Saturday at twelve midnight.

Dego’s warning rang in Ricky’s head as he paced the motel floor. It was Friday morning, and he was still searching for Ella. He knew they would all still be in town watching his every move. Miles was aware of the situation and had every cop watching the band members for Torn Pieces.

The Emergency Task Force needed Ella.

Giano wanted Letizia and Cristiano.

Someone was going to be sorely disappointed.

Ricky realized two days ago after Dego left that he’d had an advantage.

“Yeah, thanks,” Ricky said, pressing end on his phone. He grabbed his keys and opened the door, stopping suddenly.

“I heard you were looking for me,” Ella said, stepping around Ricky and sitting down on the edge of the bed.

He glanced around before closing and locking his door. “You heard that, eh?”

“Miss me?”

He stepped closer to Ella. “Maybe.”

“Dego’s been in a mood for two days since talking to you,” Ella said and stood. Her body was flush against Ricky’s. “I needed to get out of the house and blow off some steam, or maybe blow something.” She traced her finger down the center of his chest and looped it around the waistband of his jeans.

He stood there speechless for a moment. Did she just proposition him? “Ella,” Ricky said and grabbed her hands. “Your buddy, Dego, may get a little pissed off if he finds you in my bed.”

“He doesn’t own me.”

“And right now he owns me.”

She pouted and flopped back onto the bed. “Pleasuring myself is getting boring.”

Ricky rolled his eyes. “I can image.”

He walked over and sat down in the chair in the corner of the room. The image with Ella and the most-wanted man was sitting in the center of the table amongst several other images.

Ella sauntered over to the table. “Who’s this?”

“You.”

She grabbed the photo. “What are you talking about? I don’t even know who that man is.” She threw the image back down and walked toward the door.

“He’s your father.”

Ella whipped her head around. “Giano is my father.”

“Is he?”

Ricky could tell he was pissing her off, but she also sounded a bit curious. “Um, I think I would know who my father is by now.”

“Do you really think you can trust a mob boss?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “I can trust my father.”

Ricky grabbed another image of Giano. In the background was the same little girl in the same man’s arms. “He doesn’t seem like he cares about you much in that image.” He handed the photo to Ella.

She ripped the photo out of his hand and stared at it for a few minutes. Letting out a heavy sigh, she said, “What the fuck are you trying to do? I don’t know what this is all about.”

“I know where that man holding you in the photo is,” Ricky said, lying like a dog. “I can take you to him.”

* * *

“Hey,” Miles said and let out a heavy sigh.

“I may be bringing Ella with me tonight,” Ricky said, flipping a pen back and forth in his hand.

“How the hell did you manage that?”

“We need one team member to play Ella’s father.”

Miles burst out laughing. “Someone needs to play the most-wanted man for a known fugitive. Are we in some action movie?”

“You wanted me to find Ella. I found her but with a few caveats.”

There was a loud knocking. “I gotta go.”

Ricky threw the door back, and Ella fell into his arms. “Jesus. Ella, what happened?” He closed the door and carried her over to the bed.

“One of the guys at the house,” she choked out. “Get me out of here.”

Ricky knew they were on borrowed time. “I don’t understand, Ella.”

“I’ll explain on the way, but seriously, please just get me out of here.”

“Ella, this is my ass on the line if I take you with me,” Ricky said, packing his stuff up quickly. “I deserve an explanation.”

“What you deserve? Really?” She pushed herself up and leaned against the headboard.

He threw a shirt in his bag. “Yeah, really. I came down here to find you and take you back to Canada with me. Instead, Dego somehow found out my whole life story.”

Ella rolled her eyes. “You really don’t look that different. Dad…I mean, Giano showed me a picture of you when you worked with him before.”

“Wait, Giano has a picture of me?”

“He has a photo of everyone that works with him.”

“Fuck. I thought shaving and cutting my hair would help.”

“It does look better. You looked like a homeless man before.”

He turned his head to the side and held up his middle finger. “I still don’t understand why they beat you up? Why do you all of a sudden want to go with me?”

“That picture you showed me earlier.”

“Yeah?”

“I remember that guy.” She rubbed her hands over her face and sighed. “He took care of me.”

Ricky sat down on the bed. “You know Giano is not your father, right?”

“No, I don’t know, but he has always taken care of me.”

“Until recently?”

“When I told Vikki to run.”

He realized at that moment she saved Vikki’s life. Now he had to save hers.

“What if your real dad really isn’t back in Canada?” Ricky knew he had to be honest.

“Then I’ll keep searching for him.”

“We’ll help you.”

“We?”

“Your cousin and brother.”

“Okay now you have me confused.”

Ricky zipped up his bag and slung it over his shoulder. “I’ll explain on the way.”