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Chapter 36

"Mr. Lansing." Lorenzo looked at the other man and tried to hide his disgust. A task that was becoming more and more difficult with each passing day. Once he was sure that he had Lansing's entire plan and knew who all his accomplices were they could end their association. "Why did you wish to see me?" They were supposed to be keeping their distance.

"Our plan has hit a snag." Ric said pacing the length of the backroom of the bar. Things were looking up with Alexis and the girls leaving and then this happened.

"Another one. I'm losing my faith in you." Lorenzo sipped his coffee.

"Luke Spencer is being detained in Ireland. Apparently he tried to smuggle a gun into the country." Ric was pissed, this was a delay they didn't need.

"Hire someone else to get the job done." Lorenzo told the other man. "Surely you know a person capable of breaking Lucky out of the rehab center he is at."

"We cannot get a better fall guy than Luke. If Lucky goes missing while his father is out of the country an investigation will be launched. That's something I'm not willing to risk right now. With Luke here he automatically becomes the focus and Mac doesn't look anywhere else." Claire Walsh had no problem convincing a judge that her client needed to go through a detox program before standing trial. It was a move the D.A.'s office didn't even bother to counter. The private rehab center that Nicholas Cassadine paid for was far easier to spring Lucky from than the hospital.

"I will see what I can do." Lorenzo made sure to sound put upon. Since Johnny was behind Luke's arrest Alcazar would not be interfering in any way.

"Good. How are things going with Elizabeth?" Ric had seen her just the other day and she looked radiant.

"I have backed off for the time being." Lorenzo watched Ric carefully.

"Why? We need Jason off-balance." Ric was not happy.

"She's pregnant." Done with his coffee Lorenzo poured himself a brandy. He didn't bother to offer one to the other man.

Ric was struck momentarily speechless. This was not something he had planned for. "So?"

"Stress in the first trimester can lead to a miscarriage. You said that you didn't want Ms. Webber harmed." He reminded his partner.

"Trust me miscarrying Jason Morgan's baby will not harm Elizabeth. It would be the best thing to have happen to her." He had no plans to raise Morgan's child. He was so lost in his own thoughts he missed the deadly scowl that came to Lorenzo's face.

Alcazar had a hard time not beating Ric to death where he stood. He claimed to love Elizabeth, yet he wanted her to lose her baby. "I have another meeting. I will call you about Luke." Lorenzo left the bar and walked to his limo. Once inside he called O'Brien. "I need to meet with Morgan and Corinthos tonight." It was time for him to put all his cards on the table. Ric Lansing needed to die as soon as possible.

Emily and Elizabeth were sitting in the guest room of the Morgan house sipping hot chocolate and having girl talk. Emily was staying the night, which was good because Jason had just left for an emergency meeting with Sonny. Earlier before her friend had arrived Elizabeth and Jason had talked about Dante. Jason needed his fiancée to do something for him and she'd given a lot of thought as to how to convey the information she needed to.

"So I'm reading this really great book right now." Elizabeth put her mug down.

"I wish I had time to read. But I'm not a lady of leisure." Emily teased her best friend. If anyone deserved to not work for a while it was Elizabeth.

"Brat." Elizabeth said poking Emily in the ribs. "Anyway, it's a about this young lawyer who comes to this small town. Everyone thinks he's just an average Joe, but he's not. In fact he's a spy."

"You're reading a political thriller. I thought you liked romance novels." Emily said a bit confused.

"Let me finish. See the lawyer is actually there to spy on his boss for this powerful syndicate. Because the lawyer's boss is more dangerous than anyone suspects. It's all going well until the young lawyer meets this beautiful and smart doctor." Elizabeth watched as Emily began to connect the dots. "The young lawyer starts to worry the doctor will not believe that he really likes her if the true reason he's in town gets out."

"Is the doctor related to a member of the syndicate? I mean if I was writing the story that's what I'd do." Emily said looking at Elizabeth.

"I haven't gotten that far. Just to the part where the young lawyer feels guilty and wants to confess his true purpose." Elizabeth picked up her drink again now that she knew Emily had gotten the message. "Would you also write it so that the lawyer's boss wants to use the sister to get to her brother?"

"The young lawyer shouldn't worry. I bet the doctor will take it in stride." Emily said to her best friend. "I mean he's working to keep her and everyone the young doctor cares for safe. That is why he's been sent in right? Or have you not gotten that far yet?"

"Not yet, but I think that's what will be revealed. I also agree the young doctor will take it in stride. She's really strong." They were quiet for a little bit. "So do you want to bring a date to my wedding?" Elizabeth needed to meet this Dante.

Emily smiled at the woman she'd long thought of as a sister. "Yeah I do." The two women clinked mugs.

They met in the conference room of the Corinthos Morgan warehouse. As a show of faith Alcazar came alone. "Gentlemen." He said as he walked into the room.

"What do you want?" Sonny asked he didn't like to be summoned by anyone.

"I'm going to kill your brother and I wanted to do you the courtesy of telling you in person." Lorenzo said smiling. "How is Ms. Webber?"

"She is none of your concern." Johnny said speaking up. Jason just watched the proceedings.

"I beg to differ. She's the reason Lansing is going to die as painfully as possible." Lorenzo explained to the three other men in the room.

"You are killing Ric because of Elizabeth?" Sonny asked not understanding why.

"He is a threat to her and must be eliminated." Lorenzo told Sonny.

"We know that. What we don't know is, why you care?" Johnny couldn't believe the man's gall.

Lorenzo threw a thick padded legal envelope onto the table. "That is for Ms. Webber I would like you to take it to her."

Johnny, Jason and Sonny just looked at one another. "You don't give orders where my wife is concerned." Jason finally spoke.

"She isn't your wife yet. The information inside clears up the misunderstanding between she and I. I would ask that you let her open it. I mean her no harm. I can promise you that Lansing does. He wants her to lose the baby she is carrying." Lorenzo told them of Ric's plan.

"WHAT!?" Jason just exploded.

Lorenzo rose from his seat. "Have her review the information and then call me. I will explain what we are going to do." With that he left the room.

"How do you want to handle this?" Sonny asked his partner.

Jason didn't answer right away. His mind was still on Ric's threat to Elizabeth and the baby. He wouldn't get anywhere near her.

"Jason?" Sonny called the younger man's name.

Getting up he grabbed the envelope. It was heavy for its size. Taking a deep breath he pulled out his phone. "Hey baby, it's me."

"Are you okay?" Elizabeth asked she was back in their bedroom.

"I'm fine. The meeting is over." He told her hoping she would relax some.

"Good." All night the meeting had been in the back of her mind. Despite Frannie repeatedly telling her it would be okay she'd still been worried. "Will you be home soon?"

"Yeah. Sonny and Johnny are coming with me. Is Emily asleep?" Jason didn't want his sister involved in this.

"Yes." Elizabeth wondered why he wasn't coming home alone.

"Good. Alcazar gave me an envelope for you." He told her.

"What's in it?" She asked surprised.

"I haven't opened it. He wants you to be the one to do so." Jason wanted more than anything to know what was inside.

"I trust you Jason. If you feel it's best that you open it right now then go ahead." He always wanted to protect her she knew that. She didn't trust Lorenzo Alcazar and she knew that Jason didn't either.

"Thank you." He said knowing why she said that. "I love you." He said softly.

"I love you too. I'll be downstairs with Frannie when you get home." She knew that he would be able to hear the smile in her voice. Jason hung up the phone and then opened the envelope.

When he walked through the front door Elizabeth forced herself to walk over to him instead of running. "Hi." The other guys were coming in behind him.

Jason opened his arms and she stepped into his embrace. He could feel her trembling. "It's okay. I'm fine." He assured her again.

"I know." She said softly. "I'm glad everyone is okay. I had a lot of friends in that room." She said looking over at Sonny and Johnny who both smiled back at her.

"Where is Francis?" Jason asked not yet letting her go.

"Come on." They followed her into the kitchen. "I made fresh coffee." Despite the late hour she knew they would want it.

Once everyone was around the table Jason pushed the envelope to Elizabeth. "According to the information inside you are Lorenzo's younger sister."

She didn't speak because what would she say. Instead she tipped the parcel up and dumped the contents on the table. There were five DNA tests from the best labs in the country all saying that she and Lorenzo were full siblings. DNA tests could be faked she knew that, but the labs he'd gone to were above reproach.

She put them aside because something else in the pile had snagged her attention. Among the paperwork were several photographs. Most in black and white. They were of several different women to whom she bore a striking resemblance. "How is this possible?" She asked finally finding her voice.

"Johnny is looking into it." Jason clasped her hand in his.

"I'd like to talk with Lorenzo. Will you come with me?" She asked looking at the man she loved.

"Absolutely." He had told Sonny and Johnny this would be her wish. He had no intention of letting her go alone. Even if Lorenzo was her brother Jason didn't trust the man.

"Should the guys come as well?" She trusted his judgment.

"I think so." He wanted her to have as much support as possible.

"Will you set it up?" She gripped his hand tighter.

"I can do that." Sonny offered Elizabeth was handling this very well. But that no longer surprised him. In his arrogance he had badly misjudged her.

"There is something else you need to know." Jason told her what Ric was hoping to have happen.

"You'll handle it?" She asked Jason.

"Yes." He told her. Just that one word.

"Then we don't need to discuss it anymore." Jason wouldn't let anyone harm her or their children. "I'm going to bed. Don't stay up too late." She gave him a quick kiss before rising from the table.

When she was gone Sonny turned to his friend. "You have an amazing woman there Jason."

"I know." The enforcer said looking at the doorway she had just walked through. He would keep her safe and if it meant working with Lorenzo Alcazar then so be it.

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