There are times where you have to make decisions about your life choices and own up that mistakes are going to be made. It's just the question of if someone is worth making that choice or mistake over. A blackened out SUV different from that of Mr. Hale's parks near the curb. Lately, Mr. Hale has had his driver escorting me to and from work to make sure I am protected from everything and everyone. He reminds me of a father in his protective ways making sure that I focus only on the positive aspects of our lives.

Stress is like Cancer.

It cannot be avoided.

The window of the SUV rolls down to the most exasperating face on the planet. Mr. Dalton. Since seeing him that one day leaving Mr. Hale's company he's shaved the stubble on his chin now appearing even younger. "Come," his voice deep and authoritative.

What would not getting into the vehicle cause me? I do not want any harm to come to that of my family for if he knows my whereabouts then he knows of theirs. I walk over towards the vehicle shuttering at the cool breeze that rip through my dress easily. It felt like something bad was going to befall over me in the next few minutes.

Once inside the vehicle I quickly send my location to Mr. Hale's phone just in case if Mr. Dalton were to try anything sneaky. "Leonardo Walt discovered the club. A big crime lord who had dealings in everything you could imagine," he states looking outside the window. "Drugs, money, weapons, politics, you name it. Everything. He only established the club because back in the 1950's and it wasn't until the late 60's and 70's that the club dabbled into that of social affairs and even sports. Alexander Dalton, my great grandfather had entrusted that every son, grandson, and nephew be admitted into the club after him. It was his knowledge about the mob and moves of any police activity that he had became a head member."

The way he began to monologue had been really annoying for he had been beating around the bush. "Would you get to the point? I don't think my boyfriend would appreciate you holding his girlfriend as a hostage to the dealings that you have made for yourself," I snicker.

"Your boyfriend, is it? Well then.. my point is generations have passed through this club. Mr. Hurst's generations as well. What do you think his Father or Grandfather might do to you if they found out that Mr. Hale let his conquest jeopardize his life?"

The way our eyes meet with the intensity makes me feel like there's something even more left to discover. Between the lovely dinners, erotic sex, and busy days at work I didn't even contemplate the importance of Dwight's existence. He is just one man. The door opens abruptly with Mr. Hale's face filled with hate and irritancy.

"Come."

I obediently step outside of the vehicle. Mr. Dalton follows suit stepping up to Mr. Hale. They had both been a whopping 6"1 of muscle and intensity. "I'm only going to tell you once. Don't you ever come near Ellie again." His warning makes me shiver slightly before his voice has never been this deep and threatening before.

"If Deckard doesn't get his grandson in the next couple of days we won't be so civil in our next encounter." Mr. Dalton holds no remorse for his words looking from Mr. Hale to me.

They don't blink as if it's like a contest to see which one will fold first. "He is well aware of the current situation," Mr. Hale doesn't back down from the stand off.

Mr. Dalton's husky driver rushes to his side whispering something into his ear which causes Mr. Dalton to seem uneasy. "Let's go," Mr. Dalton says dismissing his driver.

"Come."

Mr. Hale seems to be infuriated of the whole situation which causes me to run after him like a lost puppy. He's walking faster than I can keep up but we finally make it to his SUV the one I'm familiar with. The ride home had been a silent one for he didn't want to share any information or exchange any greetings whatsoever. I found myself staring outside of the window counting each taxi blocking the express lane. He is mad at me.

Once the door closes to loft he grabs around his tie firmly loosening it before he sets in on the island. I watch him slip his hands into his pockets as he always does. This is like watching an instant replay for you can tell his current emotion by the way his gestures come off. I contemplate if I should start off by apologizing to him, but he questions me before I am able to get a word out.

"Why would you proceed to get in a vehicle with a man who threatened you, Ellie!?"

He is yelling belligerently barely containing himself in which causes me to wince. I don't like when he's angry like this. It's uncontrollable.

"Fuck!"

I watch him punch the wall hard the muffled noise traveling throughout the loft. If it had been a punching bag I'm sure he would have left a mark somewhere. There is a small indent in the wall where he laid his fist.

I feel like I'm being scolded like a child. "I was scared okay! I didn't want to cause a scene! You don't want me to get involved but I already am! Why didn't you tell me that you cannot leave the club? What am I supposed to do if you go missing!?"

"I said I'm handling it."

"Let's handle it together!"

"" He runs a hand through his hair forcefully. "I don't want to lose you too. I couldn't live with myself if I did! Just don't do that again."

I don't understand why Mr. Dalton is so adamant about finding Mr. Hurst unless he is being pressured by someone who's even far more powerful than him. "Mr. Hurst is someone's powerful son or grandson, isn't he?" I question leaning my back against the sofa.

"Politicians son and grandson," he states finally giving up in his pursuit to keep any information withheld any longer. "I've already been called by Bill and Deckard about the issue, but my hands are as tied as theirs."

There was no way for me to help. I didn't know any politicians or government officials to call for the release of Dwight. "Why do you have to be involved and why are Mr. Dalton and his family unaware of Mr. Hurst being in Prison?" I ask curiously as to how all of this plays a part in our lives. Our.

"There's an election going on in the state of New York for a new Governor. If the press were to find out that the appointed new Governor's grandson is in prison it could affect major benefactors on his part. Glen called informing me of Dwight's whereabouts about a couple of months ago. I hadn't been putting effort into caring because it isn't my job to babysit but when someone like Mr. Dalton or Dwight's grandfather come knocking. It's an issue that cannot be ignored anymore. How Mr. Dalton got the assumption that you have affected someone's life is beyond me. There are eyes everywhere though. I wouldn't be surprised considering the club is closely knit and monitors the behaviors of non-members. That would explain your phone number being in his possession."

All this new information raises my awareness that every time I step foot outside I am jeopardizing my safety. The blackened out vehicles, the never having relationships, the emotional and physical abuse. Everything comes into perspective for me. Mr. Hale has known the negative aspects of the world for longer than he's known about the positive. Money, Power, Abuse, Women all in the rotation over and over again.

"Why didn't you tell me you could not leave the club?"

My head is filled with more questions, but I wanted to know the answer to this question mostly. "Because then you would have felt obligated to try and fix a situation that cannot be fixed by someone like you. You look as if you're already contemplating something."

"Xander, stop."

I watch his skin change colors from the reaction of being angry, to calm, to angry again. He finally lets out a sigh taking a seat at the island which placed in the middle is an assortment of fruit. "The club has a way of tying up loose ends. Tyler Whitfield." He pauses for a moment fidgeting with the watch on his hand.

"Tyler Whitfield had been a successful business owner, a member of the club, and an upcoming major benefactor to a company specializing in weapons technology and engineering," he explains. "That's until he met a woman who changed his perspective on life completely. A woman who interfered with the money and power of Dwight's grandfather. He knew exactly of the consequences and thought to flee the country would fix his issues. Unfortunately, he and his fiancé had been kidnapped and murdered or in the newspaper spic and span version "accident" in a car crash. The club has a way of getting rid of loose ends when you are wanting to part ways. It's because of the extortion, illegal dealings, and under the table, business deals taking place that it would cause mass hysteria throughout the world on a global scale. It's hard to imagine, but this had been before either one of us had been conceived. To take down a major organization as this would mean taking on the government as well."

The severity of this club was dangerous. Everything surrounding the dealings of this club was dangerous. The people. The money. The power. A woman capable of loving someone to change their ways is dangerous to a man?

"So as long as you keep the business aspect of your membership to the club thriving no harm will come to us?"

I can barely understand the need to force business relationships onto other companies, but being young and influenced by the thrill of it all Mr. Hale lacked in the common sense area where read between the lines play in effect. "Nothing should. I just want you to be careful from now on. We aren't really sure as to Mr. Dalton's business into the Hurst family affairs. The sooner Mr. Hurst is released the better." His voice sounds a bit weary from all the emotions coursing through his veins.

When I get married I do not want my children to be subjected to a lifestyle of that. What kind of father would I be?

Mr. Vasquez was an intelligent man for his family would be secured under his protection. He would never have to worry that his family is in danger by the dealings of this club and what it could do. "What if I had been pregnant, Xander? Do you realize the amount of danger you could potentially put us in?" I step forward so that I'm standing a few feet from him.

I keep a little distance as he still seems a bit heated from the whole situation. Mr. Dalton had crossed a boundary line that even I couldn't begin to understand. All I had been aware of was that he had been serious about us and our relationship. My protection meant giving up his life which was more than I could ask from anyone. The thought makes me regret asking him the questions that I did. Because that would cause for him to feel guilty for a danger that's visible but not alarming.

"I apologize."

"Don't. I understand what you meant. I am not upset about your example, but Mr. Dalton is aware of your whereabouts more often that I'd like." He rubs his index finger and thumb across his chin almost deep in thought. "Have you picked a place that you wanted to travel to?"

"Mhm.."

"Have you informed Mr. Vasquez of how long your absence will be?"

"So we're fleeing America until you finally get Dwight out of trouble?"

The thought makes me want to chuckle but I know it's a serious matter. "Well, I didn't want it to be under these circumstances but I think it would be nice to stop stressing about this. What do you think?" He leans over the breakfast bar grabbing an apple from out of the fruit basket.

"This makes me excited, honestly. I couldn't wait to show you the place I had picked out. My only concern is that you have already been there. Gosh, I hope you haven't."

Mr. Hale takes a bite of his ripen red apple. The way his jaw moves and the sound of the crunching is honestly attractive for some reason. I admire that of his goatee that he had been starting to grow. It made him appear older than he actually was.

"Don't ever get into a car you are unfamiliar with. Do you understand me?" He pauses from biting into his apple to look intently into my eyes.

I heave his message loud and clear like it was a siren going off into the distance. "I understand," I answer softy.

"He's unpredictable and cynical." Mr. Hale states placing the apple down on the island.

The irony of Mr. Hale saying someone is unpredictable and cynical caused me to giggles slightly. A year ago I would of been calling him cynical and unpredictable for he was always so mysterious in the way he carried himself. Now he's changed slightly. The frustration made him open up more even though it was as if he had been forced. Even so he was changing for me.

"What are you giggling about?"

I hop onto the island taking a banana out of the basket. "You're the unpredictable one," I state peeking the banana slowly.

"Is that right?"

"Mhm.."

Mr. Hale turns around to watch me eat the banana. "Is this one of your things?" I raise an eye brow slightly taking a bite.

He doesn't answer my question. It's as if he ignored that I even opened my mouth in the first place. His hands pull me closer to where he is between my legs. My cheeks partially hanging off of the island. I'm supported by his hands holding me up. I feel the bulge growing on my thigh.

"I'll show you one of my things."