Elizabeth weaved her way through the crowds at the Chicago Botanic Gardens. The benefit was off to a roaring success but right now that mattered very little to her. The only thing she was able to focus on was the fact that Jason or any member of the Morgan family for that matter had yet to arrive. Again Elizabeth pushed down the sick feeling rising from the pit of her stomach. After six unanswered calls to Jason's cell phone that afternoon, Elizabeth threw caution to the wind and phoned his office at Morgan Enterprises. She pretended to be the secretary of a business associate looking for some paperwork that she claimed Jason had for her boss. Unfortunately that call hadn't gained her anymore information than she had already known except that Jason's secretary didn't know anything about any paperwork and that she would have Jason call Elizabeth when he returned to the office. Elizabeth waited all afternoon for that call. In fact she waited so long that she nearly wasn't ready when Anthony called to say the limo was about to leave.
"There you are," Jeff approached her.
"Huh?" Elizabeth said absently.
"You're supposed to be at the door with Anthony and I greeting the guests," Jeff explained. "Please don't force me to remind you of all the press here tonight."
"Spare me," Elizabeth countered sarcastically. "I don't need another lecture."
"You could have fooled me."
Elizabeth dutifully stood between Anthony and her father. She pasted a smile on her face and shook hands with a multitude of faceless strangers as she thanked them for coming and how much the Coronary Care Unit would gain from their generosity. She said it so many times that she began to sound like a pre-recorded message.
"Congressman, would you mind posing for a picture?" A man with a camera hanging around his neck asked.
"Only if it includes my daughter and son in law also." Jeff smiled broadly for the camera.
"Certainly," the cameraman concurred.
"I don't think ....." Elizabeth said as she backed away.
"Of course we will join you, Jeff." Anthony reached and pulled Elizabeth back to her original position. "My wife has worked very hard to make this event a success. She should be recognized as well," Anthony said in a most congenial tone.
"I wouldn't feel right taking all the credit," Elizabeth blushed. "Emily Morgan worked just as hard as I did. She deserves to be in this photo as much as I do."
"If you hadn't noticed Emily isn't here at the moment," Anthony sneered. He was certain that she was at home with the rest of her family mourning the death of their beloved Jason.
"I think that we could take this picture now," Jeff offered not wanting to miss what he considered a perfect photo opportunity. "When Ms. Morgan arrives I am sure that this kind gentleman wouldn't mind taking another photo of the two of you," Jeff said directly to his daughter.
"Sure I could do that." The man agreed.
"Well then it's settled," Jeff said.
Elizabeth positioned herself between her father and her husband again as the flash lit up their surroundings. When the reporter had gone Elizabeth turned and glanced at Anthony. He appeared almost giddy to her, and giddy wasn't a quality that in all the years she had known him to ever possess. It was that demeanor that left her with an uneasy feeling. It was a feeling that she had been unable to shake all day and the absence of the Morgan family only heightened it. Elizabeth stopped a passing waiter and retrieved a fluted glass of champagne from his tray. "Good evening, Elizabeth." She heard a familiar voice say as they kissed her hand.
"Jason!!" She cried unable to contain the relief that filled her.
"You didn't expect to see me did you?" Jason stared directly at Anthony as he spoke.
Anthony just about choked on the swallow of champagne he held in his mouth as the sight of Jason Morgan and his self satisfied grin that stood before him.
Joseph sat quietly as Rocco's servant helped him into the limo. So much had happened in the last twenty-four hours that he was more than a little stunned by it all. "Good evening," Rocco said from across the leather seat.
"Evening," Joseph replied almost monotone.
"Joseph?" Rocco raised his brow taking note of the blank expression on his friend's face. "What is it?" he questioned.
"If I only knew where to begin," Joseph let out an exhausted sigh.
"What has Anthony done now?" Rocco's question was being to sound like a broken record.
Joseph stared at his long time friend. It took all the strength that he had within him to have this conversation after what had taken place at his warehouse this afternoon. The frantic phone call that he had received from Max still played out in Joseph's mind. Thankfully Jason and the others hadn't been harmed but the mere idea that Anthony had attempted to kill his son left Joseph's blood running cold.
"Joseph, what is it?" Rocco asked again.
"There was an explosion at one of the Morgan warehouses this afternoon," Joseph answered flatly.
"OH MY GOD!! Was anyone hurt?"
"No – no one was hurt."
"How did it happen?" Rocco inquired.
"How do you think it happened?!?" Joseph growled. "IT HAPPENED THE SAME WAY ALL OF THE OTHER ATTACKS AGAINST MY FAMILY HAPPENED!!!!"
"My son," Rocco whispered ashamed to call Anthony that.
"YES!!!" Joseph barked. "One Morgan life wasn't enough for him! He had to try for Jason as well."
"What?!?" Rocco gasped.
"What, not only is your heart failing you but now so is your hearing!?!" Joseph spat for the first time addressing his friend with any form of disrespect.
"No." Rocco heard every word Joseph said but comprehending them was the problem. "I'm so sorry." He knew how inadequate those words were, but didn't know what else to say.
"Sorry won't erase the damage that's been done to my family by yours," Joseph stated. "Sorry won't bring back AJ's lost child, sorry doesn't wipe away that I could have lost my wife and daughter to freak car accidents, nor does it negate the fact that Jason was nearly blown to bits this afternoon." Those angry words caught in Joseph's throat.
"I understand," Rocco agreed.
"I don't think that you do! I have let our friendship get in the way of what should have been done a long time ago!"
"I treasure our alliance," Rocco began, "I never meant for it to cost you so much."
"It won't any longer," Joseph stated firmly.
"As it shouldn't," Rocco agreed. "Words can not express the loathing I have for my son. What Anthony has done to your family, well, he will be held accountable for each and every action... ..."
"Yes he will!"
"After tonight Anthony won't be a problem for your family. He won't be a problem for anyone," Rocco said as he thought of the promise he made to Elizabeth the previous night.
"How so?" Joseph questioned.
"You have my word that Anthony will be dealt with in such a manner that he will feel every ounce of pain that he has inflicted on the Morgan family."
"In your weakened state, are you sure that's something that you can pull off?" Joseph asked with a mixture of concern and mocking.
"I will do what needs to be done!"
"Make sure that you do. If Anthony is still breathing in the morning, I will have no choice but to take care of him myself!!" With those words Joseph exited the limo and walked across the parking lot of the Chicago Botanic Gardens.
Anthony did a double take closing his eyes and opening them again. It made little difference since the sight before him never changed. Jason Morgan was still standing there in the flesh. "You look like you just saw a ghost," Jason joked certain that Anthony wished that was indeed what he was seeing.
The rage inside Anthony grew with brute force. It wasn't possible that Jason Morgan was alive. Anthony had personally seen to every detail of the explosion. He made sure that the margin for error was none. This couldn't have been happening. "For a man whose company is matching the funds for this event, don't you think it was in poor taste that you are arriving so late?" Anthony said through clenched teeth.
"It was unavoidable," Jason began. "There was a pressing business matter that needed my attention. There were some issues with our New York associates. It seems as though the LaCocca's were late in receiving our shipments. You wouldn't happen to know anything about that would you?" Jason pressed.
"What would I know about your shipments?" Anthony feigned ignorance while he tried to keep his anger in check.
Elizabeth stood quietly watching the two men. She was overjoyed that Jason was all right and even though she couldn't put her finger on it she knew there was far more to this contest between her husband and lover than she could explain.
"As you pointed out, Anthony, I was tardy in my arrival. I think I should go say hello to Dr. Harner and a few of the others."
"Yeah, you do that," Anthony agreed.
"Your days are numbered!" Jason growled in his adversary's ear as he walked past him.
Anthony clasped his hands at his sides as he physically tried to control the tremors that threatened to over take him. Everything that had been within his reach was suddenly gone. Hours before Anthony had been poised to take the next step in collecting what rightfully belonged to the Malucci family, yet now he was back to ground zero again. "WHY??" a voice screamed in his head. "WHY WAS JASON MORGAN STILL BREATHING?!?" Anthony didn't have the answers to those questions but he damn sure intended on getting them. He reached for another glass of champagne and downed it in one gulp. The tart liquid did little to put out the raging fire within him. Anthony turned to his wife, who was straining her neck for even the slightest glimpse of Jason Morgan. It took all his powers of restraint not to finish off his enemy right there, right now but it was the sight of his father and Joseph entering the room together that stopped him. Jason Morgan may have won this battle but Anthony knew his weakness. That weakness was Elizabeth and he would use that to his fullest advantage. He was going to win this war no matter the cost.
Elizabeth used the benefit of the crowded room to finally slip away from both her father and Anthony. She needed to find Jason. She needed to know what was really going on. She found him in a heated debate with several men with whom she didn't know. "Excuse me," she said as she interrupted them. "I hate to disturb you all, but I need to speak with Mr. Morgan... ...something concerning the benefit." Elizabeth tried to sound as formal as possible.
"Duty calls gentlemen," Jason gestured as he followed Elizabeth toward the kitchen. Once Elizabeth was sure that they were out of sight of those attending the benefit, she embraced Jason tightly. All the fears she harbored throughout the day had been unfounded. Elizabeth was thankful for that. "Easy there," Jason said as he teasingly gasped for air.
"Where have you been?" Her tone was almost scolding.
"I told you already."
"No, I don't want the load of BS that you fed to Anthony. What was really going on, and why didn't you answer your phone all afternoon?!?"
Jason pulled her against his chest and rested his chin on the top of her head. He couldn't look her in the face and lie to her. No more than could he tell her that her husband had arranged for his early death either. He let out a heavy sigh. "The battery died in my phone. I'm sorry you were worried."
"Jason, what happened to your hands?" Elizabeth asked as she felt brush burns on his palms. He winced as her fingers grazed the brightly raised markings.
"Rope burn."
"Rope burn?" She pulled back forcing his eyes to meet hers.
"Yes. I was trying to help Jack at the warehouse this afternoon. A pulley let go and well..." he stammered hoping that even a little bit of this story sounded believable. "I thought that I could stop it and ended up with these." Jason turned his hands over to show her the full extent of his injuries. The fact rope hadn't caused those marks made no difference to Jason. They had come from his trying to stop the full weight of his body from hitting the ground as the explosion rang out over him, but Elizabeth didn't need to know that."
"Does it hurt?" she questioned.
"A little," he smiled. "You could kiss it and make it all better," Jason said as he leaned in to let his lips graze her bare neck. He hoped his little distraction would keep Elizabeth from questioning him any further about the afternoon's events.
"Maybe I could," she replied as an electric pulse shot through her body. "Is our little reunion all set?"
"Depends on how you are feeling," he said.
"This should tell you how I am feeling." Elizabeth tugged at the thigh high slit in her evening gown as she gently brought Jason's hand to her inner thigh guiding his fingers upward. He bit his lip as his fingertips made contact with the soft tufts of hair covering her most feminine spot.
"You are naughty," he whispered in her ear.
"You ain't seen nothing yet," Elizabeth purred seductively.
Jason took a deep breath as the sounds of the goings on around them forced him to recall where they were. "We need to mingle," he said. "Don't pout," he smiled as Elizabeth did exactly what he told her not to do. "You go your way and I will go mine. I am sure our paths will cross on occasion."
"You better believe they will, Mr. Morgan," Elizabeth agreed as she patted his behind before getting lost in the crowd.
Jeff stood across the room and watched the head of the most powerful crime family in Chicago mingle among the throngs of people as if he was one of them. Joseph Morgan milled through the crowded room in his neatly pressed tuxedo looking like any other businessman there to put in an appearance. It was hard for Jeff to imagine that so few people knew the true man behind the mask that Joseph Morgan wore. He had been one of those many people who knew nothing about the world that Joseph Morgan, Rocco Malucci and the others live in. That was until his back had been forced to the wall. Jeff vaguely wondered why he had chosen to align himself with Anthony and his family rather than the family with the true power. Maybe it had been because Anthony Malucci had made himself available in a way that Joseph Morgan never would have. Jeff's long ago reasoning mattered little given the present situation. It was apparent that Anthony was teetering on the edge. Jeff certainly wasn't about to do down with the Malucci's sinking ship. "Good evening, Mr. Morgan. I am Congressman Webber," Jeff said as he offered Joseph his hand.
"I know who you are," Joseph answered without ever looking in Jeff's direction.
"I wanted to thank you and your son for your generous contribution to this event." Jeff stumbled over his words.
"The Morgan family has never been shy about lending aid to a good cause no matter who may be involved," Joseph's eyes finally scanned the man standing in front of him. If all that he had been told about Jeff Webber was true, Joseph knew this was anything but a friendly thank you.
"You have a lovely daughter. Emily has done so much to help make this benefit a success," Jeff nearly gushed.
"Thank you."
"She and my daughter, Elizabeth, have become rather good friends. You have met my daughter haven't you?" Jeff knew he was rambling but wasn't able to stop himself. "She's married to Anthony Malucci."
"What a pity," Joseph stated.
"As I am sure you are aware, I am throwing my hat into the ring so to speak in the upcoming race for senate."
"I hadn't heard," Joseph said bored with this engineered conversation.
"I was hoping to garner your support... ..."
Joseph smiled sinisterly and raised his brow. The gall of this man knew no bounds. "My support?" Joseph stopped him.
"Yes. You must know your reputation, Mr. Morgan. You are a powerful man not just in the city of Chicago but the state as well. I am sure that with your backing... ..."
"What makes you think I would back an amoral man like yourself?"
"Excuse me?" Jeff couldn't help but be a bit taken aback by those words.
"Seems to me sir you took a gamble and you lost. Now it's time to pay the piper. Might I suggest that you tell your current benefactor that as well." Joseph said those words with purpose. Anthony was hardly discreet as he stood poised listening to their conversation. Joseph wanted Anthony to be well aware that his days were numbered. "If you'll excuse me." Joseph strode past Jeff Webber without so much as waiting for a reply. "Good evening Anthony," Joseph rubbed the shoulders of his friend's only son. "It appears that all your rats are about to jump ship." Joseph grinned as he continued through the crowd.
Anthony walked to the opposite side of the ballroom. He needed the distance to pull his ragged thoughts together. He ran his hand through his hair as he tried to shake off the panic that Joseph's subtle words had left him. This wasn't the way it was supposed to happen. Jason Morgan was supposed to be dead, Joseph was supposed to be crippled under the loss of his son leaving Anthony and a few of the others he had been able to gather in his camp to swoop in and claim what should have been theirs. He pulled out his cell phone and placed a call to the only man who could answer the question was Jason Morgan was alive. "CAN YOU DO ANYTHING FUCKIN' RIGHT?!?" Reggie's hello was silenced by Anthony's angry question.
"What?" Reggie had been waiting for this call all afternoon. He was surprised that it had taken Anthony this long to find out that his grand scheme hadn't gone according to plan. "What are you talking about?" he asked as he tried to sound confused by Anthony's accusations.
"I'M TALKING ABOUT THE FACT THAT JASOM MORGAN IS STILL BREATHING!!!!!!!!!" Anthony growled. "I thought you said everything was set at the warehouse?"
"It was." Reggie hoped that his voice didn't reveal his apprehension.
"OBVIOUSLY IT WASN'T!! THAT PRICK WALTZED IN HERE TONIGHT WITH A GRIN ON HIS FACE A FUCKIN' MILE WIDE!!"
"I don't understand. What went wrong?" Reggie asked as he played along.
"That's what I fuckin' want to know!!" Anthony's bellowing voice attracted the attention of those passing by him.
"I set it just like you told me," Reggie stuttered.
"Like hell you did! If you had Morgan would be six feet under by now!"
"I swear boss... ..."
"You swear huh? Well, I swear to you man if I even get so much as a whiff that you jumped ship," Anthony said thinking back to Joseph's earlier comment, "you will wish it was you in that explosion!!"
Reggie listened as the line went dead in his ear. He dropped the receiver in his lap as his hands began to tremble. Why hadn't he just left town like he had originally planned? Why hadn't he made that call to Jason Morgan from halfway around the country? He had Anthony's money. He could have virtually disappeared into the night without a trace. Reggie knew better though. Anthony had been having him tailed for weeks now. No matter where Reggie ran Anthony would find him sooner or later. That was a given.
Absently Reggie paced the floor of his tiny hotel room as he tried to lay out his next course of action. His only option happened to be a double edged sword. It had the potential to cut him in either direction. The one and only person who could offer him a haven from Anthony was the very same person that with one word could wipe him from the face of the earth faster than even Malucci could. That person was Joseph Morgan. Reggie had known all along that either way he was a dead man. There wasn't a single person he could turn to now. Suddenly an idea hit him. It was a long shot but a shot just the same. Reggie picked up the phone and called Rocco Malucci.