Chapter 21: Risk

Jason POV

I slammed the car door shut as we rode to New York. Sam had said to come alone, but I brought Max with me as back up. Sonny had lost it weeks before Michael was taken, but hearing about Michael and seeing Michael being snatched had sent him into a rage I hadn't seen in a while. As I watched the footage of Michael being swept away by a blonde woman on the security tapes it took everything I had not to lose it as well. I heard the glass shatter, I saw the tables flipped over, and I knew then and there that the person who took him would die. If Sam's suspicions were right about Julian Jerome, I pray that her father isn't behind this; because ultimately, he will have to die.

I can count on two hands the number of times that I have been so thrown that I didn't know how to handle myself. Robin making Sonny fire me, Robin telling AJ about Michael, hell, even when Sonny left Brenda at the alter I knew what to do. Even Courtney lying and making decisions for the both of us never bothered me. But my world had been rocked tonight when I heard that Michael had been kidnapped. I wasn't sure of my choices to leave him with Sonny and Carly. Carly. Carly and Alcazar has my blood boiling. She's being so stupid about all of this. It's only because she loves Sonny but they are both too stubborn to stop and look at what they are doing to one another. I'm just tired of it all. I'd like to just get away and take Sam with me on one of our bike ride and forget them all.

Sam. Having her in my life scares the shit out of me only because I know I wouldn't come back from the depths of hell if something happened to her. She's so strong and it feels like she finally let me in. I keep waiting for the shoe to drop. For her to yell about where I am or to choose Alexis' side over mine. She hasn't. I trust that she won't either.

It was a big deal to tell me Julian was her dad. We should fire half of our P.I. team for not uncovering his pseudo identity. I was so afraid for her tonight when she told me where she is. I don't know how we will get through this one without some bloodshed. Obviously if we are right and Alexis is trying to off Sonny, then Sonny will have to kill her. Which he can't do because she is the mother of his child. If I have to do it I am killing Sam's mom. If Julian finds out what Alexis is doing to him he will have her murdered and then Sam's dad will have killed her mom. It's a shitty situation. I'll take Rick out gladly. He has had that shit coming to him for years.

"Boss, this is us, right?"

Max interrupts my strategizing.

"Yeah. Max, I'm going to secure Sam first and then we will most likely have you drive the sedan back."

"Do you think they have Michael?"

This is where I have to do the one thing I hate doing; evade the truth. If the Jerome's did take Michael then Sonny will start a war which is what Alcazar wants.

I shrug my shoulders at Max.

"Not sure yet."

That's not a lie. I don't know yet. If I had to bet I would guess that they do, but I am not certain as to why they would kidnap Sonny's child. Kids and wives are normally off limits. After Lilly died it was well known to not go after anyone Sonny loved; there had even been a series of meetings about how wives and children were to be off limits. Then again, Alcazar broke pacts and promises all the time. The fact that he is alive after going after Sonny's wife and then getting engaged to Carly is enough to have him killed. It just feels like everything is all messed up these days.

We pull into the parking garage to be met by a pretty large guy. He has lean muscle on him, which nine times out of ten means he can hand to hand combat and probably come at ya pretty hard.

I step out of the SUV and Max does the same.

"Jason Morgan."

I nod my head.

"He said you were coming alone."

"I did. Max is here for the car."

Curtis watches as Max gets in the sedan, his oversized body doesn't look right in the driver's side but there's no time to think about that. I look for any snipers, any indication that this is a take down and I don't see anyone but Curtis. I do notice the cameras moving, but that is nothing new.

"Need anything else, Boss?"

Max has rolled down the window and brought the car to our side.

"No. I'll call when we leave here. Remember, you don't know anything."

"Yes, Sir."

Max drives away and Curtis leads me to the elevators. He doesn't say much but I know he is looking to see where my weapons are located.

"I don't have to take your weapons away, right? This is a friendly visit?"

I nod.

"Yeah, if there isn't any trouble I'm not looking to start any."

Curtis nods as the elevator doors open once again.

A media company is a good way to hide. It's also a great way to launder money. Julian is obviously a risk taker with a good business head. Those are the loose cannons you have to watch. They think they won't ever get caught which makes them dangerous.

I turn the corner and see a moving image that will remain etched in my mind as long as I live. Sam is holding Michael. Michael is holding Sam for dear life and when she sees me her face relaxes and those chocolate eyes allow my heart to beat again. God, she's beautiful.

Sam whispers something to Michael who then turns. As soon as Sam puts Michael down he runs to me and I lift him up.

"You're okay buddy."

Michael clings to me harder.

I look at Sam knowing she didn't know he was here and then look to see Julian Jerome. He had a pretty good plastic surgeon and wow what a set up. I turn back to see the same blonde from the video and my mouth becomes dry. Rage fills my body as I want to kill her now.

"Wait. Mr. Morgan I know that look. We know one another. I can explain."

She should die for taking Michael. Sam must sense what is going on and she is next to me rubbing circles on Michael's back.

She steps in front of me and looks up into my eyes.

"Jason, I'm not sure what you want to do here. I am on your side no matter what, but just know they thought you had taken me and I was being held."

I feel the fury and see the expression on her face. This is more than I thought would happen. Obviously this plan has more layers to it than I thought.

Before I can say anything else Michael moves his head away from my shoulder to stare at me. He looks so lost. So confused.

"Jason. They said my real daddy wanted me. And then that blonde lady said there was a change of plans and we weren't going to see my daddy. Why wouldn't she just take me home?"

Shock must register on my face because the next thing I know Sam's hand rests on my arm. Michael continues to stare while Sam speaks softly.

"Michael, I had some pizza earlier. It was really good. Why don't we eat some pizza so that Jason can clear this all up for us."

If this were any other woman I wouldn't trust Michael with her. This is Sam. She can protect him. She will do whatever is necessary and I know that.

Michael turns to her and says something about pizza but my mind is too fuzzy to hear it all. Sam and Michael walk away into the adjoining room with a table and I see her turn to me and look at me through the doorway. She nods her head and smiles but doesn't close the door all the way. I'm guessing she is my back up, and for some reason this doesn't unnerve me as much as I thought it would.

I look between the woman and Sam's dad. I'm waiting for them to talk.

"You may not remember me, but I remember seeing you at the meeting for the families years ago. I'm sure you know I am Ava Jerome."

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you for kidnapping him."

Ava looks dumbfounded for a bit.

"Because you know about me."

I look over to Julian and wonder how much of Sam's strength and bravery comes from this guy.

I bite back the scream that is begging to be unleashed.

"Start talking."

Julian points to a chair and after he and Ava sit on the couch in his office I take a seat in the chair beside it.

"Someone has gone out of there way to make sure a war would ensue. I received these photos along with a report on Sam McCall a few months ago. I didn't know I had a daughter up until then, but the photos made it look like the Corrinthos organization knew, and that you all had kidnapped her."

Julian hands me a photo from the parking garage when Sam saved me when I was being shot at. I'm pushing her into the vehicle. He hands another photo of Sam on the docks with guns pointed at her. The night she saved Milo.

"Who sent these to you?"

"Tell me that the photos are wrong. My daughter says they are."

"Oh they're wrong and I think you know they are. She pushed me out of the way of a sniper bullet in this one, we were trying to get to safety. In the other she saved one of our guards on the docks. Both times Alcazar's men were involved so I am guessing that is who sent these to you. What was the deal he wanted?"

"In exchange for him helping me get Sam he wanted half of Sonny's territory when I took him out. "

The pieces started clicking.

"What else?"

I looked at the blonde but Julian spoke again.

"No one could get to her with you around. After Alexis went to try to take her away for a day then we got a call saying we had to take Sonny's child and take him to an address."

I look at the blonde and she hands me her phone. I know this address. It's on the same street as Elizabeth's art studio.

"Tell me about this."

Ava Jerome finally speaks after a few minutes pass.

"There was a call saying that he needed to go to some address so he could be with his real father."

How the hell is AJ involved?

"Who called that in?"

Ava didn't answer. I could feel my face heating up.

"An attorney for Alcazar. Rick Lansing."

Son of a bitch.

There's the mole. I knew he was trouble.

Julian's voice rang through momentarily.

"Now that you know what we know, what are we going to do about it?"