A/N – Thanks for the comments and encouragement. I do appreciate it. Hubby is healing slowly but doing better. It has been exhausting, but we have a lot to be thankful for.

Chapter 15

Ric strode into the PCPD with a cocky look on his face, and when he spots Taggert, the smirk eased into a smile. Nothing pleases him more than knowing that the detective won't stop until Jason and Sonny pay. He's like a dog without a bone. Taggert isn't the type of man who will let them beat him again. Ric is counting on his tenacity, so he'll be a thorn in his brother's side. If Sonny is distracted, Ric can strike.

"Mr. Lansing, nice of you to come in."

"I took a few days off."

"Well, I take it that you didn't hear about your wife?"

Ric's eyes narrowed. "What about her?"

"She's missing."

"What?" His mind is running a million miles a minute.

"Why don't you ask Jason where she is?"

His heart dropped. "What happened?"

Taggert gave him the rundown.

Ric smoothed his hair. It doesn't make sense. It's quiet right now and unfortunately, Faith is the only person who could be a danger to Elizabeth, and he doesn't think she is stupid enough to do it.

Taggert eyed him warily. "What kind of danger do you think she's in?"

Ric's angry expression left nothing to the imagination. "I knew he was going to get her killed. She just wouldn't listen."

"He's the father of her child."

Ric rolled his eyes. "What are you doing to find her."

"Nothing…"

"Excuse me?"

"She hasn't been reported missing yet. Tomorrow, if Audrey doesn't report it—"

"Then I will."

"You don't even know what is going on."

Ric momentarily shut his eyes and took a deep breath. "I'll talk to Audrey."

Taggert nodded. He feels sorry for Elizabeth but also feels she made a stupid decision ever sleeping with Jason Morgan.

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Jason spun on his heel when the door to the penthouse opened. "Stan let me know what you find." He ended the call. "What do you want?"

Carly rolled her eyes and then placed a bag on the coffee table. "You need to eat."

"I need to find her."

"I know." As much as she can't stand Elizabeth Lansing, Jason means more to her. "Ric is back in town."

Jason perked up. "Where did you see him?"

"Mama saw him at the hospital. You think he did it?"

"I don't know."

She plopped onto a chair as she watched him pace. "Is their divorce final?"

"Not yet. Diane said it should be done in the next couple of weeks."

"Please eat. You're no good to anyone if you don't take care of yourself."

He sighed but grabbed the bag and then took a sandwich out and bit into it, immediately feeling guilty because he doesn't know if Elizabeth is being treated humanely.

"Can I do anything?"

His brow rose.

"I know I can be a bitch, but I love you and want to help."

He doesn't believe her. "No." After quickly inhaling the sandwich, he fielded another call and then turned to her. "I have to go."

She stood and moved toward him. "You'll find her, just don't doubt yourself." Of course, she is hoping that doesn't happen, and then she'll be there to pick up the pieces."

He nodded and then watched her leave. "Max?"

"Yeah, boss."

"Make sure Carly doesn't get into any trouble. Do not let her lose you."

"Okay." He can hear the stress in Jason's voice and is relieved to see Carly exit the elevator. Opening the door, she smiled as she strode past him. This is one assignment that he can't mess up.

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Elizabeth groaned as the room came into the focus. There is now a tv tray nearby with some water and fruit on it. Pushing herself up, she struggled to get her bearings before slowly retrieving them. Knowing that the water could be drugged, she feels like she doesn't have a choice but to drink it. Her body has been through too much and she is cramping. She takes a few sips, not tasting anything bad before gulping more. A shiver runs through her as the cold seeps in again.

"Hello? I know you can hear me."

Faith smirks as she munches on food.

"I'm freezing. Can I please have a blanket?"

One of the guards eyes their boss.

"Not yet. She doesn't sound desperate enough. We need to break her."

Liz's eyes fill with tears as she hugs herself for a moment and then sits on the small uncomfortable cot. If Ric did this, she won't stop Jason from seeking revenge. This is the last straw. She has already lost one child due to his affiliation with Faith. There is no way she'll show mercy if she loses another.

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Audrey swung open her door and is surprised to see Ric staring at her. "Mr. Lansing…"

"Hello. I was wondering if we could talk."

"I'm not sure that we have anything to say to one another."

"I know you don't trust me, and I hurt her, but I still love her. That just doesn't go away overnight. I was told that she is missing."

Audrey sighed. Maybe it's good to hear him out. He might slip up. "Come in."

They moved to the living room, and he was surprised when she doesn't bother to offer him something to drink. In the past, the older woman would dote on them when they visited.

"I'm worried about her. Are you going to report her as missing?"

Audrey's gaze didn't falter. "I don't think that is any of your business."

"Of course, it's my business. We aren't divorced yet. I love her."

"You will be divorced any day, so she is not of your concern. If you truly care about her, then stay away. You've done enough in the name of love to cause a lifetime of emotional distress." She can't believe what a sociopath the man had become. To think, she thought Elizabeth had finally found happiness only to later be told that Ric's intentions weren't honorable, and he almost killed her.

His eyes darkened. "This is not about the past. She is in danger because of that thug, Jason Morgan. He is destroying her more than I ever could. The only reason they are together is because of that child. She has hated him for the last year."

"Whatever feelings she had for Jason is of no concern to you."

"I can't just walk away when I know she could be lying somewhere hurt."

Audrey slowly stood. "I will do what I feel is best for my granddaughter."

Ric jumped to his feet, making her flinch. "He has gotten to you, hasn't he?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Jason… Is he threatening you?"

Her eyes widened. "You are out of line!"

"Am I? I can help you."

"Get out!" She hasn't wanted to hit someone so badly in a long time.

"I didn't mean—"

"I want you to leave right now, and don't come back."

Ric sighed heavily. "Alright, I'll go, but please call me if you need me. Remember, we both love her and want the best for her." He put a card on the table and when she heard the door shut, she let out a loud noise.

"Viper!" She dialed Jason's number. With Ric back and working at the PCPD, she doesn't want him anywhere near this situation.

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Jason answered the phone as he slid out of his SUV.

"Hello?"

"It's Audrey Hardy."

He stopped walking. "How can I help you?"

"Ric was just here."

"Are you okay?"

"Yes, but I don't trust him."

Jason smirked. "I get it. Did he threaten you?"

"No, but I've decided to give you a little more time because I don't want him involved. Please don't let me down."

"She's all I think about."

"Are you eating?"

"Yes. I just had a sandwich."

"Is that your first meal today?"

"Yes." He entered the building.

She clucked her tongue. "You are no use to her if you don't eat or get some sleep. Don't make me come over there."

His mouth twitched into a slight smile. "Okay."

"I'm glad we could agree. Please call me if you get any leads."

"I will."

The line went dead, and he shoved his phone into his pocket.

Francis motioned for him to enter a room where a man is duct-taped to a chair.

Saying nothing, Jason sat across from him and just stared, making the man extremely nervous and fearful.

After about five minutes, Jason slightly moved forward. "Where is she?"

"I—I don't know what you're talking about."

"Where is Faith?"

"She disappeared several days ago."

"What was she doing a few days before that?"

The man's throat is so incredibly dry. "Just normal stuff. I swear that she didn't mention anything out of the ordinary."

"Wrong answer…"

Jason stood in all his ire, making the man shake, and then decked him causing the chair to fall backward.

"He's out," Francis said.

"Wake him the fuck up then."

Francis's brow rose. "Do you want to go there?" The murderous look on Jason's face is giving him pause.

After a few minutes of Jason clenching and then unclenching his fists, he stormed out of the room.

Milo eyed the other man. "Should I follow him?"

"No. He'll be pissed if you do. His car is being tracked."

Milo's gaze went to the man on the floor.

"Start picking off more of Faith's men. I want to send a message. If Jason doesn't find Elizabeth in a few days, we'll let him go crazy and then we'll scatter their bodies around her warehouse. That bitch needs to go down."

Milo nodded. A good man died because of Faith Roscoe. Jason will want blood—they all do. Enzo will be avenged.

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Ric tossed his phone across the couch. Faith isn't answering her phone and it's pissing him off. Suddenly, the door burst open, and she entered carrying shopping bags followed by a guard who had more bags.

"Hey, lover boy."

"Where have you been? I've been calling you for hours."

"Damn, I must have forgotten to take airplane mode off. What's going on?"

Ric sighed. "Someone took Elizabeth."

She dropped the bags in her hands. "That bitch is our meal ticket."

His eyes darkened. "Don't call her that."

The guard left.

"Look, I know you're upset. We'll take her from whoever did this and then Jason and Sonny will be ours for the taking."

He slowly stood. "Are you sure that you didn't do it?"

She smirked. "While it is in my playbook, we agreed to do this together."

He isn't convinced that she is telling the truth.

Moving closer, she licked her lips and then started unbuttoning his shirt. "You need to loosen up a bit."

He pushed her hands away. "Not in the mood…"

She pouted as he walked away and then when she heard the shower, she quickly stripped and waited a minute before getting in.

"Faith…"

She got on her knees and started to pump him. "Let me make you feel good."

His eyes shut as her mouth did wondrous things until all his tension was released. It didn't change the fact that Elizabeth is missing, but it helped get rid of his stress. Tomorrow, he'll try to figure out if Faith is lying and if she is, nothing will save her.

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Sam chuckled as she grabbed a bottle of fingernail polish. "You're going to fix it for me?"

He smiled. "It can't be that hard."

"Uh-huh."

When he squinted and moved his head closer, she laughed. "I can go to the salon tomorrow." She had stubbed her toe and some of the paint had come off.

He shook his head as he gripped her toe and then dabbed at the blank spot.

When he's like this, he's so sweet and she can't help but want to be with him. It's his darker side she could do without, but she has one too. They are the walking wounded—Jason too. Hell, even Carly and now Liz can be thrown into that bunch. It made sense, in a way, that they had found each other, but at the same time, it was toxic, and she wonders what Sonny would be like in different surroundings.

He finished up and then grinned. "I did good."

She perused it. "You did. Thank you."

He went to the kitchen and got her a snack and some water.

"Don't think I didn't notice that junk food."

"Sonny…"

"What? Is it bad I want you and the baby healthy?"

"No, but sometimes your mind fixates on something, and you have to have it."

His eyes raked up and down her body. "I know what it's like."

"Stop it…"

He chuckled. "Want to watch a movie?"

She nodded. "Any word on Elizabeth?" It was all over the news at this point. Someone had leaked the details.

"No. Jason will let me know if he finds anything."

"You're not worried?"

"Yes and no. Jason will find her. It's what he's good at. I'm more worried about the fallout."

"You don't think they'll hurt her?"

He shook his head. "They are using her but should know better not to go there."

"I hope so." She is worried. It could have easily been her. Sitting there watching a movie makes her feel guilty, and she can't help but wonder why Sonny isn't by Jason's side. When she ran to the convent, Jason was there for Sonny. Their friendship seems one-sided to her, and it makes her wonder why Jason puts up with it.

He put his arm around her as the movie began. This is where he wants to be. They are going to be a family whether Carly likes it or not.

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Elizabeth is shivering as the temperature begins to drop. "Please… I need a blanket. Please don't let my baby die. Please!"

The guards gazed at each other and then the younger one texted Faith, who slipped out of bed and into the bathroom to answer.

"What is going on?"

"She's begging."

Faith smiled. "Fine, give her the blanket."

"Food?"

"There's an apple in the fridge."

"Okay."

When the door to the room opened, Liz squinted when the light came on.

A blanket is thrown at her and then the apple which she caught.

"Whatever she is paying you, my baby's father will give you a lot more."

He turned to leave.

"Please… If we die, Jason Morgan will hunt you to the ends of the earth."

He grabbed the handle and gazed at her. "Not from the dead…"

The door shut, sending a breeze toward her that reminded her to wrap herself in the blanket as she wondered if Jason is still alive.

"He has to be," she muttered as she put the cover over her head like a cocoon before falling into an exhausted sleep.