Family Bonds: Book 2 of Sista

by Blackstar1979

Family Bonds the sequel to Sista. The the Superstars and Sistas have been through a lot that have carved out bonds where there were none. Will the past rip apart the bonds that have been forged or make them stronger? Reviews are welcomed as always.

45. Chapter 45 Family Secrets

Chapter 45

Family Secrets

After informing everyone on how the visitation works, at this location, because of the automated system within the room Bradley was placed in, and assigning a temporary ER head, Luke enters his office. His Head of E.R, Dr. Britany Ashley, was the first to speak as he entered. Luke lets her rant at him because this wasn't a conversation. When she stops speaking. He asked for her notes since she had plenty of time to do her case write up from the time he put her out of his ER. She hands him her report. Reading it he looks up at her as she starts defending her actions before he can say anything. "Stop, I'm going to help you out here," Luke told her most of her mistakes. When she said that upon seeing the man and the message sent by officers on the scene, she knew he was an addict. "I want you to look at something that you would have received moments before he hit those doors to my ER." The woman admits she didn't read the Art No Tell doc and just assumed by the looks of him and finding out he had drugs in his system from the message she received that he was a vagrant addict that had overdosed. Luke looks through her notes and at no point was there a toxicology screen done. She'd gone in blind to flush two drug compounds when others could exist. Looking up from the notes he asks her if she thought the patient was a homeless addict why didn't she do a toxicology screen or any blood testing. She'd said there was no time. "That is a lie, the protocol for an emergency where any patient is unconscious due to a substance is automatically a candidate for a screening. So, the head trauma, the fact that his needle lines have faded, or the fact that other than cuts and bruising which was evidence of injury from him being attacked, never gave you a clue that this man wasn't homeless? The fact that he had open wounds never even made you want to test his blood for even disease. You put my entire staff at risk. You ordered a protein push for a patient that you didn't even know or seem to care what else could be in his bloodstream. We will no longer be in use of your services, Doctor Ashely." She names his site supervisor as her boss and says if he got her fired, she would go to the board of directors and report him and if that didn't work she would sue him for discrimination against female doctors of color. Luke sits back in his seat. Controlling his tone, he says "I don't have to get, you fired, this is my network. I will be meeting with your site supervisor. The quality of your care, in this case, diminished drastically if anyone was discriminatory, I would say it was you, based on your prejudging his social status by his disheveled appearance, which was more due to the attacks on his person, than by his own poor grooming practices. That's only what I have gathered from your report." Luke had cared for people that had much more damage done to them, that to the untrained eye would look way different from reality. That's why he never let just someone's appearance determine how he would treat a patient. "You possibly further terrified a patient you believed was a homeless, drug addict, who was already in critical distress, by yelling at him, and then putting him to sleep with an opioid born of your own anger. I would say before that incident, that your bedside manner needed a lot of work, and that it is at best unacceptable in my network. At worse, it's downright criminal the negligence you have displayed tonight." She says he said possibly. "The patient is still not conscious, and due to your negligence now we have to find out if there was another drug in his system. Police Messenger is a great add-on to our network, that I won't deny, but it should never replace reading the full Art No Tell or a blood screen. You are dismissed please pack up your things and leave or…" She asks or what. "Or, I'll have you removed." Luke gets up and walks to his office door, pushes the button for it to slide open. He had work to do and tests to run. The woman continued to sit where she'd sat in front of him at his desk. She says if he so much as touched her he'd be on the news by mid-afternoon. Not even looking at her on his iPad, he orders a blood draw on Bradley. She stands drawing Luke's attention, as she says he is making a big mistake. He says, "Last chance to leave under your own power, if you don't leave my office now, I will call security and they will remove you." Luke walks slightly out of his office waiting for her to pass him. She gets to the doorway then suddenly throws herself back on the floor of his office screaming and crying that he'd struck her. Luke makes sure Supervisor Interactive was running and had caught all movement in this frame, then orders security. Luke points to the cameras and says. "Your failed backflip is now probably running in a loop up in the control tower." As soon as security gets to the downed doctor Luke tells them to get her out of his hospital, as he angrily walks off.

Because of the automated system in place that listed Bradley's medical liaisons and contacts first. The system had called Joshua and asked him for permission to treat his brother. The fact that he was listed as Bradley's number 1 liaison instead of a contact upset Sally, who would have to see her oldest after Joshua and Cassandra came out. As she sat in the private waiting room she raged at Michael. "I don't understand, for him to not select either of us as a liaison? Was he angry at us, when he made the decision? I could understand him selecting Cassandra on his work med ID, but not even she was his first choice."

Michael runs his hand up and down his wife's back and says. "I don't think it is a negative thing Sally Lu. Think of how long it has been strife between those two boys. For Bradley to trust Joshua with his life in the event he was hospitalized, shows tremendous faith and trust in a brother that he has only recently accepted as such. As for him selecting Casandra, they were always close. Joshua made sure we knew as soon as he was called." Angel, who would have to go in after Bradley's contacts got a chance to see him, speaks up and says to Sally how Bradley had once said he picked Joshua as his med liaison because he worries about them since he feared to stress Michael into another stroke. Sally gets up and walks to the listing on the wall. She then asks Angel how she felt not being listed at all. She goes on to say Angel probably didn't even care anyway.

Angel would not let Sally bait her. "Mom, that's not true, nor is it fair for you to even say that. I'm worried about Bradley just as all of us are. That's why I am here. I know you are wanting to lash out, but no one here is to blame for what happened. If you think I'm not downright pissed you're way wrong. That woman set him up and got him hurt. He went over there to help her, and that's how she repaid him. If you want to be mad, be mad, be furious, but being mad at us is wrong. The people that did this to him, are the ones that deserve your outrage, not Bradley for wanting to protect you from stress, or any of us here, that love him."

Sally is about to say something when Cassandra comes out, hugs her, and tells her she could go in now. Sally entered the room and just watched her youngest and oldest for a time. Bradley was so pale and the white bandage around his forehead just added to the gaunt marred features of what she could see of his face he was on an oxygen mask. She prayed he woke soon. Though Joshua kept up a steady dialog with Bradley, Sally knew this was just as hard for her youngest as it was for anyone. Joshua gets up and mumbles that he would go so that his dad could come in and visit. "You're leaving?" Joshua shook his head no and continued out the door.

Once Sally and Michael get a chance to visit with Bradley. Candy and Angel stand up to be let in. Candy walked in ahead of Angel, the sight of Bradley was such a shock, Candy turned around in a complete circle. Angel puts her hands on both of Candy's shoulders and tells her in a whisper "Don't cry. You'll upset him." Candy closes and reopens her eyes. She takes a deep breath and waves for Angel to let her go. A tech walks in as Candy is walking towards the bed. The tech draws blood and leaves. Candy sits in a chair that had been positioned away from all the cords and monitors. She starts talking to Bradley "I hope you can hear me even if you can't respond Bradley I love you. I read somewhere that talking to you may help." She touches his hand, he felt so cool to the touch. She then starts telling him stories. Angel chimes in when it was appropriate. Luke soon walks in and does something to one of the IV's and leaves back out.

As Luke exits the room and enters the private waiting area. He closes the door behind him. "I reviewed his chart and had some blood work done. I found out why he's still unconscious, the illegal drugs were flushed but the opioid used to calm him interacted with the non-opioid based medicine that he is taking for his depression. I have started a flush for the opioid-based tranquilizer and the depression med, he should be waking up soon."

Sally says her son did not have depression. Joshua turns around and tells her "Mom, yes he does, and no matter how many times you say it isn't true doesn't make it go away." Sally says why is this the first time of her hearing about it then. Cassandra says it isn't the first time Sally has heard it. This is just the first time that she can't brush it off and tell Brad to stop saying stuff like that. Sally says Bradley couldn't even stay clean a full year without tricking Luke into prescribing him drugs. Everyone including Michael just stared at Sally. Luke assures her that the drug compound Bradley is on is not addictive.

Sally walks closer to Luke and says "Of course you are going to say that you aren't taking it. How long have you and your network been drugging my boy, doctor?" Michael steps in between them and turns to his wife telling her too far, and to please stop. Luke excuses himself. Sally is about to say something when Michael puts his finger to her lips. Telling her that is more than enough of that, saying that Bradley had once told him that he felt like the weight of the world was on his shoulders and that sometimes he didn't think he would survive the pressure. Sally says "Bradley never looks depressed. How could he hide something like this from me?" Joshua angrily says this isn't about her. Before Sally can say anything else, Joshua throws up his hands and says he is going for a walk.

Later that morning, Kevin is released from the federal compound due to Chief Jeromy Miller validating his story with proof that he was undercover. As Kevin is riding in the passenger seat of his chief's vehicle he briefs the chief on what went down last night and then asked why the guys in his unit didn't come in and put a stop to it. Miller tells him he was suspended until further notice. "What for, I just told you what went down, and you have the video or you would not have been able to get me out of there," Miller says getting Kevin out was a favor to his father Homer and he didn't have any video or audio evidence that disproves his own suspicion that Kevin had become a spoiled, rouge. Jeromy then said that there was no team called to any of the locations. He also said that when Kevin didn't see the broadcast symbol on his phone he should have taken other measures to get a team in place. Kevin gets out of the car and walks into his home when the chief drives away Kevin slams his front door so hard Adam started crying. Beth came out into the living room looked at him and then did an about-face and headed for Adam's room. As she is walking towards their child's room she says that he could have at the very least called instead of staying out all night making her crazy with worry. Then for him to come home and wake Adam who is still having night terrors is just not called for. "Oh, now you're mad at me too. I got Squeaky Clean up my ass about his workmen and the preschool thing, I got suspended for doing my fucking job, and moreover, I was told by a federal agent that if Bradley Davenport dies the agent will have my ass behind bars so fast it will make my head spin. You know what, I believe him considering he's fucking related to the guy." Hearing Adam continue to cry just sent Kevin over the top as he bellows to the top of his lungs "SHUT THE FUCK UP" Beth ran into Adam's room and shut the door. Minutes later, she re-emerges with a calmer sniffling Adam on her hip and heads to the garage. Kevin says "Beth, I'm sorry." When Beth didn't even acknowledge that he said anything he asks. "Where are you going it's almost 7 in the morning? Beth, I said I was sorry what do you want from me?" He walks over and blocks the doorway to the garage. "Talk to me, will you?" She had unshed tears in her eyes and a smile for Adam who hugged her tightly. When Kevin reaches to take Adam out of her arms she says for him to stop and that she was going to her parents' house so he could rage at the four walls instead of them. Just as he was about to say something vile he gets a call, looking at the screen he says. "It's Squeaky Clean," Beth tells him to answer it or don't, she needed to go before he lost what was left of his mind like last time. Kevin stepped out of the way. He loved his wife and child and for Beth to think he would take things as far as he once had, took the heat out of his anger like pouring ice water down his pants. He watched his wife walk into the garage and buckle their son into his car seat. As Beth gets in she says that she will call him when she reaches her dad's place.

Over at the Glenview site, Logan heads on to the site and inquires where the hell is his foreman. Bradley had not called him and the site had not recorded that he had checked in today at all. He'd called Kevin to see if maybe the state cops had arrested him or went after him again. Kevin wasn't answering his calls. This isn't like him. Logan thinks as he calls Bradley's phone for the 5th time, and gets dumped instantly into voicemail. Logan was getting pissed and it showed as he says to Bradley's voicemail system. "Look, Bradley, I don't know what is going on with you but, we still have over 10 homes to complete before the inspectors get there. Call me back when you get one of these messages." Logan marched over and started working on one of the 10 remaining homes. His phone rings, he climbs down off the roof thinking that maybe Bradley was calling back, but when he looks at the screen it's just his office. "Connor here," His office manager tells him that an Ivey Health Insurance inquiry from a hospital had just been drawn for one Bradley A. Davenport last night and should she approve it since it was not work-related. "Approve it, what hospital?" She tells him. Logan leaves instruction with the assistant foreman and jumps back on the road towards Grandville South.

Bobby had been running around town all day and even attended a few meetings with Chase. As he is heading home he gets a call from Joshua about Bradley's condition. Bobby had meant what he said to Kevin Kincaid and was glad that Bradley was doing better than when Harold found him. Bradley was rough around the edges but so was Bobby himself. Right after Sophia took Nana Barnett's life Bobby went wild. Luckily for Bobby, he had Chase who talked some sense into him. It just took Bradley longer to get his lesson pushed in. Bobby was heading to that last known address of one Mr. Deon Baza, and God help the bass player if he was home. Sitting behind the glass listening to Ben answer the questions in his interview Bobby was ready to say fuck the case and shoot Ben with a bullet instead of waste a tranquilizer. Benjamin was soon "released" when he went to the hideout to meet with the female Don she had flown the coop. Bobby took great pleasure in busting the people that she had left behind. Yes, they were small fish, but they were off the street. Bobby gets another call from Andrew who could hardly report he was so amped up. "Andrew slow it down, who is the rider sniper? It was probably a loyalty test. You have the bike so where is Officer Cody Tanner now?" Andrew says the make and model of the bike and the name attached to the bike's registration was Cody Tanner but no one knows where the fucker is since he got suspended yesterday. "There has been a lot of that going on. Andrew, I don't want any of my family that resides in Ivey Manion out on the road with any less the four cars on them from now on." Andrew accused Bobby of taking this case personally and reminded Bobby of his position as the field commander. "That son of a bitch Tanner shot at my sisters' limo. I know exactly who I am, and what I am, and you bet your ass I'm taking this personally."

Over at the hospital as Candy is holding Bradley's hand and talking to him. Suddenly he squeezes her hand. It was so faint at first that she had thought she imagined it. Then one of the monitors went off and he squeezed her hand tighter and tried to pull out the breathing tube gagging. Seeing him flail around she tried talking to him. Luckily, he wasn't as strong as usual, but it was still a heart-wrenching challenge to keep his hands down. When she turned to tell Angel to help her, Angel was already out the door. Angel soon returns with doctors and nurses behind her. One of the doctors asks them to wait outside the room. As Candy and Angel stand directly outside of the room Luke comes running up the hall and into the room. Inside the room, Luke talks Bradley down out of the hysteria he must be experiencing, enough to start removing the breathing tube. When one of the nurses asked did he want the patient restrained Luke shakes his head and continues speaking to Bradley. They get the tube free, suction out his mouth, and put him on a nose only oxygen mask. Bradley asked, where was he? "When Luke answered him, Bradley asked how and why. After asking a few more questions. Luke was sure that Bradley showed signs of PML or (Posttraumatic Memory Loss).

Joshua was coming back up the hall when he saw Luke run by him, thinking the worse, he charged into the waiting area and Angel and Candy told him what they had just witnessed. Taking a breath, Joshua watched until Luke walked back out the room with the med crew filing out as well. Luke came into the waiting room and closed the door. Sally begs Joshua to please let her see her boy. Luke tells them about Bradley's (Posttraumatic Memory Loss) or PML, Sally asked did he remember them. Luke explains it as best as he could, that where Bradley did retain his long-term memories anything that happened after he helped paint the woman's home is not being recalled as of now, and may never fully come back. Cassandra tells Joshua their mom could go in with him first because it was getting late and their parents really needed to go home soon. Joshua wasn't letting his mother get Bradley worked up if he could help it. Joshua says his dad and he was going in right now. Sally glared at him and opened her mouth to say something. In a level tone, Joshua says, "Flip out, and you won't get to see him today at all." Sally turns to Cassandra who put her hands up in don't ask me gesture. Joshua has his father go in front of him as they walk out of the waiting area, down towards Bradley's door. The last thing Joshua heard as he entered Bradley's room with Michael, is Sally asking Luke wasn't there something he could do so that she could have Joshua not be calling the shots.

Back in the waiting room. Luke explains to Sally that he could not change the liaison, unless he believed the choice was made by the patient under duress, and since that wasn't the case, he wasn't risking his career to please her. Sally says what if that was what happened? Cassandra tells her mom too far. Luke excuses himself.

When they walked in Bradley was staring at his marred chest. When he looked up at them he asked did he wipe out on someone's bike because he didn't remember getting road rash. Joshua asked did it burn because if so Luke could get him something for the pain. Bradley shakes his head and says it just stung right now but he would let Joshua know if it got worse.

Michael walked forward and clasped his oldest hand. He then asked Bradley how he felt. Bradley winces as he tried to lift the head of the bed, and says he felt like when he got hit by the ice-cream truck when he was 14. Joshua had never heard that story. He didn't move in with the Davenports until Bradley was 19 going on 20. Just being glad his brother was awake he figured he wouldn't say shit about the bitch that landed Brad here. "Bro, do I want to know how you got hit by an ice-cream truck?"

Bradley says, "I was being chased home from school and…." Suddenly, images of his high school bully Benjamin Valentin as an adult standing over him, flashes before his mind's eye, and brings with it a roaring pain in his head. Bradley grabbed the bandage on his head and shut his eyes. "Ow, fuck," he says as he grits his teeth. Joshua says he was calling for help. Michael said no that Bradley didn't need any more drugs. He tells Bradley to ride it out.

Joshua says to Michael "When I see an MD. behind your name, I'll let you tell me what's best for him. He's clearly in pain." Joshua finds the button to call for help as he watched Bradley cringe in pain. The episode seemed to be stopping by the time a nurse came in. Bradley waved her off saying whatever it was its easing down on its own. The nurse asked him a few questions and took some notes, then left.

After Michael, Cassandra, and even Candy, had a chance to visit Bradley awake, Joshua let his mother go in. Sally walks in and sees her oldest. Bradley greets her and she asked how was he. He just said fine while not trying to concentrate on whatever that was. Bradley didn't know if it was a memory or what, but the shit hurt like someone was driving a nail through his head. His mother just kept staring at him. The shit was making him uncomfortable. Bradley runs his tongue along his teeth they were still all there. "What am I missing? Why do you keep staring at me? I'm not going to get any better looking if that's what you're waiting for." His mother froze and then told him to stop saying things like that. Joshua says for her to chill that he was just kidding. Sally said he was going to be just fine and that he could move back home so they could keep an eye on him until he was better. "Thanks for the offer mom, but dad and I are just getting back to how we used to be, and I don't want to mess with that balance." Their mother says his father would understand because she would not lose her oldest to drugs or his being sad. Bradley froze. "What the hell are you talking about? As for the drugs, I'm clean mom, are you ever going to fucking believe me? As for me being depressed, it comes and goes, and I'm dealing with it. I may not remember what happened but I highly doubt, I kicked my own ass. All I remember is helping my friend paint her house." His mother says he should still consider moving back home, and he can even have his old room, and she would cook for him, like when he was a little boy. His mother as per usual wasn't listening to him. Bradley felt a rush of anger and said, "Just get out." His mother asked him did he really want her to leave. Before Joshua can say anything, Bradley says "Yeah I do. You're going to help me right out of my fucking mind. I just need to be alone right now." after staring at him with hurt and disbelief in her gaze his mother finally leaves the room. Joshua follows her, turns around and tells him that he would give him some time to rest. "Thanks, bro," Joshua walks out and Bradley could see his little brother guiding his mother away from the door. Bradley calls his rehab sponsor, he needed to talk to someone that had been through at least some of the shit he had been through.

Andrew was heading up to the hospital to pick up Angel. After speaking with his field commander, about the rider sniper as Officer Cody Tanner was now being called. Andrew knew he kind of took things personally as well. Though he and the Davenport /Ivey family weren't related he still cared a lot. Andrew gets out of the limo and heads to the hospital to wait for Angel. He'd already radioed Frank and told him their location and how long it should take him to get back to the house.

Out in the waiting room, the wall screen announces that Logan Conner was requesting entry. Joshua asked Angel to please let Logan in since she was heading home to be with JC. Angel says sure, kisses Joshua, walks to the door and presses the button to tell Logan to step back so the door wouldn't hit him. Andrew was waiting to drive her home. Logan walks in as she leaves. Cassandra and Rapture offer to take their parents' home. After Rapture, Cassandra, and the Davenport parents leave, Joshua tells Logan to wait here and he would go and see if Bradley wanted to see him. Logan says ok and takes a seat near Candy.

Days later over at Ivey Mansion, everyone is preparing for Mark's birthday. Angel says she was just glad that this wasn't her idea. Paula points out that her good party ratio had climbed. Mark and Janet took what was now going to be their regular trip to put flowers on Nina's grave. Janet was to call her when they were on their way back. Paula voices that she was just glad that this year Mark wouldn't disappear up to the cabin. Cassandra asked wasn't yesterday Mark's first wife's birthday. Paula nods and says that's why she was glad that Janet was now able to go with her dad on a more regular basis. Cassandra asks why Paula didn't go. Paula first says she had to stay behind with the twins, then says that wasn't all of it, though she missed Nina as well, she kind of felt out of place the last time she did go. Logan climbs down from putting up a decoration and says he understood where she was coming from but just like most of his self-inflicted distance with her side of the family after Megan died wasn't necessary, neither was Paula's because Mark would have made it known if he hadn't wanted her to go. Paula says with a smirk that Logan made some very good points and she wonders where he got it from. Logan says fair enough on a laugh because that is some of what Paula had told him on their first real meeting after the funeral.

Joshua walks in the front door followed by Bradley who had agreed to, much to Sally's disdain that upon his release from the hospital instead of going to his parents' home or even his home in Dallas to recuperate, he would come here until he was released to drive, and go back to work. Joshua says he'd go give the list of visitors to Frank at the guard shack if Paula was done with it. Paula hands it to him. As Joshua heads, back out the door Bradley comes and sits down on the couch in the atrium. He would have gone straight into the room Candy and he stayed in here, but just the walk and activity of climbing in an out of Joshua's truck and walking up the stairs tired him out quickly. Talking to his rehab sponsor, his therapist Middlebrooks, and not having his mother staring at him for the last few days, helped improve his mood. Bradley was asked a question about where he thought his phone ended up, and it made him wonder for the hundredth time what the hell happened? He kept getting headaches, and along with-it images that did not make any sense. His regular doctor Middlebrooks had been on vacation when he went in so Luke had been treating him until she returned. The next thing Bradley knew Joshua was asking did he want to go lay down. "When did you come back in the house? Hell, I thought I was awake." Joshua says he'd been back in the house for a time and was talking to him but then realized he was talking to himself since Bradley was asleep. "Sorry, I guess I was more tired than even I realized," Joshua says no problem and that he understood that feeling more than he ever wanted to. Bradley gets up and says he was going to lay down. Candy was out buying drinks for Mark's party tonight. Bradley was just glad the house was soundproofed.

When he walked into their bedroom something caught his eye. It was a box sitting on their bed with a note. Candy had gone out and bought him a phone. He calls her on the room phone since he would have to contact his phone company, and says that she didn't have to do that. She says she knew that but since his phone was lost. "It might not be when I called it my voicemail, it's still my voice on it so maybe it wasn't stolen, I could have just left it over Jazz's place." Once again Candy went quiet, and then says she had to go because she was driving. Bradley washed up so he would not get his head wrap wet in the shower, and went to bed.

Hours later, Mark's birthday surprise party was in full swing. He'd walked in and about punched, R-Truth when he sprang up from behind the coat stand yelling surprise. Dean Ambrose walks over with his new girlfriend Renee. He thanks Mark for letting him come. Mark says the party was a surprise to him too, but considering Dean was the only one willing to help him out that night in the street he was solid in Mark's book. Dean looks confused for a bit. "So, if you didn't know this shindig was going to happen? How did your planner know who to invite?" Mark says he thought he was inviting a few people to the bar that he reserved. "Damn, that sucks hope you get your money back man," Mark smirks and says even if he wanted it back which he didn't, he wouldn't have that much of a problem since, his wife owns the bar. "Keeping it in the family" Mark nods and claps Dean on the back as Renee comes over says happy birthday and takes Dean away. Chris Jericho comes over and talks with Mark who excuses himself when he sees Dave Batista walk through the door with CM Punk. Punk was on his list, Dave wasn't. Mark pulls Dave aside. "Look, boy, the last time you were here I did you a service by taking you out of here, if you try anything at all tonight, you won't have to worry about a return date to the ring."

Dave takes his sunglasses off and meets Mark's hard gaze. Clearing his throat Dave says. "Look, I know I haven't been the greatest in the past and a lot of it had to do with…" Mark cuts him off and tells him just not to be an ass or he'd get worse than tossed out on his. Dave sighs "Fair enough, with Glenn gone, it is just weird being back in this town. I did a lot of dirty shit to people that didn't deserve it. "Speaking of which" Dave looks up at the staircase as Angel was pulling the door closed. Mark tells him what was said to everyone at this party was to remain on this floor only, no one was to go upstairs or downstairs. "Yeah, I am sure Angela and Sophie aren't up for a part two of your wedding reception. That's one of the reasons I'm here. Punk told me how Glenn clowned, and then told some crazy chick about the security system. Angela invited us in when we didn't have a damn hotel room and most of us shit on the invite. I was probably the second to worse, because not only did I scared the fuck out of Angela, but I for lack of a better term lied to and attacked her sister who was one of the only females I ever respected. Got my instant karma with that by a doctor none the less. He put me out so quick, I didn't know I was out until I woke up." Mark tells him let that be the last time he talks about that shit because it was pissing him off all over again. "Fair enough." Punk comes over and asks "Is everything ok?" Dave looks back at Mark and says, "Um, yeah"

Inside Candy's bedroom, Bradley tosses and turns in the bed. In his dream "images from the night of his attack start the dream off as it had been doing whenever he went to sleep. He and Jazz talking shit, and painting, them eating and her being extra nice to him after riding his ass about his past most of the time he was over there. Flash: Ben kicking him in the face while he lay staring at Kevin with handcuffs on not able to even defend himself. Flash: Jazz asking him why he burned down her aunt's store. Out loud in the bed Bradley says "I didn't do it. First Cass, now you? I don't fuck with fire. I'm not on drugs. I thought you knew me. Why don't any of you believe me? Why?" Bradley woke to a terrible headache as he holds his head and tries to wipe sweat out of his eyes. He slowly lays back down and just stares at the ceiling. Once again, he falls into a fitful sleep. Flash: He's looking at his camera. Jazz is speaking she's talking to Candy about him. Did he try to steal from her? No, what the fuck would he steal? A taste was in his mouth his words was slow. Why she talking to Candy on his phone? Jazz's words waft over to him. She was trying to break Candy and he up. His dream self-felt hot shame and anger towards himself as he looked down at his sweat-soaked shirt. "NO." Bradley says loud enough to wake himself. Which brought with it a headache. He tries to get up and got dizzy. Sitting on the side of the bed, with the room spinning to the rhythm of the pounding in his head, he wondered how much of that was real. Why was Jazz recording him? Why was he letting her? Had he done drugs? Was that why Jazz was warning Candy about him not changing his stripes? Had Jazz and he done drugs?

At Mark's party, Candy bartended she had even learned some new moves. This was what she needed with all the crazy shit that had gone down with Bradley she needed this little nonverbal showmanship challenge. About an hour ago she'd looked in on Brad and he was sleeping. Middlebrooks said when she released him earlier that sleep was helpful. Candy hoped so, she really was trying not to say anything about Jazz, but every time her name was mentioned Candy wanted to bash in the bitch's face. This party turned into a surprise party because of two things. The Rider Sniper had been identified and was still on the run. Angel or even Joshua wouldn't tell her who it was because the fewer people that knew the better chance Bobby and his team could capture the person. Candy would not tell anyone but Bobby had told his family not to even tell the other people outside this house that were at the mall. Candy could see not telling Alice from what Angel described of the woman's tendency to throw an insult or believe everything she read on hot sheets. Telling Alice could do exactly what they didn't want to do, which was accidentally tell someone that knew the Rider Sniper that the feds instead of just the police were looking for him or her. Mark's boss and friend Vince came over to the bar and ordered drinks for him and his wife Linda. Candy put on a show of making the drinks and handed them to him. When he smiled at her and said thanks he put money on the bar and said that should cover it. She tells him this wasn't a cash bar he then picked up the money and dropped it in her tip jar telling her good show.

Joshua needed air, it had been a long time since he'd been this close to so many people in their home. When he came back from helping Larry with a problem, Mark's party was still in full swing. Angel had been upstairs most of the night. When he video chatted her from the bar she'd been in JC's room watching him and the twins. Janet and Nikki, and Tracy's son Tony weren't allowed downstairs at about the hour mark because there was lots of liquor flowing. Some of the divas recognized him from doing Mark's intro with Angel last year. He heads towards the stairs and went to the door that separated the bedrooms from the stairwell. A year ago, at the party that was supposed to be mostly in the backyard had been the reason these doors were even constructed and locked tonight. He hadn't been able to be here at Mark's reception and Glenn had taken advantage of his absence and scared the shit out of his wife. After locking the door behind him he walked into JC's room. Angel lay on the floor with the twins who were asleep. She looks up and asked was the party over. "Nah, just needed some air. Are you coming down tonight? Mark has been asking about you." Angel gets up and asks him to help put the twins in their portable cribs, that she and Paula had erected since Tony would be using the room they slept in. JC was already sleeping. After turning on the baby monitor they head out into the main hall.

Angel says as they step out of JC's room. "Dave is here, and I for one am not trying to have a repeat of him slinging my ass around the room. He showed up with Punk as his plus one." Joshua says he'd seen Dave and that the guy just said hey and didn't say anything else. He also says if Dave would have been pissed at anyone it would have been him for tossing Dave's big ass head first over the couch in the den. Joshua says that she should at least come down for a little bit. She says if it got too weird for her for any reason she was coming back up.

Joshua says, "Fair enough, but with dad, Mark, Logan, Bobby, and myself here, it had better not get weird, or whoever makes it weird will have hell to pay." Angel agrees they head towards the door that separated the hall from the downstairs. Sophie came out of her room asking was it over. Joshua says no and asked was her hubby to be, coming or was he trapped at the hospital all night. Sophie shrugs and says Luke said he was on his way. Sophie pulls her bedroom door closed and they head downstairs. Sophie commented on how strange it was to lock and unlock the doors that Logan put up last year. Most of the time the doors remained open, tonight they were shut and locked to prevent the partygoers from roaming up near the bedrooms.

Up on the third floor inside the room that Tony would use for the night, he and the girls were playing video games. Janet was kicking his butt in a racing game. "NO fair, I know how to drive in real life and I'm getting beat by a girl that's what 12?" Janet corrects him. "You don't look 14, Nikki is she really 14?" Nikki nods and goes back to texting. Janet asked him why did he care. Tony shrugged, "No reason, hey your mom let you stay over on a school night for you guys, that's dope." They asked why wasn't he in school in his other city. Tony felt weird talking about himself. Everything in his world was changing so fast. Flicking his hair out of his eyes before he crashed again into one of the walls on the screen he says. "I get homeschooled." There, that wasn't so bad. The girls say that sounded cool. "Not really, most of the day I'm on the computer taking tests, I'd like to go to school but since a few years ago I don't do well in crowds," Janet asked did that mean he wasn't going to the concert. "Yeah…sorry." Tony wished they would drop it. Nikki told him the bands that were going to be at the concert and how Janet's parents were even letting her go. "Good for her, not my scene anymore." Janet points out that he was wearing a band tee with one of the bands on it. Tony focused on the screen and purposely smashed his car into a wall as fast as he could since it was his last life he lost but he didn't give a shit. "You win, I need air." Tony gets up and goes out on the balcony. Leaving the girls staring at each other.

Janet comes out on the balcony "Hey Tony if I upset you I'm sorry. If you are worried about crowds at the concert we aren't going to be down in the mosh pit or anything, we will be in a secure skybox my dad would flip out if I was in the pit." Tony says he wasn't trying to be mean in there just needed to get some air and since they can't go downstairs he just came out here. He asks about the skybox and said he'd just stopped going to concerts when at the last one he was at the artist threw something into his row and he about got creamed by angry fans. Janet asks was it the grand opening of LEGNA when Joshua tossed something back at someone in the audience. Tony says yeah and that he wasn't the one that threw the garbage at Joshua or Slash. "Yeah, I know you didn't Nikki would have told me." Janet smiles at the smirk he wore. He was cute when he smiled he just didn't do it a lot, which made when he did or even smirked at her just made her day. He was her age. Unlike most of the 14-year-old boys he was taller than her. "So, will you go with us please? I promise we won't be close enough to be thrown at, or trampled." Tony says he'd ask his mom, and for real this time, get back to them. Janet smiled and asked if he wanted to come back in and play a different video game. He shrugged and said sure if it wasn't a racing game since apparently, he had to work on his turns. As they both reenter the bedroom from outside Nikki looks up from her phone in time to catch both of her friends smiling like idiots.

Later that night people were starting to leave. Angel was glad she came downstairs. After a full gallon of Jack Daniels Mark was trying to sing the song they did for his entrance last year at Mania. Paula had started that by suggesting Karaoke since Joshua's music system could do it. She liked watching her family have a good time. Joshua was in his drunken goofy playful mode. Candy said Josh had 5 of his favorite 7 and 7s. They all needed this breather from stress. Part of Logan's family was here since they rode in Mark's motor club. Candy asked Angel could she take over for a while because she wanted to go check on Bradley. Angel says sure. With Joshua, Vash, and Candy, teaching her how to mix drinks when she became part of the owners of The Davenport, Angel did well. This was a long way from how Sophie and she used to look up drinks and try their hand at making them. Speaking of Sophie, Angel scans the room and finds her sister talking with a woman with black and lime green hair. When the woman turned around it was Naomi, who waved at her and then she and Sophie headed towards the bar.

Candy walks towards her bedroom to check on Bradley and bumps into someone. "Oh, sorry excuse me." Seth Rollins tells her no problem and steps back in her path. "Um, the party is out there you're not supposed to be down this hall." He says he had a message for her. "Um, that's great but I really need to go so excuse me please." Candy makes a show of looking up at the camera in this hallway. and the man gets out of her way and starts walking back down the hall towards the party area. As she is walking to her bedroom door Seth says over his shoulder that Roman wanted to have a meeting with her, and that if she didn't show he'd make sure she didn't show at court. Candy shut the door and locked it. Turning around about to lean on the door she comes up short at the sight of Bradley sitting up against the headboard.

Bradley knew something was up when Candy rushed in and locked the door. "What's wrong?" Bradley says as he moves to the side of the bed to get up. She quickly says for him to stay put. She then calls Angel and tells her the description of a guy, and asks can they get the guy out of here and that he'd just threatened her in the fucking hallway to her bedroom about the court case with Roman. When she closes her call, she sits on the side of the bed. Bradley puts his hand on her shoulder and asks "Babe, you want to talk about it?" She shakes her head and says she just came to check on him and that she wouldn't leave until Angel gave her some type of all clear. "Good idea, Candy what happened between you and Roman? Why is there a guy in my brother's house threatening you? I get it, we both have a past but the closer we get to the court date that you don't want to talk about the more freaked out you get."

Angel was standing behind the bar and watched as the guy that Candy had just described came from the area near Candy's room on the first floor. Angel wasn't having her cousin's party ruined by some jerk. She tells Candy she'd call her back when the guy was gone. Angel texts Andrew and tells him what was going on. She then sees Andrew walk over and start talking to the guy with the blonde and black hair. The guy put his hands up in a placating gesture and looks around at the ceiling then says something to Andrew who follows him out the front door. Joshua surprises Angel by sneaking up behind her, and kissing her on the cheek. She almost clobbered her drunk and playful hubby. He asked would she really have hit him with the drink mixer. Angel says "All I'll say is, if it wasn't for the fact that I saw you in the mirror seconds before I got a good hold on it, this could have ended badly." He chuckles as he pulls her close and kisses her. He asks for another drink "Oh no you don't, I think 6 is about your limit Mr." He says he wouldn't get trashed if that was what she was worried about. His usually hooded eyes were already near closed, any more drinks and he'd be out like a light. A song comes on and he asks her to dance with him. "One second Andrew just came back in." Joshua gives her a weird look, and says so what. Angel tells him about the guy that cornered Candy near her room, and how Andrew put him out quietly as to not ruin the party. Joshua turns around and gives the thumbs up to Andrew. Angel texts Candy, that the guy was gone. Candy sent back her thanks.

Candy was terrified to say anything else. The only reason Bradley knew about the court date in the first place, was because it changed, and she circled it to remind herself on her kitchen calendar. Her new lawyer was battling all of Roman's lies. Now Roman wanted to meet, that shit wasn't happening. She would tell her lawyer that he even sent someone to threaten her. After getting saved by the text tone from Angel, Candy says to Bradley that they could talk after she was done bartending tonight for Mark's party. He sighs and says he will be here. As she walks out the room and closes the door she says to no one "I just hope this turns out better than the last time I said anything." The last time she put her life in words to someone she thought was her mate it was and still is being used against her. Her stomach was in knots. She sees Joshua but from the looks of her best buddy he was in full on goofy drunk mode. When she reached the bar, it was further confirmed that this was not the time to talk to Josh when he jumps up and pulls Angel into the dance area. Her bro was having a good time and she didn't want to blow his buzz talking about her shit. Along with worrying about Bradley, Joshua had his own pile of mental shit to deal with.

Jonathon and Gloria had not spoken more than greeting since their argument in the car he was running late to his nephew's party because of meetings that ran longer than he expected at LEGNA. When he walked in the front door, Gloria waves at him he waves back but then stops mid-wave. A wave of anger runs up his spine as he sees what she had done. Marching over to her he asked her for a dance as he danced with her he says just loud enough for her to hear him over the music "You brought him here? You know how I feel about that man. Has he said anything to Joshua or is he just casing the place for a later visit?" Gloria goes to pull away from him. John wasn't having it, he tucked his hand at her back. She was angry so was he. "Look around you, this isn't the place or the time to for this. What were you thinking?" She says that she had met with Alex and he had expressed his want to her to meet his son. John let her go. "Either you get him out of here or I will. Hasn't Joshua been through enough?" Alex asks to speak to him. Turning to the man John says "You have impeccable timing boy-o." Alex rubs his hands on his pants and swipes them threw his dark brown hair. He says that was the plan and that he was glad John had changed his mind. "I haven't, I would like for you to slither back out the way you came."

Alex had paid for his fuckup as a young adult this ass was not going to help him so he would help himself. "No, I think I'll stay and talk to Boy or Joshua as he likes to be called. 30 years is way too long for me to be silent on this matter and that boy needs a father figure he can trust." The rather large man laughed in his face and asked did he think it was going to be that easy. "Look pal, I asked you very nicely to help me out here. You told me to fuck off." The Irishman was coming out in the guy's tone thicker and thicker as he spoke. The dame that invited him tries to interject. "No let the great father of the year speak. Maybe, after you're done telling me how bad of a person I am, then I can tell you a few things." The guy says conversation is over. "Not yet, in the father department, you were in the same boat as I am buck-o. What makes us different is that I didn't have the funds to send my kid material things. So, you going to introduce me or do I introduce myself?" Alex took the man's rage-filled silence as his cue. He turns around and starts walking towards the stairs.

Gloria could have melted into the floor when John looked at her then back at Alex. When John said no and told Alex once again to leave saying that was two. Gloria moved in front of Alex. "He is a guest and you are being rude." John looks away from them, Gloria follows John's gaze and lands on Joshua who is heading up the main staircase after Angel. Alex yells out over the crowd for Joshua to tear that shit up son.

At that exact moment, the song ended and everyone stared at Alex. "Hey Boy, Josh," His kid didn't look at him, though he stopped walking up the stairs. "I know you are probably wondering who is this guy. Your boss was kind enough to invite me. My name is…" Alex glances in MacBride's direction. MacBride says this was not his doing.

Joshua looked at his dad and then back at the loud mouth that had just put him on the spot. On stage, he was fine with loads of people watching him. Here in his own damn home surrounded by friends and few strangers, and family the scrutiny got to him and pissed him off. "Look I don't care what your name is, if you are who I think you are. My name is Joshua Davenport and you have a 1 min warning to get out of my fucking house before I turn you into a smear in the driveway." Joshua started down the stairs Angel grabbed at him he pulled away in a manner that wouldn't pull her off balance but kept her behind him.

Down at the base of the stairs Alex put his fingers in his front belt loops, steps back and turns toward the door. He knew this wasn't the best timing but he had an agenda, and getting his ass handed to him wasn't on that list, nor was he here to fight with his offspring. At the door, he says over his shoulder. "I'll leave but in case you didn't know my names is Alex Knight and I am your father goodbye son." Alex stayed for a full second more, then walked out the front door. The blonde dame walks out on to the front porch with him. "Could have been better could have been worse. See you around and thanks for the invite."

As Gloria is about to walk back inside Jonathon steps out and points to his Range Rover and says in a clipped tone. "We need to talk now." They head towards his vehicle.

Back inside the house, Joshua stands frozen as he watched the man that just publicly claimed to be his father leave. Having Gloria tell him on the day Bradley would later get captured and hospitalized was a mind fuck he could have done without. Having Gloria invite that man into his home with his family here was not to fucking happen again. Once the door closed behind Alex Knight Joshua looks down over the banister at the guest on the first floor that were trying their best to pretend he wasn't suddenly the center of their attention and says, "Happy Birthday Mark, goodnight everyone." Joshua looks up at Angel who was unlocking the door to the main hall. Thankfully, Vash ended the awkward silence as he starts the next song, Joshua jogs up the stairs and into the main hall behind Angel slamming the door behind them.

As the party dies down after the cake is served Dave had a good buzz going, he'd been drinking since before CM Punk's limo pulled up at the hotel he was staying at. Dave had come with the idea that he would finally get to speak to Sophie. He walks over as she asks Vash to play a song saying she knew Joshua had it in his collection. Vash focused on his computer screen and then gives Sophie a thumbs-up. Suddenly the song "Bossy" starts playing. She walks towards the den if she went in the hallway back there he wouldn't get a chance to talk to her. It was now or never Dave reached out and tugged on her shirt. Sophie turns around so fast the fabric he was clutching ripped as it came free of his grasp. "Oh, shit sorry, I was just trying to catch your attention. Can we talk?" Sophie glared at him Dave stepped closer and said "Ok you don't have to say anything I'll talk. Last year I did something that I regret and well I'm sorry."

Sophie stepped back he went to step forward. "Look Dave, I told you back then that you'd regret what you did and you followed through with not only attacking my ass, you came back to my home in my car, and proceeded to terrorize my sister and attempt to beat the shit out of my brother in law because you felt wronged somehow. They got you away from my home and what did you do Dave?" he said that was wrong they took him to G North and dumped him there. He was pissing her off all over again. "Yeah, I heard about that, and then you went to my cousin's bar and put your fucking hands on my sister in violence." Dave opens his mouth to say something. "There is nothing left to be said." He says he's sorry that stuff happened. Sophie turned to go back out into the living room. Suddenly Dave grabbed her shirt again, before she could react, Dave let go. Partial relief turned into shock when she turned around to see Luke with Dave pinned against the wall.

Luke had Dave pinned he'd come to see his mate and for Mark's party after completing a 36-hour shift at work to find the wrestler that attacked his childhood friend turned fiancé with his fucking hand on her again but this time inside her own fucking home. Pulling upwards on Dave Batista's arm as he pressed him harder into the wall face first, Luke says. "David Fucking Batista Sanchez, you must be a slow learner." Dave pulls against him demanding to be let go. Luke grabs the back of Dave's shirt and smashes his head into the wall. "Keep struggling and I'll put you through the wall. You touched what isn't yours. It time for you to leave." Dave grunts he got a ride here. "Your transportation, not my problem. Get out." Dave says ok he'll leave. Luke let's him go. Dave turns around and gets in Luke's face telling him don't ever touch him again or…. Luke smirks with no humor and says, "Or the next thing you hear will be my fist connecting with your skull." They stand inches apart glaring at each other waiting on the other to make a move.

Andrew walks over and asks Sophie who stood watching the doctor and the wrestler face off at each other "Is there a problem?" the wrestler answers for her as he says. "No problem" as he steps back, turns around looking at the small amount of pissed looking people, including Mark, Dave says to C.M. Punk "it's time to go."

Inside their home Jonathon turns around and faces his mate. He'd drove them here since apparently Alex had given his woman a ride to his children's home for the ambush that would be his presence. She spoke a lot for the few moments it took to drive down the hill to their home. Jonathon was no longer angry he was disappointed and becoming numb to her, that wasn't good. "For a time now, you have inserted yourself in to affairs that are none of your business. Every time you do something here lately it leaves me with a question. That question is, can you genuinely be this ignorant of what is going on what has been going on for a time now? Some low life shot live ammunition at my child's limousine. The federals have identified the person true enough, but suspect the person was working for someone else. The person is still freely roaming around. You recently have been taking a very middle ground approach to everything that has happened. Back to the present, I know we have not spoken in the last few days. If this was your way of trying to open a dialog between us you have been successful. Gloria, I listened to you and have made myself very clear on my distrust of that man's motive. You invited a stranger into their home. You would think that since you witnessed what went on at Mark's home when Glenn brought his plus one that you would have thought better of doing the same thing." Gloria says that Alex isn't a random stranger. "Stranger, a person whom one does not know or with whom one is not familiar. You don't know any more about that man than any of us do. You have only his words to go on. Joshua doesn't know him hell before tonight I doubt he knew of Alex. I was going to tell Joshua about Alex to prevent an unpleasant surprise like the one you created tonight." Gloria says if John was going to tell Joshua then why was he upset. She also admits that she told Joshua about Alex the other day after their rehearsal. So, Joshua was at the very least familiar with Alex. "You did what?" As she opens her mouth to repeat herself he raises his hand in a stop motion. "No, don't repeat it; I need a moment." Jonathon walks out on the back patio. He had not seen that coming nor had he wanted to believe that she would go behind his back and stir this hornet's nest of drama more than it was already.

After the party was over, and Candy came back in their room, they speak about the Alex fiasco, Bradley asked how Joshua was taking that. "He looked major pissed when he went upstairs and didn't come back down at all." Bradley then did her a favor without even realizing it. He changed the subject saying since it wasn't something he felt he could help Joshua with he would just be here if his brother needed him. He then tells her about the weird dream he had. Which was, a blessing and a curse in Candy's book, because yes, they weren't talking about her past anymore, but wading through his nightmares, memories and the truth, was going to be a minefield that she just hoped he was ready for. When Bradley asked her about the video that he dreamed was taken of him with his own phone, he asked did it really happen or was his mind just fucking with him. Candy tried for a while to think of something to say. She wouldn't lie to him. "Yeah, Jazz sent me a video." A look Candy had rarely seen crossed over Bradley's features. She knew he would have a hard time processing this and wanted to not talk about it. He asked so what was he up against. "What? I don't follow. What do you mean?" Bradley told Candy how he remembered just sitting there not trying to stop Jazz or anything and wondered had he done drugs with her "She did say the shit about you and stripes, but Bradley all I feared when I saw it was that she had done something to you. My fear was right. She later told me after… After the cops took you from her home. When I called and she answered, she admitted to drugging you." He looked at the bedspread as if it was the most interesting thing in the room. He recapped in a somber tone what happened as he pieced his dream and reality together.

Bradley had not wanted to believe that Jazz would do anything like what Candy had just shared with him. He felt dumb as fuck for being concerned for Jazz's possible safety when he woke in the hospital. Days later now he was wondering why of all people would his ex, do this to him. He felt relief that he had not fallen off the wagon but anger that someone that he trusted and offered to help would plot to get him hurt or worse and according to the last communication between them Jazz even admitted that she no longer believed he was the one that set her aunt's store on fire. Candy asked what wasn't he saying. Bradley had stopped speaking when an auditory illusion crossed his mind of Kevin Kinkaid. He saw Kevin and thought he was there to help him. If that was true why was there even a need for him to be rescued. Joshua along with Candy had told him he was rescued in a fucking abandoned garage in upper Grandville South by feds Chase had sent to find him? Lots of questions ran through his head but not many answers.

The next morning, Joshua wakes up goes to Ivey Fitness and swims laps around the Olympic sized pool. This wasn't his usual routine, before yesterday. He'd have finished his workout then headed back home. Last night pissed him off and left him so angry that he just didn't want to talk about it. He was grateful that Angel didn't push him to talk, because what he told her when she asked was the truth. He'd told her that right then he wasn't ready to talk and instead of misdirecting his anger where it had no business he'd rather just. She'd cut him off and told him that they didn't have to talk and that she just wanted him to relax, his wife initiated sex, and turned his angry energy into something that felt a lot better than the betrayal and anger he felt when he first went upstairs. Getting out of the pool he wasn't surprised to see Bradley walking in. Bradley had a meeting with his lawyer this morning on a higher floor here. Since Bradley wasn't cleared to drive, or work, Joshua had driven him here.

Bradley had spoken to his legal team and it was good he'd kept this appointment. There was a call made during that meeting and he was glad he was here, because he could have ended up at the police station. One of the state cops had tried to say he had broken a part of his bond agreement and was going to send a car to Ivey Mansion to pick his ass up. His lawyer had provided medical records, and the places he'd gone since his release, which were here at Ivey Enterprise for the meeting, and Ivey Mansion. Seeing someone go to bat for him made the walk to the elevator and the long ass walk to his lawyer's office that caused the exhaustion he was experiencing worth it. Joshua was coming out of the pool talking to him. Bradley sat on a bench to wait for Joshua to go get cleaned up from his work out. Moments later Joshua was standing near him waking him up. When Joshua asked him about the long meeting he had Bradley says. "Yeah apparently, the state cops were supposed to pick me up before I got released, and would have been at the house this afternoon to take me in if my lawyer had not of stepped in and told them what happened. The doctor that worked on me upon my arrival I don't even remember any doctor besides Luke, but it wasn't him it was a female doc by the name of Britany Ashley who told some higher ups in the state department that I was a homeless dude out partying, that overdosed while out on bond wasting the tax payer's money. Spencer found out that the female doc was fired the night I went in, and had caused quite a scene. Spencer proved that it was retaliation for her losing her job. Present company excluded of course, but it seems like everyone in this fucking state keeps trying to feed my ass back into the system. When and if this is all cleared up. I'm thinking of just moving away. Logan has some work in some different states. I'm starting to think that coming back wasn't such a hot idea."

As he is driving them home in Andrew's sedan since it was easier for Bradley to get in and out of right now, Joshua says "Bradley, a year ago around the end of February right before Angel came back to Texas I was thinking of leaving, just packing up and gone. A year ago, if you told me that I would be married, with a kid, in Granville South, and getting along with you and Cass, I would have laughed in your face. If I had of left, maybe some of the bad shit wouldn't have caught up to me, but also none of the good shit would have happened either. This place can be a hand full and with added bullshit I can see the value of just splitting." Bradley says that sounds like an endorsement for him to leave. "Oh no you don't, let's not start putting words in my mouth. Bro, I want you to do what is right for you, not for me, or for Candy, or even mom, dad, or Cass, do whatever it takes for you to be able to deal, because in the end, you are the only person that is going to suffer, or reap the rewards of your decision." Bradley accused him of sounding like his counselor. "I've rode my share of couches in the past 17 years. With the right therapist, it helps." They both head in the house, Bradley heads to lay down and Joshua heads up to JC's room for a bit. When he went in Angel was feeding his son. Joshua stood in the door and just watched his wife and child interact.

Angel looked up to find Joshua just watching them. As she burped JC she asks him in a baby tone. "Did Daddy have a good swim this morning?" Joshua walks further into the room and says yeah. They'd spoke about last night, this morning when they woke up. Joshua had left shortly after telling her one of the main reasons he wanted nothing to do with Alex. By the time she had come back to the room after her shower Joshua was on his way out of the house sending her a text saying since he was still irritated he wanted to swim some of it off before having to dress up and be nice to people tonight. Chase's formal dinner was tonight, Angel just hoped it went better than parts of Mark's birthday party. According to Sophie a part of Chase's bloodline had checked into Ivey Suites this morning. Joshua wanted to hold JC, Angel handed him over and father and son sat in the rocking chair and talked at each other. "Have you eaten today?" Joshua shook his head. "No more picking up anymore of my bad habits, I'm going down to fix brunch, did you want anything special?" He says whatever she fixed was fine.

Moments later, Sophie and Angel are talking about the formal dinner. When Sophie changed the subject, and started talking about what happened last night. As if on cue, Joshua came down into the living room saying JC is asleep. Sophie gets a call from the front gate that Jonathon is here. "Is he alone? Then yes he can enter." Joshua looked at her with a question and something else riding in his gaze. "It's Jonathon, he's alone, for right now I have told Frank to stop people and let us know before they get to the house whether they have a pass key code or not. Last night was a cluster fuck and with all the crap going on I for one don't need any more surprises." Joshua nodded and sighs. They all head out into the kitchen to prepare brunch.

Jonathon was proud of himself he stayed at home last night and spoke to Gloria wherein the past he would have gone to LEGNA. After their talk, he'd went down into his home office /war room. When Frank stopped him at the gate just now and had to call up to his child's home, a slither of fear that they would not allow him here anymore slid up his spine. At the door, when he looked up at the camera and pressed his card to the scanner, he watched the light turn green, and let out the breath he hadn't realized he had been holding. Since this upgrade shortly after Jonathon-Chase's birth, Jonathon hardly ever watched the system do its work. Hearing his name as he entered had almost become second nature. Today he was just thankful he wasn't just stuck on the other side. Smelling coffee, he walked into the kitchen where his son, daughter, and her sister busied themselves. He greets them and his Angel offered him a cup of coffee. He accepted. John had woken to the smell of fresh-baked biscuits, but sitting down with Gloria just wasn't an appealing idea early this morning.

Sophie put her famous breakfast casserole in the oven and took the offered cup of coffee from Angel. Taking a sip, she looks at Jonathon over the top of her mug. Joshua took the words right out of her mouth as he asked Jonathon just how involved he was with Alex coming here last night. John says, "Joshua, I had nothing to do with that man coming here." Jonathon tells everyone how a discrepancy in Joshua's file alerted him that there may be another biological father. He continues about the help Alex requested of him a few weeks ago and how he did not trust Alex Knight's story or his way of wanting to go through his son's producer.

That bit about her father telling Gloria, before he even told Josh, pissed Angel off. Angel asks "Dad, if you knew about him why didn't you warn Joshua about this guy when you found out? I really don't like that you told Gloria Joshua's personal business before even telling him. Also, why you would send Gloria to tell Joshua instead of telling him yourself?"

"When I looked up Joshua a year ago when you were to be wed, there were holes in some of his data. I suspected that it had more to do with how adoption was recorded back then. As for how Gloria found out, she was who I had run the background check. We had a suspicion, but I didn't fully know until Alex contacted me. As for how I could send Gloria to tell him. I didn't." Jonathon turns to Joshua and says "Son the more I thought about it. I didn't want to, say anything, I had intended on telling you for the simple reason of not wanting him to ambush you. I waited because of the events that had gone on and I didn't feel it was ever the right time. I had no clue that Gloria told you until last night when we spoke after it was over. She took matters into her own hands based purely on Knight's words to her."

Joshua spoke up. "I kind of got that vibe that you didn't know. When Gloria called me into her office after rehearsal and told me. I mean I really didn't have a lot of time to think about Gloria's words to me with Bradley getting hurt that same night. Gloria kept rambling on about how Alex deserved a chance and even compared him to your situation with Angel and Chase which is bullshit. I told her in very clear English that I wanted nothing to do with Alex Knight." Jonathon was clearly livid about the comparison and well he should be, but Joshua went on. "I don't get what Alex could have said to her to make her so convinced that Alex needed to be anywhere near me or my family." Jonathon says how Gloria had told him she figured he would thank her later and that she genuinely believed Alex's story. "Well let me straighten this out once and for all. What I'm willing to bet Alex didn't tell either of you, is the largest thing that sets you apart from him. One, you knew about Angel and made no secret that you are her father. Of course, I didn't know that Alex is or may be a part of my gene pool. I met Alex Knight 20 years ago when he was the Smyth's drug dealer. A few days before they sent me to the hospital that night he was over and just sat on his ass watching me get my ass handed to me by James. I remember looking up at him before James grabbed me and slung me into the living room because the drink I made Brenda wasn't what she wanted. That day I learned what not to put in a Cosmopolitan, and it reinforced James's hate-filled fairy tale of telling me that no one would ever want me but them. Gloria told me in her office how Alex said he didn't want to make things worse by making his relation to me known." Joshua laughs with no humor "As far as I'm concerned, he might as well of stayed seated on that news, just like he did back then when I did need someone. That's when I told Gloria to tell Alex to stay the fuck away from me. I won't deal with him. What father just sits on his ass, while his own son is beaten by another man? Would you?" Jonathon says fuck no. "I didn't think so. I told Gloria and now I'm telling you. I don't want Alex anywhere near me or my family ever again."

Sophie turns around to take the casserole out of the stove. Hearing Joshua speak about that piece of shit Alex and then for Gloria to bring him here pissed her off. They knew who the Rider Sniper was but didn't know who he was working for. Just as she was about to tell John that was it, that Gloria wasn't welcomed here anymore, Angel started speaking.

Though Joshua had told her this upstairs earlier today, it still pissed Angel off. For Gloria to go against Joshua's wishes and bring that man in their home just made her own anger loosen her tongue. Angel says. "Gloria has said some fucked up shit in the past that I tried to overlook. Like when she tried to shame me for shooting Deon in self-defense, or not wanting you to teach us how to shoot. I know everyone has their own worldview, but her view is very selectively narrow. It is like she puts on blinders and just says or does whatever fit her agenda, what terrifies me, is I'm not sure what that is anymore. Her actions last night not only distressed my husband by dredging up a painful part of his past but made us all very uncomfortable in our own home. In her office, Joshua even told her that he did not want Alex anywhere near him, she didn't listen. Daddy, there is no apology that would cut it, if one her "doing it my way" episodes got one of us hurt. It's like she gets off on causing confusion and drama and then sitting back and watching the walls cave-in on us. Joshua and I can't afford to trust her anymore. You are welcome anywhere I am as always, but Gloria can't come back to my home, not after last night."

Sophie says "Jonathon, I would have to agree with Angel. None of us knows what that man's motive for coming here was. With what you have just shared Josh, my suspect-o-meter is through the roof, even more, than it was last night. Jonathon, there is just way too much shit flying around, with the mob hunting your bands, trying to put you out of business. The state police losing their shit on parts of my immediate and not so immediate family. The mob taking a chance hit at you, then for your mate to pull a stunt like she did last night? Inviting that stranger into our home, even if she didn't know the backstory from Joshua's past which is really none of her business, Joshua told her that he wanted nothing to do with the guy. That should have been the end of it. This shit makes me wonder if Gloria's agenda relates to the mob. She has been very messy here lately, and I'll say it now to you. I don't like hidden agendas especially when it can negatively affect the safety of myself, and my family. It would behoove you to keep her away from our home and all family gatherings, and if she has anything to say I'll tell her to her face what I've told you."

Jonathon would not risk coming this far just to fail his own kin over a mate. "That is understandable and I will relay the message." He turns to his children and says, "From now until my own trust in her rises back to a manageable level I will be solely producing Personal Touch." At his words, his girl visibly relaxed. They all sit down and have brunch. Thankfully Joshua changed the topic to something other than the dumpster fire that was his mate's actions as of late, and asked about their Mania travel plans. Finally, something that was easy to talk about.

Chase was running behind schedule and would be late to his own dinner. He'd been to so many meetings today that he'd almost fell asleep waiting to speak. If it wasn't for Sophie calling him moments before he went up he may have missed his cue. He was pleased that Alice had stopped the negativity towards Amy. Ever since their girls shopping trip, Alice had been a lot less sour towards everyone. Amy was much happier and that in turn made him happy. Alice came down the stairs fanning herself in a dress that was most likely made for a colder climate. Chase says nothing but hello and moved in to his bedroom to get dressed. He was a little apprehensive about his family meeting his girls. He spent so long subconsciously protecting them from Sophia, now that she was no longer a threat he was unsure of how the interaction would affect his girls. Bobby had soothed some of his tension when he spoke of how glad he was that he had finally got to meet his sisters.

Over at his home Bobby and Joy get ready, he walks into their bedroom and stopped when he saw his woman in a very nice form fitting dress. Seeing her in more than her uniform or the casual jeans and t-shirt with Grandville South PD on the back always made his day. She turns and asks him to zip her up. He walks over and stands behind her moving her long dark hair to the side he kisses her nape. He grasps the small zipper and pulls it down with a smirk, she smacked his thigh playfully telling him not to start or they will be late. "Yeah, I better stop if I don't we won't be late we'll be absent." He says as he smacks her ass.

Jonathon walks into his office he'd taken a drive after the brunch with his children. He suspected that Joshua's distain for Alex was just a part of the young lad's nature which in most cases was understandably true. Finding out what lie beneath Joshua's reaction and disgust sickened Jonathon. Chase at the very least wasn't an abusive tyrant. Even with all the lies that Sophia told him she never crossed that line. His wariness of Chase was born of lies but the difference that kept Jonathon going, was even through all of the untruths Sophia spread about Chase, and himself, Chase allowed the lines of communication to remain stealthy open between his girl and himself until she was 18. Jonathan knew that a lot could have happened in the 13 years he was kept away from his child via her mother's demands and threats.

Gloria knocked on Jonathon's office door. He responded with his trademark way of saying come. She stepped into his office and folded her hands in front of her. "Are you ready I thought the dinner was formal." He tells her she was disinvited, and they needed to talk. Ever since their talk in the car when she returned to the states he wore this look on his face as if he were tasting something unpleasant. "Disinvited? I try to do something helpful and I'm cast out why?" there was the look again. "John?" He asks her to come in and have a seat. Closing the door behind her, she sits in the chair in front of his massive desk. In this moment, she felt as if they were a lot further apart than their physical proximity.

"You claim to know me. Both sides in fact. In some instances, you have proven that to be spot on. Here as of late though. Your decisions are more than a bit off. Last night you admitted a lot of actions you have taken to repair a relationship between Joshua and his alleged birth father Alex." Gloria asks where are they on the Joshua & Alex reunification. "Joshua doesn't want a reunion with Alex for reasons that I will not share. Joshua didn't ask for your help. Your "helping" is the problem. I'm afraid you've lost a very important component of any healthy relationship with my children." She asks and what is that component. "Trust, they no longer trust that your latest action was as innocent as you claim. The fact that after being told to drop it you didn't. I've told you before, with their trust comes their love. For a time, I have tried to sooth the ripples that some of your actions and words have created. This latest action, I can't, today when I went to visit them, it terrified me that I may be disallowed to enter my girl's home. Based on them thinking that I had a part in the ambush that you and Alex puppet-mastered last night." Gloria says it wasn't an ambush. Frustration surged through his tone as he yells "The hell it wasn't. Tell me how it would look to you? If I invited someone around you that you told me was not welcomed? To my children and Sophie Ivey you were putting them at risk last night. Gloria, I love you, but I would be a fool if I were to allow you to jeopardize my relationship not only with my children, but with our talent. I have not come all this way to fail. I'll ask one time more. Why are you so adamant about this?" She says it's hard to explain and he wouldn't understand. Jonathon rose and walked around his desk skirting it. He takes both of her hands in his as he meets her gaze he says with intensity in his tone. "Make me understand love, because right now if I am to be honest with you I don't see how we can move forward if you don't at least try."

Gloria was at first speechless, then her words refused to be stopped by her fear of his reaction. Jonathan made her happier than any other male had ever. She knew him and worried about his reaction but if she said nothing he would leave her. She at the very least had to try. Firming her lips, she looks up at him sitting on his desk and asked him to please sit next to her. With the look that she had seen a lot here recently on his face, he sat next to her. "You will probably never see me the same again," He says try him as he stands and walks to his in-office bar. "In secondary school, I had a child." He turns around with shock riding in his hunter green gaze but says nothing. Gloria pushed on because the silence that rode into the room was deafening. "My Da was fearful that my boy would be another stain on the Fenny name. He sent me away to another school out in the country when he found out that his problem child was to have a child. By this time, he'd remarried to the woman you thought was my mum. My step mother sided with him against me. I remember walking in and telling her woman to woman as she would call our sensitive topic talks. I didn't know how bad of a decision I was making by trusting her until hours later. I would find out that she had called my Da very upset. He was furious told me that I was setting a bad example for my siblings. He accused me of being not only the reason his first love was dead, but then I had to go and become his 16-year-old whore. I was made to go to the car that night with my Da and my things. He said nothing until we pulled up to the school." Tears sprung to Gloria's eyes as she remembered having her child alone with only strange doctors about her. "Six months later I had my babe, I saw him then he was taken. I have tried to find him, I named him Niguel, but later found out that his adoptive parents must have changed his name. Because Niguel Fenny disappeared." Jonathan asked in a gruff tone why hadn't she shared this with him before now. "I feared that you wouldn't want me anymore. This secret from my past had already destroyed so much in the way of my other relationships." She makes a sound that was an attempt at a non-humorous laugh, but turned into a small wavering sob. "This secret was what made Victor so angry that night he pushed me out of his moving vehicle, the night I showed up on your doorstep. I know it is unwise to compare but I dared not make the same mistake of speaking about it. Back then you were my boss only, and I feared that you would fire me if you found out. By the time I started crushing on you my name was already Gloria Shannon. I thought of myself as somewhat decent if only I could keep the real Gloria Fenny and her baggage under the line of detection. John, you are the best thing that has happened to me. I didn't want Gloria Fenny's mistake to damage this relationship. As for why I wanted Joshua to know his birth father wasn't James Smyth, I just wanted Joshua to have a second chance. The second chance that I may never get. It's taken Alex just as long to reach out to his son as it has taken me to find my boy. Only he succeeded and I did not. Alex asked me something that struck me as hard as if it were my own story. He asked if his cowardice should cost him his son. I don't believe so."

Jonathon takes a drink then gets to his feet as he paces and tries to put his words together properly he stops and looks at the woman he loves. "Gloria, your story I will admit is surprising but that doesn't equate anger on my part towards you in the way you envisioned. You once said that you thought of my children as your own if you had any. I don't trust easily. I have laid my personal life across the table before you, hiding nothing from you, especially after we became a couple. You lied to my face." She says she's sorry. "I'm sure you are. The only other thing that makes me angry as of now is that you don't see that you and Alex are two very different people. You don't know where your son is. You were forced to put him up for adoption. As I told you before Alex not only knew of his son but also it is not his cowardice that make me distrust him. You have compared me and Alex. That part did and still upsets me but now for a different reason, for a time now you have pointed out everything you saw as a flaw of mine, while hiding something as important as kin. Alex knew from day one and waited nearly 31 years to supposedly come out of the wood work with a sob story requesting from me to reunite him with his son." Gloria asks why does that bother John so much. "Even before we signed Joshua he was a local public entertainer, and business owner from the time Michael let him start managing The Davenport. Joshua created his band Davenport Lighting a year after he and Angel graduated high school. From that point on his name and information was public. Here is an unfair comparison for you to think about. If you could find your young at the age of 18 would you wait until he was 30 almost 31 and not only that but go through someone else instead of confronting him yourself? When he did not get the support, he wanted from me he sank his bet onto you and you helped him behind my back. That is what makes me angry. You brought that man into my son's home even after Joshua expressively told you he wanted nothing to do with him. Joshua is an adult he is not a child, more importantly he is not your child. You can't force Joshua or anyone for that matter to want a relationship with someone. It is fine that you care. You just can't continue to use other people to right your wrongs." John tightens his lips into a firm line and slowly shakes his head no. He'd seen a lot of parallels from his first marriage and refused to lose his family again. After a brief exhale, he continues in a somber tone. "Until I can fully once again trust you as I once did. I will be managing Personal Touch's production alone. Also, Gloria there is a part of all of this that reminds me of mistakes that I overlooked that were the death of my first marriage. I won't stand by and let you manipulate me or use me. I can't do this right now. I think we should slow down." Gloria says this is what she feared that once again her past would wreck her future. "Please stop. I'm not going to leave you right now. I just want to be alone." She says ok and walks out of his office.

Back at Ivey Mansion, Sophie puts the fining touches on her evening attire. Hearing her shower shut off Luke comes out in a towel hung low on his trim waist as he searches for his under wear. "It really should be a sin for you to look that damn good in a towel." When he is fully dressed in his Prada suit. He asks how he looks Sophie walks over and straightens his tie as she breathes in his scent and says, "It's true the devil does wear Prada."

Luke smirks and says, "We could always skip dinner and move straight to me nibbling your apple." She rolls her eyes and calls him a goofball "Hey, you started this." Sophie says no they can't skip it but she would love a raincheck. "Deal."

Over in their room, Joshua looks in the mirror tying his tie as he glances at a video to show him a new knot. He'd wanted to just stay home but this was important to his wife and Chase, therefore it was important for him to be there. Angel walks in with JC dressed up in his newest outfit. He takes his son as Angel finishes getting dressed. She asked him had he texted Nikki to see if she was ready. "Yeah, she's downstairs already."

As Angel puts on her makeup sitting at her vanity, she glances at her husband and her baby interacting. She really hoped everything went as well as it could because right now they didn't need anything or anyone else to shit on them. It had been nearly 25 years since she saw Chase's side of the family. As Angel graduated preschool and Sophia and her grandmother Nana got into a fist fight. Then 4 short years later Nana was taken for ever. Angel wondered a lot of things about her step dad's family some of the things she'd spoke with Sophie about. One of which was why they really wanted to come here now after all this time?

That night inside the private dining area of Amy's Restaurant, Nikki, Sophie, Luke, Angel, JC, and Joshua, are seated and comment on the fact that it was one large table just like the last time they came into this very room. Just like last time, place markers were set and their dad would be seated at the front of the room. Bobby, and Joy walk in, one look at the set up and Bobby rolled his eyes but said nothing. Chase, Amy, Alice along with her husband Victor walks in and sits next to Joy. They all order drinks as they wait for Chase's other guests to arrive. Alice shocks Nicole when she complements her dress and leaves it as a compliment. Sophie nudges Nikki, and Nikki thanks her grandmother. Minutes later, Alice asks Amy could she lower the temperature. Amy asks would that be ok since she didn't want JC getting cold. Alice fans herself and says if Amy didn't cool it down in here they would be able to feast on roasted granny. Sophie suggested that Alice remove her fur shawl. Alice took off her coat with built-in shawl and underneath is a beautiful midnight blue dress. Alice says she read that it was going to be chilly. "Yeah, here around this time of the year that means 50 or 60s" Sophie says with mirth in her tone. Chase excuses himself to go take a call. Sophie was playing with JC and talking quietly with Luke. Everyone else talked among themselves Sophie knew something was up when everyone in the room went still.

Luke looks up and smiles as the door opens and someone comes over to the table. He tells a female in her early to mid- 40s that her ears must have been burning. Sophie turned to see who he was talking to and froze. The lady looked like her dad only with softer features. Those hazel eyes, and that loosely curled brown hair. Her dad had once said that his mother was Black, Native American and French. Sophie remembers one of the stories of how her grandmother met her grandfather. Nana Barnett had studied abroad and fell in love with Chase William Ivey the first, a high-ranking American military solider. The woman looked at her and put her hand to her mouth. Was she crying? Oh hell, she was crying. This was even more awkward than Sophie imagined. Bobby goes to speak but Luke introduces the woman to the group. Bobby remained seated his soon to be brother in law was on top of things.

Adriana Colleen Barnett-Cross Chase's youngest aunt, couldn't believe her eyes. Tears came and she brushed them away quickly it had been so long since she seen her sister. The spell was broken by Lucas when he introduced them. "Oh my god, why dose such a lovely girl have such a …" She says in French Lucas glares at her. Her niece, Nana's twin, must have understood her because she asked such a what in perfect French. Adriana says in English "I am so sorry, it is just that you look nothing like the woman that took my sister. Willie said you looked like Nana, but he neglected to say that you even have her voice, the way she tilts her head when she is annoyed. May I call you Elaine or Miss Ivey please?"

Sophie was not going to have this stranger no matter who she is or bloodline they shared calling her Elaine. She also didn't want to be referred to as Miss Ivey by this woman because she spent years of her childhood using formality when addressing Sophia's mother as Madam. "I would prefer Sophie." Just then the door opened again, and just when Sophie thought that maybe her father was done with his call a younger light skinned female walked into the room.

Adriana's daughter enters the room. she says. "This is your cousin Deborah Naomi Cross she will be attending Texas University here soon." Sophie asked is that why they came, to scout colleges? Deborah says no she was granted a scholarship and wanted to come somewhere warmer than Queens, New York. Sophie says that it is warm here. Alice asks Adriana would she be moving with her girl to Texas. Deborah makes a face and says no. Alice mumbles that is how it starts. Amy rolls her eyes and asks and that's how what starts mother. Alice says she had not realized she spoke out loud and apologizes.

Chase walks in and hugs his youngest aunt and cousin in greeting. "I'm glad you've arrived introductions have been made hopefully? Adriana says yes. Everyone uses Chase as a bridge to speak to one another except for his cousin who wished to be called Deb. For a first meeting, it was well above what Chase expected. By the end of dinner, it was established that Deb would visit when she could. Everyone agreed to do other family events. Alice asked to make a toast in which she apologized to Amy, Nikki, and Chase and his girls for her behavior upon her arrival. Nikki asked did that mean that Alice might visit more frequently. A haunted look briefly stole over Alice's face before she replies, "We will try." She then excuses herself.

After spending time with her sister's only son, grandchildren, and great grandson, Adriana didn't want this dinner to end. She had been so anxious to finally meet Chase Willie's girls and their mates. He had done a wonderful job sending pictures and even video of special moments in his children's lives but nothing could compare to seeing them in person. Adriana wasn't like her siblings, she never wanted to let blind fear, make her choices for her. Yes, she once thought as her older siblings, that Willie's girls were going to reject her or worse that they were like Sophia. Both thankfully, from what she saw today were inaccurate. Sophie refusing to be called anything else was a true testament to that. Nana would have done the same. Seeing a picture or a few minutes snipped of time caught in front of a camera wasn't as good as setting down and talking to her nieces. Holding her great nephew that bared part of her nephew's name gave her a case of baby fever. Her baby girl was almost an adult and would be moving to this state in August. As she and Deborah stands waiting for Ivey Transit to pick them up she says to her daughter. "You were right, your aunts and uncle were wrong and I'm glad you did this with me, because I'm afraid I would have never come alone. Last year when we came to the funeral, your father was so put off by Sophia's relatives that he and I started believing as my siblings did that it reflected how we would be received."

Deborah drives her hands though her hair and says "Mom, you and the family didn't come for the right reasons last year." Her mother opened her mouth. "When dad and the others saw that headline that confirmed you guy's suspicion, it was like Nana died all over again. Though I was too young to remember Nana because I was like 2 when she died. You guys didn't come to stand with cousin Willie, you came to see if aunt Nana's murderer was finally dead, so, it is good that you waited and I'm glad that you agreed to come with me. You were seen by you sisters and brother as the youngest wild child of the Barnett family for not ending all communication with cousin Willie when Nana was pronounced dead because you all hated his wife even before finding out she was the one that killed Nana. Yes, Nana was my aunt, your sister, but Nana was his mother, that Sophia took from him and all of us, not him, or my cousins. Our family is getting larger and parts of it are getting older."

Author's note: Well, it seems that Sally is back on the misplaced anger train. The Rider Sniper has been identified. Gloria who had told Jonathon a few times that she didn't have children has a child and used that story to illustrate her reason for her actions. Will John's trust for her shrink even more or do you think Gloria deserves another chance? Why did Alice hesitate before answering if she would return? I want to thank my readers and beta readers. If you have comments question or concerns, please drop a review or a private message every little bit helps.: End Note