“Ricky, what is that?” Vikki grabbed the steering wheel with both hands and held on for dear life.

He turned in his seat and noticed the vehicle from earlier right on their tail. “Hold on tight, they’re coming in again.” His body flew back. “Or step on it is the other option.”

“I’m not waiting around for them to hit us.”

“Where’s a cop when you need one?”

“Need one?”

“I would welcome one to pull us over and get us to the precinct. We would be safer there then out here looking like sitting ducks.” Ricky glanced over at the speedometer. “Go up to ninety. A cop is sure come out of the woodwork.”

They stayed at that speed for about ten miles, which shocked Ricky. The vehicle was still tailing them and trying to get closer. Vikki was trying to stay far enough away from them, but it was tricky. She had to swerve in and out of vehicles. Where was a cop car when you needed them most?

Just then sirens started up. “Yes, finally.” Ricky clapped his hands together, pulling out his badge and ID. “Is the cop car behind you?”

“Yeah.”

“Perfect. Go for another half mile and then pull off to the side of the road.”

“You sure about this?”

“I promise.”

After a half mile, Vikki pulled over and placed her hands on the wheel. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”

They both watched as the two suspicious vehicles blew past them. Ricky was only able to remember one of the license plate numbers. He had his hands on the dashboard as the cop approached.

“License and registration, ma’am.”

Ricky leaned over and handed the cop his badge and ID. “We need your help, officer.”

The officer peered through the window. “Sir, what am I supposed to do with this?”

“Help us.”

The man scowled. “Help you? And how am I supposed to do that?”

“Take us to your police station.”

“Did you do something wrong?”

“No, it’s the very opposite. We’re in danger. I can explain everything to you, and I can even give you the number for my boss.”

The cop stood there for a moment. “Hold on, sir.”

Vikki turned to Ricky. “Think he’ll help?”

“He’s checking my info now. He’ll help.” He squeezed her leg. “I promise.”

Five minutes later, the cop rested his hand on the window. “Looks like you both do need my help. Follow me.”

* * *

“Ella showed up?” Miles sat down next Ricky.

“Yup, and fed us an extremely unbelievable story,” Ricky said, holding Vikki’s hand tightly.

“Why did you let her in the car?”

Vikki sighed. “So, we don’t let her in the car and dear old dad comes after us. We do let her in the car and dear old dad still comes after us. Either option always had the same outcome.”

“True.” Miles nodded. “How are you doing?”

Vikki laughed. “I’ve had better days.”

“You were in safe hands the whole way. Ricky would never let anything happen to you.”

Vikki snuggled closer to Ricky’s side. “So what now?”

“Well, we get back to Toronto tonight. Preslie will be excited to see you two.”

“Where are we staying?” Ricky asked, standing up.

“Right at the station in the private rooms. It’s not ideal but what can we do?”

Ricky wanted to get out of there and now. “Please tell me I can have my own room?” He looked at Vikki. “For Vikki and me both.”

Miles slapped his back. “I think that can be arranged.”

They all headed to the front of the building to wait for the cop car that would take them to the small airport. There was commotion off to the side down a hallway. Two men with semi-automatic guns were walking quickly toward them.

“Not again,” Vikki said, running away from the men.

“Come on, this way,” the cop who had pulled them over said, running in the opposite direction.

They all managed to flee unnoticed and ran into the locker room. They each put on a cop uniform and were wearing a hat. That was Vikki’s idea and a genius idea, too.

The cop car finally made it to the airport, and all three boarded the plane safely. Ricky reached for Vikki’s hand. “Okay, I think we are in the clear now.”

He noticed Vikki roll her eyes and burst out laughing. “Safe? I’ll believe it when I see it.”

The flight would take about three hours, and since they couldn’t guarantee their safety, they would be put in a helicopter and taken right to the precinct. Ricky couldn’t remember the Nesta mob being this efficient years ago. Times had definitely changed.

“So, think Giano was in one of those vehicles on our tail?” Ricky asked Miles.

“I’d bet my bottom dollar he was. He is safer stateside than he is in Canada.”

“Has he ever gone to jail?” Vikki asked, leaning her head back against the seat.

“Nope, always managed to avoid any kind of jail time,” Miles said, reaching for his bag. “Several of his men have done hard time for him.”

“That always amazes me,” Vikki said. “Why would you want to do any kind of jail time for one man? The pull he has over them, it must be huge.”

“Oh yeah, a threat on their family, life, anything.”

“It’s so sad.” Vikki reached for her drink the flight attendant had just dropped off. “I think about Letizia and her parents. That story alone must be insane.”

“More than you can even image,” Ricky said, taking a sip of his beer. “These men are taught shoot to kill. They don’t have emotion.”

“Well, just leave me at the precinct for as long as you need,” Vikki said, pulling a blanket up around her shoulders. “I’m done with this running for my life shit.”

“Even if it includes running with me?” Ricky asked.

“Even with you, music man.” Vikki patted his thigh and reached for his hand.

* * *

Vikki was asleep within five minutes of closing her eyes. “Music man, eh?” Miles teased.

“Hey, don’t knock it. I think it’s sexy whenever she says it.”

“Buddy, I will not judge.”

“But you plan to tell Preslie the moment you get home, don’t you?”

“Oh yeah, the moment I walk through the door.”

Ricky burst out laughing. “I’m not surprised.” He took another swig of his beer. “So Letizia and Finley are safe, right?”

“I finally heard from Finley yesterday. He didn’t say where he was located, only that they are okay.”

“Thank fuck. After what Vikki has been put through, it’s nice to know they’re good.”

“I really don’t understand why Giano was hell bent on finding you both.”

“Me,” Ricky said sighing.

Miles sat up. “Wait, what do you mean?”

“He recognized me. I guess I should’ve kept my beard on, it would’ve helped.”

“Holy shit. I thought you would be okay.

“Yeah, you and me both.” Ricky shrugged his shoulders. “We need to find Giano and Dego. They need to go to jail. This shit is getting old.”

“I’ve been thinking about how to take them down.”

“Yeah?”

“Well, we lost sight of Jason Keets.”

“The guy who’s Ella’s father?”

“Exactly. My thought was, if we find him, he can lead us to Giano easier.”

“Any thoughts on where he might be hiding out?”

“I have a couple ideas.”

“They involve travel again, don’t they?”

“Um, yeah.”

“Can I have two days of R and R first?”

“We both need it,” Miles said, resting his head back.

“I just need more of one specific redhead.”

“I heard that,” Vikki said, pulling the blanket up higher. “You can have all of me, music man.”

“I feel like I should leave the room,” Miles teased.

Ricky slapped his hand on Miles’s leg. “Nah, just plug your ears.”