Yes, it's me. I'm alive contrary to popular belief. I haven't forgotten about this story.As I already told you it's nearing it's end and it's becomingharder than I thought it would be. But here's another chapter as a present to all ofyou who enjoy this story and have supportedme through it all. I love you guys and it means a lot to me that you like my work. Happy Holidays to all and enjoythe Holidays!


Chapter 21: Take Action

"I'm going with you."

That was how he got himself into this mess. It should have been a simple plan of action. Hell, he had been planing it for months... Get into the hotel room and kidnap the little fuck, take him to the abandoned house up the mountains and blow his brains out, finally taking what was left of him and feeding the sharks. Easy four step plan, he thought. But he was wrong.

"This is about me, Jason. I'm going and that's my final decision."

That was how she got herself into this mess. But maybe she was wrong, maybe it hadn't been her fault at all. She had been put in to this mess by a group of people that dared to call themselves her family. What had she done to deserve all of the things that happened to her in her short lifetime, she didn't know. But she was on her way towards redemption...

Not a tear was shed, not a shaky hand was raced or a but ushered. She had accepted the conditions and the new plan. And now they were almost there. Soon Tony Morales and Steven Webber were going to pay their debt. Jason Morgan was going to make sure of that.

>>

It was a quiet night, unusual this time of year. It was summer. Very nice weather had been announced for the week. Half of the Parador's guests were sleeping and the other half were enjoying a night out in the town. A girl was standing over the counter reading the new edition of Vanidades. Ana was a little over weight, medium height and her dark hair had blond highlights. At the sound of footsteps, she turned her head toward the doors and found the new arrivals.

A tall mocha skined woman and a gringo were looking down at her. Ana stood nervously and ran her hands over her hair trying to comb it down. The woman smiled at her reassuringly.

"Buenas Noches." (Good evening.) Ana looked at the woman again. The woman was beautiful, the girl thought, also had a body to die for just like the models in the magazine she had been reading.

Ana looked at the woman again, too bad she was a prostitute.

"W-we w-would like a-a room." The man said, obviously drunk..

"Sorry, we don't rent rooms for the hour. You'll have to go down town for those kinds of hotels."

"A que te refieres con eso?" (What do you mean by that?) The woman spoke in perfect Spanish.

"I..."

Eva was dressed in leather. Hardly covered by a short halter dress, her hair was down in curls and her mouth was painted bright red. She was wearing thigh high boots in animal print.

"Sorry but it's just that the way you are dressed..." The girl was blushing.

Eva and Francis started to laugh. The girl joined them nervously.

"We were at a costume party, silly." Eva said in between giggles. "We live in San Juan and it's a little late. My husband is a little drunk and is not safe to drive three hours to get home in his condition. Some friends recommended the place and we decided to pull over and stay for a few days. You know enjoy the city, since we are already here."

"I'm so sorry. I... I don't know what to say."

"It's okay. You should have seen a younger couple that was there. Newly weds, dressed like bikers and all over each other."

Ana filled the reservations on her computer and after a few signatures. They were assigned room number 23.

Half an hour later, the heavy footsteps of boots echoed in the reception. Ana looked up from the magazine and found a couple leaning over a column in the middle of the room the man was over the woman, obviously making out.

She couldn't see the woman at all. From the floor five inch catwoman boots came up to the knees were it ended and left naked the rest of the leg up, where currently the man was running his hands smoothly. The man was wearing black pants and a leather jacket.

Ana started to blush, feeling a little hot all of the sudden. Minutes later the couple was still over each other. The girl had to clear her throat a few times.

Elizabeth was holding her breath and biting her bottom lip hard. It was the only thing she could do not to react to what Jason's touch was doing to her. She was pinned against the cold stone of the column in the middle of the Parador. Jason was leaning against her, his leg nestled between hers one of his hands holding her face, the other running up and down her thigh and his breath only inches from her mouth. He was moaning, pretending to kiss her.

She forgot everything. The reason they were there, the pain she felt in her heart, the deception... The only thing she could think about was Jason and how much she wanted him to move just a little closer and finally kiss her.

He was counting sheep, doing an equation, thinking about the time he had to sleep in a dumpster and stunk like onions, fish and baby poop for days and still he could feel his blood rushing south. They had a plan, but he miscalculated the thumb factor and it's consequences. He felt something for Elizabeth and he couldn't deny it anymore than he could hide his growing arousal.

He stepped away fast. Taking a few steps far from her. She looked at him and turned around, her hands on her face. Her short leather hot pants and halter top did nothing to conceal her body to him. Damn it if she was a kid! She was all woman from where he was standing.

She ran her hand over her face and down her neck, her hands came to rest on her chest over her heart. God... she wanted him. She was feeling things she couldn't describe any other way. She wanted him bad.

"Ex... excuse me." Ana asked from behind the counter. Jason turned to find her. She blushed even more. The guy was a heartrob. "How can I help you?"

"We need a room."

"I can see that." She murmured.

"What did you say?"

"Nothing. Just that... for how long are you staying?" She looked at the woman still giving her her back. She was wearing a short red wig and a very tight, very small leather set.

"You should have seen a younger couple that was there. Newly weds, dressed like bikers and all over each other."

"Forgive us, about earlier. We are newly weds..."

Ana filled the reservation again and gave them the key to room 10. Jason frowned.

"Would you mind giving us room 24 if is not currently occupied? It's our lucky number. We are 24 years old and married the 24th and ... you catch my drift..."

"I... let me see if it's available. You are lucky. It is. Here you go."

"Thank you very much."

"Enjoy your stay."

"Oh we will. You have no idea how much."

Ana blushed just imagining it.

>>

Room 24 felt the heat race to a 100 degrees, the minute Jason and Elizabeth stepped in.

The room was small and cozy it had a small balcony that overlooked the bay. There was a mini fridge, a couple of end tables and a tv set, but Elizabeth only saw the bed. The very visible, single bed. Her face turned even more red if possible. The bellboy left their duffle bags inside and explained the facilities, but she didn't hear a thing. Jason payed the boy his tip and rushed him out. Soon they were left alone.

Opening the small bag, he began to prepare his arms. He took a out his Glock, the 9mm and his ammunition. Elizabeth looked at him, barely blinking. The heat had evaporated from her body and the stone cold reality of the situation took her crashing down to Earth. Silently she took her wig from her head and stood there frozen, watching Jason's mechanical movements.

After checking twice over the schedule, he glanced at his watch and then to where Elizabeth stood. He didn't really see her, just continued his preparations. He took his cell phone and dialed a number.

"Where is he?" He waited a minute as the person in the other side answered and spoke back. "And you? OK we'll go down and take our positions. Don't take your eyes of him."

He put his cell on his pocket and put his gloves on. Not looking at her he spoke.

"You'll go to the Negrita with Eva. You guys will be covered by Francis and Tito inside. Tito is shadowing Steven and he's there right now. You know what you have to do right?"

Elizabeth was quiet. She couldn't recognize the man that was talking to her and for a minute it scared her. She never thought that Jason would ever give her chills of fright, instead of excitement. The minute they were left alone inside that room he became a robot. Cold and distant.

Jason waited for her to answer and when she didn't he turned around to face her. She had her red wig clutched to her chest. Her eyes staring at him and her face was pale. She wasn't crying yet. But almost... she was good at hiding her feelings, but he could see through her. She was scared.

"Elizabeth are you alright?"

She moved her head yes.

"Are you sure you want to go through with this?"

Again she answered yes without speaking.

"You know I don't believe you, don't you?"

The transformation was incredible. In a matter of seconds he went from being an unfeeling block of concrete to the Jason she loved, caring and honest. She swallowed hard and fixed her eyes at a point over his shoulder.

"I'm fine."

"You don't have to do this. You don't have to be here. Actually I would preferred if you weren't. But this was your decision."

The sincerity of his words somehow reassured her and she brought her gaze to his.

"It's still my decision. I'm here and I'm in this don't matter what happens."

He took a few steps closer to her. Not sure why he did it. There was always this invisible pull that made him gravitate toward her and he didn't seem to have a say. His right gloved hand came up to her cheek. She felt her stomach do a somersault in her middle as she felt the cold leather touch her skin. Involuntarily she closed her eyes. Jason felt his mouth go dry as he closed the distance and lingered close to her. His voice was soft when he spoke next.

"I won't let anything happend to you. I promise."

Her eyes opened revealing her azure orbs to him. "You never promise things you can't keep..."

"I do when it matters. And you matter too much to jeopardize your safety."

His head was bent close to hers, they were inches apart. She wanted him to kiss her. But when he didn't get closer, she made the decision to go for what she wanted. Inching her head up closer to him she stepped closer until their bodies touched from knees to chest.

"E..." A murmur came from the balcony of the room.

They didn't move.

"Paloma..."

Jason stepped back and turn to look at the shadow in the balcony. Elizabeth felt air instead of lips as she moved to kiss him. Opening her eyes she saw him looking at the balcony.

"Wh..."

"Paloma." Eva's soft call reached her ears.

"It's time." She placed her wig back on and took in a deep breath. "Go over the balcony. Eva it's going to take you to the Negrita. And from there you know the plan."

"Okay." She moved to the door of the balcony, but before she could reach it, Jason grabbed her arm. "What?"

"If you see anything suspicious you get out of there. Do you have the spray and the switchblade?"

She touched her boot. "Everything in place."

"Okay." They stood facing each other quietly.

"Paloma." Eva called Elizabeth's nickname again.

"I have to go."

"Be careful." Jason spoke softly.

"You too."

Jason stepped closer and kissed her forehead.

>>

Negrita was a brothel located in the middle of nowhere. Off the main road an into the woods, the people that drove down that road where either going there or were lost.

Eva drove the old jeep down the dirt road for more than a thirty minutes before the place came into view. Elizabeth had been quiet all the way there. Her face filled with uncertainty. But as soon as they pulled up into the improvised parking area she became cold an distant her role of Paloma firmly in place.

Both girls stepped down and were greeted by two men. They were notably older and visibly interested in the new arrivals.

"De dónde salieron estos dos angeles? Están perdidas?" (Where did this two angels came from? Are you lost?)

"Nosotras vinimos buscando trabajo." Eva spoke. Her face a mask hiding her disgust at the man in front of her.

"We need to make some money, honey." Elizabeth said in a sweet voice.

"Una gringa. What can you do with that pretty mouth of yours?" The man closest to her asked.

Elizabeth froze at the up-front question. Eva stepped closer letting her know she wasn't alone. Reassured for the time been Elizabeth smiled saucily. "Everything."

"Vamos adentro." (Let's go inside.)

Both men led the way and soon the all disappeared inside.

>>

Only two hours had passed and Jason was already getting anxious. Never in his years as enforcer and part of the organization had he been anxious before. But then again never had he let a woman in on his stakeouts. And besides it wasn't any woman either, it was Elizabeth. A woman he had fallen in love with.

"There he is." Will, the gaurd, said as he looked at Jason and then at the binoculars again.

Jason straighten in his seat and looked out the window. Tony Morales was getting in his car flanked by his two guards. "Tail him. Keep fairly away, but don't loose him."

>>

Elizabeth had managed to keep away fron Steven all night. But even if she pranced around in front of him, she was sure he wouldn't recognize her because he was completely wasted by the time they walked inside. She was sitting at the bar with her first John. She looked around and saw Eva sitting with Steven, they were still talking.

After their arrival, the two men took them to the back were a small office was located. The manager a man named Elias interviewed them. He agreed to let them work freelance for the night if they payed the quote of 40 of their profits. They agreed and went into the main room. Soon Eva started her part of the plan and sought out Steven. Meanwhile Elizabeth went straight to the bar and sat down drinking a virgin Piña Colada.

A few men approached her, but she only spoke in English and scared them off easily. Until her current companion sat beside her and offered to buy her another Piña Colada in a thick southern accent.

When she looked up she found familiar clear blue eyes looking at her. Francis took a seat in the stool beside her and Elizabeth let out a relieved sight. They had been playing their roles for almost an hour when Elizabeth saw Steven standing up and offering Eva his hand. Soon they disappeared up the stairs. Ten minutes later, Elizabeth and Francis started their way up. No one downstairs noticed.

Eva smiled softly as Steven looked at her, desire burning in his green orbs. She had to grip the sheets to keep from jumping on him and breaking his nose.

She was sitting back on the bed her hair falling to one side, her legs crossed seductively.

"So mister... what is it you are willing to pay?" She spoke with all her accent and rolling her r's.

"I can pay you anything you ask. I have money. A lot of it. And as soon as I finish with Elizabeth I'll have more."

Eva raced an inquisitive brow. "Elizabeth? Who is that?"

"A brat. A mishap that never should have been born. A thorn in my side."

Eva ran a finger up her boot sliding up her thigh. "A thorn? What's a thorn?"

"Something very unpleasant."

"Oh poor baby. Want to come here and talk about it?"

"No I want to take you and... stop talking." He walked toward her and pushed her down on the bed. He dropped himself over her and kissed her hard on the mouth.

Eva held her tongue back as he pushed his inside roughly. She tried to maneuver him off her and she pushed him back.

"Hum... you are so manly."

"Shut up and come here." He said reaching for her.

"Is that Elizabeth your wife?"

"God no. She's my sister."

"Your sister?"

"Yeah."

Eva walked back and did a little twirl. She bent down and unzipped one boot slowly, seductively.

"What could a sister do to a brother to make you so mad?" She pulled a chair from a corner and raced her other leg and did the same with her other boot this time running her hand up.

Steven sat on the bed. And enjoyed the show. He kept talking.

"She stole something from me."

Eva took off one boot. "What?"

"My family's money."

"How?" She took off the other.

"My grandmother made her the sole beneficiary of her will."

Eva frowned. "So you don't have money?"

"Oh baby I do have money. And I'll have even more. See, my family has a plan. We contacted this local thug that assured us he was going to take care of her. But the little bitch is one tough cookie."

Eva smiled again and began playing with the zipper of her leather dress. "How is he going to take care of her?"

>>

Elizabeth stood in the middle of the room listening to every word Steven was speaking. She was disgusted at his dismissal of her. As if she were nothing, a replaceable object. A broken porcelain doll... worthless... unworthy... unloved... unwanted...

Her eyes filled with tears and this time she let them fall as the words kept tumbling over the man she used to call brother.

"He tried to raped her once, we wanted to make her crazy so she couldn't take possession of the estate. But it didn't work. So we tried to play nice for a while but she was more intelligent than what we imagined. So now we are forced to take a more direct approach."

"What do you mean direct?" Eva asked.

"Tony Morales is a man that takes what he wants and for some unknown reason he seem fixated on little Lizzie. If he takes what he wants and dispose of what we don't. Everyone will be happy."

Francis turned off the audio and stood close to Elizabeth. Her small body was shaking with sobs. His heart constricted at the sight. In the months he had spend in Puerto Rico, Elizabeth Webber had become more of a sister than his own. He'd learn to care and respect her. What was not to like? She was enthusiastic, friendly and kind. Thoughtful and truthful. The girl was loyal to a fault and repectful. She had class, and that was more he could say about the Webbers.

The guard took a step closer to her but before he could hug her she stepped back. She cleaned the tears away and breathed deep. Then she moved. Everything happened so fast that Francis barely had time to catch a glimpse of her walking out of the room.

>>

The grey rundown car stopped in the middle of the woods. Jason looked up with the binoculars and had to control his breathing so he didn't show the panic that ran down his spine at the moment. They were barely half a mile away from the Negrita, and so was Tony Morales.

"Elizabeth?" Eva said as she stood in the middle of the room without her boots and the zipper of her dress half down.

"What?" Steven spoke standing up from the bed. "What the hell..?"

He didn't have time to finish because Elizabeth was jumping over him. She hit him so hard she broke his nose. But before she could really have her way with him. Francis took her from her place and held her back.

"LET ME GO! LET ME GO FRANCIS!"

"Shh! Elizabeth, honey you have to keep it down."

"NO!"

"Girl remember the plan." Eva was already completely dressed and was trying to calm Elizabeth down.

Steven was bleeding and still a little desoriented, but managed to stand up. Before he could get away, Eva stopped him.

"Where do you think you are going?"

"I don't know who you are but move out of my way or..."

Eva took out a small pistol from under her skirt and pointed it at him. "Or what?"

Francis let go of Elizabeth and moved behind Steven.

"You are not going anywhere until we deal with you."

"What do you want from me?" He stepped back looking at both of them, his hands up defensively.

"There's a debt you have to settle with my boss."

"And who is your boss?"

"Jason Morgan."

Those were the last words Steven Webber heard before everything went black. Francis hit Steven's head and took him out. He took his cell phone and dialed the number, while Eva tied Steven with the rope they had prepared in the room.

"Hey... yeah we had to speed up the plan. What?... No... yes she's right here. Okay."

He closed his cell and knelt down to help Eva.

"Elizabeth, we have to remove you from the premises. Tito will be here in two and he's going to take you to a safe palce okay."

Francis finished tying up Steven and turned around. "Elizabeth, honey did you... Elizabeth?"