A long way from home.

PEARL’S POV~

“Get out of the car ma'am” came the guard’s voice, Sophie clung to me, scared out of her mind, what child wouldn't, but I know one thing for sure: I'm not leaving this vehicle until I get my answer.

“This isn't the beach house, who are you? Where is this place?” I asked, leaning forward till holding on firmly to Sophie’s hand.

“There’s someone inside who wants to see you, both of you” he replied, before reaching for his holster.

“So get out,” he added.

I couldn't help but feel, this had something to do with Nico and what he was talking about earlier, I started to panic, what do I do? How can I keep Sophie out of harm’s way?

So I did the next thing that came to my head, I lunged at the driver, whose strength was overpowering but I held on, “Sophie grab his gun!”

Sophie reached for his gun and soon gave it to me, “Get out of the car!” I yelled, pointing the gun at him.

“You don't know what you are doing, put the gun down it's dangerous” he stated, angry he hadn't seen that coming.

“I don't care, get out!”

He came down from the car and I hopped in front slowly, still holding the gun at him, I shut the door and he started banging on the window frame attempting to shatter it.

I switched the gear to drive and in no time we were out of there, I heard him run after me and soon three other men joined him.

From the side glass, I saw them hop into a car and soon they were chasing after me.

“I want my daddy!” she cried clinging to me as I drove on high speed.

“I'll take you to your daddy Sophie, hang tight okay?” I retorted in a scared tone.

I didnt see the speed bump and the car swerved and hit a nearby tree, luckily for us, it wasn't fatal.

Hurriedly I ran out of the car grabbing Sophie with me, to my right was a vast land, trees covered everywhere and it looked like a good place to hide.

I saw the car coming and I ran into the woods.

I placed Sophie gently behind the rock when I heard the car screech to a stop behind us.

“Im scared Pearl” She whimpered in fear, I hugged her tightly.

“Stay right here Sophie alright, stay here until daddy comes, I'll distract them” I mentioned before calmly touching her head.

“Don't leave me pearl please”

“Oh darling I'm not, I'm just going to send the bad men away I'll be right back stay here!” I said, I had no idea what I was doing but I knew eventually someone would find her but I'd make sure it wasn't the bad guys chasing us.

“Pearl” she cried softly behind me as I slowly left her, hoping not to make any sudden noises that would lead them to her.

When I was at a safe distance, I picked up a huge stone and threw it at one of them.

He fell with a huge dent in his skull.

“She’s right there!” another cried and soon I was chased and apprehended.

“Where’s the girl!” one asked before landing a heavy slap across my face.

I didn't answer, they would have to pry the information out of me.

“You take her back to Kaicho, he is waiting,” one instructed, the one who had stolen the car earlier.

“You find his little brat and bring her back to the Minka, don't waste time, Kaichou does not like failures”

As they pulled me towards the black Sedan, I thought about the guard’s words ‘his little brat’

This wasn't about me…..

It was Sophia D’Angelo they wanted all along.

Nico D’angelo’s pov~

I waited patiently at the airport’s parking space when I spotted my consigliere in the corner of my eye.

He opened the door and joined me. I motioned for the driver to put the music on loud and raise the glass partition between us, giving us our much-needed privacy.

“Good of you to join me in Japan, I need you here Lorenzo, something big is happening” I started before giving him an envelope.

He opened it and a picture slid out, “isn't that Tony Morello?” Lorenzo asked before putting it away, I nodded but the odd thing was that he looked different, surgically different.

“And he thought we wouldn't know his new identity?” he continued before rubbing his chin.

“He attacked me a few nights ago, a woman was hurt in the process, her baby….”

I paused thinking about all the illnesses I've caused Pearl in the space of two weeks.

“What woman?”

“I'll fill you in on the way, tell me did you get the information on the new kaichou?” I asked.

Lorenzo looked disturbed, he reached for his pocket and pulled out an envelope as well, and he handed it to me.

“20 hours ago, a member of the Davis Malone family landed here in Japan, sources from inside tell me they are here on business but I know it's a lie” he stated.

I laughed casually before flicking the picture.

“It seems Logan would rather deal with the yakuza than sign over half his empire to me, he is here to source funds then?” I asked.

“He doesn't want to go bankrupt, but there’s more”

“More?” I was curious, the driver pulled into the driveway as Lorenzo gave me the rest of the information.

“He took another wife… and she’s….”

Just then my door slid open, and a guard panting heavily stood by it.

“You better have a damned good reason for interrupting me!”

“Sir! When I got to the park they weren't there” he started as he took several gasps of air.

“Who?” That's when it dawned on me, he was the guard I’d asked to bring the girls home.

I grabbed his shirt and pulled him close, my eyes filled with blazing-hot anger.

“What the hell happened?”

Slowly he raised a phone to me, a voice on the other end laughing maniacally.

“It seems I've got your full attention now Don D’angelo, let's talk, I have someone here who can't wait to see you again”

I heard Pearl scream in the background, the sound of her suffering etched into my very soul.