CHAPTER 30

'Not in her right mind at the time?' Frankie's voice shook with anger. 'She didn't know what she was doing; that's what she said?!'

Everyone, except Stephanie, Will, Rafe, Arianna and the children were gathered in Carly's room. Kayla and Kimmie had helped her up to bed when the pain in her head had intensified.

'According to Vivian; the herbs that healed the injury on her spine also had some side effects- rendering her hyperactive and temporally insane.' Bo explained, 'bringing up pent up rage at Carly over Nicky; driving her to frame Carly for the murder of her patients. She admits Carly took her by surprise when she was about to inject Mum; in panic she injected Carly with a lot of morphine... and afterwards the same herbs, disguised as a nurse.'

Frankie swore loudly.

'Dad, please tell me that you and Uncle Roman didn't believe her rubbish; please tell me you didn't!' Olivia said angrily. 'Ivan will tell you she wasn't crazy at the time, the affidavit...'

'We've both read the affidavit sweetheart; it doesn't say she was insane at the time,' Roman concurred, 'but even if we try to build a case against Vivian, it's going to be very difficult. For starters... the time interval, it's too late to arrest her now and second... Marais can't be called in to testify.'

'Why not?' asked Carly, who was reclining against the pillows.

Roman turned to Bo. 'I didn't tell you because I figured there wasn't any point. After I got through with Frankie, I called Naveen- I asked him to tell me where we could find Ivan. He gave me his address in Vienna but when I called, his housekeeper said he'd died some hours before, from an aneurysm.'

Bo shook his head.

'I can't believe that woman has the audacity to come back here... why did she come at all?' Caroline cried.

'Heaven knows what she's up to now.' Marlena said grimly.

'So what does this all mean... that bitch is just going to run around, scot free... after what she and Larry did?' Frankie demanded. 'They both kept Carly locked up, kept Olivia from us; from you, Bo! You're just going to sit back and do nothing?'

Bo gave Frankie a cold look. 'You know me better than that, Frank.' He glanced at Olivia and Carly and back to him. 'Out of everyone in this room; I'm the one who mainly has a score to settle with Vivian Alamain. We can't arrest her for her crimes but she knows I'll be on to her if anything happens to Carly and Olivia. And I won't be arresting her either; if they get so much as a bee sting, nothing and nobody will stop me from breaking her neck.'

The cold, ominous tone of Bo's voice read loud and clear. He totally meant what he said. Roman, who'd always gone by the book, wasn't at all shocked by his brother's statement- from the moment he'd seen Vivian, he'd felt like strangling her himself, especially when he remembered how Bo had been so heartbroken over Carly for a long time and Vivian and Larry had been laughing at him; at all of them, the whole time. Whether she'll remain in Salem for a long time, neither one of them knew. But they sure as hell were going to watch her like a hawk.

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Carly opened her eyes as Bo came back from seeing the others off. Kayla had given her something out of her medical bag for the pain but the recent development has weighed her down.

'Where's Olivia?' she asked as Bo sat on the bed.

'Locking up. I told her I'll spend the night with you guys... if that's okay.'

Carly nodded, not having the strength or mind to remind him that Frankie was still around. Bo took her hand, kissing her palm.

'I'm not going to let that woman hurt you, or our daughter... trust me on this, Carly.'

Carly sat up, her eyes troubled. 'I'm more worried for Olivia, Bo. She's obviously here for revenge; Olivia killed Lawrence and she won't rest until she's gotten back at her.'

Bo sighed. 'The main reason why I wish over and over that I'd wasted Larry myself! But I'm here...nothing's going to happen to you both; I promise.'

Carly looked at him solemnly for a minute, then nodded.

'Come on ...' Bo said. 'Snuggle down and get some rest.'

Obeying him, she looked up at him again. 'Can you do something for me?'

'Sure, anything.'

'Can... Can you stay with me here, at least until I'm asleep?' was the hesitant request. 'I'd feel a lot better if you were close by.'

Without a word, Bo took his shoes off and got into bed, wrapping his arms just below her breasts, spooned against her. Laying facing away from him, Carly shut her eyes- feeling safe in Bo's arms immediately. 'Thank you.'

'None of that. Go to sleep, princess.'

His declaration of love was shot to hell for the moment but he was more than content to lie here next to Carly, holding her in his arms like he used to when they'd lived together on the boat.

No one's going to take you away from me again, he said in his heart, kissing the back of her neck. I love you so much!

The next time they shared this bed, he promised himself, they were not going to do much sleeping; that's for sure.

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After locking up and saying goodnight to her uncle; Olivia suddenly remembered the mysterious package she'd found on the doorstep, wondering who on earth could have sent it. Unwrapping it in her room, she saw it was a square velvet lined box marked Cartier's and resting against the white satin lining inside was a sparkling emerald heart pendant set in white-gold, dangling from a matching white-gold chain.

Who on earth could have sent this? She wondered. Not Victor, he would've sent one of his lackeys to give to her. Who else could have... a thought struck her and she frowned. E.J DiMera. He did this!

She snapped the box shut and threw it across the room, furious. What a bastard; did he honestly think she could be won over with jewellery? Just wait until she saw him next, she'll tell him exactly what she thought of him and his stupid gift. He was the least of her worries right now; her enemy was now in Salem and she had to watch her back, in more ways than one.

Frankie had called her as she was about to go upstairs. 'Come here, honey- I need to talk to you.' Taking her by the hand, he led her to the living room.

'We have a huge problem, Olivia.' He said, his face very grim, seating himself on Carly's Barcalounger.

'You don't have to tell me, Uncle Frankie.' She replied. 'Vivian followed us here, out to get revenge- no matter how she managed to convince Victor, she knew what she was doing at the time.'

Frankie nodded. 'I'm going back to London in a few days. And I'd rest a whole lot easier knowing that you and your Mum are more than well protected.'

Olivia lifted a graceful brown eyebrow. 'You don't trust Dad?'

Her uncle shook his head. ' I trust Bo with my life. However... now that he's the Police Commissioner there are certain things he can no longer do, like taking the law in his own hands.'

'Even if he was justified?'

'Even that. His position will be compromised; I don't want that, neither would Carly.'

'Neither would I, Uncle Frankie.'

Frankie leaned forward. 'I see a lot of Bo in you, Olivia... You're definitely your father's daughter. You love your mother very much... you would do anything to keep her safe, won't you?'

Olivia stared back at him squarely. 'If I had to do what I did back in Alamainia again... I would.'

Frankie nodded again. 'Carly said Vivian will meet her day of reckoning one day and by her own hand. But Vivian is slick, she would be on her guard, trying to avoid making mistakes and let herself get caught. You will have to be on your guard, always. While I hope she'll never get her hands on you and Carly, I want you to promise me something.' He looked her in the eye. 'If she does... if you have no other choice but defend yourself or your mother like you did before... don't hesitate for one second, just do it.'

Olivia returned his knowing look. 'You mean...?'

Frank nodded. 'She's back here to kill you especially. It's not murder if you're defending a loved one, or yourself.'

Olivia had had no qualms taking Lawrence's life; ending Vivian's would be more than a pleasure because it meant disposing bad rubbish for good and guaranteeing her mother's safety.

You don't know me at all, Vivian; so have every reason to fear me, Olivia thought now, her lovely face set in hard, inscrutable lines. I'll kill you in a heartbeat if you dare do anything to my mother... or any member of my family this time!