Graystone Manor

"The cops just took me into questioning about the shootout, Sonny. They don't have anything, yet." Jason said quietly. He was tired. Tired of being on the look-out for someone constantly coming out after him and his family. Tired of justifying what he did each and every day. More than anything, he was tired of killing.

"Spinelli made it look like the surveillance cameras in front of the courthouse broke down that day, but that homeless guy and this artist Franco--they're the same person and he's got this over me... I gotta find him and see what he knows about Claudia's murder."

"Do whatever it takes." Sonny said tersely. His dark eyes were brooding as all his control went to steady the hand he had pointed at his enforcer. "I do not want this to come back to Michael. If I have to, I'll take the fall for Claudia's murder, but I don't want it to come to that."

Jason faced his boss with a sturdy stance. There was no way in hell it would come to that. He just needed to figure this Franco guy out. Find his M.O. and stop him before he had a chance to spill his guts.

"Spinelli is closing in on some spaces around town that may be used as studios. We're thinking this guy is using a run-down building, something that keeps him low-key." Jason said running a hand over his face. "The fact that he dressed up as a homeless man makes me think he likes observing others without being detected. I got to stay one step ahead of him."

"This creep needs to be stopped, Jason. I hope that the speech you made to me last week about quitting the enforcement part of your job won't get in the way of keeping Michael safe."

Jason sighed. "It won't."

******

Crimson Offices

Lulu was looking over Kate's design layout for the spring issue of Crimson. Kate's plan was to beat Vogue in sales for their Spring Fashion layout and the ace in her hand was an infamous artist named Franco.

Lulu had to admit that the concept Kate came up with was original. 'Killer' Fashion. The whole layout was dark for Spring, which magazines usually did in gardens surrounded by nature. Kate's layout however, was sort of a collection of avant-garde before and afters. Models would be shown in typical fashion, bright prints with light makeup surrounded by beautiful flowers. But the 'after' photos would be shot in dark alleys, in open coffins, or on seedy riverbanks. The models, still in their bright print dresses but with pale, almost blue makeup posing in contorted, lifeless positions surrounded by picture-perfect male models in faceless masks.

No blood would be used, because, as Kate put it, "it would cheapen the aesthetic", but the overall feeling was one of..well..death.

Apparently it was supposed to represent a new direction for fashion layouts. Lulu thought it was a bit too dark for her taste.

"Kate is a genius, how can Franco deny this--I mean I get that the guy doesn't do fashion shoots because they are too commercial, but this concept has never been done in fashion!" Maxie said looking over Lulu's shoulder.

"It kind of creeps me out to tell you the truth," Lulu said shivering.

"Oh Lulu, trust me when you see Franco at work on this shoot--which you will because he WILL agree to this if the last thing I do, you'll see how hypnotic and enigmatic he is," Maxie said.

"Hmm, somehow I don't think he'll have the same effect on me as he did on you," Lulu said. "But let's not get ahead of ourselves, he hasn't agreed to do the shoot yet."

"Yet--that is the operative word!"

"Well, after the negotiating you did with the X-Box people to get Spinelli an advanced version of that new CybeRobo game or whatever it's called, I know you can get the Franco people to agree to this." Lulu said.

"I'm not trying to buy Spinelli's love you know...but I figured I know how much he loves his video games and why not use my position to get him an early Christmas present." Maxie said decidedly.

"Wait a second." Lulu said as she looked at her computer screen. "I just got an e-mail from Franco's assistant."

"Open it! Open it! What does she say?" Maxie said jumping from her seat and running over to Lulu.

"She says he has agreed to the shoot. That's weird. Why is she emailing me? You've been the one in contact with his agency all of this time," Lulu said.

"Who cares! I mean one junior assistant is the same as another in their eyes. This is fantastic! I'm going to call Kate right now and tell her the good news-- This for sure will get me a promotion!" Maxie said.

******

Outside of Kelly's

Dante needed to let loose for the night. He realized that his determination to get Sonny convicted wasn't going anywhere, but at the same time, he was at a loss for a next move. He thought he had done everything possible as far as evidence, but it wasn't cutting it.

It was enough to make him lose his mind. So he decided that for this one night, he was going to enjoy himself, take his mind off of the case momentarily and do something he hadn't done in a long, long time. He needed this for his sanity. If he wanted to stay focused for the rest of the time he was undercover, he needed something to remind him that life wasn't always so dark and full of murderers around the corner.

The weather was reaching that point where at any moment the clouds would unburden themselves with the weight of snow. The air was crisp with the excitement of the season. It was his favorite time of the year and God help him if he wasn't going to enjoy it. At least before his life went straight to hell.

He heard her approach him from behind. As he turned, his burdens seemed to melt off of him at the sight of her face.

"Hey, so you wanted to meet me?" Lulu said, smiling at him.

Lulu took him in. He was wearing a gray-blue long sleeve shirt underneath a black leather jacket, exposed slightly to reveal the standard gold necklace he always seemed to wear. She imagined running her fingers lightly over them after passionate lovemaking, but quickly extinguished that thought from her mind. His eyes looked fiery, a look she wasn't used to seeing on his face. It made her pause for a second and blush at his intensity. It was gone before she knew, and back were the same warm, dancing eyes she was used to.

She was trying to avoid meetings like this, but couldn't seem to help herself. She was in no shape or form ready to be in a relationship with a new guy. Especially one who was undercover trying to take down people who had helped her in the past. But, she was attracted to Dominic...er Dante. And she knew he was going through a hard time right now, from the tension that radiated briefly through his body, she could tell that his reaching out to her was deliberate.

He made her feel light-headed even as he made her laugh wholeheartedly. She tried to suppress the the hot, electricity low in her stomach whenever she was around him but it never worked. They way his eyes crinkled when he smiled made her heart thump. Although she told herself that her hormones were running away with her, she had to admit that it was more than a physical attraction; she admired his strong moral compass and his determination throughout the whole 'taking down Sonny situation'.

She was hesitant, though. He was a risk. Not only was his life at danger from the general mobster lifestyle, but he was risking his cover being blown by seeking her out. Yep, he was a risk and the last time she took a risk falling in love, that person ended up stomping on her heart. It wasn't that Dante reminded her of Johnny in any way-- they were completely different. But she couldn't let him get to a spot where she was vulnerable. She was sure of that.

"Yeah, what are you up to tonight?" He said half-smiling.

"Hmm, nothing really I was going to go home and maybe rent some movies with Maxie." Lulu said.

"Well, just so happens, I'm here to rescue your lame girls-night-in evening." He said coyly. Damn she looked sexy when she was flustered. Wonder how she would look as he made her writhe in bed from his...

"Wowwww. Well, just to let you know, I had a long day at work and I've been assigned to work closely with this reclusive photographer on our photo shoot for the Spring Issue, so you know I kind of wanted to relax." She said defensively.

"Okay, you're 22 right? You're young, beautiful, and energetic. You shouldn't be acting like some old lady renting movies with her ten cats surrounding her on a Friday night." Dante said laughing.

"Way to win me over, really..." Lulu said sarcastically.

"Well, this thing that's happening between us, its about to explode because I have something up my sleeve that you are going to love."

"Oh really? What did you have in mind, Mr. 'My Ego is too big to ask a girl out on a date in a regular way'?" Lulu said half enjoying this and half annoyed that he could get under her skin with his come-ons.

"It's a surprise." He said leading her towards the parking lot.