"I said she died."

"You didn't tell him why?"

"No, I couldn't. If he hated me, I couldn't bear it."

"Oh honey, Trav would never hate you. He loves you."

"Do you think I should tell him?"

"I think honesty is a must, I think you should tell him everything because only then will you know if what you have is real."

I nod, swallowing and knowing she is right. I have to tell him; I have no choice. To gain trust and friendship alone, we have to be honest...the love part will take so much more. I open my phone and glance down at the text message he sent me yesterday after I left.

Mischief, I am sorry. I keep doing this to you, and I know it's not helping. I can't imagine my world without you in it right now, you have attached yourself to my very core, and I need you.

I reply.

Trav, can we meet? We have to talk.

Name the time and place.

The cafe next to your house, now?

I will be there.

I say goodbye to mom, then make my way to the cafe. Travis is already waiting for me, looking gorgeous in his grey shirt and blue jeans. He stands when I reach him and reaches out for my hand.

"Hey beautiful."

"Trav, I have something's I need to say before we go any further."

He nods and sits down. I swallow and then begin speaking.

"I haven't given enough to you, and it's likely my fault. I have lived a long time being this person; I have forgotten who I was. I have to be honest with you Trav, you scare me, but I want this as much as I want you. To get past it, I have to tell you something's about my life in the past four years as you know, so you can make the choice..."

"It won't change the fact that I want you."

"Just let me tell you, and then you can decide that. You remember how close Lillian and I were? Well we remained that way until three years ago. One day, we were out swimming at a lake, and there were storms around, but it didn't stop us. Lillian was hesitant; the storm was closing in, and she was hesitant. I teased her, saying what a sook she was and how she didn't live...She was hurt, and she dived into the water, to prove me wrong. The lightening hit, I didn't see it coming...I didn't even realize she was hurt until...until..."

"Hey, shhh."

"I saw her head resurface, and it wasn't attached to her body. It cut her head clean off because it was the only part of her body out of the water. They told me it is because the lightening sends a current along the water top; that cuts like a knife. It was my fault; I picked on her, teased her when she was unsure, and she got in and died because of me."

I am sobbing now, and Travis has moved around the table to hold me in his arms.

"It wasn't your fault."

"It was my fault Trav, and I have learnt to live with that. I became secluded, scared of everything. I stopped living; every time I had fun all I could think about was how I taunted her for not living and having fun, so I stopped doing it myself. Like a punishment, or so my shrink said. Anyway, after the accident her brother grew a hate against me. He blamed me, told me it was my fault for changing her and trying to make her rebel against the world like I did. He went a bit crazy; Jeremy was her twin brother and they were close."

"What happened with him?"

"Well, I saw him one night, out on the town. I was wild by then; it had only been a month and I was drinking myself into a stupor. He beat me so badly I nearly died."

Travis clenches around me and hisses through his teeth.

"He got charged, and I went into hiding. I didn't hear from him again..."

"That is why you didn't want your name in the paper."

"Yes, but it didn't work. Trav, he came into the firm the other day, and he is putting a manslaughter case against me, he wants me locked up. He is trying to claim that I forced her into that water and killed her."

"He what?" Travis's voice is icy.

"He came back."

"You didn't tell me." He snaps, glaring at me.

"I didn't know how."

"Give me all the details on that case; I am going to fight this for you."

"How Trav? You can't have the resources to do that."

"I will get the resources. I know good lawyers."

"Sally had to take on his case, she wants to so she can keep him close. She is worried for me."

"That's a conflict of interest Violet, and it will have to stop."

I sigh. "I know. I am scared Trav."

"From now on, I am putting security with you wherever you go. That creep isn't getting anywhere near you."

"That's not what I want!" I cry.

He grips my chin. "Violet, don't fight me on this because you WILL lose."

"Trav."

He kisses me.

"Your life, you, it has all become so much to me. My world changed when you came into it Violet, and I won't lose you."

His words burrow right into my soul. What can I say? Nothing. I simply step forward and lean into his chest.

CHAPTER 10.

"Mom, I am staying at Reagan's tonight and tomorrow night." I yell out from my room as I pack.

"Alright baby, have you spoken to your father and told him you won't be coming?"

"I will drop by on my way to Reagan's."

She comes into my room and leans her hip against the door.

"He has been very kind to me since I slapped him a million times."

"It wasn't his fault Momma, that man was crazy."

"And that is the world he is in; bad people go after his family to get back at him. It worries me honey."

"I know mom, but what will you have me do? I can't just get rid of him and pretend he isn't my father."

She sighs. "I know that angel, I know. Look, just be careful. Carry that gun he gave you, please."

I laugh. "Be careful but carry a gun."

"Just looking out for you honey."

"Alright Momma, I love you and I will call over the weekend."

"Alright baby."

I finish packing and then drive over to daddy's to let him know I won't be there at all this weekend. The house is quiet, but the garage lights are on so I walk in. What I see reminds me hard and fast about the world Chief lives in. A man, I don't know who, I strung up with a hook in his back. His mouth is gagged, and he is being tortured in ways I do not wish to explain. I feel bile rise in my throat. Chief sees me and his eyes widen, he snaps his fingers and the torturing stops instantly. I turn and rush out.

"Hey Mischief, wait..."

He grips my arm when I reach my car and spins me around.

"Daddy what were you doing in there?" I cry, covering my face with my hands.

"He has information about Demon, I am sorry you had to see that baby, but you know it's what we do."

"And you judge me about people I want to see!" I scream. "When you are a monster yourself!"

"That's exactly why," He bellows. "Because I fuckin know what can happen to you."

"I am going, I came to say I wouldn't be here this weekend, and I am glad I did now."

"Mischief, don't you fucking walk away while I am talking with you."

"Back off!"

I get in the car and slam the door, hitting the accelerator hard and fast. I cry all the way to Reagan's house, and after telling her what happened, she sits with me while I cry. God, what the hell kind of shit do I live in?

"Holy sweet lord, check this plane!" I cry, leaping up and down next to Reagan.

Travis laughs at us, and so do his band members. The only one who isn't laughing is the snot nosed receptionist.

"Why did she come again?" I ask Trav, glaring at her.

"She is seeing Marcus, though I am fairly sure it is a ploy to get to me. He wanted to bring her."

"She better watch her back." I snap.

He laughs and shoves me down onto the seat. "Behave my little ball of fury."

I giggle and slide onto the large leather seat, sighing. Reagan plops down beside me and pulls me close.

"Who is the hotty staring at Trav?"

I glare at her. "Hotty?"

"She is a hotty, you are much more so though. So spill..."

"His receptionist, she is mad about him."

"Well that isn't half obvious!"

I laugh. "Her name is Janice."

"Janice has stalker tendencies."

"I hope you two are behaving." Trav says as he walks past, giving me a wicked grin.

"Yes boss, we are."

He laughs and disappears down the back.

"I can't get enough of him, you are going to have to live with the fact that I am crazy about your boyfriend, and I have wicked sex dreams about him."

I shove her with a retarded sounding giggle.

"I can help with those dreams, I could give you just a touch of an idea what he is like in bed."

"Do tell, I need some more visuals."

"Well, he has this, god this body and his...you know is huge. He loves it rough, he loves it slow, and he loves to kiss everything."

I hear a gasp behind me and Janice stands, storming down the back of the plane. Reagan and I burst out laughing, and she shoves me.