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Chapter 53

Carly slightly opened her eyes. "I had hit rock bottom and I wanted to hurt Jason because I thought he had turned to you."

"And after that?"

"No one else wanted me or could handle being with me. I'm not going to lie, I ended up falling in love with him. I knew it probably wouldn't last forever because of who we are, but I gave it my all for the most part."

Liz took a deep breath. "I've made a lot of shitty choices too, that I can't take back, and I know I hurt Jason because of them. We both have issues, but we own them. I love him, Carly, with every fiber of my being. He has never tried to change or control me. When I needed him the most, he was there and brought me back again. My rape indelibly changed me. I was so young and I went into my mind and stayed there because it was safe. When I was attacked in California by someone I thought I knew, let's just say that I went there again because I couldn't handle all the implications. Jason found Emily and he helped me come back. He didn't bail on me, instead, he decided that he wasn't going to give up on me. We are trying to get rid of our baggage so that we can focus on our family. So, I will fight anyone who tries to take him away from us—hell, I will kill for him. And trust me, if he is hurt and I find out Courtney had any hand in it, she's dead."

A slow smirk emerged as Carly digested that information. "Well, well, maybe I did underestimate you. I want Jason to be happy and be with someone who will fight for him and until this moment, I didn't think you deserved him. You've had a rough life and Jason is like a big ball of safety and loyalty and I can see where you'd be attracted to that. He has such a capacity for love, more than he even realizes and he can break which you have the power to do. I really hope you know that."

"I do and I would never hurt him on purpose. He means to much for me."

"Are you two going to kiss?" Johnny asked.

"Shut it," they said at the same time making Francis chuckle.

"Lovers of Stone Cold, I think I've found something."

Before Spinelli could even blink, they were at his side.

"What did you find?" Liz asked.

"Carlos flew out of town after Jason disappeared." He displayed the picture from airport surveillance.

"Where to?"

"He went to the City."

"Maybe he wanted to lay low," Francis said.

"I'm going to attach a program to their system so that it will flag me if he's seen again."

Liz put her hand on his shoulder. "It won't get you into trouble, right?"

Spinelli blushed. "No, radiant one, I will make sure that the purveyors of good don't discover it."

"Good."

"Yeah, good job, Spinelli," Francis said.

"Carly, you want to help me in the kitchen?"

Carly gave her a look while Francis and Johnny gagged. "Do you really get how much damage I can do in there?"

"No, but if you want some of my world-famous brownies, you'll help me out."

"You're lucky that I love chocolate. Johnny, just have a fire extinguish ready and a tourniquet," Francis said.

"Very funny…," Carly said.

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Paul slammed a man into the wall of a building. "Now, tell me again how you know Carlos Rivera?"

"I don't know what you're talking about, man."

"Wrong answer."

His fist crashed into the man's face, making him gush blood. "I'm going to ask you one more time before I put a bullet in your head. How do you know him?"

The man's lip quivered. "Please don't hurt me."

"Answer me!"

"I made a few deliveries for him to some blonde waitress, that's all man, I swear."

The smell of pee filled the air and Paul stepped back with a disgusted look on his face.

"Was there anyone else involved?"

"He's the only one I spoke to—I swear."

"Get out of here."

The man sucked in a sob and ran to his car as Paul disappeared into the darkness and then let Johnny know the new developments. Now, they have confirmation that Carlos is involved in this mess.

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Jason woke up with a start and tried to focus in the dark, almost happy to see glowing eyes, followed by a, "Meow."

"Hey." A round of coughing elicited more blood before he started to hallucinate again.

"Don't you dare give up."

"Lila?"

She smiled warmly. "Yes. You've gotten yourself into a big pickle."

He slightly smiled. "Yeah."

"Well, it's not time for you to come to me yet. Fight to be with them, Jason."

"I'm trying."

"Well try harder. I can tell you're slowly giving up. Elizabeth didn't give up on herself or you and now you have a chance. This is the worst you have ever been, so you're going to have to stay positive."

"I miss you."

"Don't change the subject."

"Thank you for helping Elizabeth."

"She's lovely and perfect for you. I want to see you marry her someday."

"Me too."

"Then don't let the people that hurt you win. I won't leave you."

She started to fade.

"Grandmother," he whimpered before she blew him a kiss and disappeared.

He felt the cat nuzzle against him so he wiped his hand on his shirt and then touched her, unknowingly getting a little blood on her fur. It amazed him how little endurance he has when he quickly stops due to the effort it took to move. He isn't sure he has another day left in him because his body is starting to shut down and no amount of faith is changing that. It is now a race against time.

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Elizabeth woke up in a cold sweat and groaned as she slid off the bed and went to the bathroom. Nightmares were making it impossible for her to sleep soundly. Most of them were of Jason being trapped and they almost make her physically ill.

After sitting on the bed, her phone vibrates and she grabs it.

"I can't sleep," Emily typed.

"Me either."

"Are you having nightmares?"

"Yeah. Are you?"

"Yeah."

She sighed, now worried about her best friend. "Emily, that is not good for you right now."

"I know. I slept for a couple of hours before I woke up."

"Where is Jax?"

Emily smiled. "He's slightly snoring. I think I wore him out."

Liz chuckled. "Carly and I came to a truce."

"Seriously?"

"Yeah, it's for the best, besides I don't feel like hurting my hand on her face right now."

"I'll do it for you."

"No, you won't. I can't have you hurting my pudding pop."

Emily laughed, then slapped her hand over her mouth. When Jax didn't move a muscle, she continued. "Very funny."

"I'm serious. I need a girl in my life. Jason and Cam are outnumbering me."

"Well, maybe you will have to get knocked up soon."

"You know, being scared and not knowing where he is makes me want everything now, so I don't miss out. I swear I'm going to tie him down and marry him as soon as we can. Life is just too short."

"Wow."

"I know. We were taking it slower and now that just doesn't seem as important. We'll help each other get over the past and we have been doing fine, despite coming back to Port Charles."

"I think he'll say yes."

Liz smiled. "He better."

They both giggled.

"Go to bed."

Emily frowned. "Make me."

"I will come over there."

"If you did, I'd give you the biggest hug. He's going to be okay, Elizabeth. He has to be."

"Amen."

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The next morning, Jason is awoken by a rough lick and a paw patting his cheek.

"Go away," he mutters, but the cat is not having it and continues until Jason opens his eyes.

"What is your problem?"

"Meow," the cat utters back, not at all offended by Jason's mood.

He is so weak that he doesn't try to touch her and instead is locked in a staring contest which the cat wins.

The cat seems to sense the fact that Jason's health is declining and won't leave his side. Every few hours, she wakes him up and he grumbles, but tries to stay awake, but it's a losing battle.

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Paul paces back and forth in the apartment and decides it's time to call the head of the Mariano family. He dials the number and waits.

"Hello? Who is this?"

"Tony, it's Paul Sarducci."

Tony gets up and shuts his office door. "Well, this is a surprise."

"I'm calling you regarding your interest in the Corinthos organization."

Tony frowns. "Why would you care?" The Port Charles docks are worth their weight in gold and if Tony can get an in, the money will line his pockets.

"I wouldn't have cared, however the person you hired is trying to take down a close friend."

"Sonny?" The cocky Cuban didn't seem like the type of man that Paul would have as an acquaintance.

"No, I'm talking about Jason Morgan."

Tony's jaw clenches and there is a long pregnant pause. "You know that if I want this organization, I have to go through Jason."

"Yes, I do know that, but I'm telling you that I can't let you. Tell Carlos to pull back. He has already done something and Jason is missing. If he's dead, there will be bloodshed. Carlos will die and anyone else that had a hand in his death."

Tony growled. "Are you threatening me."

"Yes, but if you back down, it will all probably be yours in a month with no bloodshed."

"How can you guarantee that?"

"I will avenge whoever hurt Jason, including Corinthos who might be involved. Of course, if you breathe a word of this…"

"I'm going to ignore your threats for right now, because my eye is on the prize."

"The families are investigating this situation and you don't want to be on their bad side or you won't get what you want. Jason doesn't want the business, that I'm sure of and he and Sonny aren't seeing eye to eye. Are you willing to call Carlos off?"

"I'm not sure I can do that." He knew that hiring Carlos was risky, but on the other hand, if he had managed to take out Jason, then he might be good to have around. "But if he won't return my calls or goes against what I want, then he's a dead man anyway."

"So, do we have an agreement? You'll back off and if Carlos doesn't obey, he dies."

"I will agree if you don't kill him or have anyone else do it."

Paul squirmed as he decided. "If he hurt Jason…"

"Then all is fair in love and war. You know how this game is played."

An idea popped into Paul's head and he slightly smiled. "Fine, I won't kill him if you back off so I can get this situation under control. He went after Sonny's family and—"

Tony laughed. "Actually, Courtney "Daisy" Matthews is in cahoots with Sonny. I don't know what happened with Jason, but Carlos, Sonny, and Courtney have been working together—that I do know."

Paul clenched his jaw. "Thanks for the information. Carlos can't know that I'm on to him because he might retaliate."

Tony agreed and had no problem keeping Carlos in the dark if it meant he gained ownership of the docks. "We have a deal, Mr. Sarducci, don't break it."

"I won't, but if Carlos won't listen to you, then the deal is off." He has something else planned for Carlos, now he just needs to find Courtney and they are convinced that she's in Canada.

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Carly picked up her phone. "Hello?"

When she only heard a sob, she grew immediately concerned. "Who is this?"

"Carly?"

Her eyes grew big. "Courtney?"

Everyone in the room turned to look at her.

"Where are you? We've been worried sick. Is Jason with you?"

"I can't talk long. I stole the phone. I didn't mean for it to happen." She started to cry heavily and Carly wanted to reach through the phone and shake her.

"What did you do?"

"I—shit, he's coming."

The phone went dead and Carly growled, furious at the stupid blonde.

"Can you trace it?" Francis asked Spinelli.

"I'm on it."

Carly handed him the phone and let them know what she said.

Liz felt dizzy, knowing that her instincts had been right and Jason is probably in trouble. "I'm going to kill her," she said angrily. "That bitch!"

"Get in line. I'm going to rip her hair out and then beat her death," Carly said.

Spinelli sighed. "The phone is blocked, so I can't get an exact coordinate, but she's in Ontario."

Francis picked up the phone. "Paul, Courtney is in Ontario. She stole a phone and implied that she didn't

mean to do it when Carly asked about Jason."

"Shit."

"Can you get some men on it?"

"I know some people close by there. I'll handle it."

"Then what?"

"I had to make a deal with the Tony Marino so he'd back Carlos off."

"I'm scared to ask."

"I can't kill Carlos."

Francis almost bit his lip off. "You better have a backup plan."

"I do. Courtney is going to die and Carlos will go down for it. He'll go to jail and I'll make sure he doesn't come out alive."

"As long as he dies, I don't care how. Hopefully, it will be painful."

"Agreed. I have a feeling that Carlos is going to show his face soon because he'll think that he is untouchable."

Francis moved towards the balcony window. "I agree. We'll call you as soon as he is in sight."

"I'll be at the airport waiting."

"Sounds good."

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Carlos picked up his phone. "Hello?"

"There has been a change of plan. For now, I need you to back off."

"Why?"

"I got a call from Paul Sarducci. He agreed not to kill you so he can find Mr. Morgan. If you step out of line, the deal is off."

"Do they know it was me?"

"No. Apparently, Sonny had already been watching us and Paul took a chance and called my bluff. If you back off, he is going to clean house. He thinks Sonny is behind Jason's disappearance."

Carlos smirked. "Well, he's not too far off the mark."

"Why didn't you tell me that you botched things with the enforcer?"

"I didn't think you'd care. I've been laying low and with him out of the way, it will make it easier to bring Sonny down."

"Well, now, the plan has changed. Back off and let them find Jason and dispose of Sonny and then we get the keys of the kingdom. I threw Courtney under the bus too."

Carlos shrugged. "That's fine with me."

"Good."

The call ended and Carlos smiled. He didn't really have to hide anymore because Paul couldn't do shit if he sees him or the truce will end. It is time to rub his presence in Paul's face and watch him squirm.