PART 25 - Snow White & Rose Red
Even though she could barely breathe, Elizabeth was acutely aware of a few things. Jason's comforting presence around her, Maximus' concerned gaze, and the careworn photo in her hand. Delfina Santini. Her real mother was Delfina Santini.
"It's a relief almost." She didn't realize that she'd spoken the words until Jason murmured his response in her ear.
"What is?"
"All my life," she sighed, "the Webbers have been distant from me. They brought me with them all over the world as they worked for Doctor's Without Borders and in refugee camps. They brought me with them, but I never felt like one of them."
This wasn't the time to let Elizabeth know that they'd done a background check on her. They would piece this all together later, but right now, Elizabeth needed comfort.
The image in front of her swam with her tears. "She's so beautiful."
"Just like you, my dear." Maximus' voice seemed to stick in his throat at times. "You are her image."
Elizabeth looked down at the image woman who did bear some resemblance to her, though not as much as Maximus seemed to think. There was no way that she came anywhere near as gorgeous as Delfina Santini. Her wholesome beauty was like a classical painting on display in museum. "No," she shook her head, "I could only dream of being that beautiful."
Jason lifted his hand and brushed some of her hair from her face. "Maybe you should look the mirror once in awhile."
Shaking her head, Elizabeth held out the photo to Maximus.
He waved it away. "I can have more sent from my home. You should have that for now, so you know your connection to my family."
Adjusting slightly on Jason's lap, Elizabeth looked back at him. "So Sonny knows that I'm-"
"Off limits?" Jason nodded and smiled, trying to ignore the growing ache he felt, warding off the purely masculine reaction to Elizabeth's bottom wiggling around in his lap. "He knows."
Sighing with relief, Elizabeth laid her head on his shoulder. "Wow, that's… that's great!"
Maximus got to his feet while Elizabeth was talking and made a visual tour around the cottage. He was looking into the bedroom when Jason noticed the man's suddenly pensive mood.
"Maximus?"
The larger man murmured a response but he didn't turn back around.
"Is something wrong?" Jason was instantly on alert. Uncle or no, Jason would put himself between Elizabeth and any threat.
Clasping his hands behind his back, Maximus turned back around to look at the young couple. "I would like to speak to Elizabeth alone."
*S*W*R*R*
Sonny realized very quickly that he was being watched. It wasn't the protective detail of men that were in his service, no, there was something else going on. He could feel the hairs on the back of his neck raising even in the sanctuary of his penthouse.
Carly flopped down on the couch beside him, her hemline flaring up to the middle of her thighs. She made no effort to put the hem back in place. "So, what are we doing today?"
"Doing?" Sonny narrowed his eyes at her. "We're not doing anything."
"I'm so bored," she let out an impatient sigh and reached out her hand and trailed her fingers along this coat sleeve. "I want to go out for lunch. And… I know you want to take me."
His eyes narrowed at her. "I told you about my meeting today."
She rolled her eyes and laid her head back against the sofa. "Yeah, well you might have said something, but once you started talking about business and that Maximillion guy I just zoned out… it's totally boring to me."
Sonny needed to make a phone call, but he couldn't do it from his apartment. "Fine, if you want to go out, we'll go out. Go get dressed."
"Dressed?" Carly glared at him. "I'm dressed!"
"We're going somewhere nice, Carly… put on something appropriate."
His words stung, but he didn't care. Carly would go and change, because Carly wanted to go out. But once they were there he was going to use a phone he could be sure wasn't tapped. And that's when he was going to tell Luke he was on his own. He'd take her to a nice restaurant and he knew if he did she'd cause a scene, because Caroline Benson never met a nice place she couldn't ruin with her shoddy manners and self centered personality.
Once she was distracting patrons and security alike he'd find a phone and use it. He only needed to utter a few words and light Luke's short fuse. Then he could just sit back and watch the fireworks.
He was going to find some way to get the best of Maximus, but right now… Sonny was under his thumb.
*S*W*R*R*
Lila picked up the phone with a smile. "Francis? Is that you, my dear boy?"
The guard smiled and nodded, even though she couldn't see him. "Why, yes, Mrs. Quartermaine, it is."
"And I suppose that you have called to let me know how things are going for my grandson and his beautiful young bride."
She heard the pause in the conversation as clearly as if she had been in the same room.
"What happened, Francis?" Her tone said she expected an answer and quick.
"You raised quite a gentleman, Mrs. Quartermaine." He grimaced and knew it would be better to just say it. "He slept on the couch."
She sighed. "You told me that the couch was too small for such shenanigans."
Francis raked his fingers through his hair. "I misjudged Jason's ability to get in his own way."
"Well," she huffed, "this will not stand!"
He could hear the wheels turning in her head. "And we have another issue altogether. Elizabeth has family in town."
"Audrey?" Again Lila's normal sweet tone was hard and unyielding. "She's no more Elizabeth's family than the Spencers seem to think they are."
"Not Mrs. Webber," Francis explained. "The photograph Jason sent to Maximus brought the Don here. Apparently, Elizabeth is his niece. She had no idea about the connection."
"Oh dear," Lila sighed, "mark my words, Francis… this new development will complicate things-"
"Even more than Jason?"
"My grandson's interference goes without saying. He can't seem to be decisive when it is to his benefit. However, I was referring to Maximus Giambetti. I've had interactions with him before. He's a stubborn man… set in his ways, but I, too, am a stubborn person, Francis." She perked up. He could hear the smile on her lips. "Keep the faith, Francis, and we shall both win that wager with my husband."