A/N – Thanks for the reviews! I'm so glad that everyone is enjoying the story. A lot of reveals are coming up as well as some fun!
Chapter 9–Crisis Mode
Jason called Sonny.
"Jason? What's up?"
"It's Liz."
Sonny sat up. "What's wrong?"
"I don't know. She got flowers and there was a note."
"What did it say?"
Jason turned away from her and whispered. "Santiago."
There is dead silence on Sonny's end. Finally he spoke. "Can you get her home?"
"She won't let me touch her."
"Put me on speaker."
"Liz?" Sonny said softly.
"Daddy?"
He could hear the terror in her voice and it almost took his breath away.
"I need you to go home with Jason, baby. He'll take good care of you. I'll meet you there, okay? Can you do that for me?"
"Ohh…kay…" she said shaking.
"Jason, take me off speaker."
He pushed the phone against his ear. "Yes"
"Take her home. Just be really careful with her. I'll meet you there."
The phone clicked. Jason told Milo to bring the car to the side entrance. He opened the door and then kneeled in front of Liz again who is shaking and crying and it is breaking his heart.
"Liz, I'm going to pick you up okay? You're safe with me," he said gently.
She nodded.
Jason picked her up and she buried her face against his chest. Thank God, they were done for the day and most of the people had left. When someone asked what was wrong, he just said she was sick. Quickly, he got her to the car and gently slid her in. Milo is confused, but he didn't say a word. He had never seen Liz this upset. Jason slid into the car and Liz moved to the other side and huddled against the door.
He turned his head to the front so she didn't feel uncomfortable, but it was everything he could do not to take her in his arms. He just didn't want to scare her. After a ride that seemed to take forever, the car pulled up to the house and he got out and opened the door for her and helped her. She seemed so small and frail that he picked her up and started walking up the steps. Sonny burst through the door along with Francis and Johnny.
Francis took her from Jason's arms and when Jason tried to move forward, Johnny shook his head and stopped him, his eyes tracked them until the door shut.
"You want to tell me what this is all about?"
He saw Johnny's eyes tear up a little. "I can't do that. If she wants you to know, she'll tell you."
Jason stared at him for a moment. Liz had crumbled before his eyes and no one will tell him anything.
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Sonny cradled Liz in his arms. They are devastated. Everything had been going so well, but now that they got that note, he realized that the danger was worse than he had thought.
"Shhh baby, it's alright."
"It's not alright," she yelled. "I can't do this again. I can't re-live that. "
"I know—I know…"
Sonny let her cry herself to sleep. He could feel the anger building up inside of him as he promised her in his head that he will find whoever is putting his baby through this hell and rip them apart.
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI
It took two days before Liz emerged from her room. To his surprise, she had texted Jason that she is going out.
He waited for her in the foyer and when she appeared from around the corner, Jason had to make sure his mouth didn't drop open. She had this skin tight short black dress on with heels, and her wavy hair is ironed straight and she looked stunning. The thing that stood at the most though is her eyes. Gone is the look of warmth she has when she is around her friends or the set. They look cold and devoid of emotion and he quickly notices that she is also wearing way more makeup then she normally does.
He pried his eyes away. "You look nice."
"Thank you," she said mechanically. "Let's go."
They got into the car. Milo had texted Francis that Liz was going out. Jason's phone vibrated so he pulled it out. There was a text from Johnny.
"Be careful tonight. She might get a little wild. It's how she copes. She won't leave with anyone but… You want back up?"
"No, I think I can handle it."
"Famous last words… Watch her like a hawk and try to keep her away from cameras."
"Got it, anything else?"
"Good luck."
He turned and watched her stare out of the window for a moment and then looked out of his wondering just how bad this night will be.
IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiI
They pulled up to the club and Jason got out and opened her car door. There are some paparazzi roaming around outside and when they spot her, they ran towards them.
Jason instinctively put his body between Liz and them.
She smiled for everyone and Jason tried to hurry her inside when he heard someone yell, "It's blue eyes." Liz started giggling at Jason's reaction and then maneuvered them to the VIP area where the girls are waiting. They looked at each other and then back at Liz in shock.
"She's in trouble again isn't she?" Maxie said to Kelly who nodded in agreement.
They shook it off and jumped up to hug her. Jason stood back a bit and watched the girls. Liz glanced at him a couple of times. She wishes that he'd stop staring over at them. When a blonde walks up to him and Jason completely ignores her, Liz kind of laughed at the girl's pissed off expression.
The night wore on and the girls are getting completely trashed. He noted her out of control behavior and finally understood the warning that Johnny had given him. She is acting completely out of character.
The club is packed and even though he has an ear piece in, so that he could summon Milo if he needed too, he still feels completely on edge.
Some guy approached her and asked her to dance. Her attention diverted to Jason for a moment and then she agreed. She could see from Jason's reaction that he is not amused, but doesn't care.
He followed them down to the dance floor and watched her from the stairs. She is dancing with abandon as her body seductively moves to the beat. Anytime she could see Jason, she stared at him like she is dancing for him. He never broke their gaze. The song changed and Jason saw some guy move towards her and push the other man aside. When he grabbed Liz and pulled her into him, she pushed him, but he grabbed her again. Jason muttered, "Shit," and started running towards them.
He held his wrist up to this mouth. "Milo, car—back door—now," He yelled as he pushed his way towards them. When he got there, Liz had just punched the guy in the face and kneed him in the groin. He grabbed Liz's arm and led her in the opposite direction.
"What do you think you're doing?" she yelled at him.
The music had slowed down and he turned her around and pulled her into his arms.
The girls are standing up in the VIP area observing everything. They watched him talking to her and then glanced at each other.
"I have to get me one of him," Kelly said taking a sip of her drinking.
The other girls agreed.
Jason held her stare. "What is wrong with you?"
She glowered at him defiantly. "I can take care of myself."
Jason is flabbergasted by her. "Why are you acting like this?"
Liz is so buzzed at this point, she can hardly see straight and her façade is beginning to fade. "Take me home please. I'm tired."
He nodded as she fell against his chest, prompting him to pick her up and walk towards the back door, hoping Milo is there waiting.
The girls sighed as they watched.
"That was really hot," Maxie said smiling.
"Yeah," Robin said.
