Isabella pulled up to Elias' building in the very early hours of the morning dressed very inconspicuously.  She'd ditched her bodyguards, they would be in a panic by now but her Dad was well aware of what was going on.  Elias had been right - it was best she informed Salvatore of what she was doing even if she didn't ask his help.  In fact, her father was grateful and grumbled something almost nice about Elias before listing off the things he'd do to her friend if he failed to keep her safe.

The thing was, they needed her men to think she ran off... she couldn't let them know she intended to spend the day investigating all three of their movements since they'd arrived in the Motor City.  To do that, they were going to the places they men spent their time when they weren't up her ass so far she couldn't breathe.

Sal, begrudgingly had allowed Elias to be her only line of protection today.  She prayed to God quickly that nothing went wrong, lest Elias end up on the wrong side of her father's rage again.

She waited outside her car waiting for Elias to come downstairs and outside to join her.

Elias, hadn't slept since the incident involving the boat & ending up in the Detroit lake..He'd spent hours washing, trying to get the lake smell out of his body, and hair.. after numerous attempts... he believed he'd finally got there, but just to make sure he sprayed some famous cologne on his person.. He noticed Isabella's car pull up outside his apartment right on time, the sun hadn't even risen, yet Elias & Isabella were ready to start a long, and dubious day. It wasn't going to be pretty, but they needed to investigate Tim, Tiny & Nails. Elias was convinced that it was Nails, however he knew from Isabella's reaction - that she may of had different feelings all together, maybe it was none of them? Maybe Elias was completely wrong, and it wasn't any of her bodyguards. But truth be told, he had to find out who it was, and quickly. He was conscious of his reputation, especially to Don Salvatore, and he'd also have some making up to do with Isabella after their fight last night. Albeit with him still believing he was in the right, as she felt so too..

Elias put on his black hat, black coat, pot on his polished shoes before going downstairs, out in the cold morning and got in Isabella's car, still unsure how he would be received..'good morning my dear - as he kissed her hand; I've brought out an extra scarf for you this morning..it's cold out!'

'So....where's the first stop...? I'm ready to catch some vermin..!'

"I know my dad is looking into Tiny and Tim... so that means we either need to prove Nails is innocent or get to the bottom of it and be done with him."  she looks down.  "I hope we're wrong.  I really want him to be innocent of this nonsense... but if it isn't him, who could bit be?"

She walks around the car to the driver's side.  "No matter what the truth is, I've fucked up.  Either I hired a guy who turned on me... or I was sloppy enough in hiding a body that I got caught.  This is the second time inside a two week period that I've fucked up on an epic level.  I fear this isn't looking good for me.  What sort of hopeless mobster must my father take me for?"

She gets into the car and once Elias is inside she starts the engine.  "So I was thinking maybe we need to look closer at Neil's past and the people who know him.  Unless you got some other ideas?  I mean, I'm open to hearing from you on this one... you are the more experienced of the two of us."

Elias took the hand of Isabella...'my dear please don't say that. You're not hopeless. Sometimes we can't see things that are obvious, and in front of our very eyes...sometimes it takes someone from the outside to give observations on what they see. That's why I came to you about Neil...it'll be interesting to see what Don Salvatore can find out about Tiny & Tim - that's for sure..'

Elias looked at Isabella who was still clearly overthinking things in her head, the potential of disappointing her father was still clear to see, after all she'd not been in the underworld for long, mistakes happened to them all, but on this occasion Elias felt that no mistakes had been made, and they must set the record straight once and for all..

'So my dear, what do we have on Neil at the moment, you've told me about his sick mother, and the street on which he grew up, but lets go into financials here, lets separate the man from the payment currently. How much of your income is he taking? Have you noticed anything weird lately? A new lady in his life maybe? A new watch, or a car? Anything that doesn't add up to what you're paying him, which could potentially show some additional, un-accounted for money is lurking around?

'Again, I'm just thinking out loud here, but it could be a good place to start, oh and before I forget..I got you something' - Elias pulled out a wrapped up gift box in gold paper, tied with a red bow. Isabella unwrapped it to find her favourite perfume; Bellodgia Caron inside..'Look there's no hard feelings about yesterday, this is just a way of me saying sorry, for being such an asshole' to you..'

"I lost my temper."  she admitted.  "If I had kept a level head maybe we would have kept a level boat."  she said pulling out the perfume and immediately putting some on.  

"I can't believe you figured out what kind I liked just from the memory of the smell... you have some sniffer on you Mr. Landucci."  She winked at him.

"Well, ahem, as for Neil - I pay him well enough.  And I do look after his money a bit.  I don't want him running his mother into the poor house after all so I'm sure I'd notice him spending or earning cash I can't account for.  Unless, of course, he has another bank account.  Do you suppose there is a way we can look into his mother or his names at other banks?"

'It's fine, we're both fiery at times, it was the first, but it won't be the last...you smell great by the way!'

'I do have a connect within the financial district. The Detroit Central bank is ran by Wes Roberto...he's on my take, I've had to put a lot of illegitimate money away, without the wrong people looking into my own details. Do you understand what i'm saying? Sometimes I do things on order from Don Salvatore..you've seen enough of my life to know that not much of money is legal and can be accounted for. So he's been working alongside me for a long time, he's loyal, purely because he knows if he ever crossed me...i'd put a bullet in his head..he's trustworthy, but only as trusting as bankers can be I suppose. I have to pay him 15% of the cash, after my kick up to the Don. So it's a good arrangement..'

'But what I'm getting at is this, if there's something to be found in any 'secret' accounts - Wes will be the man to find it, but the bank doesn't open until 09:00, and we've got three and a half hours to kill..'

Isabella thinks a moment, "Have you eaten breakfast?  We could go out to breakfast, some little greasy spoon in the middle of no where.  Somewhere we're not likely to be recognized."  She angles her head in such a way to peak out at him through her dark hair coyly.  "Maybe out of the family's turf?  Unless you'd rather we find other things to occupy our time with?"

'You know what my dear, when you look at me like that. There's nothing that I wouldn't do! I totally agree though..let's get just drive far out of the city, I'm hungry beyond belief, all of that pond water put me off my appetite last night, I haven't slept so a large fry up would go down well...my treat!' Elias chuckled to himself, whilst dreading that the pond smells were still lurking on his person, the last thing he wanted was to stink out Isabella's car and leave a bad impression..

Isabella drove them out of Detroit and into the growing suburb of Warren.  It was a charming community with the sweetest little homes where many affluent white men and women who worked in Detroit were raising families.  She thought about stopping there, but no, she wanted to go further away so she kept driving eventually ending up in Auburn Hills.  

She and Elias chatted about the crew and recent events, it was quite pleasant, until after a third left turn Isabella confirmed her suspicion.  "Elias,"  She said a bit more serious.  "Do you see that Duesenberg behind us?  I'm sure that bastard is following us and I know that's not one of my father's men."

Elias was very much enjoying being out with Isabella on sun an early morning drive, the sceneries were beautiful, and he one day imagined himself living in Warren one day..it had a quaint characteristic about it.. however his mind soon came back to reality from the clouds when Isabella mentioned about a car she was convinced with tailing them both. Elias looked behind through the rear glass when he saw the silhouette of a man, very broad shouldered and wearing a top hat.. Although Elias didn't recognise what was currently a shadow, with the sun starting to rise it wouldn't be long before their identity would be revealed..

'My dear please carry on the route you wish to take, maybe put a couple of diversions in along the way. but we'll sort this out once and for all...' Elias pulled out the revolver from his jacket pocket and held it steady, just in case there was more company arriving soon too, however one tail Elias would be more than capable of taking out, he'd done worse...and there were in the middle of nowhere, with no witnesses for miles.. Elias asked Isabella to pull over instead, so he could confront this son of a bitch straight away, as Isabella pulled over he got out the car, charging towards the shadowy figure, waiting to see who the fuck was brave enough to follow them both in the first place.

Isabella left any sight of civilization.  Rural roads to the north of the city and her tail showed no signs of leaving them.  This, of course, was deeply concerning.  They had to know she knew they were there by now... who would go to this trouble?  As soon as Elias instructed her to pull over she did so, and her eyes went wide noticing the tail did the same.

"Sweet Jesus..."  she muttered under her breath.  She reached into her purse and pulled out the gun that Salvatore had given to her on their trip together.  She hadn't used it on that night, but she might have to do so now.

Elias was off like a shot the second he was out of the car, Isabella wasn't so reckless.  She pulled her gun ducking behind her car door, preparing to shoot the man if a gun appeared.  Instead the man put his hands up, it didn't stop Elias' from connecting with him.  Fists came raining down on the man who wasn't fighting back - instead he kept insisting he just wanted to talk.  Finally yelling out, "I'M HERE TO HELP, BELLA!"  

She knew that voice!  Isabella lowered her gun and came around the car calling out, "Mattie?"  Elias was pounding the ever loving SHIT out of Matteo Giovanni.  She broke into a run.  "ELIAS STOP!  STOP IT!  PLEASE!"

She found herself grabbing onto Elias' arms, a futile attempt to stop his muscular form from destroying the handsome face of her childhood beau; but Elias was already yielding and standing at the order of his crew's Left Hand Man.

Isabella came down to the ground beside the man who's face was a mess of blood and his trademark smirk, "Molto tempo, non ci vediamo, bello."

She half-laughed, but the exasperation and confusion painted on her face said it all.  This WASN'T really funny... it was a collision of her two lives, the one before the mafia and the one after.  It was a terrible mess.

Mattie reached inside his jacket and Isabella's instincts repressed her urge to trust the boy she once knew, in favor of protecting herself from the man he might have become.  Isabella drew her weapon up on him.  "STOP."  She ordered, her tone was as hard as steel.  

"I was just reaching for my wallet... my gun is on my back."  He said.

She looked to Elias, "Stand him up.  Take his gun."

Elias didn't hesitate, roughly pulling him up to his feet and patting him down for weapons.  A pocket knife, an extra clip and a standard issue gun of a ... g-man?!?  It was now that Isabella realized how he was dressed, the car he was driving... all of it screamed that he was with the government.  He was an agent for the FBN and the wallet which Elias pulled out of his jacket, verified that fact.

She thrust her gun at him, never seeing the photo of Matteo & Isabella at Coney Island Boardwalk which Ellias paused to look at inside the wallet.  It had been taken just 5 years ago, when they'd been seriously seeing one another.

"You're tailing me?!?"

"You're in danger."  Matteo tried to assure her.  His tone suggested he knew damn well that she might kill him regardless of their past, he was frantic to make her understand he was here to help not hurt her.

"From your lot - I can't believe you work for them!?!"

"It's not what you think, Bella... it's much more complicated, please, trust me and hear me out."

Elias, picked a clearly shaken Matteo up from the floor, in as much gentlemanly respect that he was prepared to show him, he dusted off his jacket and pulled both side ends, to at least give the shape back into the coat.. 'you'll have to forgive the whole ramping rage, after what Isabella & I have been through the past few days, everyone that comes near us is out to get us, for all it seems anyway.'

'Isabella & yourself have obviously shared some deep & intimate moments, I can tell a genuine happy face when I see one..and the camera never lies' before Elias tucked the photo back into the wallet..'however that was then, this is a completely different world now, she is a different person so if you think for one moment that I won't put a bullet in your head right now if she asks me too, that you're going to live anymore than 5 minutes. Being in bed with the FBN, the very people who are trying to pin shit on her with no evidence what so ever..I guess you're involved with that Agent Gerard fool. Because let me tell you now, it's going to end badly for him. No harm is coming to Isabella, not today, not tomorrow - hell not ever.'

Matteo was finally allowed to speak, albeit for not very long due to Elias still pointing his gun directly at him...'Yes I am, FBN - but this is just a secondment role. Gerard approached me a few weeks ago, I'm nothing but a PD in Manhattan..I get back, make a quick buck and live my life, one day the next. Agent Gerard came to me, offered me an almost unbelievable opportunity, he said the agency were looking for experience in investigating..that he had a huge target to take down in Detroit, it was only when he produced the photographs that shook both Elias & Isabella to the core..one was a snap of Don Salvatore, the other of Isabella..

'You've got to me fucking kidding me' Isabella screamed out, as the tears started rolling down her face. Elias hit the roof at seeing Isabella cry, let alone something which proved there was a large operation to take down the Dons Empire..'YOU BETTER EXPLAIN THIS SHIT IN THE NEXT 10 SECONDS BEFORE I SHOOT YOUR ASS' screamed Elias as he whacked the butt of his pistrol over Matteo's head..

'Gerard is all over you both, he offered me a 3 month contract in the FBN, said if I took you down with evidence...that if I could get to you..I could work in Detroit, heading up one of his divisions, and a shit tonne of cash for bonus...but...but I couldn't do that to you, I know we ended badly, you broke my heart...but it doesn't mean I'm not going to give you a heads up...'

Elias looked at Isabella who was still an emotional wreck from hearing what Matteo was saying...'so what are we going to do with this punk ass bitch?' As he cocked back his revolver ready to strike...

'Isabella & yourself have obviously shared some deep & intimate moments, I can tell a genuine happy face when I see one..and the camera never lies'

Isabella winced ever so slightly.  She would have told Elias about the romances of her past when they got close enough for such disclosures, sure, but this had forced things forward a bit faster than she'd hoped to move.  This would definitely be a discussion later, she was sure.
 

'however that was then, this is a completely different world now, she is a different person so if you think for one moment that I won't put a bullet in your head right now if she asks me too, that you're going to live anymore than 5 minutes. Being in bed with the FBN, the very people who are trying to pin shit on her with no evidence what so ever..I guess you're involved with that Agent Gerard fool. Because let me tell you now, it's going to end badly for him. No harm is coming to Isabella, not today, not tomorrow - hell not ever.'

She could see how serious Elias was, the tone in his voice, the fire in his eyes... he would kill for her.  She had no doubt of it and perhaps better still - he'd bleed for her too (and not just at the hands of her father.)  Her dad had Elias all wrong.
 

'Yes I am, FBN - but this is just a secondment role. Gerard approached me a few weeks ago, I'm nothing but a PD in Manhattan..I get back, make a quick buck and live my life, one day the next. Agent Gerard came to me, offered me an almost unbelievable opportunity, he said the agency were looking for experience in investigating..that he had a huge target to take down in Detroit, 

"You've got to be FUCKING kidding me!"  Isabella exclaimed, emotion was overwhelming her.  It was one thing to think about the FBN coming after her relentlessly, or her father for that matter, but to have hunted down and recruited her childhood love for his help!?!
 

'YOU BETTER EXPLAIN THIS SHIT IN THE NEXT 10 SECONDS BEFORE I SHOOT YOUR ASS' screamed Elias as he whacked the butt of his pistol over Matteo's head.

Isabella snapped out her fear and self-pity as Elias unleashed his anger on Mattie again, but to his credit - the agent kept his wits and kept talking.  It was respectable considering the position he'd put himself in.
 

'Gerard is all over you both, he offered me a 3 month contract in the FBN, said if I took you down with evidence...that if I could get to you..I could work in Detroit, heading up one of his divisions, and a shit tonne of cash for bonus...but...but I couldn't do that to you, I know we ended badly, you broke my heart...but it doesn't mean I'm not going to give you a heads up...'

He had said yes.  Of course he had, that was why he was here and that hurt more than she knew how to say.  Even if he'd decided to turn on the FBN, he'd said yes which meant he'd given himself the opportunity to betray her.  He was at least, in theory, willing to do it if he should ever have a good enough offer.  Gerard's current offer hadn't hit the mark... but what if it eventually did?

Elias looked at Isabella who was still an emotional wreck from hearing what Matteo was saying...'so what are we going to do with this punk ass bitch?' As he cocked back his revolver ready to strike...

She lifted her arm, eyes still locked on Mattie, and put her hand on Elias' forearm urging him to lower his gun.  She could see the relief in Mattie's eyes as Elias complied.

Calming herself, pushing down her emotions so deep that they felt as though they belonged to someone else she explained, "I need more than your good word.  I need proof that you're in with him Mattie & that you're valuable.  I need something to take back to Don Luciano or he's going to kill you." 

"I can give you a rat in your operation."

She let her eyes drift to Elias quickly and then returned her eyes to her ex-boyfriend.  "That will earn my father's trust, if it pans out."  She thinks about it a moment, nodding to herself.  "Yes... for that kind of information my father would forgive quite a lot I think."

She offered her hand to Mattie to help him up to his feet.  

"Thank you."  His body came up so near to her own she could feel the familiar warmth of him, this man to whom she'd given such priceless things as could never be reclaimed.  A part of her could almost imagine him wrapping his arms around her, pulling her tight into his embrace and then kissing her passionately as he use to do for hours on end.

"Now..."  She swallowed, "Who's betraying my family?"

"Do you know someone called Antonio Romano?"

"I might.  It's a common enough name."  She didn't want to reveal that she damn well DID know exactly who Mattie was talking about and she wanted to race to her father's side immediately to warn him about his beloved driver; but she had to see this through first.

"He was with your father a few days ago, at the Ford Motor Plant.  He told Gerard he saw your father kill a man, a man you'd been talking with when they'd arrived, but the Agent convinced him that it would be better if he'd seen you do it.  He wants you to flip.  Thought he could put the screws to you better & a whole slew of big fish... he figured your father would never do it, even if he did have him on murder."

"Well, you don't have to worry."  She said honestly.  "Gerard has been handled."

"Gerard is a dog with a bone, Bella."  He stepped closer to her.  "He wants your Dad and he's not giving up.  Even if you did manage to get rid of him, or throw him off your trail, he's just a cog in the bigger machine.  The FBN will keep coming and if you don't have eyes on the inside, you're going to be in a world of trouble."

Fuck.  Isabella numbly wiped away the last of her tears with her right hand.

"Let me help you.  If you've got this one rat in your house, Bella, chances are good there could be others.  I can help you find men who'd betray you.  You can handle it however you do... I don't want any part in that, but... let me at least give you warning before they come bringing hell down upon you and your family."

She was silent for a long moment.  Finally she nodded.  "Alright."  She said aloud.  "You're right, of course." 

Isabella watched Mattie's body visibly relax, she watched him flex his fingers and the way his eyes drifted away from her when she'd agreed to his way of thinking.  Each action told a story that she alone knew how to read.  Doubt and fear were replaced by increased certainty as each moment passed.

"Gerard is far more dangerous than we gave him credit for."  she said, oh so honestly.  "He's ... resourceful."  She hated calling what he'd done this day that - it was high praise, but if you didn't respect your enemies, they would always best you eventually so she wouldn't let bitterness cause her to be blind as well. 

"What you've done for me today, Mattie... it's helped me to understand just how far these guys will go."  She shook her head.  "It's a hard lesson, but now I see.  Now I understand.  Nothing is sacred to them.  My father is going to be so very happy when this information is brought to him."  She puts her hand up on Mattie's cheek, staring into his eyes just like she use to do.  It was like putting on a favorite, and well worn, pair of shoes.  He fit her, their bodies knew each other so well.  Putting him on was an urge that was hard to resist... even now, here, like this and with all the strangeness of this moment. 

She felt his left hand touch her hip and her skin lit up with arousal... she could FEEL Elias' eyes on them... waiting for her to show her hand.  Hoping for her to give him an order, praying that she wasn't going any further with this than she already had.  

"Don Salvatore will want to reward the man who gives him this rat, but not before I do."  She stood up on her tip toes and closed her eyes.  Her lips connected with Mattie's lips slowly at first, but eventually with all the fire that she use to have for him.  She could hear Elias shift uncomfortably next to them.  She wished that he could see the all the memories & thoughts which had sped through her mind in these last few minutes; but wishes were for children - and she wasn't an innocent girl anymore.

As their lips parted, she put her forehead against Mattie's and listened to him breathe her name.  Her heart raced as her left hand, still holding the gun at her side, held as still as it possibly could... while her thumb disengaged the safety.

"You should go."  She said in a much less stressful tone than she might have expected.  

Matteo nodded.  "I'll be in touch soon.  Not right away, the heat will be too much.  They watch me all the time, but I will reach out as soon as I can."

"Goodbye Mattie."  She said as he turned and walked back towards his car.  She let her mind wander back to another place and another time, it was the only way she was going to be able to do this.  The only thing she could think of right now, in this moment, holding this gun... was her father and their many lessons together.

'Put your target in the sights.'  Salvatore told his daughter. 

Mattie took one step.

'Take a deep breath in.'

Two steps.

'Exhale completely.'

Three steps.

'Don't close your eyes.  Don't ever close your eyes on a man you're going to kill.'

Four.

'And squeeze.'

*BANG*

'It's as easy as that.'  

Elas had to stand by and watch the women he cared most about in this life, execute an ex lover in cold blood.. with Mattie's lifeless body laying on the floor, Elias bent down and picked up the bullet shell laying on the floor, still smoking before he out it in his pocket..he picked Mattie's wallet once again to remove all forms of ID before dragging his body and lifting it into the trunk..'that should get rid of any evidence, at least for a while' Elias thought. 

Completely pre-occupied by going into automatic mode, he lost sight of Isabella..she was still standing, hadn't moved apart from dropping her gun down by her side, Elias looked up to her and said 'Dear..are you okay?' Elias was quite surprised, there was no emotion in Isabella's face at all, it was if she had one this a thousand times..Elias stood up from the ground, looked into her dark eyes and said 'you are now officially a gangster' before embracing her. 'I can see you've closed a chapter from your past, I'm glad you made the decision to end him, because I had my gun ready to kill him, if you didn't. It's important to understand in our line of work, sometimes you have no choice, no matter what the circumstances. He provided useful information of course, but I'm glad you see these were his last moments..'

'Now, where the fuck can we find Antonio Romano?' Elias was still feeling rather prickly himself, it had been an emotional 20 minutes for both of them, and he just wanted to get out of this place as quickly as possible..

She didn't say anything to him at first.  She didn't know what to say really - that she was sorry she'd kissed a man she was about to kill, the man she'd first loved as a woman?  No, that wasn't worth explaining in this moment.

Elias was kind, he cleaned up the body and did all the right things while she stood there still thinking of her next move.  When he'd finished he seemed concerned with her well-being, even asking if she was okay and reassuring her that he was willing to have shot Mattie.  Of course she knew he would have - happily after the kiss, but she knew the way it had to go.

Her companion also seemed proud of her, that she didn't let her feelings stop her from seeing the obvious fact that her friend had become a liability - there was no way her father would have let him live.  She looked at the ground near her feet.  Still, she said nothing.
 

'Now, where the fuck can we find Antonio Romano?' 

Elias seemed to scramble for what to say next - he was trying to ask about going to find her father's driver, but her brain was still locked in this place and this moment.  She had to finish it somehow and close the door so she could walk away and not look back.  Trembling she put her gun away and then shook her hand as if she could banish the tremble there with force.

"Izzy?"  

She smiled at his use of his nickname for her, so much more personal than he should be, but she liked it.  She walked over to him, her name summoning her out of the dark place her mind was living.

In her mind she could see herself walking over to the large bearded man and letting him hold her tight to him while she sobbed.  He'd pet her hair, his thick fingers tangling in her raven locks, and he'd bend down and kiss the top of her head.  They wouldn't say a word, but understand each other perfectly just the same and when she'd look up to his kind eyes he'd smile and the image of Mattie dying would fade from her mind forever - as if he'd never come today at all.  

Elias would lean down and claim her lips, washing away the taste of her past that lingered there as he explored her mouth in the warmth of the morning sun.  They'd sit on the hood of her car, and they'd kiss - forgetting breakfast and the world until the hurt she felt was a distant memory and not a fresh wound.  

Of course... that was all in her mind, and never really happened.  Isabella didn't cry and Elias didn't (thank God) take her into his arms.  She listened to the morning doves and larks in the nearby fields, singing happily and even though she knew she should be upset and crying for the boy she loved so well, there was nothing.  She wanted to explain that to Elias, to tell him that she had dreamed up schemes for helping him win her father's favor all the while she plotted to put a bullet in the head of the man she'd kissed a moment ago... but she couldn't find the right words.

She thought about kissing him, letting her actions speak for her - but the reality of Elias' position with her father was too much at the front of her mind.  If she urged Elias on, if she encouraged his amorous desires, they'd both prove weak and she'd let him have his way with her right here... only to have to mourn him as well one day.  Salvatore would delight in gutting Elias if he had ever been with her in that way, no matter what she wanted... even if it had been to comfort her or make her feel something amidst this strange nothing that had washed over her again.

Instead she found herself only able to answer his question in that business like way that her father sometimes spoke in, as if he'd done nothing wrong a moment before, "He drives for my dad.  Sometimes comes to pick me up.  If we go back to my place I can call him - tell him I need a ride to my father's... then we can end this on our terms."

'Izzy' said Elias to Isabella - a name he wouldn't ever use with anyone else present, it was sweet, it was playful and a way that Elias could address her personally, a way that he could separate this awful, violent life that sometimes always drew them back in. It was dangerous, yet addictive..

There was plenty still going on in the head of Elias, he wasn't prepared to show the hurt that he went through when he saw Isabella kiss an ex lover, albeit with it ending with her killing him. He found it increasingly difficult to turn these feelings off, he was burying them so deep, and wasn't prepared to let them service. Not at least before speaking to Don again in time. He looked up at Isabella who told him how to get to the driver, but he wasn't registering what she was saying. He just found himself lost in her gaze once again, almost trance like..he had to shake his head to himself before putting his hand on her shoulder 'I'm sorry dear..please could you rewind a bit, what's just happened has totally fried my brain, it happed all of a sudden and I just need to get my senses back, I do apologise but please repeat yourself to me again..' Elias hoped that his shameless tall tale would go by undetected by Isabella, as the last thing he wanted to show her that he was starting to fall for her all over again.

 "He drives for my dad.  Sometimes comes to pick me up.  If we go back to my place I can call him - tell him I need a ride to my father's... then we can end this on our terms." - Isabella repeated once more..

'Right!' said Elias with a new found excitement! Then we must get onto this straight away, it's a shame about the early breakfast and we've missed it, but in the circumstances I'd rather not eat. But next time, breakfast will be on me, that I promise you' as he kissed her forehead. 'You really are turning into a true Luciano, and I'm honoured to be standing with you now. Let's get home so we can prepare the sting against the scumbag Antonio Romano, his days in this world are well and truly numbered.'

She glanced back at Mattie's car one more time.  "Did he..."  She said, turning back to Elias, "Was there anything in his wallet that would tie him and me together?"  She arched her eyebrow and waited for Elias' reply.

Elias, still with his hand on her shoulder, reached into his pocket where he kept Mattie's ID, along with his cherished photograph of himself & Isabella before they were together, and pulled them both out. He put both of the items into Isabella's hand and said 'this photograph is linking you, with him, and it'll prove that we absolutely had something to do with this murder. There's no way it can stay on his person, we have to cover all tracks.'

She looked at the photo.  "That was a good day."  She sighed.  "He's right, you know, I did break his heart; but only because he broke mine first."  She looked up at Elias.  "My best friend Teresa.  He slept with her less than a month after we..."  She didn't finish the sentence, suddenly second guessing her very personal confession.

"I went by this little store where he'd been working that summer and found them in the store room together.  I didn't say a word.  I just left... and went to dinner with the first boy who looked twice at me.  I didn't hide it.  In fact, Mattie was the last time I ever had an exclusive beau.  I decided then and there I was going to be the one breaking hearts from now on."

She sighed.  "Teresa married a fish monger."  She laughed.  "Guy has a temper, a love of drink and a nasty gambling habit that makes me wish this family rolled in New York so I could get some much deserved payback... but... I guess you can't have everything you want in life."

She tore the photo down the middle, leaving Mattie on one side and much more innocent and hopeful version of herself on the other side.  "This is for you.  I wish you could have known me then."  she said smiling at Elias as she walked over to the car and opened the boot of the car.  Opening Mattie's mouth she crammed the photo deep inside his throat and then closed his lips patting his cheek.

"You're a pig Matteo Giovanni and if your mother wasn't such a sweet lady - they'd never find you."  She closed the trunk.  And walked back to Elias, "Shall we go now?"

Elias sat back and listened at a glimpse of Isabella's past, who she was then and how things made sense to him more now...he thought before speaking 'she was hurt, by a lousy cheat, a good for nothin' son of a bitch who obviously couldn't tell what he had, and if he did know. Well more fool him' - because Elias thought of yet another reason why he would of killed the man before Isabella got to him. He never really got this protective over a woman before. He was a lonely gangster, who found solace in Don Salvatore, who took him in from the streets. It was only then when he realised what a family was, and the longer he spent with Isabella, what love was. Not for a moment however that he would admit it to her. He knew it would be the end of him, and was almost driving himself insane with guilt, about the thoughts he had, when he promised to the Don he wouldn't go behind his back..not that he ever did, but he sure as hell wrestled with himself minute by minute, not to blurt out his emotions to Isabella, this time with a sober heart.. but for now he accepted the torn photograph, and put it in his left sided jacket inside pocket and whispered to himself quietly 'if this is the closest you can ever get to my heart..then so be it' Isabella turned around, but he was certain she didn't hear what he'd said, maybe a bit too loudly after all.. 

'I didn't know you then, but I know you now - and for that Miss Luciano I am grateful for every minute I can stand beside you. Let's get out of here now, back home in Detroit, where ironically I know I can keep you safer - than in the middle of nowhere, ready and prime for another ambush.