Chapter 39

Fifteen minutes later Jason found Max hiding around the corner from where Lucky and Sam were sitting on a bench. "They have been sitting there for about thirty minutes. I haven't been able to catch most of their conversation but it seems like general small talk."

"Ok…" Jason replied waiting for more information.

"It's strange, almost like they are waiting for someone or something. Maybe there is someone else involved that they are meeting, I just don't know…" He drew in a breath and whispered, "Maybe it's a trap."

Jason nodded his head, "Is anyone else around?"

"Yea, we have a guy in each of the warehouses on lookout, Cruz is around the corner in his car. I think he saw me though."

Jason squatted against the wall thinking this could be a long night. Forty five minutes later he was about to leave and tell Max to call him if there was a change when Sam and Lucky stood from the bench and walked in opposite directions. Jason looked at his watch and saw that the time was 11:45 exactly. They were the only two people visible on the docks. The temperature was definitely close to zero which kept the docks clear of any potential witnesses.

Jason moved back a little so Lucky would not see him or a shadow that could have been created from the nearby light post. Lucky was carrying a duffle bag which Jason assumed had explosives of some sort enclosed.

Walking toward his targeted warehouse, the one Corinthos organization referred to as Warehouse 17, Lucky suddenly got the feeling that he was being watched. He wondered if it was because he knew Sam was on lookout but quickly dismissed that idea. He stopped in the middle of the dock and looked around. On a hunch he called out, "Jason?" He was not sure if he would get a response even if he was there but he figured he would give it a test.

Jason was around the corner when he heard Lucky calling his name. Was Lucky bluffing and just calling him hoping that if he was there he would appear or had he given himself away somehow. Jason chose to remain hidden. He standing there and checking his surroundings again Lucky disappeared into the warehouse after quickly picking the lock on the side door. He was in the building for no more then 2 minutes. The entire time Max was on the phone with a guard inside being notified of Lucky's every movement. Lucky had entered and made his way quickly to an empty wall. He placed his bag on the ground, opened it, flipped a switch and left without closing the bag.

Jason received a text message the instant Lucky entered the building. The sender showed as blocked and it only said that he had to get to the docks right away. The message was a trap and he assumed that it was sent by Sam or Rick. At this point Jason realized that they wanted him dead… part of their plan was to kill him, something he would not allow to happen.

The guard inside warehouse 17 instantly inspected the bag once Lucky exited. There was a 3 minute timer on it and he had no clue how to dismantle it. He notified Max and ran to the door on the opposite side of the warehouse then disappeared.

"Jason, he put another bomb, 3 minutes, well probably more like 2 now." Max said

"Call Sonny, ask him if he got a text message, tell him it is a trap and to ignore it." Jason demanded. He assumed that if they wanted to take him out then they were probably looking to take Sonny out as well. The Perez family would want them both gone. He watched as Lucky walked back to the bench he had sat on with Sam. "Find out where Sam is."

Jason did not want to step out until he knew where she was. He had a feeling she was hiding waiting for a shot on anyone that appeared to investigate the upcoming explosion. Jason watched as Lucky looked at his watch then turned back to the warehouse just as the last second ticked off the timer and the warehouse exploded. It definitely was not as strong of an explosion as the previous one and the damage was limited to the one side of the warehouse.

Jason remembered that with the last explosion the police were instantly on the scene. He wondered if that would be the case here again. He knew that he had to be careful and keep aware for Port Charles' finest.

Unable to wait on confirmation where Sam was any longer Jason appeared and walked toward Lucky, drawing his gun from under his jacket, tucked into the rear of his pants. Max quickly dialed and directed others to block all entrances and exits from that area of the docks. Lucky was not going to get away.

Without turning Lucky spoke, "Jason, I knew you'd show up."

"You haven't exactly been discrete Lucky." Jason growled. "Do you honestly think you could get away with this Lucky… this greed and hate?"

Jason raised his gun and aimed it at Lucky. He flipped the safety off and cocked the gun.

"You think you are going to kill me?" Lucky chuckled then turned to face him in time to see Sam firing her gun from behind Jason. Jason had noticed Lucky's glance around him and moved just in time as she fired the gun. The bullet grazed Jason's arm and he fell to the ground. He quickly flipped around and pointed his gun at Sam but before he knew it another shot was being fired but it was not Sam firing it. Sam fell to the ground and Lucky pulled a gun out firing at someone shooting from the dark behind Jason and Sam. Jason assumed that one of his guys were hiding when they saw Sam and fired, probably Max.

Shots were not returned and Lucky assumed that the shooter in the dark had been hit by one of his bullets. He returned his gaze to the ground but Jason was no longer there, he turned his head to find Jason holding his gun inches from Lucky's temple.

Jason had a hole in his leather jacket from where Sam's bullet had grazed through. He knew that it had gone right through but luckily she missed on her shot.

"Go ahead Jason, shoot me. You can't prove anything! SHOOT ME!" Lucky demanded. "I want you to shoot me, I will feel just as good even though I am dead." Lucky chuckled, "I will still have ruined your life, you will go to jail for killing a cop not to mention regardless of how much she hates me now, Elizabeth will never forgive you."

Lucky continued, "I am still the Lucky that she married and loved, no matter what has happened she is does not want me dead."

Jason finally spoke, "Keep telling yourself that, you piece of shit. I don't care what you have to say, Elizabeth wants you dead and wants me to come home to her." Jason was about to squeeze the trigger when he heard his name been called.

"Morgan!"

Jason turned his head but his gun remained pointed toward Lucky. Jason was aware that Lucky still had a gun in his hand and was not about to lower his.

"Lower your gun Jason, don't do it." Cruz said.

Lucky smiled when he saw that it was Cruz, "Did you see that Cruz, Jason attempted to kill me? You are going down Morgan."

"Lucky, you drop your gun too." Cruz demanded.

Lucky looked at Cruz with a confused look. Cruz too a few steps toward them, gun still in hand. He was standing next to Sam, she had a gunshot wound to her abdomen.

"Me?" Lucky asked. "Morgan came after me, I was sitting on the bench and the warehouse exploded. More thugs drawn to our town by Corinthos and Morgan. They are poison."

Jason stood silent waiting for Cruz's reaction to Lucky's fictional account of what happened. "Thugs like the Perez family?" Cruz asked observing Lucky's reaction. The confused look returned to Lucky's face.

"Who is that, another crime family I am sure." Lucky scoffed. Jason shook his head and lowered his gun slightly. He knew that he was not about to kill Lucky with Cruz standing right there. Lucky noticed his arm lower and took the chance to grab it. He quickly grabbed Jason's arm that was holding the gun and pointed his gun at Jason.

Jason shook his head, "Don't do this Lucky, you won't win."

"Oh, I forgot, you are a professional killer. If you are so good at your job then how come I have a gun to your head?" Lucky smugly said.

Jason stood silent, looking to Cruz who nodded and pointed his gun at Lucky.

Lucky was taken aback when he saw Cruz's gun pointing at him. Jason took the chance and whipped his free arm around, knocking the gun from Lucky's hand. Pain pulsated through Jason's gunshot arm. Lucky lunged at Jason and threw a punch that landed on the side of Jason's face. Jason pulled his arm up that was still holding his gun and Lucky began to attempt to wrestle it away from him. A shot fired in the air and Jason flung his elbow down and hit Lucky in the stomach knocking him back and stumbling to the ground.

Lucky quickly sprung back to his feet having retrieved his gun that was on the ground and pointed it at Jason. They stood an arms length apart with their guns pointing at each others head. "Who is the quicker draw Morgan." Lucky said.

Cruz took another step "Put the guns down."

"Are you the one that shot Sam?" Lucky asked Cruz who did not offer him a reply. "You see Cruz, if I don't kill Jason here, he surely will kill me." Lucky looked back at Jason who was staring at him, his eyes were empty black holes, glaring at him, waiting for a simple flinch so he could shoot.

"No he won't Lucky. I know it all, everything you have been up to. Don't do this, we are friends… I want to help you." Cruz begged.

"What are you talking about, what lies has Jason fed you?"

"DROP YOUR GUNS!" Cruz yelled. Jason was watching Lucky's finger that was resting next to the trigger. As soon as Lucky moved his finger a millimeter Jason was prepared to fire, he was definitely quicker with a gun then Lucky was.

Lucky looked over at Cruz who still had his gun raised toward Lucky. Cruz took another step and was now within feet of where they were standing.

"Jason, back away… leave me and Lucky." Cruz requested.

Jason hesitated, lowered his gun slightly and took a step back, never taking his aim completely from Lucky. He saw Lucky's finger move to the trigger as did Cruz. "LUCKY DON'T!" Cruz yelled as both he and Jason fired their guns before Lucky could.