From Friends to Strangers…Chapter 14
Sonny didn't take his eyes off Brenda. "What do you mean you are seeing Brenda?"
Jason clarified. "We are together."
"You're together? How long?"
"Before you came back to town."
"I thought she hated you."
"She was angry because I didn't tell her you were coming back. She felt betrayed. It ended briefly but we are together now."
Sonny still had yet to look at Jason.
His eyes were planted firmly on Brenda.
She finally looked at him.
He made a quick nod in Jason's direction. "You and Jason?"
She nodded. "Yes."
"He's been touching you?"
Brenda didn't say anything.
"Answer the question, Brenda! Did you let him touch you?!"
She didn't respond.
"Ok, so you don't want to answer."
He turned his attention to Jason. "Have you been touching her?!"
Jason had no problem answering. "We have been doing everything that people do when they are together."
Sonny felt like he had been punched in the gut.
He dropped his head.
He couldn't believe this was happening.
He lifted his head and ran his hands down his face. "Damn, Brenda. I guess you got me back."
She frowned. "What? This didn't happen because I was trying to get you back. This is not about you."
"It isn't about me? You aren't using him to get back at me for not showing up?"
"No, this had nothing at all to do with you."
Sonny took off his jacket and placed it down on one of the chairs. "You have been fucking my best friend, but it has nothing to do with me."
She repeated herself. "It has nothing to do with you. I don't know what else to tell you."
"You don't know what else to tell me? Why are you here if it doesn't have anything to do with me?"
"I'm not here for you. I am here for Jason. I wanted to make sure you didn't do anything to him."
Sonny laughed but his eyes were angry. "I'm not going to do anything. Nothing. Not a thing."
Before she could react he placed his hands on her face holding her head still. "Tell me you are joking! Tell me, Brenda!"
Jason rushed over and pushed him away. "Don't touch her."
Sonny shook his head and laughed. "Don't touch her? You are telling me not to touch her?"
Jason moved Brenda behind him.
Brenda grabbed his arm.
Sonny's eyes fell on her hand.
He reached over and pulled her away.
"You are not going to disrespect me!"
She frowned. "I'm not disrespecting you! We are not together!"
Jason pushed Sonny so hard he almost fell. "Don't touch her!"
Sonny unfastened the buttons on his sleeves and rolled them up. "Let's go! Take your jacket off!"
Brenda got in between them.
Sonny looked into her eyes, searching for an explanation. "How could you do this? I know I hurt you, but Jason?"
"When you left me in that church, I was devastated. I don't think you will ever understand how I felt. I was a mess."
"So, you thought why not screw Jason, because it will make me feel better!"
"It didn't happen like that."
"How did it happen, Brenda?!" He looked at Jason. "How did it happen?! Please enlighten me!"
Brenda continued. "I was a mess after you didn't come. I hated everything and everybody. You made him stay with me. He was around all the time. He was there through the worst of it. I hated you and him. I mostly hated you."
Sonny chuckled. "That's apparent."
"We spent a lot of time together and in the beginning we fought constantly. After I let go a lot of the hurt, we became friends. Sonny, he was there through the messiest parts. He took a lot of shit from me."
"So, you decided to repay him?"
"We became friends and then it just happened naturally. I fell for him. We tried to resist it, but when it's real it is hard."
Sonny shook his head. "Bullshit! This is your new Jax."
"Don't bring up Jax."
"Why not? This is all this is! You are just trying to get a rise out of me. Well, Sweetheart, it worked! Shit! It fucking worked! Katrina told me you two were seeing each other. I thought she was crazy. I thought I was crazy for believing her. Damn it, she was right."
Sonny turned his attention to Jason who was just standing there watching…letting them say what needed to be said.
He pointed at Jason. "You knew why I couldn't marry her. You knew better than anyone. You also knew I loved her. I love her. I have a list of people that I know would stab me in the back in a heartbeat. I never in a million years thought you would be the one holding the knife. I don't trust hardly anyone, but I trusted you."
Jason didn't say anything.
Sonny cocked his head to the side. "You're not going to say anything?"
"I didn't want to hurt you."
"Why Brenda? Why her? You know she is everything to me." His eyes moved back to Brenda. "This is all a game to her. She is trying to get me back. She did it with Miguel. She did it with Jax. I can't believe she did it with you. He is my best friend. I thought you loved me."
"I don't love you, Sonny. I stopped a long time ago. I'm not trying to get you back. What I have with Jason, has nothing to do with you. It's about us."
"Is this supposed to be serious?"
Brenda turned and looked at Jason. "I love him."
Sonny pushed her out of the way and struck Jason.
Brenda yelled. "Sonny!"
Blood trickled down Jason's chin.
His lip was bleeding.
Brenda rushed over to him. "Are you ok?"
He just calmly pulled out a handkerchief and blotted his lip with it.
She turned and looked at Sonny. "Are you crazy?!"
Sonny shook out his right hand. "Am I crazy? You are fucking my best friend but asking me if I'm crazy?"
"This is not going to solve anything, Sonny!"
"Maybe not, but it will make me feel a whole lot better when I knock out all of his teeth."
Brenda stood in front of Jason.
Sonny shook his head. "Are you his bodyguard now?" He looked at Jason. "Is she your bodyguard now?!"
This was just pissing him off even more.
"Move, Brenda."
"No, I am not moving!"
Jason moved her out of the way.
She stepped back. "Jason, look, we have said what we came to say. Let's go."
"No, he isn't going anywhere."
Sonny drew back again, but this time Jason caught his arm. "I spotted you the first one, because I probably deserved it. That's it. Just one"
Sonny snatched his arm out of his grip.
Deep down Sonny knew he wouldn't last in a fist fight against Jason.
Jason was one of the best in the game.
Jason knew it too.
Brenda didn't.
She was terrified. "Jason, let's go."
Sonny pulled out a gun and pointed it at Jason. "Nope, not yet."
Brenda gasped. "Sonny! What are you doing?!"
Jason didn't flinch. "Move out of the way, Brenda."
She moved further back.
She blinked and Jason had a weapon in his hand aimed at Sonny.
She didn't even know where it came from.
It happened so fast.
Brenda thought she was going to faint.
"Sonny, this is crazy. This isn't going to solve anything."
He shrugged. "Maybe…maybe not?"
Sonny questioned Jason. "What's loyalty to you, Jason?"
Jason didn't say a word.
"Answer me, you disloyal motherfucker!"
Brenda started to move away from them, while Sonny continued to yell at Jason.
"Answer me! What is loyalty to you?! Fucking your friend's girl?!"
Jason remained silent.
He didn't want to shoot Sonny but he would if he had to.
Brenda's tears were blinding her now. "Please, put the guns down! Please! This is crazy!"
Sonny looked at her briefly. "No, Sweetheart, this isn't crazy." His dark eyes moved back to Jason. "Do you think this is crazy? The fact that you are still breathing, that's crazy."
Brenda slowly moved away from them.
She couldn't just stand there, she had to do something.
Jason saw her move behind Sonny.
What was she doing?
She was looking for something.
And then she pulled it out.
"Sonny, I told you this wouldn't solve anything! Put the gun down, or I promise I will shoot!"
Sonny kept the gun on Jason but quickly turned his head and saw Brenda standing there with one of his guns pointed at him.
"You're going to shoot me?!"
Brenda used to live with Sonny, she knew where he kept his guns.
There were several located throughout the penthouse.
In his line of business that was a necessity.
She had both of her hands on the gun. "No, not as long as you don't hurt Jason! Put the gun down, Sonny! Please! I'm begging you."
"Are you really going to shoot me, Brenda?! Are you really going to shoot me?!"
Jason took that opportunity and knocked the gun out of Sonny's hand.
He kicked it across the room and slipped his firearm back into his waistband.
Brenda lowered the gun.
She was shaking so badly.
Sonny looked away. "Get out."
Jason kept Sonny in his sights as he left the penthouse with Brenda.
Sonny sat down in the first chair he came to.
His guard had ear plugs in his ears and didn't hear the arguing.
He rushed inside after seeing Brenda holding the gun.
Sonny sent him away. "It's fine…"
Jason took the gun from Brenda and slipped it inside his waistband.
He pressed the button on the elevator.
The doors opened and they boarded.
She jumped up and wrapped her arms around his neck.
He hit the close button and held her close. "It's ok."
She was sobbing uncontrollably.
He stroked her hair. "Brenda, it's fine. Everything is ok."
They made it to the bottom and left the building.
Jason wanted her to ride with him, but she assured him she could drive herself home.
She was not leaving her car.
So, he followed her back to her house….
They are at home.
Jason took the dogs out and joined her in the kitchen.
Brenda is drinking a glass of wine.
She was trying her best to relax.
Jason walked up, removed the glass from her hand, and took a sip.
He sat the glass down. "Brenda, why did you come?"
"I didn't want anything to happen to you."
"You do realize, you made the situation worse right?"
"How?"
"By being there. He was going to be upset regardless, but him seeing you there, saying that you didn't love him and you loved me, it sent him over the edge. You should have let me handle it."
"Do you think it's over?"
"I don't know. It's going to be awhile before he accepts this. He loves you, Brenda."
"But I love you."
"Brenda, you should not have gotten that gun. Things could have ended badly."
"What was I supposed to do? Let him shoot you?"
"I can handle it." He shook his head. "You really should have stayed home. Yes, he would have been upset. We would have argued, maybe fought, but I don't think it would have escalated beyond that. It was too much to process. He couldn't handle seeing us together."
"Jason, I just didn't want to be stuck here wondering. That would have driven me crazy. Are you upset with me?"
"How can I be upset with you? You saved my life."
She rolled her eyes and pushed him.
He picked her up and sat her down on top of the counter.
"Jason, do you think all of this is worth it?"
He removed her heels. "I do."
"Me too. I don't feel like this is just another relationship."
"I know it's not, because I was against them."
"Not with Katrina."
"Are we still talking about that?"
"No. Do you think you and Sonny will be friends in the future?"
He shrugged. "I don't know."
"I know how much he means to you and I really hate the two of you are at odds because of me."
"Brenda, it's not your fault. We didn't plan this."
"Are you fired?"
Jason smiled. "More than likely, yes."
"I'm sorry you lost your mob job."
"I had to leave sometime. You didn't really like it."
That was news to her. "You were going to leave anyway?"
"Yes, I know you hate the mob. It's not something I need."
"So, you were going to leave for me?"
"For us. If it's not the best thing for us, it has to go."
"So, you would never go back?"
"No."
She smiled. "I'll take care of you. We can live off my earnings. You can be a house husband."
"I can only be a house husband if you married me."
Her eyes widen. "I wasn't…um-"
Jason laughed. "Let's go to bed."
He picked her up and she wrapped her legs around him.
The bottom part of her dress is up around her waist.
"Jason, do you even want to get married? Has your mind changed? I don't mean to me….just period."
He took her out of the kitchen. "Why does it matter? It's just a contract."
"Because it's telling the world that this is the person I want to spend my life with. Share everything with."
"Brenda, I don't care what the world knows or thinks."
He climbed the stairs with her still wrapped around his waist.
"Well, I still want to get married but this time to the right person."
"Who do you consider the right person?"
"A person who had every intention on quitting a dangerous job, because his girlfriend didn't like it."
Jason didn't say anything.
Brenda could tell he was freaking out because she knew him.
She grinned. "Before you freak out, I'm just kidding. I don't want you to drop me. It is way too soon for us to be discussing marriage, but if we did get married, I bet Sonny would show up."
Jason smiled. "That is a very bad joke."
She nodded. "It is isn't? And it's too soon for jokes, given what just happened."
He took her into the room and placed her down on her feet.
She was getting ready to pull her dress down, when he stopped her.
"Leave it."
He removed the guns from his waistband.
"How did you drive with those?"
"I took them out in the truck."
Brenda looked at the two guns resting on the top of her dresser.
Everything came rushing back.
"Jason, what if he would have shot you?"
"I don't think he would have. He wouldn't have hesitated if I was an informant or something, but not this."
"How do you know?"
"Because I know him, but I also realize that sometimes emotions can take over and you can do things you otherwise wouldn't do. The reason you should have stayed home."
"I made a mistake."
He took off his jacket. "I forgive you."
"You were so calm."
"I had my moments. I didn't like him touching you. Not aggressively."
"I wasn't worried about me. I was worried about you. He is not going to do anything to me."
"I can handle Sonny."
He leaned down and kissed her. "Remember when I said I couldn't wait till this night was over? That's still true."
He kissed her and took her over to the bed.
They fell back onto it.
He moved in between her legs.
"Jason, I was so scared."
"Me too, especially when you pulled out that gun. I thought you were going to make a mistake and shoot me."
"Ha ha ha. I thought we agreed it's too soon for jokes."
He laughed…...
It's in the middle of the night.
Brenda's head is resting on Jason's chest.
Out of nowhere the dogs started barking.
She lifted her head.
Then as quickly as they started, they stopped.
She yawned, snuggled back up against Jason, and closed her eyes.
Jason thought it was weird how quickly the dogs stopped barking.
He got out of bed and slipped on his underwear.
Brenda lifted her head. "Where are you going?"
"I'll be back."
She fell back on the pillow and closed her eyes.
Jason grabbed his gun and walked down the stairs…
He made it downstairs and noticed the dogs lying on the floor.
He leaned down and touched them.
They were still breathing but they were out.
The door was still closed.
His eyes went to the lock on the door.
It wasn't locked and the alarm was not on.
Did they even turn it on?
He stood up but felt something cold.
His gun was taken…..
Brenda woke up to the sun shining in her face.
She looked to her right and Jason was gone.
She got out of bed and slipped on her robe.
She headed downstairs.
The dogs were itching to get outside.
She opened the door and they went rushing out.
Jason's truck was still parked out front.
She went into the kitchen.
He wasn't there.
She yelled his name. "Jason!"
She went back into the living room, opened the door, and called for the dogs.
They flew back in.
She walked back upstairs.
She checked the other bedroom.
There was still no sign of him.
Maybe he walked to his house?
But he would have taken the dogs out.
She sat down on the bed.
His phone was still on her nightstand.
She looked up and noticed one of the guns missing.
That didn't mean anything.
He always carried his gun.
She got up, took a quick shower, threw on a pair of sweats, and headed over to his house.
She unlocked the door and went in.
"Jason!"
She searched every room.
He had not been there.
She left and went back home.
She decided to just wait.
She waited for hours.
Nothing
This had Sonny written all over it.
She grabbed her keys and left…
Sonny was sitting at the table eating, when he received a phone call from the guard posted outside of his door.
He got up and unlocked the door.
Brenda walked in. "Where is Jason, Sonny?"
He closed the door and walked back over to the table.
He sat down. "Would you like something to eat?"
"No, I don't want anything to eat! Where is Jason?!"
"I don't know."
"You are lying!"
"Maybe I am? You lied to me."
"I didn't lie to you. I don't care enough about you to lie to you. Where is he, Sonny?"
Her voice was shaking now.
"Did you think I was just not going do anything?"
"Why would you need to do anything? I don't belong to you! I can see whomever I want!"
"It's Jason, Brenda. My friend Jason."
"I want him back, Sonny."
"You are not helping things."
"If you ever cared anything about me-"
He interrupted. "If I ever cared anything about you? I love you more than anyone. Anyone."
"But I don't love you. I didn't plan on falling in love with Jason, but I did. If you hurt him, I will hurt you."
"What are you going to do?"
"Hurt him and you will find out. I am never going to love you again, Sonny. Never. You have made sure of that."
Sonny leaned back in his chair and looked at her.
Tears moved down her cheeks. "Sonny, don't hurt him. Please, I love him."
"You are standing there telling me you love Jason. You think that's going to help him?"
"It's the truth. It has nothing at all to do with you."
"Why do you keep saying that?! It's Jason! It has everything to do with me!"
"This is about two people who fell in love in the most natural way possible."
"He was my best friend. You were my girl. Nothing natural about it."
"I was nothing to you. I was done. I am done. I just want to move on with my life. Let me."
"With Jason?"
"Yes. He is my future. You are my past. Let him go, Sonny. He didn't set out to hurt you. You know Jason."
"Maybe he didn't, but I believe you did. This is all a game."
"No, it's not! This is not a game. This is real."
"Like Jax?"
"I loved Jax."
"But you left him."
"Yes, and I paid for it. Let Jason go, Sonny."
"Are you sure you don't want anything to eat?"
"You are such a bastard."
She pulled out his gun, placed it down on the table, and left….
Brenda knew going to the police would be pointless.
She had been around Sonny long enough to know that.
She went back home.
She walked into the house and closed the door.
The house was quiet.
She didn't even see the dogs.
She thought she heard the shower.
She rushed up the stairs, which was probably not the smartest thing to do, but she wasn't thinking.
She ran inside of the bathroom.
It was Jason.
She yelled. "Jason!"
She got into the shower with her clothes on and hugged him.
"Are you ok?!"
Her eyes moved up and down his body.
"Yeah, I'm fine."
She touched his cheek. "Did they hurt you? Where have you been?"
"No, they didn't hurt me. I would not have let them. Sonny sent two men last night. They took me to one of our safe houses. Barry and Jose was there. That was a mistake. I'm closest to them. I guess they were supposed to rough me up and hold me. Make you crazy."
"It worked. I just left Sonny's. I wanted to shoot him but I couldn't. I just begged him not to hurt you. How did you get away?"
"I guess Sonny told them to let me go. I could have left sooner, but I didn't want them to get in trouble. We played cards and watched TV. I couldn't call you. That would have messed everything up for them. They found out about us, but they didn't tell Sonny. So, I played along. That's the least I could do. I owe them."
She kissed him. "Baby, I was so scared."
"I was fine."
She looked him over. "Are you sure they didn't hurt you?"
"Yes."
Jason smiled. "You do realize you are standing in a shower fully dressed?"
"Jason, I'm just so happy to see you." She started planting kisses all over his face…..
Jason and Brenda are in bed.
Brenda is having trouble sleeping.
She was still freaked out by what happened.
She wasn't sure if the house was secure.
Jason assured her that they would be fine.
It didn't help because she still refused to go to sleep.
She didn't feel safe there anymore.
She was paranoid. She thought something bad was going to happen to him.
Jason knew he had to pay Sonny a visit….
It's the next day.
Brenda had to attend a short meeting with Lucy.
She wanted to cancel but Jason talked her into going.
He thought she could use the distraction.
While she was meeting Lucy, Jason headed straight for Sonny's.
He walked past the guard and pressed the button.
The door opened.
"What do you want?"
"I need to talk to you."
Sonny turned and went back inside. "We don't have anything to talk about."
Jason followed him in. "Yeah, we do. Don't send people to Brenda's house again. If you wanted me, all you had to do was say so."
Sonny turned. "I don't take orders from you."
"Just don't send anyone to her house again. Don't send anyone to get me. If there is anything you want to do to me, do it yourself. I could have killed them, but I didn't want to wake Brenda."
"You didn't want to wake Brenda? You are saying that to me?"
"We are together. We sleep together."
Sonny looked Jason over. "Barry and Jose did a terrible job."
"You will have to do better than that. Just don't send anyone to Brenda's house. You have my number. Just call, I'll show up. Are we at war now? I just need to know."
"I trusted you."
"No one planned anything."
"That still doesn't make it right. How did you end up in her bed?"
"Things changed."
"She is just trying to get back at me. It won't last. It didn't with Jax. It won't with you. I'm just going to sit back and watch it implode."
"Just don't send anyone to Brenda's house again. Call, I'll come."
Jason left.
After leaving Sonny's, Jason set out to find Brenda.
She sent him a text.
She was at the Quartermaine's.
He had no idea what she was doing there, but he headed in that direction.
She was having tea with his grandmother when he arrived.
His grandfather was there too.
He stood up when Jason entered.
"Brenda told us that someone broke into her house."
Jason looked at Brenda.
She could see the anger in his eyes.
It was a look that she had become accustomed to.
"Yeah, I told them someone broke in, but they didn't take anything."
Edward continued. "She doesn't feel comfortable in that house anymore. We have invited the two of you to come live here until you can find another house. She said you have been living with her."
Jason shook his head. "No thanks. We are not moving in here."
Brenda stood up. "This house is huge, Jason."
"Brenda, we are not moving in here. I told you, the house is safe."
"I don't feel safe anymore. I feel violated and you should too."
"Do you think I would let anything happen to you?"
She shook her head. "No, but I don't want to stay there anymore."
"We can stay at my house."
"You know that's not an option."
"We'll stay at a hotel."
"Not with our dogs."
Lila spoke. "Jason, this house is rather large. You will still have your privacy. We can make sure of that. You can have the guest house, if that's better."
Jason wanted to strangle Brenda. "Grandmother, thanks for offering, but we can stay at my house."
"Jason, I'm not staying there. I'm staying here."
"Brenda, there is nothing wrong with my house."
"Where would I sleep?"
He shook his head. "God, Brenda."
She walked up to him. "Jason, it's your family. I feel safe here. I always have."
He sighed.
She grabbed his hand. "Just for a little while. Please."
"Ok….we'll stay in the guest house."
Edward buzzed Reginald and asked him to bring the keys…
Brenda and Jason headed out back to take a look at the guest house.
Edward stood in the door and watched them. "We have been trying to get him to come back…seems like forever. She bats her eyelashes and he returns."
Lila smiled. "He loves her."
Edward nodded. "I know…."
Brenda and Jason are looking around the guest house.
She had been in it before, she knew it was nice.
It was just as nice as her house.
She knew Jason was angry with her.
"Jason, if you don't want to move here you don't have to. I can move here by myself. I feel safe here."
She was lying.
She would never move there without him, but he didn't know that.
It wasn't that she didn't feel safe there because she did.
The Quartermaine estate was like Fort Knox.
She still wouldn't come if Jason refused.
"Brenda, wherever you are that's where I want to be. I thought you weren't afraid of Sonny."
"I'm not. I don't think he would do anything to hurt me. I just don't like knowing people were in my house. It just doesn't feel like home anymore."
Jason nodded. "I can't believe you are giving up your house. You love that house."
"I do. I don't know, maybe I won't give it up. To be honest, we should probably find a house for us anyway. In the mean time, it will be fun having your family so close."
He chuckled. "It will be nice having my grandmother so close."
She walked up to him and kissed his cheek. "Let's look for a house together. Our house."
"I am calling my realtor today."
She laughed.
At that moment AJ walked in. "Is it true? You two are moving here?"
Brenda nodded.
Jason added. "Temporarily."
AJ walked up and slapped him on the back. "This is going to be so much fun."
Jason shot Brenda a nasty look.
She laughed…
Sonny propped his feet on top of the coffee table and leaned back on the sofa.
He was nursing a bottle of brandy.
He couldn't stop thinking about Brenda and Jason.
He was upset with Brenda but not enough to walk away.
He loved her and he knew she loved him.
There was no stronger connection than theirs.
She would do things like this when she was hurt.
And he hurt her.
He hurt her when he married Lily and he hurt her when he failed to show up to their wedding.
She was hurting him now by being with Jason.
He knew if they could just stop hurting each other they could be great together.
They were great together.
Better than great.
They could set the world on fire.
Just like they always wanted to do.
He wasn't just going to get her back, he was going to snatch her back….…