Chapter Three

Having lived with her best friend for a little over two years, Liz knew a lot about her friend's life back on the East Coast. Having learned long ago about Emily's disgustingly wealthy family, and their strange and sometimes terrifying ways they showed love. Liz sometimes wondered how someone so special like Emily could come from such beasts. This family had seen it all and done it all, too bad not many of its members learned from their mistakes.

Through long nights and lots of tears, Liz learned of the disastrous night that AJ had driven his car into a tree, throwing Jason from the passenger seat. How terrified Emily had been when she didn't know if her brother was going to live. To her uncertainty when Jason finally opened his eyes, not only was she a stranger to him, but also the room full of family members waiting at his bedside.

It was the stories about Jason that intrigued Liz the most. Her heart hurt when Emily told her of the anger he'd felt trapped living in the Quartermaine mansion, expected to act like the man he once had been. She had felt slightly jealous when he'd moved out, making his own way in the world without his family's power and influence.

All her life she had tried to shape herself into the daughter and sister everyone wanted her to be, always falling short of the mark. It seemed the harder she tried the more aggravated her parents would get with her. In the end it felt as if she were a dog chasing it's tail. But no matter how mad she got, she never thought of turning her back on it all and walking away from the expectations she knew she'd never achieve.

So even though she'd never personally met Emily's older brother, she felt as if she'd known him for years. The few times that he had called to talk to Emily, he'd always been polite. Unlike that jackass AJ, whose sexual innuendos and crass comments made her wonder if they even shared any DNA.

It had been a surprise, finding out that her friend knew people in the Mob, not to mention being related to one of them. Liz's previous knowledge of the highly glamorous life consisted of old reruns of the Godfather and a few episodes of the Sopranos. Emily quickly de-glamed it for her. Telling of how these people had real lives and interests like everybody else. That Sonny, Jason's boss and best friend, who loved to cook, was even known to be a little protective when it came to his kitchen and cookware. Jason prized his bike and the open road. On several occasions he had been known to disappear for weeks at a time.

Nothing though, prepared her for the reality of what the next week was going to bring. Her first bite of reality was in the form of their bodyguard, Francis. By far not the largest man she'd ever come face to chest with, but definitely the most intimidating.

"Francis!" Liz watched in awe as Emily greeted the man, who probably made most grown men tremble, with an easy smile.

"Miss Quartermaine, it's a pleasure to see you again." Reaching out for Emily's carry-on bag, Liz realized she'd been staring when the man turned to her and offered to take hers as well. "Miss Webber, welcome to Las Vegas." The smile he gave her was genuine, taking away some of the indecision that had a strong hold over her.

Putting her hands on her hip, Emily gave Francis a deadly glare. "We've been through this before. I swear to God, if you call me Miss Quartermaine all week I'll make your life a living hell. I've done it before and I defiantly will do it again."

Throwing his hands up in mock surrender. "You know I can't do that, Jason would kick my ass all the way back to New York." His lips twitched as he tried in vain to keep a straight face.

"Right, just like you couldn't teach me to play poker the last time." Francis chuckled, but the amusement didn't seem to reach his eyes.

"Fine then how about a compromise? I'll call you Emily when your brother and Mr. Corinthos aren't around."

Giving him a victorious nod, Emily stuck out her hand. "Deal. The same goes for Liz too. Trust me she can be a lot more irritating than I ever dreamed of being."

"So I heard." Francis mumbled as he led them to claim their luggage.

When he was a few feet ahead, Liz finally found her tongue. Leaning her head closer to her friend, Liz asked in a hushed voice. "What did he mean?"

"Huh?"

"What did he mean when he said, 'So I heard'?" Knowing that her Emily was being evasive, Liz let out a disgruntled sigh.

"Oh, that..." Emily's cheeks reddened, growing silent as she thought for a moment. "I'm not going to lie to you. I'm positive that my brother and Sonny had you checked out."

"Checked out?"

"You know, like knowing everything about you." Emily said, looking uneasy. "Making sure you aren't a threat to them or their family."

"Everything?" Looking doubtful, Liz felt her stomach drop when Emily refused to meet her eyes.

"Well you'll be happy to know that Jason thought you did a great job on your last Bio exam."

Liz paused, until Emily's words started to make sense. "I took Bio my freshman year...You mean to tell me that they've been spying on me?"

"Well not really... Okay so perhaps you could say that they probably know more about you than your own parents do, but think about it Liz, they really can't be too careful."

They continued to follow Francis, both girls silent. A thought struck Liz as her cheeks turned a flaming red. "Do they know what happened in Aspen? When I got locked out of the cabin?"

"Didn't you ever wonder how you made bail so fast?" Emily was giggling now, ignoring Liz's horrified expression.

"Oh my God." Bringing her hands to her face, Liz felt her cheeks still burning in humiliation. She wasn't certain, but she thought she heard Francis snickering in front of them.

"Oh come on it wasn't that bad."

"Not for you, you had your clothes on."

"Liz don't stress about it. They have more important things on their minds to worry about than your little run-in with the law. You'll see, I'm sure that Jason and Sonny have completely forgotten about it."

"Gee thanks Em, are you saying that me naked is something that's easily forgotten?" Trying to push aside her humiliation and see the humor in the situation, Liz cracked an impish grin.

"You naked in in freezing cold conditions... I doubt anyone will ever forget about that."

"So Jason." Taking the white linen napkin off the table and placing it in her lap, Brenda narrowed her eyes at her intended target. Still highly annoyed that she'd been confined to hers and Sonny's lavish suite all day, because of a last minute meeting that couldn't be put off, she didn't plan on taking it easy on the two males that made it their duty to make her life miserable. "Tell me what you've got planned for Sonny's bachelor party tonight."

Not missing the calculating way Sonny's fiance was watching him, Jason gave a casual shrug. "Nothing special."

With an irritated snort, Brenda rolled her eyes. "Nothing special as in what? The usual stripper jumping out of a cake, special? Or nothing special as in butt out it's none of my business, special?"

The corners of Jason's mouth lifted, knowing that Brenda was trying to bait him he just shook his head. "A little of both."

"Well you better make sure Sonny stays out of trouble, because if not I'll be hunting you down." Placing her hand on top of Sonny's, and giving a soft squeeze, Brenda laughed at the pained look her fiance sent her way.

"Don't worry." Sonny said. "Jason has a special ability to suck the fun out of a room in seconds flat."

Looking up sharply, Jason frowned slightly. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Oh come on Jase, ever since that big-mouthed blond shrew entered your life you've been about as much fun as my Grandfather on bingo night."

"Sonny." Sending his friend a look of warning, Jason turned his attention to the menu in front of him. He wished that he could've stayed in his room and ordered room service, but Sonny insisted that he join him and Brenda. If it weren't for the fact that their new business partners demanded to speak he'd be at the airport right now. Picking up his baby sister and her friend.

"What?" Innocence written all over his face, Sonny gave his friend a dimpled smile. "I'm just saying that you're not as fun as you used to be. Not that it's a bad thing." Trying to ignore his friend's obvious taunt, Jason clenched his jaw.

"Leave Jason alone." Brenda scolded, her eyes sparkling in glee. "It's not his fault that he got snared by that two faced lying bitch."

"Will you two drop it?" Knowing that his friends truly had his best interests at heart, Jason still wasn't in the mood to sit through another Carly bashing session. "It has nothing to do with her. You both know that I'm with Carly only because of Michael."

Setting aside his menu, Sonny looked over the table at Jason, his previous teasing expression replaced with concern. "I understand that you love him Jase, but you're throwing away your life for someone that doesn't deserve you. You can be Michael's father without having to chain yourself to Carly." Pausing Sonny watched as Jason's impassive face darkened. "Just hear me out. We all know that she's playing on your emotions, using Michael as a pawn. She knows you don't love her, hell on a good day you can't stand her."

"That's not true." Snapping his mouth shut Jason wondered why he was defending Carly sitting back in his chair, he stared off preparing himself for a repeat conversation he'd already heard a hundred times.

"Oh please." Brenda rolled her eyes in disgust. "Jason you only defend her out of habit. When was the last time the two of you even slept together?"

"Come on hun, we're here to eat." Making a face, Sonny shuddered slightly.

"No really, I want to know. I mean I can't imagine why he's keeping her around if she isn't good in the sack." Turning her innocent eyes in Jason's direction, she gave him a blinding smile that grated on his nerves.

"I'm not going to talk about my sex life with you." Picking up his water glass, Jason took a sip.

"Oh I know we aren't talking about your sex life, I was asking more about your lack of a sex life." Jason sputtered, choking on the water, glaring over at the brunette who was laughing at him.

"Enough, enough." Wiping the tears from his eyes, Sonny held up one hand to silence his fiance's next words. "Let's leave Jason alone, if he needs our advice he'll ask."

After a few minutes of silence, Brenda knew she'd pushed Jason too far... "So who did you send to pick up Emily and her friend?"

Still agitated, Jason stared at her before answering. "Francis."

With a lift of her brow, Brenda looked surprised. "Isn't it a little bit of an overkill sending out one of our best bodyguards?"

Shrugging his shoulders, Jason sighed. He hated having to explain his actions. Perhaps sending Francis was a little overboard. But Emily liked him, and seeing that they were in a new city, not knowing who was they're enemy, it made him feel better knowing that his sister was being protected by one of their best. "Emily knows him and I thought she'd feel more comfortable having him there when I couldn't."

"Well I can't wait to see her, it'll be nice having some female companions." A devilish glint shined in her eyes, one that defiantly wasn't missed by either one of her dinner partners.

"Brenda what ever you have planned the answer is no." Shaking his head, Sonny laughed at his fiance's dismayed expression. "I mean it hun, those two girls are still underage and I don't have the connections yet to get the three of you out of trouble."

Remembering the reports he'd received on Emily's little friend, Jason groaned. Visions of having to bail out three females made him rethink his sanity. What in the hell was he thinking when he invited his sister to Las Vegas? He should've just let her go to Florida with the rest of her college friends. If it weren't for Sonny and Brenda's wedding he wouldn't have even thought of allowing his sister to step foot into Las Vegas. But allowing her friend Liz to come? He knew he was going to regret that decision.

With a sharp look over at the man she agreed to love the rest of her life, Brenda had to control her annoyance. "So you're telling me that it's okay for you to have a Bachelor party, but I have to sit in our room like a good little woman?"

Knowing he needed to tread carefully, Sonny chose his words with precaution. "I told you if you wanted a bachelorette party you should've had one in Port Charles."

"Yeah right with my hoards of friends that I have there." A frown marred her pretty face, making Jason grunt. He knew that Brenda wasn't going to be able to persuade Sonny in relenting, but he also knew Brenda well enough that she'd never let Sonny live this down.