Michelle's head was swimming. She was looking into Nino's wild eyes but she was seeing Mick. She could hear Mick's voice taunting her. She could feel Mick's hands groping every inch of her body. Whispering in her ear that she was about to pay for making a fool of him. No woman ever made a fool of him. Those words resounded in her ears.

Louie's booming voice pulled her from her trance. Without a moments hesitation, she tore her arm from Nino's death grip. Michelle dashed past all those in the bar doing her best to cover her nakedness. She was out the door before Nino had realized she was gone.

"DAMN YOU, MICHELLE!" he screamed clearing the top of the bar with one sweep of his arms. "This isn't over," he hissed.

Michelle bolted to her car. She kept a careful watch on the door as she fumbled with her keys trying desperately to unlock the door. "Damn it," she cursed herself for locking it. Her hands were shaking so badly that each attempt at the lock failed. "Get a grip Michelle," she said to herself. It was no use though. There was no calming down. She was crying hysterically when she saw the door to Shooters swing open. She tried to scream but found no voice. By the grace of God the key found it's way to it's destination. Michelle was in overdrive. It was as if someone had taken over her senses for her. She started the car and sped out of the lot leaving Nino standing there shouting her name.

Michelle drove into the night not having a clue where it was she was heading. Tears still cascading down her cheeks. Her hands trembling so much that she was barely able to shift the little MG. She looked down at her chest still bare where Nino had invaded. She could still feel his fingers burning her flesh, eyes looking at her as if she wasn't even there. Just like Mick always like Mick. She was a spec of nothingness to both of them. A toy to be played with then discarded.

Michelle shoved the ghosts further into the depths of her mind as she pressed on. But that wasn't helping.

Mick's face emerged before her eyes. Smiling that sinister smile all his own. She could hear him telling her that she was nothing. That no one would miss her. No one would miss her if she met with some horrible accident one night. She belonged to him now. No one could help her or stop him. She could hear that menacing laugh as he stood over her drooling at the fear he saw in her eyes. The control and power he found in overtaking her that night had aroused him. He was oblivious to her cries and screams. He ripped away her thin cotton blouse to reveal the lace fabric of her bra. He toyed with her as she tried unsuccessfully to get away from him. He brought his body down hard on hers forcing her very last breath from her lungs. She squirmed, she bit, she scratched but none of it had done any good. He forced his hand beneath her skirt touching first her panties then ripping them to get to his final destination. He felt the warmth of her most feminine spot. His erection was pushing hard against the zipper of his pants begging for release.

"Mick, please. I'm sorry," she cried, "This had nothing to do with you. It was about Drew. It was all about Drew. I wanted to hurt her like she hurt me. I wanted revenge." Michelle heard the words but she didn't know where they had come from.

"Shut up you bitch," he yelled striking her square in the jaw. Michelle felt her head bounce off the concrete of the warehouse floor, "My family invented REVENGE. So let's just say you don't mess with the MASTER."

Mick knelt over her as he began to remove his pants. He ran his hands over her breasts as he entered her. She seized the opportunity. Mick bent his head to take her in his mouth. She had a clear shot of his neck. She bit down hard, hard enough to taste his blood in her mouth. Mick was stunned. Holding his neck he rolled over in pain. Michelle was up and running as fast as her legs would carry her. Yet Mick was faster. He caught her by the hair and pulled her to the ground.

"What makes you think you're leaving here alive?" he laughed wickedly.

Michelle sobbed uncontrollably as Mick tied her hands and feet spread eagle to the floor. "You think I'm playing games here? I kill people, Michelle that's what I do!" he said devoid of any emotion. "I told you once that you would be mine. I meant that. If I can't have you then I will be damned if anybody else will. I intend on having a bit of fun before it's all over though." Mick spoke in a cold and calculating manner. Michelle wasn't able to more then lay there, watching and waiting for what she was sure was next.

Her eyes glistened as she watched him pull a knife from his jacket pocket. He fondled that knife the way he had her moments before. Michelle looked on as he ran the knife over her body. She didn't flinch for fear of the blade piercing her skin.

Mick took pleasure in the terror he saw in her eyes. He watched as her eyes darted to each place he laid the blade. "There are so many ways to kill you, you know. Hell you should know right you are a med student," he laughed. "The neck but that would be much to easy," he ran the knife blade against her slender neck tracing it between her breasts resting the tip right against her nipple, "Now this would be fun I bet," his tone sardonic. Michelle felt the tears escape her eyes and roll into the cavities of her ears. He couldn't resist cutting her. She felt the penetration of the knife into the soft underside of her breast. He continued to make his way down her body. She felt the cool steel against her belly. He ran it over the scar of her appendix removal. Once again she felt the knife blade violate her flesh. The pain was minimal so she was sure this was more for torture then death, right now anyway. Hysteria began to get the better of her as she could feel Mick making his way down the inside of her thighs. He used the tip of the knife to toy with her folds pressing the cold steel blade next to her very being. She wanted to scream, to bite, to kick but instead nothing happened. She was focused on the sound of his breathing. It was fast and hard. Like a animal waiting for its prey to make a mistake.

Finally to her relief he brought the knife back within her sight again. "You know Michelle, I could slit your wrists and everyone would think it had been a suicide," Mick cackled.

"WHY DON'T YOU JUST GET IT OVER WITH!!!! FOR GOD SAKES MICK JUST KILL ME!!!!" she screamed no longer caring if he cut her or not. Before she knew what was happening the cold blade made contact with her wrists. Slicing through her soft flesh. She could feel the blood pooling beside her.

"MICK!" Michelle heard a voice in the distance. She wasn't able to make out who it was. Her head was spinning and she felt ready to pass out.

Tremors wracked Michelle's body. She was in a daze reliving that moment once again. Her eyes couldn't help but wonder to the scars on her wrists. They were a constant reminder of that night. Of the hell that she have lived through. Yes she had lived but really was this living at all? When she looked up to focus again on the road, she saw that she was heading into the path of an oncoming truck. She swerved to get out of the way ending up sending her car careening over an embankment.

Danny stood there listening to the account of what Nino had done to Michelle. Rage ensued within him. Nino Rivera wouldn't know what hit him when he got a hold of him.

"You sure it was Nino Rivera?" Danny said through clenched teeth.

"I'm pretty sure," the young man returned.

Danny grabbed him by the jacket almost bringing his feet off the ground, "I need to know, was it Nino?" Danny's voice came out in a cold whisper.

"I think so man," the young man looked to his friends for help. Yet none of them made an attempt to move.

Danny took notice that the entire bar was now watching this scene unfold. More importantly he saw the look on this kid's face. He imagined it was the very same look Michelle must have had as she faced down Nino.

"So how's it feel, buddy?" Danny asked.

"What....what do you mean?" the young man was confused. He only had stepped forward to help Michelle. The little he did know about this Nino character spelled trouble. He hadn't intended on being the next victim when he opened his mouth.

"I mean!" Danny spat, "What's it feel like to be intimidated and not have a single person in the room come to your aid. Imagine how Michelle must have felt. What weren't you and your friends man enough to stand up to Rivera?" Danny dropped him to the floor.

"Man, you don't know who you are messing with," he said backing away from Danny, "That guy, he's bad news!"

"No, that's where you're wrong. YOU don't know who you're messing with. I swear to you if anything has happened to Michelle I promise you all are as much to blame as Nino is!" He turned their table end over end. Danny's anger and fear had gotten the best of him. He had the sickest feeling in the pit of his stomach.

"Did he leave here with her?" Danny said rage still seething.

"I don't know man."

"Stop FUCKING with me. I swear you will be sorry for ever walking in this dump tonight." Danny's black eyes danced as the madness bubbled just below the surface.

"He's telling the truth," another frat boy spoke up. "Some guy ran out the door after him. That's all we saw, really."

Danny tossed a chair out of his way as he stormed out of the bar. He knew he should have never left her here alone with Nino. That had been his mistake but now Michelle was paying the price. God he wished he knew where she was. Hell, he didn't even know where to begin to look for her. He climbed on the hood of his car to think. Where could she have gone? He was pretty sure that Nino wasn't with her. Considering both of their vehicles were absent from the lot but he couldn't rule anything out just yet.

Danny drove to the coffeehouse. He recalled Michelle telling him the night before how she went the to get away from everyone and everything, Danny could see her sitting there before him. How he wished it was 24 hours earlier. Nothing, the parking lot was almost deserted. He went inside just the same.

"Hey remember me?" Danny had gotten lucky. The waitress from last night was working again.

"Yeah, sure. You came in with Michelle Bauer."

"That's right," Danny was hopeful, "Has she been in here tonight at all?"

"No, sorry she hasn't."

"Okay," Danny's heart sank, "Hey," he said turning back to the waitress, "If she happens to stop could you tell her Danny is looking for her?"

"Sure thing."

He found his way back to Delta House. Again Michelle's car wasn't in the parking lot of the sorority house. Fear had overtaken him. He ran up the steps heading for Michelle's room.

He stood there pounding on the door. Yelling for her like some kind of lunatic. The sorority girls passed by him almost hugging the wall. Trying to stay as far away from him as they could. Finally one of them had enough nerve to speak to him.

"Can I help you?" she said.

"Have you seen Michelle?"

"Not since she left earlier this afternoon. Why?" She didn't like the look of desperation on his face. He had a wild look in his eyes.

All the girls were well aware of all that Michelle had been through in the last year. She wasn't about to give out any more information then necessary.

"I really need to find her," Danny could help sounding frantic. He was well aware the longer it took to find Michelle the more danger she would have been in. Nino's attitude towards women was well known and he didn't want to let his mind wonder to what he might have done to her should she have chosen to resist.

"I don't know where she is. Do you want to leave you name? I'll be sure to let her know you stopped in to see her," the girl said.

"Don't you get it? There's something really wrong here!" he almost yelled. He had to remind himself to control his temper. This wasn't a place for a scene like he had caused at the bar.

"Like I said I'll tell her you came by. What's your name again?" She wasn't about to budge.

"Forget it," he walked past her without another word.

Danny was utterly beside himself as he started his car again. The overwhelming sense that Michelle was in trouble filled him. This was ridiculous. He was turning circles, wasting time. He headed towards the frat house where he was sure to find Nino and he prayed Michelle.

Drew sat silently on the fraternity house's expansive porch. Legs tucked beneath her, starring at the article from The Springfield Journal. It was a bit tattered from all the times she pulled it out to look at it.

There was Jesse's handsome face. Bigger then life just below the head line that read, "PROMISING YOUNG ARTIST COMMITS SUICIDE."

She still couldn't bring herself to believe it. It had been almost a year now but she continued to pretend that Jesse would walk up those steps and take her away. Look at her the way he had always looked at Michelle.

She hadn't cared that the one and only time they had made love it had been under false pretenses. Who cares that it had come from a bottle of tequila? She had gotten him just the same. The joke had been on her though. Michelle had come home early to find them doing the deed. Jesse had been mortified. His drunken stupor was quickly replaced with one of guilt. Michelle tore from the room crying. Telling him that it was over that he broke her heart. Jesse had sent her away without a word.

It wasn't until the next day that she heard on the radio of his death, suicide they said. He had been found, wrists slashed, by his girlfriend, Michelle Bauer.

Drew was beside herself, with no one to turn to in Springfield she hopped in her car and drove. Ending up here of all places, where things hadn't improved all that much.

"Hey, Drew right?" Danny said breathless coming up behind her.

"Yeah," she recognized him from last night's party. He was Mick's brother. She sat very still waiting to see what he wanted.

"I need to talk to Nino, NOW!" he left no opening for her to decline.

"He's not here," she returned.

"What?"

"He's not here, don't you understand English?" Drew found herself unleashing her pent up anger for Nino on him. She had been furious with Nino for just leaving her lying on the bed the way he had. He had left without even returning to tell her he was going.

"Cut the crap! I need to find Nino like yesterday."

"Did you check Shooters? He's never very far away from that damn Michelle Bauer," Drew's voice dripped with venom.

Danny froze at the mention of Michelle's name.

"What are you talking about?" he questioned.

"I'm talking about Michelle Bauer, the magnet! She has the uncanny ability of drawing every man into her web."

"What?" This was like playing games with Nino all over again, but this time the stakes were even higher.

"Don't tell me that she hasn't gotten to you yet? Hell you may be a Santos but that hasn't stopped her yet." Danny shot her a glanc,e of utter confusion. What was that supposed to mean? It was then that he noticed the bottles of tequila , one empty and one still half full. She was smashed. "See Michelle Bauer, she has everything a girl could ever need or want for god sakes. Men line up around the block for her. God only knows why? I just don't understand it at all."

Danny knew the answer to that question. Michelle was beautiful, sweet, smart, and a genuine person. She was everything that any man could have ever asked for. Danny found the green eyed monster seeping in his veins thinking about all the things that this girl was saying. He didn't want to think about all the men that had wanted Michelle.

"I mean the minute she walks into a room, she has all the attention. I can't get any man to even look at me once she comes around." Drew droned on disgust was evident in her tone. "Hell, Jesse thought the sun rose and set on Michelle."

"Jesse?" Danny whispered.

"It was always Michelle this, Michelle that….Michelle, Michelle, Michelle! I got her though," Drew sneered, "I got Jesse. I took him away from her," Drew couldn't contain her giggles, "I had him in every sense of the word. But she had to ruin that too!"

Danny stood starring at Drew. He didn't want nor need this. His main focus was on finding Nino and Michelle. He could have cared less that she felt second best. Hell she was always going to running a distant second if she was running against Michelle.

"In the end, he still loved her more. She made sure that I didn't have anything!" Tears now slowly found their way down Drew's cheeks.

"What are you talking about?" Danny found himself asking. She wasn't making much sense. He didn't know if that was her general demeanor or just the impairment of the alcohol.

Before he could continue, Drew thrust the newspaper clipping at him. The picture looked familiar. Yes he did remember reading about that. He looked at the article closer. He never made the connection between the two until now. He recalled thinking how terrible it must have been for this guy's girlfriend to have been the one to find him. Yet now his heart went out to Michelle. That must have been what she meant when she said that she came here looking for a change too. More then anything he wanted to wrap her up in his arms and take all the pain away.

Damn, he had to find her first. He watched as Drew went on and on. He wasn't truly listening. His mind was going to all the places Michelle could have been. The more time he wasted here with Drew the more time she was alone and afraid worse yet the more time Nino had with her.

Drew stood from the chair about falling face first to the floor. Danny caught her, "Whoa…easy," he steadied her. "How about I help you inside?"

"You are so much better looking then you brother," Drew slurred. "I mean sex with Mick was great but I bet you're even better," She leaned forward to look into his eyes. Danny stopped abruptly. Just hearing Mick's name roll off her tongue, sent chills down his spine. She had known his brother. A fact that Nino had kept to himself. Danny was more certain now then ever that there was more here then met the eye. She continued her compliments as he settled her on the bed. "Don't go," she begged pulling at his arm.

"Drew, I have to find Nino!" he said turning to leave.

"DAMN YOU!! Damn each and everyone of you!" she sobbed.

Danny shook his head getting into his car again. What a bizarre event. Nino sure knew how to pick 'em. He was on his way again. He had to find Michelle. This was totally ridiculous. How could she have just dropped off the face of the world? Then again this was Nino he was talking about. Danny had to remember that Nino just like he had ample access to making someone disappear. Fear over took him with that thought.

Just as Danny crested the top of the hill, he saw the flashing red lights. There was an accident just ahead, "DAMN!" Another delay. Danny exited his car to find out just how long the delay might be. His blood ran cold as he approached the scene. That was Michelle's car over the embankment.

"MICHELLE!" he screamed.

Drew stood by the window watching Danny Santos' car exiting the fraternity lot. She picked up a glass filled with scotch left from the night before. She swallowed hard as the amber liquid set her throat on fire. No amount of alcohol took the pain away. The stupor that she inflicted upon body only intensified the pain the loss that she felt. It only served to make the images more vivid rather then making them pale in her mind.

She had done whatever it took to get Jesse away from Michelle but in turn what she had really done was cost him his life. "NO!" she said aloud. "It's Michelle's fault. It's all her fault. She made Jesse kill himself. It was her with all her talk and sentiments about this great love that they had. She had forced Jesse to kill himself." Drew had said the speech so many times in the last year that it was beginning to sound like a taped recording

"I should have left you there that night, Michelle. I should have left you bleed to death the way Jesse did," She said almost heartless.

Nino slipped into the room unnoticed. He put his arms around her waist resting his hot lips against her neck.

"Nino," she said startled.

He was boiling over with arousal. His encounter with Michelle had left him in need of release. "Damn that girl," he said beneath his breath. He was still able to feel her firm breasts when he closed his eyes. Her soft supple skin begged to be caressed. He spun Drew around to face him. His desire completely over taking him. He tore her blouse sending tiny buttons flying to all corners of the room. The fire engine red satin bra was the next thing to go. He slipped it off her shoulders the very same way he had done Michelle's. It was as if he was setting the stage for the seduction that he had intended her. He pulled back to admire the view. They were perfection before him. He took one in his mouth. Drew moaned forgetting about any anger she had had harbored from earlier. He easily teased each nipple with his tongue. He felt Drew shudder and shake as he sunk his teeth in her skin. She encircled her leg high against his hip. She could sense his excitement against her. She rocked moving her hips until she saw his eyes almost roll to the back of his head.

She undid the buttons of his black silk shirt with her teeth. She ran her hands against his hard chest. She drank in the smell of his cologne. It's intoxicating aroma made her dizzy. She brought her mouth to his chest. She found herself sucking hard on his nipples. He emitted low cry as she continued with her foreplay. She let her hands wonder to the top of his jeans. Just ever so slightly reaching beneath his belt. She could feel the heat rising to meet her. Begging her to come further into it's depths. She obeyed. Quickly removing his belt her fingers found what they had been searching for. The fire of his flesh was met with the cool caress of her fingers. Nino moaned, pleasure consuming him. He dropped his jeans to the floor, boxers following. He stood there naked before her. Immediately her skirt found it's way to the floor as well. Drew knelt before him taking him in her mouth. Nino felt his body go weak as her tongue danced around his manhood. He rested his hands on her head forcing himself in deeper. Tremors wracked his body assuring him release was near. In one fell swoop it over took him. All of his pent up frustration from earlier, from Michelle running out on him was emancipated at that very moment.

Drew pulled back to see a smile of gratification pass Nino's lips. She stood up again bringing her body closer. It was her turn or so she thought. She wound her arms around his neck as she brought both legs to encircle him. Even the slightest touch aroused her. He could feel that she was moist and warm ready for what was to come next. Yet Nino couldn't bring himself to take her. He wanted to retain the vision of Michelle he had etched in his mind. He wanted to continue the illusion that Michelle not Drew had just brought him to the height of perfection.

"Nino," she whispered softly, "Take me. Take me right now," she cried.

But rather then comply Nino pushed her away. "Get dressed," he muttered.

"What?" she couldn't believe what she was hearing.

"You heard me, GET DRESSED!" his voice forceful and direct.

Drew stood there in all of her nakedness utterly bewildered. She felt the blood coursing through her body. She expected her passion set free just as his had been. "Nino," she tried again massaging her body next to his.

"Don't you get it? I'm done with you! I've had enough!" he spat at her.

"FUCK YOU, NINO!" she screamed.

"You've already done that," laughing as he said it.

His laughter was more then she could take. She swung at him wildly. Beating her fists against his chest. Raking her nails into any part of his body she could find.

"Enough," he finally said grabbing her hard by the arms. As he loosened his grip she crumpled to the floor. "Get your shit and get out." He had had enough of playing make believe with her. He wanted the real thing. He wanted Michelle. He was going to make damn sure that he got it too.

This was the third time that Drew found herself being sent away. First Jesse, then Mick and now Nino. She picked up her clothes from the floor and looked at Nino eyes blazing in fury.

"What you think that Michelle Bauer is going to take care of you the way I can? Not likely! She doesn't want you anymore then she wanted Mick! You'll see." She spoke like she was able to read his thoughts. "By the way Danny Santos came looking for you tonight."

"What?" Nino's voice boomed over the music coming from downstairs.

"You heard me," she returned casually.

"What...what the fuck did that bastard want? More importantly what did you tell him?" Nino pulled Drew back into the room by her hair.

"Nothing," she flinched as he tugged again.