Jason propped his feet against the round table in front of him and
tried to get comfortable as he watched Elizabeth's still form peacefully
asleep on the bed. Last night's events flooded his memory. He could see
each spectacular moment clicking off frame after frame before his eyes. It
seemed more like a movie he had watched rather than an event he had been a
part of. Jason was thankful that the heavy curtains on the windows
shrouded the room in darkness. He knew by the light of day this beautiful
moment would have to come to an end and he wanted to relish it for just a
while longer.
His heart and his head were again at war and as much as Jason wanted his heart to win he knew that he couldn't let that happen. There was far too much at stake to let himself be lulled into thinking he could ever again indulge in the guilty pleasure of Anthony Malucci's wife. With that thought Jason felt the bile from the pit of his stomach rise up into his throat almost burning it. Last night he had stepped over the line. He had done something that he had never expected from himself. All the rationalizing he had done about Elizabeth's marriage being nothing but a sham Anthony used to hide behind at the time seemed reasonable to him but now when the reality of the morning hit Jason was less than sure.
He was certain there was no future in this endeavor. There was no such thing as divorce in his world and Anthony most certainly would have killed Elizabeth rather than relinquish her to a man he saw as the one and only thing standing between him and what he wanted. That idea sent a cold chill down Jason's spine. The thought that his one night of carelessness could bring harm to Elizabeth frightened him and fear wasn't something that Jason Morgan was accustomed to. Bearing that in mind Jason got up from his perch and rummaged through his jacket pocket for his cell phone. He needed to gain control of himself and his actions but more importantly he had to find a way to stay that way. As his eyes made their way back to the bed the sight of her bare leg uncovered almost the entire way to her thigh however had Jason suddenly questioning his convictions all over again.
His mind raced to how her skin felt against his own. How they had pleasured one another into the wee hours of the morning. Jason couldn't stop hearing her voice asking him to take her over and over again ringing in his ears. It was almost maddening. He shook his head attempting to reign in his lustful thoughts. He pondered if this was all just the allure of the sex that drew him to her or was it the whole woman that made his heart jump. That wasn't an easily answered question at the moment for the only thing that filled him at the present instant was his desire for Elizabeth. Jason needed some time to think – some time away from her – away from this room that still smelled of their passion filled night.
"Johnny," Jason said to the voice on the other end of the phone. "I need you to go to the Drake Hotel and retrieve a car for me.... No I don't have the keys....I doubt that should be a problem....It's a midnight blue BMW....I don't know where the fuck it's parked!" Jason barked frustrated more with himself than his most loyal man. "Bring it to the McDonald's on West Ohio across from the Best Western River North. Leave it in the lot there. No, don't bring anyone with you!" Jason ordered as Johnny questioned how he was supposed to get back to the Morgan compound. "TAKE A GOD DAMNED BUS....I don't care how the hell you get back! Just follow my orders to the letter, nothing more nothing less. Be sure that you don't let my father know anything about this little move, understood?" Once satisfied with Johnny's compliance, Jason ended the conversation.
"Trying to run out on me again I see?" Elizabeth questioned sitting up in bed and letting the sheets fall to reveal her naked body to Jason.
The splendor of her naked frame rendered Jason speechless for a second as again all the wonderful images of last night bombarded him. "What?" he finally said hoping to hide the quiver in his voice.
"I asked if you were thinking about running out on me again?"
Jason was thankful that Elizabeth had now draped the cream colored sheet across herself and drew her knees closer to her body as she spoke. "What do you mean again?" Jason questioned fully knowing the answer but needing the idle conversation at the moment.
"The night of Emily's engagement party when you took me to your penthouse. I woke up the next morning and you were gone. Tell me that's not what you were contemplating doing right now Jason," Elizabeth said her voice a mixture of anger and disappointment at the very thought.
"No, I was actually making arrangements for your car to be brought to this hotel." Jason had resumed his all business tone.
"What do you mean brought to this hotel?"
"I am having Johnny collect your car from the Drake and he's going to leave it in the lot across the street."
"What?"
"Exactly what aren't you understanding here?" Jason was suddenly frustrated.
"So what, I'm good enough to have sex with but not good enough to be seen with?" Elizabeth knew what a ridiculous question that was given the circumstances but the romantic that she had long since buried deep within her somehow found its way to the surface where Jason Morgan was concerned.
"What?!" Jason countered. He was completely shocked by her inability to grasp the line they had both crossed.
"You heard me. I'm good enough to fuck but nothing more!" Elizabeth shouted suddenly feeling more vulnerable than she ever imagined she could.
"Elizabeth," Jason gasped in a mixture of frustration and raging emotions. "Do you hear yourself?"
"Yes," she cut him off.
"What were you exactly expecting to happen from all of this? You're married to Anthony and this can't ever happen again!" he stated firmly knowing that his words lacked the conviction they should have carried.
"Why?" Elizabeth felt the word catch in her throat.
"WHY??" Jason echoed. "You have got to be kidding right? You know the hell why. This isn't the way things are done."
"Oh yeah I forgot – men are the only ones who get to have a little sex on the side. How stupid of me!" Elizabeth brought her hand to her forehead in mock forgetfulness.
"Stop it Elizabeth!" Jason ordered.
"Why? The truth hurt Jason? You said it yourself. My husband doesn't do much to hide his affairs, so why should it be any different for me?" Elizabeth knew though that this was anything but a casual affair or some one-night stand. She had felt their connection long before they had ever touched one another and she wasn't about to let go of this.
Jason rubbed his hands over his face and let out a heavy sigh. "Elizabeth," he walked over to the bed and sat on its edge. "This can't be happening. You know that as much as I do."
"Why?" she asked moving her body closer to his.
"Anthony," Jason returned directly. "Neither of us can afford the risk that comes with this. Anthony is a loose cannon. I can't take that chance. I can't take the chance that in his warped mind he would use you as some pawn in whatever game he's got going to down me and my family."
"It's my risk, Jason!" Elizabeth forced.
"The hell it is! Elizabeth have you been completely sheltered about this life we live? You really think that this, you and me," he pointed between them, "isn't a war in the making? It's not worth the inevitable bloodshed."
"Oh," Elizabeth looked away so as not to let Jason see the tears that she knew were on their way.
"I'm sorry," he whispered feeling his own tears.
"No – no it was me. I should have known better," Elizabeth said as she hurried off the bed and collected her clothes that were scattered around the room. "I should be the one who is sorry."
Jason watched helplessly unable to do or say anything to show her what was truly in his heart. He wished that he could tell her that having her alive and miserable with Anthony outweighed the thought of what Anthony would do to her if he ever caught wind of this little union. Jason knew himself well enough to be certain that should Elizabeth be hurt by Anthony Malucci's hand, the man would cease to exist no matter what code Jason had been brought up to believe. It didn't make a difference what Jason wanted or what his heart sang with every thought of Elizabeth. He had to put an end to this before it got even more out of hand. "Elizabeth." Jason reached for her arm as she walked passed him.
"What?" She turned with tears clouding her eyes.
"Sit down, please."
"Why? Is this where you give me the polite brush off?" Elizabeth knew she was acting like some spoiled high school girl, but there wasn't a thing she could do to stop herself.
"Would you listen to me?" Jason spouted almost shaking her in hopes of bringing her to her senses.
"I'm listening," she countered.
"Are you? Are you really listening to me? I don't think so because if you were you wouldn't be acting like this. You would know that everything that I have said is the truth. For god sakes you live with Anthony, you know what kind of a lunatic he can be. Why would you want to tempt fate like this?" Jason questioned honestly.
"You," she simply said placing and easy kiss on his lips. A kiss that was sweet, delicious and so tempting to Jason.
"Why me?"
"I don't know. I just know that I don't want this to be all there is for us. I don't care about the risk. I don't care if Anthony finds out. I don't care if he kills me for it." Jason felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand erect with those words. "Please, please just tell me this isn't all we can have – please," she pleaded as Jason impulsively enveloped her in his arms.
"This is suicide. You know that don't you?" he asked.
The voices in his mind waged on, but at the moment he too felt like Elizabeth – this one glorious night just wasn't enough.
Rocco sat alone in the dining room rehashing the previous evening's hellacious events. He was more certain than ever that his son was beyond his realm of control. Yet where it had all spiraled out of control evaded him at the moment. He had done everything in his power to school his son in the ways of their world. Rocco had made a good and bountiful life for his family, one he fully expected Anthony to continue going forward with, yet in his heart Rocco knew that the only thing Anthony would be doing with his hard work would be to destroy it. Anthony had defeated the beautiful girl he had married in much the same way.
Rocco didn't know what saddened him more, the fact that Anthony had taken all of Rocco's teachings and twisted them to suit his own vendettas or that Elizabeth was now embroiled in a life that she shouldn't have been in with a man that was never going to love her the way she deserved to be. The image of his own sister popped into Rocco's mind's eye. He still carried so much guilt for never standing up for her. Rocco knew the marriage arranged by his father was slowly killing his only sister but his hands were tied. Tied by the same code and honor that his only son now spit on.
Rocco cursed his own instincts or lack there of when it came to his son. Why hadn't he been able to see the scam that Anthony so artfully portrayed in luring Elizabeth into the lion's den so to speak? Rocco knew how duped he felt and could only imagine how Elizabeth must have felt knowing she had been nothing more than a means to an end for both her father and Anthony.
"Oh excuse me," Jeff Webber said interrupting Rocco's private thoughts. "I was just looking for my daughter."
"Won't you join me for some coffee?" Rocco asked suddenly filled with anger for the man standing in front of him. The smug man that handed off his daughter in exchange for a few pieces of shiny silver. The mere idea of it sickened Rocco to the core. Where he came from family was everything and no matter the crime, one family member was never traded for another.
"I really need to speak with Elizabeth," Jeff asserted uneasy about being alone with Rocco Malucci. Jeff had never formally approached the Capo regarding any of the business that Anthony had taken care of for him and Jeff was getting the distinct impression that Capo Malucci was less than pleased by that.
"I'm sure you have time for one cup of coffee."
"Sure," Jeff agreed. He understood that he wasn't left with much of a choice.
Jeff and Rocco sat in silence for a while which unnerved Jeff Webber to no end. It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Rocco immensely enjoyed the discomfort he saw written all over his guest's face. "So how's the Coronary Care Unit benefit coming?" Rocco finally asked.
"That's what I am here to find out actually. I have been in Washington DC for the past few days...."
"Drumming up support for your senatorial race?" Rocco interrupted.
"Well actually yes," Jeff said, eyeing the man before him cautiously. "So I haven't had much time to be involved in the event...."
"I thought this was your springboard?" Rocco interrupted again.
"Excuse me?" Jeff returned confused. "Springboard?" he questioned.
"It was my understanding that you intended on using this benefit event as a way to solidify your position."
"Well yes......I mean no," Jeff stuttered. "I am behind this event one hundred percent. It has nothing to do with the senatorial race whatsoever."
"So you expect me to believe you are doing this out of the goodness of your heart?" Rocco raised his brow. "You expect me to believe that a man who sold his own daughter to the highest bidder isn't above selling his own soul to get what he wants?" Rocco's animosity for Jeff Webber came pouting out in buckets.
"I don't think I know what you are talking about," Jeff attempted to cover as he sifted in his seat.
"Well then, let me refresh your memory," Rocco seethed. "In my world only a coward would have done what you did to your daughter!"
Rocco resisted the urge to look upward hoping his father god rest his soul had made peace with his maker for the sins he committed against his own daughter. Rocco hated himself for not helping his sister all those years ago. He wasn't about to do the same thing to Elizabeth. Son or not, Elizabeth deserved better than Anthony and Rocco intended to see that in the long run she would be protected.
"What did I do?" Jeff's vain attempt at ignorance only served to anger Rocco further.
"WHAT DID YOU DO!? You used the poor girl like a chip in a fucking poker game! You're no better than a two-bit gambler that thinks if they play just one more hand they'll come out on top. Men in my world love men like you Mr. Webber. We love that you can't control your urges, but the fact that you used your daughter as a means to an end for you – well that's where I draw the line."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jeff's voice rose an octave, as he was unable to gauge just where this conversation was going.
"What do you think it means?"
"Anthony and I have deal!" Jeff stammered. "My deal's with Anthony!"
"NO – sir your deal is with the Malucci family for which, unbeknownst to my son, I am still in control of!"
"All Elizabeth has to do is stop rocking the boat with Anthony and everything will be fine. I promise," Jeff said completely oblivious to what Rocco was truly irked by.
"Is that what you think this is all about? You think I'm angry that Elizabeth isn't happy with the life she has? WELL I SAY THANK THE LORD SHE'S NOT HAPPY!"
"Then I don't understand." Jeff threw up his hands in confusion.
"Understand this Mr. Webber – your daughter, my daughter in law, is not a thing. She's a person and not something that is part of any deals you made with my son. So I suggest you back off or that police report that was so strategically lost may suddenly find its way back into the limelight. Am I making myself clear?" Rocco's eyes narrowed as he levied his threat.
"Crystal," Jeff said completely calm on the outside while inside his mind raced.
His heart and his head were again at war and as much as Jason wanted his heart to win he knew that he couldn't let that happen. There was far too much at stake to let himself be lulled into thinking he could ever again indulge in the guilty pleasure of Anthony Malucci's wife. With that thought Jason felt the bile from the pit of his stomach rise up into his throat almost burning it. Last night he had stepped over the line. He had done something that he had never expected from himself. All the rationalizing he had done about Elizabeth's marriage being nothing but a sham Anthony used to hide behind at the time seemed reasonable to him but now when the reality of the morning hit Jason was less than sure.
He was certain there was no future in this endeavor. There was no such thing as divorce in his world and Anthony most certainly would have killed Elizabeth rather than relinquish her to a man he saw as the one and only thing standing between him and what he wanted. That idea sent a cold chill down Jason's spine. The thought that his one night of carelessness could bring harm to Elizabeth frightened him and fear wasn't something that Jason Morgan was accustomed to. Bearing that in mind Jason got up from his perch and rummaged through his jacket pocket for his cell phone. He needed to gain control of himself and his actions but more importantly he had to find a way to stay that way. As his eyes made their way back to the bed the sight of her bare leg uncovered almost the entire way to her thigh however had Jason suddenly questioning his convictions all over again.
His mind raced to how her skin felt against his own. How they had pleasured one another into the wee hours of the morning. Jason couldn't stop hearing her voice asking him to take her over and over again ringing in his ears. It was almost maddening. He shook his head attempting to reign in his lustful thoughts. He pondered if this was all just the allure of the sex that drew him to her or was it the whole woman that made his heart jump. That wasn't an easily answered question at the moment for the only thing that filled him at the present instant was his desire for Elizabeth. Jason needed some time to think – some time away from her – away from this room that still smelled of their passion filled night.
"Johnny," Jason said to the voice on the other end of the phone. "I need you to go to the Drake Hotel and retrieve a car for me.... No I don't have the keys....I doubt that should be a problem....It's a midnight blue BMW....I don't know where the fuck it's parked!" Jason barked frustrated more with himself than his most loyal man. "Bring it to the McDonald's on West Ohio across from the Best Western River North. Leave it in the lot there. No, don't bring anyone with you!" Jason ordered as Johnny questioned how he was supposed to get back to the Morgan compound. "TAKE A GOD DAMNED BUS....I don't care how the hell you get back! Just follow my orders to the letter, nothing more nothing less. Be sure that you don't let my father know anything about this little move, understood?" Once satisfied with Johnny's compliance, Jason ended the conversation.
"Trying to run out on me again I see?" Elizabeth questioned sitting up in bed and letting the sheets fall to reveal her naked body to Jason.
The splendor of her naked frame rendered Jason speechless for a second as again all the wonderful images of last night bombarded him. "What?" he finally said hoping to hide the quiver in his voice.
"I asked if you were thinking about running out on me again?"
Jason was thankful that Elizabeth had now draped the cream colored sheet across herself and drew her knees closer to her body as she spoke. "What do you mean again?" Jason questioned fully knowing the answer but needing the idle conversation at the moment.
"The night of Emily's engagement party when you took me to your penthouse. I woke up the next morning and you were gone. Tell me that's not what you were contemplating doing right now Jason," Elizabeth said her voice a mixture of anger and disappointment at the very thought.
"No, I was actually making arrangements for your car to be brought to this hotel." Jason had resumed his all business tone.
"What do you mean brought to this hotel?"
"I am having Johnny collect your car from the Drake and he's going to leave it in the lot across the street."
"What?"
"Exactly what aren't you understanding here?" Jason was suddenly frustrated.
"So what, I'm good enough to have sex with but not good enough to be seen with?" Elizabeth knew what a ridiculous question that was given the circumstances but the romantic that she had long since buried deep within her somehow found its way to the surface where Jason Morgan was concerned.
"What?!" Jason countered. He was completely shocked by her inability to grasp the line they had both crossed.
"You heard me. I'm good enough to fuck but nothing more!" Elizabeth shouted suddenly feeling more vulnerable than she ever imagined she could.
"Elizabeth," Jason gasped in a mixture of frustration and raging emotions. "Do you hear yourself?"
"Yes," she cut him off.
"What were you exactly expecting to happen from all of this? You're married to Anthony and this can't ever happen again!" he stated firmly knowing that his words lacked the conviction they should have carried.
"Why?" Elizabeth felt the word catch in her throat.
"WHY??" Jason echoed. "You have got to be kidding right? You know the hell why. This isn't the way things are done."
"Oh yeah I forgot – men are the only ones who get to have a little sex on the side. How stupid of me!" Elizabeth brought her hand to her forehead in mock forgetfulness.
"Stop it Elizabeth!" Jason ordered.
"Why? The truth hurt Jason? You said it yourself. My husband doesn't do much to hide his affairs, so why should it be any different for me?" Elizabeth knew though that this was anything but a casual affair or some one-night stand. She had felt their connection long before they had ever touched one another and she wasn't about to let go of this.
Jason rubbed his hands over his face and let out a heavy sigh. "Elizabeth," he walked over to the bed and sat on its edge. "This can't be happening. You know that as much as I do."
"Why?" she asked moving her body closer to his.
"Anthony," Jason returned directly. "Neither of us can afford the risk that comes with this. Anthony is a loose cannon. I can't take that chance. I can't take the chance that in his warped mind he would use you as some pawn in whatever game he's got going to down me and my family."
"It's my risk, Jason!" Elizabeth forced.
"The hell it is! Elizabeth have you been completely sheltered about this life we live? You really think that this, you and me," he pointed between them, "isn't a war in the making? It's not worth the inevitable bloodshed."
"Oh," Elizabeth looked away so as not to let Jason see the tears that she knew were on their way.
"I'm sorry," he whispered feeling his own tears.
"No – no it was me. I should have known better," Elizabeth said as she hurried off the bed and collected her clothes that were scattered around the room. "I should be the one who is sorry."
Jason watched helplessly unable to do or say anything to show her what was truly in his heart. He wished that he could tell her that having her alive and miserable with Anthony outweighed the thought of what Anthony would do to her if he ever caught wind of this little union. Jason knew himself well enough to be certain that should Elizabeth be hurt by Anthony Malucci's hand, the man would cease to exist no matter what code Jason had been brought up to believe. It didn't make a difference what Jason wanted or what his heart sang with every thought of Elizabeth. He had to put an end to this before it got even more out of hand. "Elizabeth." Jason reached for her arm as she walked passed him.
"What?" She turned with tears clouding her eyes.
"Sit down, please."
"Why? Is this where you give me the polite brush off?" Elizabeth knew she was acting like some spoiled high school girl, but there wasn't a thing she could do to stop herself.
"Would you listen to me?" Jason spouted almost shaking her in hopes of bringing her to her senses.
"I'm listening," she countered.
"Are you? Are you really listening to me? I don't think so because if you were you wouldn't be acting like this. You would know that everything that I have said is the truth. For god sakes you live with Anthony, you know what kind of a lunatic he can be. Why would you want to tempt fate like this?" Jason questioned honestly.
"You," she simply said placing and easy kiss on his lips. A kiss that was sweet, delicious and so tempting to Jason.
"Why me?"
"I don't know. I just know that I don't want this to be all there is for us. I don't care about the risk. I don't care if Anthony finds out. I don't care if he kills me for it." Jason felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand erect with those words. "Please, please just tell me this isn't all we can have – please," she pleaded as Jason impulsively enveloped her in his arms.
"This is suicide. You know that don't you?" he asked.
The voices in his mind waged on, but at the moment he too felt like Elizabeth – this one glorious night just wasn't enough.
Rocco sat alone in the dining room rehashing the previous evening's hellacious events. He was more certain than ever that his son was beyond his realm of control. Yet where it had all spiraled out of control evaded him at the moment. He had done everything in his power to school his son in the ways of their world. Rocco had made a good and bountiful life for his family, one he fully expected Anthony to continue going forward with, yet in his heart Rocco knew that the only thing Anthony would be doing with his hard work would be to destroy it. Anthony had defeated the beautiful girl he had married in much the same way.
Rocco didn't know what saddened him more, the fact that Anthony had taken all of Rocco's teachings and twisted them to suit his own vendettas or that Elizabeth was now embroiled in a life that she shouldn't have been in with a man that was never going to love her the way she deserved to be. The image of his own sister popped into Rocco's mind's eye. He still carried so much guilt for never standing up for her. Rocco knew the marriage arranged by his father was slowly killing his only sister but his hands were tied. Tied by the same code and honor that his only son now spit on.
Rocco cursed his own instincts or lack there of when it came to his son. Why hadn't he been able to see the scam that Anthony so artfully portrayed in luring Elizabeth into the lion's den so to speak? Rocco knew how duped he felt and could only imagine how Elizabeth must have felt knowing she had been nothing more than a means to an end for both her father and Anthony.
"Oh excuse me," Jeff Webber said interrupting Rocco's private thoughts. "I was just looking for my daughter."
"Won't you join me for some coffee?" Rocco asked suddenly filled with anger for the man standing in front of him. The smug man that handed off his daughter in exchange for a few pieces of shiny silver. The mere idea of it sickened Rocco to the core. Where he came from family was everything and no matter the crime, one family member was never traded for another.
"I really need to speak with Elizabeth," Jeff asserted uneasy about being alone with Rocco Malucci. Jeff had never formally approached the Capo regarding any of the business that Anthony had taken care of for him and Jeff was getting the distinct impression that Capo Malucci was less than pleased by that.
"I'm sure you have time for one cup of coffee."
"Sure," Jeff agreed. He understood that he wasn't left with much of a choice.
Jeff and Rocco sat in silence for a while which unnerved Jeff Webber to no end. It was like waiting for the other shoe to drop. Rocco immensely enjoyed the discomfort he saw written all over his guest's face. "So how's the Coronary Care Unit benefit coming?" Rocco finally asked.
"That's what I am here to find out actually. I have been in Washington DC for the past few days...."
"Drumming up support for your senatorial race?" Rocco interrupted.
"Well actually yes," Jeff said, eyeing the man before him cautiously. "So I haven't had much time to be involved in the event...."
"I thought this was your springboard?" Rocco interrupted again.
"Excuse me?" Jeff returned confused. "Springboard?" he questioned.
"It was my understanding that you intended on using this benefit event as a way to solidify your position."
"Well yes......I mean no," Jeff stuttered. "I am behind this event one hundred percent. It has nothing to do with the senatorial race whatsoever."
"So you expect me to believe you are doing this out of the goodness of your heart?" Rocco raised his brow. "You expect me to believe that a man who sold his own daughter to the highest bidder isn't above selling his own soul to get what he wants?" Rocco's animosity for Jeff Webber came pouting out in buckets.
"I don't think I know what you are talking about," Jeff attempted to cover as he sifted in his seat.
"Well then, let me refresh your memory," Rocco seethed. "In my world only a coward would have done what you did to your daughter!"
Rocco resisted the urge to look upward hoping his father god rest his soul had made peace with his maker for the sins he committed against his own daughter. Rocco hated himself for not helping his sister all those years ago. He wasn't about to do the same thing to Elizabeth. Son or not, Elizabeth deserved better than Anthony and Rocco intended to see that in the long run she would be protected.
"What did I do?" Jeff's vain attempt at ignorance only served to anger Rocco further.
"WHAT DID YOU DO!? You used the poor girl like a chip in a fucking poker game! You're no better than a two-bit gambler that thinks if they play just one more hand they'll come out on top. Men in my world love men like you Mr. Webber. We love that you can't control your urges, but the fact that you used your daughter as a means to an end for you – well that's where I draw the line."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jeff's voice rose an octave, as he was unable to gauge just where this conversation was going.
"What do you think it means?"
"Anthony and I have deal!" Jeff stammered. "My deal's with Anthony!"
"NO – sir your deal is with the Malucci family for which, unbeknownst to my son, I am still in control of!"
"All Elizabeth has to do is stop rocking the boat with Anthony and everything will be fine. I promise," Jeff said completely oblivious to what Rocco was truly irked by.
"Is that what you think this is all about? You think I'm angry that Elizabeth isn't happy with the life she has? WELL I SAY THANK THE LORD SHE'S NOT HAPPY!"
"Then I don't understand." Jeff threw up his hands in confusion.
"Understand this Mr. Webber – your daughter, my daughter in law, is not a thing. She's a person and not something that is part of any deals you made with my son. So I suggest you back off or that police report that was so strategically lost may suddenly find its way back into the limelight. Am I making myself clear?" Rocco's eyes narrowed as he levied his threat.
"Crystal," Jeff said completely calm on the outside while inside his mind raced.