Disclaimer: I do not own the characters created by Janet Evanovich. I just really really wish I did! I am just using them in this story. I only own Carmella, but you can have her if you want her!

Carmella smiled at her two best friends as Lester held open the door to the SUV and ushered them onto the back seat. They drove to the mall chatting and laughing about everything and anything.

"I just need to call the guys from school and tell them about tonight, that ok?" Carmella asked her friends. They both nodded their approval. Carmella pulled out her cell phone and located Harry's number in the contact list. He picked up after the third ring.

"'Lo?"

"Heya Haz, it's Carmella."

"Hey beautiful, what can I do for you?"

"Do you want to come out for dinner with us tonight? It's gonna be the gang from school, dad, Steph, a couple of the guys from the office and Oli and Freya."

"Your friends from Florida?"

"The very same. So you'll come? Be at the apartment by quarter past six at the latest. And tell all the others." She instructed. Harry laughed.

"Will do Miss Mañoso, see you later." He replied and hung up. They pulled into the mall car park and Lester turned off the engine, before turning in his seat to talk to the departing teens.

"Right, I'll pick you up here at five thirty. Don't be late." He instructed firmly in a voice that had been acquired after three years of army training. Carmella nodded and they all climbed out the car and ran into the centre. Freya looked around approvingly.

"It's not bad, the one in Miami is better though." She said. Oli shrugged.

"Whatever. Hey look at those girls!" He announced excitedly. Carmella followed his gaze and found herself looking at Shell, Stacey, Nikki, Lizzi and Sophie. She groaned and felt herself doing an eye roll before she could stop herself. She had spent too much time in the burg, damn that burg-ish housewife eye roll! The five girls were watching then intently.
"Do you know them?" Freya whispered. Carmella nodded.

"They go to my school. They adopted me into their little friendship group but chucked me out when-" She was cut off by someone clearing their voice. They all turned and saw the five girls stood a few feet away from them. Carmella forced a smile to her face and looked at them.

"Oh hi, sorry I didn't see you there. How are you?" She said, her voice dripping with mock interest. Sophie gave a matching forced smile in response and then looked over to Oli. Her eyes travelled up and down before settling on his face. She displayed a carnivorous smile. Oli shuddered slightly, them smiled back.

"We were just hanging out, y'know, socialising. So who is this?" She asked. Carmella sighed again.

"This is Oli, he's a friend from Florida and this is Freya." She said indicating the girl stood behind Oli. Sophie flicked her eyes to Freya and then looked back to Oli. She held out her hand to him. He looked at it as though it was a poisonous snake and then shook it politely. Sophie licked her lips and continued to stare at him as though he were her prey. Freya cleared her throat.

"Well it was nice to meet you but we need to go now." She stated. Sophie looked over to her followers and then back at Oli.

"Hey Carmella, I'm sure you and…Freddie would like to do some girly shopping, why don't you leave Oli with us?" She hissed. Carmella frowned.

"Um that would be because Oli is my friend who I haven't seen in a long time and I want to spend time with him. Plus I really don't think he wants to hang out with you Sophie, take a hint. Oh and her name is Freya, not Freddie." She replied. Sophie glared and grabbed Oli's arm.

"Hey Mañoso, I think it's his choice." She shouted back. Oli squirmed.

"I wanna go with Carmella, as she is technically still my girlfriend." He mumbled. At those words Sophie dropped him as though he had just bitten her.

"Girlfriend?" She spat in disgust. Oli nodded and stepped backwards cautiously. "But you're going out with that guy in the expensive car." Sophie stated. Carmella sighed.

"Listen to me. The guy that dropped me off on my first day is not my boyfriend, he is my father." She said slowly, emphasising each word. Sophie stared at her in shock.

"Your father?" she repeated slowly. Carmella nodded.

"We're going now. Goodbye." She said and walked away, dragging Oli and Freya behind her.

They'd been shopping for a couple of hours when they decided to go and get some food. They walked into the food court and straight into Anthony Morelli. Carmella smiled at him.

"Hi Anthony." She greeted politely. He smiled back.

"Hey Mañoso, what are you up to?" He asked, looking Freya up and down. She blushed and smiled. Carmella rolled her eyes.

"Just a bit of shopping. These are my friends Oli and Freya." She said. Anthony shook hands with Oli, then kissed Freya's hand in a chivalrous fashion. She laughed sweetly. Anthony grinned.

"Hey Carmella, I was wondering-" He started, when someone walked up behind him and clapped a hand on his shoulder.

"Ready to go Anthony?" The person asked. Carmella looked up at Joe Morelli. She smiled nervously. He looked at her and his expression turned grim.

"Carmella, what are you doing here?" He asked, trying to sound polite. Carmella held up her shopping bags.

"Just doing what teenage girls do best." She replied. He nodded.

"I heard about the court case. It's fantastic, well done." He said in a strained voice. Carmella felt quite sorry for him. It couldn't be easy seeing Steph with another guy, joining a ready made family. She nodded.

"Yeah it's great. Anyway, we need to be getting lunch. It was good to see you again, have a nice day. I'll see you on Monday Anthony." She said. Joe nodded and smiled, then walked off. Anthony waved and followed his uncle. Freya looked at Carmella.

"So who were they, because they were hot!" She asked. Carmella laughed as they walked to the pasta food stall.

"Anthony goes to my school and Joe is his uncle and is also Stephie's ex boyfriend." She told them and then ordered her food. They sat at a table in the middle of the court and chatted about life in general. The sound of someone clearing their throat sounded behind them. They all looked around and saw the five girls stood by their table. Carmella sighed.

"Hello again. What is it this time?" She asked. They all had false smiles plastered to their faces. Nikki cleared her throat.

"Well we were wondering if you three would like to come out with us tonight to a party." She said, still smiling "Especially you Oli." She added quickly. Freya laughed under her breath. Oli looked terrified.

"We can't, we have plans for tonight. Sorry." Carmella said quickly. Sophie glared.

"Doing what?" She hissed. Carmella stared at her.

"Not that it's any of your business but we're going for a meal with my dad." She replied coldly. Sophie nudged Lizzi. She jumped and then said.

"Well how about we come as well? It'll be fun." Freya was staring at them in disbelief.

"Sorry this is quite a private thing. Family and friends only." She told the five girls. Carmella grinned. Freya hated rude people; they brought out the worst side of her. The five girls all glared at them, then turned and flounced off.

"Man they are annoying." Freya muttered. Carmella and Oli nodded in agreement.

They met Lester in the car park at exactly five thirty. He smiled and ushered them into the car. They ran up to Carmella's apartment to get ready for the meal. Oli decided he didn't need to get changed and so was slouched on the sofa watching The Simpsons. Freya and Carmella were both wearing black skirts and tops and were still doing hair and make up when there was a knock on the front door. Carmella ran out to answer it, waving her mascara wand as she went. She pulled the front door open and her seven friends spilled in, robed in long black cloaks and big black boots. Harry planted a kiss on Carmella's cheek as he came in. She smiled and ushered them into the lounge with Oli. After a quick introduction, she ran back into her room to finish doing her hair. She finally emerged with Freya behind her to find her eight friends all laughing and joking. She relaxed slightly. She hadn't really known how her cool friends from Florida would react to her new slightly out of the ordinary friends. Harry grinned when she walked in.

"Hey Princess, are we ready to rock?" He asked. She nodded.

"Ok, I'll just go up and tell my dad to get his ass in gear." She stated.

"I'll come with you. I desperately want to see your dad's apartment." Freya said grinning. Mandy jumped up.

"Oh me to!" The three girls walked down to the lift and went up to the seventh floor. Freya smiled at Mandy and examined her swishing black skirt.

"I like your skirt." She complimented. Mandy grinned.

"Thanks. Your top is cool." She returned the compliment. The lift doors slid open and they walked out into the hallway. Carmella pulled out her key card and opened the apartment door. The three girls walked in and Carmella watched in amusement as her two friends examined the room. Freya nodded.

"Stylish, it's very you Carmella." She grinned. Carmella laughed and walked towards the bedroom. She pushed the door open and was greeted with the sight of Stephie and her dad wrapped around each other both soaking wet and wrapped in skimpy towels. She shrieked and ran backwards at speed almost knocking over her two friends. The two adults jumped apart in a way that reminded Carmella of her situation with Junior earlier. She turned and ran back through the apartment dragging her two friends behind her, shrieking "My eyes! It burns!" as she went. They ran into the lift and mashed the button for the fourth floor. Carmella could feel her face burning up. The lift doors opened and the three girls bombed down the corridor and into the apartment squealing. Everyone looked up at them in confusion.

"What's up?" Meredith asked. Freya giggled. Mandy tossed her hair dramatically.

"We just walked in on Carmella's dad and Steph in the throws of passion." She gasped and jumped on Alex, who laughed and fell backwards onto the couch dragging Mandy with him. Harry grinned and slung an arm around Carmella.

"Can't imagine that was a comfortable situation." He laughed. Carmella groaned and buried her face into his shoulder. The intercom buzzed and Ranger's voice rand out in the apartment.

"Carmella we'll meet you in the lobby in ten minutes." He stated. Carmella nodded but didn't reply.

"Is she there?" She heard Steph's voice ask. "I imagine so." Her dad replied.

"So Mr Mañoso, we've got ten minutes. What could we possibly do?" Steph purred. Carmella squealed as her dad listed all the things he thought possible. She screamed and lunged at the intercom.

"You two are sick! Do you think we need to hear that? What is wrong with you?" She yelled and let go of the intercom button. Her friends were all in hysterics when she turned around. She glared.

"I'm glad you think my humiliation is amusing."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Ranger and I waited for the teenagers with Bobby, Lester and Tank. They all fell out the lift giggling hysterically. How they managed to fit ten people in a lift I will never know. When they saw us, they all avoided eye contact with me and Ranger. I felt my cheeks burning with embarrassment. Ranger put an arm around my waist and received a disapproving look from Carmella. She looked around then back to Ranger.

"Um, isn't Junior coming?" She asked. Bobby made a strangled noise.

"No, he's doing surveillance." Ranger replied. Junior hates surveillance, its common knowledge. Carmella glared slightly but decided not to comment. Tank, Bobby and Lester each drove a car to the restaurant. Ranger and I shared a car with Carmella and Harry. The drive was silent and when we arrived at the restaurant the two teenagers jumped out the car and ran towards the others. We walked into the restaurant and a waiter rushed over to us, beaming, and ushered us over to our table. I sat between Ranger and Lester with Ranger's hand resting on my thigh. This was fantastic.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Carmella laughed and took a sip of her ice tea.

"So you guys all live in Trenton?" Freya asked the others. They all nodded.

"Yeah, me, Harry, Alex and Michael, Estella's boyfriend, share an apartment in the block just over the road from here." Dan told them. Carmella looked up.

"No way?" she asked in surprise. Alex nodded.

"Yeah we've been living there for a couple months." He said. She nodded and had another sip of her drink. She could see her father watching her out of the corner of his eye. She couldn't bring herself to make eye contact with him.

"So Carmella, what exactly are we celebrating here?" Estella asked.

"Well, we won the court case! I'm staying in Trenton permanently!" She grinned. Mandy squealed and leaned over to hug her. Harry smiled and subtly rested a hand on the top of her thigh and squeezed it gently. Carmella smiled back.

"That's great news Princess." He stated. She nodded. Halfway through the meal, Freya nudged Carmella.

"Hey I was meaning to ask, who's Junior?" She asked Carmella froze with her fork halfway up to her mouth. Mandy grinned.

"Some guy Carmella got with. And he works for her dad." She explained. Harry froze and looked at Carmella.

"Is that true?" He asked. She cleared her throat and looked down at the table.

"We kissed twice. That was it, it was a mistake and it won't happen again." She muttered. Estella suddenly grinned.

"Hey isn't he that young fit one who picked you up from school once?" She asked. Carmella groaned and focused on her plate. She also felt Harry's hand slip off her thigh. She glanced over at him but he avoided her gaze.

They dropped the others off at their houses after the meal and headed back to the building. Carmella, Oli and Freya sat up until three in the morning watching old Disney films like they'd done when they were children. Then they climbed into Carmella's huge bed and fell asleep like young children.

Oli nudged her awake the next morning.

"We have to go sweetness, you gonna come see us off?" He asked. Carmella nodded and rolled out of bed. She quickly got dressed and followed her friends downstairs where Lester was waiting for them with a car. Freya gave her a hug and climbed into the car. Oli wrapped and arm around her waist and pulled her to him.

"I love you very much Carmella, you know that. But I was wondering, would you mind if I asked Freya out? It's just that I really like her and-" He started babbling. Carmella pushed a finger to his lips.

"Oli it's cool, of course I don't mind. In fact I think it would be great. You guys come up and visit again soon." She instructed. Oli grinned and gave her another hug. He climbed into the car as well. They all waved and the car disappeared down the road. Carmella sighed and walked back into reception. She was walking to the lift when she heard Bobby calling her.

"Hey Princess, there's a letter here for you. It arrived yesterday by the looks of it." Carmella smiled, took the letter and walked into the lift. She hit the button for the fourth floor and opened the letter. Inside was a small piece of blood red paper with the words 'soon my little angel, soon we shall meet again…' written on it in jet black ink. She didn't recognize the handwriting but she recognized the nickname. Little angel. She looked in the envelope and saw a small red package. She unwrapped it cautiously. The contents of the package fell onto her hand. Carmella shrieked and dropped it on the floor. She could feel vomit rising in her throat. Whoever sent this was sick.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

I rolled over and draped an arm across Ranger's firm stomach. He wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me so I was half on top of him. I smiled and nestled into him. Blissful. Just then the bedroom door swung open and Carmella walked in with Tank and Bobby behind her. I sat up quickly and pulled the cover up around me. Ranger groaned and sat up slowly.

"What is it?" He grumbled. Carmella glared at him, her eyes furious and filled with tears.

"Well I just got this in the mail but I can see you're busy so I'll leave you to it." She shrieked and threw a finger at him. I shrieked and jumped out of bed, clinging the cover to me.

"Jesus!" Ranger yelled and scrambled out of the bed. Carmella pushed past Tank and ran out the apartment. Ranger leaned over and looked at the finger.

"It's a little finger, Cuban." He stated. Bobby's lip curled.

"I don't know which is more disturbing, the fact that someone sent it to Carmella or that you can identify it." He muttered. Tank grinned in spite of the situation. I ran in to the toilet and threw up. Morning sickness is a bitch.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Carmella brushed the tears off her face and threw some clothes into her rucksack. She threw it over her shoulder, grabbed her school bag and the car keys she'd taken from her dad's apartment and ran downstairs. She walked into the garage and checked that there was no one else. Then she disabled the security camera and ran over to the car. She threw her bags in the back then disabled the tracker on the cars underneath. She quickly made sure she had her beginners permit, then jumped into the car and sped out of the garage. She drove around the town for a while to shake off anyone who may have tried to follow her. Then she realised she didn't really have anywhere to go. As she drove past the restaurant they had eaten at last night, she remembered that Harry lived in the apartments opposite. Would he mind? If the situation was reversed, Carmella knew that she'd take him in without a second thought. She pulled her cell phone out of her bag and called him.

"lo?" He murmured sleepily.

"Harry its Carmella. Listen I'm parked outside your apartment building. I don't suppose I could come in?"

A few minutes later Harry had appeared at the building door and was showing Carmella where to park the Porsche. After securing it in the underground car park, Harry took her up to the loft apartment. Alex was sat on a chair in the kitchen eating cereal. He waved as she walked in. Carmella grinned and waved back. Harry took her bags off her and ushered her into his room. It was covered in posters of various bands and slogans such as 'Shit happens' and 'Don't do anything you're unwilling to tell the paramedics'. They sat on his double bed in silence for a few minutes, until he said.

"What's wrong Princess? You look totally lost and you've been crying." He stated. Carmella swiped her eyes.

"How could you tell?" She muttered. He grinned at her.

"You've got mascara all down your face." Carmella groaned and buried her face in a pillow. Then she told Harry about the letter and the finger and then she told him why she was really here.

"I don't feel like my dad needs me at home anymore. He's all over Stephie all the time. It just feels like he's beat madre so that's it. I'm probably just being stupid but…I dunno, he just seems fed up with me. I know this is majorly rude but I was wondering if I could crash here for a while, lay low." She smiled apologetically. Harry smiled.

"Sure, that's fine. The guys won't mind, Mandy, Caz and Estella are always coming to stay over here." He said comfortingly. Carmella looked at him.

"Why not Meredith?" She asked in confusion. Harry laughed.

"Because Meredith isn't going out with any of us. Wait, I wasn't saying we were going out or anything, I just-" He started desperately trying to cover his comment. Carmella laughed.

"Don't worry, I get it. And thanks for letting me stay."

They spent the rest of the day watching films and having a tournament with the other guys on the playstation. Carmella was a bit nervous around Michael having never met him before, but he turned out to be as much fun as the others. They ordered a pizza for dinner before turning in for the night. Harry had set up a bed on the couch.

"I'll sleep here and you can have my bed." He offered, while the guys stood behind him making 'whipped' gestures. Carmella shook her head.

"No way, I'm not kicking you out of your bed. The couch will be fine." She said adamantly and sat down to emphasise her point. Harry nodded.

"If you're sure."

"I am. Goodnight." Carmella smiled and kissed him lightly on the forehead. He smiled and walked into his room. She quickly changed into her pyjamas, called goodnight to the others and promptly fell asleep.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Ranger paced up and down the office.

"Where the hell could she be? How did she disable the tracker?" He asked no one in particular. I touched his arm gently.

"She'll turn up Ranger; she's probably just gone off in a teenage strop to stay with a friend or someone. She'll be back soon." I said reassuringly. He nodded but kept pacing.

"No one's been able to find her all day. I can't file a missing person file, that'd just give Eva an inventive to re open the custody battle. I just hope she's ok."

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Carmella sat up and had a minor disorientated fuelled panic before she remembered where she was. The clock on the wall told her it was three in the morning. She groaned, rolled off the couch and went to get a glass of water. On the way back she walked past Harry's bedroom door. She wondered if he was still awake. She drank the water and quietly set it down on an end table. Then she slowly opened the bedroom door and tiptoed in, closing it behind her. He was lying on the right side of the bed wrapped in the duvet. He looked up as she walked in.

"What are you doing still awake?" He whispered. She smiled and slipped into the bed next to him.

"I got lonely. Can I sleep with you?" She whispered back. He smiled, nodded and threw the duvet over her. She pulled his arm around her waist and fell asleep, the comfiest she'd been in weeks.

XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxX

Sorry this took so long to update, just had loads of things on. Many thanks to everyone who read this chapter. Love it? Hate it? Please Please PLEASE review! As always, any suggestions and/or comments are welcome. Thanks to everyone who reviewed to the last chapter! I'll try to update ASAP. Arigato!