Noelle was sparring with her new roommate. They were in a grappling position, and she had Bailey tightly restrained. Nate watched while he worked on his algebra homework.

"Sure you're a veer? 'Cause I thought you'd be stronger."

"Ha! That's music to my ears." Bailey replied

With a quick squint of her eyes, Noelle was sent flying backward. Bailey hovered over the injured girl.

"Strong enough for ya?"

"Adequate." She replied and reached up to grab her hand.

Bailey helped her up, and bowed respectfully

"I win, but you're okay....for a fighter."

"Thanks." Noelle's knee really felt the impact.

Nate noticed someone in the distance, and put his work aside. Noelle limped over to the unexpected figure. He was wearing a suit without a tie, and his hair was slicked back. He and his sister walked away to give them some space.

"Hey, Benji. You look nice."

"Hmm--hi." He said with disdain

"Something wrong?" She asked

"I don't like the name Benji." He watched her posture "You okay?"

"Fine. Don't change the subject, Ben."

"Okay, I'm takin' you home, Natt."

"What do you mean?"

"Your bodyguard contacted me today. I'm supposed to bring you to him."

"Does Sebastian know about this?"

"Yeah, I'll wait for you to get ready."

"I can't just leave them. They're my friends--even Bailey." She said

He chuckled. "Bailey doesn't have friends, she has acquaintances." He stated

She sighed with defeat. "Fine, gimme two minutes to say goodbye."

"I'll give you three." He said, she kissed his cheek and sprinted back inside.

[Did she just--?] He thought and headed for his vehicle.

Moments later, Ben and Noelle were sitting in the Jeep Wrangler. They were observing Giovanni from a safe distance. Being an Informer, Ben always kept his guard up. The guard wandered back and forth, while staring at his watch. Noelle reached for the door handle, but was stopped.

"What are you doin'? You said I was goin' home."

"True, but I never said when. My orders are to subdue Robert Cortelli, by ANY means necessary."

"You think my dad's here?"

"Oh, I know he is. He wants my head for takin' you. It would make the most sense to lure me here. I know from experience, that THIS is an ambush."

"What? Giovanni is here alone, don't be stupid."

"You're the stupid one,'cause the Muscle Men are closer than you think." Ben opened his door and walked around to grab hers. He carried the duffel bag and held her hand. He passed her his blaster for safekeeping. As they got closer, Giovanni glared at the sight of him.

"Bodyguard." Ben addressed him

"Informer." He replied

"So, how are doin' this? Unless this is a setup."

"What, you don't trust me?" Giovanni asked

"Dude, I don't trust my trigger happy hands." He said, Giovanni let out a chuckle.

With the nod of the guard's head, they were instantly surrounded by tall Associates wearing white.

"See I told you so." He whispered to Noelle.

"You okay, Boss?" Giovanni inquired

She looked at her knees. "Y-Yeah, I'm--"

"She's fine, not a single scratch." Ben interjected

"You got a lot of mouth for someone in your position."

"I've been in this position before, Dude." He squeezed her hand and gave her a look of calmness.

Giovanni waved his hand and the men surrounded them. Two of them pried Noelle from his gentle touch. The area was crowded by Black Minivans, he escorted her to the furthest one. When they opened the door, Noelle was shocked by who was there.

"M-Mom!?"

"Honey! I'm so glad your safe. Are you hurt anywhere?" Noelle was frantic

"Just my knee but, Mom! We have to help Ben! He didn't do anything wrong! They'll KILL him!"

"Calm down, honey. Ben will be fine, nothing's gonna happen."

"Y-You're sure?"

"I'm sure."

"Promise?"

"Cross my heart, honey." Noelle nodded and lay on her mother's lap. Robyn lifted her head to the chauffeur.

"Driver, take us home." She instructed, the conducteur did as he was told.

   The attendant stood closer to Ben. Giovanni walked toward him, and gave him a quick hit to his face. Ben lunged at him with a grunt, and soon the two were in a fight match. Giovanni groaned from the hard hit to his ribs. The men grabbed the Informer, and he fell unconscious from the hard blow to his head.

Soon Noelle had arrived home with her mother. She saw her father conversing something with Giovanni. She hadn't seen him since the reunion, but to see at home was a complete shock to her system; not to mention what happened to her protector's face.

"Dad?"

"Robert, what are yo up to now?" Robyn asked

"Hello, my lovely ladies! Natalia I'm glad your safe." He said, Giovanni nodded and headed outside.

"I am, thanks to Ben."

"Yes, Ben. Were you followed?"

"No, why would I b-?" Noelle was offended

"Your father's an obsessive paranoid hu-man. He's worried about your Ceremony." Robyn explained

"She's right, honey. You becoming the next Boss, as a woman--could cause a rebellion." He stated

Noelle clenched her fists. "The only reason I'm gonna be the next Boss, is because Byron--!"

They reacted when heard someone yell Get down. They stood back when the one of windows shattered. Shots from machine weapons were loud and quaking. Noelle's knee buckled, and she fell to the ground. Robert swooped his daughter into his arms, and quickly carried her through the back entrance.

"Mom!" Noelle reached toward her

"Don't fuss over me, honey I'll be fine!" Robyn shouted in the distance

He lifted her into a Black Sedan, Robert slid into one that was white. Giovanni was instantly by her side. He had her luggage already packed.

[Better not have touched my underwear!] She thought

"Giovanni, what's going on?"

"We're gettin' you outta harm's way, Boss."

"What happened to you? Where's Ben!?"

"You shouldn't worry about that. The Don has it all taken care of."

    Noelle closed her eyes. She always hated when someone said that about her father. It was a cryptic response, and it always meant the obvious: None of your business, or the classic Soon, someone will die/ is already dead. They soon passed a funeral site. There, was a family in mourning. Giovanni reacted before he was seen, his dive for the floor caught her attention.

"Dang! Get down, Boss!" He ordered in a whisper, Noelle went below next to him.

The motorist slowed down, out of respect for the family's loss. They watched the vehicle leisurely pass them, until it departed. Noelle sat back up with her protector.

"Who were they?"

"A family that was--"

"Don't tell me--'taken care of'?" She assumed, He nodded

The vehicle soon pulled up to the property.

"We're here, Boss." Noelle sat up and rubbed her knee. She was close enough to to get a better look, so much that she could breathe on her chauffeur's neck.

They arrived at what seemed like a mansion. She was confused, and was sure that she knew about all of her father's Residence's.

"Giovanni, where are we?"

"Your new home, apparently."

[WHAT?] She thought

She sighed and slumped back into her seat.

   The place was like an ancient building. The walls were old bricks, and the roof caving in. As the driver shifted closer, she could see her father, Robert. He was carrying some boxes with her name on them. Giovanni unlocked the door for her, and accompanied her up the stairway. He directed her to a closed door. With her suitcase and duffel bag in one hand, he turned the doorknob with the other. Noelle stepped inside, her lookout walked behind her and placed her luggage on the ground. She looked at him with confusion and anger, but he ignored it.

"Thank you. Now, what's going on? Why am I here!?" Giovanni nodded politely and walked away.

Noelle followed him but he stopped her by locking the door. She pounded on the entrance constantly, she jiggled the handle and started yelling.

"Where's Ben! What did you to him!" There was silence on the receiving end.

Noelle was getting tired of being ignored, so she sat down on her new furniture. She didn't recognize anything in the room, not even the comfortable bed. She wanted to reach out, but her Receiver was still with Ben. Ben, the Informer who she cared for, the man she'd always want, and the one who was nowhere to be found. She went through her bags to find a change of clothes. After fighting with Bailey, and the relentless sweating, she was desperate for a shower. She gave the door handle one more try, and with a twist the exit quickly opened. A man had his back to her, but he turned around. She rubbed her knee again.

"Giovanni, good it's you. I need you to move over a little."

"I can't do that. Sorry, Boss."

"But--I REALLY need a shower."

"My orders are to keep you in here, until the Don says otherwise." Noelle rolled her eyes.

"And where is the Don?"

"He's in a meeting."

"Th-Then let me talk to him" She tried to squeeze passed him

He grabbed her shoulders. "I could get in trouble for that, Natalia."

"No worries, I'll be your defense." She wiggled about in his grasp. "Now, PLEASE let me speak with him." He released her, and she took a hard step backward.

"No, you might interrupt him. You can take your shower now, but I'll be watching the door. Now hurry up."

Noelle smiled and gathered her things, she took off her favorite hoop earrings.