Marie loaded the last of their things into the moving truck.  This cross-country move was going to be cheap, but Sal's smuggling operations afforded them enough to purchase the truck.

"Whew," she dusted her hands off and dragged her forearm across her forehead to wipe the glisten off.  It was a rather humid day even for Miami.  Closing the doors up, she went back into the house to get a drink and see how Sal was doing.

"How's it coming love?" she asked as she walked to the kitchen sink used one of those paper cups they had picked up just for this day so as not to have to worry about washing dishes before the move.

Sal walked up behind his love and wrapped his arms around hugging her tight. They had a long trip in front of them. His cousin Don Luca had tried for a long time to get Sal to join the family, but Sal had chosen to build his operations in Miami instead. After the fall of his cousin in a recent war, Sal lost a friend and his protection. While not in the family Don Luca looked out for him. 

"Things are just about done. The last of our stuff is loaded and I have finished the business that needed to be handled," he told her before turning her around and kissing her. 

"This will be good for us. With the fall of Luca, we no longer have the safety we once had" he tells her with a smile. 

"Plus LA will not be as humid as Miami I think."

Marie smiled and stole another kiss.  They were still newlyweds and often showed affection to each other on a regular basis.  

"Trading one coast for the other.  Though I hear there is less chance of hurricanes on that coast.  That is one thing I will be very happy about."  She reached behind her and with a little help from Sal sat herself on the counter top and reached to pull him to her.  She smirked at him playfully.  "Are you sure you are going to be good driving that big truck all the way?  We could hire a driver."

"We could..." he said giving her a mischievous look. 

"But whats the fun of that. It's a great chance for us to see the country have some fun and maybe get into some trouble along the way," he tells her with a big grin. 

He pulls her in and kisses her before she can respond. They were young in love and always down to get into some trouble. 

"I am looking forward to the future, But I would like to have some fun before we have to take on that responsibility." 

She grinned and wrapped her arms and legs around him.  "I have to admit that does seem like a lot of fun.  Just you, me, the open road.  I have never been past the Mississippi before."  She cocked her head at a thought.  "I wonder if they party there like we know how to party here?  We just might have to teach them how to do it."

She chuckled and kissed him again.

"There is only one way to find out" he chuckles and kisses her again 

Sal picks her up and sets her back down on the floor. Smacks her on butt before saying 

"Let's go find out, its time to hit the road."

They walk out and head to the truck he opens the door and lets her before going around and hopping in the driver seat. They took one last look at there little house and headed off down the road. 

"So what do we want to stop and see on the way there?" he asks. 

Marie got excited,  "One of the things I want to see are the Spook Lights on the state border between Oklahoma and Missouri.  I have heard that it is not far from Route 66 so it should be on our way.  I read an article in the newspaper about it a few month back.  Supposedly it is a ghost or something.  How about you?  What is something you want to see?"  She grinned and settled in for the drive.

Reaching down she turned on the radio and dialed it to some big band music.

Sal looked at her and smiled 

"Oh I want to see what you look like under those lights... all of you that is." he said to her. 

"I Just really want to see the route 66 with my girl." he tells her

"Well we got a few days until we reach the Mother Road."  Marie pulled out a map she had put in the glove box and opened it up.  "With as late of a start as we are getting I doubt we will get past Orlando.  If I wasn't so afraid of driving this huge vehicle, we could try to pull an all-nighter."

She tucked a strand of hair back behind her ear.  She lightly bit the corner of her mouth in concentration as she studied the map.

"I figured we would stop in Orlando and rest up and head out in the morning," he said before he reached over to her

"You and me babe I want you always by my side. We have to stick together in this thing."

Sal kept driving and thinking. This was his cousin's life they were getting into. He knew enough of the life to know what they were getting into. Family, Respect, Honor, and loyalty were the keys to making it in this life. He had contacts in LA from his business and from his cousin and reached out after the war. Now they where on their way out there he knows they will only have each other until they prove themselves. 

"You know we avoided this life when Luca was around. He had our backs but now we don't have a choice. I know it a big change babe and one we avoided but I think it will be great in the end." he told her. 

"Yes my Aunt Gemma was not happy when mom told her the news.  She has already lost a daughter and a niece.  She is worried she will lose another niece, but we will be fine."  She smiles at Sal.  "As long as we have each other, we will be just fine."  She hoped that she sounded more sure than she felt.  It was difficult moving to a different town, with different people, and a different culture.  

She remembered something and looked down at the map again.  Her mother had told her over the phone that her cousin Frankie had also lost her husband during the most recent war.  She had not see Frankie in many years, but maybe she should reach out.  She would be a total wreck if something was to happen to Sal.

He drove for a while and when they hit Orlando he found a nice hotel for them to stay in. He opened the back and grabbed their overnight bags before heading in and checking in to their room. He got their keys and they headed up. Once in the room he took and put the bags down before heading over to the wall safe and opening it. 

"Hey put that package in here," he tells her. 

  He was referring to the envelope that had stuck a lot of money in for their new boss. It was a lot of them and took him a lot of work and selling his contacts to get together but one thing Luca had taught him was money speaks. And he wanted to start them off right. 

"I don't want to risk anything with that," he said. 

Marie looked like a stunned deer.  "Package?  What package?"

Sal looks sharply at her... 

"You better be fucking with me." he says sharply. 

She laughed.  "Of course I am.  Did you seriously believe I would misplace THAT much cash?  It is in the side pocket, here."  She reached down into the pocket and pulled the envelope out to hand it to Sal.  Then she began to take out a set of clothes for each of them so that they could hang over night and be ready for them in the morning.  She saw to all the things a dutiful wife should do.

"What time do you want me to set the alarm for?"

Sal took the envelope and set in the safe closed it an locked it. Then he turned and quickly ran over to Marie and tackled her to the bed. He pinned her hands above her head.

"Don't ever do that again?" he tells before kissing her still keeping her pinned. 

"I slept great I was worn out," he said to her with a wink. 

He sat had some coffee and enjoyed the food. Then they packed up and he handed her the package for safe keeping. Then they headed back to the truck and headed back on the road. The next day was much more of the same except they actually set an alarm first. The drive was long but good and the weather was nice. When the approached the Oaklohoma Missouri boarder Sal stopped and picked up a nice tent and sleeping bags for them and they stopped in an open field and set up camp to watch the lights. He laid out blankets so they can lay out and enjoy the nice weather and watch the lights. 

Sal pulled her in close and held her tight as they laid there waiting for the light show to begin. 

"Don't worry they are far away from us," he said laying there

They stared up at the sky as the light show started. He didn't know what they were exactly but it was pretty cool to watch. after it had been going for a few min he rolled on to his side and started kissing Marie.