Have You Ever

CHAPTER ONE

... Been a Favourite?

I can feel the bass beats hitting the wall again, Toni must be hitting her decks again... she has a habit of doing that each and every morning, especially on weekends.  The neighbours have nothing to say, because they've all moved out and I'm surprised I'm still part sharing with her.  To be honest, the house is amazing and the rent is pretty reasonable between the four of us, so I have no complaints... well, maybe one on this occasion.  I sit up and wait, suddenly realising it isn't Toni after all, but my head, it's thumping... well banging at the moment and I realise it's from last night's drinking. D-R-I-N-K-I-N-G, oh lord.  I lie back in bed and close my eyes, willing the roughness to disappear but no amount of will power will make it go away.  I need an aspirin or two, but as I reach for my bedside table, Ronan comes storming in.  He's one of my other flatmates, camp as they come and the most chattiest person I know.

He looks at his Rolex watch, "What time do you call this missy? I thought you would be at least out of your pyjamas by now and strutting your stuff down the catwalk of life." Always impressionable, always honest, that's what I like about him.

"I went out last night had way too many drinks, it seems my gut isn't what it used to be," I try to explain myself.

"Darling, I think your gut is the least of your worries... you'll be doing a whole lot more drinking tonight at Charlotte's exhibition, don't forget to wear something exceptional tonight," Ronan flicks his hand up in the air as if he's swatting a fly, "You do have something exceptional to wear tonight, don't you?" He surveys his nails and then looks pointedly to me.

I screw my features up, I don't have anything "exceptional" to wear- and as if reading my thoughts, Ronan unveils a box right in front of me.

"What's this?" I say in utter shock.

"Something I brought when I was in Milan last week, just a thank you for the Nick and Steve situation."

"How is the Nick and Steve situation now by the way?" I ask curiously.

"Oh, y'know much better then I had hoped. Nick wasn't too pleased that he had caught me shagging Steve- but I wasn't ecstastic about his stalker tendencies anyway, but with your collaborate way of turning things around, he's out of the picture.  Steve was a good shag but he lacks in personality... but enough about me, open it," he pushes the box closer to me.

I open the box, peel away the decadent tissue paper and gasp, "Oh my God, I can't accept this, this is too much."

"You deserve it darling, and if Charlotte asks you where you brought it, say you found it in a car boot sale or something... remember the last time she found out I brought you those Jimmy Choos, she went mental with jealousy, I don't fancy being on the other end of that any time soon, you are my favourite fag hag."

I smile and hug Ronan and he walks off sheepishly and closes the door. 

***

Later that night, Toni, Ronan and I make our way over to the Exhibition Hall a few roads away. We decide to walk, as it's a gorgeous summer evening, so there's no need to wear a shawl or even my denim jacket and even if I wanted to, it wouldn't go with my Armani Prive dress.  Ronan knows me so well, he knows what fits me and it feels like a second skin.  He even said so, when I came out of my bedroom earlier. If it weren't for him liking men, he would so do me in a flash, which is a compliment by far and the only one I have received in a very long time.

The hall is bustling with critics, art lovers, the chic and sophisticated and just about anyone who appreciates art.  I can spot Charlotte talking to a reporter about her collection on the far end of the hall.  This is her second collection she's unveiled. She's an artist and you wouldn't think it either, she's beautiful, blonde and ambitious. You'd think she belonged in the boardroom then in an art studio.  A tray of champagne passes us and we grab a flute each and schmooze.  It's packed and I can just about catch snippets of conversation above the music that Toni has supplied for the night with the in house DJ. This is the first time I have seen her second collection and she has aptly called it, "Lots of things about Lottie." Ronan has gone to the bar to order something stronger and Toni is already chatting to the DJ, meanwhile, I take a look at Charlotte's work, her work is mesmerising and sells for thousands of pounds at a time.  Her work is very Renaissance modern, her brush strokes are imperfect which makes the painting so perfect and the colours mesmerising, and the subjects she chooses fit.  I come to a painting that's called, "Residing With Ronan"- I can only think of our flat mate at the bar, it's an explosion of colour and a man within it and I think Charlotte has captured Ronan perfectly.

"Do you like it?" I turn around to see Charlotte standing behind me. I squeal like a teenage girl and hug her.

"Y'know I love it, bit gutted that I don't have a painting dedicated to me..." I smile.

"Of course you do, you just haven't got around yet... oh wow, I love your dress. Where did you get it?" Charlotte asks.

"This old thing, it was lying around," I shake off the idea.

"Really, lying around in some designer shop... it's beautiful," she says admiringly and I feel guilty for lying to her, "So, how was your night last night Fred?"

Fred is my name, okay, well, it's short for Frederica but everyone who knows me calls me Fred.

"I got a little too pissed," I say apologetically.

"I know, you were singing from the top of your lungs when you came in... I'm just glad we didn't have any neighbours about to complain about the racket...where's Ronan and Toni?" she asks.

I point behind me to Ronan who's still at the bar and Toni who's now saddled with the DJ in his box.  Charlotte nods and excuses herself, as she continues to socialise with the others attendees.  I walk around and am completely bewildered by Charlotte's talent. Charlotte is outspoken in her art as well as being direct, she's the go to girl if you want to get something or someone off your back, she's also hard working and comes from a very wealthy back ground.  She's independent and doesn't like to depend on her family name to make a mark in the world. Her success is purely down to her hard work and perseverance.  I walk around taking in the landscapes, the portraits, when suddenly I spot him. Jack.  He's staring at a portrait of someone who looks utterly familiar and I realise, it's a portrait of me.  I walk a bit closer and realise he has started talking to a brunette, who's petite and much smaller in height to him.

"I swear to God, I know this woman... I just can't pinpoint where though." he says in that unmistakably voice of his.

The woman to his left replies, "Ambitious aren't you Jack? Come on, she's probably as fictional as my mansion in the Hollywood hills" she tuts.

"No, seriously Kay... I know her," the art of persuasion doesn't work on her and I can see, he's trying to think of where he's seen her. Me. "Honestly, I've met this woman!"

I come closer to the painting and glance at the title, it reads "Fun Fred." I can barely contain my smile when the woman turns around and sees me smiling and then she glances back at the painting and then back at me. She prods Jack on the shoulder and looks blankly back at me. Jack turns around and realisation hits, he's about to mouth something to his companion or to me but I don't get to hear what he says as I hear Charlotte calling me, "Fred, I want you to come and meet someone."
I turn away and walk towards Charlotte and an imposingly gorgeous guy standing right next to her. He's at least, six feet tall and has the most prettiest brown eyes I have ever seen.

"This is Matt, my boyfriend. Fred this is Matt," Charlotte says grinning from ear to ear.

"Nice to meet you Matt," I give him my best smile, "How did you two meet?"

"Well, Lottie and I met through our friend Jack... oh there he is now!" Matt replies and Jack comes striding towards us, "Jack, this is Fred..." he says to his friend who is looking at me as if he's just witnessed a ghost or something, "Is that short for anything?"

"Frederica but everyone who knows me, calls me Fred," I muster.

"So, you're the muse for that painting over there?" the petite brunette pitches in, the one who only minutes ago was standing in front of my painting with Jack.

"Yes, she is my flat mate," I hear Charlotte say, "Fred is a baker."

I wave at everyone feeling really self conscious all of a sudden, I'm not used to being leered at or put under the microscope for inspection.  Suddenly, it gets all too much for me and I excuse myself and head outside for some air. Reaching the familiar street and look of the King's Road, I head towards a little cafe when the door opens and the voice of Jack heralds my pause.

"You have a habit of running away, don't you?"

I turn around, I really don't have time for this. "I was running off, there's a difference."

He folds his arms, which accentuates his biceps in his black blazer and baby blue shirt, "Really?"

"Yes, really. I don't like crowds and I certainly don't like attention..." I begin to say, but he's staring at me in a way that's making me feel slightly dizzy and I don't know if it's because he's absolutely still gorgeous from when I saw him in Sainsbury's a couple of weeks ago or that I am feeling the fringes of my claustrophobia.

"So, you're the Sainsbury's girl then?" it's more a comment then a question, "And it's a small world, isn't it?" Now that's a question. He comes closer towards me and is literally a few feet away, "We better have proper introductions then, I'm Jack McCalister and your full name is?"

"Jack McCalister, I'm Frederica St.Clair, it's nice to finally put a name to a face." I shake his hand as if we've agreed on a transaction, but the only transaction I want to face is a kiss perhaps, God, he has great hands.

"Likewise," he smiles, "By the way, you don't happen to be related to Freida St. Clair?"

Oh boy, why would this be any different... Freida St. Claire is my famous actress sister... and now I don't have a chance in hell.

Have You Ever: Prologue

PROLOGUE

Have you ever been in love with someone who doesn't love you back?

I have... and I still am...

The first time I saw Jack was in the cereal aisle of my local Sainsburys, I didn't know his name at the time because I had seen him teetering on the sidelines, debating on whether he should grab the Weetabix or meander to the dark side and grab a box of coco pops instead. I remember seeing the confusion on his face and as I dragged my trolley closer to him, I was struck down by how blue his eyes were.  The bluest I have ever seen and when his eyes met mine, something strange happened, I got butterflies.  What I said next, only added to the surreality of the whole situation.

"I always go for the Cheerios, multi-grain and you get a bit of both worlds," I offered.

He looks up at me and the butterflies inhabiting my stomach, seem to want to spread their wings and form a whirlwind, "Thanks, I'll keep that in mind," he replies.

"Well, to make it easier... you could always just get both and alternate in between days," I offer again.

He looks at me again and briefly smiles and then I find my feet and make my way out of the cereal aisle.  A chance encounter with the most gorgeous man I have ever seen.

It's only a few days later that I have to go to my local Sainsbury's to pick up a few items for some cupcakes I offer to make for a local community fundraiser and as I'm frantically scanning the over head signage for the baking section, I immediately collide into Jack as I'm turning the corner for that very aisle and our baskets smack into each other with an almighty crack and the contents of his, goes sprawling in every direction.  I see a can of baked beans rolling off towards another trolley and a pint of milk stationed abruptly next to the yogurt and bread. I'm frantically apologising and trying to get the items back into his basket when we both reach for the lettuce, the instantaneous spark of electricity shoots though my arm and I pull away as if I've had an electric shock and he looks at me as if he knows that feeling but what he says next, completely dissipates that illusion.

"Watch where you're going, will you!" he says annoyed.

I'm taken a back, I wasn't quite expecting that outburst.  I don't like confrontations and I'm one of those girls that aren't witty with comebacks, so I just walk away... but that's not all... in my haste in walking away, I leave my purse on the floor and it's picked up... only I don't know it is... until I'm at the check out.

"That'll be twenty five pounds six pence please," the cashier looks at me, unsmiling.  

Only then does it dawn on me that I put my purse in my basket and it's not there anymore, I'm frantically patting my jeans, jacket and the entire extent of my body looking for it and then there's the never ending queue...

"I believe this is yours?" and there he is standing to the side of me. I thank him profusely, before I hand over the cash and grab my shopping bags heading quickly for the exit.

Run & Hide

Epilogue
Belonging

In the aftermath of Ruby's ordeal, Felix Stowe was sentenced to twenty years imprisonment for participating and being an accomplice to Christopher Lewis and would not be allowed parole.  Christopher Lewis received a far severe sentence, as the police had uncovered, he had killed other missing heiress to other fortunes and that Ruby had been luckier then them all.  Christopher, with no hope of getting out, eventually confessed to his crimes of sadistic torture, use of illegal drugs and murder and other degrees. He would be serving life in jail for the rest of his life. 

Don Lee Carlton made sure, he never came out again and processed all of Christopher Lewis' wealth to those families who had not been so lucky.

Romano's Restaurante rose from the ashes, was renovated in plush terracotta red with imported Italian interiors.  It was also the place where Javier went down on one knee and proposed to Ruby, where she had burst into tears and finally through her hiccups accepted, to a bounteous applause of the whole restaurant.

A Couple of Months Later...


Ruby looked at the glittering diamond on her left hand and the white gold band that nestled beneath it.  She couldn't contain her happiness on such a monumental day.  Together with her father and her extended family, the Romano's, she finally belonged somewhere.  She looked up at her husband Javier Romano and caught him staring at her.  He was dressed solely in a black suit, a pristine white shirt and tie and her heart skipped a beat, he was the most attractive man she had ever seen and he was her husband.

He drew her in his arms and kissed her affectionately with erupting applause from their families, they turned to walk down the aisle as Mr and Mrs Romano. It was a beautiful day and they had chosen to get married in Lake Como in the Villa Carlotta and it they couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day.

"You are absolutely beautiful Mrs Romano," Javier said, not letting her go and grinning from ear to ear.

"Why, thank you Mr Romano," Ruby replied with a smile.

"I have a little gift you, Rubes... just stay there, I'll be back," Javier said disappearing and then coming back with a long blue velvet case, "This is for you, my love... open it."

Javier watched his wife as she opened the clasp of the gold locket that shone in the light, it had their initials engraved on the front and deep within him, he couldn't help but feel so complete.

"Oh wow, there's a photo of everyone here... you, me side by side and as are my father and mother..." her face dropped and Javier's heart did too.

"What's the matter Rubes?" Javier asked, clasping her shoulders and looking intently into her eyes.

Ruby smiled as she looked up at him, "There should be a space for your daughter or son when they arrive- I'm pregnant Javier."

Javier was speechless, did he hear correctly? Was she telling him that he was going to be a father as well as a husband? He couldn't contain his utmost joy at the news and he swung her around, to the laughter of their news, "I'm so happy Rubes, I really am... let's go tell our family..."

They held each other for a couple of minutes and strode towards their wedding reception and to the people they loved.

Run & Hide

Chapter 12
Grief Stricken

Don met Javier in the foyer of the Lee Carlton mansion, the sun was rising in the east, spraying the hills and the surrounding area with it's shine.  Don was dressed up in a red velvet robe, with black pyjamas and wore comfy gentleman slippers.  He saw Javier dressed up in jeans and a shirt and wondered what was so urgent that he had been woken up from sleep, but he came to a conclusion that it had to do with Ruby. 

"Where would Ruby go if she were to escape from it all?" Javier demanded.

"Might you explain to me what the hell is going on?" Don demanded back.

"She was attacked in her own home..." Javier growled, "By Christopher Lewis and Felix Stowe."

"What!?" Don replied, "You must be mistaken..."

"I'm never mistaken..." Javier replied, "Now, you have to tell me, where she would go... where she would feel safe?"

"Dear God, poor Ruby..." Don sank down against the ornate table standing in the middle of the foyer.

"I need you to tell me where I can find her... if I can't find my answers from you, I'll get them from someone else Don," Javier said becoming impatient.

"She's probably gone to her mother's cottage up in the Cotswold's, it's been untouched for years but that would be where she would be... to be closer to her mother, where she's buried," Don rubbed his temple, "It's the cottage that sits between the valley between the century old oak tree, you can't miss it. That is where she would be. I can't think of anywhere else."

"Great, thanks," Javier turned for the door.

"You're in love with my daughter, aren't you?" Don asked.

Javier stopped in his tracks and looked over his shoulder, "I have to find her, she's all that I care for right now." And he stormed out.

"I'll take that as a yes, then," Don said to the silence.

***

Ruby stopped and sat down on the side of the road, she was engulfed with emotion and she couldn't stop trembling.  Her feet could no longer carry her, she had blisters on her feet and she was tired, hungry and she wanted nothing more then to be in the cottage.  Through fear and adrenaline she had run some miles but she couldn't do it any more, it was too far and she couldn't understand what had compelled her to start running.  Her head fell into her hands as she let the tears fall down.  She cried for her treatment, her pain, she cried for her mother, her father and she cried for escape.  Her eyes felt like they could turn to water now.  She felt like a wreck. She didn't want to hitch hike, she couldn't contemplate being in another situation with a stranger, she couldn't be there. She would just have to wait until her feet cooled down and the achenes in her muscles subsided before she made another attempt.

She sat staring at the view of the rolling hills and the sun all aglow and remembered times she spent in Tuscany as a child and as a grown woman.  She would like nothing more then to be there now, a place where she was untouched, a place where she could be herself without the regular pressures of life. She made a mental note to go and visit again. She sat on the road, away from the traffic and the tiredness was kicking in, she can't fall asleep, not here but her eyes had other ideas.  Her eye lids shuttered down like falling blinds and her head slowly drifted to the floor and the blackness swarmed her.

Javier was two thirds of the way, when something caught his eye.  He slowed on the main road and when he etched closer, his heart leaped into his mouth. It can't be. No! He heard himself shouting to anyone.  He did an illegal U-turn and parked a few feet away, got out of his car and run towards the motionless body lying on the side of the road. It was Ruby.  He touched her face and she was cold, weather beaten by the elements. He feared the worst, that she had died all alone by the side of the road.  Suddenly, her eyes opened slightly and she focused on him,

"Javier is that you?"

"Yes it is me, Rubes," he answered her, cuddling her closer to him. He felt her tremble and he swept her up in his arms and walked over to the car, "You're safe now and I'm going to take you home."

***

Javier had called her father and told him he had found Ruby and they had arrived at her mother's cottage a little over an hour ago.  Her father had announced, he would be cancelling his schedule and was taking the helicopter down there to see her after he sorted out Lewis and Stowe at the police station.  Javier could tell there was worry in the tone of the man's voice, as well as anger and betrayal. He hung up the phone and sat on the couch opposite Ruby's bed, she had been asleep since he had found her on the mile stretch road on his way to the Cotswold's.  He rubbed his forehead and took a deep breathe, but he was more relieved then anything to have found her back.  What had gotten into her, to think that she could run all the way here? But anyone in her shoes would have done the same thing- it was the thought of survival, she didn't know whether Christopher or Felix would be after her, so she'd fled but he'd made a silent vow to himself, that he wouldn't let any harm come to her, not now, not ever.  Or however long she wanted to have him around. Javier sat up, when he heard Ruby stir in her sleep.  She blinked her eyes open and her gaze slowly found his.  She sat up and touched her head.

"Are they... have they..." she stammered, not wanting to comprehend his answers but having to ask anyway. 

He was by her side before she could even think about it, "They are being charged as we speak, your father is with Ryker at the police station- both Christopher and Felix are not going to see the light of day."

She nodded in confirmation, "Thank you Javier."

"You have nothing to thank me for," he replied, touching her cheek, "And I must say, I'm very impressed by how you managed to tackle them and lock them up in your own house."

"They didn't try to escape?" she asked.

Javier watched her, despite the ordeal she had been through, he couldn't help but think, how beautiful she looked and he wanted nothing more but to kiss her and make sweet love to her, "They couldn't, you were like a tornado, you left destruction in your wake. They were too battered to even contemplate making an escape, great thinking with locking them in."

Ruby smiled, "I'm glad," she exhaled, "What's the damage on your family's restaurant?"

"Burnt to the ground, only the door is still standing," Javier replied, "There's one more thing... it was Felix and Christopher who started the fire."

"I know," her eyes became distant, "It was to distract you... so they could get to me... I'm so sorry Javier, I really am... let me pay for the damages."

"It's not your fault Ruby, none of this is your fault... those two bastards, those two sadistic bastards are to blame and don't worry, my family have been planning to renovate for quite some time now, better time then ever..." Javier laughed, to lighten the mood, "So you don't owe me or my family anything."

"I'm hungry, is there anything edible to eat?" Ruby asked.

"There's plenty, I restocked whilst you were asleep, let me get you some soup."

Ruby watched Javier walk towards the kitchen, she laid back down and closed her eyes, she could definitely get used to this.  Javier fit perfectly in this set up, but did he feel the same way she felt about him. Once she was back to her normal self, she would ask him or at least try to broach the feeling to him. How was she meant to broach love to him, when she knew that now, that the killers were caught, his protection of her would now be coming to an end and she would never see him again. That feeling of loneliness hit her like a dumbbell.  She could do loneliness, she had been lonely for so long, she had become accustomed to it, like an old friend but could she face loneliness now that Javier had been in her life and was going to be out of it.

"You have your thinking face on, anything I can help you with?" Javier asked, sitting the bowl of soup onto a lap tray with some bread and a glass of water, "So, what's up Rubes?"

"When will you be leaving me?" she asked plainly.

"Trying to get rid of me already?" Javier quipped.

Ruby shook her head and suddenly, Javier was kissing her, his hands were in her hair and he was touching her cheeks, the kiss was tender but it was also desperate. Javier drew away.

"You were saying?" Javier smiled.

"I... um... I just wanted to know when you would be leaving?" Ruby said, putting the soup tray aside.

"That really depends on you, doesn't it?" he said, taking his seat on the bed beside her.

"On me?" Ruby replied.

"Yes, on whether you want me around," he smiled.

"Of course, I want you around... I want nothing more to have you around Javier, I love you, of course I want you with me," she said simply.

Javier watched Ruby with utmost precision, her proclamation of love wasn't what he had been expecting... at most, he had been expecting her to say she liked him, not to go all out with those three beautiful words, that were making his heart do somersaults and making the adrenaline course through his veins. He simply nodded.

"And how do you feel about me?" she asked.

Run & Hide

Chapter 11
Hiding

Javier got to his family's restaurant and the fire fighters had been working on keeping the fire under control since he received the call from his mother.  The fire was being contained but from the damage, he knew they'd have to rebuild everything from scratch.  Whoever started it, had done a pretty good job at completely destroying the place.  His mother's face distraught, buried in the chest of his father who was looking on in complete shock and disgust.  He couldn't possibly badger his family right now, so he directed his questions to the chief of police who was standing a few metres away.  He was a fairly tall guy, aged with service and was talking to the London Brigade henchman, when Javier approached, he cut to the chase.

"This is no accident, do we have any eye witnesses?" Javier stood in stance, hands on his hips.

"You must be Javier Romano, your father had informed me you're a specilised cop," the chief of police said nodding towards Javier.

"Yes that is correct, but I'm not here for small talk..." Javier said grimly.

"Of course," the man nodded, "One man, medium build, balding accompanied by another man a bit taller but far heavier approached the premises a few hours ago, carrying lighter fluid, our CCTV caught them in the process of torching the property... an eye witness tried to stop them...but got assaulted by them..."

"And where is the eye witness?" Javier said sternly.

"She's seated over there," the chief of police flicked his head behind him and Javier's gaze followed, there was a woman sitting on a stretcher outside an ambulance having stitches applied to her face.

"Did she get an ID on them?" Javier asked.

"As a matter of fact, something better..." and he withdrew a phone from his pocket and showed him the photo.

Javier only needed to glance at the photo to determine who it was and he ran towards his car which was parked behind the cordoned off street, he took out his mobile and dialled Ruby's landline only to get the machine, he tried her mobile but it had kept on ringing.  A shot of fear ran through the course of his veins as he realised the fire had been a way to distract him and that Ruby's life was in danger.  He called Ryker's number and he picked up on the first ring, "Ruby's house now." And hung up.

He drove like hell on wheels, having run three red lights to get to her.  He had a sinking feeling he wasn't going to like what he was going to find when he got there.  He barely parked his car as he bolted out of the drivers seat and towards the front door, but found the door a jar and it seemed that Ryker had already got there and was in the process of handcuffing Christopher and Felix.  Half of Felix's face was red and the skin peeled off and he sat handcuffed against the wall. Christopher was sporting a shiner and the kitchen was a mess.

"Where is she?" he growled.  He was met with silence. "I'll say this again but I'll only say it once, where is she?"

It was Felix that spoke up, "She ran off, locked us in here."

"Shut your mouth Felix..." yelled Christopher.

"I will not shut my mouth, if I did the planning, we wouldn't be in this fucking situation, this is all your fucking fault..." Felix yelled at Christopher.

"Shut your goddamn mouth Felix..." Christopher yelled, trying to usher forward but Ryker had chained him to the cupboard handle.

"Christopher, he's screwed up, he hates spoilt little rich kids, he hates that they use up the resources of their wealthy parents... and live extravagant lives without even lifting a finger... he wanted to torture Ruby...." Felix mouth spewed up the details making Christopher increasingly fucked off.

"Shut your mouth, you twerp... shut it, or I will shut it for you," Christopher shouted, hatred in his cold eyes.

"He wanted to torture Ruby, he had started to... but I couldn't bare to watch her suffer anymore... he kept pumping drugs into her, so she would forget, that her memory would be erased... but I couldn't allow him to do that to her... so I let her go... I let her escape..." Felix revealed.

"You traitor, you fucking traitor... you betrayed me... I had plans for her," Christopher yelled.

Above the noise, Javier spoke to Ryker giving him specific instructions when the police came to take them away and to contact chief of police as he had evidence. Javier walked into Ruby's room and started searching for clues to where she might have headed to.  He was relieved that her abductors had been caught, but he was worried about the state that she was in.  She had managed to lock them up in her own house and to cause them injury, so she couldn't have been too bad a state. He rifled through her things and then came across the locket in her drawer with a letter.  He opened the clasp to see a picture of her mother and then the letter.  He read it and put it back in the place he found it. He was going to have to pay her father a visit.

Ruby had been running for what seemed like forever, she wanted to give due credit to those who perish every year to run in Marathons because she was definitely feeling the effects of it now. She had been running since she had left the house and she hadn't stopped, mostly scared that they would catch up with her and she wanted as much space between them.  Her legs were aching now, but she was a strong runner, so she could do a couple more miles before she would have to stop.  What ached the most, was her heart.... she had fallen in love with Javier and was afraid he may never know, because no one knew of this place, just her, her mum and maybe her dad but he was a different person and well... something he chose to forget because they were happy memories. 

She wished for happy memories, more then anything.  She wished for memories of her childhood, of her mother but now that she had seen Felix and Christopher, the memories she thought she had forgotten were coming back one after the other. It was Christopher who had tortured her and it was Felix who had sat back and watched, the evil glint in their eyes as they proceeded to question her motives and pump wild drugs into her system.  They were the devil reincarnated, she wanted to be free of the memories, free of the pain and free of everything that had happened. She carried on running, she wanted to be there... she didn't care that she was running, she just wanted to get everything out of her system and if hiding was what she had to do, she would be the best.