Disclaimer in first chapter.
"How'd you know which car was mine?" They had been driving for probably less than five minutes and Johnny was already becoming uncomfortable in the silence. He already knew how she knew which car was his, it was obvious there were only three other people who had cars like it Jason, Sonny and Benny and she had already seen at least Jason's, and probably Sonny's too.
"Jason got one when Sonny really began to trust him, that was a while ago," she said distractedly. "I didn't know if you would have one or not they seemed to be reserved for very important people in Sonny's "business", but when I saw it I knew. Why does he get cars anyway, you'd think he buy you a new gun or something to show his appreciation."
"You'd think. I guess he doesn't want people to get the wrong idea, you know, like he does something illegal."
Emily knew what he was saying was supposed to be a joke, but it all of the sudden made her wonder what Alcazar gave to people he trusted, or if he even really trusted anyone. Then she wondered what her grandfather had given to the people he placed his trust in; his daughter's hand in marriage, or maybe something smaller like a set of steak knives. That seemed almost a weird as getting someone who lied and killed for you a car.
"What are you thinking," he asked pulling her out of her own thoughts and back into the real world for the second time tonight.
"Truthfully?" She asked and then smirked a little when he shook his head up and down like a two year old who was being asked if they wanted ice cream. "I was wondering if my grandfather and Alcazar did something similar for the people they trusted, you know if they offered some gift of some sort to prove it."
"That's not why Sonny buys the cars. I mean I guess it's one reason, but it's also his way of saying that you're a part of his family. I didn't get mine until two weeks ago and I'm still not sure what I did to deserve it, but I think it's the only way he really knows how to thank a person without losing the power and respect he's worked so hard for. At least that's how Jason explained it."
She looked thoughtful for a second and then seemed to understand what he meant much to his gratitude he didn't think he could explain it any other way. Then she quieted down a bit and again it started to make him nervous. He couldn't figure why all of the sudden he was so scared of quiet, but he was. He like hearing her voice the things she said made him think and the movement of her mouth in general brought back memories of the kissed they'd shared. The kiss that still left him a little breathless just thinking about and made him wants to reach over and do it again the consequences be damned.
"When you were little what did you want to be when you grew up?" Emily didn't know where that question had come from, but she regretted it as soon as the words left her mouth. She had no right to pry into his personal life like this, but she didn't take it back, in fact she did that opposite she looked at him intently waiting for an answer.
"Truthfully?" He asked repeating her earlier question. "This. For as long as I can remember I wanted to do what I'm doing now. I mean I guess this isn't the best line of work to be in, but I gives me power and stability." He though about what he was saying for a second before continuing, he hadn't told anyone the next part–with the exception of Jason and Sonny–but he figured she wouldn't use it against him. "I have a sister, she's sixteen and doing this job made it so I could keep her with me instead of having her grow up with our mother who was essentially a crackwhore. When I was little I remember coming home to strange men in the house and seeing her sprawled out on the bed with needles in her arm. My mother got off drugs long enough to have Dani, that's my little sister, Danielle. After a while though she went right back to her old ways and all I ever wanted was to be able to get Dani out of that house and never have her go back. Working for Sonny gave me all that, and he doesn't deal in drugs."
"Yea but…you sometime have to kill people right? I mean I'm not stupid I know what Jason does for Sonny and I know when you were guarding me for a while you would have probably killed anyone who tried to hurt me…it's your job."
"I probably shouldn't be telling you this, but I don't lie to my friends. Yes, I have killed for Sonny before and truthfully I probably don't feel anywhere near as bad about it as I should. I don't just go around killing people who don't deserve it and Sonny doesn't order me to kill or hurt people who haven't done the same. My understands having guards on her when she goes to school and when she spends that night at a friends, like tonight and that sometimes I get arrested, but to her I'm Johnny, her big brother, and that's all that matters. Just like with you and Jason."
"Alright one more question," Emily said as they stepped out of the car and onto the elevator leading to the penthouses. "Why did you kiss me back there?"
"I kissed you because I wanted to," he answered without hesitation. "Because you gave me this beautiful chaste kiss first and it was the only thing I could think to do in return that was even almost worthy of what you had given me, but mostly because I like you and I always told myself that when I found a girl I really liked I wouldn't let her get away no matter what was standing betweens us. Even if the thing between us is your brother and Sonny with guns."
Emily didn't know whether to laugh or cry at what he had just told her. She had spent the whole ride trying convincing herself that he had only kissed her out of some sort of obligation not have her make a fool of herself, but if what he was saying was truth he did it because he genuinely liked her. She wanted to investigate this situation more, but the elevator was almost to Jason's floor so she had to think quickly.
"Okay so here's the thing, I would like to see you more maybe even get to know you, but I don't want to lie to my brother or get you killed. Can that happen?"
Johnny looked thoughtful for a second and the leaned over and kissed her on the top of her head. "When we get off the elevator let me talk to your brother. You need to get some sleep anyway and you'll have your answer in the morning."
Emily did as she was told when they reached the penthouse she gave Jason and apologetic look for leaving without telling him and then went upstairs to bed throwing Johnny a shaky smile on her way up that didn't go unnoticed by Jason.
"There's something I need to ask you…"
"No." Jason said interrupting him before he could even get the question out of his mouth, there was no way his sister was going to be involved with someone like Johnny O'Brien even though at this time he couldn't figure out what was wrong with the guy.
"We just want to get to know each other," Johnny said pleadingly. "Look Jason you know me we're friends and you know I'm not going to hurt her. I mean I could understand if I was womanizer or a player, but you know I'm not. As a matter of fact the only time I even really have time to date is when I need someone for show when you or Sonny have to make an appearance somewhere. I know that what I do for a living sucks, but this is your sister and while you may know her better than I do, we both know she's never gonna end up with a guy whose on the straight and narrow path. I'm not asking for her hand in marriage, just a chance."
"And what if you break her heart, do I get to kill you?"
"That will never happen Jason and you know it. First of all I think her heart may be a little stronger that you want to believe and second I like her a lot and I will do anything and everything in my power to keep her safe, and don't tell me it's too dangerous. I know who her father is she told me the whole story and just being your sister puts her in danger if anything her being with me will make her safer, because at least I can protect her if we're alone together."
Jason desperately wanted to argue, but he knew that there was really no reason to even try. Johnny had a good point, actually he had many good points, but before he could respond he noticed Brenda standing at the top of the stairs with a smile on her face and her fingers crossed. She was actually rooting for Johnny's little speech to work out which made him want to laugh out loud and tell Johnny he could marry Emily if he wanted just as long as it would keep that look on Brenda's face because it was the cutest most annoying look he had ever seen on a woman and he wanted to see it everyday for the rest of his life. Where the hell did that come from? Jason asked himself before yelling at her to go back upstairs.
"Well are you gonna let them see each other?" She asked as she came further down the stairs.
"Not that it's any of your business," he said as he locked eyes with her and never looked away. "But yes I am just as long as Johnny here understands the consequences that may come along with it."
Brenda squealed and threw her arms around Jason's neck not really sure of why she was so happy about his decision except for it proved something she had been thinking for a very long time, Jason Morgan did have a heart. She turned around and ran back up the stairs leaving both men stunned for very different reasons.
"You won't regret it," Johnny said as he turned around and left the penthouse.
Jason was all of the sudden very worried about the situation he had gotten himself into, not so much with Emily and Johnny, he knew that Johnny was a good guy. But more so with Brenda, when she threw her arms around his neck he felts something he hadn't felt in a long time, happy or at least what he had come to know as happy. This situation was about to become very volatile and he knew if he didn't handle it in the right way he may very well lose out on a relationship with a great woman…or a least a friendship depending on how she saw things.
P.S. The more reviews I get the faster I'll write….