Chapter Twenty-One

He had a feeling he had done this many times before.

Standing outside of Alcazar's home, dressed completely in black, Jason peered through the living room window as he hid in the shadows.

Manny was there, smiling, laughing about some cruel joke he just said while Alcazar poured two drinks. When Alcazar turned, Jason inched back, staying out of sight.

"I went to see Lucky again," he heard Manny boast, causing Jason to frown. "He finally agreed to change his statement."

"I'm sure that went over well," Alcazar commented as he took a sip of his drink.

"We came to an understanding. I threatened to expose his lies to his precious girlfriend and he started to weaken. When I threatened the beauty, he gave in."

Jason heard Manny suck his teeth, then watched as his smile grew. "It's just too bad he didn't listen the last time. It could have saved the girl a lot of pain."

Jason felt his gut clench as bile rose to the back of his throat. His fingers itched to reach for the gun that was secured at his back and the sickening feeling only grew. He hadn't wanted to take a gun at first but Sonny had insisted. He wouldn't let Jason leave until he picked up the gun. When the cool metal touched his skin, when the weight of the gun fell upon his hand, a strange feeling went through him.

It was like the gun was made for his hand.

The urge to grab it and end Manny's life only grew, scaring him. He allowed himself to acknowledge that it was because the other man was threatening Elizabeth, but he still didn't like the feeling.

"Once Tito is out," Manny spoke, interrupting Jason's thoughts. "I'll help you eliminate Sonny Corinthos."

Jason watched as Manny walked out of Alcazars living room.

It was time to end this.

Reaching for his phone, Jason made his way around the back of Alcazar's house. Seeing a guard, he ducked down behind a bush until the man passed by. Placing his hand against the house, Jason eased his way around the final corner, seeing Manny walk towards his car.

Not needing to glance down at his phone, Jason pressed the number two speed dial. Sonny answered after the first ring.

"I've got the information we needed," Jason whispered; crouching low as Manny got into his car. "I'm following him."

"Let me know where he ends up. I'll send someone."

Hanging up, Jason gave Manny a couple of minutes to get in his car and pull away before he hopped on his bike, following him.

There was something about a nice brownie that always made Elizabeth happy.

Taking the time to savor one, or two, sometimes three, allowed her to gather her thoughts, taking bite after bite when they became too disturbing to her.

Working on her second brownie at the counter of Kelly's, Elizabeth began to mull over her situation. She was engaged to one man, a man she had loved since she was a teenager, a man she was loosing touch with, and she was falling for another man.

A man who made her feel things she hadn't felt in a long time.

Dropping her chin on her fist, Elizabeth took another bite of her brownie. She couldn't go on living the way she was anymore. If she and Lucky were having such a hard time now, what was to say they wouldn't have a miserable marriage together?

She truly did not want to believe that, but she couldn't let the thought go, cast it off as something that would never happen. Things were changing and she couldn't ignore them anymore.

It wouldn't be fair to Lucky, her, Cameron, or even Jason if she continued to go on with life with Lucky like everything was ok.

Sighing, Elizabeth finished her brownie, debating if she wanted to get another one when a familiar voice goaded her from behind. "We need to talk."

Letting out a long breath through her nose, Elizabeth turned on her stool, shaking her head, "I'm not in the mood right now."

Before she could turn around, Sam crossed her arms over her chest, lifting her eyebrows. "I don't care because you're going to listen to what I have to say."

Turning back around, Elizabeth ignored her diva attitude. "Go away, Sam."

"What happened yesterday with you showing up at Jason's place can't happen again. Stay away from him," the other woman snapped.

Spinning around, Elizabeth tilted her head to the side, "Yeah, right."

"Jason is my—"

"Jason left you," Elizabeth cut in, annoyed. "Maybe if you didn't try so damn hard, he'd give you a chance, but you won't leave him alone. You have to accept that Jason is going through something right now that may never change. He is trying so hard to get his life back together; he doesn't need you hounding him every five seconds."

"What," Sam laughed bitterly, "You think he needs you."

"Jason needs a friend and he trusts me. I won't turn my back on him because you're having a hissy fit."

"Get over yourself Elizabeth, Jason doesn't need you, he needs me. I'm the one having his baby, not you. Why don't you stop trying to get back with Jason and go be with Lucky, even though you don't deserve him, either."

Narrowing her eyes, Elizabeth opened her mouth, a very good retort on the tip of her tongue, when another memory hit her, causing her to lose focus on the situation before her.

She was at her apartment with Lucky, there was blood running down his nose as he rubbed at the back of his head.

Gasping as the entire conversation came back to her, Elizabeth stood up, almost knocking her chair over. It was like she had never forgotten what happened. She remembered coming home, finding Lucky passed out on the floor and then waking him up where he told her about sleeping with Sam.

Tears gathered in her eyes as she recalled the conversation. He had been apologetic but he also tried to make it seem like her fault, like he really wasn't to blame for sleeping with Sam.

Anger, raw anger built up within her, consuming her. Her hand itched to slap the smug look off of Sam's face, but she restrained herself.

Lucky had slept with Sam and she had forgotten about it.

All along, ever since she woke up from her accident, Lucky had been acting like nothing was wrong, like he hadn't cheated on her

That fight was the reason she walked out on him that night, taking his car and getting into the accident which caused her to lose her baby.

And he said nothing.

Grabbing her purse, Elizabeth laid money on the counter, not even thinking about it before pushing her way past an unmoving Sam. Her shoulder bumped into Sam's as she moved past her. Elizabeth tucked her hair behind her ear, giving Sam a disgusted look. "Stay the hell away from me."

Sam raised her eyebrows, a smug smile tilting her lips, "As long as you stay away from Jason."

"Like hell I will," she responded, walking out of Kelly's and letting the door slam behind her.

The air was muggy, causing a slight fog in to cloud his vision. His breathing was shallow, faint as he glanced around.

He knew he should feel nervous but he didn't. He felt anxious…ready.

He had pulled the gun from his waistband minutes before and the sick feeling he expected to arise never came. It was like the gun was an extension of his arm, not a sworn off device like it had been before.

His finger slid easily into place as he held it before his face, studying it. He didn't want to have to use it but there was something within him that said he had no other choice.

Moving along the docks, Jason stayed to the shadows, hiding behind crates and extended walls as he followed Manny. His movements were steady, calm, like his body knew exactly where to go.

He made no sound, not even breathing loud enough for anyone to hear him.

Slowly moving his head forward, Jason peered around the pile of crates he was crouching behind. His gun was posed, ready to fire if needed. All he had to do was wait there until Sonny's men showed up and then he could leave.

As much as he hated Manny and wanted him to pay for what he did to Elizabeth, Jason wasn't sure he could do it himself. He didn't think he could kill a man.

Jason was so intent on watching Manny that when he heard the steps behind him, it was too late. He felt the cool metal of a gun dig into the back of his neck, the pressure almost bruising.

"Get up," he heard a man sneer. Standing slowly, Jason lifted his hands palms up, his gun still cradled in one hand. "Put it down."

Jason didn't think, he reacted instead. Sweeping his arm back, he smashed his elbow against the other mans cheek before his fist came up, punching the man in the nose.

Jason swung around, striking out with his other fist, slamming it into the mans stomach. When he fell forward, Jason grabbed him by the hair and slammed his face into the crates, knocking him unconscious.

His breathing was labored, his chest heaving as he stared at the man, nostrils flaring. He stood there for a moment, not thinking, just staring at him. When he really took a look at what he did, it shocked him.

He had reacted with such precise moves that it worried him. He didn't think, didn't second guess himself. He had struck out at the man and saved his own life.

Jason wiped his mouth, still staring down at the unconscious man with wide, disbelieving eyes.

"Bravo," he heard Manny clapping behind him. An instinct gnawing at him made him turn around quickly, not wanting to keep his back to him. Squeezing his hand around the gun, Jason clenched his jaw and glared. "You move quickly."

Jason remained cold, silent. His jaw hurt from the strain he was causing it, but he didn't ease up. It calmed him, kept him steady.

"I thought you were out of the business," Manny questioned, tilting his head to the side as he cracked his knuckles. "Doesn't matter now. I've got a group of men that'll be here at any moment and will kill you the second they see you."

Jason didn't flinch. Normally, a situation like this should have scared him, but he felt calm, not feeling the danger.

Manny laughed. "I was told about your silent treatment and I have to say it amuses me. Let's see if I can get a rile out of you." He tapped his finger against his chin and Jason could feel his hand lifting, gun in hand. "If I recall correctly, you have a little thing for Spencer's girl."

Jason felt his jaw twitch.

"I see I'm getting somewhere," he laughed. "When you die, I'll make certain I give her your regards… personally."

"Stay the hell away from Elizabeth."

The smile across Manny's lips widened. He took a step forward, then another. "I love that name…Elizabeth. Rolls off the tongue real nice, don't you think?"

The next thing Jason new, his arm was lifted, his finger cocking the gun. His eyes were slits as he glared at Manny.

They both turned their heads when they heard several sets of footsteps.

"Looks like it's over for you, Morgan," Manny taunted. "It's a shame it had to end this way for you, but, like I said, I'll make sure to comfort Elizabeth real well."

A gun shot went off.

Jason didn't know where it came from at first. Then he saw Manny's body hit the ground, eyes wide, his hands grasping his chest.

It was then that Jason realized he was the one to pull the trigger.

The gun slipped from his fingers, the thud of it hitting the ground didn't register. He stared at Manny's lifeless body, confused.

He did it. He killed him.

Feeling a hand on his shoulder, Jason turned his head slightly and saw Max standing beside him.

"You ok?"

Nodding then shaking his head, Jason cleared his throat but wasn't able to relieve the burning he felt inside. "I don't know. I… I have to get out of here."

"Ok," Max nodded, looking concerned. "Do you want anyone to go with you?"

"No." Turning away, Jason traveled up the steps he had just came down only minutes before. He stopped, scrubbing his hands down his face with harsh movements. "Max?"

"Yeah?"

"Manny said there were other's coming—"

Max shook his head, "We took care of them."

Jason nodded once, turning around and walked away.

In a matter of minutes, his life turned upside down.

He had killed a man.

It had taken her some time to get home. When she left Kelly's earlier, her first thought was to get home and hit him, yell at him, end things with him.

But she wanted to think, to process everything that was running through her head so she wouldn't act out irrationally.

Her first stop was her Grams where she checked on Cameron, who was spending the night. After her conversation with Jason the day before, and remembering what had occurred between the two, Elizabeth brought her son to her Grams earlier in the day, asking if she could take care of him for a couple of days. She needed some time to think and her Grams had understood.

Now, as she entered her apartment, Elizabeth wished she had stayed with Cameron.

Lucky was there, sitting on the couch with a beer in one hand and a bowl of chips in the other. He looked up when she entered, smiling at her before turning his attention back to the TV. "Hey."

Licking her lips, Elizabeth squinted at him, loathing the sight of him. How dare he? she asked herself.

How dare he act like nothing was wrong?

"Did you have a good day?" she asked, proud of herself when her voice sounded even and calm.

"Yeah, you?"

"Oh, I had a great day," she said as she closed the door gently, stepping into the room. "I had an interesting run in with Sam, though." Her eyebrows lifted as she noticed the sudden stiffening in his shoulders.

"I don't know what it is," she commented lightly, "but she just gets under my skin. It's like my subconscious is telling me I don't like her but I can't figure out why."

"You don't really know her," Lucky cleared his throat. "Maybe she just rubs you the wrong way."

"Maybe."

Walking to stand in front of the TV, Elizabeth turned it off, facing Lucky with her hands on her hips. "Or maybe she slept with my fiancé."

Lucky stood up so fast the bowl of chips fell out of his hand, spilling across the floor. "Did she tell you that?"

"She didn't have to," Elizabeth seethed. "I remembered!"

"Elizabeth, calm down."

"Don't you dare tell me to calm down. Stop," she commanded, holding her hand up when he stood and started towards her. "Do not come near me."

"Please, just listen to me," he begged desperately.

"What is there to listen to? Are you going to apologize?" She didn't let him respond. "Well, save it. I don't want your apologizes. I don't want to hear how it was a mistake. I want nothing from you."

"I told you—"

"How many times?"

"What?"

"How many times have you slept with her?"

He looked away, unable to meet her gaze. Elizabeth shook her head as her chin wobbled. She wanted to scream, to take her fists and pound them against his chest but she didn't. Instead, she stood tall and kept her tears at bay.

"So it wasn't just that one time."

His eyes finally connected with hers, full of tears. "You don't understand."

"There's nothing to understand! You've been sleeping with Sam and lying to me." Grabbing her purse, Elizabeth stormed to the door, pulling away from Lucky when he tried to grab her arm.

"Don't touch me."

"You can't leave, Elizabeth. We have to talk about this."

"We've already talked about this the night I got into my accident." She stared at him for a moment when a thought crossed her mind. She tilted her head to the side, pulling the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder. "Are you the father of her baby?"

"No."

"How do you know?"

"She told me."

"Oh, please," she scoffed. "You're just going to believe her and not get proof?"

"She told me that she and Jason slept together before he decided to leave her. The doctor told her the conception date which was before we slept together."

Hearing those words come out of Lucky's mouth—that he and Sam slept together—should have hurt her worse than they did, but they didn't. It might have been because she was numb inside, or because she was already hurt, or maybe because she just didn't care anymore. Whatever it was, it helped her get through the next moments.

"I wouldn't be so sure of that, Lucky. Don't forget, Sam was a con artist."

Saying that, Elizabeth reached out and turned the knob, yanking the door open harder than she needed to. She slapped his hand away when he tried to reach out to her again.

"One more thing," she whispered over her shoulder. "We're over."