3×15 Who Are You
Written by: Chris Coleman, Kristi Clark, Scott Andrews and Kelly Zollo
Warning: Episode contains language, intense sexual situations and details.
Theme Song: Dice- Finley Quaye

Ronan sat at his desk mulling through the papers the latest Atlas Falls Chronicle spoiling that mess with Connor Hessington and designer Val Ruiz front page news, if you could call it that. The latest gang shooting placed down to the third page midsection, police had no leads on the drug deal gone bad and if it was up to him it would stay that way. He then put it down to look at the other headlines from the various papers from the New York Times to the Washington Post the stock market and local headlines and of course the nitty gritty darker side of things hidden in the pages. Rich people didn’t care about the things he was involved in they never had been, they were far too invested in the frivolous things like the celebrity scandal or the newest fad they could care less about the rest of the small people. The door opened and he saw one of his men enter handing him a piece of paper, opening it he furrowed his brow for a moment that was not a development that he saw coming. Gia was a lot of thing but he didn’t think she would have taken it upon herself to take a trip down ot Florida and worse a trip that she thought she could take and he wouldn’t find out. Someone’s little brother thought it wouldn’t get back to his sister and him.

If Gia was bold enough to go down to Florida and see someone behind his back then there was no more telling what else could happen and he needed to protect his assets normally he would have Raven do that, so on that front he would ge tin contact with their back up like Thor had warned him. He already had men watching his baby brother and Cassie but Thor didn’t need to know that he had asked to be out of the business and he would respect his brother’s wishes. He then looked at a picture of Brooke and Atticus in the paper and he simply folded the paper to not look anymore, she was safe and happy, it was what she deserved. He almost thought about calling on the pretty red head that was Dru Price but after her little outing at the Summit and all the photos that followed, he wondered if he had bit off something with her that wasn’t worth the trouble anymore. He asked around she was seeing him, Philip Montgomery, Zerick Davis and now maybe the Governor’s son, plus that pesky rumor about her and Jackson that had seemed to take off. Besides he felt like if Gia got a whiff of that he didn’t know what she would do meaning he needed to be smarter with everything including their unborn son. When the door opened again he put a file away as he saw Braden Fraiser enter the room.

“Mr. Fraiser I was a bit shocked to get your call about taking over my personal matters. I’m relieved as well of course but it did take you a few weeks to get back to me. For a second there I thought you were going to ghost me or worse use those connections you’ve built against me after our little chat.” Ronan said looking at him there was no need for him to look at the file for the casino and how they planned to wash the money there and cook the books. If Braden had taken it up on himself to visit that meant that he was here strictly as a personal legitimate business means. “Did you attend that big shindig for Lowell Devonshire too, word is your father brought those fake crocodile teas with him, it was quite moving. Lowell tried to swindle me a few times and unlike your father I read the fine print and got ahead. Honestly I don’t think Atlas Falls will be the same now that he is gone but that means that the new generation can take over. If only your father and the rest of them would move aside, it could really be fun.” Ronan finished nodding to the guard to close the door to leave them alone Braden wasn’t here to kill him.

Braden had called Ronan a few days ago before Lowell’s funeral that after he and Tamara had talked he would take Ronan on as a client at least for the legal things, he wanted someone to bail him out of jail or on murder charges he would have to find someone else. Frankly he and Tamara needed the money at the moment, he had made a lot as DA but Dylan was starting college soon, she wasn’t working after having Delilah and unlike his niece and nephew neither of his kids would be gifted something someday. He wasn’t upset at that, or maybe he was how Dani just embraced being with Jackson and the Devonshire name, and he’d been reflecting a lot on if that was why he and Selina failed so bad because he wanted to separate that with them instead of embracing it. There were other issues there too he knew that deep down but here they all were at new places in their lives and he had to provide for his family, even if that meant taking on Ronan Madden as a client. As long as it was just kept to legal things and not that dark side and if his family was never put in danger he didn’t see why it couldn’t work, that or he was desperate and too proud to take his sister’s offer of employment at DGI. When he had arrived at the warehouse it looked so normal how many times had they raided this fucking building to find nothing over his career as DA if he started counting he’d need more hands.

“I had to think about it Ronan and make sure it was the right fit for my family. Honestly I had to reconcile with myself that I’m no longer district attorney and while I had other options I needed to make my own choice this time. I think this can work as long as you don’t involve me with the other side of your business and it seemed when we spoke earlier about it you had that handled.” Braden said wondering if the chill he felt in his spine was because it felt like he was turning his back on Atlas Falls doing this or if it was the change in the weather. Part of accepting this offer was the reality that he was no longer district attorney and he couldn’t run again after that article that Greer printed that had ruined his entire career. He still had no idea who her source was for the article or how they knew that Tamara had shot Dimitri and was it really such a bad thing that she did? When Ronan asked him about the funeral he had been there who wasn’t? He almost gave him the side eye when he mentioned that the other ones like his dad should step aside. “I think my dad likes being mayor for now, that could always change. Listen you’re not paying me to come down here and cut the shit all the time. So what is so important you had me down here so early this morning.”

“Are you always this testy? I can see why Raven admired you for it. You are right we should as you like to put it cut the shit. As you know myself and Gia Falcone are seeing each other and we entered into business together she is also pregnant. I hadn’t really thought about my estate matters much in my life it was always myself with my parents, later I learned that Thor was my half brother and even then my father never included him in his will.” Ronan said looking at Braden amused was a good way to put it, stuck up and up tight just like Walter was over the years Almost like he was judging him it didn’t surprise him and hell he almost admired him for it, he also knew that Braden was a father so at the end of their conversation he could really get a feel for what type of a man Braden was. “My father left me a legacy one you may not agree with but he left me one, I would like to do the same for my son. I would like him to take over all legal businesses here at Madden Enterprises and be involved in the Nightingale Casino when he is of age as well, of course I would actually like Thor to step in if he is able should anything happen to me.” Ronan said watching Braden take out a legal pad and starting to take notes down and he wondered if that was a law school thing or just being prepared.

“It’s recently come to my attention that Gia seems to think she is the one running this show in our partnership and made a few trips that are starting to worry me. She’s keeps involving herself into Max Devonshire’s space as well, I would like to think it’s a jealousy thing with her that I have chosen to not bring her onto the casino with me or she is still obsessed with Sebastian. You know what it is like to have an unstable and unfit woman looking after your child the worry and stress that can bring.” Ronan said looking at Braden put his pen down, he wasn’t above calling out the man on the couch for what he did with his son and Tamara back in the day, Tamara was a junkie at one point and long term client. She had cleaned up her act granted she wasn’t buying that nice blow that he sold on the streets anymore but Braden had done what he thought was best at the time. “I’m not going to judge you for it you wanting your son safe and happy I want that for mine. Gia’s becoming erratic and irrational, between those two problems I worry if she learns about a certain nanny that has been warming my bed occasionally she will put not only herself in danger but our son as well. I would like you to put a stop to that.”

Braden had been jotting notes down, Ronan could have gone online and wrote up a will and Raven probably did that already. He’d reach out to her former secretary and ask for the files pertaining to Ronan’s estate so she could keep the rest. When he had discussed this with Tamara that was the deal he didn’t want to know about the other side of Ronan’s business that included anything that Raven knew, it was safer that way. He hadn’t told his parents or anyone else in the family about taking Ronan on as a client he knew what would happen. The looks he would get from his father, his mother would disapprove, his sister would roll her eyes not understanding why he could do this and not be at DGI. The worst would be Zach who put his life on the line everyday to fight people like Ronan from being on the streets. The judgment would be worse than when Brock proposed to Greer but regardless he was doing what he had to. He didn’t agree with Ronan having a legacy in town unless you counted murder, drug dealing and the pluthra of other activities a legacy and he almost scoffed at him when he dared to compare it to the Pub like he was insinuating. The Pub was historic in town and though he never had a desire to run and frankly told his mom and dad to sell it in their divorce, his family had never been involved in the shit that Ronan was.

“If you think I’m testy you should see my dad on one of his good days. Please don’t even start comparing your business dealings to my families at least we’ve never killed anyone.” Braden said looking at him wondering if this arrangement was even going to work or not when Ronan shot him a look. He wanted a docile little yes man as his lawyer he came to the wrong person. “So the casino is something you want me to look into I can reach out to Raven’s old secretary.” He paused containing his anger when he brought up all that shit with Tamara and Dylan, that wasn’t even remotely the same thing Tamara was not some black widow killer mob heiress that left bodies in her wake that he had gotten pregnant. Tamara had an illness one that he certainly contributed to on and off over the years but she was nothing like Gia Falcone and he did what he had back then because it was best for Dylan to be around him and his family until Tamara had gotten her shit together. “So because you can’t keep it in your pants you want me to what exactly with Gia Falcone?” Braden said he personally didn’t care if Dru was sleeping with Ronan but he’d let his sister know because that could be bad if Gia lashed out at Dru putting his nephew and niece in danger.

“Be creative Fraiser you seemed to be good at that when you always used to try and trump up ridiculous charges against me over the years. Charges that never stuck every time, there has to be something you can do with the custody situation if you can’t then maybe I made a mistake in offering you the job in the first place. Seeing how you were one of like two people to ever land me in a jail cell I thought you would be up to the task.” Ronan said everyone warned him Fraiser was thick headed even Raven, but she also said that Braden was an amazing lawyer second only to her and he had proved that when he put him in jail for Gideon’s murder on evidence that had later been planted. He wondered if Braden was right if his wandering eye was going to lead to more problems than he was ready for with Gia and Dru and honestly that was something that he was worried about. “I thought you didn’t want to know about my personal matters, I’m paying you a very nice salary to take care of things like my domestic and legal issues that was our agreement. After Lowell died and quite dramatically I began to reflect a little more on the pending birth of my son with Gia, can you blame me?”

Braden almost wanted to walk out right then and there but he did have to think this through he needed Ronan as a client and he always had been clever with the law or at least bending it when needed in court. There was no mystery that Gia was dangerous all it would take would be a few cases from New York to be brought up against a judge and rumor was her right hand was even more dangerous. “She’s due pretty soon right, meaning you need to play this smart until after he is born, there isn’t a lot I can do until then. You need to prove in court that you are more fit to be a parent than she is, finding character witnesses could be hard. You should probably back off sleeping with my sister’s nanny for now, judges like stable families. Father of the year out sleeping around with someone you’re not having a baby with isn’t smart.” He said looking at Ronan it was something he used with Tamara, it was shady and at the time his lawyer had went hard on her sleeping partners while on drugs and he knew that swayed his case a bit with Dylan. “If you want a will drawn up obviously I can do that too. Is there anything else?” He finished putting his notepad back in his briefcase as he looked at Ronan.

“She’s due around the casino opening in a few weeks yes.” Ronan said wondering if he should call things off with the beautiful red head he’d shared a few nights of passion with now, he would take his lawyers advice into consideration as he watched Braden pack up his briefcase like he couldn’t wait to leave the room. He supposed he would have to get used to that Raven was always at least polite enough to stay for a drink and he walked to the door to see him out. “I’ll take your advice into heart and yes when you get the chance with a will please send it so I can sign it and make is legal.” Ronan said opening the door to his office and seeing Gia on the other side of the door wondering how long she had been standing there and what she had overheard more importantly where his guard was that was supposed to be on the door. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be home and I thought you were gong to New York to handle something.” Ronan said looking at her giving her the best smile he could while he leaned over kissing her lips gently to sell it.

Gia had suspected Ronan was up to something sneaky with the casino when she’d returned from her trip to learn he was at the warehouse. She and Hector learned he had a visitor when they arrived but these stupid guards weren’t saying who it was. Hector had quickly lured the guard away. She’d only had to glance at him and he knew what she wanted him to do. Hector might have his tantrums but their connection was preternatural. She would always come out on top because Ronan would never know that kind of link or devotion from anyone in his crew. His own idiot brother couldn’t even stand at his side. Once they’d left, she leaned in close to the door trying to catch the conversation. Quickly she realized it was an attorney. Not just any attorney but one of the best. Braden Fraiser, whose dumpy sister had hired that well bosomed barmaid he’d been diddling. And they were plotting to take her son. A rage had ignited within her and she grasped her swollen stomach. She focused on taking deep breaths in and out like she’d learned on that fucking app Hector had downloaded for her. Startled when the door suddenly opened, she came face to face with Ronan wearing the biggest, phony ass smile she’d ever seen. “You just missed the baby kicking,” she said, covering smoothly for what she hoped looked like surprise and not the pure hatred she’d felt in that moment. When he leaned in planting a chaste kiss on her lips, she grabbed his ass with both hands pulling him against her. Her tongue demanded entry and she kissed him hungrily. When she released him she smiled, wiping her mouth. “I wanted to surprise you. I know how you like to get your freak on in the office. I didn’t realize you had company,” she said looking at Braden. There was no way these two were stealing her baby. The second she was alone with Hector, they’d devise a plan of their own. Ronan would never lay eyes on his son.

Braden Fraiser who had been in the DAs office when her husband Frank had almost died the first time. He was likely behind the hours of questioning she’d been subjected to by the police and Feds. She’d spent two days in the hospital, puking and delirious. She’d nearly died and they’d hounded her when she was released. Fortunately, Hector had been spot on about ingesting charcoal before the toast with the poisoned champagne. He’d never left her side while she recovered. Holding her hair while she puked and telling her how they’d all fallen. Everything she’d gone through wasn’t good enough for these bastards, though. They’d still tried to pin it on her and failed miserably in the end. Now here he was trying to fuck her over again. “I didn’t realize you and Ronan ran in the same circles. It’s about time Ronan found some respectable friends. He’s about to become a family man.” What kind of man would leave a child motherless to feed their own egos? A slow smile spread across her face but her eyes were cold. She had to put Braden on notice that his actions would have severe consequences. Scare him away from Ronan before they had time to flesh out their plan. “You have two children now? What surprised me most about becoming a parent was how much I worry about little Santino’s safety,” Gia touched her stomach and saw the look on Ronan’s face at what she’d wanted to call their son “Well, the name’s still a work in progress. Hector has me doing these prenatal meditations, some shit about finding my inner goddess but I can’t seem to stop thinking about all the awful things that could befall him. I bet you still worry about Dylan and little Delilah. Children are so delicate. A parent’s greatest strength but also their greatest weakness.” Braden had looked uncomfortable from the second the door had opened so what was he doing taking a job with Ronan? He should be asking himself if that’s what he really wanted because if he took her kid, she’d take his. She moved in closer, looking him over as she ran a long nail down his chest. “You’ve been taking good care of yourself. I have a confession. I used to fantasize about you grilling me on the witness stand.” She took his hand in hers, digging her nails into his flesh as she placed it on her inner thigh and guided it slowly up, under her dress. “You would become so impassioned that you’d burst into the witness box and take me.” Licking her lips as she moved his hand further up. “Railing me in front of the judge, trying to fuck a confession out of me.” She rolled her eyes up into her head and bit her lip, as she continued the path up her thigh until they found the treasure. The hard metal of the gun she had strapped to her leg. Letting him know it was always within reach. She was amused when he pulled his hand back and her smile returned. “You should stay for a little afternoon delight. It’ll be fun. Ronan can play the judge.”

Braden wanted to leave the warehouse mainly because he didn’t want to know about any of the other illegal shit that went down, so he was happy when Ronan had opened the door to give him an out. That was quickly displaced by the fact that Gia Falcone was on the other side in the flesh compared to Ronan she was like a silent and viper in some ways, he knew she’d attempted to murder her husband in Atlas Falls, it never made it to trail as she high tailed it back to New York but he knew he just couldn’t prove it at the time. He watched Ronan accept the kiss he had to admire the sell of it if anything five minutes ago he was petty sure Ronan knew that she wasn’t as she had seemed. It made him quite uncomfortable and when she turned and started to speak to him about Dylan and Delilah a chill went up his spine as he cast a glance at Ronan he didn’t realize he was in league to kill women or children, that was simply a line he had never crossed that he knew of. He thought about taking out his phone and texting Zach, Jon or Devin to put someone on Tamara and the kids and then realized he had no power to do so. As Gia grabbed his hand and began to play out this fantasy she had and honestly his entire body froze did she really think he was that type of a man, he tried to pull his hand back as her nails dug into his skin and then his eyes landed on hers when he felt the gun, she was fucking crazy. He tugged his hand back seeing the claw mark on it and the blood.

“I’ll be in touch.” Braden said looking right past her and at Ronan not even dignifying her sick fantasy with an answer she frankly didn’t deserve one from him it was not ever happening. He made his way hastily out of the warehouse basically sprinting to his car before opening the door and taking out his phone texting Tamara to be vigilant just in case. He almost even texted his sister that he’d go work at DGI before one of Ronan’s men tapped on his hood to let him know the gate was open and he could go.

Ronan had accepted Gia’s kiss he if didn’t he feared it would only fuel her obvious paranoia and he return the gesture for show of course. He had wanted to motion to Braden that he could go before Gia had turned her attention to him and his blood ran cold when she talked about murdering his kids, that was a line he refused to cross never had. He watched Gia get some sort of sick rile out of telling Braden Fraiser her fantasy and he remembered what Thor had warned him about with Gia that she was jealous most of the time and rumor was her stamina was something that often got her in trouble. He made a note to do a better job pleasing her for now, he didn’t need the extra drama of her looking into his extra curricular activities outside their arrangement. He had went to stop the encounter when Braden had did it himself before high tailing it out of the warehouse before he could even get out a reply. He walked around Gia the smile on her face before he leaned in wrapping his hand around her throat and pushing her into the wall applying a slight amount of pressure.

“If you touch one hair on those children I’ll make you pay Gia and not even your little lapdog himself will stop me. You think attacking my new attorney is wise Gia but you seem to have forgotten that I pulled one of the most noble men in this town to my cause for my son, not for you or me but for him to make sure he has my empire. I won’t let anyone stop me let alone you and I have a rule about women and children, in your case I might be pushed to turn the other way after he is born.” Ronan said seeing the amused look on her eyes and he actually almost went ruther and squeezed the life out her until he knew better not until after his son was born. Healthy and alive that was all that mattered afterwards he had a plan that including taking his son from her and maybe tossing her into the lake or river but for now he would wait. “You wanted us to be something we can do that but that includes putting your side Hector on the backburner and to quit threatening my business associates.” Ronan finished releasing her throat seeing her reach for it almost like she thought he was going to sleep with her right there after her little encounter with Fraiser.

“Ronan, you sweet talker. No wonder panties start dropping when you walk into a room,” Gia said, rubbing her throat but she had to admit she was kind of turned on. The danger, the thrill of the hunt was an aphrodisiac. And she’d had little of that since coming to Atlas Falls and being effectively hamstrung by the man she’d thought would be a mob God. So, no surprise that he’d left her wanting. He was nothing like the fantasy she’d created after his first visit to her in New York. If nothing else, she’d managed a twofer tonight, getting a reaction out of Braden and Ronan. She wondered what Braden would say about him grabbing her by the throat. Not father of the year material, was it? “Your generous heart disgusts me. Why do you care what these people think? You look in the mirror and tell yourself you’ve been accepted as some high society outlaw; a veritable folk hero. They may look the other way while they take your money but they’re thinking about how you climbed out of the gutter to join them. You’re a fool if you think otherwise.” They had so much promise in the beginning. She’d hung on to the idea that things could still turn around until tonight. The reality was he would take her son in a heartbeat. If he left her alive he’d poison their child against her. But fate had turned the tables. She’d get rid of Ronan and Braden if she had to, for her son. In the meantime, she couldn’t give him any reason to suspect she knew. “I want our son to inherit an empire greater than what we have now. I’m not ashamed to say I’ll do whatever it takes, and dispatch anyone who stands in the way of that. I know you’re loath to admit it, but Hector is the best person to help us. Help our son. So, no, he won’t be going anywhere and we’re all going to have to find a way to trust each other. Unless, we’re no longer aligned in that goal?”

“I care because ever since the police dragged us down and had us in lock up they are itching for a way to put us both away since their little RICO case is stale in the water. Piling up dead bodies especially the dead bodies of the former DA and his family is not something either of us fucking need. You really want to get all blood thirsty on him and his family and for what? Him helping me set everything up so our son is taking over my empire should anything happen to me. The casino solidifies that for me my place in this society as you like to say, being connected to one of the wealthiest families in the states helps that with us.” Ronan said looking at her making sure he kept his tone firm with her she had that crazy look in her eyes the look her father had from time to time, the killer looking for it’s prey look. He was truthful on that part he didn’t need a string of dead bodies in his wake at the moment she killed Braden or his family the police would come after him hard. “Hector is a wild card that we don’t need stirring up trouble while he is in town, keep him on a leash Gia or perhaps an accident will befall him you want to threaten my attorney we can see who wins the battle.” Ronan said leaning in kissing her deeply, almost like a kiss of death before he pulled back waving his hand at his guards as he walked to the warehouse floor to see what was and wasn’t in order.

Gia savored the kiss Ronan gave her, like she’d be making the most out of the rest of the time they had together. No sense in squandering the physical perks of this cursed union. He knew how to use that tongue and every other part, though she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of admitting it. She sucked her teeth as she watched him leave and when he was gone an ugly sneer came over her face. “He’s helping me set up everything for our son,” she said, punctuating it with a disgusted scoff as she pulled out her phone to text Hector.

WHERE THE FUCK ARE YOU?!?!!?! Fuck. Fuck. FUCK. MEET ME AT THE FUCKING CAR!!!!!

*********

The funeral was over her ex husband was in the ground Mason was working on an injunction for Tess and she was haunted was a good word for it, haunted by her own past and ever since the Summit party she was going to fix it, Jackie Davis was not going to take this laying down. She’d had breakfast at the mansion with Maddie before school saw Chauncey off to work made a few calls, checked her email and then printed out the one from her daughter in law. A resignation that she frankly wasn’t going to accept she was the one that had placed her in that position with Lex and she would go to her son and correct it. She’d seen it at the party and even at the funeral, it was why she had done what she did and she would hold her head high. She’d reached DGI to see Dani not in her office and then made her way to her sons, his secretary telling him that he was free for a bit, he would still be CEO. Mason was working on it with Julian’s office they had filed an injunction as soon as Tess left meaning that for now as a board they needed to work together. She noticed the calendar on his desk the trip to Montana that weekend circled and leaned down hugging him. Perhaps she could take the twins for the weekend send Dru away after today she would be looking for someone else, her son and daughter in law wanted to pretend it wasn’t a problem, she knew better. It was one of the reasons she never let a beautiful woman look after her own, the temptation from Lowell would be there and she had enough to worry about with Tess and Audrey along with the others.

“Sean told me to come in I hope that is alright. I know you want to jump in and fix all this with your father but you need to let the lawyers handle it. There is nothing any of us can do until a judge says otherwise. You need to focus in on that upcoming business trip to Montana to secure those turbines. I also wanted to talk to you about what I walked in on the other night.” Jackie said seeing Jackson look at her and she wondered if he was going to listen or not. She was his mother knew him the best and maybe she shouldn’t ask or try and help but how could she not, she told Lowell she would, hell she and Lauren promised they would guide this entire marriage. She watched him looking at his computer and then kept seeing him glancing at his phone or the calendar and spoke. “It was quite the fight I walked in on with you and Dani, I was young once and just married. Is everything with you two alright?” Jackie said seeing him basically ignore her question and she in turn spoke up even louder as she looked her son in his eyes. “Jackson Andrew Devonshire you will answer me is everything okay with you and Dani?” She asked again hoping he would at least talk to her.

Jackson leaned back in his chair as he bucked his eyes at his mother demanding anything from him. Right now his nerves were bad because of his step-monster claiming that she was to get everything. From the CEO spot to the fortune he made. His eyes looked at his mother and he exhaled. “Listen I doubt my father would let anyone and I mean anyone in and demand information. You walked in here demanding information about my personal life. But since you are wondering you walked in on one of the worst fights my wife and myself had. You know Dani has been missing events, forgetting major things we need, and finally she’s jealous of Dru. When we should be getting the sexiest woman in Atlas Falls per Greer’s paper. I find her to be disgusting and worst of all she is manipulating everything. Not to mention she’s lying with that slimy never mind mom. I am not a cheater and I am not my dad so I don’t need a lecture about keeping it in my pants. I’m so sick of Dru playing it up that I want her.” He said twirling in a circle in his father’s chair. He felt like a imposter and that ate him up. How was he to protect DGI when Tess had some sort of false claim. It killed him that she had some claim to his father’s legacy when dad truly detested her.

“Mom it’s like we are so off and then we find our way back. We’ve been arguing a lot and what’s worse neither of us trust the other. At the energy summit she was late and it lead to the argument you walked in on. She is questioning me about Dru and I’m questioning her about Lex. It’s like some constant cycle of distrust and I don’t like it one damn bit.” Jackson confessed. “I messed up and screamed at her. I yelled at her and it’s because I’m so jealous I can’t see straight. I think of him around her and it makes me ill. I just love her so much and it feels like Dani doesn’t see all that I do. I get up just a much as her when JJ is crying because she’s teething, I stay with Donovan when he can’t sleep, and I’m working and she forgets the most important night of my life? I just don’t know what’s going on. Am I failing my marriage? Am I ruining my own relationship? Mom I swear I’m not fucking Dru and to make matters worst she’s playing me. She’s acting like the perfect nanny and the other day.” He paused as he looked at Jackie. “She kissed me and I didn’t want it but she did it and I feel weak saying this but I don’t know what else to do. If I fire her she’ll go to Dani and act as if I wanted her and if I keep her she’ll keep hitting on me and doing things. You know Dani has been saying her phone is acting wonky well I wouldn’t put it past Dru. You know she’s really friendly with Lex.”

Jackie sat and listened as her son started to talk about what was going on at home with him and Dani, she’d been there done that a few times with Lowell more than she cared to count. “I am not an ordinary person I am your mother and I’m worried about you and her. I actually assumed that you weren’t having an affair the night of the Summit in how you mentioned that you wanted to get rid of Dru, you were so crushed when she walked out I knew then that you weren’t having an affair. Honestly this is mostly my fault. I was the one that asked you to have Dani help me with the fundraiser in some ways I thought that tradition should carry on as it had with your father and I. But Dani is not me and you aren’t him. Hence why when I received this from her in my email this morning I thought we should talk.” Jackie said handing him the copy of Dani’s resignation letter watching his face as he read over it almost like he was defeated or sad for Dani. Given what he was saying that was going on at home and the problems with both Dru and Lex she could understand why he thought that way and she reached over to touch his hand. “I’m not going to accept it but this to me shows that Dani loves you more than the fundraiser. You’ve been so busy trying to take over as CEO. She’s bored when we are in the fundraiser meetings, next year I’ll have Bliss do it or Max, she can’t pull out now not with Tess at your neck.” Jackie said wondering what she could say about Dru now the hussy that she clearly was trying to pit her son and Dani against each other, she’d pay a visit to Lauren later and handle it.

“Dani was nervous seeing Dru like that, likely intimidated her too. You’re not the only one under pressure. She makes a wrong move in the press, it reflects on you. She loses her cool, it reflects on you. I had your father’s affairs and rumors thrown in my face. It didn’t feel good, at least she stood her ground with you. I just sat back and took it for years. That’s what I mean, Dani is not me. The moment Dru kissed you, you should have told her if you tell her now Jackson it gives Tess a massive win watching your house crumble.” Jackie said looking at her son for now she wanted him to not say anything to Dani about it. Dani going off on Dru about it right after Lowell died would be bad, they could handle Dru quietly dismiss her as nanny and move forward with their lives. She looked at Jackson wondering why he was so jealous of Lex, a man that didn’t have his wife’s heart and she remembered a long time ago someone else tried that with her and Lowell. “Jackson Dani loves you. I can assure you that working with Lex is uncomfortable for her. She moves away from him when he comes into the room, keeping distance between them. She’s doing this for you. I would have never placed her in this position with you if I knew it would lead to all these issues between you too. If you fire Dru now she can go to the press and like you said try and spin things to hurt you and Dani. I clearly saw her with Lex and you are probably right she wanted a reaction out of you and Dani, one she got.” Jackie said, looking at the calendar on his desk again. “Marriage is work Jackson hard work, both of you have been so busy since the wedding, ruts happen. When was the last time you and Dani just got away? Without the kids or Dru tagging along?”

Jackson listened to his mother wise words. He knew he had to do something big to get Dani to calm down. Not only that she didn’t deserve for this to happen. She deserved for them to be a unit. His jealousy was out of control and he knew for a fact that she wasn’t cheating. He just hated Lex and hated how he constantly flirted with his wife. The woman he devoted his life to and she was still the same woman who loved him completely. “Mom I know that and I don’t want Dani to feel like she has something to hide. We’ve had no time to ourselves between the wedding, the twins, and the job it’s been nonstop and I hate it. I hate that we haven’t been ourselves. We still have a little fun here and there but that wasn’t our relationship before all the pressure. We were fun and I guess all the pressure of being at DGI and becoming CEO of the company. Especially with Chauncey watching every move I make and Tess lying now and saying she’s CEO of DGI.” Thinking about Dru his stomach turned. “I think she’s the worst move we’ve made as a couple. That woman isn’t just a hussy but she’s deeply troubled. Something is off about her and I can’t put my finger on it but she’s after something. Well to be honest isn’t everyone?” He paused as he looked at his mother with fear in his eyes.

“How did dad do it? Every day it’s a new threat and everyday it becomes harder and harder to fight against all of them. We know Forbes is going to try something. Did you see Pierre clapping and my own big brother.” He exhaled wondering if he was just overthinking everything right now? “I am not my father and it seems that everyone thinks my story is going to be similar to his. I for one saw what an affair did to my family and I don’t want it. I don’t want to be that man and I won’t be. I’m devoted to Dani and you walked in on a ugly fight that might have reminded you of things you experienced with dad. I just want you and Dani to know I’m not Lowell Devonshire. I do want my family and I got so mad because I was jealous. I really wished you would have consulted me before throwing even more on Dani mom. She’s stressed and Zerick found her all disoriented the night of the summit. I think she’s overworked and honestly she might be so stressed from all that comes with being a part of my family.”

“I’m going to tell you a story Jackson and one I want you to listen too. Your father and Walter were close, as close as brothers and then he decided to take DGI public and expand they hired people they thought they could trust Forbes, Pierre, Harvey and a woman Gloria. Things were good for a while your father actually was faithful for a while until I think he wanted more and more. He changed and I let him, and not change in a good way in a way that towards the end I didn’t recognize him. He was young, we just had Chauncey and honestly I struggled after your brother was born to get back into the swing of things. Gloria started to talk to your father at the office. Do you see where I might be going with this?” Jackie asked softly as she was almost transferred back into that place and time in her life down the very hall where Lowell’s office was where she and Gloria had tea. Discussed Selina and Chauncey maybe being a thing, where she let the woman she was closest too nearly destroy her marriage and change Lowell into the man that he would never go back too based her her lies and insinuations. “We were friends or so I thought. We shared everything together every secret I trusted her with Chauncey and more so your father it turned into the biggest mistake of my life. Did he ever get the chance to tell you why he hated Walter all those years and turned him out someone he felt was like his brother?” Jackie asked seeing Jackson looking at her intently she wanted him to take from this Dru was his Gloria in this case and he wasn’t careful and didn’t fight for his marriage history might repeat itself.

“She convinced your father that I was having an affair with Walter of all people, the man can barely keep one mistress in Brenda but she was cunning enough to convince him it was true. She encouraged him to go to the opera, whispered into his ear about how easy Audrey was and since I was having my affair it would be so easy for him to have his. I would let him go by himself because I didn’t want to miss anything with your brother and he kept me in a box. I had a say here for a while until he regulated me at home and once my parents died of course the country club. The rumor with me and Walter was never true Walter was my friend just as much as Lauren and if anything he tried to convince me that your father wasn’t having an affair.” Jackie said looking at her sons shocked expression and she waved her hand at him it was in the past and her voice did waver a bit when she spoke again. “I had that woman in the middle of my marriage so I know what it is like and frankly I saw something the other night I didn’t see with myself and your father a will fight for it. I should have more I should have confronted him when I felt like he was pulling away about how much I needed him. He should have simply asked me if it was true and taken my word instead of pushing me away and finding comfort in another woman not to mention the wife of one of his friends. He wasn’t all bad Jackson but we had taken the time to fix it things would have been different. Walter would have been here there wouldn’t of been all the hurt and affairs. You and Dani have time to fix it and get it right and I think you two can get there.”

“I truly don’t think it’s as bad as that. I do think Dru is insinuating herself right in the middle of my marriage. Just like Gloria did to yours.” He paused thinking about all the stories he had heard over the years. From what he understood Gloria was his mother’s best friend but from the sound of it she was a monster who manipulated a already rocky situation. For some odd reason Dru felt just like his parents. It was like Gloria was in their lives and honestly he wanted it to end. So much of him felt like his mother was far too kind. She seemed to be so hurt from the betrayal still. As he crossed his arms he looked at his mother. “Does my best friend have any clue what a treacherous bitch his mother was? Selina? They are going around thinking Gloria is some innocent who died when she put my parents through hell and highwater. I’m so pissed with you and dad. You two literally didn’t have a chance because of Gloria. This is crazy, this is years worth of lies.” Folding his arms he looked at his mother.

“Mom, I’m so sorry you went through this. Someone you thought loved you betrayed your trust and what makes matters worst is you had to raise her children. Say what you want but you’ve been a mother to Mason and Selina. I know how much you love them and this couldn’t be easy.” That’s when he knew the grace inside his mother. “Humility is thy name Jackie Devonshire. Wow mom you are even more amazing than I thought seriously. I can learn some things from you.” He grabbed her hand. “Mom, thank you but I will fix my marriage. I will secure my relationship and I will be CEO like my father wanted. Dad chose me and that means something to me and soon everyone will know Tess is a liar and pathetic. If she wasn’t ran out of town for being the slut she is she’ll be too ashamed to be here.”

Jackie was relieved that they had talked and she pursed her lips at him when he asked if Selina and Mason knew about Gloria, a lie she and Lowell had told over the years. She hadn’t told any of them the truth but in this case it was meant as a tool to help what she saw was going on in Jackson’s life at the moment. “No, Selina and Mason have no idea about the things that Gloria did back in the day and I would like it if you would keep this just between us. She’s dead Jackson and you may not understand that but Tony asked us to not speak ill of her to them and your father and I honored that with him throughout the years. She’s no longer in our lives or theirs and we all know that is for the best.” She paused for a moment when thinking over what he had said that Gloria had ruined her and Lowell, the truth of the matter they were the ones at fault for the downfall of their marriage, she may of contributed to it but they had been responsible to try and fix it. Back then they just pushed it aside all the hurt and anger and then it was too late to fix it. “I don’t blame Gloria for what happened with your father and I Jackson. We had plenty of chances to fix things or make things right and neither of us was blameless.” She finished looking at him and then rising from the chair.

“You’re not your father Jackson, sure you have parts of him that I am proud of his features, his kind heart before Gloria and all the affairs. You’re also cunning when you want to be, willing to outsmart when needed, it’s what makes you best suited. Your father knew that which is why I think he picked you because you are so unlike him in many ways. I think when the dust settles with this entire thing with Tess, she’ll regret taking on this family.” Jackie said giving her son a hug as she picked up her purse and then looked at him. The last thing she wanted was him or Dani worrying all weekend about the woman in their house with their kids and she looked pointedly at her son. “I’m going to go swing by and pick up the twins for the weekend. That way you don’t have to worry about Dru and can focus on being with your wife. She doesn’t have to worry about what is going on with you, I can help so let me. I won’t take no for an answer and besides I would love to spend the weekend with them. I’m their grandmother and I am sure Lauren would help if I asked as well.” Jackie said seeing him look at her as she made her way to the door not waiting for an answer. “You should probably dismiss Dru for the weekend until we figure something out.” She left walking out of the room gently closing the door behind her to leave her son alone in his thoughts, she had grandchildren she was off to spoil for a few days.

*********

Mason had went for a run that morning to clear his head while scrolling his phone answering emails and texts from Merci honestly he was thrilled the wedding was coming together so fast, he and Zach had sent her some ideas and told her to roll with it. It so far was looking elegant and the perfect twenties theme they were going for the art deco vibe was in full swing. He stopped by TJ’s on the run picking up two coffees and some scones for breakfast and then sent a text to his brother to make sure that the catering was lined up for the wedding. One of the easiest things honestly was the menu and having some of his father’s recipes at the event was going to be a way that he and Zach could honor him in the best way that he knew how. It was starting to get chilly out and he actually was looking forward to their honeymoon in Florida where the sun would at least be shining, whistling a bit as he left and got into his car before driving back to the house, honestly it was something he felt like would be sad to place on the market if they moved, then again maybe they could rent it out or make it into one of those swanky Air BNB type places, he’d have to move his practice too. It was a compromise he was willing to do though for Zach’s career and it was the best chance they had to get Kieran back too. He still hadn’t told any of his family that he and Zach had actively talked about moving but after the wedding they would. Pulling into the drive he headed inside to find Zach at the kitchen table his work laptop open as he handed him the coffee.

“So I talked to Merci this morning everything is set to go with the decorations and of course the venue Opehlia was happy we chose the estate it is going to look so good decked out in black and gold. Everyone has RSVP’d so far and she wants to meet later in the week to make sure that we decide on a cake flavor from TJ’s. I assured her that leaving the food to the chef at La Callie was fine since he’s known me since I was a kid not to mention it’s my dad’s recipes we can’t go wrong. I think we should talk to everyone about the move to DC after we get back from our honeymoon. I was thinking Miami would be fire right now. What are you working on?” Mason asked leaning down to kiss Zach’s lips and then looking at the phone in the bag marked evidence on the table, it was Dani’s phone. He knew that she was off Zach had told him after the funeral that she had burst into tears outside the church in a near full on panic attack and he had taken her phone. He saw Zach’s brow furrow for a moment before he looked down at the phone again. “So what is the verdict on the phone find anything or was it a dead end? I know you are worried about your cousin and lets face it she is gonna kill whatever she has planned for maid of honor speech but she’s been a little off lately.”

Zach had been staring at the report all morning. His spidey senses were tingling and even though he had a rushed wedding to plan it felt like he had something else to do right now. He had to figure out who put spyware on Dani phone, how much of her personal information had been compromised, and why did they do this? He for one had one sneaking suspicion it was only one person who could do this. He had a lot to help Merci with and Mason was determined to do the wedding before they headed off DC. Hell he was saying Miami and he agreed because honestly after a few years in DC maybe Florida could be home for him and the kids. “Well I guess I should start off with the good news. Dani isn’t going crazy but someone did install spyware in her phone. Not only that but they’ve been erasing text, and doing all sort of things on her device from what I see. She’s being gaslight hard and it’s someone who knows the Cummings family history. My aunt Lauren’s people were a little off and her sister or cousin killed herself. It’s something they keep quiet but Lauren’s side isn’t the most stable mix that with the hot Irish blood of the Fraiser’s well sometimes Dani is worried about what she will become. I always tell her over and over again she isn’t her family’s lineage.” Zach savored the kiss as he slapped Mason’s ass playfully.

Zach picked up his cousin’s old phone. “I have two suspects. That rat bastard Lex Hessington who would want nothing more than to get back with Dani and Dru Price who has been a little too flirty with Jackson. However I’m leaning toward Dru she has ample opportunity to install spyware and from the conversation I had with Dani it seems Dru is a little too, I don’t know. Perfect you know? She came out of nowhere to become the nanny to the richest family on the east coast. People know little to nothing about her and let’s face it Lowell screwed so many people over I wouldn’t be surprised if she was another long lost kid or some shit. Something about that girl I don’t trust and I think it’s time for Dru Price to be revealed.” Zach leaned back in his chair. “You care for one more mystery baby boy?”

“That’s good that at least she isn’t crazy I mean that you were really worried about her and honestly I was about ready to text Jackson about it too. He has all that shit with CEO thanks to Tess going on and I know he was asking Simon about Dani acting weird at the Summit. There are more than just your cousin’s ex and the nanny Zach, you’re the detective I’ll let you handle it but people are gunning for the company that she helps run or is a part of.” Mason said looking at the report whoever was doing this was good in his mind very good. Some of the texts especially to Lex were concerning but it clearly stated that they were sent from a different location with the satellite pinpoint not to mention the pins were all over the city meaning it was someone else doing it. He got that Zach was worried about Lex, Jackson had beef with him and rightfully so for how Dani had been treated with him and he saw that picture in Page 6. He was tempted to at least smack Zach’s ass back but he was seated in a chair at the table and instead he took a seat next to him. He took a sip of his coffee while looked over at Zach. “As for who could be doing it all I am saying is that why zero in on Dru? People leave and start over all the time Zach and sure she may be around Dani the most but why go after her? You really think that Jackson is going to fall for that after everything? There are so many other people who could have done it Tess probably has spies at DGI. Forbes has been after DGI for years, Pierre I mean he did send Greer after DGI all I am saying is that maybe don’t zoom in on just the nanny that is a little off. It could be Lex too after that picture he posed for right before Jackie was arrested.”

“I can handle the wedding stuff Zach so I don’t want you to worry about it, we’ve talked so much about the wedding and we both know what we want. Merci and I can handle it I gave her access to that money we put aside for the wedding, she knows how to put a spectacular party on display when she is in her groove. I know how important this is to you, Dani is more like a sister to you than a cousin and once you have a clue you always have to sniff it out. If the stress of the wedding is going to add to that I don’t want you to worry about it. I love how much you fight for your family Zach how loyal you all are to each other it’s endearing and makes me want to fight for you as my husband to get your son back even more no matter the cost. Also, besides what is the worst that can happen at a wedding in this town?” Mason asked playfully and then seeing Zach playfully glare at him and he let out a laugh. “Of course murder has already happened hard to trump that again. I wondered the other day if we were being selfish a little bit jumping the gun before Brock ad Greer too. Like I don’t want to make your family feel like they have to choose you know, but I know neither of us wanted to wait and not to mention all that shady stuff she was talking about at dinner.” Mason said looking at Zach and thinking over what he said about Lauren’s family sure he’d heard rumors over the years on and off, and he did remember as a child he heard his father and mother talking about it after Vicki died. “I don’t think Dani is crazy and neither is Lauren, but I know that people like to talk about the Crazy Cummings sometimes they did when your cousin died that night.”

Zach listened to Mason’s logic and shook his head at it. “Well I would think that it was corporate espionage if it wasn’t so personal. They were changing dates with Jackson, they were making it look like my cousin went crazy. I know this sounds crazy but ever since I saw Dru last summer it was almost like I knew her. Like she belonged with the Fraisers but something was off. Like she was too appeasing, she was too kind and too good. Butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth; she was so sweet. I just didn’t believe it then and I don’t believe it now. Plus look at what Greer is going through. I hate to say it but the Fraiser’s are the hardest people to blend families with. She however somehow got my aunt Lauren’s trust, and then she ended up with a pretty cushy job. I have this nagging feeling about her and when I saw her at the Summit. Let’s face it she was wearing a tablecloth wrapped around her body. I’m not saying that you aren’t right it could be Tess, Pierre, or Forbes. But they aren’t petty and nothing was disturbed to bring bad to DGI, it was her personal life. Missing appointments, changing times for meetings with Jackson. I just don’t believe it’s about that company. I think this is personal. If I’m correct Dani is either working with the psycho who is still in love with her. Or this bitch is sitting in my cousin’s face and trying to hurt her. Whatever the case is I’m on the case and I will promise that whoever it is will be behind bars for this.” Zach leaned back in his chair as he looked at picture of Lucy, Brock, Kelsey, Dani, Braden, and himself. He often wondered where the Fraisers would be if Victoria would have survived. It didn’t just hurt one side, it hurt them all. Lucy went off the rails losing her little cousin. They were the closest in age. The Cumming’s Curse was something of a folklore in town. Every woman born of their bloodline and lineage well their husband’s died a tragic death and if not the husband’s then it bestowed on the family until she was left alone. He heard it a lot but he didn’t believe it.

Gulping his coffee. “So I’m going to investigate and I’m going to also see if I can call in a favor from some people. I have a lot of personal days saved up right now. So I’m going to make some moves and I’m going to show everyone why I’m the first Fed in the Fraiser’s history.” Standing up he turned on music that mellowly played on the speakers. He danced with his fiance. “Our wedding, I love the ring of that. Our life together and I can’t believe that I get it with you. I never thought I’d love this deeply again. I’ve framed you in all the pictures in my life Mason. You haven’t let me down yet and I guess seeing Dani so happy and now hurting so badly. If someone did this to you I’d kill them.” Maxwell singing in the air. “Selling my house will replenish whatever we need for the wedding, so whatever you want. You rescued me after Dante’s death and losing Kieran. I was dark. But right now I have a future and I am going to get my son back.” As he heard a knock at the door and he knew who it was. Walking with Mason to the door his hands still around his future husband’s waist nibbling on his ear. “Okay no Cumming’s curse but it might be a lot of obscenities because Dani is about to lose it.” He turned and kissed Mason again as he opened the door. “Cuz!” He cheered, clapping his hands.

Dani had woke up ate breakfast with Jackson and the twins kissed her husband off to work and had been ready to get ready to go into work when Zach had texted her that he had the results back and to come over as soon as possible. She left Dru with the twins, threw on some sweat pants and top and then drove over to his house anxious on the way over what if he found nothing? Honestly she would feel defeated at that point that she had lost somehow, had failed and she parked outside the house for a few moments gripping the steering wheel as she stared at her reflection in the mirror. Then again if he had found nothing why tell her to get her ass over to the house so they could talk? Maybe he had found something an explanation to what was going on and she sent a text to Jackson she would be in after an errand either way they needed to talk. Getting out of the car she walked up and knocked on the door being greeting by Zach and Mason fawning all over each other before she stepped inside.

“Look at you two being all cute and in love, it must be the wedding. I’m also dying to know how wedding planning is going we’re so excited for you both.” Dani said smiling at them both Mason looked like he was going to high tail it out of the room meaning that Zach had found something that would set off her temper. She had to think if Mason had ever really seen that come out before probably not. “I came as soon as I got the text so what is up? I really need to know if I’m losing it or not.” She said looking at her cousin and at his fiance before she shot her cousin a glare. “Well spit it out. I’m supposed to be leaving in a few hours for Montana for that big trip and would like to know if I’m nuts or not before I go.”

Mason had been happy to indulge in whatever was on Zach’s mind for a moment wrapping his hands around his neck and kissing him back now that the pesky police business was out of the way. If anyone could solve the mystery and prove why he wanted to be in the FBI it was the man before him and he couldn’t help the smile that came out at Zach in truth Zach had saved him too, not the other way around. After the years of hiding who he was from his father and family, running around in secret with Simon this was what he wanted now to be out and proud, planning a family and future together. When the door knock came he sauntered to the door with Zach and then looked at Dani standing there demanding answers from Zach and almost made a beeline to give the cousins their privacy and decided against it. It wasn’t just Dani who they were messing with they were messing with his best friend too, clearly by getting to the woman in front of him. “Hey Dani, well don’t keep her in suspense besides the sooner you tell her the sooner we can get back to being sickly in love as she likes to call it.” Mason said looking over at Zach.

“I found active spyware on your phone.” Zach said, looking at her seeing the relief washing over her. “Cousin the Cumming’s Curse is bullshit and I need you to chill out because I have two suspects. I do want to ask you what do you know about Dru Price and have you left your phone available to Lex Hessington.” Zach moved out the way to let Dani sit down and let her mind ease. He took Mason in his arms and sat on the couch with his fiance in his arms. “Look I’m going to be honest, Mason asked me could this be Tess, Forbes, Pierre, or someone else. In all honesty it could be but the stuff that was changed and erased was personal Dani. It was concerning your relationship, moving dates of dinners, deleting texts, etcetera. So I’ve narrowed it down to two people in my mind. I don’t know why and I just told Mason this but I have never liked or trusted Dru Price. How she saved grandma, how she infiltrated her way into Lauren’s life, finally now getting the best job watching my little cousins. She’s involved with Lex and speaking of him. Well this benefits him when he’s made it very clear you are the end goal in his mind. Well either of them could be the culprit but Dru it’s something about her that I just don’t trust.” Zach finished he looked at Dani’s face.

He could almost read his cousin’s thoughts and she was shocked that someone would do this. Wondering who was messing with her marriage. “I’m sorry cousin and I think unhappiness isn’t in you or Jackson’s future. But someone is after you two and I need you to be alert and really assess the people around you. Give me a few names that you may find untrustworthy. Let me say this though this doesn’t feel like corporate espionage, it feels personal.” He said, wrapping his arms around Mason. “I’m taking some days off before and after the wedding and that’ll give me time to investigate. Whoever this is aren’t as smart as they think they are and I’m after them and they don’t even know it.”

Dani looked at Zach when he said that someone was messing with her phone. Of course she was thrilled that she wasn’t bat shit crazy but she was shocked about it why? It wasn’t like she was some person that someone needed revenge on and she was pretty sure she looked blankly at Zach before he sat her down on the couch. Then it hit her the anger at the invasion of her privacy that was compromised and she got up pacing back and forth before walking to the printed file on the kitchen table and picking it up reading through it. Everything was there her calendar, her text messages, times and dates that had been changed and she felt anger boiling inside of her at it all. When Zach mentioned his two suspects honestly she was a bit thrown at the Dru one, Dru was around the kids and had always seemed courteous to her and friendly. Maybe a little too friendly at times with advice but she just assumed it was because according to her mother she had a rough upbringing with her past. Lex sure maybe he would do it, he hadn’t exactly been subtle about the fact that he still wanted her no matter how much she put space or distance between them at the fundraising things they did with Jackie or in Jackson’s face lately. She got Mason’s concern about Tess though she was gunning for DGI and Jackson’s place there.

“You have no idea how violated I feel right now they had complete access to my phone my entire life like intense personal things. Like fucking hell the last few weeks I literally thought I was turning into Aunt Rosamund because of it not to mention I haven’t been sleeping well thanks to all the stress because of it. They changed me going with you to see Lucy even, like who the hell does that?” Dani said furious at the invasion but then she saw this was exactly what she needed to see to show Jackson to let him know that none of it was her fault, he could see the fucking flirty texts that whoever was sending Lex and know it wasn’t her, it was someone fucking with her, with them. She looked over at Zach and shrugged at him her hand shaking with the file in her hand. “I leave my phone out at work all the time on my desk or at a meeting table around Lex, around my secretary hell most of the office. It’s not like I lock it up at home Zach, we have maids in to clean Dru is there all the time. So yeah it’s possible someone had access to my phone I feel so stupid at the moment. Dru had a really rough past from what she told my mom and honestly we hired her because my mom said we could trust her so we don’t know a lot about her. Obviously Lex would do it. Have you read some of these on what planet would I actually say half of this to him?” Dani said, sitting back down on the couch. “We’ll pay you to look into it and think of it as like a huge wedding gift. Plus at least with this I can show Jackson and he can know too instead of looking at me like he isn’t sure he can trust me anymore and we can get back to where we need to be.”

Devonshire money. Now Braden might be a fool and turn it down but he sure as hell wouldn’t. Look he was going to get his son back and he wanted intense therapy, he wanted private schools, and he wanted a nest for his kids siblings. Mason and he were ready to be parents. So who was he to be a fool? “I appreciate that and I will do my best to make sure whomever this is not only is exposed but prosecuted to the full power of the law. Dani you aren’t crazy and this is the proof cousin. Now we need to find the culprit.” Zach nodded at the papers, as he handed her the forensics files of her phone. “We are aiming to having four kids including Kieran. So college funds for figuring out who the scummy culprit harassing my cousin is all the much better. I like having rich family it’s like the lotto with quid pro quo.” Zach teased lightly as he stared at her. “Dani, someone is after you so take this shit seriously also. Tell your husband what’s going on because I am under the impression that he’s concerned and it’s causing strain. I don’t like when you’re strained because it causes wrinkles.” He felt Mason pinching him. “Okay I kid and tease but cousin someone is after your marriage and to me not DGI.”

Dani for the first time in weeks laughed when he mentioned the money and quid pro quo honestly the money was just a bonus for her if everything fell apart and she and Jackson ended up broke they’d be okay as long as they had each other. But being able to help out her family and cousin when needed or others was where she rather all the excess go. “Alright we’ll call it an investment in their future but I’m serious that is a lot of time and you should be compensated Zach. I’ll make sure to do better with my new phone and take it seriously this time.” Dani said looking at her watch and then the idea popped into her head she had a way to kill two birds with one stone get her and Jackson back and show him this. She stood up from the couch while she hugged her cousin and looked at Mason. “I’m not going to let them win Zach I will not give Jackson up and let’s face it I’ve never been a pushover, you poke me I fight back and dig my heels in. I’ll tell him maybe even take your advice about our weekend. Text me with updates okay.” She finished making sure she had her car keys before she walked out the door and back to her car the determination in her eyes flaring on the way. Dru or Lex thought they were so smart, bet neither of them saw the fucking police getting involved.

Mason watched the exchange and almost burst out laughing when Zach brought up he was fine getting paid Braden had always been a tight ass like Dani had offered him a job, part of the reason his sister divorced him. He wondered if he should tell Jackson about it all but then decided to let Dani do it, maybe it would ease his best friend’s mind to know that the police were looking into it. Simon was out of commission so the next step was to let Zach and the police department handle it. He saw Dani go out before he turned to Zach and leaned in kissing him. “So you want to place a bet? Thanks to you and your brilliance I say she caves before my best friend does and they come back rejuvenated from fucking all weekend and maybe actually start smiling at each other again. Fifty says we beat them to it since I have the day off. Unless you have a case you need to run off and start solving before you head in for the today though.” Mason said grabbing Zach’s ass through his slacks as he kissed him deeply.

*********

Selina unlocked the door to her condo with her dry cleaning in her hand. As she sniffed and the smell of fried chicken attacked her nostrils. Kicking off her Manolo Blaniks she walked into the kitchen laying down her clothes she saw him whipping up what was obvious waffle batter. Chicken and Waffles he said he was craving it and she told him she always wanted to try it. This was nice and she needed another escape. She had planned on leaving DGI but Jackson called her earlier and basically guilted her but spoke truths that made her feel guilty. The Devonshire’s were a second family and she could leave but now would make them look weaker. He was right and she knew that. She took the day off and really was looking for what was next for her. What would Selina Delacroix do next? At times she only dreamed of one thing. That was being a mother to a little boy or girl. She knew it was cruel to dream but she wasn’t sure if she was ready to truly do this with Elliot. She loved him deeply but every time disappointment hit her and that crash of pain swallowed her. How could they survive her losing a baby? If that ever happened? When every man she loved had left her because in her eyes she couldn’t produce a heir to the thrones. Would Chauncey wake up and truly love her then if their child survived? Dimitri maybe not sexually assault her? Seeing Braden and Tamara made her feel like he never stopped loving his babymomma now wife.

Elliot was speaking to her and Selina was tranced out as she licked her lips and walked to the wine cellar. Pulling out a bottle her father gave her and she walked to the corkscrew. As Elliot stared at her. “What did you say? I was just in my thoughts.” She said as her hand shook taking a deep breath she licked her lips. “Sometimes everything hits me at once and I just go on autopilot. Anyway breakfast smells amazing.” She popped the cork and poured them both a glass of wine. “I took a personal day and I think I may take a few more. I’m just spunt I lost my father and godfather the same year and less than months from each other and I just feel like I can’t breathe.”

Elliot had texted Monique for that recipe that his mother loved and had went to work making the chicken and was working on the waffles when Selina entered. He had a lead on that nurse that they were looking into thanks to Monique of all people; she recognized the name when he had mentioned it as a former nurse at the hospital she worked at in Chicago. She had even gone as far as to track her down for him and send him the address the woman was still alive, the woman that could give Selina answers to her mothers psst. Answers that he felt that she needed if they were to ever really be a couple, she liked to hide behind that wall all the hurt that her mother’s death left the void it left in her own life. She needed to heal that first and then they would flourish and he had started to talk to her about what he had found when he saw her ignore what he was saying and grab the bottle of wine it wasn’t even noon yet. He flipped the waffle maker when it buzzed and looked over at her, taking the wine from her and sitting it down on the table before helping her sit down too. He plated up the food while he brought it to her pouring her a glass of orange juice to go with it seeing her look at him.

“It’s not even noon yet. You’re going through a lot right now Selina with losing your dad and losing the man who was like a second father to you and I’m here for you and if you need someone other than me to talk to I know a pretty damned good shrink.” Elliot said gently while he leaned over kissing her lips softly before pulling back and looking at all the food he made. He was glad that she was taking a few personal days it meant that maybe she wouldn’t be opposed to them going away for a few days it was a big step taking her to Chicago for her mother and he wanted her to meet Monique and Zeke. It was long past time especially since they had gotten more serious since the wedding, honestly next to Monique he saw himself with her in the future and he wanted a family with her hell they had already talked about IVF. “A few personal days could do you some good Selina, time to reflect and unwind and I know you offered to go somewhere with Maddie but maybe you need to take the time for you right now. But what I was saying was that I found her. The nurse that worked with the doctor who saw your mother, I found her in Chicago. I was thinking if you are up for it we could go find out what she knows.”

Selina eyes lit up as she heard he located the nurse that worked for her mother’s oncologist. That made her heart beat rise as she shook her head. “I’ll call Maddie and see if she wants to attend. She loves the Magnificent Mile in Chicago and I think if she wants to attend she will be going. I have neglected my little girl so much and I won’t be placing her on the backburner again.” She said forcefully as she took a gulp of the wine. No it wasn’t noon but right now she felt pretty shitty. A few days ago ungratefully she snapped at Jackie and now her husband was gone. Not to mention her father and mother. Both gone and here she was chasing ghosts but she felt like what was the use? Her mother and father were gone. Now all she had was her brothers and her future was cloudy. After all the work she had done, what accomplishment of hers wouldn’t be DGI’s? That was something she was facing watching Chauncey be passed over and the baton being passed to Jackson. She would never be a Devonshire and all the loyalty she placed inside of them would never be repaid. “I’ve failed Maddie enough and she doesn’t deserve it. I made a promise to her and one way or another we will be going on a trip. We will be reconnecting so that isn’t an option. I would like to meet the nurse and then I’m going to do what Ophelia said and bury these journals.”

Pausing she looked at him and bit her lip. “You had Zeke as a teenager when you were a freshman in college. You and Monique co parent successfully even have a friendship now. You told me you want children now that you were a successful man. You aren’t struggling anymore and I keep thinking what if I lose my third or fourth baby. I’ve lost so many I’ve lost track. An ectopic pregnancy with Chauncey, Braden I miscarried twice, and I keep hearing you saying that you are willing to go through the highs and lows. I’ve done this all already and everyone leaves me eventually because my body rejects a man’s seed. Elliot I can’t be left again after all I’ve been through. After my mom leaving me, my dad leaving me, Lowell leaving me and every man I’ve ever loved left me. So this is your get out of jail free card Elliot if you need to get away. I’m just giving you a glimpse of the future.” Finishing the glass of wine. Trusting someone was so hard but right now the abandonment was haunting her this morning. “I just feel so incomplete and Maddie is all I have. She’s the only child I’ll have.” Selina mumbled walking to the bottle and seeing Elliot’s hurt eyes. “I can’t keep losing and being the rock for my brothers. It’s exhausting and how did my father do it for so long.”

Elliot took a bite of his food when she mentioned that she was going to invite Maddie to come with them, yes he wanted her to meet Monique and Zeke but dragging a teen with them but a damper on his plans. He wanted to share the city with her put her up in the nicest hotel that he could find and make love to her all day and night if she’d let him. “I was actually hoping it could just be me and you Selina I even reached out to your brother about getting your private family airplane? I wanted this trip to be for you not your brothers, or DGI or even Maddie but for you. I won’t stop you from inviting her but I had wanted this to be for you and me.” Elliot said looking at her drink the wine over the orange juice she clearly needed a break from it all and he had hoped that would be the case with him. He looked over at her gripping her hand for a bit before he took a sip of his own juice on the table. “I know how much you have on your plate about who you are supposed to be Selina at DGI and I know you are upset about how things there are shaking out. I know a lot about you about your past here in Atlas Falls about where you grew up but you know nothing about me or my past. I thought it would be a weekend for that I could show you the city I grew up in, take you to the places I love that you could get to know that side of me. Having a fun adventure and answers for your mothers past was just a bonus.” He said pouring a little extra syrup on the chicken seeing her face contort in pure horror. “Don’t knock it till you try it at least eat while we talk.”

“Yes I had Zeke in college Monique and I made it work as co parents and even then we made our marriage work for years we grew apart Selina it wasn’t her fault or mine it just happened. I now consider her one of my closest friends and confidants. She didn’t want more children I did yes it was a factor in our decision to divorce.” Elliot said looking at her while she talked about all her miscarriages and fertility issues, she was honestly beaten down by it all and doubted herself because of it. He didn’t see it like she did they could try IVF or anything else that she wanted and if that didn’t work there were other ways to have children or care for them, there were plenty of children in foster care or up for adoption. His career was a success a little too successful if he was honest with himself and as pleasing as it had been to live out his one night stands and placement girlfriends over the years since his ex-wife he was ready for that next step. “I’m not going anywhere Selina. I wouldn’t dream of it at this rate. I love everything about you even at this moment you are having self doubt, we’ll get through it I don’t back down and it’s almost like you won’t give me a chance sometimes but I’m still here. Still trying to figure you out almost like a client on the stand. As for your father he seemed to make a pretty good life for himself after your mother, he had Jamal and found the next love of his life that should give you comfort not make you run Selina.” Elliot said looking at her finally take a seat and he handed her the syrup.

She looked at him and poured the syrup on the chicken and looked at him. As she bit her lip. “If I go on this trip with you then that means when I return I’ll be taking Maddie somewhere. I do understand you want to give me you and I understand that I am complex. I have made no bearings hiding my past is full of complexities and intricizes that honestly even alarm me. I’m not running, I’m letting you know. I don’t want another adopted baby. You know through all my struggles you know when I felt my lowest? My darkest? When Chauncey snatched Maddie from me. I love her so much but a piece of her isn’t mine. She will never have my eyes or my laugh because I see the white girl who took him from me in the first place. I love her but she isn’t mine and Chauncey showed me that. Dimitri beat me and assaulted me but the worst I felt is when he stole a child that I used to resent away from me. Ironic how life plays those tricks on you right?” Taking a bite of chicken she smiled as she began to chew. He threw down in the kitchen, let me find out her man could cook. One of Tony’s rules back in the day was if a man couldn’t cook for himself he couldn’t take care of himself. She then dug into the waffles and chicken.

After a few moments she took another sip of her wine. If she had these days off then why shouldn’t she take advantage of it. Spend a few days in Chicago and then go to London with Maddie or St. Lucia? Wherever she just wanted semblance of peace. “So you want to take me to Chicago aka the Windy City! I think that would be nice and I can see where you grew up. Really get to know Zeke and Monique maybe. Have some kind of family dinner or something. I have been broken down and I am willing to go through the let downs and the disappointments but I want to warn you. I just want to warn you because I really want to feel life grow inside of me and I want to be a biological mother to a baby. IVF or naturally it’s what I have dreamed of and taking my own destiny. I want my father’s and mother’s name to shine so bright that it blinds people. I want Maddie just as proud of me as she is of Lowell and to show that type of admiration. I want a legacy and I want children. So if we adopt one day I’m down but I want something that grew out of my body and I want to know what happened with my mother.” She said feeling replenished suddenly. “I need to see you so you can see me.”

Elliot saw all her pain on her face as she started to talk about Maddie not really being hers he knew that wound was deep and it was true in many ways, Zeke was his flesh and blood. Maddie wasn’t that was the truth of the matter and now that she was coming into her own he could already see the strain starting between them Maddie knew Selina wasn’t her biological mother, Selina knew it and he gently squeezed her hand. “You have vacation time Selina use as much of it as you need, DGI will go on without you if it needs to, take time for yourself. Go on this trip with me we can leave in a few hours, spend the weekend in the city I love. You can come back and decide what the next step is for you and Maddie.” He said softly not wanting to bring up all the bad memories for her of Dimitri or what Chauncey did from what he understood Chauncey ripped Maddie from her before Dimitri was in the picture and the man that she adored and worked for had simply allowed his son to do it. Showing her exactly what her place at that company was in his mind she was a worker and place holder, of course she had a title but none of it was hers, really hers not even the daughter she raised and loved. “One day Maddie will learn what Chauney and her grandfather did Selina and it may be the thing that changes her world.”

He leaned back in his chair as he looked at her eating her food for once the woman could eat and he liked that in someone instead of someone that would pick at her food. He wasn’t sure how Selina would feel about seeing where he grew up he was from the south side, his parents still lived there his mom and step father. His little brother was still at college working on an engineering degree but the south side was much like Scottswood. His parents lived in a modest three bedroom two bath right on the edge because of his step fathers barber shop, his mother was almost at retirement. Though he was successful his parents had refused money from him over the years to move into downtown. “Hopefully what you see won’t scare you away. You come from all this. You need answers to your mother that is the first thing we will do when we get there.” Elliot said looking around the fancy condo he had never had that growing up and the horrors he witnessed on the streets made him who he was today. “Though I do have to say dress to the nines Selina be the most gorgeous woman in my arm my mom and step pops are going to love you. I have every intention of showing you there is an entire world out there waiting for you after what those men put you through.” Elliot said leaning over and kissing her softly pulling back he bit her lip. “Better finish eating and getting packed because once we’re in the air I’m going to make you forget about everything going on here in Atlas Falls all your pain Selina will be gone and I don’t care how long it takes you will be happy again.”

The fall in Chicago could be tricky; it could be warm or bitter cold. That meant Selina had to pack a multitude of clothes but she was up for the challenge. As she took a bite of her chicken wing she smiled at him. “This is delicious but I’m not sold on chicken for breakfast I’m just saying. So I’ll pack and go but I assure you it’s daughter and mommy time when I return.” She picked up the cloth napkins and wiped her sticky fingers and began walking upstairs. To pack for their trip and hopefully find whatever she was looking for. A key to the past maybe to unlock her future. “Plus I gotta meet my future-in-laws.” She teased as she briskly walked up the stairs determined to not only close one door but open a thousand more.

*********

Dani felt determined after her visit with Zach, confirming that she wasn’t a nut job Jackson wanted answers, she’d give them to him. She had been on her way home to get ready for work when Jackie texted her that she had went and picked up the twins for the day. Once she was inside she let Dru know she wasn’t needed and watched as the girl left almost with a smile on her face at the disappoint that Dru showed. She then changed her clothes with purpose, the navy blazer with a belt, no bra and matching skirt, no panties to get a reaction from him. The chain and detail on her breasts wrapped around her neck was the nice surprise she picked for him, she was tired of fighting with him and now that she knew she wasn’t going fucking crazy she was going to make him see. Make him see that he was the only thing and only man that she wanted and if he still felt otherwise she wasn’t sure what else she was going to have to do. She then made her way back to the office picking up the watch and harness with cuffs she had wrapped at the Summit. Walking down the hallway she placed the file underneath and then looked at Sean who informed her that he was on a call she ignored him not waiting for an answer as she entered the office closing the door behind her. She saw the nameplate on his desk the CEO etched there Tess thought she had won hardly, he was smarter.

She didn’t know who he was on the phone with and she saw him look at her outfit and she shrugged placing the file down on his desk as well as the gifts. Her finger traced his hand moving it’s way up his arm while he moved the chair back and she took a seat on the edge of the desk. She played with the chain around her neck while he spoke for a bit rubbed her thighs together and she bit her lip at the action. A few yanks once he had the blazer off he would know why she was rubbing her legs and she moved her hands from the necklace to his shirt playing with a button before leaning forward a bit catching his lips with her own letting her tongue glide into his mouth not sure if the other person the line heard the moan that came out at the action, more so not giving a fuck anymore either. They hadn’t been them in weeks and she was sick of it, sick of all the doubt and distance and she wanted their life back, her life back. When she pulled back she watched as he pushed the mute button and she ran her hands on the back of his neck. “So you going to wrap up this call or should I leave and head back to my office and continue to walk on eggshells? You hang up the phone and make a call back. I can assure you it will be worth your while. I remember a time when you used to want me like that here, where did that go?” Dani asked, looking at him waiting for an answer.

Jackson hung up the moment she slinked into the room. He could tell she was in a mood to be frisky and that made him smile. Dani and he were so off lately and right now it felt like them. The playfulness and the teasing. He wanted to lay her across his knee and spank her ass until it was the perfect shade of red. Then dive as deep as his body would allow it.  Whatever Mason was talking about he was sure that he could text it or at least leave a message. “To be honest Dani, I’m sick of fighting right now we’ve been off and I don’t know why but we have. I assure you I won’t continue to let us be off. It’s been a cycle of fights and frustration. When all I want to do is fuck your brains out. Tell you how much I love you. I’m sorry if I’ve been a dick lately and not the dick you like. I’m stressed and with this Tess mess and father’s will in question I’m unsure if Mason and I legally have any ground to stand on. Especially with Simon not in commission.” He stopped as his hands ran down her thighs. “Dani I can’t stop thinking about our fight and I just want to tell you I love you and no woman will ever do it better. No woman will satisfy me like you. So you don’t ever have to worry about Dru or anyone else. They aren’t Dani Fraiser Devonshire and Danielle Grace, you are it for me.” Jackson got up out of his chair. “We haven’t had time to express how much you mean to me. So let me start with this.”

Jackson got on his knees and kissed her thighs as he looked up. So she had no panties on. She wanted to drive him crazy. His mouth could taste her juices as he licked his lips. “Do you forgive me? You asked where the Jackson was at who wanted you every moment of the day he’s here and if you let me I’ll show you exactly what I need. You bent over my desk, your pussy gushing in my mouth, and your hands raking my back. Dani I’m right here and I want you more than I ever have. I’m sorry baby, I’m sorry that I haven’t been the man that you needed. I don’t know what’s been going on but I haven’t been the best partner.” He almost told her what was going on but he chose to keep his mouth closed for right now. They were in a good place and vibing back to normal frequency. She hadn’t been this frisky since before the twins and it was turning him on. “Tell me what I have to do to fix this.” He said looking up.

Dani knew her willpower was weak, it always was with him but she was determined this time with him she would win. She’d drag it out till he couldn’t keep his hands off her which at the moment included trying not to be distracted by him on his knees looking hungrily at her. “Good I didn’t come here to fight with you anymore. I’m sorry too, my entire world is you and the kids Jackson that has never changed and it never will. I love you with everything inside me and only you. I know you wouldn’t do what other men have to me and I never should have said what I did the other night. I was angry and frustrated, I was wrong to say it. You do everything you can here at DGI to keep the peace with all your siblings, not to mention everything you do at home. Right before everything happened I got these for you because I wanted you to have a break from it all and to remind you that even if I wasn’t there like I should have been I still love you.” She said running her finger over his hand for a bit in a minute she’d let him have some fun, maybe even take control. “So I got you this.” She said, handing him the watch. She’d called the company herself Holzkern watches the Manhattan one. It wasn’t a fancy Rolex she felt he had so many of those but it to her was what represented him in his best state, the cool and collected man that was happy to remind her that he owned every part of her. Black outside with a marble face with a simple inscription on the back. Yours forever, Dani.

She watched him open it while she leaned back on the desk looking at him giving him a view of what she had on under her top. Her foot moving up his leg to find his cock while she rubbed it lightly trying to read his reaction not stopping as she spoke. “You still own me and my heart Jackson. If you don’t like it I can send it back. As for Tess and Mason, let Mason handle it he’s a lawyer you’re not. Besides I don’t see Tess’s name as CEO on a plaque do you?” She said her fingers were playing with the chain and biting her lip at him hoping he took the jacket off because the thought of him tugging on it was running so wild in her mind at the moment. She reached over on the desk to hand him the second gift, leaving the file there not yet she wanted him completely in her hands when she showed him to let him decide how he was going to handle it and them. “I also thought that you might enjoy this. We could use it here from time to time and take it with us. I’m tired of not being those people anymore and that isn’t just on you Jackson it’s on me too. I want us back.” She said handing him the leather harness complete with cuffs watching him open the paper and stare at her almost like he was in awe or better about to take control and so she tested him even more leaning down to kiss his lips while she pulled back biting his lip. “The last one well you’re going to have to get this fucking jacket off first and see yourself.” She purred into his ear.

Jackson looked at the inscription and felt the words were true. Lex couldn’t come between them nothing could and that meant Dru as well. His mother said he was cunning. He was smarter than Dru and he’d prove that. She thought teaming up with Lex was a good move. When it sealed her coffin and a hurricane of pain would rain down on her. Placing his watch down he leaned in and kissed her letting his tongue taste every inch on her. He was going to make her pussy pour down his face today. She was going to be crying and if she wanted they could make a video since Val and Connor had done it. It was all thrilling because he wanted her to see what she did to him. So maybe she could understand how her body intoxicated him the way it did. Just seeing her looking at him with the hunger of the wolf. She wasn’t scared of his carnal urges and how she wanted to punish him just for thinking that she would give her body to another man. She was his forever. As her foot began to rub against his stiffening cock he licked his lips. All he ever wanted was acceptance and she gave him all that he needed. He exhaled as a moan growled out of his mouth. His lips quivered in lust as he stared into her brown eyes. “Look at me.” He commanded.

“I don’t think I’ll ever wear another watch. It’s perfect.” Jackson said as he smiled as he stood up towering over her. Ripping open the jacket and letting it fall to the floor. He began instantly feasting on her neck as his free hand squeezed and cupped her breast. “Damnit.” He moaned as he looked at her. She knew what he wanted and what he liked. She was all he’d ever need and she was the only woman to give him a mental orgasm as well as physical. She drove him wild and using the belt off her jacket he wrapped it around her neck and spun her around. “You think you can come over here and just try to punish me? You think that you’re going just show me this body and I’m not going to fuck you senseless?” He whispered in her ear. “I will die knowing you’re mine and I’m yours. I belong to you Dani and I will always give you what you need.” As he unbuckled his pants. “Now give me what I need.”

Dani had expected something when she came in and knew what it was, them again. She felt it in her core when he leaned in and kissed her fully, his tongue exploring and she let out a moan closing her eyes to the action. She looked into her husband’s eyes when he told her too and said he’d wear it. She barely had time to react while he tugged the jacket off freeing her breasts and she let out a moan when he began to grab them, the chain still there her nipples hardening under his touch and she wondered if he could feel how wet she was from it. Then he had reached down to grab the belt, wrap it around her and spin her around biting her lip at the action it would be easy to give into him while she felt him pressed against her. She raised one hand to the back of his neck closing her eyes when she felt him unbuckle his pants, her breathing increased. Her free hand gripping his own sliding under her skirt letting him touch her letting out a moan when he did. “This is what you do to me.” Her heart was beating so fast in her chest at everything she wanted him to do and her lips parted tilting her head to look at him testing him and her. “Not yet, red.” She simply said looking at him, releasing the belt and looking at her half amused and annoyed before she reached across the desk and handed him the file from Zach.

She didn’t say anything else to him while he read it while she reached down and put the jacket back on before she took the belt back from him, fastening it around her waist and fixing her hair. He was still looking at the file when she did finally speak, smoothing out the wrinkles on her skirt feeling how wet she was wondering how she was going to make it through the day though it could be fun now. “That’s why I’ve been so screwed up lately it had nothing to do with you or me, someone was doing shit on my phone. Zach looked into it, he’s handling it.” She said still seeing him angry at the file and apparently still hard as a rock for her she walked to him kissing him gently. “Now I need to go make a call to Grant to make sure everything is set for this evening, our flight and our weekend. I should probably let the hotel know we need something pretty soundproof.” She picked up the leather harness on his desk playing with it between her fingers while she looked at him. “I’m sure you’ll find a way to pick up where we’ve left off later. Be that man Jackson because that man is the man I need right now. I need to get back to work. I’ll see you in a few hours for the plane ride.” She said leaning up to kiss him feeling him grip her waist she pulled back walking to the door. She didn’t wait for an answer if she did her resolve would wain and she’d let him fuck her on every surface in his office her lips smirking just a little as she left.

Jackson smiled as he leaned back in his chair as he rubbed his throbbing cock biting his lips he looked at her walking away. As she closed the door he picked up the phone. “Merci I need a favor, remember the room you assisted me with on my honeymoon? Yeah I need one for Montana make sure it’s filled with all my toys. I’m trying to work on baby number three.” He laughed. “That’s my girl Merci.” He hung up the phone and looked around. He was CEO and his dynasty would reign for a long time. Tess wouldn’t beat Dani and him and that was facts. But he had an idea who was doing this. “Yeah Mason, I’m going to need bail money ready, you see I’m going to kill whoever is messing with me and my family. Wouldn’t that be what dad would do? I’m going to show them all DGI and the Devonshire’s are still to be feared.” This was his throne room his father’s office and he’d rule over DGI and all these other companies.

*********

Brenda hadn’t drank in over two weeks. If she was going to survive this she was going to have to listen. However she also had to be assured she was at top of the transplant list as well. That’s where the diluted David Rhodes fell out of favor with her. She had it on good word that the hospital board maybe looking at a new candidate. That meant one person in her eyes Jayden Bradshaw and if she threw her weight behind him it would assure her a new liver. Scheming was what she was good at and unfortunately this was one of those situations. So some poor person wouldn’t live that in her eyes truly didn’t matter. She would use her money, influence and wealth to survive. Dialysis was hell also but she put on a brave front. Licking her wounds silently almost passing out dancing with Wyatt while holding her granddaughter Poppy. She froze as she felt Anderson reassuring arms around her. She nodded her head knowing it was time. She couldn’t keep going like this. Not telling them why some days she wasn’t coming out of the room. How she wasn’t drunk for once she was exhausted from saving her own life. As she looked over at Brooke and Atticus playing with Fox and Poppy. Her heart swelled her daughter would rule a nation. Who would have fucking thought that? She was backwood and grew up dirt poor. Brenda fought for every scrap and got Steven from Jackie. Years ago she thought she was invincible but now she wasn’t and she was going to do everything in her power to survive.

Watching Bliss and Hunter kissing like two high school kids she honestly missed that. The undying passion that burned so hot that it torched your soul. Picking up the sparkling water she looked around clapping her hands seeing Anderson and Cara locking hands. Good Natasha Hassan wasn’t a good look for any of them. She was so familiar. Brenda knew the overlooked ones were the most dangerous. “Good afternoon today we celebrate that we have Hunter home where he belongs. My beloved baby boy, I know I haven’t been the best mother to you but I promise to change for my grandchildren and you. Oh I worried night and day and I didn’t think I could make it when you were locked up.” She spoke from her heart because honestly this was agonizing to tell. Looking at Poppy and Fox. “Svetlana would you take Poppy and Fox upstairs I need to speak with the adults alone.” Once the nanny walked out she closed the doors and turned to them all. “This is a celebration for my son being home but it also is my moment to reveal why I’ve been so unavailable. I was completely exhausted and I worry about all of you.”

Brooke had enough of her mother’s grandstanding right now but she allowed it because Hunter was fresh out of jail. “Mom, we know you worry what’s the matter? Your daughter is a princess, you’ve birthed the future Governor of Pennsylvania, and your beloved son is out of jail. What could be the matter? Is the love of your life and you having a spat?” Brooke teased as she leaned in on Atticus kissing his lips. “

Brenda smiled at Brooke and Atticus. “No I’m happy sweetheart, it’s just I have to tell you all something. I’ve been undergoing a twice a week thing that’s made me feel less than attractive. Due to my excessive drinking over the years I’ve damaged my liver beyond repair. So I have been undergoing dialysis twice a week and it might go up to three times depending on the next round of test. I have liver failure and if I don’t get a liver I’m dead.” She took a drink and felt the festiviness of earlier drain out of the room. “I’m not going to take any of your livers and I’m not asking for a damn thing. I however will not die. I refuse to die I haven’t gotten to my sons inauguration, or seen my daughter in her ceremonial tiara, or even enjoyed having you as a daughter and my grandchildren. I will usher in the next generations of Kincaid’s that’s for damn sure. Oh Wyatt baby boy this isn’t like Maddie’s situation. I’m not dying anytime soon. I’ll do this dialysis every day if I need to.” She kissed her grandson’s forehead and his big tearful eyes. “Well say something.” She said to her boys who were in shock.

Hunter had went to his mother’s with Bliss and Fox, though he didn’t understand her need to throw a party for his release. Then again she was Brenda Kincaid meaning everything had to be a party or a way for attention. He would much rather be home worshiping Bliss in all her pregnant glory and helping Fox learn his letters and sounds, granted she was still a little mad about him taking the blame for Dimitri but she semed to have gotten his reasons why. His last few weeks of freedom had showed him that he wanted his family more than anything and yes his mother had been absent a little more than normal but honestly he was shocked when she said that she was in liver failure. The years of drinking that they had all tried to get her to stop over the years, hell even his father had he remembered walking in on that conversation likely before his dad had left disgusted to go find Carla later in the evening. He was simply gut checked and grabbed Bliss’s hand for support her father had just died of a stroke, not even his real illness a stroke had taken the great Lowell Devonshire out. He looked over at Brooke whos eyes were filled with tears and then glanced at Anderson who was the same. Wyatt had looked at his brother before taking a seat on the sofa in the room.

“Why did you hide this from us? How long have you known?” Hunter asked honestly scared for his mother and furious at the same time, he just went to jail if he had known would he have done what he did? Not to mention Brooke was getting married soon, Anderson he guess was still running for Governor at the moment but this was more important than that to him. He almost wanted to snarl when she said it made her less attractive and he had to wonder if that was towards Walter or not, maybe he would get lucky and they would officially end their little back and forth over it. He felt Bliss tugging on his hand and he looked over at her drawing her to him, he could tell that she was worried everything with Lowell was so fresh and this was likely bringing back all those memories. “You should have told us. Are you seeing the best doctor at the hospital I know David is your primary care but is he a specialist mom he normally deals with hearts and trauma, not to mention I’m not even sure that his head is in the game after Lowell. Are you on the transplant list?” He finally asked leaving that question in the air the truth was his mother was al alcoholic everyone in the room knew it would this be something that the hospital would do or would he need to see if Thor knew anyone who dealt with black market organ transplants.

Anderson had watched his mother dancing and celebrating with Wyatt and Poppy and had seen her almost fall over before he had went in to assist. Leading her to the couch to sit down while she caught her breath hoping that it wasn’t that she was drunk. Then she started talking about the future and he felt like the wind had been knocked out of his chest, when she finally came clean to them all and he looked around at his siblings yes his mother could be a bit much at times. But that didn’t meant that she deserved this, this bleak thing called liver failure. He looked over at Cara they currently were sleeping in separate bedrooms but no one needed to know that and honestly Natasha was the furthest thing from his mind as of late when it came to his life. His affair was over in an election year she had to know that that her liver failure could just be the thing they need to show what a untied front they all were as a family now, he looked over at Cara simply meeting her eyes their hands still locked. He was still processing that she was the one that had pushed Natasha killing her baby. He stepped to his mother wrapping her in his arms as he hugged her fiercely.

“I agree with Hunter who is exactly handling your case? Not that St. Christopher is not a top hospital it is mother but there has to be specialists we can reach out to in Pittsburgh if we need to. Of course Cara and I can step up if needed to take you to your appointments and the dialysis.” Anderson said comforting his mother and feeling the guilt because like the rest of his siblings he likely had thought that his mother was just drinking too much again. When in reality that was apparently the furthest thing from the truth about what was going on. “Whatever you need mother we are here for you no matter what isn’t that right Brooke?” Anderson said being in agreement with Hunter they had to bind together as a family for their mother.

Atticus was simply a bit taken aback when Brenda announced to the room that she was in liver failure and he saw the crushed look on Brooke’s face at the news. How awful and terrible and his mind was instantly racing with how to be supportive. If Brenda needed the best care he obviously would step up and make calls or get her a specialist if needed. “Anderson is right we are all here for you, even though we aren’t related yet Brenda you are Brooke’s mother I will do whatever I can to help in any way.” He said rubbing Brooke’s back.

“I’ve known since the beginning of the summer. David is giving me the best care and I have another doctor who is a specialist. I needed time to come to terms with what I did to myself. Today means a lot to me because you are near. Even though I knew I was sick, that didn’t mean I accepted that I was sick. Being sick is my fault and I had to come to terms with that. I poisoned my own body and now my body is rejecting what I have done. I do understand how you all are upset with me. For not speaking up but I didn’t want to wither up before you but dialysis is hurting me so much. I feel weak, and I feel like I am not myself. That scares me so deeply and it makes me feel like if I don’t have you around. If I don’t have my family’s support I’ll lose this battle so I thought getting you all together to celebrate a return and then we celebrate a battle. I’ve been sober for a few weeks and it’s hard. I am not going to lie I enjoy a good libation every once and a while.” It was her vice and everyone had one. Did people say something to a chubby woman who overate? Or a man who is addicted to sports betting to the detriment of his very own life? People felt people who drink couldn’t control it. Or they didn’t understand what she was doing. Brenda knew what she was doing, she was numbing it. All the pain of a horrible childhood that she hadn’t faced, and how her life had developed as a trophy for Steven.

Brenda would be remiss to not admit to herself all her legacy was wrapped up in men. That she had driven herself to have the best but was miserable. She blamed Lowell but in all respect she gave up Kendall because she wasn’t ready to give up on being a Kincaid. “My life has been full and I don’t plan on it not being even filled with years more of memories. I am on the transplant list and I have given up drinking. It’s been killing me more than likely the reason I’m feeling even worse. My body craves it and I will need you all to be here for me. To love me through this addiction and badly as I want a drink. I want my family more.” Brenda confessed as she looked at me. “I’ll send out my um appointment schedule to you if any of you have time.”

“Mom.” Brooke said softly as she looked at Hunter and Anderson. “Mommy we will be here and I swear we will help you through this. You have a issue and maybe it’s time to face whatever that is. I don’t know what else to say but I love you. I love you so much momma. Oh my God we won’t lose you and we won’t be mourning because honestly with Mr. Devonshire gone we’ve all lost a lot. My best friends’ dads are gone all but Aspen. She still has Randall but Jamal, Rory, and me don’t have dad’s alive anymore. I want to tell you that I won’t be mourning my mother. Nor will she miss the birth of my first child, or seeing Fox and Wyatt and Poppy grow up. I won’t allow it. Not the invincible Brenda Kincaid. Not on my watch and I will use all my power as princess of Isla De Cruces to save you and I am sure my brothers and their capable wives will do the same.”

“Of course we will all support you mom in whatever way we need to if that means that I need to come home more with Cara, Wyatt and Poppy then we will. You aren’t going anywhere and like Brooke said no matter what we need to do we will.” Anderson said looking at his mother and then putting his hand on his sisters shoulder as they both looked at Hunter. He did mean that he may of been running for Governor but he was grateful that Hunter was out of jail, the last thing his mother needed was for Hunter to be locked up. “None of us are going anywhere anytime soon aren’t we Hunter?” He finished hoping his brother was in agreement.

Hunter caught Anderson’s warning about being there for their mother and decided to let it go. He and his older brother butting heads over her care wouldn’t do anyone any good surely Anderson had to know that he did what he had in order to protect Bliss, Fox and their unborn child. He had been selfish perhaps but he had no idea at the time that his mother was ill and he wondered if that would have made a difference in his decision probably not but he would have weighed his decisions a little better. He hugged his mother still looking at Bliss who was evermore by his side for it all. “Everyone is right we will do everything and we can. We’ll all be here for you” Hunter said wrapping his hand around Bliss’s in his own while the music softly played in the background, watching as Fox laughed along with Wyatt for his mother they would all band together.

*********

David had been working fourteen hour shifts on and off since Lowell’s collapse on stage, he had barely cut out time one day to attend the funeral for a few hours of sleep and then he was back on shift. He even had sent Belle flowers and a note card in the wake of her father’s death hoping they could remain friends, work had become hostile too. Nurses side eyed him left and right other colleagues looked at him like he had sent the great Lowell Devonshire to an early grave. He didn’t know if that had attributed to the stroke or not no one would ever really know, Tess had swooped in as soon as his body was cold to send him off for embalming. Even if there were questions about the stroke and the police thought something was wrong he was under ground now and there had bene no toxicology report done. Honestly he thought Lowell’s body had simply gone out due to all the stress and his declining health not what he saw with him and Belle. He was still trying to figure out how a picture of them got into the slideshow to begin with and who had taken it he had thought they had been very careful. The last thing he wanted was her reputation tarnished.

He didn’t care about his reputation it was in question years ago when he and Ophelia had an affair and he’d cleaned up his image afterwards to get the Chief of Staff position he had now. But Belle didn’t deserve that at all he was already worried that the rumors would start that she quit because of their affair and he simply looked down at his tablet and the patients he needed to see on shift. Most were easy simple assessments and rounds, he had a gallbladder removal and then he was supposed to meet with the board to go over the fundraiser that was coming up. Work had already begun on the Ava Hessington Center for Women and word was they were going to make a part of the children’s wing named after Victoria Fraiser as well, both were noble causes and he couldn’t object to the work that Jackie and her team had done to come up with the money for both. He would have to crunch the numbers withe the board make sure that everything was in order for the big party and announcements for both. In between all of that he felt like his personal life was up in turmoil on top of his career meaning maybe he needed another trip and this time not in some fancy ass car he rented to impress a young rich debutante.

He let out a sigh as he turned the corner to his office and bumped straight into Jayden Bradshaw arrogant young doctor who couldn’t keep his damned nose out of his business. The man annoyed him to no fucking end and seemed to be all up in everything lately at the hospital. “Excuse me Jayden I didn’t see you there.” David said looking back down at his tablet when he saw Jayden simply smirk at him and he almost sneered back. “Something wrong?”

Jayden had to admit it was almost perfect too perfect if he didn’t say so himself that picture of David and Belle showing up and turned the entire hospital upside down and what kind of a mentor and doctor would he be if he didn’t help out his own needs? Shouldn’t someone inform HR of the entirely in appropriate relationship the two had under Lowell’s nose and the abuse of power that David had done with a young woman and employee? He had signed ann oath to do no harm and how could he do that when David was still Chief of Staff obviously harming the hospitals reputation and that of Belle Devonshire? So as hard as it was he had simply let HR about the entire situation and that had started what he had on good word was an official investigation to David’s handling and character as head of the hospital. The way he had let those Devonshire brats carry on with Tess Devonshire was another prime example Tess was the spouse she had last say and the way David had meekly handled that pacifying Jackie was kinda sad if he was honest with himself. Regardless it was off his hands now and he had been working most the week looking most forward to his evening with Yasmine coming up. After that mess with what Rory did he was pretty sure she wasn’t going to keep chasing that dream.

Did he have what it would take to get a woman like Yasmine obviously he knew that her father was Forbes Montgomery, she was now up in the upper crest and a woman like her simply couldn’t keep chasing after the man that kept breaking her heart. He would look like the next hospital superstar that he was with her by his side at the hospital and honestly he didn’t care how he went about taking David’s job as long as he took it tha twas all that mattered to him. He almost couldn’t contain his laughter when David bumped into him like the tunnel vision jackass that he was, he never needed to know the truth and he simply shrugged at the older man. “Of course you didn’t don’t really pay attention to the rest of the staff from what I heard unless they’re in your bed. There was that affair with Ophelia, you then had that relationship with former nurse Wright and lately Belle Devonshire. Trouble probably is brewing for you isn’t it? Or at least that was the latest rumor in the nursing station on the cardio ward the other day.” Jayden said looking at David with a smirk while he changed out of his scrubs and into his street clothes.

“Trouble? I’d like to think that spreading and continuing baseless rumors is beneath a doctor like you Dr. Bradshaw you think because you saved Natasha Hassan’s life after her fall that the hospital seems to owe you something?” David said looking at the younger cocky doctor in front of him because he had a few successes he thought that the hospital owed him something likely his position. He was the new hot and upcoming commodity word was that The New England Journal of Medicine were coming to write an article on him like he was the newest thing on the market. He had breakthroughs in memory regain and cranial surgery there was no doubt but he also had a lot of mistakes too on the way, for one he thought he was the only doctor that mattered. Half of the nursing staff couldn’t stand to be on his service when it came to the operating room, in their words he didn’t take it as serious as he should have, too much loud music and goofing off. “My troubles?” David said taking off his coat as he hung up his stethoscope and then checked the messages on his phone pesky reporters. He saw David looking at her and then rolled his eyes.

“Perhaps you would or should benefit more from actually getting to know the staff and patients under your care, I heard some of the nurses talking as well. You seem to think that because you saved a Devonshire wife that entitles you to something. I’m sure they’re all grateful to you for what you did but you failed you couldn’t even save her unborn child you were too anxious to just focus on her care. As for myself and Belle that really isn’t any of your business.” David said looking at Jayden and seeing his mouth twitch for a moment almost like he was going to attack him. He took off his shirt seeing Jayden looking at him did he think he was flabby or something he knew when to hit the gym or not hit it. Lately he had been hitting in order to keep up with KC and it was a good way for them to bond. “You’re not the only one with a toned and sculpted test a woman paid over three grand last year for a date with me at our annual bachelor auction. So Chicago right that is where you are from? You must of seen a few things there.” David said pausing trying to keep it simple between him and Jayden.

“Scared Dr. Rhodes I’m a world renown surgeon and doctor that is up and coming and you are simply in the past like an ancient dinosaur, the last breakthrough you had was sleeping with Ophelia and trading in favors to get to being chief of staff. MeanwhileI have done ground breaking after ground breaking surgery and continue to do so. If we had to place bets you couldn’t even save Lowell meanwhile I at least saved Natasha.” Jayden said putting on his shirt and tying his shoes as he looked over at David, he wasn’t afraid to call out the abysmal past that David had when it came to the hospital. He saw how quick he was to dismiss the rumors about him and Belle too bad the rumors couldn’t be refuted with those pictures that happened at the party, sure people at the hospital has speculated before but that was iron clad enough. He actually almost laughed at David if he wasn’t so stubborn he would see that his days were numbered when it came to being chief of staff at the hospital. “You talk a big talk David but Belle is like what barely legal to drink you’re at least in your thirties and she was your patients daughter. You really think that what you did was right? Using her for your gain to keep your job, you’ve been in review since Lowell was diagnosed for all that bravado you put in you couldn’t even give him more time with his family.”

“Listen the board feels like it needs to replace you that is on you as a doctor not myself or anyone else here you are simply not up to snuff or their expectations. Seems to me the only thing you know how to do run is a boring and dated service that isn’t that exciting, tey even make artificial hearts now days so you being needed here is like ancient history.” Jayden said looking at David he still had no idea what Lowell saw in him in order to put all his faith in medicine in his diagnosis, David was poorly equipped or qualified to deal with ALS it wasn’t even a cardiac disease. He saw David glaring at him and he couldn’t even hide it anymore as the sneer formed on his lips while he looked over at David seeing his contorted face at his implications that he wasn’t ven a good doctor anymore. “Seems to me someone has got a little paranoid at the thought that he could be replaced and is making wild accusations. Accusations that are ground for dismissal if I report this to HR. I’m flawless in the surgery room my numbers speak for themselves Rhodes and sooner or later you’re going to have to come to terms with that. As for Chicago yeah it was tough is that what you want to know? I don’t have time to stand around and make friends.” Jayden finished before he looked over at David as he saw Melanie from HR walk into the room.

“Dr. Rhodes I’m sure you remember me from years ago Melanie Palmer head of HR. Recently it has come to my attention that you carried on and affair with a former employee, that you took advantage of said employee. I’ve had to file a formal complaint with the board and they have asked for a complete investigation into the matter of your relationship with Belle Devonshire.” The middle aged, slightly portly woman said looking at David while she handed him a copy of the complaint. “At this time if you need a union representative their number is on the paper and they should help you with legal council should you need it. The board has asked for now that your duties as Chief of Staff be put on hold until the formal investigation is complete.” She didn’t say anything else before she turned and walked out.

David flipped through the report of course their was evidence of his affair with Belle half the town had seen it there was Belle’s resignation letter at the hospital attached. Suspicious circumstances all around according to the report not to mention there was an imbalance in power in their relationship. Honestly it had never even crossed his mind seeing how they worked in separate departments but now he saw how bad it all looked. He was so angry while he scanned the paperwork and realized that Mel was right he needed to call the union and probably find a lawyer maybe Braden would help him. He looked over at Jayden and saw the smirk and he was pretty sure he saw a blinding rage at him the look was clear when Jayden picked up his bag to leave.

“Don’t quit your day job Rhodes like I said the board wants you out, you’re out.” Jayden said pushing the door open as the shit eating grin spread on his face while he left the room.

*********

Simon leaned his head back on the pillow of the hospital bed he was at least going to be here another week according to the nurses three broken ribs, a broken wrist, sprained neck and a fucking concussion, his doctor had cleared him to at least start moving around the room. The last thing he actually remembered was leaving DGI on the stairs and then it all went black, he woke up later in the hospital. He raised his wrist in it’s cast to his forehead where there was six stitches from his head crashing into the metal of the stairs and the start of his concussion. He then reached over for his phone to check his emails for the day, reading through the newspapers and outlets he needed to get ahead of this entire situation with Tess, because right now he was swinging in the wind with it. The will was gone from his personal belongings the thumb drive was not there when he woke up in the hospital and had demanded his pants from Ivan who he was pretty sure he had scared the fuck out of the room when he screamed to demand it. He had been in so much pain the last few days but it was getting better, following things with Jackson and Mason he had so much on his fucking plate. Apparently still Dru, Tess’s takeover and then the shit that was still happening with Ivan with his uncle. Meaning he just had to focus on one and for him that needed to be with Tess and the legal battle for DGI. When the door opened and he saw Ivan enter he looked over at him.

“I was out of sorts probably scared the shit out of you when I yelled at you the other day. Doctor  says I should be good to go home either today or tomorrow. Did you at least bring me some fresh clothes and were is my briefcase? I really need to look inside of it just to make sure it’s not there. Is that actual food?” Simon asked looking at Ivan who was holding what looked like actual food not the junk that the hospital served either. His eyes scanned the room for his briefcase not seeing it anywhere why he shot off both Mason and Jackson a text saying as soon as he was back they could approach the Tess shit. He then texted Jackson that he could look into Dru after the this with Tess was fixed before closing his eyes at the stress and touched his head again, it might be a little longer then he wanted. He wanted to rush back in to go through things at the office make sure that the will was really missing, what if he left it in his office or worse Lowell’s office. He knew that Mason would have ground to fight Tess, there was ample evidence of his wishes. The many witnesses to what he set up himself included, the on the book meetings that he had with Jackson, all the children could testify that Lowell made a point to spend time with them but Chauncey. Tess had a piece of paper that revoked all that, her word against every other Devonshire would be a prime legal battle. “Sorry I am all over the place and I probably look like hell still too. He says that might get better it might not concussion is a bitch to recover from he says and I still can’t remember you know what happened on those stairs. Like did I trip? Did someone push me?”

“Funny thing when I hemmed up the security guard at DGI and they said the security camera wasn’t working. It was on a loop somehow now you tell me how the fuck that happened? Unless someone didn’t want people to see what happened, you see what I’m saying?” Ivan’s eyes narrowed as he looked at him. Was this dude alright? He just was fucking pushed down the stairs. This DGI shit was going hood as fuck because motherfuckers were clearly ready and willing to kill for who would be a CEO. His boyfriend wouldn’t be caught in the line of fire and here he was ready and willing to be a fucking victim again. He was loyal to Kendrick so in turn he was loyal to Ronan but what did these shady ass Devonshire’s do to earn all this loyalty? Clicking his tongue he looked at Simon. “Shorty if you think that you need to get back to it so soon you should call Jackson or Mason y’all stay on the phone. Them people willing to kill you for that will and you still trying to do this ride or fucking die shit for them?” He asked, looking at Simon. “I swear to God if these rich motherfuckers get you hurt I’ll paint DGI red. People forget nobody wants smoke with me and I have no problem catching a body.” Ivan said, getting hyped. “You almost died bro? You weren’t conscious when I found you!”

Ivan walked up to Simon and touched his face. “I’m not playing we linked. I’ve told you shit I’ve never told people. I still want us to be together but that shit can’t happen when you playing nice. Where that goon I hear about? Simon you and the Devonshire bringing knives to a gun fight. Bro if it’s time y’all strike back and if you don’t people going to think you’re weak. Now you out of commission but that don’t mean behind the scenes you can’t fight. I’m not letting you leave until David or someone release you bro. So sit your ass done and relax.” He saw the frustration on Simon’s face and he shook his head. “Sit your ass down I’m not playing Simon. I lost someone before and I don’t plan on your yuppie ass being taken out because you want to find a damn thumbdrive.”

Simon opted to lean back in the bed opposed to trying to get out of it; he was pretty sure that Ivan would make sure that he stayed there and almost rolled his eyes at him. He owed the Devonshrie’s a lot Lowell made sure that this family was taken care of hell he had paid for Shioban’s medical school same for his brother, his parents were set for like and Mason and Jackson were his closest friends along with Hunter. He made a mental note to speak to the head of security when he got out someone was messing with the cameras at the office who knew what else they were messing with. “So Tess likely has someone out there doing her dirty shit this was something that I should have accounted for. Dammit that thumbdrive was like everything Ivan you don’t get it, it was his last will and testament.” Simon said looking at Ivan it would he his word against Tess’s about what was on the thumb drive now and you couldn’t just go out and prove that in court they needed proof. He felt his phone buzz and he looked over the injunction that Mason had filed thankfully a judge agreed that for now the structure of the company was in place exactly how his former boss wanted it. He felt himself stiffen a bit when Ivan said he would go paint DGI red and glared at him. “You do that you might as well walk the fuck out right now.” Simon said and he meant it those people were his family too and none of them wanted him hurt.

“I have my own damn ways of handling shit and frankly you going out and ‘painting DGI red’ isn’t the way this is going down, anyone there gets hurt I’ll know who to come after. It’s not like any of them wanted me to get hurt my God I don’t question your bizarre loyalty to Ronan or your past you don’t get the right to come in here and judge the Devonshire’s either who are like second family to me.” Simon said looking at him while he scrolled through the injunction tying Tess up in court for years on end could work if they played their cards right until he remembered if Lowell had another copy of that taped and live confession on camera. He closed his eyes for a moment opening them again he remembered going to Lowell’s office and retrieving the drive but everything else was a blank, he probably did scare Ivan laying there flat out on the stairs but he didn’t remember Ivan being there, or the ride to the hospital David had assured him that eventually he would remember concussions needed time to heal and honestly he was lucky he was alive. “I’ll handle this my way which requires a certain finesse and culture behind it and doesn’t involve guns or blood. I’m sorry I scared you alright?” He said looking at Ivan and seeing the door open for Miranda Harrison and Zach Fraiser walk in. “Detectives lovely of you to stop by.” He said shooting Ivan a warning look.

“Hey Simon David said it was alright that we came in and talked to you now that you were awake and conscious out of the woods as he called it.” Miranda said looking at Simon and then over at Ivan for a minute feeling Zach behind her. Honestly she had been on pins and needles since Ronan had been arrested and he knew KC was alive, her disguise was good at the club and even with all the precautions the FBI was taking with their safety and Quinn’s anyone could recognize her. Hell she was surprised that Ivan hadn’t went to his former boss and ratted her out and she shook it off as she looked over at Zach. “We were hoping we could ask you a few questions about what happened the day of Lowell’s funeral isn’t that right Zach?” Miranda finished looking at her partner.

“Correct, Simon you say the only thing missing inside of your briefcase is a thumb drive correct? Tell us step by step your movements up until the fall.” Zach said as he pulled out his small pad and pin. “After the funeral reports said you arrived at DGI and you were here to retrieve what exactly?” If what the security guard who Ivan roughed up was telling the truth. If Simon wasn’t in such rough condition he’d take the hooligan in. Ivan was from the era where Ronan goons could run amuck but those days were ending. Or so they prayed. He kept his mouth closed about Miranda which he understood why he knew that people could expose his darkest secret. His sexuality and sadly this was one time he felt for Simon because being a secret was horrible and something Simon didn’t deserve. Someone had to hack the systems of the security grid at DGI for only a short period of time. The online security team would have caught on meaning it was someone who knew that. It was however reported that someone wearing all black rushed out of the building bumping directly into Clarke Morrows who happened to be Max Devonshire assistant. “So just tell us what happened from what you can remember.”

Simon nodded his head at Zach yes the thumb drive was missing everything else was there a few projects that he was doing some research on but the thumb drive with the will was gone. “Yes after Tess said what she did at the funeral I knew I had to go to DGI and retrieve the thumb drive, listen it was Lowell’s last wish that should she try any funny business I was to leave immediately which I did and go to DGI. Once I got there I went into his old office she’d of course thought she could decorate it I handled that swiftly moved her down the hall. Went to where Lowell had instructed me where the thumb drive was behind the portrait he had of him and her.” Simon said pausing to take another sip of his water, recovery was going to be a bitch he could already tell. He saw Zach and Miranda writing down notes in their little pads, didn’t they use recorders now days? “The irony of that was not lost on me so I retrieved the thumb drive from where it was and then promptly threw that picture in the trash can. Once that was done I packed up and started to leave elevator first to the parking garage and then stepped out to take the stairs. Maybe I tripped over my shoes or some shit like that, the next thing I know I was waking up here in the hospital and David was standing over me shining a fucking flashlight in my eyes. Listen it is imperative you find who did this or what happened, the thumb drive has Lowell’s last will and testament on it one he recorded.” Simon said looking at them both and then over at Ivan.

“You were wearing Burberry loafers.” Ivan growled as he saw Zach looking up from his pad. “Tess or someone came after him and they knew. Man I’m not stupid that’s how this shit works. It’s just rich ass people being the gangsters bro. They will violate and destroy anyone they can and Simon was being a loyal for the Devonshire’s and they attacked him. He clearly had proof that would invalidate all what that woman was saying.” Looking at Zach and almost wanted to fight old boy. He thought he was so bad behind that badge but he was a bitch. He didn’t see how Mason or Simon liked his corny dudley do right looking ass. Barney Fife ass boy. Ivan snickered at him roasting Zach in his head because he just hated on him. He went to Simon saying he deserved more and was all up in their relationship but didn’t he fuck up Mason and Simon’s shit? Bro was messy as fuck and he thought because he had his rainbow flag outside of his house he could disrespect.

Zach could feel Ivan’s hostility and he smirked. This was the part of the job that he loved. Punks like Ivan who hid in not just the closet but the shadows. He wasn’t dumb Ivan had bodies underneath him. They’d never find them because of Ronan Madden and his silence with Miranda showed respect for something however he didn’t trust him. He was a common criminal and that was clear. No matter how much shit Jamal tried to polish up he’d still be a pile of shit. He seemed to hold some resentment for the time that Simon and he shared but couldn’t come out and say it because he was on the downlow. “Well considering you roughed up Carl Luster, when he gave us a damn lead. As you astute friend.” Making sure his words were pointed on the word friend. “Someone who we can identify was leaving DGI only a few moments after your fall. We believe that you have been assaulted Simon.”

Simon looked between Zach and Ivan and he almost paled at the fact that Ivan went out and beat Carl Luster who was an exemplary security guard and had been at DGI for over ten years he would talk to Ivan about it later. He wondered how much Carl saw or didn’t see clearly someone had pushed him down the stairs and he looked at Zach and Miranda. “Thank you detectives I am sure sine I hae Atlas Falls finest on the case this will be resolved sooner rather than later. I do wish there was more that I could tell you but I can’t. David doesn’t know how long my concussion will last all I remember was falling, the drive being missing and waking up here.” He finished seeing them nod their heads and Miranda tugging Zach out of the room. Once they were gone he looked at Ivan. “You told me you were over your past lifestyle yet you attacked Carl? The only witness to possibly help me? Then standing here staring Zach down and for what? Because he and I shared something in college? I find out you ever place your hands on Carl again it’s over Ivan.” Simon said shaking his head as he closed his eyes and leaned his head back against the pillow fighting off the headache he felt coming on.

Miranda knew they had little to go on when they left the room and she looked over at Zach clearly something was bothering him. Maybe it was the fact that Simon was clearly with Ivan, or maybe it was the stress he was experiencing with the wedding. Regardless she was his partner and the only thing they had to go on was someone pushed Simon clearly and left the building dressed in black. Carl if he saw anything was too scared to talk to them after Ivan assaulted him. “Wouldn’t be the first time we haven’t had a good lead on a case at least we know what they were after meaning everyone at that funeral who wants DGI can be a suspect. Ignore Ivan he’s just insecure and jealous he can’t have what you and Mason do. Let Simon make his own bed with him and learn the hard way you know?” She felt both their phones buzz and took hers out looking at the text apparently the chief was calling a meeting about the RICO case which she knew couldn’t be good. “Looks like we need to head in.”

“Let’s go.” Zach said as he walked to the car looking at Miranda. “Do you know what this means if that flashdrive is never found? It means that Tess Devonshire is the fucking CEO of DGI and everything in this city will be rocked to the core.” He said as he got inside the car wanting to tip off Mason but knowing he couldn’t his heart ached for his boyfriend understanding exactly what this meant. The wedding might have to be postponed because there was no way in hell Julian or Mason would allow Tess to run DGI. He felt a sense of dread. “Let’s go see what chief Allegra has to say to us. This ought to be interesting, seeing that maybe we can finally figure out when the trial for Ronan will be.”

*********

Lex leaned back in his office chair, iPad in hand. He propped an ankle on his knee while spinning his Apple pencil around his fingers as he studied the complaint he’d been working on. Julian was working with Mason on the DGI injunction and both were out of his hair. Skye had left town and things were finally quiet – as quiet as they could be – with the Governor. Now he had time to focus on the pro bono work he did for local cancer patients. A project few people knew about. He’d dutifully attended that old coot Lowell’s funeral with his family, thinking it would be a bore. Who knows what the hell he’d been thinking, if the Devonshires were involved some shit was going down. He’d tried to take a video of the cougar fight between Jackie and Tess but Whitney elbowed him in the side so hard he thought she’d cracked a rib. Dani looked hot but that portrait of Lowell watching over the crowd made him feel weird about mentally undressing her. All in all, that ended up being a few hours of his life he’d never get back. The text alert chimed, interrupting his thoughts. His legal assistant had sent him a link and when he opened it, seeing the headline about Connor’s sex tape he snickered. “Damn, little brother. Your ass is about to be grass.” He assumed his father hadn’t seen this yet since he wasn’t blowing up his phone. A quick search turned up the actual video, uncensored. He supposed he should be proactive and file a cease and desist order but he wanted to watch his father have a meltdown first. He pulled up the group text with his siblings. “Connor Sexington, Poont Guard for the Hawks. Now I know what you meant by penetrating the gaps. This is the proudest moment of my life. I may have shed a tear. You should probably consider leaving town before dad finds out. Just sayin.”

He tried to go back to the complaint he was working on only to be hit with a fit of laughter again. He and his assistant texted a few cracks back and forth at Connor’s expense. If he would have bet on which Hessington progeny was involved in a sex tape scandal, Connor would have been dead last. He watched that kid grow up. Him and Whitney used to babysit him. Fuck. He’d just gotten rid of Skye. How much of the fallout from this was going to fall in his lap? It never ends with his asshole father. Giving up on the task at hand for now, he put the iPad down and crossed his office to grab a bottle of water out of the mini fridge. He leaned against the wall, taking a long swallow as his office door opened. He was about to lecture whoever was on the other side of that door, he could have been in the middle of a privileged conversation with a client. But when the door swung open, Dru’s fine ass walked in and he stood up a little straighter, smoothing out his tie. “Ms. Price, this is a surprise.” He recalled the night of the Summit when he was supposed to meet her and Charles cocblocked him. He nearly groaned at what he missed out on, watching her lithe body move as she turned to close the door. “Not the wisest move, visiting me here, considering my boss is trying to mack on Jackie D. You remember her, right? Dani’s mother-in-law? Jackson’s mother?” He watched her reaction and saw worry flit across her features before she could cover. “Ok, clearly something’s up. The unsinkable Dru Price looks like she’s about to go under.”

Dru was wearing nothing but a pair of Daisy Dukes and midriff top that showed her perfectly flat stomach off. Placing her cowboy boots on the desk she looked at him. “I have a major problem.” Showing him the text message from Jackson as she looked at his face. “Not to mention my spyware isn’t working. Dani has a new phone and she won’t be as careless as before. I’ll have to get creative if I want to get the phone back under my control. As for me coming here whose going to run their mouth your assistant to get fired. I’d beat her ass myself to keep her silent. It’s a specialty of mine. You know, getting my hands dirty unlike you. Lex you are sexy as fuck why aren’t you throwing that dick at Dani? Do I have to do even more to get you to seduce the basic Barbie? She’s so perfect with her flowing black hair and the alabaster skin oh you boys just lap her up don’t you? What is it about my.” She paused, calming her rage. “What is it about my boss that makes you quiver? I mean.” Dru stood up and spun around showing off her body.

“Tell me that you don’t want all of this?” Walking to Lex and pulling back his chair she straddled him as she looked into his eyes. “All I want is for Dani to get what she deserves. Is that so hard? I mean you want her right? Or do you want me? She’s what your daddy wants for you but you truly need a bad girl. A girl that will let you be as ruthless as possible.” If Dru couldn’t have Jackson she’d take the other man that Dani loved once upon a time. This was her revenge. She already got Hunter, Brooke, and Anderson but it was the Fraiser’s turn. Dani and Braden had to pay and she’d already gotten Braden. The only other person she had to punish was her perfect sister. “Don’t you want to know why I want to hurt Dani so bad? I might tell you but on second thought you would tell in a heartbeat if it got you closer to her wouldn’t you?” She placed his hands on her ass. “Oh there it is.” She said smirk. “See snakes do moan.” Dru needed attention and she wanted it from Lex. “Plus I want to see if you’re as gifted as your baby brother. But nothing was baby about him. He punished her pussy and I want to be punished just as bad.”

“So what?” Lex said seeing Jackson’s text telling her to take a few days off. “Jackson’s always been a mama’s boy. It’s not unusual he’d leave those kids with their granny while on a business trip. Especially since Lowell just croaked. They like to make a big show out of how important family is but it’s all bullshit. Keep your head in the game.” As for Dani, he’d fucked her over in maybe the worst way possible. He couldn’t very well show up with a bottle of champagne and a big red bow wrapped around his dick and expect her to fall into bed with him. It required finesse. When she climbed into his lap he’d grabbed her ass, slowly grinding her against his now hard cock. Looking at her breasts straining against the fabric. Begging to be released. “I think what I want should be pretty obvious. Why don’t you tell me more about how dirty you can get.” He ran his hands across her exposed stomach and up her sides to lift the shirt over her head. He took in the sight of her, now half naked in front of him and freed both of those gorgeous tits. He heard what she said about her reasons for hurting Dani. He was mildly interested. Or would be if he wasn’t so distracted by the way her body was reacting to him. “You can tell me anything darling. Your secrets are safe with me. God, I love these tits. I am so fucking hard for you.” He bent his head and took one nipple into his mouth, moaning when he felt it tighten against his tongue.

He stood quickly, taking her with him. One arm holding her up while the other swept across his desk to clear a space where he laid her down. He ran his hands down her legs to pull her boots off and then back up to unbutton her shorts. Leaving them half undone, he kissed her clit through the fabric, trailing kisses all the way up her body. Along the way he captured her wrists and pinned them over her head. His cock was pressed hard against the denim and he rolled his hips against her. Her cheeks flushed in arousal. “Look what you’re doing to me. Is this what you wanted, Dru? Me to take you in my office and have my way with you? I bet that little pussy is dripping wet for me. Needing to be fucked so right.” His dick responded to every moan she made, straining against his pants. He was eager but he wanted to savor her first. He released her wrists and finally jerked her shorts off. He wasted no time sliding his hand between her legs stroking her lips. She was so wet his finger easily slipped inside. He smiled as her hips jerked up to meet his hand. “Is this what you want?” He brought his mouth down to suck her swollen clit. Adding a second finger and pumping faster. His other hand found a nipple and squeezed and twisted, pinching harder each time he thrust his fingers inside. “You are so tight. I can’t stop thinking about how good my dick is going to feel buried deep inside of you. But first I want to watch you cum for me like this. Let me hear how much you want it.” His mouth was back on her then. Sucking and licking, his fingers curling deep inside of her to hit that magic spot. Her thighs were spasming and he knew she was close.

Lex was full of surprises. Honestly she wasn’t expecting him to be so horny. Preachers kids, politician children, and military brat were the freakiest. He wasn’t impressive because sex seemed to be his war weapon. Lex knew how to fuck a lesser woman brains out and leave her stuck on his sex. Feening early in the morning and late at night but she wasn’t lesser. She wasn’t a weak lover and she wasn’t going to let him just win in this sexual game. She was going to fuck him not the other way around just like she had every last one of her conquest. That’s what men were to her. He was bigger than she thought he would be and the moment he placed his hands inside of her she hissed looking into his eyes. Refusing to break contact she looked at him feeling her body tensing as he began to eat her already dripping pussy. Her lips were throbbing and pleasurably throb. As she tried to push his head back and began to moan as his fingers and tongue worked the magic combination. Dru threw her red locks back and began to cry out in pleasure as she gripped the wood of his desk. Using her legs she gripped around his neck. That wouldn’t do because he wouldn’t upstage her. This power dynamic and struggle was turning her on. Releasing his neck she threw her leg around his head and gave him a shot of her ass. She hopped off the desk and stood him up ripping open his shirt and the buttons flew everywhere. “That’s exactly what I want I want you to fuck me in your office.”

Dru loved being naked it was something about being in the natural state of your body she felt so comfortable with. As she grabbed his belt buckle and ripped off his belt. Looking at him she shook her head no. “Oh you don’t get to just fuck me you have to get the entire Dru experience. You might look at Dani as your ultimate perfect woman but remember one thing, I’m your freakiest bitch.” She let his silk pants fall to the floor and his already rock hard dick sprang out. She got on her knees and kissed it first letting him know she would appreciate the type of fucking she knew they were about to do. Then she let the tip of her tongue run down his thick and veiny cock to the tip and engulfed him into her warm mouth. She made her mouth produce a extra amount of saliva and began to bob up and down until she saw his body beginning to submit. She had a thing about making men moan and like Ronan not many men could resist her mouth. Once she had enough spit store she opened her throat and it slid all the way down her throat. Making his dick disappear in her mouth. She kept her pace up and knew she was going to making him bust. They would have multiple orgasms today because she wasn’t leaving without feeling his dick slamming into her. She needed sex because it was the one thing in her eyes no bitch was better. Opening her throat she deep throated him again and this time she began to slurp back to his tip. As she jacked him off while still sucking on the head of his penis she moaned wanting to taste every bit of the Hessington seed.

Lex buried one hand in her hair, the other bracing himself against his desk. “Fuck me,” he moaned. She was better than his dad’s most expensive whore and almost as good as those two porn stars he’d spent the weekend with in Vegas over the summer. He’d been wanting her since he saw in that dress before the summit and he was not disappointed. If only she knew what a dud Dani was in the bedroom, she’d drop this weird comparison. Jackson was a fucking moron for not hitting this but she was also if she was so hung up on him. Not his problem though. He was damn sure going to enjoy what was happening here and now. “God, I love the way you take that dick you fucking horny little slut.” Had anyone ever been able to take all of him like this? Fuck, why wasn’t he recording this? The way she looked up at him while her hot sexy little mouth moved up and down his dick. Her tits were bouncing in time with the motion. His hand slipped on the desk and he knocked a lamp off. “Oh fuck that’s it. Don’t fucking stop,” he growled, rolling his eyes back in his head. Her moaning sent him over the edge and he exploded, spilling his hot seed into her mouth. He was getting hard again watching her lap it up but he was just getting warmed up. He was always better in round two.

He hauled her up and dipping swifty, threw her over his shoulder to deposit her on the couch a few steps away. “You came all this way to get fucked and I’m going to show you exactly what you need.” He grabbed her by the hips, pulling her up so he could hit it from behind. She’d flashed that gorgeous ass at him earlier and now he wanted to watch it slamming against him. He grabbed her ass cheeks and pressed against her so she could feel him ready for her again. He bit her on the ass for good measure then wound his hand through her hair holding her where he wanted her. “I know you want all of me but we’re going to do this my way,” he said licking his hand and stroking her clit as his cock throbbed against her opening. He slid the tip in and it was all he could do to stop there. “Every time you moan, I’ll give you a little bit more,” he said, slowly pulling it out and going back in. When she gave him what he wanted, he gave her a little more but she suddenly slammed her hips against him and took him all in. “So fucking greedy,” He groaned and nearly lost it, grabbing her hips and pressing against her. Once he regained control, he pulled back and slammed into her. Pounding her so hard the couch lurched forward. Watching her ass jiggle with every thrust was sending him higher. He slapped her ass a few times, grabbing a handful again as he sank deep inside of her. She was squeezing his dick harder each time he pulled out. “You’re about to cum all over my dick, baby,” he growled in her ear, working her clit again with his hand. Stroking and circling in time with his thrusts.

Dru cried out in perfect crescendo as she felt herself damn near reaching her second orgasm. He really did know how to fuck. Why did all the douche bags know how fuck? Gripping the leather on the couch she felt her toes curling as she felt herself release and the familiar sound of him sploshing inside of her body but she wasn’t ready for the party to end. Seeing that he hadn’t came yet she squeezed as her body shivered with each thrust she felt him speeding up until she heard him grunting and warmness flowed through her body. She smiled knowing she did a great job. Knowing she’d offered him the best ride of his life. Turning around she kissed him passionately. Maybe it was easier to kiss him than Zerick because she could see herself actually settling down with Zerick or something. Touching his sweaty chest and looking into Lex lustful eyes he wanted her some more. She’d hooked him hopefully as she got down on her knees and picking up her dismissed panties waving her ass in the air again. Then scooping up her half-shirt. As she turned she saw that dick was rising again and she smiled as she went in to suck a little more. A girl had to go because she’d had enough vitamin D today. But she couldn’t resist until she stopped and tilted her head to right. “Oh my God? Governor Hessington I didn’t see you there?” Wiping her mouth.

Charles had made a point to come to his son’s office they had things they needed to discuss with the conglomerate things in Europe were heating up and not in a good way. That meant he needed this shit here with the Pub locked down and frankly he was tired of playing his son’s little games either shit or get the fuck off the pot. There was also that little mess that was the video of Connor and that vapid dress designer now plastered all over the internet, the last child he expected to make a real life porn video. The office was quiet when he had entered and then he heard the moaning outside the door and had peaked his head to the window and the barely cracked blinds. The whore of a nanny bent over his sons desk clearly taking the thrashing Lex was giving her, he would be impressed if he wasn’t such a goddamned disappointment at the moment to him. He felt himself stiffen just slightly, watched as they finished his eyebrow cocking just a little when she went down on her knees. He wondered if she could do that to him and almost laughed she was easy it was all over town which was why after this mess with Connor Lex couldn’t afford his little escapade or whatever the fuck was going on with the whore on her knees. He didn’t even wait to be invited in when he opened the door closing it while the woman turned her head to him and he eyed his son up and down.

“In your office where Julian is down the hall really Lexington you would have been better off taking her to the hotel the reserved suite as you know is more discrete. As for you my dear, nice knees but if you really wanted you should talk to him about what we could really do for you put that nice little jaw of yours to real work and get paid for it. Do your employers know about all the men you are bringing around their two children? You should leave.” Charles said seething at his son while he waved his hand at it all such a lazy version of his son it was almost pathetic as he looked out the window seeing the shock on Dru’s face. She knew what the fuck was good for her she would leave the room without question and not look back, nothing was standing in his way of getting that Pub and that included the red head that seemed to be his son’s biggest distraction as of late. “Here I thought you were a changed man, that was what you were trying to show Danielle wasn’t it? Now you and I have business to talk about so please send your new little toy whore away. Unless she wants to perform for a real man.” He finished his face turning up in disgust while he took a seat on the couch looking at them both.

Lex lost his third burgeoning erection the second he realized his father had walked in. “What in the actual hell is wrong with you? The door was closed. You don’t just walk in. I could’ve been with a client. Call first next time.” He was utterly embarrassed to have his father walk in here, scolding him like an unruly teenager in front of Dru and insinuating he had something to do with that prostitution ring. So, the old pervert had been watching them through the window? He hoped he got a good look, thinking about how Skye had shamed him for his performance issues at the hospital. He picked up his shirt, noticed all the buttons were missing and instead used it to clean himself off. He kept spares in the office. “Hell to the no, she’s not giving you a blowie. You’re the Governor. Have a little self respect. You, do not talk to her.” He pointed at his father, putting himself between Charles and Dru as he grabbed the rest of Dru’s clothes and handed them to her. “You don’t get a say in my relationships. I’m not some 14 year old kid dry humping a chick in my dad’s basement. I’m a goddamn adult. Come on sweetheart,” Lex said, trying to usher Dru out of his office before Charles had a chance to say anything else to her. Or before she had a chance to piss him off. Dru had a big mouth and while she could probably back it up in most cases, she was not prepared to be on his father’s bad side. Charles had already told him Dru was off limits. He’d remove the temptation if she pissed him off. Probably ship her off to some shithole third world country to turn tricks. “Dani’s still with Jackson. I’m not fucking around on her this time.” He told his father as he buckled his belt and grabbed a fresh shirt.

Charles looked at him protecting the whore that was on her knees near minutes ago and almost had to manically chuckle at it, that was his sons entire problem he was fucking weak. He saw Dru about to protest and then moved to the door slamming it once Dru was on the other side as he looked at his son. Walking up to him he almost hit him but knew what hurt Lex the most the lack of emotion that he showed to him and instead he simply sneered at them walking to the wet bar pouring himself a drink. “Yes I’m sure that is going to have her running to your arms fucking the nanny that her husband was looking at too. Regardless that tramp is beneath you or did Maggie and Skye teach you nothing? Now we really do need to discuss this entire mess with your brother I expect you to end this little whatever it is fling with her and focus in on fixing Connor’s mess if you don’t I’d have to pay her a visit and well you know how convincing I can be when needed.” Charles said not bothering to hand Lex his drink as he took a seat on the couch. “Plus I got quite the disturbing call from a mutual friend of ours we need to be more careful overseas. Surely you have some ideas on how we can make that happen?” He finished.

*********

Greer was cooking. Domestic work was for servants and it absolutely frustrated her to do it. All the measuring and it was so time consuming. A hour later she’d burned the steaks, over cooked the asparagus, and the cheese cake wasn’t rising. So she did what any sensible person would do at this very moment. She ordered out and tossed everything including the dishes in the trash. That’s when she felt a kick and almost fell over. This little boy was aggressive. It was annoying how strong a little kick could reverberate through her body. Speaking of body she couldn’t wait to be back to her normal size. Even though she loved this little boy already she hated being pregnant. It was absolutely a nightmare to get fat. She still was petite but she wanted to be a size two again. Walking to the door to get pay for the delivery driver she tipped him a fifty and set the table perfectly. Lighting the candles today she would get her family back in line. The family she had set up. So what her son wouldn’t be a Devonshire he’d be a Fraiser and happy. When Chauncey didn’t bite at her bait she felt empty. How could he not see her for what she was? His soulmate and the only person who understood him. This was why she wouldn’t tell him because he’d be with her for sympathy. Greer didn’t want Chauncey pity love, she wanted a great love. She’d have to settle on mediocre because Brock was a placement holder and she knew that. As she ran her hands through her hair she heard the second knock and floated to the door.

Wearing an adorable babydoll dress and Louboutin heels she smiled at Brock standing there looking strapping and slightly pissed. What had she done now? It could be the Val and Connor story or was it something else? “Come in.” She said as she walked to the kitchen table. Sitting down at the head of the table as he sat at the opposite end. “Brock, I want to say something before we begin. My job is and forever will be a piece of me. If you can’t handle that then I suggest we stop this now. I know you don’t agree with every move I make but it’s my choice and my business and I will ask for you to stay out of it. I am not going to hold back a story for your morals. I don’t live by your rules or morals nor do I tell you how to work. How would I look telling you how to be a fireman? It wouldn’t work, so I’m asking can my job not be the deciding factor on if we can be together.”

Brock had been working since the Summit some asshole went camping and had lighted a fire in near Everest Lake and he had just completed his wildfire certification so it was all hands on deck. He didn’t go to Lowell’s funeral because of it not that he wanted to go anyway but he had gotten the pictures that his aunt had sent him of Greer and Chauncey at the church and knew better than to march over right away and fight with her about it. This was what he meant at the Summit that she was draw to holding onto Chauncey like a life raft at times, she could have easily went to the funeral as a reporter or whatever and sat in the back. Instead of holding another man in her arms as if she was his partner and if that is what she wanted then she should just tell him. He had texted his aunt back afterwards to tell her that he would talk to Greer about it and then go from there and wondered if his entire family was laughing behind his back at this rate with everything with her. How many people had warned him about this entire thing with her and Chauncey, his aunt for sure and he was pretty sure if Dani knew she’d be insufferable with that a knowing look of being right. Hell he and Greer were supposed to go to his brother’s wedding to Mason in a week was he going to look like the chump that just went back to a woman that refused to put distance with herself and Chauncey. Not to mention she was carrying his baby, not Chauncey’s he was the father why did Greer find the need to run to Chauncey every chance she got? If it was to make him wary of her it was working and he looked at her when she opened the door and stepped inside.

He’d seen the delivery driver pass him on his way down the road to her street and looked at the food on the table and the candles while he followed her into the dinning room. He knew that she wasn’t good at cooking not everyone was and that was alright he supposed that was an agreement they could come to. “I’m glad you called so we could talk Greer, I know things haven’t been great since the Summit but I had a lot going on with having to resuscitate Skye and then that wildfire broke out. Honestly I needed some time after the Summit and what happened between you and my aunt, then that entire mess with that girl and Connor. It’s news I guess to some people but I’ve never been all that interested in Page Six or your gossip column. Your job is fine Greer that is not the problem I’m having with it. I’m actually more concerned about this.” Brock said looking at her and then pulling the photos he had printed out from his phone and then sliding them towards her across the table. Sure she could claim she hadn’t basically been all over Chauncey like a lover in a pew but as people would tell him a picture was worth a thousand words. “This is what I’m worried about and from the looks of it I have pretty good reason to be. Chauncey is married to Natasha Hassan, we are supposed to be getting married, you are carrying my child, yet here you are wiping his face down from his tears in the middle of a church.” Brock said looking at her nearly mortified face and he thought over his next words for a moment. “Everyone minus my parents warned me about this but I thought I would give you the benefit of the doubt for a reasonable explanation.” He finished looking at her before he reached out and took a sip of the wine that was in front of him.

That old bitch. Greer thought to herself and felt like she was being ambushed but she was trained to lie with ease. Picking up her glass of sparkling water she sipped it and took the picture in. One of her reporters said that they saw Lauren taking pictures. Oh she wanted to play? How about if she brought her uncle into town to fuck up her life? She was going to pay that old hag back somehow and it wasn’t going to be pretty. She was going to finesse this situation and when she was done she was going to make Lauren pay. She’d caught her at the right time she was hormonal and angry at her life. So focusing on hurting that bitch would be a tasty treat. “Chauncey didn’t cry one other time and is that intimate moment, yes. Why yes it is Brock but it’s a moment between two people who are friends. I would have done the same for any of my ex’s Zerick, Lance, and yes for Chauncey. Now what Chauncey broke you fixed and I never had a home. I’ve never had someone to make a home with and I haven’t had someone who I can be this new version of me.” She said picking over her salad. Instead of telling the truth Greer knew what she had to do. She had to double down on everything. She had to make this man before her see he was it for her. Not only that he was the best thing to happen to her but he was valued.

“Chauncey tried to kiss me after the funeral.” She lied easily. “I can admit he was a mess and I guess a piece of me felt badly but I stopped him, Brock. I am not an evil bitch contrary to what your aunt and cousins all say. I have a heart and although Lowell didn’t care for me we had a small little relationship. He was tickled by me and my grand plans for Chauncey and DGI. I paid my respect and by doing that I disrespect you. I first want to say no more Chauncey because I clearly have made you feel like you’re not the man of my dreams. I’m carrying your baby and this is what I want. I want a family, I want a home and I want us to have a unbreakable bond. Brock I don’t want you to feel like I want another man. I want you to know that you are the only man and I have failed you. I have failed this family already.” She said starting to freak out in the most perfect way as she began to hyperventilate and cry on cue. “I just thought for a second I wasn’t good enough. You never take my side against your family and I know you just can’t disregard their feelings but what about me? I just want it to go back to how it was in the beginning before when it was just us. I just don’t think I’m good enough. I don’t think I’m going to be a good mom or wife. I’m failing.” Now get up and comfort me, Greer thought to herself.

Brock looked over at her when she gave her explanation that she and Chauncey were just friends and she would have done the same for any of her exes. Had his aunt overreacted maybe but he hadn’t been feeling good about he and Greer since the altercation at the Summit. It was like he was being pulled in two different directions one with his family and the other with the woman who was so opposite of him that he had madly fallen in love with. It was always date the pretty girl or the good girl and then Greer blowed into his life if his cousins could fall in love with reformed drug addicts and make it work why couldn’t he do the same without all the judgment? Greer wasn’t a terrible person and he got that at most she had tried to con DGI and was that really so bad at the end of the day and sure she may of got on Dani’s nerves, but Dani didn’t need him to fight her battles. Honestly he felt awful when she started to cry about all of it and knew it wasn’t good for her or the baby and he hated to see a woman cry especially the woman he loved and still wanted to marry at least if she would still have him. He hadn’t done a good job of laying down boundaries with his family when it came to her especially his aunt and what was his aunt trying to do exactly but cause more shit between them? He had become angry when she said that Chaucney tired to kiss her of course he had Devonshire men and wanting what they couldn’t have.

“Thank you for telling me honestly Greer this entire thing has been awful for me since the Summit, I just thought they’d all come around. I haven’t done a good job of protecting you from them. They’re a bit crazy and standoffish but I just figured if we gave it time they’d see what I see especially my aunt. Then that crap with Val and Connor happened, I saw you all cozy with Chauncey and Madeline and I started to question it all.” Brock said as he moved from the other end of the table and walked up to her wrapping her in his arms to let her know that he was still there and he still wanted this to work. He still wanted to get married obviously not at the Pub now but he he could break tradition it wasn’t the first time someone had, hed work extra to give her the biggest most lavish wedding if she wanted it wouldn’t be to his cousins scale but if it made her happy then he was willing to do it, wasn’t that what love was all about? Everyday he saw that with his parents the real love they had for each other not that awful mess that was his aunt and uncle. Everyone was too polite to talk about it but his aunt put up with so much shit from his uncle over the years. “I could march right over and beat Chauncey to a pulp Greer you don’t need that kind of stress for you or the baby and I know I haven’t been the best partner since the Summit or man. I love you, I love our baby and if you’ll still have me I want everything with you still.” Brock said looking at her stroking her cheek and kissing her feeling her teras drying a bit as he pulled back. “I don’t care about getting married at the Pub anymore, we can do the wedding how you want.”

Greer’s face was covered in tears of perfection she’d honed her craft. Pierre taught her never to immediately pull back but also don’t milk it until it looks fake. She understood the art of deception and she wasn’t opposed to using it to get what she wants and at the moment she wanted Brock’s name and status. She wanted to be simple but not basic and that was a big difference. Sniffling as he wiped her tears away Greer looked into his eyes and it was moments like this she loved Brock. She really did have love for him, this guy might even stay if she told him the truth but thought against it. If she played the keep this baby away from Chauncey card he wouldn’t believe it. Touching his chest she leaned in and kissed him. “I don’t want my wedding to you in that place. I would like to compromise and do the reception at The Pub.” She placed her hands on his chest as he towered over her. Standing up she took his hand and walked to a book on the counter. “I don’t think you’ve been anything but amazing and you’re putting up with me clearly driving a wedge between you and your family and honestly that’s the last thing I want. As a LeClerq we have pride in the legacy of our family but my roots are rotted.” Greer wasn’t lying at that moment. “Having a real family is all I want and your family provides that. If they just let me in.” She opened the book on the counter.

“It’s Brock Junior’s room. I was think gray, white and yellow. Oh I thought I should tell you today Kelsey and I saw his privates and well it’s a boy. I love that you as a man are smart, kind and completely devoted to me and this baby.” Greer was speaking the truth once again. She knew Brock would protect this kid from any storm and she knew this child flaws and differences she would love him. Chauncey would cut his own brother throat for a chance at DGI CEO position and that meant he would love this child but eventually he’d break it’s heart. Just like he broke her heart, so would he with this little boy. Or that’s what she would tell herself to soothe the aching guilt already building by running between both men. She however knew to lure him in the web further and faster. “I don’t want to compete but Zach has been accepted into the FBI correct? Well if that’s happening don’t you think we should have it before he leaves Atlas Falls.” One less Fraiser who hated her was all the more better. “Share our love as well, you know?”

Brock picked up his phone texting his aunt that it was over, Greer had a perfectly reasonable explanation for the pictures and that she needed to back off showing Greer the text to his aunt afterwards. He thought over her compromise that they could have the reception at the Pub it seemed reasonable and it wasn’t like they would be the first couple in his family to do it, Braden did, Dani hadn’t. He then wondered if going to his cousin to get the plate from her would be worth it or not, maybe he could send Zach over to get it for him. Even better he was sure Dani had given it to Zach already he and Mason were getting married in a week, meaning all he had to do was swipe the plate at the reception from his brother. “I haven’t been a good partner Greer I should have stood up to my aunt long before now you and Dani haven’t had beef since that incident at her baby shower. But if you want to compromise about the wedding sure we can have the reception at the Pub and the actual ceremony wherever you want. It won’t be as grand probably as what you are used to, but even if I have to take out a loan to pay for what you want I’ll try my best to make you the happiest woman on the planet. I mean that I want you to have the wedding of your dreams.” Brock said kissing her and then following her over to the book.

The colors were so neutral with the grays and yellows, the white seemed to bind everything together and then he smiled over at her they hadn’t even talked about where they were going to live yet together but his throat caught a little, he was going to be a father. He looked over at her when she mentioned that they were having a boy, something he thought they had agreed to wait and find out on and made a note to talk to Kelsey about spoiling it, clearly his sister was trying ot get under his skin now too. “I’m sorry I missed the appointment that fire was out of control and we had to cut the line or it might have jumped the ridge and came over. I really want to be there for everything else though and I’ll try my best to make it. As for the name Brock Junior?” Brock said looking at her with pure love in his eyes, it seemed a little pretentious to name his son after him directly but he may warm up to the name down the line.  He stiffened a moment when she mentioned that she wanted to get married as soon as possible, his brother was getting married in a week and yes Zach had been accepted into the FBI but it was his day coming up. Honestly he didn’t really have a good reason as to why they had to wait to have a wedding, waiting till after their son was born would send his very catholic mother into a heart attack maybe. He supposed it wouldn’t hurt to do it after Zach married Mason. “I don’t see why we have to wait Greer. Let’s set a date after Mason and Zach say I do you pick the date and we can move up the wedding. On one condition I don’t want you stressing yourself out with it.” Brock said looking at her she was getting further along and knew stress wasn’t good for her or the baby.

“No, let’s do this the right way.” Greer said with a smile. “Give us time before Mason and Zach leave. I don’t want to seem too tacky but I think we can wait for a second. Just as soon as we think a respectable distance is between their wedding and ours. I mean a roaring twenties theme is pretty amazing.” It was subtle manipulation but hearing his baby brother was about to do a big lavish wedding was going to push Brock to do exactly what she wanted. Choosing to get a loan when it wasn’t even needed. She was wealthy and immeasurably powerful due to her media empire. “I’m thinking country club.” It was basic but she would be able up the stakes with her wedding dress and the decor. Brock was so sweet and here he was apologizing to her when she was a monster. She knew she didn’t deserve the ground a man like this walked on. He had heart and integrity but if she could pull this off. She’d have a father for her son who could honestly emotionally love him the way none of the Devonshire boys were.

“No more stress and no more worrying. This is going to be easy soon. I’ll be having our baby and we will be married. I think this is actually the hardest part Brock is integrating me into your family. Don’t worry Lauren and I will eventually see eye to eye but until that happens she’ll be in her feelings. I mean she did love my uncle and this has to be hard for her. You know that you’ are marrying a LeClerq and that has to hurt. You do know she was going to leave your uncle so the projecting here is a little much.” If she wanted war then Greer would give that retched woman exactly what she wanted. She’d stepped on Dani but she was going to demolish Lauren. “I’m so happy we are having this conversation Brock. I fought with you and it was horrible. I know that but if it gets us here then I guess it was worth it.”

Brock looked over at her with a small smile on his face when she said that they could wait on the wedding, honestly his family would be so enthralled with Zach marrying Mason they probably wouldn’t even blink if they moved the date up. It was the polite thing to do for them both but he wanted to marry her before the baby was born he raised his eyebrow at the Country Club that could be a good compromise. “Country club it is then and you pick the date I mean it Greer I want to mary you. I think for a while you and my aunt just need to stay out of each others way and I’ll speak to her about it.” Brock said looking at her leaning down and kissing her before leading her back to the table and then moving his plate down next to hers. He kept silent about the time that his aunt was going to leave his uncle that family drama was something no one really talked about but it was raw for his aunt and he shook his head maybe she was projecting. “Now finish eating so we can get to dessert and then I can pamper you for the rest of the night.”

*********

Maureen Allegra stood inside the police commissioners office staring at the phone that she had just received from the FBI it was on hold all of it, all of the work over the last few years an undercover agent brought back from the dead. A witness in protection holed up in a safehouse in town and Ronan Madden and Gia Falcone were going to walk for now, something about another faction taking precedent. Of course she was angry but legally their hands were tied and she walked out and the men and women in the room turned to look at her while she walked up to the board of their RICO case and then pushed it aside to their audible gasps in the room. “As of ten minutes ago I need to tell you all that the RICO case against Ronan Madden and Gia Falcone has been put on hold. The current DA has stepped down after a story leaked on social media about his sister’s involvement as an escort and his political bribes to cover up the incident.” Maureen said feeling the eyes of every single cop in the room and FBI Agent Rhodes there too and she empathized with him and his family especially Miranda who had went undercover with Ronan and worked Yasmine Kohl.

“So as of now no one is to be harassing Mr. Madden and all current surveillance on this case is over. Our witness will of course still remain in FBI custody at the warehouse but there will be no set trial date a federal judge right now has thrown out the RICO case until after a run off election for district attorney in the next election.” She finished seeing the shocked faces in the room. The reach here was deep that much was clear, Ronan or Gia had friends in high places higher than Atlas Falls and unfortunately for all the officers in the room that meant that for now he would again slip through their fingertips on the RICO charges. There were other things they could look into like that casino he was opening though surely there had to be something there that was amiss. “So I want you all to start brainstorming and trying to figure out another way in to nail his ass to the wall.” She finished walking back to her office and shutting the door.

Devin looked at the chief come out and basically throw out years of work and his entire body wanted to shake in rage as he saw Zach coming in at the tail end of it all. Miranda looked shell shocked and not in a good way, KC looked annoyed but like him Jon looked pissed the hell off and rightfully so. Years had went into this case, resources with them and the FBI that had been wasted and how he was going to walk on a likely technicality or some shit like that. He was angry if Braden was in office this never would have happened, frankly he was clean as a damned whistle except that incident with Tamara where a news article had forced his resignation. He would have tightened up that case and worked it till he was dead in the ground and now it was all gone. He leaned back in his chair at his desk throwing the file on the table seeing the paperwork flutter a bit and he let out a breath, it was bad really bad now. Ronan was now free to roam the city no surveillance, no one to watch his moves and worse the drugs and crimes would start up again. Sure they had other cases like someone had pushed and tired to kill Simon but that was small things compared to taking out the criminal that wrecked their city left and right.

“So that’s it? He just gets to walk on a technicality?” Devin muttered not really believing it till it came out of his mouth and he shook his head as the silence in the room felt deafening before everyone seemed to start to get to work again. Leaning on his desk he looked over at Jon who seemed to still be sitting their stoically as he looked at the wall and he wondered if it was because of the case or everything with Skye? He knew despite everything Merci was worried about her sister and Jon, hell he was too but Jon seemed to be trying to make it right lately and he seemed to be going back to the man that everyone knew him as and he looked at his partner and friend. ‘This is fucked up man, so he gets to walk away? This fucking sucks.”

KC heart dropped hearing the words and the fact Ronan got away made him absolutely sick to his stomach. “Have you lost your damn mind Allegra? I have direct proof he tried to kill me and not only that my wife was an undercover operative. Who possibly at any fucking day could be made? Are you kidding me? This doesn’t suck this could and can get my family killed. I won’t make my daughter a damn orphan again and I don’t normally yell or scream but if you think that we won’t be doing anything you’re crazy. I don’t believe politics has gotten this far that’ll it would leave me and my wife open for Ronan and Gia. Gia fucking Falcone have you read the file on her? I feel like we’ve went over how dangerous she is in briefing after briefing and now you want to say the RICO charges are done? Fuck that!” KC snapped as he looked at Miranda.

“You keep saying find another way! Maureen we have him drug trafficking and we have on distributing over the east coast! I have spent years away promised to see justice for not only what he did to me but my family. My daughter goes to school out here, my wife goes to the grocery store and what happens when she is shot dead? Or my daughter taken out of school? I am alarmed at your bosses and superiors negligence and even more alert that my time away from my family means absolutely fucking nothing to you. So you have to do more than just pretend to do some peptalk. You’re going to break it down to me step by fucking step. Tell me!” He screamed as he looked at Miranda finally walking to her. This wasn’t some game to him. She and Quinn were the highest priority.

Jon looked at KC going off and understood how alarmed he now was for his wife and child. He also knew that his sister wasn’t going to fucking ever go out by the hands of Ronan Madden.Jon would kill Madden himself and turn himself in before Ronan hurt Miranda or Quinn. “KC calm down brother. Listen we’ve worked years and looked at that board you so flippantly dismissed captain. I’m lead detective and we got him. Now we can’t get Yasmine Montgomery or Jamal Delacroix to be witnesses but we have plenty of other facts and witnesses. If I may, Maggie Thorpe has had time within their factions. We also have some good evidence and good police work. We’ve worked with the FBI agent Diego Gonzalez. Diego was my brother-in-law’s handler and I am sure we can call him and straighten this out.” He wasn’t going to let a five year investigation just go.

“What you’re saying is that somehow he squirmed out of it again but you’ve also just placed a target on all our backs. We arrested him last year and we will now all have to look over our shoulders. What about Scottwood? Huh Allegra? The gangs are rising, new one sprouting up every week if you off fourth street you’re rolling with the Black Fire and if you two streets over on second street the Yung Killas or YK’z as they like to be called are killing whatever is in sight. Not to mention the biker gangs and white supremist on the outskirts of the city. We are supposed to continue to face crime and figure out how to take down one of America’s most powerful mobsters when we have already done it?” Jon asked sarcastically.

Miranda felt like her entire world shifted everything they had worked for over the years was gone because Ronan or Gia had higher and higher friends, when would it stop. When would her family be safe from Ronan and his empire, he had shot her husband put him into a coma from what she understood he had Gia killed to Yasmine’s sister when would he pay? Anger set in next at how she had risked her life at the club in that awful ass wig for months on end when they were doing the drugs. Then denial set in cleary this was a mistake and she wrapped her arms around KC for support and her eyes bore into Zach’s and that is when it dawned on her. So the RICO for the club and that entire mess was done but there was other ways and she knew what she had to do, she’d done it before became Mia the only one who knew who she was at the club was Ivan and he was no longer working for Ronan that they knew. Meaning she could still make a move her one that Ronan might actually be willing to play along with. She held her husband in her arms and then looked over at Jon.

“The casino, they’re hiring right now at the casino it’s stated to open in a few weeks. Mia hasn’t been at the club in months remember she had to leave, meaning let me do it. Ivan is the only one that recognized me from the sting, Ronan has never seen me only you and KC when you both arrested him. I stayed in the hall from what we know he doesn’t know what I look like. Ivan isn’t involved anymore meaning I can go into the casino.” Miranda said looking at her shocked husband and brother’s faces and she saw Devin simply look at her, he had been her support last time but she was safe. Her eyes looked at Zach she wanted him to have her back on this one when it came to taking Ronan down. “Allegra said the RICO case was over, she never said we couldn’t have a new case or new surveillance and you really think even though Devonshire money is all over that casino, he’s on the straight and narrow with it? You can’t go in again KC, Jon can’t go in again so it has to be me again. Let me get in there and look and see what is up.” Miranda said seeing KC almost losing it she’d be careful like she had before. “Call Diego tell him the plan call your bosses at the bureau again, hell Zach knows this is the best plan isn’t it Zach?” Miranda finished looking at one of her best friends and partner.

“I believe in Miranda and I know she’ll always have my back so if this is the only way then this is the only way. Then this is the path we need to go down. I know that Miranda is capable of ending this and if she wants to then that’s her choice. I won’t sit around and let her get hurt will you?” He asked to Jon and KC. “I thought not so with that being said she just laid out the best path stop a blood thirsty mobster who is eager to prove she isn’t weak and a old threat who seems to be made out of Teflon. Now we can argue but I see this as thee path to finally slam Ronan and get Gia off the street.” Zach walked to the board and pointed at Hector. “How many bodies? Huh? It’s unknown right? We know he’s killed multiple people again and again but no proof. That’s her orders and this sadistic killer. Ronan has taken our own before and we got him back. We aren’t letting him do it again. Now we are here fighting against each other or fight together to finally end this shit.” He commanded seeing Jon and KC starting to back down. He saw them with their chest puffed out. Miranda could get hurt, Miranda was my wife, and honestly he understood but nobody was actually listening to Miranda. “She has trained her entire life for this moment so give it to her.”

Secretly he was being selfish if this sting went well he heard that the FBI would be looking at Miranda. It actually came down to them both after looking at their qualifications he had a few more checks in the box to get in the accelerated program. Folding his arms he looked at them. “She’s the most capable cop under pressure between us all and we all know that. The only reason this is even a discussion is she is a woman and that’s sexist from you both.”

“Bullshit!” KC grumbled looking at Zach. “Don’t give me that feminist shit. I believe my wife is as capable as any of us in this room. She’s busted criminals and cracked cases but this could end her life. It nearly ended mine or do we all forget that I was shot and left for dead. I was in a coma for almost a year and had to learn to walk, talk, and even shoot again. This is what I went through and they are now saying it was for fucking nothing so don’t say it’s because she’s a woman. I’m saying it because my life and my wife’s was fucked up. I upended Devin, you, you, and her most of all and what was this for?” Pointing at Devin, Jon, Zach, and his wife. “I need some damn air. Look baby there is no need to talk about it because I see your mind is made up. I know that look on her face like I know the back of my very own hand. But I promise you Allegra if one hair of my wife’s head nobody will be able to stop me from killing Ronan Madden or Gia Falcone soon to be Madden because that’s the black widow pattern..” KC burst out of the room slamming the door behind him.

Jon understood KC’s rage and looked at Maureen Allegra and nodded at his sister. “I believe in Miranda and I like Zach. Trust her with anything but she is my sister and if we come off disrespectful that isn’t the intention. The intention is to show you a pattern someone is helping Ronan and this will backfire on us all. Not the operation but Ronan not going down.” Jon spoke from his heart as he stared at Devin and Miranda. “Please be careful I don’t think Quinn can handle anything more loss. I’m going to cool off KC.”

Devin knew better than to butt his nose into things where they didn’t belong Miranda was going to Miranda, clearly her husband her brother were concerned and he thought of her as a friend now. The thing was he knew that she could go undercover and slip into that alternate personality like it was a worn in shoe. Of course he knew that for her the priority would be Quinn, her marriage and then Ronan along with Gia. He simply patted Zach’s shoulder as he picked up his phone remembering he needed to pick up roses tonight for Merci on the way home. “Well then it’s settled we should probably make that call to Diego with the plan then shouldn’t we?” He said flipping the board back up and then putting up a picture of the casino into the board.

Miranda looked at KC and her eyes swelled with tears she knew what they had been through him more than her clearly, but she felt like she needed to be the one to do this not anyone else. She was the only one with an in and if she knew her husband and Diego they would turn this into an even tighter operation than the one they had run at the Club. There would be more eyes and hands and she put up the help wanted ad next to the casino on the board looking at Devin and Zach. “Yeah make the calls. I’m going to talk a walk talk some sense into those two. Zach thanks for having my back on this one, I know we have it this time.” She said hugging Zach before she turned to find her husband and brother steadying her body if she didn’t she wasn’t sure she’d actually be able to do it.

*********

After picking up the twins from Jackson and Dani’s, barely holding it together when Dru had answered the door to let her know that Dani was on an errand, Jackie had taken them from Dru with a sense of satisfaction. The woman could no longer hold her claim over her grandchildren and her disturbing behavior to her son as her out when it came to getting her dismissal at least for the weekend. Honestly she was glad that Jackson had confided in her what was going on, she had of course texted Simon about it afterward but given that he was still nursing a concussion at the hospital she wondered what he would actually be able to do, he was also still putting the nonsense with Tess as his priority as it should be. While they napped in the backseat with her she had returned to the mansion with them wondering if she should call Julian perhaps he knew a private investigator they could hire to look into Dru Price find something horrific on her that could get her out of their lives. She had the staff make a latte for her and then decided that the house was too silent for her thoughts Maddie was at school and she didn’t want to be haunted by the past lately Lowell was always there in the house with her.  Meaning she was going to pay Lauren a visit. Perhaps Lauren could provide more information to her about where Dru came from and what she was truly after.

She informed her driver of her plans as she made sure the twins were comfortable soothing a crabby Donovan when he awoke in the car ride over. Once he was settled she folded her hands around the cup that housed her coffee how stupid had she been in thinking that hiring someone based on Lauren’s word would be a good idea? Who knew what else the girl would try around her son, who had thwarted her advances from what he had told her. It was also disturbing that Dani seemed out of sorts lately, for a girl that was so normally so calm and collected she had noticed her more frazzled recently and had assumed it was due to the charity work and being uncomfortable with Lex. Perhaps her son was onto something more vicious when it came to Ms. Price as when everyone was at the house during the funeral preparations Dani seemed to relax more and return to her normal self. Dru wasn’t around for that time and if she was never alone with the twins, her son or daughter in law. When the car pulled into the quaint little cottage on the other side of the lake she stretched her legs it was cute for Lauren’s needs and she had to at least chuckle at the thought always the frugal spender even when she had made out well in the divorce from Walter, she had always been the brains with the Fraiser finances something she likely passed on to her children. The driver helped her up the steps with the double stroller and she rang the door to Lauren’s cottage smiling at her friend when she swung the door open.

“Morning Lauren is it alright that I came with the best surprises? Randall isn’t hiding inside is he? I thought you and I could talk and catch up besides these two are vying for both of our affections. I was just at the office to see Jackson and with their trip they had upcoming I thought it would be the perfect time for us all to bond while he and Dani enjoyed the trip don’t you think? They can stay with us and Dru can, do whatever it is that she does.” Jackie said seeing Lauren’s face react to Dru and she didn’t expand on it further as she stepped in to the cottage living room before sending her driver away she needed a ride back surely Lauren could take her or she could call and get a ride. She walked around the room the paints scattered around and smiled soon those paintings would be on auction for the charity word was that Lauren was opening up her own gallery as well. “I volunteered us for sitting duty this weekend Jackson and Dani need the break after everything the last few months between Dimitri being found, Lowell passing like he did and now Tess coming after the company. I also wanted to discuss a few things with you Lauren something I walked in at the Summit with them and something Jackson told me in confidence about Dru, the woman you convinced them to hire.” Jackie said looking pointedly at her friend.

Lauren had a busy couple of days when an agency contacted her and commissioned her do the cover of some new romance novels. Her live photography and art combination was something special and she was going to do a little photoshop on the picture. When she saw Jackie pulling up fully looking like glamother she shook her head laughing as she helped her in with the twins. Immediately she nodded her head at Jackie saying they could spend the weekend with the twins. She immediately thought about a girls day with the twins of course. Just Jackie at the lakehouse and not being Jackie Devonshire, just herself. Walking in nature and finally dealing with Lowell’s death. God had been blessing this Irish girl because she was looking at investing her divorce settlement into a gallery. With not only her work but other artists on display and for sale. When she spoke about Dru her ears perked up because ever since the Summit and those awful rumors she had been getting a bad feeling. She did convince them to hire her and she was the catalyst of bringing this girl into Dani and Jackson’s lives. Clearing her throat she place Jolene inside of the playpen as Jackie put their usually fussy grandson in as well. Folding her arms she felt uneasy amount of guilt.

“Rumors churn in Atlas Falls, it might be a city now but gossip spreads faster than a small town in our circle. Tell me is this bitch trying to seduce my son-in-law? Jackson isn’t his father and I have faith he isn’t but tell me I didn’t let a mini Tess into our kids lives. That red head little whore if she hurts Dani I’ll break her life apart. I will throw that bitch out of this town.” She paused as she looked at Jackie. Walking to the cabinet she pulled out a bottle of tequila. “I feel like I’m going to need this and these babies are about to see two tipsy grannies.” Huffing as she sat at the kitchen table. “Tell me what did you overhear?”

“I’ll start at the beginning I was looking for Dani and walked up the staircase I knew she was late for the Summit but what I saw Lauren. They were yelling at each other, Jackson was being paranoid about her working with Lex at the fundraiser he accused her of having an affair with him. She was paranoid about her half naked nanny downstairs and the rumors that the press were starting. The way Dani looked when she left the room like she was lost or worse broken at the thought, he was devastated at all of it at the insinuation that he was having an affair with Dru. I believe him he isn’t having an affair with the nanny, he has been overworked at DGI taking on CEO.” Jackie said looking at the bottle of tequila that was between them she normally preferred champagne but this would do. She paused reflecting on the fight that night how ugly it was how much it reminded her of her and Lowell only this time Dani wasn’t her. Lowell would give excuses or fly off like he had when he outed everyone at DGI and she just simply stood there and took it, never questioning never fighting back. “I don’t think Dani is having an affair with a man that she recoils from being in the same room as her half the time either, I asked her to do the fundraiser because it was something I always did with Lowell. Your daughter Lauren is not me I see that now maybe more so than I ever have. I think both of them have been working non stop, have the twins and need a break with each other. So I decided to stop by the office today and speak to Jackson about it myself offer my advice. He informed me that Dru has tried to come onto him and even went as far as to kiss him, unreciprocated of course.”

Jackie said pausing for a moment as she saw Lauren’s eyes flare for a moment she knew what it was like for a spouse to betray you in her case Walter lusted and wanted Brenda. This was entirely different Jackson had no desire for Dru and had rebuffed her advance as soon as it happened, pouring herself and Lauren a drink. “Jackson has no intention of breaking his marriage vows he has never done that with her, not even when Merci kissed him or when Skye tried to seduce him numerous times. He is completely devoted to Dani, hence why I advised him with everything going on with Tess and CEO telling her would be a bad move. You may not agree with that but she has a temper Lauren, she goes off on Dru over it everything they worked for could crumble. He actually regrets hiring Dru.” Jackie said looking at her friend she may not agree with her advice but DGI had to come first Jackson understood that and she did believe that keeping it from her tempered daughter in law for now was the best move. They needed to get away together, reconnect and regroup especially if they were going to rid Dru of their lives quickly and quietly. “Jackson is concerned that Dru is not who she seems. Being friendly with Dani when it suits her, coming on to him when Dani is away and now she is suddenly best friends and chumming it up with Lex Hessington? So I thought I would come to the source of your sudden trust in a woman that my son and your daughter know little to next to nothing about, unless we count the rumors swirling about all the men she is fucking. Ronan, Philip, Lex, my nephew and apparently she wants my son too. I refuse to let them be railroaded like Lowell and I were with Gloria  and I know you know what I am talking about. So what do you know about Drusilla Price exactly?” Jackie finished looking at Lauren and waiting for an answer.

“She told me she had no family, and that she was running away from her old life. She endeared me with that sob story that she didn’t have anyone.” Lauren said honestly as she looked at Jackie pouring them a shot of tequila. “I have so much to apologize for but the most would be bringing this girl into our lives. I was vulnerable and needed a friend after Walter and she was like a mini protege. It was good to feel like I was needed. Braden is so grown and he goes to me but I felt like he had his own family. Dani had you to talk to, I know you weren’t replacing me Jackie it’s just I have no clue about those highlife things. Now that girl is just just screwing her way through Atlas Falls and I refuse to let Jackson be one of her victims. I didn’t see trouble on her but if this is happening then she’s nothing I want around Dani, Jackson or my damn grandbabies.” Looking over at Donovan and Jolene actually sleeping together which wasn’t usual. “I was off and if I let a snake into the nest.” She shook her head sadly thinking about it.

“She hates her mother. Once we were drinking right after the divorce and she had just came into town. She said she was this uppity bitch who made something out of nothing. She told me how she is wealthy now but doesn’t acknowledge her at all. Like she was forgotten.” Lauren said as she poured them both another shot. “She said she was from Pennsylvania but that is where I actually do have a discrepancy. Her ID is from Florida honey some place Cape something. I’m betting Dru didn’t expect to have us digging into whatever happened in Florida. Also she had no references from her time in Addisonville. Now I can call all the barkeeps and bar owners and find out if she worked out there. It’s a start right? Since we are talking about people entering our lives. Greer LeClerq any advice because that woman is infuriating. She is absolutely nothing like Aggie that’s for sure. I’m sure she’d be horrified if she became that monster.”  Braden and Brock were her anchors even though they didn’t know it during her losing her daughter. Dani was so young but she swore somehow Walter blamed them both for surviving and Victoria didn’t. Feeling the tension rising in the room with her saying she didn’t know much about Dru. She had inflicted this girl onto their kids’ lives and she had to do better.

Jackie looked at Lauren when she spoke about Dru and took note how had they overlooked this so much, she understood the sentiment Lauren was trustworthy but had no one thought to do a background check? Granted she had been so busy with the divorce and her son and Dani were trustworthy when it came to Lauren, they had taken her word for it. “So on top of screwing all the men she fan find, we can add manipulator and liar to the list of things we know about her. Perhaps this is my fault as well I had assumed that you were alright after your divorce from Walter if you felt like you couldn’t turn to me given what was going on with Lowell and Zerick I apologize. I could never replace you with Dani Lauren, but yes I have tried to guide her place in my family and steer her when she needs it.” Jackie said taking the glass to her lips and throwing it back coughing as it went down hoping she didn’t wake up their sleeping grandchildren it was awful. It tasted putrid and she turned her nose up at it when Lauren refilled the bottle. “Jackson is determined to make his marriage to Dani work hence why I told him I would take the twins this weekend.” She said playing with the countertop in front of her as she looked at Lauren again.

“Why would a girl who is from our state have a license from Florida on her? I get that people leave or start over all the time Lauren but that certainly is an odd thing to carry around if you are claiming to be from the current state you are in. Any calls that you can make to people you are connected with will help, with Tess we have to be careful how we handle this. Given what Jackson said and what you said Dru could easily spin the truth when she is let go, causing more trouble.” Jackie said grateful for Lauren saying she would make a few calls the sooner they got the truth and had enough evidence they could terminate her. Lex was another problem but one she could simply rectify then again if she new her son, he was already planning on it after their talk. He was fiercely loyal and protective over the twins and Dani and she doubted that he would let Dru or Lex’s little game stand for long. “Greer, yes engaged to your nephew correct? I think in this case you need to decide if that woman is worth tearing your family apart or not, Lauren Brock choose her and actually marries her she becomes a Fraiser you can’t erase that. You hating her so aggressively it’s beneath you Lauren you and I both know that someone likes sparklier things meaning Brock needs to figure that out on his own. You need to let him, be cordial if you must but I wouldn’t waste your breath on Greer anymore.” Jackie said looking at Lauen she had worried that Chauncey would take the blonde vixen back but so far he had actually been good with Natasha.

She nodded as she listened to her assertion of Greer LeClerq and what she should do. As she lowered her head. “I just know what it’s like to be disappointed about what a LeClerq could do to and for my nephew. That girl isn’t over your son Jackie and I can tell you the truth. She is going to do anything she can to get Chauncey back. You mark my words she’s going to hurt Brock and go right to Chauncey if he and Natasha are stable. I assure you she isn’t the new perfect version. That woman is vile and I see through her act but I don’t want to ruin my relationship with my nephew.” Lauren’s heart was swollen at the thought of history repeating itself. Time never worked with Harvey and maybe that was a piece of why she hated Greer. Harvey and she failed and maybe she was projecting. Taking Jackie’s hand she looked into her friend’s eyes. “I assure you that we will figure this out.”

Lauren thought about anything that could help them. She started to wonder about all the hapchances that happened around Dru. “So I’ll go to The Pub and look at her ID and we will hire someone to find out everything about Ms. Price. If this whore thinks she’s going to rip apart our kids. That picture.” She said pointing to the picture on the wall. “They have been linked since childhood and we won’t allow anyone to separate them. Gloria was a horrible person and she ruined a lot of lives. Setting forth a chain of events we all still reel from. I don’t pity her, I pity those children who will never know how corrupt Gloria truly was. How evil and sadistic she could be and how twisted. Dani would have been Harvey’s for real if Gloria didn’t do some of the things she did. I stood by a man who never loved me like I loved him. I just will not allow someone to manipulate Dani like that, especially someone who I brought into their lives. However it seems her target was always to hurt our families.”

Jackie looked over at Lauren picking up the bottle as she refilled their shot glasses. So they were in agreement when it came to the Dru Price problem; that was all she needed to confirm with Lauren that she wasn’t going to take that bitch’s side. She thought over Lauren’s warning about Greer with Chauncey if her son knew what was good for him or the company he wouldn’t play chicken with it and Natasha. Natasha could turn on them in an instant if she wanted or if she felt that Greer was moving into her marriage. Chauncey had a wandering eye just like Max did but with Tess they didn’t need another scandal. For a moment she pitied Lauren with Walter and Harvey knew the sacrifice that Lauren had made when she had gotten oregano with Dani to stay with Walter. Gloria had caused so much strife between all of them, they all had been affected but mainly Gloria’s children, the Fraiser’s, her and Lowell and of course the LeClerq family too. Raising the glass to her friend she downed the shot coughing again as the sting hit her chest.

“Then we are in agreement we will look into this matter with Dru. If you would have gone with Harvey Lauren that picture would have never happened, you never would have had Victoria. It wasn’t all bad Lauren, they seemed to find their way to act on that day years later. As for Greer I assure you she comes around Chauncey I am happy to inform you he knows what is good he will be loyal to Natasha and get her out of his mind.” She said reassuring Lauren on that front it was Brock’s life and Lauren needed to accept that but should she see something was off she wasn’t above letting Lauren know. Gloria was dead out of their lives and everyone was better for that. “Gloria is gone Lauren and we both know that is for the best. I refuse to let this become another Gloria situation with our children. Now tell me all about your romance with Randall while they are asleep. I need to know someone is at least experiencing happiness after so much chaos.” Jackie said looking at Lauren pointedly grateful for their friendship now that Lowell was gone it felt like Lauren was the one person she had left.

Lauren blushed as she thought about Randall and her. It was a long time coming for her to feel like this again. It was passionate and it was romantic. He was interested in her life as well. He’d almost interrogated her about Victoria it was fascinating to see him all enamored with her. That made her feel all the more alive. “Girl to be honest I haven’t felt like this in a long time. Randall brings out that teenager in me. We haven’t fully went all the way but the other night I know it’s coming and I want it. I haven’t been a kinky girl in a long time and no offense but Dani got it from her momma. I know you have heard the rumors as have I.” She said pointedly. “Jackie he makes me laugh and I know you don’t want to hear this now but you do move on. It’s different but so fulfilling. To have a man all about me. I can’t wait to you and Mr. Irish start really dating.” She said laughing at Jackie’s expression. “Hun that man is so beautiful and I can’t wait to hear details.” Laughing with Jackie as she felt good that her friend was having this conversation. “You have been divorced for a year almost and widowed for a few weeks. Maybe it’s time to stop ignoring Julian O’Sullivan his name even sounds good.”

Leaning in she poured her another drink it felt good to see Jackie Devonshire the Queen of prim and proper laughing and letting that perfectly coiffed hair down. “Oh girl please you are older not a nun and I’m sorry it’s even better now honey. Everything the kisses, touches, and even the foreplay is hotter. I mean I’m older and I know what I want and I just go for it. I want you like that you hear me. Sitting here crying over Lowell is no good. His ass is dead and he made a crazy ass choice to marry that harpy for revenge and now look at everything. I mean he’s just as much to blame as Tess this is insane. I get it he didn’t want to burden you but look at everything now.” Lauren said covering her mouth hoping she hadn’t crossed a line. “I’m just tipsy.”

Jackie almost dropped the glass when Lauren started talking about sex in front of her and she ddin’t expect her to be that forward, thought it was true she had heard rumors about her son and Dani, whatever floated people’s boat. She and Lowell were aware of their son’s escapades so it wasn’t a huge shock. Dating was the furthest thing from her mind when it came Julian Sullivan at the moment not with what was going on at DGI with Tess trying to take it from the kids. In truth she wasn’t sure when she would be ready but knew that it wasn’t yet. Picking up the glass she drowned it before she looked at Lauren. “I’m sure I’ll ask you for pointers then when that time happens but for now Lauren Julian and I are just friends, should that ever…” She had went to say more only for Jolene to start to fuss and pulled herself up in the crib. “For now though lets enjoy them this weekend, who knows maybe another sibling will come later down the line.” Jackie said walking to her granddaughter and picking her up seeing Lauren following her. Julian was on her mind more so than not lately but she wasn’t ready and she wasn’t going to put him through her still grieving for the man she loved and lost, or the marriage that she had lost. It wasn’t fair to either of them Lowell’s death was still to fresh but maybe one day.

*********

Zerick had finished up work for the day and took a longer than normal lunch to try and call Dru, people had been filtering in and out of the country club and he decided to take his aunts advice hell his cousin’s. What was the world coming to that he was listening to Jackson on his love life, Dru had been unavailable since the Summit clearly she had other things and other men on her mind which was fine but that meant what was he doing? He had never waited around for a woman anymore and it was strange to think about it that he was this, whipped was a good word for it suddenly for Dru who had kissed his cousin. He wasn’t jealous clearly it had shook some sense in to his cousin to maybe change course but it wasn’t just that, she was all over Lex the other night too not to mention Philip. He took a break to walk around downtown a bit before he returned to the office to a text from his aunt that she would be working from home for the weekend with the twins. Instead he threw in the towel for work and found his mind wandering to what his aunt had pointed out to him about Talia, how quickly he let that go. Had he made a huge mistake doing that for someone like Dru who was a distraction. He passed a florist and stopped in the shoppicking out the orchids for Talia. Maybe if they talked a bit she would understand why he needed to put a stop to it all.

Once back in the office he could tell that most everyone was getting ready to head home for the day his cousin and Dani had already left on a flight to Montana and he stared at the flowers on his desk. He felt like some high schooler when it came to Talia Rose they had been so back and forth, had back stabbed each other a few times but she held a soft spot in his heart. Logging off hsi work laptop he walked down the hallway and took the elevator up to the media relations floor she was probably overwhelmed with work ever since Lowell’s funeral. He waved at a few interns as he saw that her office door was open and he knocked. “Good you’re still here I’ve been meaning to stop by since the funeral I know how close you and Lowell were. You were his secretary for years, I got these for you.” Zerick said looking at her and sitting the flowers down on her desk wondering where he had messed up so badly with her to begin with. Everything with Linus had been so fresh and jumbled after wedding and he knew that he pushed her away before that and besides she was happy with David or so he had thought. “Maybe my cousin will score a big win for the company with all the bullshit recently this weekend. I know you have a lot going on but I was hoping we could talk?” He asked looking at her checking social media sites.

Talia was about to leave when Zerick walked into her office. She had been avoiding all the Devonshire’s because she was so sad right now. Her pain didn’t matter DGI was under siege and she wasn’t going to sleep until it was returned to Jackson and his siblings. She was sure that Tess had fabricated this will and once they located that dumb ass thumbdrive. Taking off her trench coat. She revealed a Valentino slip dress with white lace trim around her knees. As she fluffed her hair out looking at Zerick. “Thank-you for the flowers Zerick but we haven’t been on talking terms for a long time so I’m confused about what you want.” She picked up her Starbucks coffee and stared at him pensively. “I’ve tried with you and we tried. Maybe I was forbidden because you were playing a role and I got a question on if our love was lie but right now I have expense reports to learn, and have a lot of things I’m mining through. Considering I don’t technically know who the CEO is at that point. I have a lot of work to shift through so what is it that we have to talk about?” Talia said as her heart pounded slightly furious he was back now. Her heart was broken about Lowell and she knew why he was here. After the summit it was clear that Dru wasn’t interested in Zerick or maybe that was the freaky kinky girl sex. She didn’t know but she refused to feel jealous of Dru Price and her bombastic body.

Sitting down staring down at the expense reports and the briefing of DGI she felt his eyes on her. Biting her nail she looked at Zerick. “You know what infuriates me you’re always treating me like I’m a second choice when I should be your first choice. I’m not about to do this with you Zerick not today when I miss Lowell’s voice so much. When I feel like everything is going wrong at the company I’ve poured my life into. Nobody is in their position officially. I can’t fucking figure out what to say! I want to call Dani but she’s been stressed and she’s family now. So Simon but someone may have pushed him and stolen the thumb drive. I have it up to here with stress so Zerick unless you can fucking figure out what I can say about a potential hostile takeover and the children that have lost their inheritance? This is a lot and I don’t know what to say when I’m mourning and all this is too much.”

Zerick knew they weren’t on speaking terms with everything but they had a lot of shit between them too, he trusted her and then she went out and exposed him along with Greer. Exposed him and then didn’t like the ugly truth that had come out when she did it. He made mistakes too when it came to everything with them and yes she was forbidden and he was playing a role, but at the time he also thought that he had begun to develop real feelings for her too. “It wasn’t all my fault Talia, I confided in you and then you went out and exposed everything when I asked you not to, you had their back over mine. I know I pushed you away after and I’m sorry for that but I needed to figure shit out and you were loyal and attached to Lowell and I couldn’t be around that, with what I thought he was.” Zerick said quietly looking at her and then remembering when he had bumped into her and David in fact she seemed to have moved on from him just as quickly with how she had jumped into the good doctor’s arms which was fine with him, she deserved to be happy. “I thought you were happy with David that seemed to be what you wanted Talia, I had shit I needed to figure out. I wasn’t Lowell’s son, my mother never wanted me and then I learned that man raped her and my uncle knew covering up the incident. The man everyone seems love and worship, including you.” Zerick said standing up from the couch as he paced in front of her.

“What I wanted to come in her and say was that I am sorry Talia for everything and maybe that doesn’t matter to you now but it is something that I should have said a long time ago. I would like to think on some level our connection was real or at least for me it was.” Zerick said looking at her and thinking back to his current situation with Dru, he felt it there too maybe even a little more than with Talia but he felt like he saw into Dru in a way he didn’t with Talia. Dru understood his darkness in a way that Talia never seemed too but he was tired of being Dru’s plaything when she wanted him. He looked at her and then down at all the files spread on her desk he understood that DGI was up in chaos at the moment but nothing was going to be settled until Mason and Tess’s lawyers duked it out in court, the injunction from what he understood had been filed no official CEO was named and new positions hadn’t been assigned. The old him would be relishing in the undoing that was happening at DGI but part of him the human part of him couldn’t bring himself to fully do it, his aunt was worried about it. “I think you tell people the truth if you have to that Tess Blisston is a liar, that Simon was attacked and that when the court case settles that is when you can announce all the official positions. You’re capable and smart Talia I am sure you’ll figure it out.” Zerick said reaching across the desk and moving a hair on her face behind her ear.

Talia shook her head feeling so defeated at this very moment. She didn’t want Zerick by default she wanted him because she wanted him. Everyone saw Dru on Lex at the summit and here he was looking like a wounded puppy. She agreed she could have went about his secret better but overall loyalty drove her. She wouldn’t apologize for it and she was also not afraid to say it. “I helped you by telling the truth. I got you a family and you can convict me in any way you want. I did what you want to do right now. You want to go here right now fine Zerick. I’m capable I appreciate that what I would have appreciated more is if you would have been here for me. You were in my life and just vanished Zerick. I hate that and even more you seem to blame me for opening a door you clearly wanted open. Hate him or not you wanted him to know who you were. So I did you a favor you got to be in the glory and darkness of Lowell Devonshire and I won’t be held to this anymore. I loved you and I was in love with you. Hell I wonder if I can’t date properly is because of you but you wanted a place and now you have it.” Talia said honestly as she crossed her arms. “I will figure it out but this.” Pointing at them as she looked into his eyes.

“I won’t keep being the girl you run to when you need someone for a fleeting moment. I want what Jackson and Dani have. I want the full on love story with all the fixings. I want to bring someone home and if you aren’t going toward that with me stop. I accept your apology but I am not sure what you want from me. To talk? Talk about what Zerick? How everyone knows that Dru is a slut how I am still longing for you to wake up. You want me to kiss your forehead right now? Comfort you? Where were you when I needed comfort Zerick? I just don’t know what this is and I need to figure it out. So I can move forward so I can finally breathe again. You keep thinking you aren’t important to people but you are and I needed you so much to talk to and I am sorry I yelled.” Talia said as she wiped her eyes. “What do you need to talk about Zerick.”

Zerick looked at her maybe she was right that she thought he was helping her and he did want what he thought was the truth out, but he wanted it out on his own terms not how she and Simon had gone about it. He knew he had vanished when it all went down, had abandoned her but at the time they had nothing left between them and if she stayed with him he’d only hurt her in the long run it was easier that way. “You’re right I did blame you for what you did, I wanted my secret out but I wanted that secret to be out in my own way Talia not the way that you and Simon did it. I was supposed to have this company with Greer and then deliver what I thought was the truth but of course you would still side with him in it. Honestly I felt betrayed Talia but he’s gone now, can’t say that I am sorry about it. Maybe I’m tried of having fleeting moments in my life Talia.” Zerick said looking at her not sure he would ever be able to give her the type of love that his cousin and his wife had. He didn’t want to comfort her in the least or for her to comfort him, he just needed to apologize and then for right now have her again. “Dru and I are I think taking a break Talia.’ He said pausing for a moment not sure what else to say.

It was the truth he hadn’t seen Dru since the summit and he wasn’t tied to her or anything like that, did he still find Dru intriguing yes but like Talia he was tired of being her second choice after Ronan, Philip or recently Lex. He hated to see her cry call him a softie but she really didn’t deserve it when it came to everything that he had put her through and before he could even say or stop her, he moved forward pressing his lips against hers. For a moment he thought that she was going to push the advance away for hit him and honestly he wouldn’t be surprised if she did, he deserved it after everything. He deepened the kiss and let out a moan when she opened her mouth to greet his tongue and he pulled her closer by her hips, maybe she was done being mad at him for a moment and he could forget about Dru Price and what was or wasn’t happening. He had come to talk to Talia that was the truth but he had also come to see if she still even remotely cared about him, his aunt had told him to at least try. Yes he had moved on to Dru but he thought that Talia had moved on to David too and he wrapped his arms around her waist, he wanted her again even if it was for a fleeting moment and pulled back. “Talia I’m not sure I’m any good at this but maybe I want to at least try again. I want you again and if you don’t want that then I should probably go.” Zerick managed to get out looking at her, it was her choice and he couldn’t offer her a grand love but he could at least offer her to try.

Talia had made a choice. A piece of her knew she’d never be the woman for him. However she knew it was her choice to be right here. To kiss Zerick. For him to hold her body and a choice to break her own heart if it happened so be it. So she knew with her choice he’d have to deal with all the consequences. Wiping the side of her mouth she touched his chest as she looked into his eyes. This moment was what she was banking on. The moment that they finally connected physically. Instead of talking she used no words and unbuckled his pants as her lips met his again in a feverish kiss hungry for someone at that very moment. Rolling up her dress she spread her legs needing Zerick inside of her and she needed to feel wanted. Lowell’s words to her were simple, that she should follow her heart. Right now she was doing just that. If Zerick wanted her then she would oblige but she had to let him know if he ever placed her on back for another woman it was over. She’d do that after he satisfied her.

Standing before him in her Savage Fenty lingerie she smiled at his bulge and wide eyes. Feasting over every inch of her. Talia leaned against the desk and spread her legs so he could get the perfect shot. “Are you just going to stand there or are you going to fuck me? I mean I want to talk too but can we get the elephant out of the room. I’m babbling I just want to feel you again is that so bad?” Talia said sensually. “I know you want to feel me again. So let’s just cut to the chase and make me feel good again. You may not like him but Lowell told me to be forceful. To go after what I want and to follow my heart. Well I’m leaping again with you Zerick.” Grabbing him by his crotch. “Don’t let me down again.”

Zerick didn’t need to be told twice about what Talia wanted and took the hint when she pulled up her dress skirt to show off that pair of panties she had on, as his hands traveled up her thighs to slip them off letting them fall to the floor. He stepped forward saving the small talk for maybe afterwards he just wanted to have a woman that actually just wanted him for a change and wasn’t out chasing after his semi quasi adopted brother or the governor’s son. He let his pants and boxers fall to the floor before he stepped between her legs letting his finger curl into her warm center, coaxing her with his fingers she wasn’t quite ready for him yet and he wanted her completely drenched when he did enter her, when he did fill her. He let his fingers play lazily in her, his free hand caressing her breasts through her dress seeing her nipples harden and her thighs squeezing in his hand, his thumb reached up feeling her coating his hand as it traced small circles in over her clit before he leaned in kissing her continuing to have his way with her, when he felt her leg shaking just a bit he removed his hand and quickly put on a condom before he thrust his hips into her. Inching into her with such force he wasn’t sure he was going to contain himself from actually coming. He let his hands tangle in her hair once he was fully and deeply engulfed inside of her and let out a moan at the action feeling her legs wrap around his waist.

Once he was inside of her though something happened and he couldn’t contain himself as his hips began to pump inside of her he wanted to chase Dru out of his mind, he wanted to be happy and if it was just for a moment with Talia he would take it. He didn’t want to talk he just wanted to fill her and him with the here and now, he leaned down kissing her neck while he sucked on the side of her neck, his hands gripping her hips in his before they skimmed up her sides and over her breasts again. He leaned her down her desk letting her back hit the wood on it while he began to thrust harder and harder into her feeling the drawers rattle as he did watching her arch her back at the actions. Seeing her eyes close and the moans coming out of her mouth he wasn’t sure if anyone else was in the office or not, it seemed that most everyone had gone home for the day with the company in a flux. He leaned down kissing her while he increased his tempo pulling back. “Jesus Christ Talia. You feel so fucking good.” He managed to get out moaning the last part into her her, not even wanting to wonder if she had been with anyone else but him, she was wound so tight and clenching so much on him but he wanted her to come first pleasing her first was the only thing he wanted.

Talia moaned as his fingers entered her body she was ready to be feasted on. She couldn’t believe that this was happening. He didn’t feel so grim anymore right now he needed her. She could confess to herself at least that she needed this also. They had made love before but this was more passionate. From the moment he entered her she couldn’t believe how long it had been since they connected, honestly since she had made love to anyone. Stress and pain seemed to follow DGI and right now the glimmer of pleasure she deserved. As she clenched down against his speedy but vigorous thrust. Grabbing his face she looked him in his eyes as she slipped her tongue into his mouth. She could feel he was close as she stared into his eyes squeezing with all her might. She hadn’t had sex in a while and right now she wasn’t going to let this moment go without knowing Zerick would be back. She was here right and sitting in a cloud of pleasure she ran her hands through his hair. Her tongue exploring his exhaling, her body quivering against his. As she began to cry out and felt the waves of pleasure began to crash over her. She screamed again bucking in his arms as she placed her head on his shoulders.

Listening to Zerick moan in her ear as she felt the condom filling she wondered what it would feel like for him to fill her up. To give her the family she desperately wanted lord knew she was tired of dating. Placing her fingers in his mouth to stifle his grunts of loud passion releasing from his mouth. After a few moments he was looking at her in awe. Pushing Zerick off her she was trying but she had work to do. She honestly wondered what she had done? Would this be another meaningless and fleeting moment of connection? Or would they finally get their shot? Picking up her dress she looked at Zerick. “I should be getting this press statement done I think you should leave now. But if you want I’m going down to Club Vertigo for a drink and to see this band tonight. Simon and I were supposed to go but he’s occupied since the fall and his overly possessive boyfriend. Who I think is absolutely wrong for my best friend because he’s a closeted psycho. Who thinks that he’s the biggest since 2Pac it’s absolutely repulsive and I even had to promise to put bail money aside in case he’s in a drive-by or something unruly like that. It’s also frustrating because if I have to work for Tess I’ll barf. I swear that woman is repulsive and I’m babbling. I’m completely babbling. Okay do you want to meet me at Club Vertigo in a couple of hours?”

Zerick couldn’t help it while he continued to plow into her intent on driving herself and then himself over the edge, he needed this. Despite everything on his mind with Dru Talia was a release that he needed. He let her mouth and tongue devour her own while he continued to move in her and then felt her tightening around him and decided he wasn’t able to control it anymore as he began to thrust vigorously against her while she spasmed and came around him, he let out a moan into her mouth feeling her tugging on his hair. He let his hips do the rest while his body seized finally filling the condom in a grunt as he came, feeling himself leaking out the sides while her head rested on his shoulder. He was still hard when he felt himself groan again and fill the condom once more while he came again the intensity of the experience causing his chest to heave and honestly he wasn’t sure what to say to her only for her to push him off her and he stood back watching her get her clothes. He wondered if that was how the women he had been with in the past felt at the sudden disconnected and he grabbed some tissues to clean himself off while she spoke.

“I’ll leave you to get back to work then. Tess Blisston is not getting this company Talia, not if I have anything to say about it.” Zerick said looking at her and his debated about her offer for an evening out at Club Vertigo honestly he was over his clubbing days had been for a while but a concert could be fun. He still hadn’t heard a text back from Dru and was still debating if he even wanted to see her anymore. There was also the other factor her going to a concert in a club by yourself seemed dangerous even for someone as capable as Talia Rose. “I think I can arrange my schedule to be there for that. I will see you in a few hours.” Zerick said leaning down to kiss her cheek before not knowing what else to say to her while he walked out of her office wondering if he was playing with fire again because he was scared to get burned by Dru or if Talia really was the woman for him after all.

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