November 11, 2004

L & B Recording Studios: Rehearsal Room

Brooke tapped at the piano keys, her voice hushed. “And I wanna believe you, when you tell me that it will be okay. Yeah, I try to believe you. Not today, today, today, today, today. Tomorrow it may change…”

“That’s beautiful,” Maxie murmured from the doorway. Brooke snapped her head up and met the eyes of one of her best friends. They’d seen each other at the hearing yesterday but hadn’t spoken. “You must hate me.”

“I don’t hate you.” Brooke switched off the synthesizer and set aside her sheet music. “I just…I don’t know how I feel,” she admitted.

Maxie clasped her hands behind her back. “I’m sorry I didn’t visit you in the hospital. I didn’t know what to say and I wasn’t sure how I would…I would feel.”

The corner of Brooke’s mouth lifted in a humorless smile. “Disgusted?”

“No. No,” Maxie shook her head. “No, that’s not–you’re my best friend, Brooke. But this has never–I’ve never known anyone who went through this. I mean, you hear about it and you know it happens…but I never really thought about what it would be like for it to happen to someone I know. And it scares me, Brooke. It terrifies me that anyone can do this to a person, even if you trust them.”

“Maxie…” Brooke sighed. She shook her head. “This isn’t about you.” She stood and shoved her work into her shoulder bag.

“No, and that’s why I couldn’t go to see you while this was in my head,” Maxie said. “But I talked to Georgie last night and she told me to just be honest with you. So…” she took a deep breath. “We were all alone with him, Brooke. You, me and Georgie. We all spent time one on one with him and it’s terrifying to know that he had that in him all the time and it makes me feel so ashamed to be glad it wasn’t me.”

Brooke stared at the miserable blonde and tried to shove the hurt aside. A natural reaction, she told herself. She herself would have felt it. “That doesn’t mean you’re glad it was me,” Brooke said, struggling to understand Maxie’s mind. “I hope you’re not dumb enough to think that’s what you were feeling.”

“No but…” Maxie sighed. “I’m selfish, it’s not much of a surprise to you, I guess. And I feel like such a shitty person for feeling this way. This is such a terrible thing to happen and all I can think of is I’m glad it wasn’t me.”

“You get to feel how you want to feel,” Brooke said. “I can’t control any of it. I can’t control that Dillon wants to kill Diego, that Georgie’s willing to do anything–even see Diego–if she thinks it’ll help and Lucas…” she sighed heavily. “And I can’t help that the thought of Lucas touching me makes me shiver inside and not the way it used to.”

She lifted the strap of her bag over her shoulder. “I know that while it happened physically to me, that it’s happening to all of you. I know that it’s affecting everyone, from my parents to you guys and I’m trying to deal with that. But don’t get too busy dealing with this to forget that all you guys have to do is process it.” Her lips pressed together. “But I’m the one that’s gotta remember it. To get on the stand and testify. To tell people. This did not happen to you. It happened to me. Everyone else is just a bystander.”

She stalked past Maxie and into the hallway.

Courtney’s Loft: Living Room

Courtney slid her foot into a pair of white flats and looked around for her coat. She was late for a meeting with Social Services and the last thing she had needed this morning was for her alarm clock to break.

There was a quiet knock at the door. “Come in!” Courtney called distractedly as she went into the partitioned area where the bed was. “Is that you, Jax?”

“Uh, no,” Jason said, uncomfortably.

Courtney came back into the living room, her meeting forgotten. “Jason. What are you doing here?”

“I’m…I have to talk to you.” He shifted. “And I didn’t want you to hear it from someone else.”

Her heart constricted. He was going to get married again. She could feel it. To that slut, Sam. Even though she’d lost her baby, that little home wrecker still had her claws in Jason. “Jason, I don’t–”

“Cameron Webber is my son and he was conceived while we were engaged,” Jason said in one sentence, which had to be the longest one he’d said to her in months.

Courtney opened her mouth but there was no sound. She blinked. Closed her mouth and tried to process it. Cameron Webber. Son. Conceived. Engaged. The words didn’t make sense in the same phrase because if they were used together it meant…no, she had heard wrong. She must have.

“Cameron Webber is Elizabeth’s son,” Courtney said slowly. “And Zander Smith is his father.”

“No. That’s what everyone thought until her due date was readjusted.” Jason exhaled impatiently. Say it quick, Carly had advised. Like ripping off a bandage instead of peeling it slowly. “He’s my son, Courtney. My biological son.”

Okay, that was getting through but the rest of it had to be wrong. She’d asked Jason about this. She’d begged him to tell her that he didn’t love Elizabeth, that he didn’t want her and he–

He had never answered. The memory of that day was clear in Courtney’s mind, despite the haze that settled over her memories of that time. He’d said that they were engaged. But he’d never denied it.

Which was always Jason’s way of not telling the truth. Just avoiding the question. Oh, Jesus.

“I was right,” Courtney murmured. “You wanted her. The whole time. I was just–I was substitute.” Oh–and Elizabeth had given him a child. The child Courtney had been unable to. Something inside her curled up and died at that thought. She’d accused him of it–never dreaming that it would be the truth. “You married me because you couldn’t have her. You were with me because she left you.”

She’d thought she’d felt pain before. When she’d found out AJ was stalking her, when she and Jason had been broken up, when she’d lost their child. Ending their marriage. She’d thought she understood what pain was like.

But hearing–understanding–that despite it all, that no matter what they’d had together, it had never been enough. She had never been enough for him. It would always be Elizabeth for him.

There was no pain like having your heart ripped out and shredded into pieces.

There was a buzzing behind her eyes, she wasn’t quite sure what was happening outside her head. Was he saying something? Was she? Dimly, she was aware that she was crying, that the tears were sliding down her cheeks and streaking her mascara and eyeliner.

She sat because her legs would no longer support her. He’d slept with Elizabeth, had never told her–her thoughts broke off abruptly and she focused on him. “The accident. It was after the accident. A baby never would have survived.”

Jason sighed, almost as if he himself didn’t want to think about it, didn’t want to delve into the memories. “It was before and after the accident,” he admitted. “We had–it was over before we were married but it was not a one night thing.”

“An affair,” Courtney said slowly. “You had an affair with her while I was going through an addiction to pain killers, while I was dealing with my miscarriage. While I was planning our wedding, you were sleeping with Elizabeth Webber.”

And while Elizabeth was dealing with her breakup with Jason, you were sleeping with him, a nasty voice in her brain said. While she was confiding in you, treating you like a friend, you were screwing him. You threw your husband out and slept with his brother two weeks later in the bed you’d shared.

She clapped her hands over her ears. “Get out,” she said. “Get out!” Her voice rose. “Get out!” she finally shrieked. “I want you out!”

Jason dipped his head into his chest, exhaled slowly once before turning and leaving. It was better that she knew the full truth, he told himself as he left the loft and headed for the stairs. Better that she didn’t question, didn’t wonder. It was better this way.

Somehow, someday, he was sure he would believe that.

Audrey Hardy’s House: Living Room

“He appears to be recovered from his little sickness,” Audrey remarked, propping her great-grandson on her lap and cooing at him. “I can’t believe how fast he’s growing.”

“Yeah,” Elizabeth sighed. “Seems like only yesterday he was still inside me.” Her eyes clouded for a moment. “Before you know it, he’ll be running around and then he’ll be going to college, having a life of his own.” She exhaled slowly. “It goes so fast, Gram. And all you can do is live every day the best you can.”

“Well, he has an excellent mother.” Audrey tugged at Cameron’s shirt, smoothing it out. “Have you given any thought to what we discussed? A father figure for Cameron?”

“Gram…” Elizabeth sighed. “I know you think he needs someone in his life, a male influence.”

“I don’t think you need to get married to give him a father, but just someone to look up to,” Audrey said. “Someone other than his uncle.”

“I know.” Elizabeth twisted her fingers. “There is someone, Gram.”

“Oh?” Audrey arched an eyebrow. “And who is that?”

“Cameron’s father.” Elizabeth bit her lip. “Jason.”

Audrey stilled. Her fingers tightened around Cameron’s midsection for a moment before she raised her eyes to her granddaughter. “I’m sorry, darling. I didn’t quite catch that.”

“Jason Morgan is Cameron’s father. His biological father,” Elizabeth said softly. “I discovered that before I left for California and when I came home, I told Jason immediately. We chose to keep it between us for a while. He was just coming off a divorce and…the situation with Sam…” She exhaled slowly. “I love him, Gram. I hope that you can finally accept that. We’re a family–Jason, Cameron and myself.”

Audrey stood and set Cameron firmly in his mother’s arms. She walked around the back of the couch and wandered towards the mantel, where photos of the family were kept. “When I was your age, my darling, I had only just arrived in Port Charles, flushed with my independence and a golden future. I thought I do anything, be anything that I wanted. And when I met Steve…oh…how lovely it all was…” She turned, a soft smile on her face and the memory of her love for her long gone husband in her eyes. “You know that your grandfather was the love of my life.”

“I know that,” Elizabeth said. “I love Jason that way, Gram.”

“From the time I was a young girl, flushed with all the sweetness and innocence of my first real love to today, there has never been anyone that I loved quite the same way, with the same depth and passion.” Audrey sighed and twisted her slim wedding band. “We didn’t have a smooth road and it took many mistakes before I realized that I was meant for Steve, and he for me. By that time, and during that period in time, we were past the age where we could have children of our own. Part of me has always grieved for that though Tom became Steve’s son.”

“Gram…”

“You’ve been through so much in your young life, Elizabeth. More than I have experienced in my long one,” Audrey continued. “You ought to know your own heart by now and if you truly believe that Jason Morgan owns it, then I trust you with that decision.” Audrey picked up a photo of herself and Steve on their second wedding day, twenty-seven years ago. “He was always a good father to Michael, I can’t imagine he’s any less for Cameron. And though I never thought he was right for you, I can’t disagree that he cares for you.”

Elizabeth stood and shifted Cameron to rest on her hip. “So…you’ll accept him?”

“Yes.” Audrey nodded. “Yes, I will. Though I reserve my judgment until he agrees to come to dinner one night soon.”

The tension left her shoulders and Elizabeth sighed in relief. “Thank you, Gram. You don’t know how much it means to me to know you’re going to give him a chance.”

General Hospital: Kristina’s Room

Alexis flipped through the snap shots of the houses Ric had gotten from their realtor. They were either the wrong location, the wrong size and in one case of lime green, the wrong color. She was beginning to think her apartment sounded like a nice place to live for the rest of their lives.

“Mama,” Kristina chirped. She held her hands out for the stack Alexis held her in her hands. “Gimme.”

Alexis held up a picture of a split level home five blocks from downtown Port Charles but still firmly residential. “How does this look, Princess?”

Kristina frowned. “What dat?”

“Well…it could be our new home,” Alexis said slowly. “You’d get a swing set.”

“Swing!” Kristina clapped her hands. “Swing, swing, swing!”

“And possibly a tricycle,” Alexis continued, though she still had doubts about putting her baby on anything that could move away from her. “That’s a bike with three wheels.”

“Bike?” Kristina’s eyes dark eyes grew wide. “Bike! Like on TV!”

“Yes, like on TV,” Alexis said, slightly irritated that her baby-sitter had let her watch so much television. She should have been read fairy tales instead of watching whatever daytime soap the baby sitter was currently addicted to.

“We live there,” Kristina decided. She reached for the picture and hugged it to her chest. “Home.”

“Yeah, okay. We’ll go see the inside of it,” Alexis compromised. “If Mommy doesn’t like it, we’re not doing it.”

“Home,” Kristina repeated. She looked down at the picture. “Krissy get swing, swing right?”

“Yes, Krissy get swing swing,” her mother repeated, charmed by the obvious attachment her daughter had to the image. Though she was not going to pick a house simply because her two-year-old daughter liked the way something looked.

She really wasn’t.

Club 101: Carly’s Office

“And make sure that the bottles aren’t broke,” Carly told her assistant. “The last shipment was full of cracked wine bottles.”

“Yes, Mrs. Corinthos,” the young man nodded. He marked that down and was about to bring up the next topic when there was a knock on the door. Without waiting for an invitation, Sonny pushed it open and held up a sheaf of papers.

Carly swallowed. The divorce papers. “We’re done for now, Roger. Come back in about an hour.”

Roger hurried to leave them alone. “What took you so long?” Carly asked as she shuffled some papers into a useless pile.

“The messenger delivered them to the warehouse and today was the first day I went in.” Sonny set them on her desk. “The terms are unacceptable.”

Carly sighed heavily. “Listen, we both know that this is over. I don’t see why we have to hurt each and drag it out.”

“I intend to see that my boys have their own home. You can’t live with your mother indefinitely,” Sonny chided.

“Why not?” Carly asked. “Mama’s already agreed to move her shifts around so she can be with the boys when I can’t. I can bring Morgan to work with me, pick Michael up from school.”

“Then what would we pay Leticia for?” Sonny asked pointedly.

“Nothing,” Carly answered. “I let her go.”

“What?” Sonny demanded. “Without speaking to me?”

“I don’t need a nanny,” Carly argued. “I want to raise my boys, I want to be their mother. If Morgan spends any more time with Leticia, he’ll be calling her Mom rather than me. If you want to keep her on for when you have the boys at the penthouse, that’s fine but you’re not going to tell me how I’m going raise my own children. We are staying with my mother until I feel we’re ready to move on and there’s nothing you can say to change that. Sign the papers and let’s get this over with.”

“And the child support is too low,” Sonny said. “You couldn’t feed them on what you’re asking for–”

“I’m not a child, Sonny. I can feed and clothe my own children. I only asked for child support because it’s standard. I don’t even want alimony–”

“What kind of bullshit is that?” Sonny exploded. “Since when do you turn down money?”

“Since I remembered that I grew up without any and I survived. I can take care of myself, Sonny and I don’t need you standing there judging my every move. I’m not Mrs. Sonny Corinthos anymore and for the first time, I feel damn good about myself.” Carly stood, her tone matching his. “I don’t want your money, I don’t want you in my life anymore Sonny. I’m tired of all of this. I’m tired of stepping on eggshells, tired of pretending to be someone I’m not–”

“What does that mean?” Sonny demanded.

“It means that before you came along, I didn’t need anyone. And I’m tired of depending on someone else. Get out of my office, Sonny. From now on, you deal with my lawyer.”

Cottage: Nursery

Elizabeth closed the fairy tale she’d been reading to Cameron and smiled when she saw him fast asleep. There were days when he’d refuse to go down for his nap which only made the days when he just slipped into sleep all the more sweet.

“Is he already asleep?” Jason asked from the doorway. She turned, surprised to see him. “I tried to make it over before his nap.”

“He just went down,” Elizabeth murmured. She tucked the blankets in more tightly around him. She set the book back onto the shelf and left the room, closing the door behind her. “I–I told my grandmother today.”

“Really?” Jason asked, surprised. He followed her down the stairs and into the living room. “How did it go?”

“A lot better than I thought it would,” Elizabeth admitted. “I think part of her knew.” She smiled ruefully. “It seems the people in my life knew at least that Zander wasn’t Cameron’s father. Can you believe Emily thought Lucky was?” she laughed and shook her head. “God.”

“I told Monica,” Jason said. He leaned against the arm chair and watched her start to fold a load of Cameron’s clothing. “Sam suggested that I should and I’m glad I did.”

“Monica loves you,” Elizabeth said. “I hope you told her she’s welcome to come by anytime to see him.”

“I did.” Jason hesitated. “I, ah, she wants to throw a baby shower because she didn’t get to while you were pregnant.”

Elizabeth wrinkled her nose and smiled at him. “I bet you turned that down fast. You and the Quartermaines, at a party together…” she trailed off and laughed. “What an idea that is.”

“I told her that it would be fine, that it was even a good idea. She pointed out that while we tell our families, that the only way to really announce it is to do it in a public way and I guess there’s no real more public way than a Quartermaine party.”

Elizabeth lowered a green shirt back into the basket and stared at him. “Are you…are you serious? You agreed to…you agreed to a Quartermaine party?”

Jason nodded. “I told you that I was going to make this up to you, Elizabeth. And I can’t really think of a better way to prove that I’m willing to put Cameron first. The Quartermaines aren’t the same and Monica deserves to have at least one of her grandchildren in her life.”

“Jason, I don’t want you to do something you don’t want to. I know how you feel about them–”

“But I know that you like them,” Jason cut in. “And I trust you. Besides, with everything that was going on last year, did you have a baby shower?”

“No,” Elizabeth said, her lips curving slightly. “No, I didn’t get that chance.” Her eyes were sparkling now. “It does sound like a good idea and I bet no one gives gifts like the Quartermaines.”

“Good. Then when Monica descends on us tomorrow with party plans, I can leave that part of it completely to you.” Jason shifted. “Elizabeth, I told Courtney this morning.”

Elizabeth bit her lip and looked away. “How did that go?”

“It went,” Jason said. “She knows the truth. She was upset and she told me to get out but–she knows.” He shifted again, uncomfortable with the memory of the morning’s incident. “I don’t know how she’s going to react in public but–everyone knows now.”

“I guess they do.” Elizabeth sighed. “Well, it’s over at any rate. We can start with the rest of our life.” She finished folding the last of the clothes and crossed the room to him, standing between his legs and resting her hands on his thighs. “What are you doing with the rest of the day?”

“I have to go to the warehouse–there are some loose ends I need to tie up and I need to talk to Sonny. I haven’t seen him since Tuesday when I just…dropped it on him.” He sighed heavily. “I don’t know how he’s handling this. The job, Cameron, you and part of me wonders…” he trailed off.

“Wonders what?” Elizabeth murmured. She ran her fingers through the soft hair by his ear.

“I wonder why it matters so much. What he thinks, more than Carly, more than Courtney.”

“He’s your best friend.” Elizabeth had long ago come to terms with that while he loved her, that he loved his son, he also loved Sonny. “He’s been more than friend–he’s been your father. You don’t want to disappoint him and you think you have by not being what he wants.”

“I guess. He’s just been so different since I came home this last time and I don’t think it’s ever going to be the way it used to be. I don’t think I’m ever going to be person I used to be.”

“Well, that’s okay,” Elizabeth said, winding her hands around his neck. He gripped her waist and was just so relieved that this still felt comfortable, that this still felt right. After all he’d put her through and how much they’d been through together, there was still this between them. She always knew what he was thinking, what he was really trying to say and she was the only person who’d been there for him–and not for someone else first. “I kind of like who you are now.” She kissed his chin and smiled up at him. “Will you stay tonight?”

“I wish I could,” Jason sighed heavily. “But I just–” He shook his head. “I have things I need to finish before I can stay in this house again, before I’ll feel like I have a right to.”

Elizabeth exhaled slowly. “All right. I won’t pretend I wish you felt differently. I miss you, Jason.” She tucked her head under his chin and closed her eyes. “I love you,” she murmured.

Warehouse: Sonny’s Office

Sonny was shuffling through paperwork when Jason entered his office. He didn’t knock and didn’t announce his presence, just stood and waited for his friend and former partner to look up.

Sonny finished the form he was filling out before looking up though he was aware of Jason from the moment he’d stepped in. “I’m surprised to see you here.”

“I thought we should talk,” Jason said.

Sonny nodded and sat back. “You, ah, dropped quite the bomb yesterday.” He folded his hands on the desk and peered up at Jason. “I’d like to tell you that I’m happy for you. All other things aside, that is something I’d like you to be aware of. Elizabeth is a wonderful woman and Cameron is a beautiful boy.”

“Thank you,” Jason nodded. “I know how lucky I am.”

“I’m sorry you feel like you have to quit your job to have what you need but if you feel that this is what you really need, what you really want, then I support it and I’ll do what I can to make it happen.”

Jason frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“Before we’re partners, we’re friends,” Sonny said. “And I think sometimes we both forget that. I’m sorry you felt like you had to hide this. I’m sorry that my sister was hurt in the process but it’s happened. We have to deal with it.” He cleared his throat. “Have you told Courtney yet?”

“This morning.” Jason looked away. “She didn’t take it well.”

“She’s having a rough time of it,” Sonny remarked. “I’ll take care of her, don’t worry. Carly knows?”

“Everyone knows,” Jason said. “I’m tired of hiding it, of hiding Elizabeth. She doesn’t deserve that.”

Sonny stood. “Are we okay then?”

“I guess we are.” Jason offered a hand and Sonny shook it. Their friendship would never, could never be the same. But maybe, just maybe, it would be better after this day.

PCMB: Brianne’s Office

“I’m going to call Dr. Webber, Brooke, Ned, and one of Brooke’s friends as witnesses,” Brianne told Lucky. She shoved a folder across the desk. “I just haven’t decided which kid though I’m leaning towards Lucas Jones because he has the cleanest record. I’m also going to interview a few more people connected to this case.” She hesitated and tapped her pen against a notepad. “Would Elizabeth Webber be cooperative?”

Lucky blinked and shifted in his chair. “What does she have to do with this case?”

“She’s spoken to Brooke. She’s not a licensed rape counselor so her conversations aren’t confidential. I just want to check what Brooke’s said to her.”

Lucky narrowed his eyes and leaned forward. “Do you think Brooke’s keeping something back? Lying?”

“No, no,” Brianne shook her head and looked back at her notes. “Brooke’s being truthful but she may have said something to Elizabeth in a moment of emotion that she might not have felt in the room with me. I just want to have all the details.” Her blue eyes met his, hers full of a surprising intensity. “I want the cell locked so tightly on this piece of scum that there’s no hope of him going free.”

It was the first piece of real emotion that Brianne had shown and its appearance made him sit back a little, surprised. “It’s what we all want but I’m not sure Elizabeth will feel comfortable divulging anything Brooke said.”

“I want to question her anyway.” Brianne flipped a page in her notes. “Did you go back today and re-interview the stronger witnesses at the high school?”

“I have ten affidavits,” Lucky answered. He held out a manila folder for her to take and watched as Brianne took the edge and set it down on her desk. “From different groups at the school. Some athletics, some academics, couple of in betweens, a few slackers. I wanted to cover all bases. They pretty much say the same thing. Sanchez was new to the school, barely attended. They saw him in the company of Brooke and her friends. They all assumed it was because she felt sorry for him. No one saw any behavior on her part that would even suggest she felt more than friendly towards him.”

“Good, good.” Brianne stood and went over to a filing cabinet where she removed a few files. “That’s it on the Sanchez case. Thank you for your help, Sergeant Spencer, but that’ll be all for today.” She flicked a glance towards him. “I don’t think we’ll need much more investigation from the PCPD so other than preparing you for the witness stand, we’re done here.”

Lucky nodded. “Elizabeth’s an old friend of mine. She might talk to me more easily than you–”

“I can do my job,” Brianne interrupted briskly. She took the files back to her desk. “Thank you, Sergeant,” she repeated.

Lucky hesitated and nodded. “Fine.” He stood and started for the door. His cell phone chirped and he paused to answer it. “Spencer.”

“It’s Scorpio,” Mac reported. “Sanchez made bail.”

“What do you mean he made bail?” Lucky repeated. “Where the hell did he get a hundred grand?”

Brianne’s head snapped up and she stood. “Sanchez is out?”

“His lawyer appealed the amount of the bail and it was lowered to ten thousand which the sister met. Are you still with ADA Joyce?”

“Yeah, how come she wasn’t aware of this?” Lucky demanded. He turned back to see Brianne’s pale face staring back at him. “Shouldn’t she have been present at something like this?”

“She should have been which is why I’m worried. I’m going to talk to Lorenzo Alcazar. I’m putting a man on Brooke Lynn at all times. I want you to stick close to the ADA.”

“Why?” Lucky asked suspiciously. “Do you think Sanchez is that stupid he’d go after Joyce?”

If it were possible, the pallor of the woman in question faded even more.

“I’m not interested in taking chances. I’ve got the okay from DA Lansing. Until we locate Sanchez and put someone on him at all times, I want all the principals protected. Diego Sanchez has connections in this town and if it wasn’t Alcazar who sprung him, I want to know who. Corinthos wouldn’t put his neck out for him.”

“He’d have no reason,” Lucky murmured. “I’ll stick close until you tell me otherwise.”

“I’ll be in touch.”

Lucky dropped his phone back in his pocket. “Looks like you can’t get rid of me that easily, Ms. Joyce.”

Brianne sat down slowly. “How did he make bail?” she demanded, color rushing back to her cheeks.

“Seems Hartman appealed to have the bail lowered. Diego Sanchez’s sister paid ten thousand to spring him.”

“No, no, any motions would have to go through this office. We have to be made aware even if we choose not to fight it.” Brianne’s hands were shaking as she reached for the phone. “There’s some mistake.”

He took the phone from her hands and ignored the way she froze when their hands brushed. He hung the receiver up. “There’s no mistake, Brianne. Sanchez is out on bail. Mac is putting someone on Brooke and he wants me to stay with you until we have a line on Sanchez and can pin him down.”

“I just–I don’t understand.” She shook her head. “He’s a minor. He’s seventeen, he has to be released into someone’s custody. Social Services, maybe. They wouldn’t give him back to Courtney Matthews.” Her eyes met his. “Would they?”

“Not after Ned Ashton served them with papers this morning for reckless endangerment.”

“Lorenzo Alcazar didn’t sound like he’d fight for his son’s defense yesterday.” Brianne stood and moved to the windows. “Where would Diego Sanchez’s sister get ten thousand dollars?”

“I don’t know. But until we nail down what happened and get Sanchez back behind bars, I’m not leaving you alone.” Lucky clasped his hands behind his back and waited for her to argue. She’d been in a hurry to get rid of him just ten minutes ago, she wouldn’t want him to be sticking so close now.

But he had made up his mind that he wouldn’t listen, no matter what she argued. He had a job to do and Mac Scorpio was right. Diego Sanchez was unpredictable and without scruples. He wasn’t about to let Brianne go unprotected.

“That’s a good idea,” she murmured. “Better the devil you know.”

He frowned. “What does that mean?”

“What?” Brianne turned. She shook her head. “I have to go to the courthouse. I have to challenge the bail.” She pulled her arms through her black coat and grabbed her purse.

Lucky continued to frown but followed her through the door. He was beginning to understand that the way a woman’s mind worked would always remain a mystery.

Note: The lyrics snippet at the beginning of the chapter is Avil Lavigne’s Tomorrow.

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