My Slumbering Heart - Chapter Eleven

As Jason stared down the barrel of the gun pointed directly at his chest, the blond so wanted to pull the trigger of his own weapon. The temper he had been straining to keep in check started to bubble back to the surface, but the ex-enforcer knew that Spinelli's life depended on Anthony Zacchara being delivered to the FBI in one piece, so Jason, on the surface, remained calm.

Neither lowered their weapon.  The mob boss watched the elder Zacchara make his way toward him, gesturing with his gun towards Jason's cell phone that was still being held in his opposite hand. Eying the gentleman carefully the ex-enforcer shrugged his shoulders and said, "they'll wait."

Laughing at the man before him, Anthony replied, "you're a very cautious man, Mr. Morgan.  I like that about you."

Showing no reaction or emotion towards the older gentleman's platitude, Jason's gaze never wavered.  "What do you want?"

Smiling as he gently bounced the tip of the gun on his chin, Anthony responded, "what do I want; what do I want...?  Hmm...?"  Then he quickly directed the gun back towards Jason, the smile vanishing from his face.  Calmly but malevolently, he answered, "I want you to help me get out of the country."

Quirking his brow in question while the rest of his face remained cold and impassive, Jason asked, "and why would I do that?”

Laughing once again, Anthony said, "because I have something you want, something you want real baaaaaad."

Continuing his struggle to remain aloof, Jason query, "and what would that be?"

Waving his gun back and forth in time with his head, the elder Zacchara chastised, "uh, uh, uh.  I may be crazy, but I am sure as hell not stupid. I'll tell you the answer to your question once my escape is guaranteed."

Jason, again, scrutinized his adversary, trying to read on the man's face what could possibly be that important.  Not seeing anything remotely obvious to give him a clue, the mob boss decided to remain silent.

Anthony, not sure how to read the stoic blond, felt a more drastic approach was necessary, "Not feeling very charitable today, huh, Morgan?  Well consider this: I just heard your whole little talk with your ex-lover, and we wouldn't want anything to happen to Ms Webber's little boys now, would we?"

And then it happened.  The ex-enforcer's temper finally snapped as he heard Anthony's threats against Cameron and Jake.  With lightning quick speed, Jason jumped off his motorcycle, ready to beat the living hell out of elder Zacchara, but, then, he heard the click of his opponent’s weapon engage, ready to be fired, and Jason rapidly stopped his assault before it even started. 

"Now, really, Mr. Morgan, I thought you were the rational one of the Corinthos/Morgan organization, or should I say Morgan organization?"  Smiling at how the former best friends were at odds, not realizing that the two had formed a tenuous truce, Anthony warned, "it would not be wise for you to attack me, for then, who would protect those two helpless, little boys from the big bad monsters that go bump in the night?" Then the ex-Zacchara head laughed, an extremely sinister laugh.

Jason, his blood turning cold as he listened to Anthony cackle, realized there was nothing he could do to the crazy old man in that moment.  He had to protect Jake and Cameron at all costs.  So, for now, he would play the man's games.

When Anthony's laughter died down, Jason looked pointedly at the man before him and asked, "how do I know you won't double cross me and kill me anyway?"

Unable to stop from snickering again, the elder Zacchara started waving his gun back and forth in response, but then instantly stopped and, with his gaze never wavering from the younger criminal’s, said, "you don't, but that's the risk you are going to have to take."

Having no choice, Jason nodded to Anthony, and his voice went as cold as ice.  "Fine.  You want me to help you escape I'll do it, but...." With his voice trailing off, he raised his gun so that the elder Zacchara could see the barrel of the ex-enforcer's weapon right between his eyes.  "If you ever touch one hair on those two little boys’ heads, I will hunt you down, and there will be nothing... nothing that will save you then!"

And, with that, Jason started to back up towards his motorcycle, never taking his eyes, or gun, off of Anthony.

Anthony smirked, amused at Morgan's threats and theatrics, because the older gentleman knew the gem of a secret he was keeping.  "Uh, uh, uh, Morgan."  Again, he waved his pistol.  "I am not leaving you alone to call your FBI friends, and there is no way I am getting on that motorcycle, so…."  Gesturing with his weapon beyond the trees to the location where his automobile was parked, Anthony instructed, "you'll be riding with me."

Still angry from the threats made on his children’s lives, Jason, his gun still raised, started to stalk towards Anthony, and, as he drew closer, he heard the older gentleman, as he was holding out his free hand, say, "first things first, I need that gun."

Looking at the older man and then to his weapon, Jason, his glacial gaze now fixed on Anthony, engaged the safety and tucked it back into its usual position, along the small of his back, snugly between his jeans and his skin.

Anthony nodded, saying, "that works... for now.  Once we get to the car, you will call that computer geek of yours to meet us at a secure location. His particular skills are definitely needed right now."

The elder Zacchara motioned for Jason to start walking in front of him, the man's gun now pressed against the younger man's back, and, as they trampled through the grass, towards the man's automobile, the sound not as soothing as it had been only a short time ago, Jason heard him say, "come on, Morgan, you'll enjoy the ride in a car.  It looks like rain, and I'm sure you don't have an umbrella.  Do you know what they say about Uzbekistan?  They say that 'it always rains in Uzbekistan whenever you don't have an umbrella.’"

Turning white as a sheet at the words that had just left Anthony's lips, Jason was barely able to remain standing with the shock of what those words might mean.  He halted his steps instantly and turned towards his enemy, not flinching as the gun Anthony held became pressed firmly against his chest.  The ex-enforcer attempted to remain calm and unaffected, but his words came out forceful anyway.  "What? Did? You? Say?!"

Unable to contain his glee, the elder gentleman started to laugh, and, once finished and still smiling he said, "you heard what I said, and we both know what it means.  So, let's just say that there is a lot riding on my escape, and don't you forget it.  But let's be clear about one thing.  I don't have what you want.  I didn't take it, but I do know who did and where it is at.   And, like I said before, all will be revealed once my escape is guaranteed." And, with that the elder Zacchara had Jason turn and once again start heading towards his vehicle.

The blond nodded and turned, inwardly acknowledging that he needed to play Anthony's game, because, if what he said was true, that would mean that Elizabeth was alive.  Only she would know the meaning behind those words.  Jason could vividly remember them playing that little game after she had bought the globe for Michael that Christmas in her studio, and, for the first time in a long time, Jason felt hope and joy.  His Elizabeth was alive.  He just knew it, and, even though he had a gun to his back, his sons’ lives were being threatened, and Spinelli's life was on the line, the mob boss was still happy.  Lucky for Jason, he was well versed on hiding his feelings, and, as they headed to Anthony's car, the ex-enforcer was already formulating a plan.

Once in the car, Jason in the driver's seat and Anthony next to him, his gun fixed on the blond, he called Spinelli.  Once the call was placed, the two gentleman silently waited for the recipient to answer.  As Jason heard the call being picked up, he quickly said, "Spinelli, I need your help.  You need to meet me at our designated location.  It's about Anthony Zacchara."  Then Jason hung up without saying another word.  Looking over at his passenger, Jason saw Anthony nod, the gesture signaling that the mob boss could start the car and head to their intended destination.

~~~

Elizabeth impatiently waited for someone to return.  Her nerves were frayed wondering what was happening outside the four walls of the bedroom where she was being held captive.  Questioning for the millionth time whether she should have trusted Anthony Zacchara with personal information concerning her past with Jason, Elizabeth tried to force her mind wander to more relaxing thoughts.  Closing her eyes, she remembered the first time Jason took her riding on his motorcycle.  All of her worries went away as soon as that bike took off.  There was nothing like the noise and the wind to block out every bad thing she was feeling in that moment.  Sighing, she only hoped that one day she could experience that sensation again - to be able to wrap her arms around Jason's strong, muscular torso, her thighs firmly pressed to his, or, better yet, to steer and have his arms encased around her body, his thighs snugly pressed to hers.  Shaking her head, she realized that all those thoughts were doing was making her wish she could take a cold shower or, at least, be able to get up to take a shower.  

Then she heard it - the front door opening, and the sounds of someone rushing around the lower level from room to room looking for something reached her ears. Then she picked up on the rapid race of footsteps up the stairs.  Eying the door, hoping beyond hope that it was Jason coming to get her finally, thinking the noise below had been someone searching for something, Elizabeth took a deep breath as the door swung open.  Trying to hide her disappointment as Ric opened her door but failing miserably, she realized the person before had been looking for Anthony Zacchara, not her.

The brunette heard her ex-husband laugh.  "Not happy to see me, Beautiful?"

Desperately trying not to cringe as she heard the familiar endearment from Ric's mouth, Elizabeth schooled her features as best as possible.  Smiling as brightly as conceivable under the circumstances, Elizabeth said, "don't put words in my mouth, Ric.  It's not that I'm… not happy to see you.  It's just I think I would be a lot more happy if you would untie me and allow me to go to the bathroom to relieve myself and take a shower."

Rubbing his hand across his chin, feeling the stubble that had recently formed from his lack of shaving, the lawyer pondered over her request.  Quickly coming to a conclusion, her ex-husband replied, "I'm sorry, Beautiful, but that’s just not going to be possible right now.  You see, Anthony Zacchara is gone, and our little home has been compromised which means we can't stay here any longer, and we need to vacate as soon as possible.  Now, I don't want you to think me cruel, so I brought you a change of clothes and some essential toiletries.  You can use the bathroom, but the shower will have to wait until we reach our next destination."

Remembering her resolve to play Ric's game and hopefully stall him in their present location for, at least, a little while longer, Elizabeth asked, "what do you mean Anthony Zacharra is gone?  When was he ever here?"

Ric eyed his ex-wife, trying to see if she was lying and had truly not awakened while Anthony had been in his home.  Accepting, through keen observation, that it was possible that the pretty brunette had not seen his former employer, Ric said, "Anthony was here, but he's gone now.  That, my beautiful ex-wife, does not bode well for you.  See, he knows you are here, and I just can't take the chance that he might use that information to his benefit. So, we will be moving to a more secure location, one that no one knows anything about."

Worried that this might mean Jason would never be able to find her, Elizabeth tried to gather more information on where her ex-husband might be taking her.  "Well, do I get to have any idea where this new home might be?"

Smiling at the captivating woman before him, Ric answered, "not right now, Beautiful.  You see, I don't really trust you at the moment.  You are going to have to earn that trust back.  So, for now, just know that we will be going on a little trip, and we will be leaving in fifteen minutes.  Now, Elizabeth, I am going to untie you.  Please, don't try to escape.  If you do, you will force me to drug you again and carry you out of here against your will.  For your sake and mine, be a good girl, and do what I say."

Nodding at her ex-husband, her chestnut curls falling forward to cover her face in order to hide the anger and contempt she felt for the man before her, she said, "fine, Ric.  I will do as you say.  Now, please, just untie me, so I can use the bathroom and change."

Acknowledging her acquiesce, Ric moved forward to her side and untied the young mother from her shackles, Elizabeth straining not to tense up as Ric brushed against her.  Once released, she began to rub her bruised wrists, sighing at how good it felt for her hands and arms to be free from the very restrictive position.  Remaining impassive to Ric's gaze, the brunette heard him say, "be ready in fifteen minutes.  We leave whether you are ready or not."

And, with that, Elizabeth watched her ex-husband exit the bedroom.

Fifteen minutes later, the two were in Ric's car heading northwest to an undisclosed destination, and, as Elizabeth sat there, her hands tied in her lap, her ex-husband still not trusting her to not try to escape, she watched the scenery pass by, her gaze remaining on the window and never veering to the man beside her.  Sighing, the petite brunette started to pray.

She prayed for Jason to find her soon.