Chapter four
San Diego, April 2006
" Nikolas, we are finally here. Our flight got delayed." Lucky says. " Well if you would stop being stubborn and let me send my private jet you would not have that problem." Nikolas says." That is what I said but someone is more stubborn than me." Elizabeth said. " Hello Elizabeth, thank you for trying to speak some sense into my brother." He said. " As much as I miss you, I am not here for you. I am here for my niece and nephew so stop stalling and tell me where they are." Elizabeth says. " I see where your priorities are. They are in their playroom with Sarah. She leaves and thinks she only tolerates her sister for Lucky,
Nikolas, and her kids. " Alexandra and Ares Auntie is here," Elizabeth says. They stop what they are doing and run and tackle her and they roll around.
" Hey Auntie Lizzie, I missed you. I want to show you the picture I made for you." Ares said. " Let me see it, sweetie, Oh my gosh this is so pretty you did such a good job of drawing the horses and coloring them. I am proud of you." Elizabeth said. " Thank you I used the art set you gave me for my birthday," Ares said. " Daddy bought us a toy motorcycle for being the best in class. Can I show you Aunt Lizzie?" Alexandra asks. " Sure Alex I would love to see it." She said, " It is our backyard and it is yellow."
After playing with the kids and having dinner. She reads them a story. They love her animated voices and she often calls them when can to read them a story. She always makes sure to buy the same books they have. They are sleeping and the adults are in the backyard around the pit fire. " So Lizzie, when are you going to give the twins some cousins because Steven is still in his Playboy era," Sarah says. She hates being called Lizzie by her sister and only likes it when the kids do but she loves them more than she hates her sister. " Between Lucky being a detective on a high-profile case and me working crazy hours we are waiting until we are more stable."
Gosh, she is so nosy and annoying. After they head to the living room there is a news report about the brothers who were just murdered and they believe it is connected to the renegade killer. " I do not know which killer is worse, this renegade killer or the trickster killer. Killing innocent people and they still have no leads." Nikolas said. " I cannot get too much into it but the trickster killer is worse because he usually makes them suffer before he kills them. The renegade killer makes it quick." Lucky said. " All around there is so much tragedy. I feel bad for them. Innocent people should never die. I am sleepy so I am going to head to bed goodnight" Elizabeth said. They all go their separate ways.
1 hour later
They are all drugged and asleep. Time to go out and have some fun. Oh, this bar looks like fun. Huh, I would know that ass anywhere. She approaches the pool table and says " I see someone is practicing. Are you afraid of little old me?" She said, "What are the odds we are both here at the same time." Jason said. " Math is more of your area, not mine. So you figure it out." ELizabeth says. " Still a smart ass I see," he said. " Of course, what other way is there to be?" she retorts. "How have you been?" He says as he racks up the balls." I have been good just out here visiting my niece and nephew? What about you?" she says. " I am good, I am out here on business and heading back in two days so I don't miss Micheal's soccer match," Jason said. " I am sure he is great. Do you have a picture of him?"
Elizabeth said. He pulls out his wallet and shows it to her. " Wow I see he still has Bobbie's hair and oh he has freckles," she said. " Do you have a picture of your niece and nephew?" Jason asked. " Sure, here they are, the little girl is Alex and the boy is Ares."
" Wow they are beautiful, your niece looks like you. She even has your curly dark hair." He said. " Yeah we get that a lot but I know the dark hair comes from Nikolas and the blue eyes come from Sarah." She said, " The little boy looks familiar but I don't remember Sarah." Jason said. " Yeah his eyes are so blue but not the kind of blue that runs in our family but he loves to draw and he is really good. Alex is into motorcycles and has a motorized one" she said. " So Alex likes going very fast like her aunt," Jason said. " Very funny Morgan. The toy barely goes 2 mph." She said, They continue to banter and he gets a phone call and has to step out.
" It's about time your boyfriend left so I can show you what a real man looks like." He said. " That is fascinating. I do not see a real man in front of me I see a little boy trapped in an adult body So step off. " There is nothing little about me sweetheart." He says as he grabs her takes him and twists it. " Do not touch me, asshole. I would say your mother taught you matters but not." She said, " Let me go you bitch." He said. One of his buddies came at her " Listen lady let him go before I teach you some respect." his friend said. " Back the fuck away from her before I make you," Jason said. " Who the fuck you think you are?" the guy said. " I am the guy who will kick your ass if you do not take your dumbass friend and walk away. Hey, slugger let him go." Jason said. She lets him go and the dickwads leave and flick them off. " Real mature assholes," she mutters.
"Are you okay? He asks as he checks her over." I am fine but thank you." Elizabeth said. "Let's get out of here. I saw this place that reminds me of the diner back home. Looks like it's 24/7." Jason said. They leave to take Jason's car because she came in a cab but the asshole from earlier has friends. " Thought we would let that shit slide. I don't think so." the guy said. It is two versus 5 and they jump at the couple but get their asses handed to them. After confirming Elizabeth is okay he takes out a pair of gloves and as they lay knocked out takes a picture of their IDs. "Let's go good thing this place has no cameras but I highly doubt these assholes would file charges especially since they got their ass handed to them by you," Jason says as they leave.
" I know a place but it is a bit out of the way," Elizabeth says as she gives him directions. They just drive and she let the wind blow on her face. They take the food to go and decide to go and overlook the place that she told him about. He opens the back of his truck and they eat their meal. " I remember after a motorcycle ride how freeing it felt and how close the stars were. I miss that feeling." Elizabeth said. " I know what you mean, the view was beautiful. Jason said. " Do you not ride as often anymore?" she said. " I rarely do because it does not feel the same anymore. Riding last month was the first time I rode in years. I had this itch to rent a motorcycle when in town and then I ran into you." He said. " Must have been fate then. I am sorry it does not feel the same anymore." She said,
" Is it my fault you don't ride anymore?" She asks. " No, it is my fault for ruining our friendship by falling in love with someone whose heart belonged to someone else. I stopped riding because I couldn't get your giggles and screams out of my head." Jason said. " You loved me," she whispers. He shrugs as he hops out the back and looks at the sky. " Don't do that. Don't tell me something like that and then shut me out." Elizabeth said. " What is the point? You are with Lucky and I am with Carly. We aren't friends and we will never be together or even friends again. So I am doing us both a favor. So let it go." Jason said. ' I can't let it go. I know it was mostly my fault and that I hurt you but I hated hurting you. I hate pushing you away. I wanted you both." She said.
" You chose the man you wanted more so it is done and over with," Jason said. " I chose the safe choice. I chose what was easy. You were dangerous." Elizabeth says. " So you are afraid of me?" Jason said. " I have never been afraid of you. I was afraid I would give you my heart and you would decide that I was too young or could not handle your world. Because if I gave you my heart and you broke it then it would have shattered me worse than when I thought Lucky was dead. That is how much I love you." Elizabeth said. " You just said it in the present tense, you better be sure of that sentence," Jason said. " I did not misspeak. I meant what I said. The question is what are you going to do about it?"