Sorry it took me so long to update. I had a terrible time with this chapter. My toughest one yet. Anyway, hope you like it. Please R&R. Thanks!

It was 9:00 am. Lulu decided to get some work done after breakfast. She opened the laptop and started checking her emails. Five from Kate and one from Maxie. Only one, Maxie? You're slipping. Okay, where to start? I guess I'll go with Maxie.

My darling Lulu,

The day when we will be together is coming soon. My plan is moving along quite nicely. You have told the Detective to back off. That's very good. I'm not thoroughly convinced that he will, however. At some point, he will need some further encouragement. After all, I can't allow anyone to interfere in my plans for us. I have already eliminated one threat. You know, fathers can be so overprotective sometimes. Don't worry, he didn't suffer. He went quickly. There are more who stand in the way of our happiness, five to be exact. Those who claim to love you. They, too, will eventually meet the same fate. The grand finale being the Detective that you have grown so fond of. Once he is out of the way, you'll see that you really didn't need him after all. No one will take you away from me. If you ever wonder where I am, all you have to do is look around you and I am there.

Until next time,

James

Lulu cleared the perfume bottles from the top of her dresser with a sweep of her arm. Glass shattered into tiny shards on the floor as the liquid spilled out. She breathed hard, tears streaming down her face. She knew that Dante always kept his backup pistol in his bedroom. With a couple of turns and clicks, the safe was open. She looked down at the 9mm, now in her hands. Tears streamed down her face and fell on the cold, steel handle as the scenario of what happened to her father played over and over again in her mind. Did he suffer? Was he thinking about her and Lucky in his final moments? Did he even get that opportunity or did it really end quickly? Was this guy even telling the truth? Her mind reeled.

Dante walked into the house. Everything was eerie and still. "Lulu?" It was well past 10:00 am. She had to be awake by now. "Lulu?" He raced upstairs. "Lulu!" Nothing but silence. He opened her bedroom door. It was empty, except for the broken glass all over the floor. Panic swept through him. He looked across the hall to his room. The door was ajar. He carefully pushed it open and found her on his bed with her back to him. He noticed the safe was open, it's contents missing.

"Lulu?" He walked carefully toward her. "What are you doing in here?"

She didn't answer, instead she kept her gaze fixed on the gun. Dante moved a little closer to see if his worst fear was confirmed.

"Lu? Would you please answer me?"

"I got an email message today. I thought it was from Maxie, so I opened it. It wasn't. It was from that creep," she said in a sarcastic tone. "He said that my father was in the way of our happiness and that he was no longer a threat. He said that I shouldn't worry because he went quickly. He's lying, right? I mean there's no way that madman could have killed him, since Dad is thousands of miles away."

Even though Dante knew the truth, he wasn't ready to answer yet. Not until he got the gun away from her.

"Lulu, why don't you hand me the gun?"

As if he never spoke, Lulu continued. "You know, it's ironic, this thing can either save a life by protecting someone or end it by not. In some cases, it does both. Strange isn't it?"

Dante carefully inched his way closer to Lulu. "I guess I've always known that, but never really thought about it. Lulu, can you tell me which direction you're leaning?"

She shook her head and sobbed. "I don't know. He wouldn't have any reason to kill anyone else if I were no longer in the equation. It could be that simple. This whole nightmare would be over for everyone. Also, I would never have to face him, that is if he was ever caught and went to trial."

Dante's blood ran cold. He had been in these situations before, but not with someone he was so close to. He tried to stay calm, but felt an overwhelming urgency at the same time. He had to get that gun. "Lulu, please give me the gun." He inched his way toward her and eased down beside her. He reached across, turned the safety back on and took it from her hands. He set the gun down and wrapped his protective arms around her as she cried into his chest. "It's okay. You're okay now." They sat together in silence for a few minutes. "You asked me if I thought he was lying. Lulu, Sonny called me about an hour ago. He found Luke. I wish I could say that your message wasn't true, but I can't."

"Oh my gosh, he's really gone. Somehow, I think I knew, but just didn't want to believe it. Did you know that when I was five years old, he bought me a bicycle? I loved that bike. It was pink, with white tassles at the end of the handles. He would push me around for hours. It was one of the best times we had together. He was with me, not on some adventure. Now, he's gone. I'll never see him again. My kids will never have their grandpa to push them around on a bike. He's dead, Dante. He's really dead." Her sobs were out of control. She dropped her head down and a wave of anger rose in her.

She forced her way out of his hold and shoved a finger in his face. "Why didn't you let me die? Dante, you just don't get it, this will never be over. He isn't giving up until everyone I love is gone. He's already told me that you and everyone else I'm close to will be out of the way. You're all a hindrance to his twisted plan. His sick, twisted plan."

Dante gently grabbed her hand and brushed wayward strands of hair off her face. "Lulu, I do get it. There is no way that this creep will get anywhere near you ever again. I'm not going to let him. I will protect you from this, but you have to let me. Please, just let me help you." He pulled her close to him and held her while she cried into his chest. "I never should have left you alone. I'm so sorry that I let you down. All of that is going to change."