Chapter Eight

Milo grabbed 'John' by the collar. "I asked you a question." Milo said jaw clinched in anger.

"I don't have to tell you a thing." 'John' snarled as he glared at the other man.

"That's where you're wrong. It's my job to protect Ms. Webber and her boys. And I'm really good at my job." Milo replied with a glare as he put one hand on his gun and held on to John with the other.

The door opened drawing both men's attention. "What is going on out here?" Elizabeth demanded as she looked at Milo.

"Nothing." Milo quickly rushed to assure her.

"Elizabeth, please I just want to talk." 'John' pleaded as he tried to make her look at him.

"Put him down Milo." Elizabeth said with a sigh. "Well come in." she said finally, rolling her eyes, her aggravation and tension rising fast.

"Thank you." John said as he smirked at Milo and then followed Elizabeth inside.

"Don't thank me yet."
she said coldly. "Jason would you take the boys upstairs?" she asked as she smiled at the sight of Jason holding his son in his arms and talking quietly to Cam.

"Are you sure?" Jason replied as he looked up at her, not wanting to leave her alone with 'John' for a second, but, knowing that he would just because his Elizabeth asked him to.

"I don't want them to..."
Elizabeth started to explain as her eyes met Jason's.

"Okay." Jason agreed as their eyes locked and held. "On one condition."

"What's that?" Elizabeth asked with a grin.

"Milo is here with you." Jason replied quickly as he held Jake in his arms and watched Cam hurry up the stairs.

"Okay, fine."
Elizabeth agreed knowing that was the only way Jason would agree to leave.

"Milo, if he even looks like he might hurt her, shoot him."
Jason said as he glared at John and then looked back at Elizabeth with a grin before following Cam up the stairs.

"What is he doing here?"
John demanded after Jason was out of earshot upstairs.

"Wow. Not that it's any of your business but Jason just found my son."
Elizabeth exclaimed incredulously with a look of exasperation on her face.

"He's a criminal, Elizabeth."
John said in a condescending voice.

"And so were you when we started dating. I don't know why I'm explaining myself to you." Elizabeth sighed loudly with a frown on her face.

"Because of our..."
John said with a smile as he started towards her.

"Don't you dare say it. I have turned myself inside and out for that stupid promise." Elizabeth snapped as she glared up at him.

"It wasn't stupid. That promise means so much to me." John said tenderly.

"Then why did you stay away? If I mean that much to you."
Elizabeth spat angrily.

"Helena said she would kill you."
John said softly trying to make her understand.

"I don't believe you."
she spat, the very sight of him making her furious.

"I swear..." he said his eyes pleading with her to understand and believe him the way she always had.

"I believe Helena probably threatened me. It's all she ever seems to do. But I don't think that's why you stayed away. But you know what I don't even care. I'm sick of letting some past obligation dictate my life." Elizabeth declared vehemently.

"You really mean that?" John asked shocked that his permanent lock would dare and speak to him that way.

"You've been gone ten years Lucky. What did you think would happen? You actually thought I'd want to be with you again?" Elizabeth demanded her anger rising with every word he said.

"I love you."
he said softly as if that explained and said it all.

"No. You love the girl I was. You know nothing about who I am now. And I know nothing about you. We're strangers." Elizabeth spat as she jerked away, not wanting his hands to touch her.

"We don't have to be." he almost begged.

"I want nothing to do with you. You should go." Elizabeth said firmly shaking her head no.

"Elizabeth..." he pleaded again.

"She asked you to leave." Jason said from the steps. "Cameron is asking for you." he said as he watched her closely. Elizabeth looked from Jason to Lucky. Jason could see her hesitation. "We'll be fine. I'm just going to make sure he leaves." Jason said softly as his eyes locked blue on blue with hers.

"Okay." Elizabeth replied with a smile and then started up the stairs trusting Jason to handle it no questions asked.

Jason grabbed the other man by the arm and pulled him to the porch. "What in the hell is your problem?" Jason demanded as he pulled the jackass out the door and threw him on the ground.

"This is none of your business. It's between me and Elizabeth." John spat as he glared at a furious Jason Morgan.

"See that's where you're wrong. Elizabeth is my business." Jason snarled as he walked right up to the other man and stared down at him.

"Since when?" John demanded getting a little nervous at the intensity in Jason's eyes.

"Since when?"
Jason repeated not believing the audacity of this little shit."You little shit. You have no idea what you did to her. Do you even care?" Jason spat as he jerked him to his feet and then went into pure enforcer mode.

"I lov..." His words were cut off by Jason hitting him in the gut.

"You don't know the meaning of the word. For years I've watched Elizabeth tear herself up for that promise the two of you made. And now you want to toss it in her face too. You have no right." Jason said punching the younger man again.

"What do you know about it?" John asked as his eyes filled with tears.

"I know Elizabeth is one of the most amazing people I've ever known."
Jason replied jaw clinched as his fist made contact with John's nose.

"You love her." John gasped as he heard the bone snap.

"I'm only going to say this once Elizabeth and her boys are none of your business." Jason snarled as 'John' fell to the ground.

"What if I tell Elizabeth about this?" John taunted gasping for air.

"Go ahead. You're lucky I didn't kill you. Now get out of my town and don't even think about coming back." Jason snapped trying to control the rage that was threatening to consume him.

"I need to explain..."
John grunted as he tried to stand and then fell back to the ground gasping.

"The only thing you need to do is stop pissing me off. Milo make sure this piece of shit leaves town, tonight."
Jason ordered as he stood over John and dared him to say another word.

"What about..."
Milo asked softly.

"I'm staying."
Jason replied firmly as he glanced at Milo.

"What ever you say, Jason." Milo agreed trying real hard to hold back the grin that was threatening his face.