Disclaimer: see chapter 1
A/N: DUNH DUNH DU...

She saw him across the room, sitting at a table, reading a report and not eating the food sitting in front of him. She walked over and plopped down in the chair across from him. "I've got a plan" she said, grabbing a fry off his plate.

Zach looked up at Elizabeth and shook his head. "Your plans always wind up with me covered in paint or face down in mud."

She scoffed at him. "Those things happened once – ok, the paint thing was twice but, c'mon. You're never going to let me forget that, are you?" Zach just shakes his head and smiles. Elizabeth's eyes went wide and she put her hand on her chest. "OH MY GOD – he smiles!" He just rolled his eyes at her. "Oh, shut up."

She grabbed another fry off his plate. Instead of fighting it, he pushed the plate across the table in front of her. "So" she said "how was your evening with Kendall?"

He dropped his pen and put his elbow on the table, resting his head against his hand. "It was great, but… it's not fair to her. I'm stretched beyond my limits with no help or end in sight. Cambias, the casino, dealing with the unending lawsuits and demands from Lavery and his team of vultures… I'm not going to drag her into the pit with me. I won't do to her what my father did to my mother. She's too good for that."

Elizabeth sighed, hating this self-loathing, brooding man sitting in front of her. "Zach, there's a difference. A big one, in fact. You aren't your father. You got out because you didn't want that life for yourself. You've also got the power to stop whatever curse you believe is hanging over your head. You're you – so stop comparing yourself to your father or your brother or anyone else. You're the man who saved my life. You've got the power and the strength to do anything you want."

He looked at her, confused. "Ok, then how? How do I stop this train wreck from happening!"

She smiled at him. "Well, first… first we have a little fun." Zach just stared at her. "First, we get rid of Ryan Lavery. We take him down for good, get him out of your life and your business."

"And you plan on this, how?"

"Well, I've actually brought in reinforcements for this." Elizabeth pushed herself out of her chair and headed across the restaurant. Zach watched her for a moment, lost as to what she was planning. She looked over her shoulder and motioned for him to follow her. He shot out of his chair, telling the hostess to keep an eye on the paperwork and his table. They made their way through the casino. Zach soon found himself standing in front of a hotel room door. Elizabeth knocked and a man Zach didn't recognize opened the door. Elizabeth walked and in Zach followed.

Zach eyed the man, looking him over. "Have we met? You look very familiar."

Elizabeth looked between Zach and her friend. He nodded at her, indicating to make the introduction. "Well, Zach, this is a friend of mine. I first met him as Lane Devers, but I found out recently that he actually had another name. Leo, I'd like to meet Zach Slater. Zach, meet Leo DuPres."

TBC…