So, I just found out the Metro Court pool is an outdoor pool lol. I thought it was indoors. It doesn't appear in this chapter, but in previous chapters I had scenes there and we're still technically in winter in this story (right now we're in the middle of March). So, for purposes of my story, it is an indoor pool lol.

Chapter 70- Michael Grows a Backbone

When Dante arrived home, Sam greeted him at the door and kissed him.

"Hey, where are the kids?" Dante asked.

"Rocco and Scout are upstairs doing homework," Sam said. "Danny went to the movies with his new girlfriend, Jake, and Charlotte."

Dante raised an eyebrow. "Did he finally ask out Georgie?"

"No," Sam said. "I was surprised when he told me. I thought he liked her. But it's another girl from school."

"Oh, yeah? What's she like?"

"I don't know much about her at all other than her name is Stephanie," Sam said. "He just told me quickly this morning. But I told him he could invite her for dinner so we can meet her."

He nodded. "That's good."

"But how are you doing after everything?" Sam asked.

He sighed and sat down. "I honestly don't know. I sometimes just try to ignore or forget the fact that my dad is a mobster. But why would he just shoot Cyrus right out in the open like that with multiple witnesses? One of the reasons he's gotten away with so much is because he's good at covering it up. But I don't see a way out of this one."

"Yeah, it does seem strange that he'd be sloppy like that."

"And not only that, but the PCPD found Avery's fingerprints on the gun found in Donna's room," Dante said.

Sam's eyes widened. "What?"

"And my dad owns the gun."

"So, Avery killed her own mother?" Sam asked. "Oh my gosh. And poor Wiley…. I—I just realized that very easily could've been Scout if she kept going over there."

"I never thought of that. Avery and Donna are very shaken up," Dante said. "Neither will talk about what happened. The most Jordan got out of Avery is that they were playing with Sonny's toys. That sounds just like—"

"Like they were playing with Sonny's guns."

He nodded. "But it's difficult to know what exactly happened since Avery and Donna are too scared to tell us, and we don't know yet if Wiley will even remember when he recovers. Ava is dead, and Spencer and Josslyn were downstairs so didn't actually witness it. But how did Avery end up with Dad's gun?"

GHGHGH

Jake, Charlotte, Danny, and Stephanie stood in line at the concession stand.

"Have you guys seen the first Dune?" Jake asked.

They all shook their heads.

"Oh, me and my brothers loved it," Jake said. "We've read the books too. But I can summarize what happened so you can follow the second one."

"I love Star Wars though," Danny said. "I've heard their similar."

"Eh, kind of. Very different though too."

After they got their popcorn, Jake started to blush when Emma walked in with Robin and Noah. Charlotte tensed up.

Emma came over to them while Robin and Noah went to get their tickets. "Oh, hey guys," Emma said.

"Hey," Jake said. "What movie are you seeing?"

"Kung Fu Panda 4," Emma said. "Noah's been dying to see it. I'm not big on it, but I agreed to join them. You guys?"

"Dune 2," Jake said. "You could watch it with us if you prefer that over the cartoon."

Emma's face lit up. "Oh, I love Dune. I've read all the books. Do you guys mind if I join you?"

"I'm cool with it," Danny said.

"Me too," Stephanie agreed.

Jake turned to Charlotte. She nodded.

"Great!" Emma said. "I'll just tell my mom to get me a ticket for Dune instead. There's a bit of a line up so I'll meet you guys in the theatre."

Charlotte stopped just before they reached the theatre. "I'm just going to use the bathroom. You guys grab a seat."

"Okay sure," Jake said before he, Danny, and Stephanie headed in.

Charlotte glanced back at Robin, Emma, and Noah.

GHGHGH

"Come on, Michael." Carly prodded him to Wiley's room. "You and I will visit him first."

"I want to see him," Willow said.

"You can visit him later with one of us," Carly said.

"Mom, Willow and I should go see him first," Michael said.

"Nuh uh." Nelle set her hands on her hips. "I'm going in there first."

"Not happening," Michael said. "Wiley doesn't even know you."

"And whose fault is that?" asked Nelle.

"Yours," Willow said.

Nina cleared her throat. "Maybe Wiley would like for both of you to visit him. His two mommies."

Nelle and Willow glared at their mother.

"Michael and I are going in first and that is final," Carly said.

They turned when Chase walked over to them. "Carly, I need to speak with you."

"Chase, this isn't a good time," Carly said.

"But I just spoke to Jordan," Chase said. "She wanted me to inform you that Donna and Avery are both quite traumatized over the shooting."

Carly frowned. "I figured they would be. I'll go home right after I visit my grandson."

"But that's the other thing. Donna and Avery have gone home with Kristina. She also has Amelia until Michael is able to get her."

"Okay, then I'll go get them," Carly said.

"Kristina has temporary custody while we investigate you and Sonny," Chase said.

Michael gaped while Nina and Willow exchanged confused looks.

Carly went extremely pale, her nostrils flared, and she clenched her jaw. "Excuse me?"

"You may only see Donna, Avery, and your grandchildren under supervision until this gets sorted out," Chase explained.

"Until what gets sorted out?" Carly asked. "Ava shot my grandson, what is left to sort out? Why are you investigating me and Sonny?"

"Ava has been ruled out as a suspect," Chase said. "Her fingerprints weren't found on Sonny's gun. Yeah, it was Sonny's gun. But there were fingerprints on it and they belonged to Avery."

"What?" Michael said. "Avery shot Ava and Wiley?"

"That's insane," Carly said. "Avery would never shoot anybody. Right Michael?"

Michael didn't respond.

"Like I said, we're still investigating," Chase said. "But the evidence suggests that Avery at least shot Ava, and probably Wiley too. Since Wiley is out of surgery, the bullet is being transported to the PCPD to be examined, so hopefully we'll learn more."

"You are not barring me from my children and grandchildren," Carly said.

Nelle grinned. "Karma's a bitch, isn't it Carly?"

"I'm sorry, Carly," Chase said. "Kristina is already aware and you can visit the girls at her discretion, as long as there's another adult present that isn't Sonny. But that won't be an issue since Sonny is in jail. Supervised visitation with Wiley and Amelia are also at Michael's discretion. Also, a social worker will be in touch with you. Don't hesitate to contact the PCPD with any questions." Chase left.

"Let me remind you that my rights have been reinstated," Nelle said. "And now that Carly and Snow White's have been reversed, I will be visiting my son now. Thank you very much."

Michael groaned. "Willow, why don't you and Nina go in first. Then I'll go in with Nelle so she's not alone with him."

Carly scoffed. "Michael!"

Willow nodded and hurried in with Nina following her.

"Did you not read the papers?" Nelle asked. "I can be with him unsupervised."

"You go in with me or you don't see him at all, Nelle," Michael said.

"Michael, how could you allow Nina and Willow to go in there?" Carly asked.

"Because right now I am less concerned about Nina and more concerned about you and Nelle being around my kids."

"Well, at least it's not just me this time," Nelle said.

"Michael, how can you say that?" Carly asked. "You can not believe that Avery would do that."

"Yes I can because I wasn't much older than her when I became interested in guns and wanting to be like Dad and Jason," Michael said. "And now my son was shot in the head like I was because of yours and Dad's choices… and mine too. And since we had Willow's adoption of Wiley revoked, all it did was pave the way for Nelle. I never should have let you talk me into that. But right now, I'm putting a stop to it and I'm going to make better choices for my kids. I never should have given Avery back to Dad. And now, I don't want either of you near Wiley or Amelia again."

"You can't mean that."

"Do I need to spell it out in bold letters for you? You heard Patrick. We don't know what affect this is going to have on him. I'm done letting you control my parenting choices. I am making my own decisions for my family, starting with allowing his mother back in his life and kicking you out of it." He looked at Nelle. "Meaning Willow, not you." He stared at Carly again. "Now leave, Mother."