Elizabeth turned and watched as Johnny's car faded into the distance. For her, leaving Jason was increasingly becoming more and more difficult. Her sham of a marriage to Anthony was weighing Elizabeth down.
She looked down at her watch. The time she spent with Jason hadn't been long enough for her. Elizabeth could have stayed wrapped up in his arms forever. Thoughts of their evening together danced in her head as she entered the foyer of the Malucci mansion. Those visions would have to be enough for right now.
Elizabeth walked up the hallway as she thought how strange it was at this hour of the night that the living room was brightly lit up. She imagined that Anthony was sitting on the sofa waiting for her to arrive home. Jason had said as much when he put her in Johnny's car earlier that evening. Elizabeth took a deep breath as she turned the corner and entered the room. The sight that met her eyes wasn't the one she had expected at all. "ROCCO!!!!" she cried as she rushed across the floor to where he lay in a heap. "Rocco?!?!" desperation filled her voice as her tears almost choked her. "HELENA...ANTHONY...ANYBOBY!!!!" Elizabeth felt for Rocco's pulse but there was none. "OH MY GOD...OH MY GOD...OH MY GOD!!!" She continued to cry as she cradled her father in law in her arms.
Anthony propped his feet up against the polished wood of his father's desk as he took a long slow drag from one of Rocco's Cuban cigars. He savored his victory. There was no one to stop Anthony from now getting what he wanted. He would no longer be relegated to the background. The greatness that the Malucci family had always been destined for was finally right within Anthony's reach. Elizabeth's tortured cries from the other room met his ears. "Well dear," he sneered, "it looks like it's just you and me now," Anthony cackled.
Countless tears rolled down Elizabeth's face as she stared into Rocco's eyes. The lump at the back of her throat grew larger with each passing second as her imagination ran wild. It was then she saw the prescription bottle perched on the edge of the table and Rocco's outstretched arm. "Oh," she sighed. It was obvious to Elizabeth that he had been trying to reach his medication. She choked on a new wave of tears as she pictured the hellish death that had taken her father in law. Elizabeth knew one day Rocco would pass away but she never expect it to be in such a horrible manner.
"Did you enjoy your evening?" Anthony's sedate voice broke the silence.
"What??" She was flabbergasted at her husband's non-reaction to his father lying lifeless on the floor.
"Did you manage to accomplish what you needed to? I know that I did," Anthony jeered.
"WHAT?!?!" Elizabeth cried. "Your father is dead!" she stated.
"I know," he replied nonchalantly.
"YOU KNOW!?!" Elizabeth's voice was a mixture of disbelief, anger and fear.
"Uh-huh," Anthony smiled.
Elizabeth felt her chest tighten with the knowledge that Anthony had a hand in his own father's death. It was as if all the air had been sucked out of the room and she could no longer take a breath. The smug arrogant smile that he wore enraged her. "You...you just let him die!?!" Elizabeth shouted.
"I left him his medicine." Anthony pointed to the bottle still resting on the table. "It's not my fault he chose not to take it." Anthony almost sounded as if this was all a big joke.
Without warning Elizabeth bolted across the room slamming Anthony's body hard against the wall. The rage that consumed her brought out a brute strength that Elizabeth hadn't known she possessed. "YOU ARE A MONSTER!!!" she screamed. "YOU KILLED YOUR OWN FATHER!?!?!"
"Correction. I was protecting myself."
"WHAT?!?" Each statement from Anthony's mouth was more unbelievable than the last. "You were protecting yourself?!?"
"Yes."
"From Rocco? You were protecting yourself from a sick old man???"
"Don't underestimate my father, Elizabeth, or me for that matter," Anthony added slyly. "He was planning on shooting me in this very room. What was I supposed to do?"
"HELP HIM!?!?!?"
"Help him kill me?" Anthony chuckled to himself. "You really are deluded aren't you?"
Elizabeth's gaze toggled between Rocco and Anthony as all her disjointed thoughts besieged her. The concept of facing down her husband without Rocco's intervention frightened the hell out of her. What would happen now? Elizabeth thought to herself. In the recesses of her mind Elizabeth knew what her fate was to be. If Anthony virtually killed his own father, she was certain that disposing of her when the time came would be simple for him. The panic that engulfed her set her heart racing as she stumbled away from Anthony.
"WHERE DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING?!?!" he asked as he grabbed her firmly by the arms. "If you think you are going to run to Jason Morgan for help you are sadly mistaken. You think he can fix this for you?" Anthony snickered.
"Then why don't you just kill me and get it over with?!?!" Elizabeth yelled. She would have rather died right then and there than have to live with the fear of when and where Anthony would strike.
"Not just yet!"
"WHAT!?!"
"Right now you are far more useful to me alive."
Elizabeth understood what he was getting at without his having to state it. She would be his leverage against Jason and his family. "I won't be your pawn!" she huffed as she tried to wiggle herself out of his tight grip. "I won't play this game with you anymore!"
"You will do whatever I tell you to do!!" he seethed. "That is if you want your precious lover to continue breathing!"
Elizabeth clenched her teeth and pushed back the tears that stung her eyes. She couldn't let Anthony see any reaction from her. She couldn't let him know what was truly in her heart. "Lover?!?" she questioned him curiously. "What the hell are you talking about?"
"What, you think I am stupid? You think that I don't know about all those stolen moments between the two of you?" Anthony smiled sadistically. "I know Jason Morgan had been sleeping with my wife. Don't even try denying it." He stopped her as she began to speak.
"I think you are the one who is deluded now!" Elizabeth shot back anyhow. "Jason, Emily and I have been working very closely together for the benefit. It's nothing more than that!" Elizabeth stressed.
Anthony sneered as his wife's futile attempt at keeping her secret a secret. "Whatever you say dear," he patronized her. "NO ONE...I MEAN NO ONE will know what happened here tonight. Rocco died of heart failure nothing more! Do you understand me?!?" Anthony brought her face within inches of his own. "ANSWER ME ELIZZABETH!!!" he ordered.
"If I don't keep your secret?" she asked as she almost spit in his face. She wasn't about to go down without a fight.
"Then the next time Jason won't be as lucky as he was this afternoon."
"What? What do you mean won't be as lucky?"
"Just know that Jason Morgan is as good as dead if you don't play by my rules!"
Elizabeth's mouth suddenly went dry. Anthony wasn't leaving her any option except to follow along. Jason's life depended on it. Elizabeth's eyes were drawn to Rocco who was still sprawled on the floor. Tears welled in her soft blue eyes as she stared at the man who had been more of a father to her than her own had been. She couldn't fathom that he was dead. It was unreal at the moment. The idea that he would no longer be there as her confidant, friend or protector wasn't something Elizabeth could rationalize.
"ELIZABETH!!" Anthony's booming voice bounced around the room.
"You aren't going to just leave him there?" she barely whispered.
Anthony now too looked at his father lying on the oriental carpet. There wasn't even a flicker of remorse in his eyes for his role in this all. He had done what needed to be done to obtain the desired goal. "I want him to be found in the morning by one of the servants."
Elizabeth was aghast at the thought of Helena happening on Rocco in the morning. She couldn't imagine what that would do to the poor woman. "WHAT?!?!"
"You heard me. It will look he had a heart attack and nothing more. Do you understand me?" He yanked Elizabeth back against him. "Not a word... ...you hear me?!?!" Anthony was almost shaking her now. "You even think of letting what really happened to Rocco slip to Jason Morgan... ...both of you are as good as DEAD!!" he barked. "Let's go." Anthony tugged at her arm.
"Go?? Go where?"
"To bed. It's about time you started fulfilling your wifely duties." Elizabeth looked back at him in sheer horror. "WHAT?!? YOU CAN PUT OUT FOR MORGAN BUT NOT YOUR HUSBAND?" Anthony raged. "LET'S GO!!"
Elizabeth kept her eyes trained on Rocco. It was a though she believed her intense stare would somehow raise him from the dead. The time for Rocco to come to her aid had passed.
Jason shot straight up in bed as a cold chill passed through his body. A sudden urgency to get to Elizabeth engulfed him. He couldn't shake the sensation that she desperately needed him. He looked at the digital clock that sat beside him. The bright red numbers displayed 3:30am. At that time of the morning, Jason knew his hands were tied. There was no way he could call the Malucci mansion now or go there, which was all Jason really wanted to do. He couldn't stop the wave of nausea that overtook him suddenly. Jason laid his head against the cool surface of his pillow. The woman that held the strings to his heart and why he all at once knew she was in danger consumed his thoughts.
"Get undressed!" Anthony ordered. Elizabeth reached for her robe as she turned and headed in the direction of their bathroom. "No...no you don't." He stopped her. "Right here. Get undressed right here." Anthony pointed to the spot where she stood. "I want to watch." He grinned as he licked his lips. Elizabeth imagined that this must have been how his goomahs felt. "Come on...come on," he prodded. She stood affixed in position. She couldn't get a single muscle in her body to move. "Looks like you need some help my dear," Anthony said as he unbuttoned his own shirt.
Elizabeth bit the inside of her mouth as he easily lowered the zipper of her evening gown slipping it off her shoulders. She was nearly naked as the dress puddled on the floor at her feet. "My, my aren't we the little temptress?" Anthony sneered. He ran his hand along her inner thigh as his fingers grazed her femininity. Elizabeth tensed at his touch. "Don't do that!" he snarled. "Don't back away from me!"
Elizabeth felt the tears fall from her eyes as Anthony's mouth devoured each of her breasts, teeth scrapping her nipples. She did her best to picture Jason's face but through it all the image never came. She was only able to focus on Anthony and his lustful needs. She lay beneath him and felt almost as though she was watching what was taking place rather than participating in it all.
Anthony rolled over satisfactorily gratified. Elizabeth reached again for her robe all of a sudden she felt very dirty. All she wanted was to take a shower and wash away any remnants of Anthony's touch. "Just remember my dear," Anthony grabbed her arm once more. "Keep your mouth shut or Rocco's funeral won't be the only one you will be attending!"
Elizabeth ripped her arm from his tight grip and slammed the door to the bathroom. She leaned her body solidly against the closed door before slumping to the floor in a heap of sobs. Anthony had won. She knew it and more importantly so did he.
Jason sat at the breakfast table the following morning still filled with the same feeling of dread that had jarred him awake the previous night.
"Excuse me, Mr. Morgan," Rosa interrupted the conversation that was taking place between Joseph and Cassandra.
"Yes? What is it?" he responded.
"You have a phone call, sir."
"Joseph," Cassandra whined. She despised disturbances at mealtime.
"Bring me the cordless phone, please. I know Cassandra, I know," he turned to his wife to silence the words he knew would be hearing from her. "Thank you," he said to the young woman. "Hello... I see... yes, yes I understand...I agree...no, no we will attend."
"Joseph?" Cassandra questioned her husband as she watched his eyes cloud over with tears. "What is it?"
"Rocco died last night. Rocco Malucci is dead."
At those words Jason's silver fork clattered loudly against the bone china plate.