Joey kissed her hand once more before helping her up, "Let's go to Bella then head to Detroit I gotta move some stuff over from the HQ I have a new place set up it just wasn't official yet but it clearly needs to speed up."

Taking her hand they walked to where the guards were stationed outside the shop and Joey tells them to take them to Auntie Bella and gives them a number to call and to tell them to have it ready things are going a little faster than intended and it was time to roll.

"Kenzi no one is going to harm you again, NEVER again."

With no real need to return to the hotel, Joey and Kenzi made a quick stop to Bella's office to let her in on the plan. Bella, who had already gotten wind of Joey's promotion, agreed that Kenzi would be safe with him, and that perhaps keeping her in the move would help to throw off any of Angelo's goons that might be looking for her. So, Bella saw them of with encouragement to be very careful, but also with a knowing little smile at the two young ones darting off together.

Later That Afternoon

In 24 hours, Kenzi had stowed away in a train, ridden in a luxurious car with a rich woman, and was now seated on a private flight to a different state with a man. All were things she'd never experienced, and never imagined that she ever would. Take-off was a rather loud ordeal, and Kenzi couldn't even open her eyes as the plane roared into the air; but Joey didn't let go of her hand for even a moment. 

Once they reached cruising altitude and Kenzi had relaxed, the two chatted casually. At one point, however, Kenzi grew quiet and peered thoughtfully out the window for a few moments. Joey was easy to talk to, so Kenzi decided it was time to ask the awkward question that had been swirling in her mind. She cleared her throat softly and looked at him with a curious gaze. 

"Joey, I have a question. And it isn't even really my business, but I can't figure it out. You and Bella, and even Mr. Aurelio seem to have a lot of money and a lot of free time...and a lot of friends and enemies. What, exactly, is it that you do? I know Bella is your Aunt, she mentioned something about family to Mr. Aurelio, too. Are you all family? Is it like a business?"

​​​​​

On the plane with Kenzi knowing it was her first time flying based on what she had told him he figured she'd be nervous so stayed close with a hand on hers and an arm around her so she felt safe the whole time. Once they were flying Kenzi asked a question that normally would get a regular person in more than a lot of trouble but I think by now it was clear Kenzi was special circumstances.

"Um well yes we are all family and it is more than a business it's a way of life for us. That's kind of the reason we have to hurry and I need to move stuff out cause as much as I'm still representing the family and such I also want to do my own thing. But they are all members of crime families around the united states, I'm making a motorcycle club to enforce the will of the families around our country. The business side isn't for me the doing the dirty work is what I want to do and this is the best way for me to go about it, sadly my parents aren't too keen on it though they think I'm disrespecting the family but I'm just trying to help it in the best way I can. Does that answer your question kind of?"

Kenzi sat quietly and listened to what Joey was explaining to her. A crime "family?" The two words together like that didn't make a lot of sense to her. What did strike her, however, was the way he described it as "a way of life;" and so easily, as if it were as normal as being a baker, a doctor, or a car salesman.  Maybe...maybe it was. After all, Kenzi had grown up around crime- she'd committed many herself on orders from Angelo. But Joey kept speaking of family; and that...sounded really nice.

She nodded slowly, looking contemplative.

"I think I understand, kind of. But, if you're going to have your own group that is supposed to support what your family does, why would your parents be against it?"

"Because I'm not going to be doing business they way their crews normally do, while they tend to do a lot of their work within the confines and/or using loopholes in the law, we won't be we're enforcers and protect whats ours and what is the families and subtlety is not one of our strong suits. As for the family thing I know you've been around crime in your past but this isn't the same when I say family I mean family if someone touches a member of the family they answer to the rest of us, but at the same time the expectations are really high as well you must never betray your family."

The plane began to descend and seeing Kenzi start to get nervous again Joey wrapped his arm around her and held her close till the the plane reached it's stopping point.

When the plane finally touched down, Kenzi realized she had been squeezing Joey's hand as hard as she could. Loosening her grip but not letting go, she looked out the window as the plane taxied toward the terminal. The city surrounding the airport seemed enormous, and even the airport seemed like a city itself. Kenzi glanced back at Joey.

"I can't believe everything is so big. I thought New York City must be the biggest place in the world, but now I see, there are so many."

She bit her lower lip softly and looked away for a second.

"I must seem pretty dumb, huh? I can barely read or write; I don't know any places other than the Upper East Side of New York and the inside of a seedy warehouse. Never seen a zoo before."

Joey watched that look of wonder on Kenzi’s face as they landed and she took in the big city and airport when she spoke again Joey smiled taking her chin in his hand and turning her to face him slowly he gave her a small kiss, something he’d been wanting to do the whole plane ride.

”You’re not dumb sweetheart, you were dealt a bum hand by some of the worst people imagineable and I’m so sorry you had to endure those things. That all changes as of right now though from now on this country is yours more importantly your life is yours to do with as you see fit, no one will hold you back anymore. You’re going to succeed I was home schooled for much of my life if you want tutors and to learn say the word I’ll have some of the finest at your fingertips. No more running, no more hiding, no more being scared Kenzi” 

Joe offered his hand to Kenzi to follow him out of the plane.

Kenzi had been kissed by men before; older men who weren't there for anyone's pleasure but their own. Men with whom Kenzi had no say in what they did to her. She could remember thinking, on the train, that she never wanted to be kissed again. Love was a fairy tale that didn't exist- especially for girls like her. She swore that she'd protect herself from all of that, somehow.

But Joey...he was different.  He was gentle; even shy. In fact, Kenzi didn't even flinch when he moved toward her and softly kissed her lips. She didn't hate it at all. She didn't feel used or violated. She felt...happy. That feeling was reflected when he moved back and could see a little smile under gleaming green eyes.

Hand-in-hand, the two walked down the air stairs and onto the tarmac. A car sat not far from them, and several people greeted Joey, calling him Mr. Ferrari. Kenzi stayed quiet and watched, but kept her hand in his and her body close to him.

Kenzi had to watch some hassle as several of Joeys boys were moving things from the Ligambi HQ to what they kept calling the "Club House" it wasn't super long as Ladyfighter had it all prepared up. As Joey said farewell to his father and his colleagues in a somewhat tense goodbye, he slung his leg over his motorcycle and motioned for Kenzi to come on and put her hands around his waist after giving her a helmet and the drove off.

Upon arriving at the Outlaws Clubhouse, Kenzi saw the set up as a bar with all types of amusement for the members, when they got there Joey asked Kenzi for the 3 bricks so he could move em for her. He motioned for his boy PaulieRizzo and gave it to him whispering something in his ear and turned around and gave Kenzi twice as as much as those would fetch on the streets, and brought to her his little office in the back where he was packing a ruck sack with some weapons and provisions. Once all packed up he put on his jacket and explained to Ladyfighter and Paulie where he was going and to have his back in case things went south and told them to have a bike ready for them back in Philly as they were gonna meet with the guy that Isabella-Luciano originally had contacted for this.

Before getting on the motorcycle with Kenzi to head back to the airport he stopped and looked at her holding both her hands. "This ends now for them, after today you're free Kenzi and I will support and do whatever I can to help you accomplish whatever you want, I just hope you let me be part of your story." He softly kissed her once more before getting on the bike and placing her hands around him once more as they took off.