A/N – Thanks for the comments! I will say that this has been so much fun to write. I did a lot of AU OOC in this one. Hell, I even changed the location of Port Charles (which I do from time to time for plot line purposes). And you guys were all cool about it and liked what I did. So, I do appreciate that you take the time to read my fics! * kcke2pen, ilovedana53, lrobinson01 – Thanks! * kikimoo – Thank you ! * doralupin86 – I know! I never even intended for it to be this long but it kept writing itself. *

Chapter 51 – Freedom

Jason walked into the warehouse with Johnny by his side. Today was the day that he asked for his freedom. They took a seat at the table and Tony Basciano spoke up. "Mr. Morgan, we are all very curious as to why you have called this meeting."

Dominic took a deep breath. He knew what was coming and his stomach felt like something had rotted in it. Just breathing the same air as Jason was pissing him off after what Lila had pulled. He still had a bad taste in his mouth.

To anyone else, Jason looked calm, cool, and collected. The wall he usually displayed was firmly in place and he appeared to act as if it was business as usual. But Johnny knew otherwise. Too much was riding on the outcome.

"I've been thinking long and hard about my future in the Corinthos organization."

Vinny sat back in his chair. Jason was about to lay out all his cards and he would have to go against everything he believe in, all the rules he respected and lived by because of an old lady who had him by the balls. Just thinking about it made him livid. He just needed to get out of this room and have a drink; maybe go fuck his wife. Anything would be better than what he was about to do.

"Is there a problem that none of us are away of?" Paulie Corallo asked. "Because I thought Corinthos was on the mend."

"Sonny is fine. He will continue to run the organization as he sees fit."

"Go on."

Paulie looked around the room. All his instincts were telling him that something wasn't right.

"I want out. I no longer want to be an enforcer or have anything to do the business."

Tommy sighed. He knew he had to play along with the game to save face. He was quite sure that he wasn't the only one that Lila had blackmailed. But, looking around the table, he wasn't sure who else was victim. Dominic looked constipated but that was his usual look. "Is it your intention to seek employment in another area?"

Jason shook his head. "No, I have desire to do that."

Tony chuckled. "I feel like you've been sitting around smoking crack. Do you really think we'd just let you walk out the door? You know all of our weaknesses. You know where a lot of the bodies are buried. Did you think that we'd let you hop on that stupid motorcycle of yours and drive off into the sunset?" He asked loudly.

"I'm not a threat to any of you."

"You leaving would be a threat to us because you are feared. Bad people stay away because they are afraid that you will kill them. If people come in and start trying to cherry pick Sonny's properties, it will greatly affect all of our bottom lines." Paulie said.

Jason looked around the room before answering. This was not exactly going the way he wanted it to. "I want to get something straight. I'm not asking. I'm telling you that I am getting out one way or another. How easy or difficult will be entirely up to all of you."

"Is that some kind of veiled threat?" Dominic growled.

"It is a promise. I will fucking disappear if I have. I am done." He said ramming his finger into the table for emphasis.

No one spoke at first. They all looked at each other. Jason was a dangerous man. None of them wanted him on their bad side. But, he just basically flipped them off and demanded their support and the anger in the room was now palpable.

Paulie's face was beet red. "You can't come in here and make demands like this. Who the fuck do you think you are?" He yelled.

Johnny looked around the room at the other enforcers to gauge their reactions, three of them looked downright bored and the other two had itchy fingers.

"Look, this is not about disrespecting you. It's about me wanting out of this life. If I was killed, you'd just replace me."

"It's the principle of the matter." Tony said. "You knew the fucking rules when you signed on the dotted line. Please tell me that this has nothing to do with some fucking putana." He said slamming his hand on the table.

Johnny tried to not move but he could see Jason's fist clench at his side. So, he slowly raised his head up. Tony looked like he was literally about to erupt.

"And you really think that would be relevant?" Jason said in frustration.

"Dammit Jason. What you are asking for is completely out of line and virtually unheard of unless you exit in a body bag." Paulie said.

Jason wasn't sure why the other three men weren't saying much. Their silence wasn't lost on Tony either.

"Are you three going to weigh in or not?" Tony said glaring at them.

"What do you want me to say? We all know the rules." Tommy said.

Dominic sighed. "Jason, why would we even consider your requests? Give us one good reason to even think about it."

"I have been an enforcer for years now. I have been shot and stabbed so many times that I've lost count. It is not usually a long term position. I want to have a life."

Paulie sat back completely exasperated. "I still don't understand why leaving is the answer. I'm sure you could do something else within the organization."

Jason sat back. They were talking in circles. "Clearly, nothing I say is going to change your mind. Why don't you all vote so we can get this over with."

He had already prepared a place that he and Elizabeth could hide out at and several stops after that. He would leave right after the meeting before they had a chance to do anything if necessary.

"Fine, lets vote." Tony said totally confident that this whole issue was about to be squelched. "I vote no."

"No." Paulie said.

To Tony and Paulie's astonishment, Tommy and Vinny quickly said. "Yes."

That left Dominic. The burly man took a deep breath. He glared at Jason. "Yes."

"What the fuck?" Tony yelled as he stood up.

Jason finally let down the wall and showed genuine shock.

"Let him go Tony. He's done. If we force him to stay he could turn on us or cause us trouble. It's just not worth it." Tommy said.

"I agree." Vinny said.

"Unfuckingbelievable." Paulie said.

Jason remained silent.

"Let's make something clear." Dominic said. "If you walk away, you can never mention any details of our organization to anyone. You will never be allowed to return and I would seriously consider leaving town if I were you."

"I plan on it. If I ever come back, it will be brief. And I would never breathe a word about our dealings."

"Well, it looks like you got what you want." Paulie said standing up and leaving; muttering under his breath.

Tony quickly followed. He knew something had to be up. He just didn't know how Morgan pulled it off.

Jason stood and Dominic cleared his throat. "One more thing…." He said causing Jason to sit again.

"Yes."

"Did Edward or Lila Quartermaine mention having any meetings with us?"

Jason looked at him incredulously. "What?"

The three men looked at each other.

"The only reason you are walking out of here a free man is because they blackmailed us." Tommy said.

Jason looked up at Johnny who just stared back.

"With what exactly?" Jason asked curiously.

"That is between them and us. But, mark my words, if that information ever gets leaked, lets just say that I will have to handle the situation." Dominic said.

Jason glared at him. "Then so will I."

Dominic bristled at his threat.

Jason stood up again. "Good evening gentlemen." He said before walking out.

Johnny followed him and they quickly got into the town car with Milo at the helm.

"Milo, go to the Quartermaine's." Jason said gruffly. He was going to find out what the fuck was going on. He turned to Johnny. "Did you know?"

Johnny sighed. "I knew about the last meeting. Cody couldn't go because he was hurt."

"Son of a bitch." Jason said. "Why didn't you tell me?"

Johnny looked at him like he was crazy. "I'm not going up against your grandmother."

"She's an old lady."

"Really? Because I saw her get pissed at Tommy and threaten to ruin him. She might be old but she definitely is ornery."

Jason shook his head. "You let her threaten Tommy?"

"I didn't know she was going to threaten him. There was no script."

Jason pinched the bridge of his nose. "He could have killed her."

"I wouldn't have let that happen."

"I can't even talk to you right now." Jason growled. He wanted to strangle Johnny.

They rode the rest of the way in silence and then Jason strode into the mansion with every intention of confronting his grandparents.