Part 49
The harvest was underway when Elizabeth arrived. It was a blessing, really. Except for the way the orchard's owner fawned over her and asked her to please thank her uncle for... she lost track of the twenty-odd things he listed before she could escape his regard and the death-grip he had on her hand. From there she melted into the crowd and helped out where she could. It was mind-numbing and blissful to not have to think about kidnapping and violence. She didn't have to be a pawn or invisible. By the time they served lunch in the grove, Elizabeth was laughing along with the others even though she only caught snippets of phrases that she understood.
In a word, she was... happy.
Johnny flopped down in the chair opposite of Jason and gave his friend a good long look. "You need a break."
Jason barely moved. "I need some good news."
"All I can tell you is that whoever was after Elizabeth has gone silent."
Jason looked at Johnny and slowly shook his head. "That doesn't make me feel any better. If anything, I'm more worried now than before."
"I know what you mean. If they're making noise or causing waves it's easier to find them. What does your gut tell you?"
He stared at the empty space on his desk, the spot where the annulment papers had been a short time before. It matched the gnawing emptiness in his middle. "I'm going."
Standing up from his chair, Jason looked Johnny straight in the eye. "I need to speak with Maximus, face to face. Something is going on and I think Elizabeth is in more danger than we thought."
Johnny wanted to cheer, but instead he gave his friend a nod. "You want me to call Maximus and let him know you're coming?"
Pausing at the door, Jason shook his head. "No... not right now. If he calls for me... tell him them, but if I tell him before I get there. He'll try to turn me back around." The two men agreed and Jason walked out of his office, leaving the door open in his wake.
Johnny waited a moment making sure Jason wasn't coming back for anything. Then he dialed his phone and waited for the other end to pick up. He didn't have long to wait. "Hello? Mrs. Quartermai- yes, Lila… you wanted me to let you know when- yes, Italy. You want me to… yes, yes. I'll let you know as soon as I hear anything. I need to call Franci- oh? You're going to call him. Okay, thanks… I've got to take care of a few things around here."
Antonio Santini picked up his phone and barked into it. "What?"
If voices had magic in them, the phone handset in his hand would have frozen with his sister's voice. "I think you should be cautious about how you speak to me."
"And why should I care, Connie. I'm the head of the family and until you dig yourself out of the hole you created for marrying that insipid fool, I suggest you watch your tone with me."
"Insipid?" Her tone had lost her frost, but there was still a bit of censure to her tone. "You know what he's capable of."
"Just get to it, Connie.. why are you calling?" He drummed his fingers on the tabletop and stared at the wall, it was just about as stimulating as talking to his sister.
"I should have word for you soon. As it turns out we still have friends in this area."
"You mean," he contradicted her as he always did, "that there are still people you can con into believing that we still have some power."
"You always take the fun out of it, Tony."
"So what's this news?" Sparring with her verbally was fun, but he needed something to go his way and soon.
"You may get to meet your daughter very soon." She sounded so damn proud of herself.
"I'll believe it when I see her, Connie. Until then keep me informed."
"I ordered a jet to wait."
"And who is paying for that, Connie?"
She laughed at him. "You of course, silly. I don't have that kind of money." She sighed, "but once you get her to sign the contracts... we'll have all the money we need."
She hung up and he was glad. He would have blurted out the truth a moment later and he didn't want to anger her now. As it stood, he needed to use Connie for a little while longer. Then, all bets were off... as it would be for so many others.
Antonio had been craving power for so long, he wasn't planning to share it with anyone.
Maximus reached for the phone the instant it rang and didn't even manage a greeting before the caller spoke. "Well, how are things on your end?"
The Don's sigh was heavy and filled with frustration. "I'm beginning to think your plan is as stupid as I thought it was at the beginning."
The caller huffed loudly. "Then why did you agree to it?"
Maximus looked at the picture of Elizabeth and Jason's wedding that he kept in his desk drawer. "I thought it would be easier than this."
The deep chuckle that rattled through the phone. "You've known Jason Morgan almost as long as I have, Maximus. But, he's got us both stumped this time. I would have thought he'd go through the roof when you sent him those annulment papers and-"
"Edward!"
Both men froze when they heard the edge in Lila's voice.
"Put the phone on speaker, Edward." Her tone brooked no argument or even a delay. A click was heard and then a subtle hummm of the speaker. "Is this Mister Giambetti?"
Maximus could almost smile at the formal address. He had angered the dear woman and he would take his punishment. "Yes, Li- Mrs. Quartermaine."
"You will kindly inform me of your plans with Mr. Quartermaine."
"Lila, dear-"
"Don't you dare 'Lila Dear' me, you old reprobate. I will deal with you later. Now, Mr. Giambetti, you were about to say something in hopes that I won't find a way to tear both of you limb from limb?"
"When I visited your home, Edward and I came to an agreement… or rather, we put a plan into effect."
Lila's tone was frigid. "Continue…"
With a pastry pie in her hand, Elizabeth wandered off from the group, needing a little time to herself.
Sure, being pretty much 'nameless' in the large group at the festival she was on overload.
She was already on the edge. Walking a tightrope between wanting to be happy and feeling miserable. Hearing that her uncle had sent annulment papers had hit her right where it hurt… her heart.
Sure, Jason had been nice… he had been sweet… he'd be understanding about Lucky and he'd saved her life… and given her something to believe in…
And now it had been taken away.
So even as she nibbled on the pastry she knew that it wasn't going to do a thing to fill the hole inside of her, there was only one thing… one person that would do that.
"Elizabeth?"
