Chapter Eighteen

Jason looked around at the destroyed crystal and overturned furniture and shook his head in disgust. It was obvious that Sonny had been having a meltdown of epic porpotions. For the life of him, Jason could not figure out why he would be so upset that Elizabeth had married Johnny. The mob boss had always made it clear that he thought she was not suited to the lifestyle, and besides, it was none of his business who she married.

While he loathed the idea that Johnny would be helping to raise his son and Cam, he understood that Elizabeth had a concern, Sonny. She did not betray us in anyway. She was never a part of our business. In fact, you always wanted me far away fromright to have happiness. At one point, he had thought that they could have that life together, but things had not worked out. Jason would always regret that him and Elizabeth had ended, he still loved her. However, they had ended and he had made a new life with Sam. He also could not deny that Johnny to seemed to actually adore Elizabeth.

Glancing up as Sonny stumbled into the room, he frowned at the drunk man that was dishevilshed. "What happened in here, Sonny?"

"That bitch married Johnny Zacchara! How in the hell could you allow her to turn on us, Jason?"

Eyes darkening with anger, Jason silently counted to twenty before responding. "Who Elizabeth is with is none of your her."

"But she was always there!" he screamed. "You never listened to me when it came to that little bitch! I told you over and over that she could not handle the life, but you would never shove her away! She owes you for that loyalty!"

"No, she doesn't. I want her happy. Evidentally, Johnny makes her happy. They are married and expecting a child. Why should she have to stay single? I moved on with Sam. We are having a baby too. Nothing about this effects you."

"I wish that you would wake up, Jason! It does concern us! She is the mother of your son, or did you forget?"

"I have never forgotten that," he stated coldly. "But I think that you have forgotten that I chose to stay away from Jake. Not you. Leave it alone, Sonny," he warned in a deadly tone, void of all emotion.

"Fine! I will deal her myself. Let's talk about Francis. I want you to kill him!" Sonny spat.

Slamming his hand on the desk, Jason took a step forward. "You will take care of nothing concerning Elizabeth. I mean it. Do NOT even think about harming her. You will not like the consequences. As for Francis, I won't do it. Yes, he should have never taken a job with the Zacchara Organization, but he is Elizabeth's guard. He was also a friend a long time ago. Or did you forget?"

"I remember. I also remember that you acted differently when him and O'Brien were around. Just like now. I am the head of this organization, Jason. You damn well better remember that," Sonny replied heatedly.

Jason's eyes went flat and his voice dropped. "I think you need to remember that I am a partner in Corinthos-Morgan. A partner with 51%, that makes me the controlling partner. Do not go after Johnny or Elizabeth. They have done nothing to you! You are just mad that she is with someone that you don't like. I hate the thought of her being with him, but it is her decision, Sonny. As for Francis, I will not touch him unless he makes a move toward us. I don't kill people for no reason other than you being angry at them."

"You already have," Sonny said with a smirk, not knowing when to shut up. "You killed O'Brien, didn't you? He never betrayed us. I planted the evidence." Chuckling at the surprise look on Jason's face, Sonny nodded. "You do as I say. Remember that or I will make sure that you learn the lesson the hard way."

Grabbing the man and shoving him against the wall, Jason held Sonny so that his feet were off the ground. "You had me kill a friend for no reason? You are standing there threatening me, the mother of my son, and anyone else that I care about. How fucking stupid are you, Sonny?" Jason spat, rage burning in his eyes. "I have always defended you, taken your side. Yet, you are prepared to betray me."

Gasping for breath, Sonny clawed at the hand that held him aloft. "You owe me. I made you," he rasped.

"You screw me over ever single chance that you get." Applying more pressure, aware that Sonny could no longer breath, Jason waited until Sonny was the edge of unconsciousness before releasing him and letting him slide to the floor. "This is your only chance. Your last chance. I am done. I am no longer your servant. I am taking control of the organization because you are obviously unstable. Go to the island and stay there. No more threats, no actions, no plots against anyone that I care about, Sonny. If you don't leave, or attempt anything that I think is a threat, you will die. By my own hands," he stated coldly as he looked at the greedy man that was laying in a heap on the floor. "Your days are over in Port Charles. The island by tomorrow evening, or a funeral. Your choice!" Jason walked out of the room without looking back and looked at Max. "Sonny is no longer in charge. I am. If you help him with anything besides getting on a plane to the island, you will die along with him," he stated flated.

Max gulped and nodded. "Do I have to stay?"

"I would appreciate it if you made sure that he got on the plane. But don't cross me, Max. I am dead serious."

Seeing the hard eyes and stone face, Max knew that whatever Sonny had done had been the last straw. "Yes, Jason. I understand. If he doesn't go to the island?"

"Then I will send him there in a box," he said tonelessly. "He has until tomorrow evening to be on the plane, Max. Try and make him see that the sooner that he leaves, the better. He has no control, no matter what he says. Remember that. Did you get ahold of anyone that I said?"

"Jagger and Francis will meet you at Johnny's penthouse in an hour. They said that only you were to come. No Sonny, no Sam, no one."

"Fine. Reason with him, or just knock him out to get him out of Port Charles, Max."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jagger leaned against the fireplace mantle and watched as Francis wandered around the living room of the penthouse. The older man had been restless, expecting trouble from Sonny since Jagger had announced that Johnny and Elizabeth had gotten married. "Do you think that Morgan is coming to warn us of what we already heard on the bugs in Sonny's house?"

"Yes. No matter what he has done in the past, I know that he honestly cared for Liz. He turned on Sonny over her. You heard the tape."

"Do you think that we should tell himm about his wife conspiring with Sonny?"

Francis shook his head sadly. "He won't believe it. We are going to have to catch her in the act. For some reason, he is blind to that woman's true personality."

Snorting, Jagger shook his head. "He is the only one. Everyone else can see right through the piece of shit."

They both paused at the knock on the door. Francis walked over and took a deep breath before pulling it open. Seeing the anger on Jason's face, he hid his own emotions and motioned the man inside. "Well, you wanted to meet. What could you possibly want, Jason?"

"I am taking over full control of the business. Sonny will either go to the island or disappear completely." He paused and looked at the floor. "He is planning to go after Elizabeth and Zacchara. You need to be aware of the danger."

"We have been aware of the danger since the first day that John started being in seen in public with Liz, way before their relationship evolved. He called me back to guard her while Baker was still free," Jagger told him in a low voice. "We will protect Liz and the boys with everything that we have, Morgan. No one will harm them."

Jason sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "He ordered me to kill you, Francis."

The man in question only shook his head sadly. "Let me guess. I betrayed him just like O'Brien supposively did." Seeing that Jason was looking at his feet, Francis gave Jagger a quick look. "Have you finally seen Sonny's true colors, Jason? I tried to tell you years ago."

Dejected and regretting all the blind trust that he had showed his one time friend, Jason looked up and could see the anger swirling in his former friend's eyes. "I know. I just never wanted to see it. I woke up after hearing him threatening Elizabeth. While it makes me ill to think of her and Zacchara, I know that she deserves happiness. He seems to honestly care for her."

"He does, more than you can imagine. John has kept an eye on her since the Black and White Ball," Jagger told him. Seeing Jason's head jerk in surprise, he smiled. "He would have never approached her if the situation with Baker had not occurred. But I have a question. If you care so much about Elizabeth and your son, how could you go back to the woman that endangered him over and over again? A woman that wished your son was dead? Now you are expecting a child with her."

Frustrated at the conversation and his lack of answers that would convince anyone that he truely cared, Jason sat heavily on the couch. "I thought that she fit my life better. Sam understood the danger and all that being in the business meant. I never thought that she would get pregnant," he confessed softly.

"And Liz didn't understand the world? She is one that had a bomb placed in her studio. She is the one that was kidnapped and placed in the crypt." Francis was sickened. "You made her believe that she was not important enough to be first. That spot was reserved for Sonny, Carly, and Micheal."

"It doesn't matter anymore. You are married to Sam. John and Elizabeth are married and expecting a baby." Jagger smiled. "Trust me, he will take very good care of her. He loves her, Cam, and Jake. He took Baker out. He took his own father out. John protects those that he loves. They are not placed behind old promises."

Glaring at the man, Jason stood. "I know that I made huge mistakes. However, things worked out. Sam and I are happy and you say that she is happy with Zacchara. I just wish that she had a nice safe life."

"Like with Lucky? How was he safe?" Francis demanded. "He emotionally and verbally abused her, Jason! He walked away from both of those boys several different times when Liz would not do what he wanted. He only played daddy when it was convient to him. He used it as a way to control her."

All three sat in a tense silence for several minutes before Jagger finally cleared his throat. "Thank yo for the warning about Corinthos. Security will be upped, but we already considered him a threat. You should know that your wife is the one that told him about Francis being back though." When Jason raised an eyebrow, he met his gaze steadily. "We keep track of those that we don't trust. Your wife is at the top of the list."

"You stay away from Sam."

"You keep her away from Elizabeth and the boys, and we will. We won't start trouble, Morgan, but we will finish any that comes in our direction."

"She is no threat to Elizabeth," Jason stated coldly.

"Then you are blind. She hates her. Wake up, Jason."

"You are overacting," he snapped, his temper starting to rise.

"No, we aren't." Jagger leaned back and crossed his arms while Jason stood and started toward the door. "You are blind, as usual, by her tears and manipulations. We aren't."

Flooded with anger at their insistence that Sam was an enemy, Jason stormed out the door after one last cold look in their direction.

"Are you sure that there was not more brain damage than what everyone thinks?" Jagger demaded in a sneer.

Sadly, Francis just sighed. "He is just use to being used after Corinthos and Carly, so much that I honestly believe that he thinks it is normal."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brenda squealed and wrapped her arms tightly around Elizabeth when she entered the house while Johnny got updates on business from Jagger and Francis outside. "I can't believe that you two did that without me! I am so jealous that Jagger was there."

Laughing at the pouting expression, Elizabeth caught Jake and Cam as they launched themselves at her. "Hey, babies! Mommy missed you two!" After kissing each boy's cheek, she looked up at her friend with twinkling eyes. "Sorry, Brenda. I know that you and Robin both would have loved to have been there."

"You got that right," Robin told her from the doorway. Giggling, she moved forward and sat on the couch. Waiting until the kids had ran upstairs to play, Robin arched a brow at her. "Let me see the ring."

"Oh, it's so beautiful! Johnny must have great taste," Brenda murmured as she saw the delicate band.

"It was actually his mother's. He asked if I was would mind wearing it," Elizabeth explained to them as she relaxed against the sofa.

"Oh, Liz, it's wonderful that you took it. I am sure that it meant a lot to Johnny."

Smiling at Brenda, she closed her eyes, relaxing into the soft cushions. "He loved his mother. I was honored that he wanted me to have it."

Robin burst into giggles. "You missed seeing Lucky go ballistic at hearing that you married Johnny. I thought that Francis was going to kick him into next week." When Elizabeth opened her eyes and looked at her questioningly, Robin only shrugged. "He was screaming about betrayal."

"It was rather pitiful," Brenda huffed. "He was so loud that I was afraid that I was afraid that he would disturb the boys."

Frowning, Elizabeth shook her head. "His whoa is me act is getting old. Lucky and I have been over for a while now. He is with Shioban and needs to accept that I love my husband."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~b~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"While I knew that Corinthos would react just like this, I am surprised by Morgan's response." Johnny leaned against his car and crossed his arms. "It is too bad that he doesn't realize that his wife is just as dangerous and devious as his ex-friend."

"Believe me, he is completely blind to that," Jagger sneered. "I only hope that when the dumb bimbo makes a move, he isn't hiding his head in the sand."

"Corinthos offered Sam money to cause Liz to miscarry," Jagger informed his friend. Seeing the rage in his eyes, he backed up a step. "You know that we will not let anything happen to her, John."

Thinking back over the last couple months and the happiness that he had finally found, Johnny ground his teeth. "Sam and Spencer are the main concern right now. Morgan is handling Corinthos for us, although if he comes back from the island, all bets are off. Hopefully you two put enough doubt in his mind to cause him to watch Sam carefully. I don't want a war because of her stupid hatred of Elizabeth. As for Lucky Spencer, I don't trust him at all. He is too much like Anthony was. His need for control and rage when he doesn't get what he wants is just like my father. Keep close tabs on the worthless, spiteful detective."

The three men stopped and looked at the car that pulled up in front of the house. When Carly stepped out of the car, they all held their breath, waiting on the blond to go off.

Knowing that she was throwing them off balance, Carly chuckled. "I am not here to cause problems, I promise. I wanted to offer my congratulations to you, Johnny, and to Liz. Is she inside?"

Having heard the familiar voice, Elizabeth opened the door and stepped onto the porch. Hearing the strange question, she walked down the few steps. "I am right here."
Carly turned at looked at the woman that Jax had made her see that she had misjudged for so many years. Seeing the happiness in her eyes, Carly offered a small smile. "I just wanted to say that I am happy for you. I can tell that you both are happy. Being Mrs. Zacchara must agree with you."
Unsure of Carly's motives, but willing to extend an olive branch, Elizabeth met her gaze as she felt Johnny wrap an arm around her waist. "Thank you, Carly. I am happy. We both are."

"Good, you both deserve to be happy." She looked at the baby bump that was starting to show on the other woman's slender frame. "Especially with a new bundle on the way. Well, I won't keep you. I just thought that you might like some congratulations before everyone starts screaming and protesting," she added with a wink.

"Did someone replace Carly with an alien?"

Elbowing Jagger as they watched the car pull away, Elizabeth laiughed. "She is trying. I can meet her halfway. We may never be close friends, but I think that Jax is changing her."

"Uh huh, just keep a watch out with her, Lizbits. Carly is Carly, after all."

"Francis, there is a change in her since she is not close to Sonny anymore. I always stay on guard with her. But I try to give the benefit of the doubt to someone if they are being friendly."

"Shit," Johnny muttered as he saw the car approaching. "It looks like our nice peaceful day is about to be ruined."

Groaning at the sight of a Lucky and Dante pulling into the driveway, Elizabeth leaned up and kissed Johnny. "I will be inside. Try not to go to jail tonight."

"No promises," he murmured as she walked back inside. Hearing the first remark out Lucky's mouth had him thinking that he might just might end up there after all. Jagger and Francis quickly stepped in front of him while Dante moved in front of his partner and was snapping for him to shut up.