the boys jumped.

'Geez, twice in one night.' Paul muttered as they left to go out the back. David looked back at her and she was watching him nervously.

'Sorry about that, they won't be back out tonight.'

'You can't kick them out because of me.' She shook her head.

'I can do whatever I want.' He told her as lightning flashed into the cave. 'They won't be going anywhere in this weather tonight. We're on our own out here.' He leaned over to her to kiss her again but she hesitated. 'You can put up some curtains around here for some privacy. I should have known better with Paul around. Come here.' He pulled her to him again and she folded into him. David got carried away as they got more involved and he inadvertently bit her lip making it bleed and he got a taste of her blood on his tongue and it was the sweetest intoxicating blood he'd ever had. He was surprised but not as much as he'd surprised her when she pulled away and touched her lip and when she looked at him she froze. It was then he realised he'd betrayed his mortal façade and she had caught her first glimpse of the real David and he quickly pulled her back to him and controlled his monster from being visible.

'Wait, what…' She pushed away from him and he looked at her.

'What?' He asked and she just looked at him. 'I'm sorry, sometimes I get carried away. Are you hurt?'

'Oh, no. Um… I'm fine.' She said, narrowing her eyes, looking confused.

'Good.' He said leaning over her and kissing her again and for the first time he made love to his girlfriend.