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Chapter 37

Two hours later, Monica and Alan checked into work and began their shifts, oblivious to the danger that was nearby.

Monica was heading upstairs to check on a patient. Her guard was discreetly following behind, when she was pulled onto the elevator. The doors shut before the guard could get there and he radioed for help.

"What do you want?" she asked as she pushed away from him.

"Tell your son, that if he doesn't stop helping the Jeromes, his family will suffer the consequences."

"You have lost your mind. Jason will find you and kill you for this."

"There was no harm done. Pass on the message."

He slipped off on another floor and Monica shakily pushed the button for the lobby, knowing security would be there. Her guard rushed towards her and Monica hugged him in relief.

"Are you alright Mrs. Q?"

"I just need to sit down."

Monica is pale, so he got her to a chair just as Max ran up to them.

"Are you okay?"

"Yes. He had a message for Jason."

"Tell me," Max said softly.

"If he doesn't stop helping the Jeromes, then they'll go after his family."

"I'm sorry that you got dragged into the middle of this. Do you want me to go get Alan?"

"Yes. He's on the seventh floor."

"Okay."

Max hurried to get on the elevator and went to the nurse's station. When Alan spotted him, he rushed towards him.

"What happened?"

Max explained. "Let me take you to her."

His guard followed them onto the elevator and they went to the first floor.

As soon as Monica saw him, she stood and then he enveloped her into his arms.

"Talk to me."

"I'm okay. I just needed you."

"Always."

She took a deep breath. "Will you walk me back upstairs?"

"Of course."

"I'll give the message to Jason," Max said. They walked away, and when they were a safe distance, he called Sonny. "Should I interrupt Jason's trip?"

Sonny sighed. "Send him a text. Let him know that they are fine. He can decide."

"Okay. I'm going to hang out for a bit just in case."

"That's fine."

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Jason sped around the corners faster, knowing Elizabeth was into it. They were having a perfect day. Lunch was fun, and he really liked Ellie. He could tell that Johnny is already into her and he is happy that his friend had possibly found someone to share his life with. He would never take Elizabeth for granted. They drove in the mountains and stopped at a bluff.

"Beautiful," Elizabeth said as she gazed at the other mountains.

Jason was looking at her thinking the same thing. Johnny and Ellie were close by, but he didn't care, he needed to kiss his girl. He turned a surprised Elizabeth around and then plundered her mouth as she softly groaned.

Johnny did the same to Ellie as his kissed her torridly. When they eventually make it to the bedroom, he knows it will be epic. Finally, he pulled back and her eyes fluttered open.

"Johnny, today was wonderful and I want to thank you for asking me to come along. I'll never forget it." His gift to her was so sweet and thoughtful. She knew it wouldn't take much to fall for him.

"Ellie, you came out of nowhere and I just want you to know that I'm in this. I want this and, I want you."

Her eyes filled with tears. "Seriously?"

"Yes. Will you be my girl, Ellie, or is it too soon?"

She grinned. "You're kind of corny you know that?"

"Is that a bad thing?"

"Not at all. Yes. I will be your girl, Johnny O'Brien."

He picked her up and spun her around while she laughed and then laid a blistering kiss on her.

Liz and Jason walked towards them.

"Johnny, the poor girl needs to breath."

He pulled back. "Like you have room to talk."

Jason smiled. "You guys ready to get back on the road?"

"Let's go."

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Julian pushed Michael higher on the swings as he laughed. Carly took a picture from the blanket where she sat. Julian suddenly ran towards her and then plopped next to her.

"I honestly have no idea where he gets all his energy from."

"I don't either."

"Does your wrist feel okay?"

"Yes. I'm fine. I can't wait to get this cast off though."

He pulled her into his side. Michael jumped off the swing and ran towards them, diving into Julian.

"You having fun?" his mom asked him.

"Yeah."

"You tired?"

Michael nodded and laid his head on Julian's shoulder.

"He was up at the crack of dawn."

Julian rubbed his back. "Why don't we get you home?"

He stood, and Carly got up and a guard helped pack up the blanket. He drove them to the house and tucked Michael in and then went downstairs.

"I know you're having dinner with your mom tonight. Call me when you're done."

"Okay."

They kissed and then he went to his car.

He pulled out onto the street and immediately, his car was hit from behind and then he pressed his brakes and tried to fend the person off.

Carly heard the sound of the brakes and ran outside. Two guards ran by her and one jumped into a car. Her heart was beating a million miles a minute and then she heard an impact. "Shit."

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Julian stared at the tree he had just crashed into. Thank God, he wasn't going fast. The other car had taken off and one of his guards was pursuing it as another one yanked his door open.

"You okay, boss?"

"Yeah."

He undid his seatbelt and slid out. "Is it safe?"

"We have backup coming. Let's walk through the woods."

Julian nodded and followed the man through some trees. He could hear another guard shouting directions from the street. Apparently, Carly was refusing to go inside. After a few minutes, they stepped onto the grass on the side of the house. She saw him and ran towards him. "Julian!"

"Carly, I'm fine. Why are you outside?"

"Seriously? I heard the crash. There was no way I could just leave you out here."

"I need you to listen to the guards. Supposed they were shooting or tried to kidnap you. Michael has already lost one parent. Please tell me you won't do that again."

"Okay. I'm sorry. I just panicked."

He kissed her on the forehead. "Let's get inside."

They quickly moved into the house and Carly doted on him, making sure that he wasn't injured. Word got back to Sonny and he tried to reach Jason.

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Jason's phone was off, but Johnny's was on. It was vibrating in his pocket non-stop, so he raced around Jason and then pulled off into a rest stop. He parked and took off his helmet and then got his phone out.

"Max? What's going on?"

"First, someone messed with the Q's at G.H."

"What?" He put the phone on speaker.

"He got Monica and pulled her into an elevator."

"Is she okay?" Jason asked.

"Yes. They had a message for you to stop protecting the Jeromes or they will go after your family."

"Where was her guard?"

"He was there, but he can't follow her closely and the guy pulled her into the elevator as she was walking by."

"What else?" Johnny asked.

"Julian was just driven off the road."

Elizabeth's stomach turned. She pulled off her helmet. "Is he okay?"

"Yes. He had just left Carly's, so they walked back to the house. We got the guy though. He's being questioned."

"We'll head back, but we're still a few hours away."

"Take your time and watch your backs. I think they were just messing with us."

"Okay," Johnny said. "I'll call you when we're close."

The guys looked at each other.

"Let's haul ass," Johnny said before putting his helmet back on.

Liz adjusted hers and then they were off.

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Johnny walked Ellie up to her door. "Sorry the day had to end this way."

"It's okay. I understand, and I had a wonderful time and I love my bracelet."

He kissed her slowly, as if he were memorizing her mouth.

"Will you call me tomorrow to check in?"

"I'll do you one better. Text me before you go to bed and I'll call you then."

"Okay. Goodnight Johnny." When she started to turn, she was quickly pulled back into another kiss. She could barely get the key in the door afterwards he had her so turned around.

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Jason and Johnny entered Sonny's house where everyone was waiting.

"How was your ride?" Sonny asked.

"It was good," Jason said without elaborating. "What's the situation?"

"The guy wouldn't talk."

"Is he still alive?"

"Barely…"

"Then get him better and I'll handle it."

Sonny sighed. "Jason. I don't think he'll make it through the night. Apparently, he's more scared of whoever he's working for then he is of us."

"I'll make him talk."

"I don't know if the gallery opening is safe. Suppose this person uses it to hurt them?"

"I don't think I can talk Elizabeth out of it. I'm worried too."

"I understand how big this is for her, but she'll be putting a lot of people in danger."

Jason put his head in his hands. "I'll talk to her."

"Would it be crazy if we tried to trick the person?" Johnny asked.

"How?" Sonny asked.

"Maybe we can say it's on one night, but it's really on another. Everyone else will get the adjusted date. If Elizabeth is willing to put it off for one week, we'll say we're having it Saturday to fake them out. The key players will attend. It will smoke them out. It seems like they just want a confrontation, so we'll give them the opportunity without putting a lot of people in danger."

"That might actually work," Max said.

"Your family members would be safe at home and we'd finally find out what this person wants."

"The problem is that invitations have already been sent and the press has been alerted. Do you really think this person would move in when there will be so much press around? I don't think they will. What if we hold a dinner Thursday night?" Jason asked.

"We could do that and make it in a public place. That would mean they'd still have a way to get in," Johnny said.

"We'll make the arrangements and leak it to a gossip columnist. If we have it in a private room, the public will never know what happens inside," Sonny said.

"Do it," Jason said. He didn't want to ruin his girl's night and if they could nip this in the bud beforehand, it would be better.

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Liz paced in the living room while she waited for Jason to return. Her father had called and said he was staying with Carly.

The door opened and then Jason moved inside.

"Is your dad here?"

"No. We're alone. Milo went home, and Georgie is back at Mac's house."

He hugged her tightly. "We need to talk about the opening."

"You want me to cancel it. Don't you?"

"Yes and no. We realize that you don't want to, but we think we came up with an alternative."

"What?"

"We think whoever is coming after us wants a confrontation and we don't want them to do it at the opening. There will be too many innocent people there. We want to have a dinner Thursday in a public place. It would be better for them to strike then. There will be less press and less other people around."

"Okay. Will I be at the dinner?"

"Yes. It would probably be me, your dad, Sonny, and a few others. We have to make it look good."

"I just don't want anyone hurt. Make sure Carly isn't there. Michael needs her."

"Julian won't let her get hurt."

She took his hand and they sat down. "I feel like getting fitted for a Kevlar dress."

"With nothing on under it?"

She shook her head. "You are insatiable."

"That's because I love you."

"I love you too. I had a great day, Jason. Thank you."

He grabbed the remote. "Next time, hopefully it will end better. Have at it. You need to try and relax. If all you think about is the dinner, you'll be a wreck."

She settled against him and turned on the television. About twenty minutes later, she is sound asleep, so he carried her to bed.

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The next day, Johnny groaned at the ache in his back. "You really need a new couch."

Ellie muttered something unintelligible and he held her tighter against him. Even though he ached, he loved holding her all night. When she had texted him, he swung by instead of answering it and then sat on the couch and talked until she fell asleep.

Her eyes fluttered opened. "Morning—wait! Were you dissing my couch?"

"Uh—yes."

She got up and groaned.

"See!"

"That's from riding the bike."

"That might be part of it, but this couch has more lumps in it then Max's stomach."

Ellie chuckled. "Poor Max. I'll be right back." She went to the bathroom and then fixed them some coffee while he used it.

After splashing some water on his face and brushing his teeth with the toothbrush she had left out for him, he rejoined her.

"Thank you, beautiful."

"You're welcome."

"Do you have a shift today?"

"Yeah. I'm working 12:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m."

"Can I drop you off and pick you up?"

"Yes." She liked working Sundays here and there because it was quieter, and she got a lot done.

"Let me run to the office and make sure everything is good. I'll bring back something to eat and we'll chill until you have to leave."

"Sounds perfect."

He hustled out into the hallway and she did a silent cheer.

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Elizabeth watched her dad walk into the kitchen. "Hey." They embraced warmly. "I was so worried about you."

"I'm fine, a little pissed off, but at least I wasn't hurt badly."

"Are you hungry?"

"No. I ate at Carly's."

Liz smirked.

"What?"

"Getting awful cozy aren't you?"

"There's nothing awful about it."

"I'm not going to have to call her mom, right?"

He grinned. "Only if you want too."

She rolled her eyes. "That's probably not going to happen."

"After all this is over, we'll have dinner together."

"That's fine. Can Jason be there?"

"Sure. I don't have to call him "son", do I?"

"Only if you want too."

"Calling Jason son makes me feel old, but on the other hand, calling Michael son makes me feel young and spry."

"Just the fact that you said spry is suspect."

"When was the last time I put you on a time out?"

"When I was three."

"Oh, that's ridiculous. You were a teenager at one point."

"Seriously? You didn't have too because I was the perfect daughter."

Julian's brow went up and then she put her hands on her hips.

"Since you have no witnesses or a way to disprove my assertions, I win by fault."

"What are you a lawyer now?"

She smirked. "I'm going to the gallery."

"Be careful."

"I will." She kissed him on the cheek. "Love you, dad."

"I love you too."