"Don't worry about those bastards, we'll find them." Marco said as Luke lay back in the bed. The Russo brothers and their men had disappeared, left the second they disposed of Luke, and there didn't seem to be a person around who knew where they'd gone.

"I'm not worried. I know you and I know you'll find them." Luke said firmly. "Where's the girl?"

"Same place. Last time I checked, she was still sleeping." Marco said. "She must have been very tired."

Luke raised his hand, signaling for one of his men.

"Go wake the girl, bring her here." He said.

"Yes sir." The man said, exiting the room.

"Good idea. She seems like a good girl, I think it's best we send her on her way as soon as possible." Marco said.

Luke was quiet. He'd slept all day and soon he knew he'd fall asleep all night. He was tired but thanks to his doctor, he had minimal discomfort.

"She took very good care of me." Luke said, thinking about it as he said it. He had in fact been very surprised by how well she cared for him. He didn't know where it came from or why but he hadn't been able to stop thinking about her. He'd seen her in his dreams, hovering over his bed side and placing a damp cloth over his forehead. He wasn't sure if it was just a dream or maybe he remembered vaguely that she'd sat with him the first night.

Then his dreams had taken a surprising turn. The images that floated in his mind were no longer of her concern, instead he'd pictured holding her in ways that sincerely surprised him.  He'd seen her blush that exact same way she had as he whispered things to her she'd never heard before. When he woke, he was surprised to find that he wanted to see her more than anything else. It completely blew him away, unexpected to say the least. 

She wasn't ugly, she was just not his type. Somehow, he couldn't help it, he wanted her. He wanted to do everything to her in real life that he had done in those sweet dreams.

"I would say we could reward her but from I found, the girl has her own means." Marco said. He'd been surprised to find that she was a very wealthy girl indeed.

"I know." Luke said, trying to form a coherent idea. He had a feeling that if he asked her to stay voluntarily, she would not but if he forced her to stay, she would hate him. He was not the type of man to force himself on any woman but he was not ready to just let her go.

"So then, what are you thinking? I can tell those wheels are spinning in your head." Marco said but then a knock at the door, made them both turn. 

"Come in." Luke said, watching as Echo stepped in nervously. 

"Leave us." Luke said, his eyes fixed on her. Marco nodded, turning and walking out of the room.

Echo stared at the bed, the shade from the curtains blocking out most of Luke's face. She couldn't tell if he was smiling or in pain- she couldn't see the expression at all. Which was good for Luke, because at this moment he was criticizing all of her and wondering what in the world it was about her that attracted him that much. Maybe after a few days around her, he would realized he didn't want her quite as much and then the problem would take care of itself.

The clothes would have to go, he thought. He couldn't be seen with her if she was dressed like that. He could tell she was a very innocent girl and so he would have to take his time with her, but he would be happy to take good care of her if she let him. It was true that her bank account was as big as his but there was other things he could offer her.

"Come here." he said, his voice ringing across the room. Echo moved slowly, trying to see his face before she got too close. There it was... the scar and somehow seeing it made her feel a bit more secure.

"How are you feeling?" She asked softly as she reached his side.

"Physically, I'll live." he said, wincing as he adjusted his posture. "But I find myself at a very strange dilemma and Echo, I need your help with it."

She tilted her head curiously, wondering what he would say.

"First I want to thank you for your help." He said, reaching out and taking her hand. "You saved my life."

"You would have done the same for me." She said, looking down at her hand in his. Were her hands always this small? Or were his hands just very big?

Would he have done the same for her? Luke thought about it. If he had found her like that on his property, he would have had someone else care for her. In fact, he wasn't entirely sure that he would have helped her.

"You had several opportunities to call the police, you even had my gun in your hand and you still did what I asked you to." He said. Echo nodded, her eyes still on their hands, watching how his fingers wound around hers, tangling with them, massaging them. 

"You really didn't give me much choice." She said, wrinkling her nose. This was strange, it was strange right? She never talked to anyone like this. He laughed and she looked up at him. Had she made him laugh?

"No, I really didn't." He said with a sigh. "I hope you won't hold that against me."

"I feel like I should but I don't and I won't." Echo said. "In a way, I almost want to thank you."

Luke raised his brow.

"Thank me?" He asked and Echo sighed, taking a seat on the edge of the bed absentmindedly.

"It was an adventure." She said, "I don't think I'll have many of those in my life."

"I'm glad." He said, "if you want adventures, I could give you a job."

She chuckled, what a pretty sound. Luke felt the grin on his face grow as he watched her laugh. She really was something special.

"I hope you don't take this the wrong way, but I've sort of figured it out at this point. I'd be useless here." She said and Luke's thumbs stroked her hand.

"I can think of so much you could do here." He said, making her glance at him. What was it about her?

"I should be going." She said, feeling her heart beat too quick for her own comfort. Still, he didn't let her hand go and so, she didn't move.

"I want to give you something for helping me but what can I offer a girl like you, who could have anything she wants?" He asked, waiting.

"You don't have to give me anything." She said.

"I want too. Come on, please- for me. Pick something, anything. You can have anything you want." He said, trying to stretch out the time that was left. Echo watched him, fascinated. What was he looking at her so much for?

"I can't. You choose." She said, looking down nervously. "If you're going to give me something then I'd like it to be something you want to give me."

Luke raised his brow- she couldn't know what type of things he wanted to give her at this very moment.

"If you're sure." He said, sitting up and pulling her by her hand towards him. Echo stared at him in surprise, finding herself in his arms, tightly pressed against him.

"What are you doing?" She asked, too shocked to move.

"I'm going to give you a kiss." He said, "My way of thanking you."

Echo opened her mouth, looking for the words to protest but before she could, his lips were on her cheek and she nearly fainted. She very nearly fainted. No, she was sure she died. She almost laughed at herself. Of course he wasn't going to actually kiss her. Was she red?

Luke didn't release her, he only watched for her reaction. She'd turned so red and now, she was settled into his arms, trying to make sense of what happened.

"Something wrong?" He asked without releasing her.

"No." She said, trying to catch her breath. For some reason, she felt as if she'd just run a marathon.

"You seem disappointed." He said, "Let's try again."

Echo turned to look at him, thinking she couldn't have heard right but this time, he didn't kiss her cheek. This time, his lips landed on hers. Echo didn't know what to do. No one had ever kissed her before, not like this. It took her a bit before her mind caught up with her and she realized that he was holding her closely and she was kissing him back. She felt her hands at his chest, the warm skin she'd touched just the night before. Was he really kissing her? Was he really holding her this close?

Luke couldn't help himself, he'd been wondering what this girl kissing this girl would be like. He hadn't meant to kiss her like this but now that he was, all he could think of how much more he wanted to do.

"Ouch." he said suddenly, loosening his grip. He'd almost forgotten he was hurt.

"Oh god, are you okay?" She asked, realizing she'd been pressed up tightly against him. She moved her hands from around his neck to his arm, and trailed them down along his shoulders, her fingers on gently grazing the bandage. He chuckled.

"Trust me, I'm more than okay." He said, pulling her back in but Echo shook her head.

"No, you're not. You need to rest." She said, pulling out of his grasp. Echo stood, a hand on her chest as she tried to catch her breath.

"Echo come here." He said, but she shook her head.

"No, I don't know what we were doing, that's crazy." She said, trying to understand what had happened.

"Echo, come here." He insisted, "I'm not done kissing you."

She looked at him, face flushed and lips pink from being thoroughly kissed.

"Why did you do that?" She asked and he shrugged.

"I wanted too, I still want too." He said. "Should I tell you that I've been thinking about doing that since yesterday?"

Echo stared at him in disbelief.

"Why?" She asked, trying to understand.

"Not everything has a simple answer, Echo." He said.

"I need to go." She said. "Can I please leave?"

"I gave you my word you could but I'd like you to stay." He said.

"Stay?" She said.

"Stay with me, take care of me." He said with a grin, realizing she was so innocent she didn't understand his innuendos.

"I have to go home. You have people here to take care of you. My parents are going to flip out." She said, putting her hands to her face to try to cool off. It was so hot in this room.

"Then promise me you'll come see me tomorrow." He said, making her stare at him.

"What?" She asked, shocked.

"Come see me tomorrow." He said. "I want to see you again."

"I can't. You're crazy. I can't. I shouldn't even be here." Echo said.

"Please." He said, making her confused. Did she want to see him again?

"I'm sorry. This is crazy and I need to go." She said, turning on her heel and moving quickly.

"I'll be waiting for you." He said, noticing how she slowed but she didn't stop, disappearing out the door just the same.

He sat there for a minute, listening to the sound of her steps as they faded away in the distance and thinking about that kiss with a smile on his lips.

"She's gone." Marco said, walking in a few minutes later.

"She'll be back." Luke said confidently. Of course she would, she couldn't ignore it. There was something intensely passionate between them and even she had to be curious.

"Will she?" Marco asked, raising his brow.

"I'm sure of it." He replied, still thinking about the kiss. What a wonderful surprise it had been. 

"I've never known you to be wrong but I don't understand why a girl like that, from her background and family would come back here." Marco said. "I don't think she'll talk."

"She won't." Luke said, "But she'll be back for me."

Marco was surprised but he didn't show it. He definitely didn't peg the girl for the type that Luke would pursue. Not at all. She was a nice enough girl but he just couldn't see it.

"Should I even bother asking?" Marco said after a minute.

"No." Luke said.