Jason motioned his hand toward the couch. Sonny and Carly nodded and sat down next to each other on the couch. They watched in surprise as Jason disappeared into the kitchen without a word. He reappeared moments later with three cold beers.
Carly wiped a single tear from her face and then reached for the beer Jason held out. He leaned down and kissed her on the cheek. Without a word he handed a beer to Sonny and sat down in the chair across from them.
"You can't quit Jason," Sonny said softly. "We need you."
"We love you," Carly chimed in with a quivering smile.
"I love you both too. It isn't about loving you. It is about all of us working together for a common goal. When one of you quit doing your part it makes doing my job impossible. In this instance you both quit at the same time and both of you expected me to pick up the slack."
Jason took a long pull from his beer and set it on the table in front of him. He turned the full intensity of his gaze directly on Sonny.
"You told me once that I needed to be careful who I dated. Do you remember?" Jason paused and watched his friend give an affirmative nod. "You told me that a real man is not only responsible for any children that he created but that he was equally responsible to the child's mother for the rest of his life."
Sonny nodded his head again while trying to form his words. Jason could tell that Sonny had gotten the point he was trying to make.
"You're right, of course. I did tell you I was too busy to deal with Carly or this situation and when it involves any of my children or their mothers I can never be too busy." Sonny paused for a moment before adding, "I love my kids."
"I know," Jason confirmed. "I have never doubted that. That's why I was willing to let you adopt Michael. When I see you with him I know I made the right choice."
The moment Jason's intense gaze fell on Carly she began nodding. Once again a single tear slid down her face. Jason watched as Sonny leaned over and wiped it from her cheek before grabbing on to her hand for moral support.
"You slipped your guards, again. It has to stop immediately. The guards do not restrict your movements. They are there for the single purpose of keeping you and your kids' safe," Jason paused and continued his full stare into Carly's eyes. If it were possible, the intensity of Jason's stare would have written his words directly into her brain. "I love you and your kids dearly. I have risked everything for each of you and not because it is my job. It is my purpose and I am willing to die for any of you. When you put their lives at risk like that it feels like you are saying 'Jason will fix it or die trying so what do I care' and I ca…"
"Jason, I have never said or felt anything like that. I know the risks you take and I couldn't stand it if anything ever happened to you. It would be even worse if it was my fault. I promise I will be more careful."
Carly got up from the couch and walked around the coffee table toward Jason. He got up from his chair about the time she reached him. She laid her head on his chest and he wrapped his arms tightly around her. A minute later Sonny got up from the couch and put an arm around his best friend and one around his ex-wife and smiled broadly. He knew Jason was staying and it gave him peace.
"Okay," Jason said with a genuine smile.
"Do you forgive me?" Carly asked quietly with her head still buried in Jason's chest. She hated asking for forgivingness and very rarely did. Jason was about the only one she would ask. "Will you stay?"
"Yes to both your questions." Jason answered.
Just as Sonny and Carly were about to leave the penthouse there was a knock on the door. Jason knew that Sonny had his bodyguards with him so he didn't move.
"Yeah?" he asked loudly.
"Johnny and Sam are here," Max announced with the door open just a crack. Jason nodded so he opened the door all the way and allowed duo to enter the penthouse.
"The enforcer position is no longer open," Sonny told Johnny firmly. He did not like or trust Johnny Zacchara and enjoyed bringing him down a peg or two every so often. He wanted him gone and had given Jason the order to take him out. Jason had refused the order saying that he owed Johnny for saving Spinelli's life. He took full responsibility for the "mob prince" as Spinelli referred to him.
Johnny shrugged. Truth was he was glad that Jason was staying. He and Jason respected each other and worked well together. Plus, Jason kept Sonny off his back most of the time. Johnny wasn't afraid to mix it up with Sonny but he recognized the fact that he would be dead regardless of whether he won or lost. If he lost the fight, Sonny would kill him without a second thought. He also knew if he won the fight and killed Sonny, Jason would kill him. He didn't honestly know if it would bother Jason to kill him; however, he held no illusions to the fact that Jason would not hesitate to avenge his friend's death. The business they were in would demand that he avenge Sonny. Even if it didn't, he knew that Jason would feel the need out of a sense of loyalty. Jason tended to be annoyingly quiet and abrupt but he was loyal and always did what he said he would. He wasn't sure that he could say that he liked Jason but he didn't dislike it either. Regardless, it was easy for Johnny to respect him.
"You guys can unpack everything and put it back where it belongs," Jason announced with an apologetic smile. Johnny shrugged and picked up a box and headed toward the kitchen without a word. Sam, however, was not about to be that compliant. She gave Jason a dirty look before grabbing a box and stomping her way up the stairs.
It was clear from the expression on his face that Sam's actions had perturbed Sonny. Jason was amused. He did not mind her showing her irritation in her look or even stomping off like a spoiled child. In the end, she did what she was told and was good at her job. That was what Jason cared about.
"You are going to have problems with her attitude someday." Sonny stated quietly as he helped Carly into her coat.
Jason nodded briefly. "Probably but I don't think it will be anytime soon. I think our recent encounter in still fresh in her mind."
"Yours too," Sonny commented as he stepped away from Carly and leaned in close to Jason. "You did what you had to do and you did it without harming her. It was a win-win situation. Stop feeling guilty about it."
"I terrorized someone weaker than me, which is bad enough Sonny. The fact that it was a woman makes me a bully of the worst sort."
"No it doesn't," his friend replied immediately. "This is a mean business Jason. She knew the risks when she signed on. You and I took great pains to make sure she knew what she was getting into. She assured us that she knew what she was doing. She also made it clear that she did not want, nor would she accept, any special treatment because she was a woman. I liked the way you handled questioning her about her contact with the police. It was very creative."
Jason nodded. He felt better about things. He did not like that weird feeling in the pit of his stomach when things were tense between him and Sonny or Carly.
He could almost feel his diaphragm relax and allow him to breathe easier. It always felt that way when things were well in his world again. This feeling he liked and really wished that it could stay that way all the time. It wouldn't of course. Life tended to be messy.
Author's Note: There is still much more to come in this story. Thanks to all of you who are following it. Your reviews are greatly appreciated. I do enjoy reading every one of them. Please keep them coming!