Time After Time
Part 5
Rated R
Author's Note: Almost done. Thanks for your patience. I really appreciate all the feedback! It is what is keeping me going on this story. It has been a fun one to write. Thanks Sonja for the prompt and LG2 for the challenge that inspired it. GH and ABC owns the characters and I am not connected to them in anyway. No copywright infringement is intended. It is for fan purposes only.
Time After Time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time
Part 5
Francis watched Kaşık Island through night vision binoculars from his post aboard Maximus’ yacht. He shifted focus to pick out an indistinct fishing boat which hid the other half of his team.
Suddenly, Francis tensed at the feel of cold steel against his neck.
“If I had been one of Helena’s men, you would be dead,” Jason stated quietly.
At the sound of Jason’s voice, Francis relaxed. His teeth flashed in a grin as he pointed to two of his men who had guns trained on Jason, “I could smell you a mile away.”
Brody and Cody stepped out of the darkness behind Francis men.
Now Jason smiled, “I think we should call it a draw.”
Francis turned and clapped Jason on the back, “Good to see you man!”
Jason returned his greeting and then pointed to the guys in the shadows behind him, “I brought some friends of yours.”
Johnny, Max, Milo and Stan came forward to greet Francis. Then, introductions were made between the two groups.
Francis pulled one of his men forward in particular, “This is Lucas. He’s my second in command.”
“We’ll get your girl back, Mr. Morgan,” Lucas promised.
Jason nodded in agreement.
Francis crossed over to Brody and shook his hand, “Those SOC-Rs are sweet boats. I’m looking forward to taking them out. We have them stashed downstream.”
“Maximus has a piece of property that has a nice little hidden cove that worked as a great place to hide them until everyone got here,” Lucas explained.
“So what’s the plan?” Francis asked eagerly.
“How many men do you have?” Jason questioned.
“I have a team of ten including myself on the yacht and a second team of ten on a fishing boat closer to the island,” Francis detailed. “The rest of the men are spread out on the docks, in town and in teams of two around the perimeter of the island keeping an eye on Helena’s men. I can call them for back-up whenever needed.”
“Great,” Jason stated. “Have them stay put for now. Let’s keep the other team on the fishing boat and set Stan up with them. Can they get to faster transpo?”
Francis grinned, “The fishing boat may look antique, but its engine is top-notch. It can move quickly when called.”
“Alright, we want to do this with just a small team,” Johnny started to explain the plan. “Jason, Cody, Brody and I will take four of your guys in one SOC-R and you, Lucas, Max and Milo will take the other with four more men. Stan will provide technical support from the fishing boat.”
Jason agreed, “We will approach the island on opposite sides and dock as close as we can to the house. Spread out and take down as many of Helena’s men as you can as quietly as possible.”
Cody picked up on the explanation, “Only the four primary men of each team will enter the house itself. Brody and I will take the west wing from the top down. Jason and Johnny go from the bottom up. Max and Milo, you have the east wing - start at the top and work your way down and that leaves Francis and Lucas searching form the bottom and working your way up.”
“I have already accessed Helena’s security program and can run loops of surveillance tape on the cameras wherever you guys go. Unfortunately the cameras are only on the hallways, stairwells, and entrance/exits. There aren’t any cameras in the rooms so I haven’t been able to locate Elizabeth and I won’t be able to warn you what to expect inside them. I can interfere with their radio communication and I’ll let you all know anything they say,” Stan informed them.
“Keep in radio contact with Stan and with each other. If you locate Elizabeth or Helena notify the other half of your team for back up. Get Elizabeth out as quickly as you can and if you run into Helena…keep her alive until we have Elizabeth,” Jason instructed.
“I didn’t hear that,” Brody joked with his hands over the ears.
Cody laughed, “Ignore the cop. He’ll keep his mouth shut.”
“What happens in Sea of Marmara stays in the Sea of Marmara,” Brody promised.
Francis interjected, “Watch out for Helena’s man Ivan. He will be fierce in protecting Helena.”
“Remember we want to be in and out as quickly as possible,” Brody commented.
Lucas put it, “We’ve attempted to count Helena’s men, but she rotates them frequently and several are related and look very similar to each other. We estimated between fifty to hundred men.”
Jason’s eyebrows rose, “That’s a wide range.”
“It’s the best we can do on short notice. Sorry,” Francis apologized.
Jason shrugged, “I don’t care if there are 500 men. We are bringing Elizabeth back to our sons.”
Johnny grabbed Jason’s shoulder, “Then let’s go get the girl!”
*****
Ivan shoved the messenger along in front of him. There was no way Ivan was going to be the one to inform Helena that her grandson was dead. The messenger visibly trembled as Ivan pushed him to his knees in front of Helena.
Helena glared, “What is his problem?”
“He brings news from Port Charles, mistress,” Ivan announced.
The messenger mumbled with his head down.
“Speak up peasant!” Helena commanded.
“Prince Nikolas is dead,” the man repeated.
Helena paled, “What lies are this?” She pulled out a dagger and held it to the man’s throat as she lifted his head by his hair.
The messenger shrank back until the knife nicked him and he froze, blood dripping down his neck. “I’m so sorry to be the bearer of such tragic news, my lady, but we have it straight from the butler that Prince Nikolas was found dead in his bedroom,” the man relayed in fear.
“How did he die?” Helena demanded.
The messenger shot a petrified glance behind him.
“Tell her!” Ivan insisted.
“He was stabbed by Samantha McCall,” the messenger confessed in a whisper.
Helena stepped back and threw her dagger across the room. It stuck in the wall with a loud thunk. “I’ll kill her!” Helena screamed.
“She’s already dead, mistress. It appears Prince Nikolas strangled her during the struggle,” the messenger explained.
“No!” Helena cried. “Nikolas can’t be dead.”
*****
Sarah heard the whispers out in the hall. The whole house seemed abuzz. She grabbed a maid, “What’s going on?”
The maid glanced nervously over her shoulder.
“Tell me!” Sarah demanded.
“Prince Nikolas is dead,” the maid admitted.
Sarah’s eyes widened, “How can this be?”
“The rumor is that he was stabbed in bed by Sam McCall, his cousin,” the maid reported scandalized.
“She wasn’t…” Sarah’s voice trailed off. Would Helena want people to know Sam was a fraud?
“Can I get you anything miss?” the maid questioned meekly, looking for escape.
“No, leave me alone,” Sarah ordered.
The maid fled.
Sarah closed her bedroom door, thinking furiously. If Nikolas was dead, Helena wouldn’t have any use for her. What was she going to do? What Helena wanted the most was an heir…she could still raise Elizabeth’s kids and Spencer. Sarah took a deep breath.
Wandering over to the window, Sarah stared out into the dark night. Her room was a tower room and overlooked the entire island. The moon kept sliding in and out from behind clouds. Sarah caught a hint of movement on the water. She stepped out onto the small balcony to peer more closely at the sea surrounding the island. There. She saw it again.
It appeared to be a boat, but it was so dark it was hard to tell. Sarah kept her eyes trained on the water and was finally rewarded with another sighting of it. This time it was closer to land. Sarah watched as it grew ever closer and finally reached the beach. The moon reappeared and she saw a group of men exit the boat and pull it onto shore. The team spread out and took out two of Helena’s men swiftly and quietly.
Jason Morgan. Only he would come for Elizabeth with that kind of manpower. The clouds covered the moon once again and Sarah lost sight of the men when they disappeared into the woods.
“They will not leave without Elizabeth,” Sarah said aloud. “Jason Morgan will kill Helena for what she has done and what she planned.”
Sarah ran to her closet and pulled out a duffle bag. She began throwing clothes into the bag. Sarah grabbed her toiletry kit from the bathroom and her makeup bag. She tossed those in with several pairs of shoes. Sarah opened the safe in the closet and pulled out her passport and several stacks of cash. She quickly changed to dark jeans, t-shirt, hoodie, and sneakers.
Sarah cracked open the door and glanced both ways down the hall. The only way out of this was a strategic retreat. No one except Elizabeth knew that she was involved. Elizabeth had been on so many drugs she may think that she had hallucinated Sarah. She knew a young sailor who lived on the north side of the island that had a small speed boat. She’d be gone before Jason Morgan even knew she was there.
*****
Jason twisted the man’s neck and snapped it before the guard had a chance to reach his radio. Brody knocked out another one of Helena’s guys with a swift blow with the butt of his pistol. Cody eliminated a third with a decisive slice of his knife across the man’s throat. Johnny whispered, “Hey…leave me a little fun!”
Jason glared at him and motioned for silence as he continued to cover ground rapidly. Brody checked in with their other team. They were making quick progress towards the house as well. So far everything was going according to the plan. Jason estimated that they had taken out at least ten men so far, but who knew how many were left.
Jason tensed suddenly. It felt like they were being watched. He signaled for his group to stop and everyone froze. They scanned the dense woods around them. Cody pointed upwards and Jason glimpsed a figure up in a tree reaching for his radio. Johnny knelt and aimed carefully. With his silencer on, he lined the man up in his scope and with a single shot between the eyes dropped the guard from his perch.
Brody stepped forward, headed for the house when he was attacked from behind. Brody planted his feet and gripped the man’s wrist pulling him up and over, into the air. The man landed with a sick thunk as his head struck a rock and knocked him unconscious.
“The goal is to make it to the house before the alarm is raised,” Jason reminded them. “Let’s move quickly guys.”
Two more of Helena’s men were dispatched before the team finally arrived at the small clearing surrounding the large house.
They heard Francis quiet voice through their earpieces, “We’ve reached the clearing from our end.”
Jason nodded, “Good. Leave four guys to guard the perimeter, then make your way inside.”
“Stan, disengage the alarm long enough for us to enter the house,” Jason ordered.
Johnny moved to Jason’s side as they went in the house through a patio door. Brody and Cody entered through the servant’s entrance and headed up to the top floor via the servant’s staircase. Johnny led the way down to the cellar. They searched swiftly but found nothing but storage. Moving up a flight to the basement, they located the furnace and utility rooms as well as the laundry facilities.
“Hold up,” Johnny commanded. “I need a minute.”
Jason paced restlessly while Johnny slipped into a room and came back a few minutes later.
“Quit wasting time,” Jason growled in frustration. “We have to find Elizabeth.”
Johnny grinned, “Just setting up a surprise if we need a distraction.” With no more explanation than that vague remark, Johnny headed for the stairs.
“Heads up, a guard is coming down the steps headed your way,” Stan’s voice could be heard over the earpiece.
The man opened the door and his eyes widened when he spotted them. His mouth opened to raise the alarm, but not a sound was heard. The man looked down to see Johnny’s knife sticking out of his chest. Johnny pushed Jason against the wall as the man tumbled down the stairs past them.
They had to deal with three more guards on the main level and together Jason and Johnny dragged their bodies into a large closet and closed the door. They ran into Cody and Brody on the second floor. The entire hall was pitch-black except for a window at one end of the hallway.
“Nothing in the attics,” Cody reported. “The fifth floor was all servants’ rooms and the fourth was largely empty bedrooms.”
Suddenly, they heard shouts loud in their earpieces. “We’ve found Helena,” Francis explained. “Her man Ivan killed Lucas, but Helena ordered Ivan to leave and kill Elizabeth. Max is with me guarding Helena and Milo is following Ivan. Get Elizabeth out now!”
Jason’s eyes widened in panic. The calm, cool enforcer was gone and the man with everything to lose was in control. All four men began opening doors until they came to a solid wood door set directly in the stone wall with a thick metal lock.
Johnny pushed Jason aside and began to pick the lock. Jason shifted from one leg to the other as he waited impatiently for the door to open. “Watch out,” came Stan’s voice again.
Suddenly a large, muscular man burst into the hallway. He howled at the sight of them and sprinted down the hall.
“Ivan, I assume,” Johnny remarked flippantly as he continued to work at the lock. Cody and Brody began firing at the man, but he dove at Jason and the two men rolled on the stone floor. Cody and Brody watched helplessly not wanting to shoot Jason or impede his struggle with the man.
Finally, the men stopped rolling, but unfortunately Ivan was on top. As Cody lined up the shot, two more guards attacked from the shadows. Cody fought one man and Brody tackled the other.
Ivan punched Jason repeatedly, but Jason finally was able to land a punch to the man’s windpipe as he leveraged his body upwards, knocking Ivan to the floor. Now it was Jason who had the upper-hand and he delivered repetitive punishing blows. One punch shattered the man’s nose and a second shoved the bone up into Ivan’s brain so hard that he was dead before he felt the remaining blows.
It took both Brody and Cody to pull Jason off of Ivan. Meanwhile, Johnny had unlocked the door and hurried into the room in case he had to shield Jason from what they found. The room was full dark and Johnny pulled his flashlight from his pocket. The room was mostly empty, but he saw an army cot in one corner with a figure lying on it.
Johnny approached the cot to see long, wavy brown hair and pale, white skin. He gently brushed the hair away from her face. “Lizzie?” he whispered.
Elizabeth fought to open her eyes. The drugs still swam in her system and kept pulling her under. She heard a voice and she struggled to respond.
Her eyelashes fluttered and slowly her eyes opened. Johnny saw her deep blue eyes ringing huge black pupils. She was obviously drugged. “Lizbits? Can you hear me?”
Elizabeth opened her eyes and stared into Johnny’s face. She lifted a shaky hand to his cheek, “Johnny O’Brien?”
Johnny grinned, “That’s right. I’m here to save you.”
Elizabeth promptly fainted.
Johnny shook his head and lifted Elizabeth into his arms. He turned towards the door just as Jason crossed the threshold. “Elizabeth!” Jason roared in anguish, thinking she was dead.
“Jason! She’s okay! She just passed out,” Johnny strove to assure him.
Jason drew Elizabeth into his arms and sat on the little cot. His hand cupped her face gently, “Elizabeth? Can you open your eyes for me, love?”
Again Elizabeth waged the battle to pry her eyelids open. This time she thought Jason was calling her and all she wanted was to see his face again if she was going to die.
As her eyes blinked slowly, Jason smiled and pressed kisses to her forehead, her cheeks, her chin, her nose and her lips even as he whispered to her between kisses. The other three men turned their back to give them a moment of privacy and took up watch.
“Am I dead?” Elizabeth questioned.
Jason laughed even as tears streamed down his face, “No, sweetheart. You aren’t dead. I’m really here and I’m getting you out of this place and taking you home to our sons.”
“I have to be dead. I thought I saw Johnny O’Brien and you said at the courthouse that we could never see each other again,” Elizabeth stated, still in shock.
“I was a fool,” Jason replied firmly. “I am never letting you go again. This time, if you’ll have me, I’m marrying you immediately and then we will raise our boys together.”
Elizabeth remembered, “Oh Jason! Helena said that Aiden is yours.”
Jason smiled, “The safehouse.” He kissed her softly, “I’ll explain everything later. I have to get you out of here.”
He lifted her up and headed for the door. Elizabeth caught sight of Johnny again.
“Sorry to scare you Lizbits,” Johnny apologized. “I’ll let Jason tell you the whole story later.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened in wonder, “Wow. Okay. Well, thanks for coming to save me.”
“Anytime, Lizzie,” Johnny teased.
“Are you girls done gabbing? I’d like to get the hell out of here!” Cody declared.
Jason nodded, “Let’s go.”
Milo rushed up, out of breath and took in Ivan and the dead guards with a glance. “I guess you didn’t need my help.”
Max spoke in their earpiece, “You always were late for everything bro.”
Jason interrupted, “That’s enough. We still have to get out of here. Francis…can you bring Helena? Max, can you carry Lucas? I’ll send Brody and Cody to cover you and Milo will stay with us.”
“Sure,” Francis replied shortly. “Meet us at the south entrance in five.”
Johnny and Milo handled the few guards they ran into on their way out of the house because Jason would not let go of Elizabeth. In five minutes, they were all outside and joined by the rest of the team. Helena’s eyes glittered with malice and fury as she stared at Elizabeth, but one look at Jason’s stony visage and she remained quiet.
“I’m sending the other eight guys in one of the SOC-Rs. We’ll all go in the other,” Francis relayed.
“Are the rest of our men, okay?” Johnny inquired.
“We have two unconscious and three with surface wounds. Lucas was our only fatality,” Francis stated grimly.
They reached the boat in record time. Max laid Lucas body in the back of the boat. Johnny spread a sleeping bag and blanket in a protected section in the front of the boat and Jason set Elizabeth down gently. She grasped his hand tightly as Jason started to move away. “Don’t leave me,” she stated quietly. Her voice quavered but stayed strong. Elizabeth wasn’t begging, but Jason could see the fear in her eyes that she was fighting.
Jason bent his head and kissed her deeply until she slowly began to relax and melt against him. He eased back gently, “I’ll only be gone for a minute. Cody and Johnny will be right with you. I’ll be back.”
“Do you promise?” she whispered.
“I promise,” Jason returned quietly.
Elizabeth bit her bottom lip, but let go of Jason’s hand. Helena stood on the dock and glared at the two of them. Jason stalked towards her.
Helena lifted her head and met his gaze evenly, “You don’t scare me Jason Morgan. My ancestor’s ruled continents before your grandfather made his first dollar. You may have won this battle, but I will one day win the war. Elizabeth will die. I don’t know how but I know it is her fault that my Nikolas is dead.”
Jason shot a questioning glance at Francis who nodded slightly.
“I can’t say I’m sorry that your grandson is dead,” Jason told her. “He was a useless, whiny self-important man who never loved my sister enough until she was dead and then he took advantage of Elizabeth’s grief over our break-up and guilt over her relationship with Lucky and blew up her life with his lust and greed. I guess he took after his grandmother after all.”
“Why Mr. Morgan…I think that is the most I’ve ever heard you say,” Helena snarked.
“I have plenty to say when you threaten my family. I know that you faked Aiden’s paternity test. I have no doubt that you would have killed Elizabeth once she was no longer useful to you and then killed Cameron and which ever child you didn’t choose to use,” Jason accused and watched as his guesses hit home.
Helena spat towards his face, “Elizabeth is a whore.” She reached under her sleeve and pulled a slim dagger out of a hidden sheath on her arm. Helena charged towards the boat and Elizabeth.
Helena never reached the boat. Max stuck out his foot and tripped Helena and she fell into the water. Jason, Max and Milo stared over the edge and watched as Helena slowly sank beneath the water with Jason’s knife sticking out of her back, directly into her kidney.
Jason grabbed a concrete block from the dock and dropped it on to Helena’s body. A second block followed the first and the combined weight took the remains all the way to the bottom of the sea.
Johnny peered over the side, “Damn…I was hoping that she would at least scream – I’m melting, I’m melting!”
Milo barked out a laugh even as his brother smacked him in the back of the head.
“You better get out of there. Helena’s men are regrouping and heading your way,” Stan warned.
A huge explosion lit the sky. Helena’s house exploded and began to burn. Men streamed from the house and the men who had been following them turned back to fight the flames.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Johnny remarked.
Jason met Johnny’s humored gaze with a shake of his head, “That have anything to do with the little side-trip you took earlier?”
Johnny just grinned.
Jason rolled his eyes, “Let’s get the hell out of here. I want to take Elizabeth to our boys.”
Part 5
Rated R
Author's Note: Almost done. Thanks for your patience. I really appreciate all the feedback! It is what is keeping me going on this story. It has been a fun one to write. Thanks Sonja for the prompt and LG2 for the challenge that inspired it. GH and ABC owns the characters and I am not connected to them in anyway. No copywright infringement is intended. It is for fan purposes only.
Time After Time
If you're lost you can look and you will find me
Time after time
If you fall I will catch you, I'll be waiting
Time after time
Part 5
Francis watched Kaşık Island through night vision binoculars from his post aboard Maximus’ yacht. He shifted focus to pick out an indistinct fishing boat which hid the other half of his team.
Suddenly, Francis tensed at the feel of cold steel against his neck.
“If I had been one of Helena’s men, you would be dead,” Jason stated quietly.
At the sound of Jason’s voice, Francis relaxed. His teeth flashed in a grin as he pointed to two of his men who had guns trained on Jason, “I could smell you a mile away.”
Brody and Cody stepped out of the darkness behind Francis men.
Now Jason smiled, “I think we should call it a draw.”
Francis turned and clapped Jason on the back, “Good to see you man!”
Jason returned his greeting and then pointed to the guys in the shadows behind him, “I brought some friends of yours.”
Johnny, Max, Milo and Stan came forward to greet Francis. Then, introductions were made between the two groups.
Francis pulled one of his men forward in particular, “This is Lucas. He’s my second in command.”
“We’ll get your girl back, Mr. Morgan,” Lucas promised.
Jason nodded in agreement.
Francis crossed over to Brody and shook his hand, “Those SOC-Rs are sweet boats. I’m looking forward to taking them out. We have them stashed downstream.”
“Maximus has a piece of property that has a nice little hidden cove that worked as a great place to hide them until everyone got here,” Lucas explained.
“So what’s the plan?” Francis asked eagerly.
“How many men do you have?” Jason questioned.
“I have a team of ten including myself on the yacht and a second team of ten on a fishing boat closer to the island,” Francis detailed. “The rest of the men are spread out on the docks, in town and in teams of two around the perimeter of the island keeping an eye on Helena’s men. I can call them for back-up whenever needed.”
“Great,” Jason stated. “Have them stay put for now. Let’s keep the other team on the fishing boat and set Stan up with them. Can they get to faster transpo?”
Francis grinned, “The fishing boat may look antique, but its engine is top-notch. It can move quickly when called.”
“Alright, we want to do this with just a small team,” Johnny started to explain the plan. “Jason, Cody, Brody and I will take four of your guys in one SOC-R and you, Lucas, Max and Milo will take the other with four more men. Stan will provide technical support from the fishing boat.”
Jason agreed, “We will approach the island on opposite sides and dock as close as we can to the house. Spread out and take down as many of Helena’s men as you can as quietly as possible.”
Cody picked up on the explanation, “Only the four primary men of each team will enter the house itself. Brody and I will take the west wing from the top down. Jason and Johnny go from the bottom up. Max and Milo, you have the east wing - start at the top and work your way down and that leaves Francis and Lucas searching form the bottom and working your way up.”
“I have already accessed Helena’s security program and can run loops of surveillance tape on the cameras wherever you guys go. Unfortunately the cameras are only on the hallways, stairwells, and entrance/exits. There aren’t any cameras in the rooms so I haven’t been able to locate Elizabeth and I won’t be able to warn you what to expect inside them. I can interfere with their radio communication and I’ll let you all know anything they say,” Stan informed them.
“Keep in radio contact with Stan and with each other. If you locate Elizabeth or Helena notify the other half of your team for back up. Get Elizabeth out as quickly as you can and if you run into Helena…keep her alive until we have Elizabeth,” Jason instructed.
“I didn’t hear that,” Brody joked with his hands over the ears.
Cody laughed, “Ignore the cop. He’ll keep his mouth shut.”
“What happens in Sea of Marmara stays in the Sea of Marmara,” Brody promised.
Francis interjected, “Watch out for Helena’s man Ivan. He will be fierce in protecting Helena.”
“Remember we want to be in and out as quickly as possible,” Brody commented.
Lucas put it, “We’ve attempted to count Helena’s men, but she rotates them frequently and several are related and look very similar to each other. We estimated between fifty to hundred men.”
Jason’s eyebrows rose, “That’s a wide range.”
“It’s the best we can do on short notice. Sorry,” Francis apologized.
Jason shrugged, “I don’t care if there are 500 men. We are bringing Elizabeth back to our sons.”
Johnny grabbed Jason’s shoulder, “Then let’s go get the girl!”
*****
Ivan shoved the messenger along in front of him. There was no way Ivan was going to be the one to inform Helena that her grandson was dead. The messenger visibly trembled as Ivan pushed him to his knees in front of Helena.
Helena glared, “What is his problem?”
“He brings news from Port Charles, mistress,” Ivan announced.
The messenger mumbled with his head down.
“Speak up peasant!” Helena commanded.
“Prince Nikolas is dead,” the man repeated.
Helena paled, “What lies are this?” She pulled out a dagger and held it to the man’s throat as she lifted his head by his hair.
The messenger shrank back until the knife nicked him and he froze, blood dripping down his neck. “I’m so sorry to be the bearer of such tragic news, my lady, but we have it straight from the butler that Prince Nikolas was found dead in his bedroom,” the man relayed in fear.
“How did he die?” Helena demanded.
The messenger shot a petrified glance behind him.
“Tell her!” Ivan insisted.
“He was stabbed by Samantha McCall,” the messenger confessed in a whisper.
Helena stepped back and threw her dagger across the room. It stuck in the wall with a loud thunk. “I’ll kill her!” Helena screamed.
“She’s already dead, mistress. It appears Prince Nikolas strangled her during the struggle,” the messenger explained.
“No!” Helena cried. “Nikolas can’t be dead.”
*****
Sarah heard the whispers out in the hall. The whole house seemed abuzz. She grabbed a maid, “What’s going on?”
The maid glanced nervously over her shoulder.
“Tell me!” Sarah demanded.
“Prince Nikolas is dead,” the maid admitted.
Sarah’s eyes widened, “How can this be?”
“The rumor is that he was stabbed in bed by Sam McCall, his cousin,” the maid reported scandalized.
“She wasn’t…” Sarah’s voice trailed off. Would Helena want people to know Sam was a fraud?
“Can I get you anything miss?” the maid questioned meekly, looking for escape.
“No, leave me alone,” Sarah ordered.
The maid fled.
Sarah closed her bedroom door, thinking furiously. If Nikolas was dead, Helena wouldn’t have any use for her. What was she going to do? What Helena wanted the most was an heir…she could still raise Elizabeth’s kids and Spencer. Sarah took a deep breath.
Wandering over to the window, Sarah stared out into the dark night. Her room was a tower room and overlooked the entire island. The moon kept sliding in and out from behind clouds. Sarah caught a hint of movement on the water. She stepped out onto the small balcony to peer more closely at the sea surrounding the island. There. She saw it again.
It appeared to be a boat, but it was so dark it was hard to tell. Sarah kept her eyes trained on the water and was finally rewarded with another sighting of it. This time it was closer to land. Sarah watched as it grew ever closer and finally reached the beach. The moon reappeared and she saw a group of men exit the boat and pull it onto shore. The team spread out and took out two of Helena’s men swiftly and quietly.
Jason Morgan. Only he would come for Elizabeth with that kind of manpower. The clouds covered the moon once again and Sarah lost sight of the men when they disappeared into the woods.
“They will not leave without Elizabeth,” Sarah said aloud. “Jason Morgan will kill Helena for what she has done and what she planned.”
Sarah ran to her closet and pulled out a duffle bag. She began throwing clothes into the bag. Sarah grabbed her toiletry kit from the bathroom and her makeup bag. She tossed those in with several pairs of shoes. Sarah opened the safe in the closet and pulled out her passport and several stacks of cash. She quickly changed to dark jeans, t-shirt, hoodie, and sneakers.
Sarah cracked open the door and glanced both ways down the hall. The only way out of this was a strategic retreat. No one except Elizabeth knew that she was involved. Elizabeth had been on so many drugs she may think that she had hallucinated Sarah. She knew a young sailor who lived on the north side of the island that had a small speed boat. She’d be gone before Jason Morgan even knew she was there.
*****
Jason twisted the man’s neck and snapped it before the guard had a chance to reach his radio. Brody knocked out another one of Helena’s guys with a swift blow with the butt of his pistol. Cody eliminated a third with a decisive slice of his knife across the man’s throat. Johnny whispered, “Hey…leave me a little fun!”
Jason glared at him and motioned for silence as he continued to cover ground rapidly. Brody checked in with their other team. They were making quick progress towards the house as well. So far everything was going according to the plan. Jason estimated that they had taken out at least ten men so far, but who knew how many were left.
Jason tensed suddenly. It felt like they were being watched. He signaled for his group to stop and everyone froze. They scanned the dense woods around them. Cody pointed upwards and Jason glimpsed a figure up in a tree reaching for his radio. Johnny knelt and aimed carefully. With his silencer on, he lined the man up in his scope and with a single shot between the eyes dropped the guard from his perch.
Brody stepped forward, headed for the house when he was attacked from behind. Brody planted his feet and gripped the man’s wrist pulling him up and over, into the air. The man landed with a sick thunk as his head struck a rock and knocked him unconscious.
“The goal is to make it to the house before the alarm is raised,” Jason reminded them. “Let’s move quickly guys.”
Two more of Helena’s men were dispatched before the team finally arrived at the small clearing surrounding the large house.
They heard Francis quiet voice through their earpieces, “We’ve reached the clearing from our end.”
Jason nodded, “Good. Leave four guys to guard the perimeter, then make your way inside.”
“Stan, disengage the alarm long enough for us to enter the house,” Jason ordered.
Johnny moved to Jason’s side as they went in the house through a patio door. Brody and Cody entered through the servant’s entrance and headed up to the top floor via the servant’s staircase. Johnny led the way down to the cellar. They searched swiftly but found nothing but storage. Moving up a flight to the basement, they located the furnace and utility rooms as well as the laundry facilities.
“Hold up,” Johnny commanded. “I need a minute.”
Jason paced restlessly while Johnny slipped into a room and came back a few minutes later.
“Quit wasting time,” Jason growled in frustration. “We have to find Elizabeth.”
Johnny grinned, “Just setting up a surprise if we need a distraction.” With no more explanation than that vague remark, Johnny headed for the stairs.
“Heads up, a guard is coming down the steps headed your way,” Stan’s voice could be heard over the earpiece.
The man opened the door and his eyes widened when he spotted them. His mouth opened to raise the alarm, but not a sound was heard. The man looked down to see Johnny’s knife sticking out of his chest. Johnny pushed Jason against the wall as the man tumbled down the stairs past them.
They had to deal with three more guards on the main level and together Jason and Johnny dragged their bodies into a large closet and closed the door. They ran into Cody and Brody on the second floor. The entire hall was pitch-black except for a window at one end of the hallway.
“Nothing in the attics,” Cody reported. “The fifth floor was all servants’ rooms and the fourth was largely empty bedrooms.”
Suddenly, they heard shouts loud in their earpieces. “We’ve found Helena,” Francis explained. “Her man Ivan killed Lucas, but Helena ordered Ivan to leave and kill Elizabeth. Max is with me guarding Helena and Milo is following Ivan. Get Elizabeth out now!”
Jason’s eyes widened in panic. The calm, cool enforcer was gone and the man with everything to lose was in control. All four men began opening doors until they came to a solid wood door set directly in the stone wall with a thick metal lock.
Johnny pushed Jason aside and began to pick the lock. Jason shifted from one leg to the other as he waited impatiently for the door to open. “Watch out,” came Stan’s voice again.
Suddenly a large, muscular man burst into the hallway. He howled at the sight of them and sprinted down the hall.
“Ivan, I assume,” Johnny remarked flippantly as he continued to work at the lock. Cody and Brody began firing at the man, but he dove at Jason and the two men rolled on the stone floor. Cody and Brody watched helplessly not wanting to shoot Jason or impede his struggle with the man.
Finally, the men stopped rolling, but unfortunately Ivan was on top. As Cody lined up the shot, two more guards attacked from the shadows. Cody fought one man and Brody tackled the other.
Ivan punched Jason repeatedly, but Jason finally was able to land a punch to the man’s windpipe as he leveraged his body upwards, knocking Ivan to the floor. Now it was Jason who had the upper-hand and he delivered repetitive punishing blows. One punch shattered the man’s nose and a second shoved the bone up into Ivan’s brain so hard that he was dead before he felt the remaining blows.
It took both Brody and Cody to pull Jason off of Ivan. Meanwhile, Johnny had unlocked the door and hurried into the room in case he had to shield Jason from what they found. The room was full dark and Johnny pulled his flashlight from his pocket. The room was mostly empty, but he saw an army cot in one corner with a figure lying on it.
Johnny approached the cot to see long, wavy brown hair and pale, white skin. He gently brushed the hair away from her face. “Lizzie?” he whispered.
Elizabeth fought to open her eyes. The drugs still swam in her system and kept pulling her under. She heard a voice and she struggled to respond.
Her eyelashes fluttered and slowly her eyes opened. Johnny saw her deep blue eyes ringing huge black pupils. She was obviously drugged. “Lizbits? Can you hear me?”
Elizabeth opened her eyes and stared into Johnny’s face. She lifted a shaky hand to his cheek, “Johnny O’Brien?”
Johnny grinned, “That’s right. I’m here to save you.”
Elizabeth promptly fainted.
Johnny shook his head and lifted Elizabeth into his arms. He turned towards the door just as Jason crossed the threshold. “Elizabeth!” Jason roared in anguish, thinking she was dead.
“Jason! She’s okay! She just passed out,” Johnny strove to assure him.
Jason drew Elizabeth into his arms and sat on the little cot. His hand cupped her face gently, “Elizabeth? Can you open your eyes for me, love?”
Again Elizabeth waged the battle to pry her eyelids open. This time she thought Jason was calling her and all she wanted was to see his face again if she was going to die.
As her eyes blinked slowly, Jason smiled and pressed kisses to her forehead, her cheeks, her chin, her nose and her lips even as he whispered to her between kisses. The other three men turned their back to give them a moment of privacy and took up watch.
“Am I dead?” Elizabeth questioned.
Jason laughed even as tears streamed down his face, “No, sweetheart. You aren’t dead. I’m really here and I’m getting you out of this place and taking you home to our sons.”
“I have to be dead. I thought I saw Johnny O’Brien and you said at the courthouse that we could never see each other again,” Elizabeth stated, still in shock.
“I was a fool,” Jason replied firmly. “I am never letting you go again. This time, if you’ll have me, I’m marrying you immediately and then we will raise our boys together.”
Elizabeth remembered, “Oh Jason! Helena said that Aiden is yours.”
Jason smiled, “The safehouse.” He kissed her softly, “I’ll explain everything later. I have to get you out of here.”
He lifted her up and headed for the door. Elizabeth caught sight of Johnny again.
“Sorry to scare you Lizbits,” Johnny apologized. “I’ll let Jason tell you the whole story later.”
Elizabeth’s eyes widened in wonder, “Wow. Okay. Well, thanks for coming to save me.”
“Anytime, Lizzie,” Johnny teased.
“Are you girls done gabbing? I’d like to get the hell out of here!” Cody declared.
Jason nodded, “Let’s go.”
Milo rushed up, out of breath and took in Ivan and the dead guards with a glance. “I guess you didn’t need my help.”
Max spoke in their earpiece, “You always were late for everything bro.”
Jason interrupted, “That’s enough. We still have to get out of here. Francis…can you bring Helena? Max, can you carry Lucas? I’ll send Brody and Cody to cover you and Milo will stay with us.”
“Sure,” Francis replied shortly. “Meet us at the south entrance in five.”
Johnny and Milo handled the few guards they ran into on their way out of the house because Jason would not let go of Elizabeth. In five minutes, they were all outside and joined by the rest of the team. Helena’s eyes glittered with malice and fury as she stared at Elizabeth, but one look at Jason’s stony visage and she remained quiet.
“I’m sending the other eight guys in one of the SOC-Rs. We’ll all go in the other,” Francis relayed.
“Are the rest of our men, okay?” Johnny inquired.
“We have two unconscious and three with surface wounds. Lucas was our only fatality,” Francis stated grimly.
They reached the boat in record time. Max laid Lucas body in the back of the boat. Johnny spread a sleeping bag and blanket in a protected section in the front of the boat and Jason set Elizabeth down gently. She grasped his hand tightly as Jason started to move away. “Don’t leave me,” she stated quietly. Her voice quavered but stayed strong. Elizabeth wasn’t begging, but Jason could see the fear in her eyes that she was fighting.
Jason bent his head and kissed her deeply until she slowly began to relax and melt against him. He eased back gently, “I’ll only be gone for a minute. Cody and Johnny will be right with you. I’ll be back.”
“Do you promise?” she whispered.
“I promise,” Jason returned quietly.
Elizabeth bit her bottom lip, but let go of Jason’s hand. Helena stood on the dock and glared at the two of them. Jason stalked towards her.
Helena lifted her head and met his gaze evenly, “You don’t scare me Jason Morgan. My ancestor’s ruled continents before your grandfather made his first dollar. You may have won this battle, but I will one day win the war. Elizabeth will die. I don’t know how but I know it is her fault that my Nikolas is dead.”
Jason shot a questioning glance at Francis who nodded slightly.
“I can’t say I’m sorry that your grandson is dead,” Jason told her. “He was a useless, whiny self-important man who never loved my sister enough until she was dead and then he took advantage of Elizabeth’s grief over our break-up and guilt over her relationship with Lucky and blew up her life with his lust and greed. I guess he took after his grandmother after all.”
“Why Mr. Morgan…I think that is the most I’ve ever heard you say,” Helena snarked.
“I have plenty to say when you threaten my family. I know that you faked Aiden’s paternity test. I have no doubt that you would have killed Elizabeth once she was no longer useful to you and then killed Cameron and which ever child you didn’t choose to use,” Jason accused and watched as his guesses hit home.
Helena spat towards his face, “Elizabeth is a whore.” She reached under her sleeve and pulled a slim dagger out of a hidden sheath on her arm. Helena charged towards the boat and Elizabeth.
Helena never reached the boat. Max stuck out his foot and tripped Helena and she fell into the water. Jason, Max and Milo stared over the edge and watched as Helena slowly sank beneath the water with Jason’s knife sticking out of her back, directly into her kidney.
Jason grabbed a concrete block from the dock and dropped it on to Helena’s body. A second block followed the first and the combined weight took the remains all the way to the bottom of the sea.
Johnny peered over the side, “Damn…I was hoping that she would at least scream – I’m melting, I’m melting!”
Milo barked out a laugh even as his brother smacked him in the back of the head.
“You better get out of there. Helena’s men are regrouping and heading your way,” Stan warned.
A huge explosion lit the sky. Helena’s house exploded and began to burn. Men streamed from the house and the men who had been following them turned back to fight the flames.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Johnny remarked.
Jason met Johnny’s humored gaze with a shake of his head, “That have anything to do with the little side-trip you took earlier?”
Johnny just grinned.
Jason rolled his eyes, “Let’s get the hell out of here. I want to take Elizabeth to our boys.”



