Author's note- This thirteen chapter story is plot driven and filled with action. Hope you like it.
November 2009
Jason woke up to the sound of gunshots.
He scrambled from bed and grabbed his weapon. Making his way downstairs he scanned every corner looking for the shooter. Blood seeped under his doorway.
As soon as he opened his door the guard's body fell inside the apartment. The man's eyes were open, his soul departed. On his chest lay a yellow envelope.
Jason stepped over him and moved into the hallway. No one was there. He went to Sonny's old penthouse and found another guard laying dead in front of that door.
His heart sped up as he spotted the door to that apartment open.
"Carly!" he shouted
Immediately, Jason knew who was responsible for this blood shed.
He had followed the progression of the Chavez family as they took down one mob family after another, taking other's territories and making it their own, over the last year. First they moved through three small organizations then hit two bigger ones. Bodies fell, wars were waged, fought and lost, and the Chavez family came out on top over and over.
Jason said to Sonny, eleven months ago, "Let me take out Julio," the head of the family.
But Sonny told him, "That is only inviting trouble. They are going after little fish. We're sharks. They aren't going to try to take us out. It would be suicide."
Or murder, Jason had thought at the time. One bullet in his head or Sonny's and Chavez would have their organization and leave everyone they love vulnerable.
Six months ago Jason had gotten more forceful with his warnings, "They aren't backing down. They want the whole eastern seaboard. Are we just going to sit here and let them take it, Sonny?"
"No one can control that much territory. They will lose one of these battles or their own men will turn on each other from the inside out. Each trying to grab a little piece for himself. We have nothing to worry about. If you go after Julio Chavez and don't kill him with the first shot then we will have a real problem. Let's sit back and see how this plays out."
"This is not just about you and me, Sonny. We have people we have promised to protect. "
"So do your job. Protect them."
"They will be safe if I kill Julio."
"I said no! Who runs things around here?" Sonny stared him down " I run things around here. And I'm not starting a mob war because other families, hundreds of miles away, got taken out by Chavez. We are still doing business as usual. He comes to Port Charles then you handle him. Till then, relax, Jason."
But Jason couldn't relax. And by the time Sonny saw Chavez as a threat Chavez was too powerful to sneak up on, put a bullet in, and still get out alive.
Now Jason ran into the Penthouse where Carly lived and found it trashed. Jason jogged up the stairs, praying he didn't find any more bodies.
Carly and the boys moved back here a year ago because Jason wanted to keep a closer eye on them. Now he might have been right next door as they were killed.
I should have made them live with me, he thought, I should have...
The apartment was empty.
XXXXXXXXXX
Ric was walking from his house to his car, on the way to a busy day at work, not thinking about anything but the motions he would present in front of the judge.
He opened the door to his car and tossed his briefcase inside.
As soon as the cold metal hit his neck, he knew what it was.
"Don't " was all Ric said as his mind scrambled to find a way to make a deal without turning on Sonny, which even now, wasn't an option for him.
XXXXXXXXX
Lulu had found the ring Milo bought for her. She didn't consider it snooping. Her feet were cold, she needed socks, his sock drawer held an engagement ring.
So she knew, and she couldn't stop smiling.
When he woke up she was laying in bed next to him, and the minute his eyes hit hers, she was hungry to have his lips on her. Lulu eased her mouth over her boyfriends before he could say a word.
This is the happiest day of my life, she thought, the happiest day...
XXXXXXXXXX
Jason dialed his cell phone as he ran back down stairs and out of the apartment.
"Hey" Carly said into his ear
"Where are you?!" His voice was filled with panic.
"At Kelly's . The kids and I are eating breakfast. Pancakes. Come on over and join us, Jase."
"Do you have guards?"
"Of course. Max is in here and a couple more are outside. Why?"
"I need you to get up and leave right now. Leave town. Do not come back home."
"What happened? Are you in trouble?"
Jason moved over to the body of the guard by his apartment and grabbed the yellow envelope. He ripped it open and looked at the picture inside.
"Tell Max what I said about leaving town. He'll know where to get money for you and the kids. You have to disappear."
"Where? Tell me where to go, Jase."
"Anywhere. I'll find you later."
Jason stepped back inside and ran up to his room. He tossed the picture on top of his dresser and started pulling clothes out of the drawers.
"When? When will you find us?" Carly's voice was filled with fear. "Tell me what happened!"
"Carly!" he snapped at her
"Yes?" Her voice was now calm.
"Stop wasting time."
"Okay." she said and then, in a rush, added " Jase, I love you."
"Me too. Good bye." he hung up. Tears pricked his eyes. He looked down at the photo again.
It showed Sonny tied to a chair, a gag in his mouth.
And written on the back of it, in red marker, was
HE'S GONE
YOU'RE NEXT
AND THEN THE REST
UNLESS YOU HAND OVER YOUR POWER NOW
DELAY AND MORE YOU LOVE
WILL DIE