Thanks for the feedback. I am glad you guys are enjoying this story. As I said before, I am really enjoying writing it. The flow is so easy to tackle that it feels like it is writing itself, for now at least. Enjoy and pleases feel free to leave your thoughts and comments, PM if you have questions.
Chapter Four
All the men but one followed Mr. Corinthos back to his office. She wasn't exactly sure why this one stayed but she supposed that the 'protecting' her had already began. So long as he stayed where he was, she didn't feel this almost compulsive need to hide.
Thinking back, she found herself wondering if she was going to have to delve deeper into her own psyche if she ever hoped to surmount the ever increasing odds that were stacked against her.
Lost to her own thoughts, she didn't hear or see anything until she felt Epiphany's hand on hers. "Sweetie, Mr. Corelli was wondering if you needed another hot chocolate."
"I apologize. It is late…err…early and I guess I was woolgathering. Another drink would be wonderful, what your boss said was very true, I have never tasted another of its like." Elizabeth said as she swirled the little bit left of her drink round and round.
"Nothing to apologize for, it is early, I think my group is only functioning by the grace of really strong, black coffee." Francis said as he replaced her cup with a full one, careful to keep as much distance as he could. "Besides, for the time being, I have nothing to do, so it is best I keep moving."
Not bothering to filter herself, since she rarely bothered, Elizabeth said, "Being in the mob, you'd think early mornings and running on no sleep would be a regular thing, well except for the boss I suppose, he probably gets to luxuriate in bed with his moll…" She trailed off as she finally registered what she had said. When she cast a glance at Epiphany, the older woman's eyebrows were practically to her hairline and her jaw was practically on the table. "Umm…Oops…"
"I assure you Miss Webber, if my men are up, then I too am up. No Moll in my life, just my wife, who I am sure, would prefer I stay in more but the job dictates a busy schedule. No rest for the wicked..." Sonny said as he made his way into the dining area, a wicked smirk gracing his face.
"I guess when I was briefing you; I probably should have mentioned that Elizabeth doesn't have a filter, at all. If she thinks it, it comes out. Please don't take offense, no matter how sharp her tongue is, she didn't mean that the way it sounded." Epiphany said, trying to soothe any possibly ruffled feathers.
"Do not fret; I guess you could say, being in the mob has made my skin thick. Besides, for those who are less…educated in the way of the mob, I am sure what she said would make sense. Nevertheless, this business…some days it is 9-5 but others, when shipments come in, can take up more than…Anyway, neither of you will have to deal with any of the unsavouriness that can befall any business or organization." Sonny said as he took a seat at the counter by his men.
"I am sorry though, Mr. Corinthos. I guess spending most of my time with Epiphany hasn't really equipped me with the proper filters needed for day to day communication. We speak plainly to one another. Beating around the bush just seems like a waste of time to me. No matter what, I will try to curb my more…spontaneous thoughts."
"Honesty is rare in our world, we appreciate it when we know exactly what a person thinks and says. It saves on miscommunications and helps us to help you." Jason said, speaking for the first time in her presence.
Elizabeth's head shot up. For the first time in her life, she actually made eye contact willingly. She'd glanced at all the men, albeit briefly when she first saw them but it wasn't until that moment that she actually took a good look. Her gaze was completely ensnared on the man but if asked, she couldn't explain one way or another, what made him so easy to look at. Fear, that was the regular emotion whenever she was forced to look at someone of the opposite sex, if given the time, she was sure she wouldn't find an ounce of that here, in this moment.
Sonny and Epiphany shared a long look; both looked curious and a little wondrous.
Before anyone could say anything, Marco pushed the door open, laden down with bags of food. "Breakfast time!" He said, walking towards the women.
And just like that, the deep and meaningful look that was transpiring broke. Elizabeth looked warily at the new comer, especially as he moved closer. His large frame causing her instincts to react and she flinched as he got to within three feet of her.
"Marco! Stop!" Jason all but shouted, using his own body to get in the guards way.
Unsure just what he had done wrong, Marco froze. An order by Jason was as good as one from Sonny.
"Thank you for bringing breakfast Marco, why don't you come and stand next to me and let Jason hand out the food." Sonny said. The command was apparent but it was said evenly, no anger inflicting his voice.
More than a little confused but realizing his bosses had to have a reason, he followed his orders, that's what they paid him for.
Jason set the bag of food on the table farthest away from both women. When he came to chocolate chip pancakes and a number five, he took both and slowly walked towards the table. "Would it be alright if I approach?"
Knowing the question was for her benefit, Elizabeth nodded her head, just a quick up and down. There was something about the new guard that raised her hackles but allowing herself to stare into the cerulean eyes of the man moving closer to her, calmed her almost frenetically beating pulse.
The whole of Corinthos-Morgan seemed to be holding their breath, waiting to see what was going to come but the whole moment was rather anticlimactic as Jason gently settled both takeout boxes on the table before retreating, the only thing notable was neither he nor Elizabeth broke eye contact.
It looked to Sonny, that his first choice of guard wasn't going to work. While Francis would be a good match, his innate calmness and ability to stay on an even keel would probably be ideal, Sonny knew he was beat because whether he placed Francis on Elizabeth, he saw, Jason too would be right in the thick of things.
"Let's dig in. We have a lot to go over before any of us call it a night and I think you ladies would both like to know where you are going to be living." Sonny said as Jason finished delivering the food.
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"Are you happy with your new guard?" Epiphany asked. She'd seen the shy looks and nervous lip nibbling from Elizabeth, even though she hadn't ever experienced this type of phenomenon from her before, it left her curious.
Feeling safe now that they were locked behind a door, Elizabeth said, "I think so…do you think Sonny's a little bit…umm…gay, he seems to only have good looking guards?" She may be terrified of the opposite sex but she could appreciate beauty when she saw it.
Epiphany's laugh was loud and boisterous. "I suppose one never really knows but just because his guards are good looking, doesn't have a thing to do with his sexual orientation, besides, you heard him, he's married."
"She could be his 'beard' or whatever you call it…" Elizabeth said, her eyes twinkling with her merriment.
"I think your lack of sleep is making you delusional. Perhaps we better call it a night…err…morning and see if that helps your cognitive abilities."
"I suppose that would be for the best, I don't think I have made the best impression not to mention, I am sure they are unhappy about all my issues…perhaps we should have mentioned them to begin with. I don't want to cause a problem with you and these people." Elizabeth said, as she twisted her hands every which way.
Epiphany's arms were around her before she was even able to finish. "Elizabeth…You, you are what is important. We are here to help you. Sonny is an old acquaintance, nothing more. Besides that, you don't have issues…well, not really. You don't trust easily and you get scared but you have every reason. Life has kicked you while you were down, those that were supposed to love you and care for you…well, they did the exact opposite. I think it would be prudent to see if General Hospital has a doctor who you can speak to, maybe getting everything out in the open, once and for all, would do wonders for you."
"Talking about shit…" Elizabeth mumbled under her breath. "Talking has never helped before, why would it now?"
Rolling her eyes at the stubborn young woman, Epiphany tightened her hug, when all she wanted to do was possibly, maybe, kinda was, strangle her. "I never said it would help, I said it could help. You are not a little girl anymore and those puppy dog eyes and the pouty lip, they don't work like they used to. I love you, for all intents and purposes, you are my daughter but and it is a big but my dear, you can't keep hiding. What will you do when I am no longer around? Stop, I don't know anything, I am just telling you like it is. You cannot let yourself be afraid to live, it is time to stop hiding, hence why we are here. Do you understand what I am saying?"
Not wanting to get into the same old argument, Elizabeth just nodded her head.
"You will better yourself and do what is right, capeesh?"
Stiffening her spine, she saluted Epiphany before practically pirouetting her body into the right direction to make her way up the stairs. "Bossy Bi…"
"I heard that you little troll." Epiphany said with a laugh. She listened to the grumbling, mumbling fade into the distance and just shook her head. God love that girl…
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