A/N – Thanks for the comments! Remember, new posting schedule M, Th. By the way, to Guest re: Dirty Secret, sorry, I can't post it here because it's a site only fic. On my laptop, when you open the page on my site, there are options on the bottom right side where you can change the color or font size. That may help you see it better.

Chapter 58

Elizabeth let Jason know what happened and he was surprised but glad that Emiliana had come to them for help, especially if she was feeling so off.

"How is Cam?"

"He's being stoic. Jake is checking with Carlos to see if we need to worry about the ex-fiance's family retaliating."

That got Jason's guard up.

"Relax. I know where your mind went. Maximus will protect us if need be, you just stand by your brother."

"If you are in danger, I'll come home."

Drew eyed his brother wondering what the hell happened that would put Liz in danger.

"I know, but it's fine right now. She's sleeping and it's quiet. The guards are on alert, and we should know more soon."

"We're about to eat dinner. I'll call you when we get back to the hotel."

"Okay. I love you."

"Love you too."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Maximus knocked and then entered the house.

Liz smiled and then hugged him. "Come on in. Tess is here too. She's having dinner with us."

The baby is chatting away as she plays with Aidan on the floor and Maximus couldn't help but smile.

"She's getting big."

"She's an overachiever."

Tess heard his voice and leaves the kitchen to embrace him.

"I didn't know you'd be here."

"I wanted to let Liz know what was going on in person."

"Let me go get Cam then."

She is told where to find Cam's room and then went upstairs and slowly opened the door.

Cam looked up and smiled. "Hey. You finally come to your senses?"

She chuckled. "Maximus is here."

He jumps up and followed her downstairs.

"Carlos found out the family is pissed, so I made a call."

"Was it bad?" Liz asked as she cringed.

"They were mad, but I assured them if they harmed one hair on her head, they'd have to deal with me and the Costa Nostra and they calmed. I offered a peace offering that they couldn't refuse. They will back off on the condition that it is known that he broke off the engagement."

She rolled her eyes. "That peace offering won't cost you, will it?"

"Not at all…"

"Thank you," Cam said.

"I also called her mother."

Liz's brow rose. "How did that go?"

"I told her off and she was mad at first, but we had a long talk about family and its importance. When Emiliana is ready, she is willing to talk, but to be honest, I don't think she'll change her ways. It might be best if Emiliana ventured out on her own. She can stay at my place until she gets her bearings."

"Thank you. That's very generous."

"Cam is family." He sniffed. "What is that?"

Liz grinned. "Aidan made beef stew."

"I'm intrigued."

Cam smirked. "You staying?"

"Of course, it would be rude of me not to taste it," Maximus said with a grin.

Jake chuckled. "Should we make him set the table?"

"Now you're just talking crazy," Maximus said before sitting on the couch. "Bring me that baby."

Jake retrieved her and sat her on his lap.

She eyed him at first and then talked his ear off.

"She's very chatty."

"Yeah, I have no idea who she gets that from," Liz said.

"Maybe she's been hanging around a lot with you."

His eyes narrowed. "What are you trying to imply?"

"Ramble," he said before coughing into his hand.

"Men…"

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Once dinner was finished and the guests left, Liz went upstairs, and Jason called a short time later.

"How was dinner?"

He laid on the bed. "It was good. What did Aidan make?"

"Oh, it was a delicious beef stew. Tess was here and Maximus showed up."

"How is Emiliana?"

"She's still sleeping. Considering all the stress she has been under, I'm not surprised."

"And Cam?"

"He's worried, but he's fine."

When he was quiet and didn't respond she figured he was beating himself up.

"They are fine, Jason. You're doing the right thing by your brother. Cam knows that too."

"Tell him he can call if he wants to talk."

"I will."

"I miss you."

She smiled. "I miss you too. How is Drew holding up?"

"He has been quiet, but we had a good day with our mom."

"I know she loved it."

"Yeah."

"Call me when the surgery starts."

"Okay. Good night. I love you."

"I love you too.

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

The next morning, Emiliana finally stirred.

"Hey," Cam said as he moved toward her.

Her focus sharpened and she realizes she's not at home.

"You're in my bed. You collapsed."

She sits up abruptly.

"Slow down. You've been asleep for a day."

Her eyes widened. "Wow."

"Go use the bathroom and then we'll talk. My mom left some stuff in there for you including clothes if you want to take a shower."

When she disappeared inside, he went downstairs and made her some breakfast. Aidan and Jake are at school.

She eyed him as he approached. "I'm sorry."

"For what?"

"I kind of dumped my problems on your family."

"They are just worried about you."

She sipped some juice and then bit into the toast. "You made this?"

He nodded. "Aidan taught me the basics."

She tried the omelet. "It's good."

He slightly smiled. Once she was finished, he put the tray aside. "The doctor said that you're suffering from exhaustion and you should take it easy today."

"Okay."

"So, what happened?"

She leaned back. "First, I broke off the engagement and that conversation didn't go very well. When I went home, my mom had already heard and was yelling, and I just screamed at the top of my lungs and she stopped."

His brow rose. "Go on."

"I told her that I refuse to ruin my life because of her whims and that I'm smart, talented, and don't need a man to provide for me."

Cam chuckled. He can picture her mom's face. "What was her response?"

"I swore her head spun around. She was not amused. She spewed all the guilt she could conger, but I didn't back down. I stood my ground and then she told me that if I refuse to go apologize and marry that idiot, that she'd disown me. It hurt, but something had snapped inside me. Your mother is right. I can't live my life to please everyone else. I called her bluff and she said she no longer has a daughter."

"I'm sorry."

Emiliana wiped a tear away. "It's not your fault. I've been seeing a therapist."

"That's good." He took her hand and held it. "I'm proud of you."

"I coped in all the wrong ways, but I'm willing to better myself and change. Your mom helped me a lot."

"She told me."

"Were you mad?"

He shook his head. "How could I be? She did it out of love and you needed to hear it."

"I know you've always hated how I dealt with my parents and it put a wall between us."

"I'm just glad you are open to changing that, so you'll be happy."

"You're a good man, Cameron. Thanks for being you."

"You weren't all bad you know."

She grinned. After a bleak couple of weeks, it was nice to hear his sarcastic humor. "I need to figure out what I'm going to do from here. I have money." Her dad had left her a trust.

"My mom said you can stay here another day and Maximus offered a room at the mansion. There is plenty of space there while you figure things out."

"That is very kind."

"I hope you consider taking up his offer because you'll be close by."

"For now, I don't mind, but it won't be for long. I feel like a heavy weight has been lifted. I love my mom, but I don't love what she said and did to me. There was enough toxic behavior in that family to last a lifetime. I'm over it."

"You're going to be fine."

A smile lit up her face. "I think you're right."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

Monica clasped Drew's hand. "You're going to be fine."

"Don't go far."

"I won't. We'll be here when you wake up."

He swallowed hard. "If anything bad happens, then give the kids the recording that I made, okay?"

"I promise I will, but you're going to make it." It was the most painful thing she had ever watched when he recorded the message.

Jason moved closer and put his hand on his brother's shoulder. "The doctor said he can't make your face look like mine again, so you're stuck with the one you have."

Drew smiled. "Very funny…"

"You are both handsome," Monica said.

The nurse entered the room. "It's time to go."

Drew shut his eyes as the drugs started to hit. "Loopy…"

"Just relax."

"Jason, glad you're my brother."

"Me too."

He is taken away and Monica moves against Jason and he hugs her. "He'll be okay."

"I hope that he remembers us."

"I do too."

IiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIiIi

In Palermo, Liz paced back and forth.

"Mom, you're going to drive us crazy."

She sighed. "I'm sorry. I'm just nervous."

"I know, but you're just winding yourself up."

Cam came downstairs with Emiliana.

"How are you feeling?"

"I'm a lot better. Thanks for taking care of me."

"Anytime."

Two hours later, Liz glanced at the clock. "This is torture."

There is a knock and then Danny moved inside.

"Hey, squirt," Cam said.

"Hey."

Liz holds out her arms and Danny ran to her1. "How are you holding up?"

"Nana just called, and they haven't finished."

"It's scary, huh?"

Danny nodded. "Yeah."

"No matter what happens, he loves you, and love that deep won't go away."

"Dad said if he forgets, we'll just have to help him remember."

" .7That's right."

"I challenge you to a game of vicious Mario Carts," Cam said making Danny giggle.

"You're on."

Liz is glad that the boys are there to distract him.

The door opens and she grins. "Sophie!"

Sophie smiled and hugged her. "Hello."

"I'm always glad to see another female."

Jake walked in with Alana.

"Did you steal her?"

"Gia was about to go to the store, and I figured we could watch her until she returns." With everything going on, he hasn't gotten to spend a lot of time with Sophie, but she is understanding and has been busy as well.

"Give me that baby."

"Get your own," Johnny said as he moved inside.

"Bite your tongue."

"You know you're going down."

Liz rolled her eyes making Alana laugh.

"You can't resist Jason's—"

"We can hear you," Jake said before plopping onto the couch next to Cam.

"I was gonna say game. Do I need to start spelling words around you?"

Cam laughed.

"Uh, they can spell," Liz said.

Johnny baby-jacked her.

"Maybe you're the one that needs to have a baby."

Johnny pretended to choke, and Alana patted his chest making him laugh.

"What's up?"

"Milo just called me. He said that Drew is in recovery."

"Yes!" Liz said.

Danny cheered.

"They should know something in an hour or so."

"That's great."

"I spoke to Piph today."

Liz is surprised that they would talk. "Is she okay?"

"Calm down. She's fine. I needed some information."

Liz's brow rose. "What do you have to do for it?"

Cam snickered.

"Get your head out of the gutter, Cameron."

"He can't it's too big," Jake said.

Johnny chuckled. "I owe her a kiss."

Liz grinned. "That sounds about right. You better hope Jason doesn't find out."

"Please… Jason wishes he looks like this."

"Is that right?"

Johnny spun around, making Alana laugh when he heard Jason's voice. "What the hell?"

"Watch your mouth in front of that baby."

Cam held up his phone.

"You are a tattletale."

"Don't be trying to steal Piph from me," Jason said. When he had gotten Cam's text that Johnny was macking on Piph, he had called right away to mess with him.

"She won't even remember your name after I kiss her."

Monica watched as Jason rolled his eyes making her giggle. He has the best expressions.

"How's the good twin?"

"I'm fine."

"I was referring to your brother."

"Nothing yet, but I'll call as soon as I know anything."

"Sounds good."

"Alana, drool on Uncle Johnny for me."

When Alana heard his voice and her name, she started babbling making Jason smile.

"Later."

"Love you!" Liz said.

"Love you too."

"Thank God they can't kiss," Cam said as he needled his mom.

"Don't make me ground you," Liz said.

Jason chuckled as he ended the call.

"What was that about?"

"My family and my nemesis Johnny; who was flirting with Epiphany."

Monica shook her head. "I don't know what you did to her, but she is scandalous now."

Jason grinned. "She's my girl on the side."

Monica chuckled. "And how does Elizabeth feel about that?"

"She tolerates it."

They stood when the doctor neared. Jason had wanted to kill the man and he still might if Drew doesn't make it.

The man tentatively moved closer as he observed Jason's glare. "Mr. Cain is stable. I did all I could do based on the notes that you gave me. He should be awake within the hour and we'll know what he remembers."

"Thank you."

The doctor nodded and then hastily left.

"He's scared of you."

Jason's gaze shifted. "He should be."

Monica's brow rose.

"After all he has done, I get to hate him."

"Just—you have a lot to lose now, so dial back the testosterone a bit."

Jason sighed and moved back to his chair. It's hard to be objective with all the damage the man had done to him and Drew.

"Are you alright?"

"Yeah."

"So, how do you feel about Drew? It must hard to get another brother and then he might not remember you."

"That would kind of be karma."

Monica smirked.

"I—it's hard. AJ and I have been like oil and water since the accident. From what I understand, it started when I came back from boarding school."

"AJ was complicated. He was his worst enemy. I tried so hard with him. Alcohol was his Achilles heel. Drew is nothing like AJ. Well, at least what we know of him."

"I kind of relate to him as a friend. I'm not sure regarding the whole brother thing."

"Well, you thought of Sonny more like a brother. It's just feeling a closeness and knowing that he's family and you have each other's back. Kind of like what you had with Emily. I'm hoping after this is over, you'll be able to confide in each other and be family."

"Are you scared?"

"Yes. I love him. He wormed his way into my heart just like you did."

He reached for her hand and she gripped his.

"I miss Lila."

Monica smiled warmly. "She was one of a kind."

Jason nodded.

"She loved you very much. While we all had our heads in the sand, she was loving you as much as she could before she moved on. She had a way of seeing things positively."

"She made me feel lovable."

"No matter what, I still loved you. I was mad as hell at times, but I could never stop loving you, Jason. You are my son—always."

He put his arm around her and kissed her on the head. "It was so hard for me back then. I thought I had to love you because I was supposed to love my family, but I hated how you treated me, so I couldn't make sense of it. I just hurt so badly."

"You've come a long way."

"Yeah."

"That's a testament to who you are as a person. You and Elizabeth have overcome a lot of odds to get where you are and I'm proud of you both."

"She would like hearing that."

"Then I will make sure I tell her."