A/N – Thanks for the comments! I really appreciate it. Glad you're enjoying the intrigue. More twists to come! * Krystal, sorry to see you go, but you're making a mistake. Like I said, this is twisty and you're bailing on it when you have no idea what I have planned for that character. Everyone gets reactive in the beginning, but you know I tend to zig and zag. Try not to assume and just go along for the ride.

Chapter 10 - Machinations

Johnny watched Carlos take a call and leave in a hurry and then sat next to Natalie at the bar.

She glanced at him and the focused on her drink. "What do you want this time?"

"You know, Carlos works for one of Jason's enemies. He probably wants to use you to get to Jason."

"And why should I care?" she asked before taking another sip of her cosmo.

"Because appearances are everything and associating with Carlos could cost you your life."

She rolled her eyes. "Do you get off threatening people?"

Johnny smirked and took a sip of his beer. "You come into this town and you're like a walking stick of dynamite. You bad mouth Evangeline, stalk that stupid cop, and now you're cozying up with a mob enforcer. This is only going one way. You need to decide if getting revenge on a woman that you're blaming incorrectly, by the way, is worth your life. John doesn't want you. How is that Evangeline's fault?"

"Because she ruined everything."

"Maybe you need to accept that fact that John is not the man you want him to be. Why do you want to be with someone who treats you so badly anyway?"

Natalie stared into her drink. "Haven't you ever met someone that you thought was the one?"

"Yes, but in the harsh light of the day, I realized that I was wrong."

Natalie smiled. "I know what you're trying to do."

"Save your life. I'm not even sure why I am. You don't seem to care about it or you wouldn't be taking such ridiculous risks. I'm serious Natalie. We won't wait until you do something. This is your last warning. Stop before you do something that you can't take back."

He grabbed a beer from Coleman and went back to his seat and watched Carlos come back in and make some apologies. Natalie was shaken by what Johnny had said and decided that maybe she should regroup.

"You know, I'm really not feeling well."

"Can I give you a ride home?" He needs to work on her a little more since he is quite sure that they could use her to get revenge and pin everything on her.

"No. I'll take a cab. It was nice meeting you, Carlos."

He is surprised by her change of heart and wonders what had happened since he had left. "Can I call you?"

"Actually, I don't think that is such a great idea. I think I'm going to go back to Pennsylvania." She does hate Evangeline, but getting revenge isn't worth her life.

"I'm sorry to hear that. Take care."

She asked Coleman to call her a cab and watched Carlos leave. Turning around she caught Johnny's eyes and he nodded.

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John tentatively entered the penthouse. He is surprised that Evangeline had summoned him, but is happy that he will get a chance to see her. "Hello."

Eva met his gaze. "John, please have a seat."

Jason is standing around the corner, near the kitchen.

"How are you?"

"I'm okay. It's been a little rough, but I have a great support system."

He nodded.

"I asked you to come over because I'm concerned about the fact that you were following me."

He took a deep breath. "I figured you'd want to talk about that. I'm not going to apologize for it. If I hadn't done what I did, they would have killed you."

Evangeline tried to keep a straight face. "I'm thankful for that, but John, can't you understand why I would find it disturbing?"

He wiped his hand over his face. "Yes. I just needed to know that you are okay. I love you Eva and I know I was an asshole to let you go. If something happened to you..."

She sighed, weary of having the same conversation over and over. "I need you to stop."

"So someone else can get to you? Clearly I was right to question Jason's ability to protect you."

Eva glared at him. "Jason is not God and neither are you. You are one man. What makes you think that you could protect me any better?"

Jason is not happy with the way this conversation is progressing.

"Look, I need you to go home. You could get hurt and as much as you are annoying me right now, I don't want anything bad to happen. Your brother would kill me."

John smirked. "Mikey misses you."

"I'm sure he still appreciates you calling him Mikey."

"I'm very sorry if I upset you. I'm also here investigating another case. I have a couple of more days to go and then I'll head back."

She is relieved. "Thank you."

"I'm glad that you're okay."

"Me too."

She watched him leave and put her head in her hands. Jason walked towards her and she jumped when she realized that he was there. "I really need to put a bell on you."

"Sorry."

"You heard everything?"

He nodded and sat down next to her and pulled her into his lap. "My gut is just telling me not to trust him."

She doesn't know what to say. The John she knows presently and the one she knew before are two different people. Something had changed, and she really isn't sure what is going on. "I trust you, but I don't want him dead."

"What if he tries to hurt you?"

She pulled back so she can see his eyes. "Then I'll kill him myself."

Someone knocked on the door and interrupted Jason's response.

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Natalie took a cab to see John. She had a few things she wanted to say to him before she left. When she walked into the motel and stood at his door, she took a deep breath and was about to knock when she heard him talking.

"I need you to back down for now. Things are too hot. I don't want Morgan to be on to us."

Natalie's mouth dropped open.

"No, I don't think he has any proof or he would have made a move. Just lay low for a couple of days and we'll make ours."

Natalie turned to leave and ran into what felt like a stone wall.

"What do we have here?" A very big muscular man asked.

"I was just leaving."

"I'll say you were."

He turned her around, putting a hand over her mouth as he choked her out. When she went limp in his arms, he knocked on John's door.

It swung open and John is stunned. "Hold on." He stopped to think for a minute. "Take her to the building and tie her up. I can't let her ruin this."

"No problem boss."

"Does she know that you work for me?"

"I don't think so."

"Good. Keep it that way."

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Francis finished his report and left and then Jason went upstairs to check on his girl.

She is staring out the window, so he cleared his throat to alert her to his presence. "You don't have to stay here with me. I know you have work to do."

"I'm where I need to be."

"I just don't want you to feel like you have to babysit me."

"I don't, but I just don't think it's best to leave you alone," he said, pulling her into his arms.

"I won't be. Johnny is here."

Johnny yelled for him

"Hold on."

He ran downstairs. "What's up?"

"There's a woman here to see Evangeline."

"Who?"

"Nora Buchanon."

"Send her in."

Nora smiled at Johnny as she notes his hotness. When she spots Jason, she bit her lip. He is even more handsome in person. "Hi, Nora Buchanon," she said before holding out her hand.

"Jason Morgan," he said as he shook it.

"How is she?"

"Stubborn. She's trying to be brave, but she isn't sleeping well and she's scared," Jason said, laying it all out. He is hoping that seeing Nora will be good for her. "Are you staying for a few days?"

"Yes, if that's alright. I have a rental car that I parked in the garage. I wasn't sure where to stay." After she had heard the fear and sadness in Eva's voice while she was telling her what happened, Nora had immediately called the airline afterwards and booked the first available seat.

"We have a guest room. I'm sure Evangeline will prefer that you are close by."

"Thank you. My suitcases are in the car."

"Give me your keys. Johnny can go get them."

She dug them out of her purse and Jason strode to the door and gave Johnny the instructions.

Evangeline came downstairs and smiled when she saw her best friend and ran into her arms. Nora hugged her gently. "I came as soon as I could."

"Thank you."

Eva glanced at Jason, showing her thanks without words.

"Johnny will put her bags in the guest room."

"Thank you," Eva said softly. She is happy that her friend can be by her side.

Jason moved closer.

"You should go to the office. I'll be with Nora and Johnny is outside."

Nora sat on the couch to give them a little bit of privacy.

"You know I don't mind spending time with you, right?" he said as he smoothed her hair.

"I know. I just need some girl time."

He kissed her gently. "I love you, Evangeline. I just need you to know that."

She gasped as Jason kissed her again and then her eyes filled with tears. "I love you too."

"I know. You told me in your sleep the other night."

Her eyes grew wide and Nora chuckled softly.

"I did not."

He grinned. "You did and it made me very happy. Just know that I said it first."

She rolled her eyes. "I guess I'll have to take your word for it."

"I'll probably only be gone for a couple of hours. We can order out tonight."

"Okay."

She pulled him closer and stole another kiss. "Thank you for taking care of me."

"Always."

He retrieved some papers from the desk and then left.

"Wow, he is a hottie."

Eva grinned and sat next to her. "That's an understatement."

"Talk to me."

Eva shut her eyes and took a deep breath. "I just can't stop thinking about it; how he felt moving against me—him hitting me. And John showing up out of the blue completely threw me for a loop."

Nora sighed. "That was bizarre."

Johnny came in and took the bags upstairs and then left.

"He's hot too."

Eva chuckled. "Yeah, there are a lot of good-looking guys in the organization. I think you'll really like Francis."

Nora wiggled her eyebrows making Eva laugh. She is just what Evangeline needed; someone to take her mind off of what happened.

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Jason strode into Sonny's office.

"Hey stranger. How's Evangeline?" Sonny had planned to go visit her, but is trying to give her some space.

"She's hanging in there. Her friend Nora is in town, so I came into work for a while."

"Sounds good. Why don't I make dinner? You can bring her over." He'll get to see her and make sure that she is eating.

Jason took out his phone and called Johnny and he went inside and handed Eva his phone.

"Hello?"

"Hey. I'm with Sonny and he wants to cook dinner tonight."

"Can he do it here?" She really isn't ready to leave the penthouse yet.

Jason glanced at his partner. "She wants to know if you can cook at our place."

Sonny made a face and Jason smiled. "I guess so."

"He's depressed, but said yes."

Eva smiled. "Tell him I said thank you."

"Does she have any preference?"

Jason relayed the question and Eva said no. He hung up and put the phone away. "Will Kate be there?"

"No. She's in New York."

Francis knocked as he slowly entered the room. "Listen, I think we have a possible problem."

"What?"

"Johnny had been tracking Natalie Buchanon. She seemed to back down and said she was going to leave town. He put Richie on her and it looks like she stopped by to see John, but then disappeared. According to the cab driver, she had given him some money and told him to wait so he could take her to the airport. When she didn't come back in a half hour, he left. There was some activity early this morning and a few big guys carried out a large suitcase. I'm thinking she might have been in it."

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. "Great. Any sign of John?"

"Yeah, he left the hotel in the morning and stopped and got something to eat and then came back. He left again about an hour ago."

"I have a feeling that he's working with someone else. I'm just not sure if it's someone dangerous. Keep at it. Make sure someone is following every move he makes."

"I'm on it."

Francis left and Sonny cleared his throat. This isn't good Jason. Do you think they killed her?"

"Maybe, but I have a feeling they just wanted to shut her up." It is the only thing that made sense. Carlos had left the area after Jake's.

"We just need to protect Evangeline at all costs."

"I agree."

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Natalie woke up in a one room cell on a bed. A toilet, out in the open, is the only other item meaning she had no privacy, and a small sink.

A man sat on a chair outside of it.

She sat up and stretched. Her throat is sore, probably because that asshole had choked her.

The man looked up from his paper. "Welcome back."

"Where am I?"

"Not important. Just shut up and do what you're told and maybe you'll live to see another day."

She perused her surrounding. "Can you turn around? I have to pee."

He smirked. "No."

She glared at him and muttered under her breath as she walked over to the toilet. She shoved down her pants and sat down quickly. "Asshole."

"Nice Brazilian."

She glared at him again and then quickly grabbed a pillow off the bed and put it in front of her while she finished up. With one hand, she yanked her underwear up and then tossed the pillow and pulled up her pants. She washed her hands and knows that she is in big trouble and there is nobody who could save her.

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John made a few phone calls. The Natalie situation is unfortunate. He is waiting to see how all of this played out before he decided what to do with her. Hurting her isn't something he really wants to do, but he would to save his ass. Trying to think of spin to get the redhead off his back for good, he considers planting some evidence regarding the kidnapping, so maybe they'll suspect Natalie instead of him. Maybe no one would believe her if she told the truth. It's is the only scenario he can think of short of taking her life. This isn't how he had imagined this playing out. He just wanted to save Evangeline and be the hero and she still pushed him away. Plan B is already in motion, and he just hopes that it will work out so that he can get his girl back.

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Frank isn't happy that Carlos's plan had failed.

"She was more trouble than she was worth," Carlos said.

"We need to do something—make a strike. I don't want it to necessarily be a hit, but we need to do something to catch Morgan off guard and fire him up a bit."

"We can plan a disruption at the Towers."

Frank smirked. "That's not a bad idea. It will put them on edge."

"Maybe we could blame it on Natalie. I could pay someone to pull the smoke alarm. We can use Marissa and put a wig on her. They're about the same height. Morgan will think it was Natalie."

"She didn't get on the plane. I know that for sure."

"Then she's still in town."

Carlos smiled. "I'll handle it. It will go down tonight."

Frank grinned. They need to shake things up a little before they put their main plan in place. One way or another, they'll get to Evangeline and then he can get his revenge.