A/N: Update days will be changing to a Wednesday, and updates will only be happening once a week for the near future.

Big thanks to my girls Tiffany, Sherry, Cristina & Paige. xx

Chapter 13

I groaned the next morning as I woke up. My mouth felt like sandpaper and my head was throbbing. Was I dying? I was dying, right? I hadn't felt this ill since I had the flu when I was ten. Why the hell did people drink if this was how they felt the following day? I cradled my head, willing the pain to stop, too scared to move in case the feeling of sickness returned. Oh God, Edward had seen me throw up last night. How embarrassing. Speaking of Edward, where was he? I remember he had taken me to the hotel suite, but had he stayed? Where had he slept? I opened my eyes, scanning the room for him. I found him lying on the bed beside me, watching me. His eyes looked heavy and red, like he hadn't slept at all. "How are you feeling?" he asked me, seeming genuinely concerned.

"Like I've just been run over," I croaked, my voice hoarse.

Edward smiled, but it didn't quite reach his eyes. "Maybe you'll listen to me the next time, then, huh?" he asked, cocking his eyebrow at me.

I shook my head, instantly regretting the action. It had only made the pounding worse. "Don't worry about it. I'm never drinking again."

"We'll see." Edward got out the bed and went over to the mini bar, returning a few seconds later with a glass of orange juice. "Here, drink this and take these," he said, handing me two pills. "It should help make you feel better."

I leaned up on my elbow, taking them both from him. "Thank you," I whispered. I swallowed the pills and drank the juice, praying that they were fast-acting.

"I'm going for a shower," Edward stated, making his way to the bathroom.

"Erm," I called after him, "did you, uh, sleep there all night?" I was only just now realizing that he had been in the same bed with me.

"No."

"No?" I asked, confused.

"I didn't sleep."

"Why not?"

"Because I was worried about you. I was terrified that you would be sick in your sleep and choke to death."

"Oh."

Edward never said anything else as he turned and headed to the en suite. I sat for several minutes staring around the room, thinking about what he said, before I spotted the TV remote on the nightstand. I picked it up and turned the TV on, planning to channel surf until I found something that caught my attention. The TV went to the last station it had been on, CNN. I went to change the channel until the news headline caught my attention.

Breaking News: Shooting in New York, two dead. Suspected Mob activity.

That was when I realized the reporter was standing outside of my house. My hand went to my mouth as I watched the news report in horror.

"Known Don, Charlie Swan and wife, Renee Swan were gunned down last night, outside their home, in what is believed to be a drive-by shooting. It is unknown at this time if this was retaliation from another mob organization, butofficers on-scene suspect it was. Both, Charlie and his wife, were pronounced dead at the scene, as well as a known associate from another mob…"

Dead. The word swirled and twirled around in my head as I tried to make sense of it, but no matter how I looked at it, it just didn't make sense. Had my dad been in trouble? Was that why he had sent me away, to keep me safe? If that was the case, why hadn't he just told me? Why all the secrecy?

I got out of bed and began pacing the room, my hangover long forgotten, a new kind of sickness was now settling in the pit of my stomach. My parents were gone. They were dead. I would never see them again, and the worse part about it was the last time I had seen them I had refused to say goodbye. I had been so angry at them for sending me away that I had just walked straight out the door without so much as a word goodbye. I hadn't even glanced back once.

Tears of regret streamed down my face as I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold it together. I hadn't spoken to them in two weeks. Edward hadn't permitted any communication with them, and now they were just… gone… forever. I would never get to hear my mother laugh again or see her smile. I would never feel my father's strong arms around me or get to tell him that I loved him. My papa and mama were gone.

No, no, no! Something about this wasn't right. The news report had to be wrong. They couldn't be dead, they just couldn't be. I, uh, I had to go to New York. I had to see this for myself. Maybe if I saw it with my own eyes, I could figure out what had happened, who had done this. But I knew there was no way that Edward was going to just let me go. If I wanted to go to New York I had to be smart about it. Looking around the hotel suite I spotted his car keys were on the coffee table by the sofa. I strained my ears to see if I could still hear the shower running and I could. Though I knew he would be out at any moment. If I wanted to go, I had to go now.

I opened my suitcase and pulled out the first clothes that came to hand, quickly changing and pulling on a pair of shoes. I grabbed my purse and Edward's car keys before opening the door. I opened it slowly, peeking out into the hall, searching for any guards on duty. There weren't. I went straight to the elevator. We were on the top floor so I wouldn't need to see anyone else until I got to the foyer. Hopefully, there wasn't anyone standing on guard down there, but if my parents really were dead, I found it doubtful. His family would be on high alert.

When I reached the foyer I spotted one guard by the main entrance. He was looking the other way, staring out into the street and apparently he hadn't heard the elevator. I knew there was no way I would be able to walk past him out the door, and I could already feel my phone vibrating in my purse, which likely meant Edward was out of the shower and now looking for me. Time was ticking. I had to make my move now.

I noticed a staff door on the other side of the foyer. It was my only choice. I managed to tip toe over to it without drawing the guard's attention. The door led to a long corridor which I ran down as fast I could. The corridor led to the kitchen, which was full of life, the staff was buzzing around everywhere. I presumed they were getting ready for breakfast. Luckily they were too busy to notice me.

There was a guard at the far side of the kitchen. He was chatting to one of the kitchen staff. He was also covering the only exit. If I wanted out I had to get past him. I thought of distracting him, but I knew that was more likely to backfire on me, resulting in me getting caught. No, I had to go for the option that would draw the least attention. I caught sight of a uniform laying over a stool. I quickly pulled on the jacket, fastening it up. I then put the hat on and tucked my hair underneath. Hopefully, the guard was too preoccupied to take any real notice of me. I took a deep breath and walked towards the door as if I belonged there. No one bat an eye as I escaped through backdoor.

When I got out into the alley, I discarded the uniform and hurried towards the street. My phone was constantly vibrating by now. I figured Edward had seen the news and knew what I was up to. It was only a matter of time before he realized that I had taken his car keys and was going for his car. I had to hurry.

His car was parked a few spaces away from the alley. I didn't waste any time getting into it and pulling away. I think I held my breath the entire time, only feeling like I was finally able to breathe when I was a safe distance away from the hotel, a safe distance away from him. I had done it. I had gotten away. Now it was time to go to New York and find out what was really happening.