Claudia was still high on adrenaline when she arrived home. She needed an outlet. A place to channel her unused energy. She saw to it that her brother was left in safe hands and then left to find a little adventure. "Let's see what this town has to offer." She thought to herself.
After driving around for awhile she found that Port Charles had very little to offer in the means of entertainment. She was use to elaborate nightclubs, and backstreet bars that stayed open till the sun came up. All Port Charles had to offer was a place called Kelly's where the teenagers hung out and the Metro Court where the adult population of the city congregated. Neither place was somewhere she wanted to be seen. One of the guards mentioned a bar on the outskirts of town called Jake's. Claudia decided to focus her energy there. With any luck it would be a biker bar and she could at least get a chance to knock some heads together and release some of this building energy.
Claudia was a creature of habit. She kept to the shadows when she arrived at Jake's. She surveyed the outside looking for any potential threats. She did the same thing when she entered the building.
There was a couple sitting at a table.
Two men playing a game of pool.
Her eyes went to the bar. The bartender seemed to fit the biker bar atmosphere of the place. There was couple of ladies who sat together at one end of the bar and there was man sitting alone on the corner stool at the other. Her eyes rested on him as a feeling of familiarity came over, but she could place why. Her interest was peeked and she made her way across the room to the bar. She felt eyes from around the room following her.
Coleman greeted her. "What can I get you?" He asked.
"Shot of Hennessey" Claudia answered. "and keep them coming."
"That's a mighty tall order for a little thing like you." Coleman said as he poured the request. He was leaning forward toward her. His elbow resting on the counter.
Claudia picked up the glass, and swallowed the drink in one gulp. She slammed the glass back down. "I didn't ask your opinion." She said and pushed the glass towards him. "Just keep it coming."
Coleman knew how to take a hint. He poured her another shot, left the bottle and then walked to the other end of the bar where the two ladies were sitting.
Claudia threw back the glass and then poured herself another.
"You might want to try sipping it." The man in the corner said to her.
Claudia turned and saw Jason Morgan sitting in the corner eyeing her.
Her instincts kicked in and her hand immediately fell to her belt where her knives were.
Jason was on her in seconds. His hand pressing hard against hers that lay inches away from her belt. He shook his head from side to side. "I'm not looking for any trouble." Claudia examined the look in Morgan's eyes and decided the man was telling the truth. She relaxed her hand and then used the other to shove Morgan away from her. Jason gave her a half smile and went back to his stool.
Jason eyed Claudia as he returned to his stool. Her quick reaction to his presence impressed him. She definitely was not intimidated. She was very confident in her abilities. He watched her. Her movements were fluid grace. Dressed in all black she reminded him of a Black Panther; Gorgeous, but deadly.
Claudia was silent for a moment. She was trying to compose herself. Morgan's touch had sent a strange sensation pulsing through her. It was one she wasn't use to feeling. It took her completely by surprise. She managed to suppress the strange feeling and returned to her nonchalant demeanor. "We haven't been formally introduced. Claudia Zacchara." She said will stretching her hand out to Jason.
"Jason Morgan." Jason said and took her out stretched hand into his.
"The infamous Jason Morgan." Claudia said. "Are the stories true? Can you actually leap a building in a single bound?" Claudia teased.
A trace of a smile made it through Jason's hard features. She had a sense of humor. He thought to himself. "Actually," He said. "It takes two."
Claudia laughed out loud. "I knew they were exaggerating." She said. Claudia slid her drink down and sat on the stool next to Jason.
"Why are you here?" Jason bluntly asked her then asked another question before she could answer. "Why is it no one has ever mentioned Anthony Zacchara having a daughter?"
I don't know. Guess I'm not the apple of daddy's eye like most little girls." She said and then swallowed another shot. Immediately refilling the glass. "I already explained why I'm here. I'm here to protect my brother and from what I hear the peopl I need to protect him from are you and your boss."
"Your brother needs to learn how to stay in his own backyard." Jason answered.
"Why?" Claudia asked. "Because Sonny never learned how to play well with others?"
"All I'm saying is the best way to protect your brother is to get him to back off." Jason calmly said and then took a swig of his own drink.
"I could say the same about your boss." Claudia drawled. "I read people pretty well. I noticed during the meeting all the other enforcers stood behind their bosses, but you stood beside Sonny. That tells me you're more than just the muscle."
Jason shrugged. Not confirming or denying the charge.
Claudia continued. "So we have that in common. I think it would be in everyone's best interest if you used your influence with Sonny to get him to talk to Johnny. Work out some sort of agreement so Johnny can ship his goods. It would be the best for everyone."
Jason gave her an incredulous look. "You mean best for Johnny."
"No, I mean best for everyone. No one wants a war. Think about it." She said and lifted the liquor bottle from the counter along with her shot glass. She stood. "Just keep in mind. I'm very good at my job, and this time it's more than just a job it's personal. If anything happens to my brother. I wage a war in this town that will make Iraq seem like a tropical paradise." Claudia walked over to an empty table in the corner and sat in the chair that was up against the wall, facing the bar's entrance. It was a habit. She never sat with her back to the door. She was always ready for trouble.
A man walked from across the room to Claudia's table. He stood with his hand on the back of the chair. "This seat taken?" He asked. Claudia did not respond. The man sat down in the chair. "I've never seen you here before. Are you new in town?"
"Something like that?" Claudia answered. She was obviously not interested, but the man wasn't catching the hint. He continued his conversation. "I saw you over there talking to Jason Morgan." He moved in closer and spoke in a hushed tone. "Word of advice. You might want to stay away from him."
Claudia became curious and leaned in close to the man. "Really. Why?" She asked.
"Let's just say" the man looked at Jason to see if he was watching. "People disappear around him."
Claudia smiled, "People disappear around me too. Only difference is they never see me coming." Claudia pulled back her jacket and exposed her weapon. The man jumped back away from her and stumbled out of the chair and back across the room to where his friend was waiting. Claudia laughed to herself and Jason also laughed. He had watched the whole scene unfold from his stool. He made his way over and sat down in the chair. "Tell me about Claudia Zacchara?"