Chapter 12

Rick was sitting in the interrogation room handcuffed to the table. We had brought him in and had already been interrogated him for awhile. We already had the evidence now we were just prying as to why he did it.

"Are you getting anywhere?" Ronnie asked coming up to me.

"No," I said shortly, filled with frustration, "Lucky is in there with him now."

"Why keep it a secret?" Ronnie asked, "We already got him."

"Well he called his own lawyer so I assume he's gonna do all he can to get out of a serious conviction. Including telling us as little as possible."

As I said this Sonny came walking into the PCPD.

"Oh of course," Ronnie said, "You called Daddy."

"Rick is his brother," I replied, "And Sonny is the one who got stabbed so back off man. Seriously, I've had enough of your bullshit. Sonny being my father hasn't fueled any part of this interrogation."

I pushed past my old partner and greeted Sonny.

"Let me see my dear brother," Sonny spat.

"Sonny I can't let you just walk in there."

"Dante, listen to me," Sonny went on, "I know Rick. He's gonna use all his little tricks and tactics from when he was a big bad lawyer, right? Well, I've seen them all before. I'm his brother, he stabbed me, I can get it out of him why he finally snapped."

"Look, Lucky is in there with him now," I went on, "Just give him some time."

"Check again."

I turned and Lucky was walking out looking defeated.

"He's not talking," Lucky said, "But it sounds like money exchanged hands."

"Of course," Sonny chimed in, "Rick was always a dirty rat underneath. He's been living a crap life compared to what he used to have. If enough money was involved, and the right bribes were put in place, he'd do it."

Within five minutes we had both agreed to let Sonny talk to Rick. We gave him five minutes.

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"Hey brother," I said, walking into the interrogation room, "How've you been?"
"They let you in here?" Rick spat, "While this place really has gone down."

"Oh yeah," I replied, "Compared to the upstanding police department you used to run."

"Look Sonny, what are you doing here? What do you want?"

I chuckled, which startled Rick.

"What's funny?" he questioned.

"Oh well," I smiled, "It's just, I have stitches right now and my side is really tender. See, I was recently stabbed with a knife by my brother! So it's ironic that you would be questioning me."
"Oh shut up," Rick began, "Don't get all high and mighty and pretend – "

"Rick," I whispered, "I'll be asking the questions."

He sat back in his chair, angrily looking away.

"Who paid you?" I asked.

"Unbelievable," Rick muttered, "I was framed."

"Framed!" I laughed again, "Come on, Rick. Let it go. We both know that ship has sailed. So stop wasting all of our time and just tell me. I'm not here for the police. I'm here for myself and my family. Let me explain something to you, alright. Someone paid you to cut at me with a knife, but they wanted you to finish me off. You failed, clearly. So while you're part in this may be over, the main goal is not! They'll hire someone else, someone better, and someone even more ruthless. Someone who doesn't care about the rest of my family. Someone who would have shot me while I was sitting in Alexis's house, next to Kristina and Molly. So if you are that far over the edge that you'll let some nut job send hit man after hit man towards me and my family, by all means keep your mouth shut. But remember, I can help you. If you help me protect my family I'll tell my son, the detective, not to be quite so hard on you."

I watched as Rick comprehended what I had said. After a few good moment of silence I stood up.

"What a brave decision," I said sarcastically, "I'll be sure to tell your niece….and your daughter, just how willing you were to protect them."

I had almost stepped completely out the door when right on queue….

"Sonny."

"Rick."

"I don't know who it was."

"Wrong answer," I smiled again, turning to leave.

"Listen to me," Rick exclaimed. He never told me his name. He came to me one night when I was in some crappy bar. He was a young guy, wearing a suit. He kept talking about his dead brother who wasted his life on someone. And he also talked a lot about Jason. Apparently Jason is the main target but to unravel Jason's life he was starting with you."

"Franco's dead," I said more to myself than Rick.

"What?"
"So what," I went on, "This guy you don't know, but knows you, shows up and offers you a bunch of money to take a stab at me."
"He kept going on about you and he knew just what to say to provoke me. To remind me every reason that I hate you. He talked about Molly and Kristina and how you were in their life and I wasn't and you're a worse influence than I am. He just knew what to say, and he had the money I needed."

"I'm gonna stop you there," I said, "Before you start getting too emotional and ask for a hug or something. Oh and good luck in court. I'm sure you remember Diane Miller. She's a handful!"

With one last smile I turned and walked back to Lucky and Dante.

I told them everything Rick had told me.

"Nice work," Lucky said, "I'll go start some paperwork."

"So someone else is after Jason," Dante said.

"Franco's brother," I added, "It has to be him. Only someone has crazy as Franco the artist would have a very similar brother."

"If Franco had a brother don't you think Jason would know?" Dante added.

"Looks like little Spinelli has some digging to do," I said.

Dante nodded and for a second we were silent.

"Dante," I said, "I know it doesn't mean anything to you, but I'm proud of you. You did good work and saved me from a lot. A lot of people wouldn't have cared who stabbed me and were probably hoping I didn't make it."

"I'm glad you did," Dante said, "And as far as the case, I was just doing my job."

"I'm sorry I didn't know you until now," I said, "But you're mom did a damn good job."

"Thank you," Dante said, "And I may not agree with your lifestyle, but you are a good dad to your kids. For what it's worth."

And to me it was worth a lot. It was a start.

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"Who was that?" Sam asked as I hung up my phone.

"Sonny," I replied, then relayed everything I had just found out about Rick.

"Wait a minute," Sam said walking over to stand in front of me, "Franco may have an equally crazy brother who is now coming to unravel your life?"
"I don't want you to worry," I said, "I won't let anything happen to you, Sam."

"Jason, I'm not worried about myself, I'm worried about you."

"I'll call Spinelli and have him start researching. If it is Franco's brother I can take him. He's clearly not as experienced as Franco or he wouldn't have hired Rick. As for tonight, though, I don't want to think about it."

"Oh yeah?" Sam asked, smirking at me, "What do you want to think about?"
"You," I grinned, wrapping my arms around her, "But without this."

I tugged on her loose shirt as she squeezed closer to me.

"Now that," she smiled, "Is something you don't just have to think about."
She planted a kiss on me and I slowly slid my hands up to remove the shirt.

"We'll take care of everything else tomorrow," Sam breathed, barely audible, "Don't worry."

"I'm not worried," I whispered, pushing her over to the couch and covering her mouth with mine, "I love you."

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I was sitting on the couch in Dante's and my loft typing on my lap top. I was wearing a pair of shorts and one of Dante's shirts that had been confused with mine on the floor. I buttoned a few buttons to keep it on, but other than that I didn't really care. I was swamped with work and I didn't plan on seeing Dante tonight since he'd be working on his case.

Needless to say I jumped in surprise when the door flew open.

"Aah!" Dante exclaimed happily, "Time to celebrate!"

I looked up, already a smiled on my face.

"Dante! I wasn't expecting you! What are we celebrating?"

"Other than my girlfriend who is sexy as hell," he grinned leaning down to plant a kiss on my lips.

"Rick Lansing has officially been convicted of stabbing Sonny, we forced the story and a confession over him and the case is closed!"

"Oh my gosh!" I exclaimed setting my computer down, "Dante that is amazing!"

He came walking back as quick as possible carrying two chutes of champagne and two beers.

"Ooh classy," I grinned, loving it.

"Tomorrow I'm taking you out to dinner, or anywhere fancy so we can dress up and I can drool over you all night. But tonight I just want to spend here on the couch with you."

"I guess Kate's meetings can wait," I smiled.

"Oh yes," he replied, "They certainly can. But I cannot."

We held up our champagne glassed.

"To Dante," I said, "The most brilliant and sexiest detective in the world!"

"To Lucky, Jason, and even Sonny, and everyone who helped close this case!"

"Slightly less romantic," I mumbled with a smile, "But I'll take it."

We downed our champagne then Dante grinned at me.

"You want romantic?" he asked leaning over top of me, "Let's start right here."

He went straight for the middle button of his shirt that I was wearing and slooowly starting unbuttoning the few I had taken time to button. He flung the shirt open and smile down at me.

"I love you."

And with that he silenced me with his lips. It didn't take long for his shirt to be unbuttoned as well and we pulled them off of each other.

Dante mumbled various compliments as we continued to kiss each other ferociously.

It was a long time later, but eventually we were lying together on the couch slowly drinking our beers and talking.

"Everything's back to normal," he said, "It's perfect."

"It sure is," I agreed, "Case closed."

THE END!

I have to end it here, I don't want to drag it out any longer and since I've gotten terrible at posting quickly it's better this way! Hahahaha Please leave one last review! Thank you sooooo much for sticking with me!