Chapter Forty Six
Rosco still couldn't get over how lucky he had been to recapture Jaime. His head rested against the window frame as he stood looking out into the garden. Rosco's plans had to be put into action immediately.
He would leave here as soon as possible.
***
Jaime lay in her room curled up with the frilly pink pillow on her bed. Ooh! He'd better watch his back!
Jaime stewed in her embarrassment. Rosco mad her so frustrated. She closed her eyes as tears began to roll down her cheeks. Lord, when will I get out of this mess?
***
Elizabeth had sat at the table uneasily since Nikolas' appearance at the dinner. Wayward glances towards him confirmed that Nikolas would not let this matter rest. Elizabeth became so distracted by her anticipation of his next outburst that she didn't realize that Isabella was calling to her.
"Hmm?" Elizabeth looked up into the inquiring eyes of the older woman.
"So how did you two meet?" Isabella asked mischievously.
Elizabeth looked over at Jason, at a loss for words.
Jason grasped her hand and turned to Isabella. "She was friends with my sister," he replied.
Elizabeth smiled half-heartedly at Isabella before she stole another glance towards a disgruntled Nikolas. She prayed he wouldn't say anymore about Lucky. Elizabeth thought about Jaime and what she could be enduring at this moment and it sent shivers down her spine.
Jason looked over at her and she smiled faintly. He put his arm around her and rubbed her bare shoulders, attempting to warm her.
"He helped me through a rough time," Elizabeth found herself saying.
"So friends first my dahlings?" Isabella smiled.
Elizabeth looked over at Jason. "Definitely friends first and foremost."
Jason didn't say anything, but Elizabeth knew as he gazed into her eyes that it would be friends forever. Elizabeth glanced away, unable to push away the lump that was forming in her throat.
Elizabeth flashed back to the day in her studio when Jason told her that he was healed and he would be leaving.
"…that's more than friends. There's no words what I feel for you."
Elizabeth swallowed hard and brought her back to the conversation at the table. "Thank you so much for the dress, Isabella."
At that moment, Elizabeth felt the eyes of everyone at the table studying her.
Isabella didn't seem to mind the change in topics. "Yes, well, I felt a connection with you right away. Besides," Isabella smiled at Andre, "I would want any daughter of mine to be treated in the same way I've treated you."
Elizabeth nodded and smiled. Only she understood the implications of that thought. Elizabeth dabbed the corners of her mouth after the meal and placed it on the table. "Thank you for dinner. It was fabulous."
The murmurs and nodding of the guests signaled whole-hearted agreement. Andre and Isabella seemed delighted. "Well that isn't all that is planned," Isabella grinned.
"Do you think cook would mind if we saved dessert for later?" Isabella asked Andre quietly. He shook his head.
"Bellissima!" Isabella exclaimed, clapping her hands together.
Isabella pushed her chair back and stood up. "You are all invited to join me in the ballroom again!"
Elizabeth caught the twinkle in her eye. She was up to something.
***
Jason followed the guests into the ballroom again, but held back in the doorway to check if his cell was working. He had it set to vibrate and he continued to stay alert. Jason knew he had to focus on the mission.
He had to find Jaime.
***
Jaime heard the door unlock as she quickly slipped under the duvet. She had been allowed to shower and afterwards, one of the guards, Arlo if Jaime recalled correctly came to administer to her scratches and bruises.
"Who's there?" she called.
There was no answer. All Jaime could see was one leg and shoulder in the opening of the doorway. The person was talking to the guards and giving them a few instructions.
"Get the car ready, we're late already."
Jaime's heart raced. It was Rosco.
~~~
Would he never leave her alone?
Jaime pondered that question as she lay flat on the mattress, trying to feign sleep. Of course that was impossible.
Her ears perked up at the soft shuffling of footsteps. Jaime felt the bed shift with the added weight of another person.
Her heart was pounding against her chest now. A hand slowly pulled away the warm comforter. "Jaime," a deep voice whispered.
Jaime kept her eyes closed in hopes Rosco would perhaps take a hint. "I know you're not asleep," he smirked. "You're squinting your eyes."
Jaime sighed and pushed herself upright and grabbing the closest corner of the duvet to her chest. She pouted and stared at Rosco. Jaime resigned herself to being quiet, especially after what had happened earlier in the evening.
"What?" Rosco asked defensively.
Jaime continued to stare at him. 'Maybe if she didn't say anything he would leave…' Jaime thought.
"Would you quit with the silent treatment? You're being such a…" his face seemed to be searching for the right word. "Brat!"
***
"Brat!" Rosco finally spat out.
Jaime's dull eyes seemed to flicker at the word, yet she remained silent.
Rosco didn't even know why he was sitting on her bed, let alone calling her immature names like a teenage school boy. Was this what he'd become? He'd reverted to a pre-pubescent boy who annoyed the girls he liked?
Oh God. He liked her.
"Uh, boss?" Arlo called from the doorway.
Rosco's head snapped around to see the towering man hovering at the door. "What?" he said fiercely.
"The car is ready."
***
Elizabeth felt Jason behind her as she followed Isabella into the ballroom. As she saw the intense look on Jason's face, Elizabeth knew that he was thinking about Jaime. The night was over. Elizabeth wouldn't capture his attention again. Well not like on the staircase anyway.
Isabella cued up the string quartet and smiled. "Now we dance my friends."
Elizabeth watched as her host and hostess began to waltz. Isabella winked at Elizabeth and waved her towards Jason. Elizabeth swallowed and turned around to her tall escort. "Dance?"
Jason's blue eyes seemed to flicker and then warm as he smiled at her. "Yes. May I have this dance?"
Elizabeth felt his arms envelop her small waist as they began to glide across the dance floor. "You're not a bad dancer. Did I ever tell you that?" she smiled.
Jason shook his head. "I'm okay. I'm not…" His voice trailed off.
Elizabeth followed his gaze. Jason was looking at a servant whispering in Isabella's ear. Her face had changed from a glow to a clouded grimace. She said something hastily to Andre and walked quickly out of the ballroom.
Jason had stopped dancing and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "I'm going to follow her."
Suddenly Jason placed his hand on his chest, just above his heart. He opened his the side of his lapel and pulled out his cell. Elizabeth watched him nod his head and hang up. "Rosco's here. I told them to wait till I get there. Are you coming?"
Elizabeth's heart leaped. "Yes, what are we waiting for?"
She allowed Jason to lead her towards the dining room exit.
***
Nikolas watched Jason dragging Elizabeth towards the dining room. He grabbed Gia's hand and cut off their path. "And where do you think you're taking her?" he glared.
Jason stopped in his tracks. He tried to maneuver around Nikolas, but Nik wouldn't allow it, stepping in front of Lizzie and Jason at every turn.
"Get out of my way Nikolas!" Jason gritted his teeth.
"Or you'll what?" Nikolas dared. "You'll kill me?"
Jason sighed. "You don't know what you're talking about!" he replied gruffly.
"Well I know I'm not letting you drag Elizabeth anywhere else!" Nik spat, looking him up and down.
Jason moved towards the door again. Nikolas pushed him back. "You're not going anywhere until we settle this!"
***
Elizabeth clenched her fist. "Nikolas, get out of our way!" Elizabeth whispered angrily. "We're wasting time!"
Jason looked over at her and then at the door. Elizabeth nodded. Jason moved around Nikolas again, but Elizabeth reached over and gripped Nikolas' tux lapels so he couldn't get in Jason's way. "Stay out of this Nikolas!" Elizabeth warned and rushed after Jason.
***
When Jason had finally reached the back door near the kitchen, all he found was Isabella and a pair of fading red taillights in the distance. He had called the guys on his way there, but the signal did not reach Sonny's men. As Jason looked at his useless cell phone, he realized the antenna was broken. 'Nikolas pushed me, and it broke.' It dawned on Jason.
Damn it!
He shook his head and closed his eyes. Jason bent over to take a deep breath. He was so close.
Finally Jason looked up at a startled Isabella. "What are you doing here Signor Morgan?"
Jason stared intensely at the older woman. He'd had his suspicions about Andre, but it had been Isabella. Jason shook his head. He should have known. Jason walked over to the woman and asked her quietly but firmly. "Where is Rosco?"
Her brows scrunched into a frown. "Rosco?"
Jason didn't have time for this. He grabbed his devious hostess's arm and walked her back to the main foyer.
As Jason began down the corridor, out of the corner of his eye he saw a cell on one of the steel kitchen counters. He made a detour and grabbed it to the dismay of the dark Italian chef. Punching in the number to Avery, Jason walked as he talked. "Can you get to the car? Or set up some roadblock?"
"No," Avery replied. "We were waiting for your signal."
Jason closed his eyes again. "Can you get a trace on the license plate?"
"Partial make on the plates," Avery responded, "but we have a couple of guys on the car right now. Hopefully we'll be able to hear something through our contacts."
"Phone me back right away. Whenever you get it!"
Jason didn't like this. He didn't like it at all. He had him. Jason had Rosco right where he wanted him and he slipped right through his fingers.
Jason grabbed Isabella. He brought the protesting socialite into the foyer where Elizabeth, Nikolas, Gia and Andre were arguing.
"What the hell is going on?" Nikolas yelled.
Elizabeth's eyes met Jason's. He shook his head and Jason watched as her shoulders slumped in disappointment.
"Get your hands off me Signor!" Isabella screeched.
Jason let her go and watched her as she was comforted by her husband.
"What is the meaning of this?" Andre asked bewildered.
"Where is he?" Jason asked point-blank.
The Italian woman stood tall and defiant. "I don't know what you're talking about!" she exclaimed.
"Rosco." Jason stated calmly, with an underlying veneer. "Where's Rosco?"
Isabella moved closer to Andre, who hovered his beloved wife. "I think you do not understand that we don't know what you are talking about."
Jason studied the man, he wasn't lying. He didn't have a clue what his wife was up to. Jason could read her face like an open book. "Isabella knows exactly who I'm talking about," Jason accused.
"What's going on?" Gia piped up.
Jason turned toward the royal couple. "None of your business."
Jason didn't have time to deal with them. And politeness was over after this fiasco.
Nikolas frowned and pointed at Elizabeth. "When you bring Elizabeth into your mob business, it is my business. Come on Elizabeth, I'm taking you home."
Jason moved to stop Nikolas, but she removed her arm from his grasp alone. "No, I'm not!" she retorted.
"Everyone leave!" Andre commanded as his wife whispered in his ear.
By this time, there were two or three guards in the foyer surrounding them.
"I do not want to have to hurt you," Andre threatened as Jason moved towards Isabella.
"Fine!" Jason stated fiercely. Turning towards Elizabeth he motioned towards the door. "Are you coming with me?"
Elizabeth nodded.
Nikolas moved to stop her, but Jason intercepted his groping hand. "Don't come near her again."
Nikolas stared Jason down. "You don't own her!"
Jason felt the disappointment, the frustration, and the anger of the night's events climax into an outburst. "So help me Nikolas, if Jaime's hurt, I'll…" Jason caught himself and reigned in his emotions.
Elizabeth tugged on his hand. "Let's go Jason."
Jason allowed Elizabeth to lead him to the car, which had been pulled up front.
He would find Jaime, and no one would stop him.