Gerald had his hands full. Between trying to figure out how to pick up Mercedes' caseload at work, taking care of his family (including Mercedes), and working on getting the Elite up and running... well, he was running himself ragged.
Joey hadn't wanted to leave Sam's side; he still hadn't woken up. It was like the happier Joey got the worst off Sam was; he didn't know how not to be happy about things with him, and Brax like he didn't know how not to be broken about Sam. He was so stuck in his mind he bumped right into a hard chest. "I am so sorry."
Gerald looked down at Joey. Gerald was a rather formidable man, tall and muscular. "You're good," he replied before realizing it was Joey.
"No.." Joey froze; he knew that voice. He looked up and saw Jericho, fear shooting through him.
Gerald looked down at him and sighed quietly. "Joey..."
"What are you doing here! I'm not going back; I won't!"
"Quiet," he hissed, his tone strong and authoritative despite being soft.
Joey stood tall. "No! You don't control me here. You don't control me anymore!"
Gerald knew he couldn't hit Joey like he would have before. His right hand balled into a fist. "Move."
Joey wasn't the weak-minded kid Jericho once knew. "If you try the same crap River pulled, you will get the same result as he did!"
"Move," he repeated.
"I dare you to make me." He said, surprising himself.
He stared at him. "I can still pick you up," he replied, unamused.
Joey folded his arms. "And know how to defend myself. Now, why are you here? You can't have us, any of us including Mercedes."
"She's being discharged. I am here to take her home."
Joey shook his head. "She has no home with you! She won't go back to the Elite."
"She's going home with Sylvie and me," he snapped. "Now move."
"Sylvie? Why would sh-" Joey fell back. "She's your daughter?"
Gerald pushed past him.
"WHAT KIND OF SICK BASTARD LETS HIS OWN DAUGHTER BE RAPED!"
Gerald pulled Joey into a nearby room and covered his mouth. "I was not around when it happened, and River has paid for his crimes."
Joey shoved Jericho off of him. "Yeah, and Mercedes paid for yours."
Gerald got close to him. "You think I'm not living with that guilt?"
"Everything you did to me, to Sam...River did to her. Every sick and twisted thing. And now our demons are hers."
Gerald rolled his eyes. "You are being overdramatic. You both knew what you were getting into when you signed the contracts."
Joey shook his head. "No, we didn't, and you know it!" Joey shook his head. "Do they know? Does your family know who you are?"
"No, and they will never find out."
Joey folded his arms. "Why don't you want them to blame you, as they should?"
"Because you will ruin Mercedes's life even more. And I know you don't want that."
"They deserve to know."
"You tell them, and I will destroy you."
"You can't destroy me, not anymore."
"Wanna bet?"
Joey laughed. "You don't scare me anymore. Jericho...or do you go by Gerald since you are her dad. She deserves to know that you ruined her. That you abused Sam and me and caused River to hurt her."
Gerald stared at him. "I know how to destroy you... you won't tell them."
"Oh, and how is that? You can't make me go back there. You can't do anything to me."
"Maybe not to you..."
Joey shook his head. "Keep your threats. You don't think River already told her? Or Sam? I'm not scared of you."
Gerald smirked. "You grew a backbone. It looks good on you, Joseph."
"Joey, not Joseph. I let him go the same time I let go calling you master."
"You're still cute; just have more of a fire to you.*
"I loathe you." He spat. "You almost broke me; you almost destroyed me. But you cant."
"You loathe me as Jericho... I understand that, Joseph. But Jericho and Gerald are not the same."
"How you figure that?"
"Jericho is a businessman, first and foremost. I am a father and a friend."
"What kinda father allows his child to end up here the way yours did?"
Gerald growled. "I wouldn't have if I was home."
Joey knew he was poking him, but Jericho, Gerald, whoever the hell he was, should suffer. "And where were you when River showed his face?"
"River is lucky he's still alive."
"What were you doing that you couldn't save your daughter?"
"I wasn't in town when it happened."
"And what were you doing?"
"Work things."
"You mean the Elite things."
"No. I mean work things."
Joey shook his head. "You and I both know the Elite is not gone, and you haven't learned."
"We both know that things change."
"The Elite should be closed. It's just a place to have sex slaves."
"It's legal. We are doing nothing wrong."
"You are pathetic."
"I am a businessman. Just because you were unhappy, there doesn't mean everyone is.
"We were all unhappy, you bastard." He roared.
"That's what you think. Now I need to go to my daughter."
"I can't wait to see her face when she realizes you are the bastard who could have stopped all of this."
"You are a little shit, you know that?"
"I've been called worse." He laughed.
He shook his head and rolled his eyes.
"Maybe we should go to the room together. "
"Perhaps."
Joey nodded. "Uh-huh, let's go." He said, moving to the door.
Gerald blocked his way. "You tell her, I will make your life hell."
"News flash, you've already done that."
"I can always make it worse, Joseph."
"Oh, I was going to say the same thing."
"Oh really? You're still a little punk ass child."
"Wrong. I'm a grown-ass man."
Gerald laughed. "You're a child."
"Uh-huh if you say so."
He got super close. "If you think I still can't make your life miserable on the outside, you have another thing coming."
"If I were you, I would worry about myself and stop with the threats."
Gerald rolled his eyes, tired of the kid's attitude, before turning and leaving.
"See you up there, Gerald!" He said after him, Joey knew, it may not be today or tomorrow but one day he would tell them what Gerald did.