Chapter 58- Safety First

Alexis stepped into the living room and Alessandro Marchesi held a gun to Sam's forehead. Next to them, Francesco stood over Julian's dead body.

Tears streamed down Alexis' face. "Julian! No…"

"Why did you tell us?" Sam shouted. "Why didn't you protect us?"

"I—I tried!" Alexis cried.

"Help!" Charlotte whimpered as Valentin held a knife to her throat. Just like Helena with her mother. "Where's my bodyguard? Where is he?"

"I don't know! He disappeared again!"

Bang!

Blood splatted from Sam's head and she dropped to the floor.

"Nooo!" Alexis darted over but Alessandro clutched onto both her arms and threw her onto the couch. "No! No!"

Alexis stirred awake in her office. How did she fall asleep? She glanced at her watch. 11:55am. Her chest moved up and down to the rhythm of her fast breathing. She lifted her phone from her desk. Two missed calls from Kristina and three missed calls from Molly with two voicemails. She dialed her voicemail and pressed her phone to her ear.

"Uh, Mom?" Kristina's voice muffled through. "I'm a bit worried, you haven't called me in two days. That's not really like you. Give me a shout."

Then Molly's voice appeared, slightly panicked. "Mom! What is going on? Are you okay? You usually call me a dozen times a day, but you haven't once in a few days! Call me or send me a text. I have something I need to tell you… Or maybe I'll call Sam, I'm really concerned."

When she hung up, the phone rang. Molly's name on the screen. After hesitating, she answered. "Hi sweetie."

Molly let out a heavy sigh. "Thank goodness. Mom, I was so worried…" she started crying. "I just thought…"

"Honey, I'm okay." Alexis raised an eyebrow, wondering why she was so emotional. "It's only been a couple days. I just have a lot on my mind right now…"

Molly sniffled. "I have something to tell you. Can we meet for lunch?"

Alexis swallowed hard. "Can you tell me now? I have a lot of work today."

Molly started crying again. "I don't want to over the phone. Please… can we meet at Kelly's, please?"

"Okay," Alexis said. "That should be okay."

GHGHGH

When Alexis arrived at Kelly's, Molly wasn't there yet. But Jason was sitting with Jake at a table. Alexis sat at the table next to theirs.

"Hey," Jason said. "How's Danny?"

Alexis nodded. "He's doing better than he was. But every day is a struggle."

Ring! Ring!

Jason pressed his phone to his ear. "Carly?"

Jake frowned and stared at his lap.

"Okay. Well, I can't right now. I'm spending time with Jake."

Jake's face lit up a bit.

"Yes. Yes, you're important to me too," Jason said. "Carly, calm down."

Alexis rolled her eyes.

"I'll be there in a couple hours. Yeah. After I drop off Jake. Okay, bye." He slipped his phone away. "So, how's school?"

Jake shrugged. "Fine."

"And things at home?"

"Well, Mom's engaged."

Jason stared at him for several seconds. "She is?"

"Yeah, to Ric. He asked her right after his daughter's wedding."

Jason took in a deep breath and exhaled quickly, then folded his hands. "And how do you feel about that?"

Jake shrugged. "I mean, he's nice and spends time with us. Aiden really likes him. But he liked Franco too."

"And do you like him?"

"I don't know. He reminds me of Franco. Not in personality or anything, but his intentions."

"What do you think his intentions are?"

"Well, it's more what Cam thinks," Jake said. "But I kind of, sort of, agree with him. He's trying to get close to us to impress Mom. Cam doesn't trust him."

"Do you trust him?"

Jake paused for a moment then said, "No. But I want Mom to be happy. I fell for Franco and I was wrong about him. So, I feel like I have a little more wisdom this time around."

"Well, you're a pretty sharp kid," Jason said softly. "And I'm going to be straight with you, like I was with Franco. I don't trust Ric either. If he ever makes you or your brothers uncomfortable, tell your mom or tell me. I will keep an eye on him, but I know it's your mom's choice. However, if he even tries to hurt you, I'll step in."

The door swung open and Molly walked in. "Mom!" She rushed over and hugged her.

"Hi sweetie." Alexis squeezed her tight.

Molly sat across from her and opened the menu, though she was looking at Alexis. "Gosh, don't scare me like that again. I never thought that I'd miss you calling so many times each day, even when I don't answer."

Alexis smiled slightly. "I'm sorry, Mol. How are you doing?"

"Well, Dad and Elizabeth got engaged."

"I just heard. How do you feel about that?"

"I like Elizabeth," Molly said. "I just…"

"What?"

"I'm still really hurt by Dad over what happened with Sam…"

Alexis squeezed her hand.

"I haven't really forgiven Dad. I mean, he was at my wedding and I'm glad he was. But how could he sleep with his stepdaughter? If he's capable of that then what else is he capable of?"

"I'm not going to turn you against your father. You need to form your own opinion of him. Only time I'd set in is if ever tried to hurt you intentionally." Alexis sighed. "So, was the engagement the thing you needed to tell me?"

Molly beamed, smiling from ear to ear, almost… glowing? "No. Mom… I'm pregnant. TJ and I are going to have a baby!"

Alexis' mouth dropped slightly, and her eyes welled with tears. "Oh, Molly!" She jumped up and wrapped her arms around her. "Oh, Molly, that's wonderful!"

"We are so excited!" Molly said as Alexis returned to her seat. "I already have some name ideas."

Alexis grinned. "Why doesn't that surprise me? Well, you did have a list of names when Sam was pregnant with Danny."

"Caspian or Heathcliff, for a boy. And Daisy for a girl."

"Only one girl name?"

"Well, Scout has always been my favourite girl name, and Sam accepted my suggestion for her daughter's name. Helps me to narrow it down."

Alexis scrunched her face. "I thought Danny picked Scout's name."

She shook her head. "Where do you think he heard that name before? Don't you remember when she was pregnant with Danny? Scout was on my list of suggestions. When Sam chose a different name for him, I devised a plan for her next child. I planted the bug in Danny's ear long before Sam ever got pregnant again. Hence, I named Scout."

"You sneaky little sneaker… but the name Daniel means a lot to Sam."

"I know," Molly said. "It was her brother's name."

"And I know you and TJ will choose a name that's important to both of you."

GHGHGH

When Alexis arrived home, Julian and Danny were playing checkers on the couch.

"Are you sure you're okay with moving out?" Julian asked. "Because if you want to stay, just tell your mom. Then maybe everyone will stay too."

Danny shrugged. "I don't know. I'll miss you and Leo and Grandma… so maybe I should."

"Julian?" Alexis cut in. "A word?"

Danny made his red piece hop over Julian's remaining black ones. Julian shook his hand. "You're good."

"I should go finish my homework," Danny said.

"Goodnight, Danny," Julian said.

Alexis stroked his hair as he walked by. "Goodnight, sweetheart."

She watched Danny hustle up the stairs, then turned her attention to Julian. "Using our grandson to try to get them to stay?"

"The better question is, why are you not trying to get them to stay? I honestly thought you'd be the one fighting this. I thought it'd be easier for me to let them go."

Alexis sighed and sat down beside him, avoiding eye contact. "It's better for them this way."

"What is going on with you? You still seem tense and your lack of emotion over this… do you know that Sam has been crying the last couple evenings in her room while you've been stuck at work?"

Her heart sank. "She has?"

"She won't talk to me, but I heard her talking to Annabelle the second, she thinks you don't want her here."

Alexis placed a hand on her forehead. "I do want her here."

"Then tell her that… maybe she'll change her mind. Be sure to cry a bit too, that'll help."

She finally looked at him. "Julian, I want her to stay as much as you do… probably more… but you have to trust me on this. It is better for them if they leave."

"Why? I get being independent and all… but why are you so adamant about it? What aren't you telling me?"

"I just… I get it now… why you did what you did."

He stared at her hard, their eyes locked. "You mean Liv?"

She nodded, not losing eye contact, willing for him to figure it out. She repeated, "They have to leave."

He swallowed hard. "When they're gone and Leo's not here, you need to tell me what's going on."

Alexis kissed him firmly and mouthed, "I love you". Then she made her way upstairs to Sam's room. She was lying on her side, sound asleep. Alexis knelt beside her and squeezed her hand. "I do want you. But I have to keep you safe." She kissed her forehead. "I love you."