A/N – Thanks for the comments! I want to remind everyone that I post Mondays and Thursdays every week. I only got a couple of reviews, so if you missed the chapter, make sure you go back and read it before you read this one.

Chapter 9

Jason is visibly offended. "Don't call me that."

"Then put Ellie down."

He tightened his grip on the elephant. "Not until I get your phone."

Liz stepped to Enzo's side. "I can't believe that you'd kidnap an innocent elephant."

Enzo can't even process what he is witnessing. The guys will never believe him.

"Well, it will be fine if you give me what I want."

Her hand found her hip. "Oh, I'm going to give you something alright. I know you are allergic to color, but there is no need to threaten Ellie over it."

Jason almost smiled. "All you have to do…"

"Yeah, I know, give you the phone—you big baby."

She slapped the phone into his hand and then took the elephant and handed it to Enzo. "Guard her with your life."

Enzo looked at the elephant and then back at her before stuttering. "I—I don't even know what to say."

Liz almost giggled at his tortured expression, but she has bigger fish to fry.

Right after Jason deleted the photo and handed it back, his phone buzzed from its position on the coffee table and he ran to get it. After unlocking it, his jaw dropped as he read the text from Johnny.

"Nice shorts. I'll have the picture blown up and hung in your office. Are those love handles I see? You seriously need to start working out again."

Jason literally growled, making Liz yelp and then grab Ellie and run outside.

Enzo shook his head as Jason darted by him and then he followed and arrived just in time to see Liz laugh loudly as Jason lifted her and spun her around.

"Jason! No!" she said as he moved towards the ocean.

He ignored her pleas.

"Enzo, get Ellie!"

Enzo shook his head and then jogged forward and just rescued the elephant before Jason ran into the waves thoroughly soaking them both. His phone rang and he answered. "Hello?"

"It's Johnny. What did he do?"

Enzo explained the whole thing and had Johnny cracking up.

"Take a picture."

Enzo snapped just as Jason threw Elizabeth into a wave.

"So, they are having fun?"

"Yes. I'm going to go put the stuffed animal in the house before my reputation is ruined."

Johnny laughed. "Later." He explained why he was laughing to Georgie, but the mirth quickly faded when he noticed that her door is ajar and motioned for her to hang back and he started dialing. "Francis? I need you to come to the address I just texted." He doesn't want Georgie to downstairs by herself.

"I'm close by."

Georgie hugged herself. "This can't be happening," she muttered.

Francis soon appears and motions for her to come to him, so she did while Johnny moved inside.

After flicking on the light, he is astounded at the level of damage. The couch is thrashed like someone stabbed it repeatedly and then everything was broken or strewn around the room. There is no note, and the bedroom hadn't been touched. Maybe they had run out of time. After checking the apartment out thoroughly, he made a call to have someone change the locks on her door and then moved downstairs.

"What happened?"

"They trashed the living room and kitchen. The bedroom is untouched."

Georgie is seething.

"You think it was Dillon or Lulu?"

"Maybe..."

"I have a clean-up crew coming."

She nodded. Thankfully, she had left her book bag at the diner. "I want to see it."

He led her inside while Francis followed.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Jason sighed as he stared at the ocean. It had been a beautiful day and he'll hate having to go to the casino later.

"Penny for your thoughts," Liz said from the lounge chair beside him.

"Did you buy a dress?"

"Yes." The hostess had insisted on it.

"Good. We have to make an appearance at the casino tonight."

She noted he looked less than thrilled. "Is this an every night thing?"

"No. It's the first night, so it will be expected."

"Anyone, I need to be aware of?"

"Enzo will trail you everywhere, so don't go with Enrique and Chris if they ask."

"Okay." She took a sip of her virgin frozen daiquiri.

"Thank you for doing this."

She smirked. "I'm already thinking of ways for you to make it up to me."

His eyes twinkled with amusement. "Is that right?"

"Yup."

"No more crazy colored shorts."

"That wasn't my idea, but it was brilliant of Johnny." She doesn't know the guard that well, but he's a smartass, so they will get along just fine.

"Brilliant and Johnny shouldn't be in the same sentence." His phone rumbled. "Speak of the devil… Morgan…"

"Hey."

"What's going on?"

"I'm not sure where to start."

Liz can see Jason tense.

"Who's involved?"

"Georgie Jones."

Jason frowned. "Georgie?"

Liz almost choked. "Put him on speaker."

"I heard that. Go ahead, I'll be mindful."

Jason did so and Liz moved closer.

"She found Dillon and Lulu in bed together."

Liz shook her head. Leave it to Lulu to make another enemy. "Is she okay?"

"She was upset, but now, she's just pissed."

"Oh no, what did Shrewlu do now?"

Johnny smirked. "Well, I can't prove it was her because she and Dillon have alibis, but someone trashed Georgie's apartment."

Jason frowned. "Are you putting someone on her?"

"I'll be watching her for now and I'm switching off with Francis. Dillon approached her and he ended up on his knees."

Liz grinned. "I would pay to see that." Lately, Dillon has been obnoxious. She's not sure what is going on with him. He believes every word out of Lulu's mouth instead of being loyal to his girlfriend.

"Okay. Where is she staying?"

"Well, for now, she's in my second bedroom."

Jason almost laughed at the conniving look on Elizabeth's face. He felt sorry for Johnny because Liz tends to get her way and the coupling had piqued her interest. "Be careful…"

"I will. I'm just wondering how long it will take for Mac to get wind of it and haul me in."

Jason rolled his eyes. "Don't push him." Johnny's sarcasm tends to get him in trouble.

"Okay, dad."

Liz snickered.

"Keep me updated."

"Tell Georgie to call me if she needs to talk," Liz said.

"Okay. Later…"

Jason ended the call. "Well, I wasn't expecting that."

"Yeah, well, clearly Dillon is an overachiever when it comes to screwing up."

"How serious were they?"

"They were in love. I think it was a first for them, so gallons of ice cream and sappy tear-jerker movies are in order."

His face contorted. "Uh—I don't get it."

"Well, most of us mere mortals overeat and drown in our sorrows when someone breaks our hearts."

"I see."

"What have you done?"

"I kill people."

Her head tilted and he let out the chuckle he was holding in.

"Jerk."

"What?" He had come to understand that people throw around words but not necessarily mean them. It had taken him a while though. At first, he didn't know what they meant, so he didn't care. Dealing with Brenda had taught him a lot as far as the difference between true anger, jest, and annoyance. God knows her moods had been all over the place.

She shook her head. "What time do we have to be at the casino?"

"Anytime we want. Are you hungry?"

"I could gnaw off my arm right now."

"Ugh! That's disgusting."

She giggled due to his expression. "Come on, feed me."

He allowed her to drag him to his feet and then they raced to the house.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Georgie plopped onto Johnny's couch as Maxie babbled on and on. "Maxie!"

"What?"

"Can you please stop talking for one minute?" She swears her sister's mouth never stops moving.

"I'm sorry. I'm just worried about you."

"Just, please stay away from Lulu and Dillon. They aren't worth it."

"So, you're just going to let him walk away with that bimbo?"

Georgie rolled her eyes. Sometimes, her sister acts like Georgie's the paragon of virtue when that is far from the truth.

"Dillon believed Lulu's lies and cheated on me. He made his choice. I've decided I'll be pissed privately. I don't want to give that bitch the satisfaction of knowing how much what she did hurt me."

"Then let me at her."

"You need to stay out of it."

"Georgie, if someone did that to me, can you honestly tell me you'd back off?"

Georgie smirked. "I plead the fifth."

Maxie chuckled. "I need to give that skank a piece of my mind, but I promise I won't kill her. That's the best that I can do." She's not known for mincing her words.

"If I need her dead, Johnny should be back soon. I'm sure he could handle that."

"Mac is going to have a heart attack."

"Only if you tell him…"

"My lips are sealed. Do I look like I have a death wish?"

"He would just mope himself to death."

Maxie giggled. "Can we have lunch tomorrow?"

"Yes, but not at Kelly's."

"Okay. I'll text you in the morning. Georgie, I love you. He doesn't deserve you."

"Thanks. I love you too."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Elizabeth smoothed the dress she's wearing as she stared in the mirror. It's so not her, and she wonders what Jason will think. She doesn't look bad, but it's mid-thigh and hugs her body. One thing she is not known for is being sexy. That would be her sister. A knock on the door jarred her from her thoughts.

"You ready?"

"Yeah."

He wonders why she sounds so hesitant. Taking a few steps back, he waited until the door jerked open and then almost swallowed his tongue.

She averted her gaze. "That bad?" When he didn't say anything, she lifted her head to find him staring. His eyes seemed darker and it is totally throwing her.

"Elizabeth…"

"Yeah?"

Her hair is a little wild and curly and her lips are painted red as are her toes. She looks like a woman, not a teen and he almost feels dirty for the thoughts running through his mind.

"We need to go."

Her eyes narrowed. "That's it? I knew it. I look hideous. I'm going to go change."

"No!"

She froze, not used to him raising his voice to her.

"You—You look beautiful, Elizabeth. I just—nevermind. You ready?"

In her head, she is shocked that he called her beautiful. He is gorgeous and she never thought she'd graduate from cute, dependable Elizabeth to beautiful. Did he mean it?

When she didn't move, he edged closer. "I don't say things I don't mean. That dress—let's just say I may have to kill someone tonight if they stare at you too long."

Her mouth opened and closed a few times, making him smile.

"Hasn't anyone ever told you that you're pretty, Elizabeth?"

"Lucky did, but it has a different vibe coming from you."

"I'm a man, Elizabeth. I know a beautiful woman when I see one."

She shuddered and then moved past him muttering. "You need to stop saying my name like that."

He grinned, knowing she thought he couldn't hear her. It was typical Elizabeth.

She grabbed a small purse and then he slipped into gear and opened the door for her.

"You look nice too," she said before moving past him.

He is wearing a black dress shirt and pants. "It's better than those shorts."

She chuckled. "I think I'm going to dream about them tonight."

"You can sleep in them if you want to. I'm never putting them on again."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Johnny opened the door to find Georgie with tears streaming down her face as her she lifted her hand to chew on some popcorn and her eyes never left the screen. He groaned, knowing it's a chick flick as he moved inside.

"What are you watching?"

"The Notebook."

He sighed and then took off his tie and plopped next to her, stealing the bowl.

One beer later, it finished, and he watches as she wipes her face.

"I know you are just dying to say something smart."

He grinned. "Maybe…"

She shakes her head.

There is loud banging on the door. "Georgie! I know you're in there."

"Shit," she muttered.

"You can hide," Johnny said.

"He'll probably arrest you." She stood and then took a deep breath before moving to the door and slowly opened it. "I just needed a night to process, Uncle Mac. Why are you here, and how did you find me?"

Mac noted her tear-stained face before glaring at Johnny who had stepped behind her. "I found out you broke up with Dillon from Lulu when I was getting coffee at Kelly's. I went to your apartment only to find out it was trashed. Is that your fault?"

Johnny shook his head.

"He didn't do anything. He found me and protected me from Dillon. I just needed some time to decompress."

"And you couldn't come to me?"

"Mac, I just didn't want you hovering. I love you but wanted some time to myself." She had moved out shortly after she had turned eighteen because living with Maxie was driving her crazy and Mac was too. "What did you do to get it out of Maxie?"

He smirked. "I threatened to cut up her credit cards and arrest whoever she's dating."

Georgie rolled her eyes.

"Do you know who trashed your apartment?"

"No. It's not like I have a lot of enemies."

"We'll investigate and see where Dillon and Lulu were at the time."

"Thank you."

He eyed Johnny warily.

"Look, I know you don't like what I do for a living, but I'm just being a friend. I'll take care of her," Johnny said.

"I'm not happy about it, but I can't force her to not be around you, O'Brien. Just know, I'll be watching you." Mac turned his attention to Georgie. "Please call me if this gets any worse."

"I will."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

She shut the door as she sighed heavily. "I would like to apologize in advance."

He softly smiled. "It's okay. I can handle whatever he dishes out. You're more important."

She held his stare for a minute and then averted her gaze. "I just hope Maxie doesn't get a hold of you. That's the last thing you need." Her sister had played it cool about her staying with him, but that doesn't mean she won't corner Johnny later to make sure he protects her.

He is quite aware of Maxie's temperament after overhearing some outbursts at Kelly's. "I can handle her. I have duct tape."

A grin lit up her face. "I didn't think I'd ever smile again. Thanks."

"No problem."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

When Jason's hand glanced against Liz's back, she knew she was in hell. Biting her lip, she edged forward until they are seated in a quieted corner of the restaurant.

He can sense that she is tense.

"The usual, Mr. Morgan?"

A nod is all the waiter received before going to fetch Jason a cold beer.

"You okay?"

She nodded. "Everyone was staring."

"Told you that you looked good."

She rolled her eyes. "I think it was more your presence. You didn't notice?"

"I guess I just don't care, but I do notice. I'm used to it. Are you uncomfortable in that dress?" While he prefers to be under the radar, he's known here and that usually puts people on their best behavior and gets him noticed.

"It's not something I'd normally wear."

"I don't want you feeling like you have to change who you are to be around me."

"Okay. It was the best I could do on short notice." The other dresses were a little more scandalous.

"What else did you see?"

She took in her surroundings. "Several people picked up the phone when they spotted you."

He smirked. "What else?"

"A couple of guys averted their gaze like they hoped you didn't see them."

"It's good to be observant. I saw that too. If something should happen, what you recall can be very important. Always tried to scan the area for as much information as possible. I usually note any distinguishable features, the color of their hair, eyes, and clothing—those kinds of things. It's easier to do when you're not scared or nervous."

"I can do that."

Noticing the tension in her shoulders, he softly smiled. "Relax…"

She lets out the breath she was holding. "Sorry…"