A/N – Thanks for the comments! Glad you guys like the guys being cuties. I like showing that they have different personas. Jamie reminds them to be lighter.
Chapter 56 – The Magic City
Sal Acosta got off the plane in Miami and immediately made a call. "Where is she?"
"We lost her at the hotel."
He cursed under his breath. Tess Buchanon was going to die by his hand. He had come back to see to it himself. "Keep looking for her and get back to me."
The one thing he knew about Tess is that she was very reactive. He figured he'd draw her out after the park incident. He just didn't expect her to be willing to come into his own back yard. Now he could do what he wanted to her and make her suffer. And once she was taken care of, the little brat could be dealt with.
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The plane landed in Florida and everyone said their goodbyes.
"I love you baby." Jason said as he looked down at his girl.
"I love you too." Elizabeth said softly; barely able to hold back her tears.
Jason kissed her slowly, taking time to savor her taste. Pulling back for air he held her face in his hands. "I might not be able to call you very much."
"I understand."
"But, I'll try."
He kissed her one more time, this time it was sensually and toe curling.
"Wow." Elizabeth whispered trying to get herself together.
"See you in a few days."
She nodded and watched him leave.
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Manny kissed Kelly long and soulfully before pulling back and leaning his forehead against hers. "I love you nena. I'll be back soon."
A tear fell from Kelly's eye. "I know. I miss you already."
He slightly smiled before kissing her one more time. "Don't go anywhere without a guard."
"I won't."
"Love you."
Kelly smiled. "I love you too."
She watched him walk away and then turned towards Liz. "I'm so scared."
Liz walked towards her and then hugged her. "It's okay. I'm scared too. But, we just have to have faith."
They settled into their seats and waited. And when the door was sealed they held hands and silently said a prayer.
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Jason and Manny slipped into the back of the black nondescript town car. They were headed to the Ruiz compound. They would be safe there and gather the troops for their battle the next night.
In one way, they were glad the women were on their way home. They needed to focus and go into enforcer mode and that was easier done now. Slipping into their other persona was like slipping on a different pair of shoes. There was no effort. It was just a mindset.
The car pulled into the Ruiz compound and they got up and walked towards the house. Javier walked out and greeted them.
"Welcome." He said to Jason.
Jason nodded. "Thanks for having me on such short notice."
"It's not a problem at all. When Manny told me what was going on I was appalled. They need to be stopped."
They walked inside and sat down at the dining room table.
"I got all the ammo you wanted and then some. We can gas them out and pick off the ones that try to escape."
"Then, we make them suffer." Jason said.
"I'll all for that." Manny said looking at his brothers. "You still have my tools right?"
Javier smirked. "Your torture room was left untouched."
"Good."
They went over some more strategy and then had some dinner. Later that night, they'd meet with a few other people and then get some rest. Tomorrow was going to be a long day.
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Elizabeth and Kelly stopped at her place to get her some clothes and then headed to the penthouse. Liz could already tell that the security had been heightened.
"Welcome back." Cody said smiling as he accompanied them upstairs.
"Thanks Cody."
"If you need to go anywhere, I'm your man."
Liz smiled. "We do have to get back to the hospital tomorrow."
"We figured you'd want to so we have it all planned out. Delores will be ready to go as well."
They got off the elevator and Tess's door flew open. Johnny came out and smiled. "Hey."
Liz grinned. "Hey yourself." She said giving him a hug.
Tess appeared in the doorway. "How's my girl?"
"She is wonderful. You might not get her back without a fight. I think everyone fell in love with her."
Tess grinned. "She's just got it like that."
They all chuckled.
"Why don't we all eat together?" Liz suggested.
"Sounds good." Tess said.
"Pizza?"
Kelly shrugged. "That's fine with me."
"I'll order a few pies." Johnny said disappearing into the penthouse.
Cody opened the door to the other one and Kelly and Elizabeth took their things inside and got settled. They decided they'd just sleep in the same room.
"I feel like such a chicken."
"Don't. If it makes you feel safer than I have no problem with it."
"You're so calm."
Liz shook her head. "No I'm not. On the inside, I'm a mess right now. But, it's just something I'm going to have to learn to handle."
"The hazards of being a mob girlfriend."
Liz smiled. "Pretty much, but the benefits far outweigh the bad."
Kelly grinned. "So true."
"Let's go hang out with Tess."
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Alice pushed Lila into the waiting room and sat down. She had been filled in about what was going on and knew she'd have to make herself scarce at some point.
Nikolas had already paid someone to hand the note to a nurse. He lurked around and finally saw the handoff. At least that was done and hopefully it would score points with his Aunt.
Lila read the note with disdain for Helena plastered all over her face. She was just so tired of the ridiculous feud. Between what happened with Mikkos and Edward killing Stavros, Helena was hell bent on making them suffer.
"She got the note." Helena's henchman said quietly into the phone.
"Good. Follow Nikolas and report back to me."
Helena was slightly surprised that Nikolas had gone along with everything. There might be hope for him yet. But, she would need more assurances before she totally trusted him. And if he proved worthy, she would show him her hidden lair and Victor, Helena, and Nikolas would be a force to be reckoned with.
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Skye watched Lorenzo sit down at the table and bit her lip so she didn't laugh. He had on a hat with tea bags hanging down (something Jamie came up with because it was a tea party after all), one of Skye's silk robe over his clothes, and bright red lipstick. There was a pink boa thrown around his neck and he looked like a really badly dressed drag queen.
Jamie smiled up at him. "Hello Lorenzo, would you like some tea?"
"Yes please." Lorenzo said trying to be a good sport. All he really wanted to do was wipe the lipstick off and get out of the ridiculous clothes he had on before someone saw him.
Jamie poured him some tea as Mercedes stealthily took a picture from the other room. She grinned and texted it to Jason as promised.
Jason's phone beeped and he jumped back while making a noise at the sight. Manny and Javier looked at him curiously. It wasn't a normal thing to see Jason look scared.
He handed the phone over and all three men had tears in their eyes from laughing.
"He will never live that down." Manny said wiping a tear away.
"We might have to take Mercedes to a safe house. I think you should put a picture on his office door." Jason said.
Manny grinned. "I would have to join Mercedes."
Jason forwarded it to Tess and she showed everyone in the room.
"Oh my God." Liz said looking at it. "He looks horrible."
Tess chuckled. "You wouldn't think that was possible but he does not make a pretty woman at all."
Johnny laughed. "Wait until Anthony sees this."
Anthony was always teasing Lorenzo and he never got the joke. It was always a source of amusement for everyone.
"I'm starting to think that Jamie can get all of you men to do anything." Liz said to Johnny.
He smirked. "Just about. I think I would have cut her off though about the lipstick and boa."
Tess chuckled. "Please, you're putty in her hands."
Johnny grinned. It was hard to resist Jamie because she was so darn cute.
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Jason and Manny were having dinner with Javier and his wife and kids. They had three rambunctious boys and a baby girl.
Jason watched her cook with the baby on her hip. "Why don't you let me take her?" He said moving forward.
Rochelle looked up at him. "Are you sure?"
Jason nodded. "Positive."
She handed the baby over and the little girl grinned. She was a year old. Jason chuckled as she said da da over and over.
"Clearly, she said da da first." Rochelle said rolling her eyes. "Trust me, it wasn't my choice. I think she's just being stubborn and refuses to say it. Either that, or my husband paid her off because she clearly can tell it pisses me off."
Jason smiled. "She'll say it soon enough."
Javier walked inside and was surprised to see Jason. The baby was busy exploring Jason's face as she yelled her favorite syllables.
"Hey, I'm da da." Javier said kissing her on the cheek. "That's Jason."
She squealed when she saw him and Javier took her. "You are very loud."
She laughed and gave him a slobbery kiss.
"Do you have any kids?" Rochelle asked.
"Not yet, but I hope to someday."
"Do you have a girl?"
Javier patted his wife on the butt for being nosey.
"It's okay. I do and she definitely is the one."
Rochelle smiled.
"You just dodged a bullet my friend."
"How so?" Jason asked curiously.
"Because you almost got set up with Marietta."
Manny whistled as he came into the kitchen. "Rochelle, you'd do that to my friend?"
Rochelle chuckled as she continued to cook. "She's not that bad."
Manny almost choked. "She has one eyebrow."
Rochelle rolled her eyes. "That is easily remedied. She just needs a spa day."
Jason chuckled at the look on Manny and Javier's face.
"Tell Jason to run mija." Javier said to the baby as he pointed to Jason.
"Ja Ja."
Rochelle spun around with her mouth hanging open as the men laughed. "Now I know you are just being spiteful."
Baby Grace smiled.
"Ma ma."
"Da da."
"Ma ma." Rochelle said louder.
"Da da da da." Grace yelled.
Rochelle muttered something in Spanish and turned back to the pan.
"Let's get out of here before Ma Ma's head explodes." Javier said grinning.
Manny and Jason followed them into the other room.
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Jason laid on his bed and sighed. They were all turning in early so they were well rested. He grabbed his phone and dialed.
"Hello?" Liz asked sleepily.
"Hey baby, did I wake you?"
Liz smiled and quietly got up and went into the bathroom. "It's okay. I don't mind."
"I miss you."
"I miss you too. How's it going?"
Jason told her all about Rochelle and Grace and Liz laughed.
"Jamie is going to be jealous."
Jason chuckled. "I wasn't planning on telling her."
Liz smiled.
"You ready for your big day tomorrow?"
Elizabeth groaned. "I already know it's going to be crazy. Emily said she went home and collapsed she was so exhausted."
"You know you love it."
Liz chuckled. "I do."
"I better let you get some sleep. I love you Elizabeth."
"I love you too."
