Echo pulled her car around the long drive that led towards the lake.  It meant that they would have to go around the opposite side and the drive would take an extra half hour but it was also the only way to get close enough to the pool house without being spotted from the house. It was also the closest she could get so that Luke would not have to walk far. 

As it was, Echo had absolutely no clue where he was going to lead her. She could be driving for hours but what real choice did she have. If she was honest, having a choice wasn't really an issue anymore. She'd started something and now she felt she had the obligation to finish it and, even if she didn't want to admit it, she needed to make sure that Luke would be taken care of.

He'd looked well enough during the day but the truth was, with a wound that deep, one that had bled through the bandages, and what she was sure was at least a set of bruised ribs, he would only get worse. 

"Hey." She said softly, walking into the pool house and stopping. She'd somehow expected to find him sitting there with his eyes wide open and the gun pointed directly at her and instead... he was asleep. 

She watched him for a few minutes, wondering if he was strong enough to walk down the hill towards the car. Again, she was struck with the notion that he looked tense, as if he would be ready to strike at the first disturbance and just the same, he looked quite harmless as he slept and without really realizing she was doing it, she was moving closer and closer to him. 

 He looked tired, she could only imagine how exhausted he must be. He really needed a doctor and she hoped that when he was home there would be one available. She must be crazy not to take him to the hospital but then again, she'd be crazy to try to take him to one. She sat down next to him and brought her hand to his cheek, prepared to wake him. The tips of her fingers moved across his skin slowly, inching... almost begging her to touch the scar, wondering if it would be rough or smooth, fascinated to find it was the latter. She almost gasped and how warm he was- his fever was high. 

She moved to wake him, thinking it was best they went on their way as soon as possible but then she saw it. Right there, sitting next to him on the sofa, just about a foot away... the gun.

Her eyes darted back and forth between him, then the gun, as she tried to make up her mind. Should she just go for it? She could pick up the gun and call the police before he even noticed, before he even had a chance to react. She reached out, her fingers grazing the handle as she remembered his words. He would send his men. She wondered just how important and powerful this man really was. Somehow she knew that he hadn't lied about that. Even if he didn't send for them, there were people who would not stop looking for him. They would come here, they would find her and they would pay her in kind. 

Then, she picked up the gun, more out of curiosity than anything. She'd never held a gun before, never even thought about it. It was heavier than she expected it to be.

"Feels good, huh?" She was startled, turning to find his eyes on her and she quickly set the gun back down where he had left it.

Their eyes met and as she realized her hand was still on his cheek, she pulled it away.

"I have my car down the hill." She said, jumping up and stepping away from him. He watched her, she was nervous. He'd woken the moment he felt her hand on his skin. She was warm... or maybe that was him. He knew he had a fever and so it was all the more imperative he get back as soon as possible. Still, he'd been surprised by how close she was, surprised by how comforting it was to have her near, surprised by how natural her touch had felt. 

Then he chuckled at his own thoughts- if that girl knew what he'd been dreaming, what kinds of dreams he'd been having about her... she would have a heart attack. He certainly hadn't expected to have those types of dreams. He was pretty sure it was the fever but he had to admit he found it amusing just how much he seemed to unnerve her.

"Well, come on then." He said, standing and biting his lip as he did so. She moved forward, putting his arm around her shoulders.

"The walk is short but it's steep." She said as if trying to justify her helping him. "Want to tell me where we're going?"

He allowed her to lead him out of the pool house, noticing how she locked it and pulled the handle exactly three times. He'd noticed earlier she had a few strange habits- she was a very peculiar girl.

"Just head straight through- north." he said as she helped him into the passenger seat.

"North side of the city or further?" She asked as she sat in the driver's seat.

"Further." He said and she stared at him. There was a town about thirty miles out there, one that she'd passed through several times before. She wondered if that was where they were heading.

"Okay well are you going to give me the address or should I just wait until..." She began but she stopped. He'd fallen asleep. She shook her head and began to drive. The sooner she could get him home, the sooner she could forget about him. 

---

"Hey... Hey!"

Luke opened his eyes and reached up abruptly, grabbing a hold of Echo's arm firmly and pulling her towards him. She stared for a second, waiting as she saw his brows begin to relax as if he suddenly remembered where he was. Slowly, his grip relaxed and Echo leaned away from him.

"Luke." She said softly, waiting for him to completely snap out of his daze. He blinked, looking around and aware that he was sweating, not just a little but profusely. He sat up, confused beyond belief and conscious of the fact that it was still a bit dark.

"You okay?" She asked when he didn't say anything. He turned, searching and there she was. The angel he'd been dreaming about and she had her hand on her forehead.

"You're burning up." She said, looking concerned. Was she worried about him? Was this young and very innocent girl worried about him?

"Where are we?" He asked, still groggy.

"We're about five miles out of the town north of the city. I don't know where we're going." She said, making him sit up straight. He could no longer feel the pain in his ribs, something he thought couldn't be a good sign. "and I didn't want to risk driving to far."

"Go straight, down main. Five lights, take a right. We'll be there soon." he said and she nodded, turning back towards the road.

"Will there be a doctor there?" She asked. "You're not well. I need to know there's someone there who can take care of you or I swear, I'll drive you to the emergency room."

"They can get one for me quick." He said with a weak smile. "I wasn't aware you cared so much."

"I told you, I don't want a dead man on my conscience." She said, pressing her lips together- Was he teasing her? Seriously? As hurt as he was... She unsure what to think but seeing as she had no real choice, she continued to drive, hoping he was right and there would be a doctor. The sun was coming up quick and it would be full daylight soon.

"Turn here." He said as she continued to drive. Echo looked around noting that there were men on the corners and now they were all looking in her direction.

"Ummm... Luke, what's going on?" She asked, realizing that the men just down the street were starting to move towards her car. 

"Listen, everything is going to be okay. You just do what I tell you and everything will be fine." He said, pointing towards a spot across the street. "Pull over there."

"But... " Echo began but Luke shook his head.

"Just do it." He said, prompting her to slow the car and pull over. "Now, turn off the engine. When they come up to your door, just give them the keys."

"Give them my keys?" She asked, jumping up in her seat when she heard the tapping at her window.

"Yes, damn it. Echo- trust me." He said, making her turn to him. She stared at him wide eyed. Trust him? Trust him?! he'd practically kidnapped her! Held her at gun point, threatened her family... trust him?!?! She heard the tapping again but this time she sighed and nodded.

"Okay." She said, pulling the keys out of the ignition and holding them up to show she was going to give them to them.

"Mr. Farina." She heard the surprised murmuring of the men surrounding the car as they opened the passenger door and noticed the condition he was. 

"Miss, step out of the car." The man next to her said, taking the keys from her hand. Echo turned and stared for a moment, her mind struggling to process what she was seeing. Then she nodded, doing exactly as she was asked and glancing at Luke who was cringing as he stepped out of her car. 

"Careful... he's very hurt." She said, finding it difficult not to run over and help him. She saw the way Luke closed his eyes, aware that he was in more pain than he'd let on.

"We'll take care of him." The man next to her said, making her look back at him. She hadn't really paid attention before but now that she got a good look, she was surprised. She'd imagined she'd be facing some greasy, older, devious looking gangster and instead she found herself face to face with the best looking man she'd ever met. 

For a second, she could only stare, wondering if it was possible that there was a man this good looking out there. Tall, windswept hair and green eyes, with a boyish grin stretching from ear to ear and revealing a set of pearly whites that dazzled... at least, Echo was certainly dazzled beyond words. He was handsome alright, more than even Luke- although there was something about Luke that Echo couldn't quite put her finger on... something that this man didn't have. 

"Who are you?" He asked her, taking in her appearance.

"Echo." She said calmly. His crisp, clear tone managing to put her a bit more at ease. 

"Alright Ms. Echo- I'm Marco. You and I are going to have a long talk." he said, signaling to his men to come forward.

"Where are you taking him?" She asked, confusion and concern clearly visible in her face- Just because this man wasn't threatening didn't mean she'd forgotten her situation. She was trying to be calm but she was having trouble understanding what had happened. 

"He needs a doctor." Marco said, turning to his men. "Take her to the house."

"Take me to what house?" She asked, raising her brow.

"Listen, you're going to get into that SUV with these men. Don't fight us, just do it. Save yourself the trouble, it will happen. I need to talk with you and then I need to talk to him." Marco said, wiggling the car keys in front of her. "You'll get these back when you're done and as long as he says you can and everything checks out... you'll walk away fine. Got it?"

She peeked behind her again, noting that Luke was already gone.

"My car?" She asked, not knowing what else to say.

"I'll take care of it myself." Marco said, extending his hand. "I need your phone too."

"But what if... can I send a quick message first?" She asked, making him raise his brow. "I just don't want my sister to worry when I don't come home."

"Okay, but I read it before you send."