I was awakened only to discovered that I wasn't in my soft big bed nor was I in my familiar room. In a bit, if a loop. I had fallen asleep on the couch with Gio the night before. I realized that I must have used his chest as a pillow because that area of his shirt was wrinkled. The night before, I had told Gio about me truly being British but have mastered the art of talking like a normal American because I wanted to dot in. We had spent more time talking and getting to know each other. It had gotten extremely late, and I was so tired that I fell asleep on Gio's chest without realizing it.

“Oh, hi morning.” I smiled at him.

“I thought you were going to make a run for it a couple of seconds ago.” Gio chuckled.

“Yeah, I actually was. I was frightened when I woke up in an unfamiliar place. Thought I might have gotten kidnapped or something.” I replied with a sheepish smile.

“Kidnapped?” Gio raised his eyebrows at me.

“Yeah, don't worry. Just the effect of me not being fully awake and finding myself in a not-so-familiar room.” I shrugged.

“Well, I haven't kidnapped you,” Gio chuckled before adding, “Yet.”

“Okay then, I think I better go.” I got up as I feigned being scared by his words.

“Lexi, I'm kidding.” Gio laughed as he took hold of my hand and pulled me back down.

“What do you say about me taking you out later? Get to know you some more. I doubt I've learned everyone about you last night.”

“You want to take me out? Where?” I asked surprised.

“Just give me the answer I need, and you'll see.” Gio smiled and winked.

“Is this your plan to kidnapped me?” I laughed.

“No, don't worry. I'm not going to kidnap you just yet. No one is going to be reporting you missing for now.” Gio chuckled.

“Oh my God.” I panicked suddenly as something came to my mind.

I quickly got my bag and dug inside. I didn't return home the night before or called to let my family know that I was okay, and I just knew that they were probably flipping out.

“What's wrong?” Gio looked at me cautiously and concerned.

“They're probably freaking out,” I replied before I dialed mom's number and put the phone to my ear.

“Lexi, where the hell are you? You have us worried sick that something may have happened to you.” That was the first thing mom said as she picked up the phone.

“I know, I know. I'm sorry I didn't call, it just slipped me.” I responded.

“Are you alright? Your father was starting to freak out. He was about to create havoc when he found out you weren't here.” Mom said.

“Sorry, let him know that I'm okay and not to worry, but I'll be home soon alright.”

“Alright,” mom sighed, “Lexi you're going to be the death of us.”

“I'll be there soon okay mom.” I replied before I hung up and let out a sigh of relief.

“Is everything alright?” Gio asked from behind me. I almost forgot that he was in the room with me.

“Yeah, everything is fine. Just that my parents were getting a bit worried when I didn't show up or called last night.” I smiled.

“You still live with them, I presumed.”

“Yeah, I do. After I came back from university, I decided to still stay with them since it was just them alone in that big house. Plus they're protective of me, so it makes them worry less having me there.” I told him.

“Oh, well that's nice of you then I guess- you know not wanting to worry them.” Gio smiled.

“Yeah, I guess so.” I nodded.

“Anyway... About my proposal earlier? You still haven't given me an answer as yet.” Gio smiled.

“Yeah okay. As long as you don't plan to kidnap me.” I joked.

“Don't worry, I won't,” Gio chuckled. “So I'll pick you up then.”

“How about I meet you there? Picking me up today, after I spent the night out last night, may not be such a good idea. My Dad can be a real pain.” I said.

There was no way I was going to let him know where I lived in case he turned out to be an enemy mafia boss in secret.

“But if I told you to meet me there, that's going to take away the surprise-which I wanted it to be.” Gio pushed.

“Oh no, I should probably let you know that I hate surprises. But how about picking me up from my restaurant then?”

“Sure, that works too Gio responded.

After I gave him the address of my restaurant, and we exchanged phone numbers, I decided that I needed to go. Gio had walked me out and to my car, which was thankfully still parked where I left it the night before.

**************************************************************** “What? You're going out with the guy? Please tell me that you're joking, Lexi.” Dad said to me as I got ready to leave the house.

After I had made it home earlier in the morning, I had undergone hearing Dad's lecture about me putting myself in danger and staying overnight with someone who could be a potential threat. He was mad that I made such a stupid decision of hooking up with the guy who was a suspect. I had a difficult time convincing him that I did not hook up with Gio. And then he wasn't so keen on me making that agreement to go out with Gio. I knew that all of that protectiveness was still a result of what happened years ago with Raphael. I had dated him not knowing that he was involved in anything like the whole mafia business. And then later on he kidnapped me and brought me to his uncle, I could have been killed if things had worked out differently as luck wasn't on my path.

“Dad, I have to. Well, he asked, and I couldn't just say no. Especially if I'm to find out if he's guilty or not.”

“Lexi, I definitely don't think that you should be so excited about sleeping with the enemy,” Dad said.

“What!?” I said shocked.

I was shocked at hearing Dad saying something like this to me but also embarrassed to be having this conversation.

“I'm not... I'm not sleeping with him.”

“Alphonso, stop it,” Mom chimed in. “That's inappropriate.”

“I'm sorry Lexi. Out of line I know,” Dad held up his hands. “But it's true, Lexi, I know guys. And if you're not careful this guy might charm you into his bed then hurt you, worst if he knows you're my daughter. And I can't allow that.”

“Dad, we don't even know if he is indeed involved with anything Mafia-related. All we have are speculations. It could be that he knows nothing about what we think he does and by the way how else am I going to find out anything if I don't get close to him? This is the perfect opportunity.”

“You know I hate it when you make sense.” Dad sighed defeated.

“You always hate it when anyone else other than yourself has some logic.” Mom said to him. “And you know you're being too overprotective right now.”

“What? That's not true, Kath. And I have every reason to be this way, I'm not oblivious to the dangers out there.” Dad sighed.

“Neither am I Dad,” I said to him.

“Alright, fine you go but be extremely careful. I trust you can take care of yourself,” Dad finally caved.

“Wait here I have something for you.”

He said before he left the room.

“You know he means well, right?” mom said as she took my hands in hers.

“Yeah, I know mom.” I smiled.

Dad finally returned with a box in his hand.

“Here, I think you should have this,” Dad said as he gave me the box.

“For protection,” he added.

I looked at him skeptically when he said that, but I took the box from him anyway. I opened it only to find that there was a gun and a holster for the gun in there.

“Dad, I already have a gun. I always have it with me. You know that, right?”

“Yeah I do, I also know that you always keep that one in your purse. What if something happened, and you can't get to dig through your purse for it at that time?” Dad asked as mom only folded her arms and shook her head at him.

“Dad, I think you may be a little paranoid now.” I said to him.

“Yeah I'm paranoid I know,” Dad said, “But this gun, I want you to keep that strapped in a holster to your thigh. You do that, and I feel better knowing that you're going out with the guy, but you're armed.”

Taking the gun from the box, I checked it before I sat down and pulled up my long skirt which I wore, and strapped on the holster on my thigh before I placed the gun in.

“Feeling better as yet?” I asked Dad as I stood up.

“Not really, but soon. Here.” Dad gave me a smaller box.

“Another weapon Dad?” I rolled my eyes as I took it from him.

“Not exactly, just opened it.” he replied.

As I opened it, I saw that there was a beautiful gold bracelet inside with diamonds on it.

“Wow, it is beautiful,” I said as I took it from the box.

“Yeah I know, I saw it and decided to get it for you, but I also had a tracking device placed in, in case anything should ever go wrong,” Dad replied.

“Oh, great Alphonso, now you're keeping track of everyone aren't you?” Mom chuckled then looked at her wedding ring.

I immediately guessed that there was a tracking device in there as well.

“Well thanks, Dad, you're the best,” I said as I put on the bracelet, “No really, I'm serious. Both of you, you guys are the best and I love you both.”

I told them later before I headed out and to my car. I drove to my restaurant where Gio was going to pick me up.