A/N: This was my entry for Trusted Heart's 2014 Welcome Home Jason Challenge. All history matches the show through October 18th, 2013 when Sam caught Alexis ordering a DNA test to confirm Julian Jerome as Sam's father and switches up from there. This story begins with Silas and Sam, but they're over by the second chapter. Also, while I actually love some of these characters, I should probably mention this story isn't very nice to Silas, Liz, Carly or AJ.
Summary: One of organized crime's best enforcers to ever enter the business was shot in the back and kicked into the Port Charles harbor nearly a year ago. He was quickly presumed dead by authorities. Some might say too quickly, and they would be right. Jason Morgan left behind many bereft family members and friends, but none as dear to him as his wife, Sam, and the baby he realized almost too late he loved and wanted as his very own. It is now October 18th, 2013 and Jason's family and friends have all moved on in his absence. Sam was their son Daniel's rock during his battle with cancer and has managed to find unexpected attachments to both the donor and doctor who saved him; attachments some might say were dangerous to her heart and maybe even her health, and they would be right.
Fatherhood: Lost and Found [R]
1.
Giddy, like a school girl, that was the only way to describe the feelings coursing through her at the moment or explanation for her actions over the last two weeks toward her son's doctor. She'd never been a school girl, really, but she had been a teen-aged girl and she hadn't remembered feeling or acting this way since then. Of course she'd been giddy before. Her late husband, Jason, had made her so happy at times she felt as though she soared. But she hadn't felt so willing to rush into the unknown with her eyes closed since she was a teenager, since she met Nico, and that should have been Samantha Morgan's first clue. But, just like a silly school girl, her happiness and the deep need for more blinded her to better judgment.
"Hello." Her phone rang and she answered it as she continued to eye herself in the mirror, unsure of yet another outfit.
Her half of the bed housed half her closet at that point while Jason's half remained nice and neat. She didn't like to leave her things on Jason's side of the bed. It reminded her of how he used to complain about her leaving her things around all the time and that reminded her of how he'd admitted later to missing them, and her, when she'd gone. And now he was gone, forever. It hurt to remember their love, and how much she missed it and feared she'd never have anything close to it again without him, so she did her best to avoid things that triggered those thoughts and that pain.
"Hey. It's me." The deep rasp brought a smile to her face and a rush of nervous adrenaline into her heart as it beat a little faster. It was like the sound of his voice cut off the oxygen to her brain. It made her stop thinking and, as dangerous as it was, she liked not thinking if it meant not hurting anymore.
"Hey, you," She answered back. There she was again, flirting.
He smiled and she could hear it in his voice. "You ready for tonight?"
"I can't wait. You?" She shimmied out of the black dress and flung it on the bed as she reached for the new midnight blue one again for the third time.
It was a chiffon cocktail with a pleated sweetheart neckline. She rarely wore blue and she'd worn it even less since losing Jason. It reminded her of how she'd always loved when he wore blue because it brought out the color of his eyes. She needed a new dress for her date, though, because she didn't want to wear one she'd worn on a special occasion with Jason which pretty much ruled out every dress she owned. So, when she'd seen that one in the boutique and loved it, she'd purchased it on the spot before she'd even given its color any thought. But now she had thought about it and she wasn't so sure about wearing it anymore even though she still loved it.
"I just left the hospital. I'm headed to my suite to shower and change. I shouldn't be more than ten minutes behind schedule." He answered hands-free as he drove.
"Oh, well that's no problem. I could just meet you there. I'm almost ready and I've already dropped Danny off at my mom's for the night, so..." Sam slipped the dress over her good lingerie, ignoring thoughts of what it meant that she'd worn her good lingerie tonight, and zipped up as she held the phone to her ear with her shoulder.
No more thinking, she told herself as she turned away from the mirror in the blue dress, because every thought led back to Jason, eventually, and it was torture. Her hair and make-up were both done. All she had to do now was decide on shoes.
"No, this is our second chance at a first official date. I want to do it by the book. I want to pick you up from your home and hold your doors and chair for you." That wasn't all he wanted to hold. Silas Clay could hardly wait to see her again, especially after their last two encounters.
His mind flashed back to the first of those last two encounters when they'd shared more than he'd expected, but not as much as he'd hoped. He'd stopped by Harborview Towers with the excuse of checking on his young patient after the boy's release from the hospital earlier that day and the fussy toddler had managed to douse his shirt with milk when he threw his Sippy cup at him. Sam had offered to wash it for him if he cared to wait and, since he really came to spend more time with Sam anyway, he'd taken her up on her offer. They'd ended up sharing some wine to celebrate Danny's recovery while waiting, and that had led to kissing and almost taking it upstairs until her responsibilities, and his, had interrupted them.
That encounter had led to their last encounter which had led to their plans for tonight. Sam had dropped by the hospital the next day to deliver the shirt he'd left behind. He'd thanked her for returning it, cleaned and pressed, and offered her a do-over for their last attempt at a night out that had failed. He'd promised to make it interruption-free and she'd accepted with a smile. He hadn't forgotten how she'd told him he might get to take his shirt off again if he was lucky and he hoped like hell tonight was his lucky night.
"Okay, if you're sure." Sam thought it was nice that he wanted everything to be just right.
"I'm sure." He insisted. "So, all night..." He let the sentence trail off, sure she got his meaning.
Sam bit her bottom lip and took a deep breath to quell the nervousness that crept up. "Yep, all night..." She let that sentence trail off, unsure she was ready to talk about it. Talking led to thinking.
"Mom wanted some extra time with Danny since Molly's out of town." There, that was truthful... and safe.
When she'd dropped her son off earlier, her mother had told her she better not come back for him until well after his nap time the next day. Alexis intended to make the most of her time with her grandson while his Aunt Molly was away because, according to her mother, Sam's youngest sister was a baby hog. Sam was sure she'd probably have to pry Danny away from her mom if she tried to get him back before the weekend was up since Molly and Rafe weren't due back until Sunday.
Silas smiled at the reminder. The timing of the school field trip couldn't have worked out better. His nephew, Rafe, had become extremely protective of Sam since she'd taken him in as a foster son and Silas wasn't looking forward to answering to his nephew about his intentions toward Sam. "I'll see you soon."
"Soon," Sam echoed before she heard him hang up and did the same.
xxxxx
"I can't believe we just did that!" Sam barely managed to keep her laughter in check as they busted out of the main ballroom of the Metro Court Hotel arm in arm.
"What, didn't think I had it in me?" Silas grinned. He'd seen her in just about every state of emotion by now, but happiness was his favorite. He hadn't had a lot of happiness in his life and her smile was radiant and addictive. Every time she smiled, he wanted more.
"I think your toast to the happy couple was my favorite part." She smiled with a shake of her head.
"What can I say? I owed you a wedding reception and I wanted to make it good." He shrugged.
Sam laughed again. It took her about an hour into their date to catch on, but she finally had. "Did you even know anyone in there?"
"Not a single soul." The dark-haired doctor confessed and chuckled at himself and his nerve.
As small as Port Charles was and as long as she'd lived there, Sam couldn't believe she hadn't known anyone either. When he'd picked her up from her place hours ago and taken her to the Metro Court, she'd been surprised to see they were attending another wedding reception after the failure his new-found daughter's had turned out to be. But she had to admit his crazy plan for an interruption-proof night had worked so far. They didn't know a single soul in the room and so there had been no one to interrupt their dinner, dancing and conversation all evening.
She laughed again, softer and more to herself. "I haven't crashed a party just for fun since..."
She stopped herself from finishing that statement. Something about it made her feel guilty, like she was doing something wrong by opening up to a man that way that wasn't Jason.
"Since when..." He pulled her to him by the hand she held onto and her laughter died on her lips as she looked into his eyes. They were filled with hunger and, whether her mind and heart were on the same page with her or not, there was no denying her body responded to his need with her own.
Her hands rested against the dark dress shirt beneath his suit jacket as he slipped his arms around her petite frame and pulled her closer.
"Since I was a teenager," She admitted.
"That's how you make me feel." Silas told her and it was true. He was horny as hell for her, that much was certain, but she had a way of making him feel inexperienced and off his game as well because she wasn't like other women he'd been with.
"Me too," She told him as she held his gaze.
He kissed her then and she didn't stop him. In fact, it only grew more heated as she lost herself in the moment. She pulled away for air as her brain clouded over in a welcomed haze. The haze was good. It kept her mind too clouded to think.
"I don't think you're going to make it back to your place tonight." He told her and kissed her again before the cloud could lift.
"I thought you wanted to do our first official date by the book." She reminded him as his lips found her neck. First dates were supposed to end with goodnight kisses at the front door.
"Screw that book. Let's write our own." Silas growled low in her ear then pulled back to search the warmth in her brown eyes in hope of agreement.
Sam nodded and pulled him toward the waiting elevator.
Silas was more than happy to oblige and pulled her into his arms again as they stepped inside.
"Are you sure?" His finger hovered over the button for the floor of his suite. Putting the final decision on her was a way of easing his guilt. He knew he should just push the button for the garage instead and let this end before it went too far, but he ignored what he knew. Sam made him feel something he hadn't felt in a long time and he wanted more of it. He wanted it for as long as it could last and, in that moment, the consequences just didn't matter.
Sam wasn't sure, but she didn't want to think about that. She just wanted to feel something other than the hurt and pain she'd felt for so long and it felt good when he kissed her so she kissed him back instead of answering and pushed his hand with hers, forcing his finger to press the button that would lead her to his bed.
xxxxx
Ava Jerome collected herself as the elevator doors closed behind the oblivious couple. She walked around the column in the corridor where she'd stood stunned into silence after happening upon her former lover kissing another woman. It was late, well after midnight, and she'd timed her visit in hope of avoiding an uncomfortable confrontation with the hotel's owner, and mother of the barely legal son she'd recently bedded. She wouldn't have stepped foot in the hotel again at all if she hadn't had urgent business to discuss with her gallery's new client.
Fortunately, she'd known the avant-garde artist had never been much for sleep and figured Franco would be up, probably painting, and she'd been right. What she hadn't known was just how close the father of her child had become with his patient's mother. She was getting tired of standing behind structures listening to Silas pursue a wasted cause. Dr. Silas Clay was not the right man for Samantha Morgan and she'd even gone as far as to risk a sincere warning to the younger woman, telling her she'd live to regret getting involved with him, but apparently the younger woman hadn't listened.
They'd been all over each other and the sight of it broke what was left of Ava's heart. She still loved him and it made her physically ill to see him with someone else. She could have stood in the clear and doubted they'd have noticed her any more than they'd noticed the other guests that had passed them by. A violent wave of jealousy coursed through her, begging her darker side to emerge, but she tamped it down.
There were several reasons she couldn't deal with Sam the way she dealt with most threats, but the biggest by far was that Sam happened to be her brother's daughter. Julian Jerome would forgive his baby sister many things and had, but he would never forgive her for taking out his daughter if he ever found out and Ava would never risk it, not even for Silas Clay. This was not good. This was not good at all. Sam had become far too close with a man she barely knew and now they were headed to his suite, she was sure, and those kisses Ava witnessed left her with no doubt of what would happen once they got there.
She had to do something to stop them. The plan her brother had would never stop this in time. She had to come up with a new plan and the only viable one she could think of in that moment called for playing their trump card. Julian would be furious with her, but she would just have to make him see reason later. Right now, she had a catastrophe to avert and desperate times called for desperate measures. Ava hopped the elevator headed down as she worked out the plan on the fly. She needed to work fast if she had any hope of stopping them in time and staying a step ahead of her brother.
xxxxx
Sam stood frozen, phone still in hand, as she took in the state of her undress and his. What had she done? Oh, God. Could this be happening? Could it be real?
They'd barely made it to his hotel room before Silas had lost his shirt as Sam had told him he might. The actions after that were kind of in a fog, but she remembered her phone ringing as he lowered the zipper on her dress. She'd been working the belt buckle loose on his pants and she'd been so tempted not to stop. She didn't want to stop. She might start thinking again. Don't think, just feel, she'd told herself. But what if the call was about Danny or Rafe, her mind persisted. Her little boy had just been released from the hospital days ago and Rafe was traveling. What if Danny had a set back or Rafe had been in an accident like when her sisters had been in that bus crash on their school's ski trip?
Sam had answered her phone just before it could stop ringing and been stopped cold when a voice she didn't recognize told her the one thing she'd almost lost all hope of ever hearing.
"Your husband is alive, Mrs. Morgan. Tell no one if you want to keep it that way. I'll be in touch and, if you're lucky, you'll be reunited with the man you love today." The caller's words repeated in her head.
Could she trust them? She didn't know, but she couldn't afford not to follow this lead even if it led to more heartbreak. Jason could be alive. Her husband might be alive and if he was out there, she had to find him!
"Sam," Silas' words broke through her thoughts and she could see the question and concern in his eyes when he looked at her, but she couldn't answer his questions and she couldn't ease his concerns.
Your husband is alive... Tell no one if you want to keep it that way...
"Sor, sorry," She apologized as she moved to grab her dress from the floor. She couldn't put it back on fast enough. Thank God she hadn't made it out of her bra and panties yet. Oh, God. Her husband was still alive and she'd almost... She had to get out of there.
"Sam, it's okay. What's wrong?" Silas watched her zip her dress up and slip back into her shoes. "Is it Danny, Rafe?" That was why she'd answered the phone. She'd been afraid one of them might need her.
"No, no. They're fine. It was something else." She placed a hand to the wall to steady herself as she wedged her slightly swollen feet back into her heels one after the other.
"That's it just... something else? That's what has you breaking your neck to get out of here?" Silas wondered what the hell someone could have told her to go from practically ripping his shirt off and throwing him down on his bed to the way she was now racing out of his room like it was on fire. He couldn't think of a thing that could grab her attention more than he just had if it wasn't Danny or Rafe.
"Sorry, it's work. I can't talk about it, confidentiality. I, I gotta go." It was the best explanation she could come up with and as much of one as he would get.
"Sam, wait!" He called after her, but she was already out the door and halfway to the elevator.
"Damn it!" He cursed. This wasn't how their night was supposed to end.
Silas wasn't sure exactly what that phone call was about, but he seriously doubted it was a work emergency. He'd seen Sam's reaction when she got that call. All the blood had drained from her face and he'd worried she might have gone into shock until she started speaking again. He didn't know what was important enough to pull her away from him, but he intended to find out. He was too close to having her, to having happiness, to let it go now.
xxxxx
Ava watched from a discreet corner as Sam flew out of the hotel lobby and jumped into a waiting taxi. Phase one of her plan was a success. Sam couldn't get away from Silas fast enough. She just hoped they hadn't had time to get too far for her sake and Sam's as well, though she doubted anyone would ever believe it. Everyone always found it so easy to believe the worst of her, she pouted in a fanciful notion. Sure she was greedy and self-centered with a bite far worse than her bark when pushed, but she wasn't totally heartless. Ava knew what it was like to live with the pain of feeling you'd betrayed the man you loved, even if that betrayal had been unintentional, and she wouldn't wish that hell on anyone. Well, at least not her brother's child that is.
There hadn't been enough time for Ava to make it back to her apartment to make the call using her equipment, but she knew a place close by where she could find it. So, after witnessing Sam and Silas outside the ballroom, she'd taken the elevator down to the third floor and put her lock picking skills to use. She hadn't used them in a while, but it hadn't taken her long to gain access to Derek Wells' office. It was creepy being there all alone in the dark since that woman had been murdered not ten feet from his desk, but Ava pushed all thoughts of that night and Connie Falconeri's ghost aside and set to work at hacking her brother's computer.
She'd just hoped it wouldn't take her long and that her brother hadn't installed a new silent alarm since the murder. She would be hard-pressed to explain to security why she was in the media mogul's office after hours considering no one was supposed to know Derek Wells was actually her brother, Julian. Fortunately, Julian's ego and perverse sense of humor were something Ava was all too familiar with so it hadn't taken more than a couple tries to figure his password. It was Julian Jerome spelled backwards.
Once she'd logged in, she ran a search for Sam's number. Luckily, it was listed on her company website for business purposes. Ava then pulled up the special software that modulated her voice so Sam wouldn't recognize her. She recorded her message for Sam and then prepared it for playback over the emergency burner phone Julian kept in his desk drawer. She'd dispose of it after her call to Sam and replace it before Julian ever missed it. That was the plan, at least, and so far everything had gone to plan.
Time for phase two now, time to pay her brother's house guest a little visit and see just what Jason Morgan might be willing to do to make it home before his wife ended up in another man's bed.
xxxxx
Ava checked her rearview for any signs of a tail as she doubled back through the collection of large estates at the edge of town. She doubted she'd been made by anyone; especially her niece, the private eye, yet. There hadn't been enough time, but Ava had been in the business long enough to know better than to let her guard down.
Finding nothing but darkness trailing behind her, she took a left and followed a winding drive off the main road. Her car slowed to a halt as she reached the gate and held up a New York Public Library card to an intercom box mounted just outside the perimeter. The card was actually a security pass-card in disguise. Only guests used the intercom. Authorized personnel knew the box also housed a hidden proximity reader for encrypted pass-cards, permitting entrance.
She smiled for the hidden cameras as the gate crawled to an open and issued the guards a flirty wink before traveling the rest of the way to the main house. She'd been there many times before, but still couldn't help marvel at its grandeur as she approached. Even at night, with nothing other than spotlights to highlight it, it was magnificent. The mansion and guest house were set on a backdrop of nearly twenty plush acres of picturesque gardens, offering state-of-the art security without sacrifice of luxury or style. It was obvious the previous owner had spared no expense in the rebuild.
Ava was pleased to have use of it now. It was a shame to have such a gem left uninhabited after the deceased owner's assets had been seized and tied up in government red tape. It hadn't been available for public auction due to an unresolved legal claim by the owner's grandson. She still wasn't quite sure just what favors her brother had called in to acquire it, but had to admit it made for the perfect base of operations for the Jerome family.
She grinned, amused with her brother's antics. Again, his ego and perverse sense of humor had been at play in this purchase. To think, the Zacchara mansion had been home to Jason Morgan for the past year since his disappearance and not once had his partner in crime, Sonny Corinthos, suspected a thing. Right in the mob boss's own backyard, now that was really going to sting when he found out.
She parked her car in the circular drive at the front and made her way inside. As expected, Juan was there to greet her the second she stepped foot through the door. "Another late night, Ms. Jerome, may I take your coat?"
"Thank you, Juan." She smiled at the younger dark-haired man as she handed over her coat as expected. She couldn't risk raising suspicions by appearing too rushed. Juan Santiago may dress and act as a harmless butler, but the faint outline of his perfectly fit physique and 9mm under his suit suggested she wasn't the only one leading a double life.
"A sister's work is never done, I'm afraid." She sighed.
"Would you care for anything to eat or to drink while you work, Ms. Jerome?" He accepted her explanation at face value. It wasn't unusual for her to visit at odd hours of the night. In fact, it was more typical than not since her association to Julian Jerome and his business still called for the upmost discretion.
"Please, Juan, you know that it's Ava to you and no, thank you, but I will need to speak with our guest. Will you see to it he's brought to the study as soon as possible?" She ordered as if it was nothing at all unordinary.
Juan thought the request a tad unusual, but she was his boss too and it wasn't as if Ms. Jerome didn't hold proper clearance so he nodded in compliance. "Is there a problem in which I may be of assistance?"
"Actually, yes," Ava replied. "I have some unfortunate news for our guest. His son's body has rejected the donor marrow. It's unlikely he'll survive the night. My brother, as you can imagine, couldn't help being affected by this news and has arranged for a special pass for Mr. Morgan to say goodbye to his little boy. Julian is at Mrs. Morgan's side now, offering what comfort he can and has asked me to have you accompany us to the hospital where we'll meet with the rest of the team to ensure our guest remains unidentified and safe in our company."
It was highly irregular. Mr. Morgan had never been permitted to leave the premises without being heavily sedated first since his arrival, but it also fell in line with what he knew of his boss and their guest. Juan had been briefed of the health crisis Mr. Morgan's infant son faced as it posed an increased risk of attempted escape by their ward. He'd also been informed by Mr. Jerome himself that Mr. Morgan was to be treated with respect at all times and allowed access to any news of his wife and son.
His boss had taken a liking to Mr. Morgan and even shared classified information with him in recent weeks which was something, to Juan's knowledge, Mr. Jerome had never done before. So, all in all, the order made sense. He couldn't see Mr. Jerome denying Mr. Morgan a chance to see his son one last time before the boy died and it sounded as if all security precautions had been made. After all, he'd been the one assigned to escort Mr. Morgan to the mansion in the first place as well as charged with his care since. It seemed logical Mr. Jerome would have him escort Mr. Morgan now.
"I'll see he joins you shortly." He replied before heading upstairs to the locked wing that housed their guest.
Ava nodded and continued down the hall to the study. So far, so good, she breathed. She only hoped Juan wouldn't run the order by their head of security or call her brother himself for verification. Her story was sound and she'd never given the men any reason to mistrust her, but she wasn't in the clear yet. They still had to make it off the grounds.
She poured herself a finger of scotch while she waited and turned from the bar, drink in hand, a few moments later to the sound of the doors opening. She eyed the man before her with guarded appreciation. At nearly six feet in height with the body of a championship fighter and poise of a predator, he was no doubt lethal. Blonds had never really been her type, but she found the masculinity he exuded quite intoxicating and his face wasn't half bad either.
"You're looking rather bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for this hour of the morning, Mr. Morgan." She cooed. "Care for a drink?"
Jason Morgan stood silent. He'd never required much sleep and since his captivity it had become harder to sleep at night, but he wasn't sharing that with her. He was in no mood to play whatever game Ava Jerome had come to play this time. He just wanted her to get to the point of her visit so he could be left in peace, what little peace he'd been able to find without Sam and his son.
"No? I understand, probably not a good idea to mix alcohol with your meds. I must say, you're looking well considering recent reports of your failing health. I heard you were at death's door only a few short weeks ago. But, then again, reports of one's demise are always so greatly exaggerated in this town. Aren't they?" Ava hid her smirk behind the rim of her glass as she drank and studied the man for any reaction.
Always so silent, this one, she mused and wondered just how silent he'd be if she shared the scene she'd happened upon with his wife and the good doctor hours ago.
"Was there a point to this visit?" Jason had no patience for this woman. She reminded him of a blonde and blue-eyed version of Claudia Zacchara, the woman who'd ordered a hit on his friend and ended up almost killing his nephew, and he trusted her about as much too. He had no intentions of discussing his health or anything else with her.
"Leave us, please." She directed her words at Juan who stood sentry at the double doors of the study. "I believe this news calls for a moment of privacy."
Juan, knowing what news was to come, nodded. "I've informed the night shift of the situation. We're good to go whenever you're ready."
"Thank you. We won't be long." The guards on night duty reported to Juan and Juan reported only to her brother, herself and their appointed head of security, Marcus Taggert. That meant she still had a window of two to four hours until Julian or Marcus called in for report. Ava waited for the doors to close then gestured for Jason to take a seat in front of her as she sat in the leather chair behind the oversized executive desk.
Jason sighed and sat. Guest, he scoffed. They made it sound as if he'd ever had a choice to stay or to go. Prisoner was an uglier word, but closer to the truth. He wondered what Ava was up to and hoped she'd make it quick, though he doubted it. He'd had encounters with her before, but she'd never called him in to meet with her at three in the morning. This should be good, or bad.
Ava pressed the concealed button just under the desk's edge, triggering a block of audio transmission to the surveillance equipment around the room. It wasn't unusual for Julian to use the feature during some of their more sensitive meetings, but she'd never used it alone with their guest before. She gave the closest camera her most authoritative look, showing she was in full control of the situation and daring anyone to question her actions before proceeding further.
"We don't have much time, so I'll do us both a favor and make this quick. I've come to take you home, today, right now. But I'll need a few assurances from you before I do." She watched him as his mask of indifference slipped a little with the promise of freedom.
"What assurances?" Jason kept his voice neutral and noncommittal. He didn't trust her. There was no way Ava Jerome would do this solely out of the kindness of her heart. She had to be working some personal agenda in which his early return would benefit her, but if it got him back home to his wife and son, he didn't care. He would deal with the repercussions later.
"I set you free now and, in return, you agree not to come after me or my brother later or reveal us to the enemy." She eagerly awaited his response. Since she wasn't able to eliminate Sam by any means necessary, Ava needed Jason alive and she needed him returned to his wife before Silas had his way with her. But she wouldn't risk her life or her brother's to do it.
"What's to stop me from lying and coming after you anyway?" She was too calculating not to have a contingency and he wanted to know what it was so that he'd be prepared if he needed to take her out later.
"Oh, I don't know... gratitude? You know as well as I if any men in the business other than ours had found you floating in Port Charles' harbor last year, you'd have died that night as intended. Bernie called with a life and death situation and you went running in, no backup, leaving not only yourself vulnerable but your wife and son as well." His jaw tightened at that painful yet accurate reminder. He'd been preoccupied and careless that night and it almost cost him his life. It had cost Bernie's life and a year of his own he could never get back.
Ava noticed the tension created by her words and softened her tone. She wanted to reason with him, not incite him. "My brother saved your life and now I'm offering to give it back to you, ahead of schedule. Your life for ours, it seems a fair trade considering you would have been lost to your family forever without our help. However, you should know I trust you about as much as you trust me. I'll be watching and, should you decide to change your mind later, I won't hesitate to neutralize any threat to my family." She held his piercing blue gaze with her own.
"Likewise," He glared.
"So do we have a deal?" She held her cool, not wanting to admit just how much his glare intimidated her.
Jason nodded. He would agree to anything to get home to his family, but he still wasn't sure how he intended on handling the Jeromes. He'd have to discuss it with Sam first. This affected her more than anyone could have ever guessed.
"What's your plan? Security is tight." He'd studied and tested for weaknesses since he'd arrived, when able, and found none. He hated to give Marcus Taggert credit. There was still no love between him and the former PCPD detective, but the man had done a thorough job plugging the holes Anthony Zacchara had left in his security setup.
"I've already informed Juan that your son has rejected the donor marrow and isn't likely to survive the night. Relax," She rushed to assure him as he moved to stand. "Your son is fine. It's a cover to explain why Julian has granted special permission for you to leave the grounds conscious and at such an odd hour with little notice."
Jason breathed in relief, but he wouldn't be able to fully relax until he was home and saw for himself that Danny was better. It had been torture not being able to be there for his wife and son when they needed him and he could only imagine how hard it had been on Sam.
"Juan will escort us. I couldn't get around that without raising flags, but I figure it should be easy enough to overtake him somewhere between here and the hospital. I don't want him killed, understood? He's a good man." Ava instructed.
"Understood," Jason actually agreed on that count. Juan Santiago had been the one to fish him out of the harbor one year ago to the day. Juan was a far stretch now from the young man Jason's little sister, Emily, had dated. Life had hardened him in many ways, but there was no denying the heart of his biological mother. Juan also had her dark eyes that were just as perceptive. Sonny's first wife, Lily, would be proud of the son she'd been forced to give up for adoption if she'd survived that car bomb. Juan was exceptional at his job and had been as respectful and accommodating toward him as possible, all things considered. Jason wouldn't kill him. He owed him his life.
"Alright then, let's go. We need to move before Julian or Marcus wake and check in with the guards." Ava hit the button returning audio surveillance to the room then stood and motioned for Jason to walk ahead of her as they met up with Juan just outside the doors.
Soon, I'll be home soon Jason told himself. And for the first time in a year, he knew it was true and not just something he said to get through another day.
