Chapter 18

Two hours later

Location- traveling down the highway

Max glanced in the rearview mirror. "Mrs.C? Are you sure you're alright? Should I call Sonny?"

"Just keep driving, Max." Carly said from her spot in backseat with Morgan and Carlos.

Rain pounded the car, blurring the view out the window.

Michael could be outside somewhere. Michael could be de- Carly stopped the thought and said to herself, Come on, girl, stay strong. Jason never lets you down.

"How long will we be away?" asked Leticia, in a shy voice.

"I'm not sure." Carly said, "I'm sorry you got drug into this. But you are better off at the safe house. I would hate to see- " Carly heard her voice starting to shake as thoughts of Milo filled her mind. She took a breath and finished " you hurt because of knowing us. You have been nothing but good to me and my kids. You too, Max and Carlos."

"Glad to do it, Mrs. C" said Max with a smile

Carly shook her head and looked down. She wanted to tell Max about his brother's death but for now they all needed to concentrate on getting to safety.

Her stomach was knotted thinking about how a car of gunmen could ambush them on the road but she had been checking and knew no one was following them.

She stroked Morgan's hair and prayed her other son would be back in her arms soon.

Hold on, Michael she said in her head Jason is coming for you.

And Carly believed that. She believed Jason would fight to the death for her and her boys.

But what if the kidnapping by Faith had been God telling her to take her kids out of this lifestyle. Had Carly ignored her last warning?

How could I let my son be kidnapped again? she berated herself.

I did my best
But I guess my best wasn't good enough


'Cause here we are back where

we were before


Seems nothing ever changes...

Seems we're always blowing whatever we got going


And seems at times with all we've got


We haven't got a prayer...

James Ingram

Later that same night

Location- a warehouse in New Jersey

Jason held the picture in front of Julio's face. The man was strapped to a chair, blood dripped from a cut in his lip.

"Take a good look at him, Julio." Jason said to Jose Morales' second in command.

"Where is this child?" Jason repeated for the third time.

"Never seen that brat before."

Jason bashed him across the face with a hard right hook.

"Where is this child?"

"Don't know. Don't care."

Jason could see the lie in his eyes. He pulled his gun.

This Morales crew was filled with boys, barely into their twenties, who saw this world as a Hollywood blockbuster come to life. They shot up anyone in their way and fell down from bullet holes they never saw coming. Jason couldn't waste anymore time playing around with Julio.

Michael needed him now.

"This says you do know." Jason said, pointing the weapon at his forehead. " Your boss thought this was all a game, too. Do you want to go see Jose tonight? Have a little meeting about if you should tell me

where Michael Corinthos is?"

"You know Jose is dead. You killed him." said Julio, his tough guy image finally giving way to show some fear.

Jason stared him down. He had asked four times where Michael was . "You make me ask you a fifth time and things are going to get very ugly for you."

"I might know something," Julio said slowly.

Jason cocked the gun.

" I do know something," Julio quickly changed it to.

"I know a place Jose liked to stash stuff he didn't want his uncle to know about. Your kid could be there."

Jason uncocked the gun and said, "Talk."

I'm willing to fight

fight for you.


Didn't come all this way,

just to lose...


We're gonna make it.
Even if I have to

fight for you.

Alicia Keys lyrics

Carly paced the safe house for hours. Long after she had put Morgan to sleep, Carly's mind still worked on forming a plan.

Max was standing inside the front doors, the shades were drawn, the car in the garage. Leticia was in the bedroom with Morgan. Carlos was patrolling the back of the house, in case anyone found them and snuck around there. From the road the small ranch house look unoccupied.

Morgan will be safe here, Carly thought

She went to Max and said, " I have to ask you to do something for me. This is the most important thing I have ever asked of you and you can't let me down Max."

His eyes held concern. "Mrs. C., I'll do anything I can for you."

"I want you to protect Morgan with your life. I know you would do that on normal days. But tonight I need to hear you say that you will not let my son be hurt no matter who comes through these doors.."

"You have my word."

Carly stepped close to him. She gave him a quick hug, "Thank you. I owe you more than I can repay , Max."

His cheeks got a little red and she said, "Uhh, it's okay."

Carly stepped back, her face serious, " No, Max , nothing about this lifestyle is okay. Not when the costs are this high. I have to be the one out there taking the risks to find my son. And that is why I need to know that Morgan is protected. I can't leave half of myself here while I search for Michael so I have to count on you."

"You can't leave here."

"I can and I am, Max." Carly said "If Jason comes here I am leaving with him. And if he sends out more guards I am having one drive me back. I would go right now except that leaving you guys here in this house with one guard and no car is not an option. But, as soon as I can, I will be out there beating down doors to find Michael."

"Mrs.C-"

"Max, " Carly said. She was worked up on adrenaline as she pictured swinging a bat at some guy in the Morales family and demanding the location of Michael. "My last name is not Corinthos anymore. So Mrs. C really doesn't work. How about you call me Carly?"

"Whatever you want, Mrs. C"

Carly shook her head and thought, Hurry, Jason, standing around this place, not knowing anything, is driving me crazy!