Written in 66 minutes.

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Saturday, September 21, 2024

Quartermaine Mansion: Foyer

Jason’s determination to avoid Drew entirely during this trip was immediately foiled — the bastard was in the foyer when Jason and Jake arrived, trying to talk Scout into putting on her jacket so that they could leave.

“Jake!” Scout’s eyes lit up and she raced for her older cousin, hugging him tightly. “Did you bring Danny?”

“That kid isn’t allowed within six feet of my daughter,” Drew began, his chest already puffed out, “so if he’s in the car or—”

Jason reminded himself that an arrest for slugging Drew in his pompous mouth wouldn’t help anyone, and kept his distance and his tone cool. “For someone who never met Edward, you sound a lot like him.”

“I want to see Danny!” Scout said, stomping her foot. “I was supposed to go home!”

“You are home,” Drew said. He wiggled the jacket. “Now come on. We have to go. I have a campaign appearance, and I can’t be late—”

Scout’s face screwed up in scowl that echoed her mother and she flounced over to the bottom of the steps, took a seat, and folded her arms. “No. People keep taking pictures of me and I don’t like it.”

“I’m in charge, and you’ll do what I tell you.” Drew grimaced, then focused on Jake and Jason. “What do you two want anyway? Any more dead bodies to leave on my property?”

Jake flinched and looked away — and all Jason could think was how his son had thought Drew might listen to him — that the arrogant son of a bitch might remember a time when he’d called Jake his own son. And now—

“Maybe this was a mistake,” Jake said to his father. “I don’t know what I was thinking.”

“Why don’t you take Scout and go up to see your grandmother? Give me a few minutes,” Jason said. Jake made a face then nodded, heading for the stairs. Scout bounced to her feet.

“Excuse me, you don’t have—Scout, come right back—” Drew started to follow but Jason stepped in front of him, blocking his approach. “Get out of my way.”

“Seven years ago, Jake thought you were his father,” Jason bit out and Drew closed his mouth, pressing his lips into a mutinous line. “And I made it clear that I would never stand in your way if you wanted to maintain a close relationship with him. I don’t know what the hell happened to you, but if you ever speak to my son that way again or about either of my children, they won’t be able to find your body.”

Drew kept his eyes locked on Jason’s. “Are you threatening me?”

“You’ve done nothing but make every part of this situation worse—”

“I’m protecting my daughter—”

“You’re protecting you—” Jason jabbed him in the chest, and Drew fell back a step. “You’re dragging your daughter to campaign events, putting her in the media when she doesn’t want it. You took her from her mother where she wasn’t in any danger, making Danny feel even guiltier about the mistakes he made—”

“He’s a drug addict—”

Jason’s fist twitched at his side, but he kept it in place. “He’s a teenager, making bad choices. And he’s trying to fix them. Rocco’s an idiot. But  neither one of them would ever hurt Scout. And Jake?  Jake came here because he still thought there an ounce of good in you, someone worth trying to reason with. Because he still remembers the man who pretended to be his father—”

“I was his father,” Drew bit out, his jaw clenched. “A better one than you ever were—”

“And that’s what it’s all about isn’t it?” Jason said, stepping back, satisfied. “Being better? A real father doesn’t stop loving his kids. The way you’re treating Jake and Danny now? They’re better off without you. They know that now. And one day, so will Scout. Drop this bullshit custody fight with Sam—”

Drew sneered. “Still fighting her battles. Does Elizabeth know you’re here, white knighting for your ex-wife?” He pulled out his phone. “What do you think she’d think of this conversation?”

“Go ahead. Call her. She’s with Danny, trying to mend things between him and Sam.” Drew stopped, looked up, squinting. “She’s not like you. She know the kids come first.”

“Whatever. I’m late, and I don’t have time for this.” Drew dropped his phone back in his pocket and snatched up his own coat. “Tell Scout that she wins this time, but it’ll be a cold day in hell before I send her back to her mother’s.”

Kevin & Laura’s Condo: Guest Room

Rocco rolled over at the knock at his door, expecting to see his father — then sat up when it turned out to be Aiden. “What are you doing here?” he asked, scooting backwards to sit against the headboard. “I didn’t know the prisoner could have visitors.”

Aiden shrugged, then remained standing awkwardly in the doorway. “I don’t know. I guess I thought maybe we could, like, talk or something.”

Rocco snorted. “What? Doesn’t everyone have it all figured out? Don’t they know everything is my fault?”

Aiden grimaced, then pulled out a chair from a desk against the windows and sat down. “No one’s saying this is all your fault.”

“Fuck off. Everyone thinks you’re the good kid that was peer pressured by the two morons,” Rocco retorted. “And Danny’s trying to play good kid like he wasn’t with me every step of the way.” His shoulders hunched slightly. “No one even asked how we got the pot. Including you. You all just blame me.”

“I figured it was someone at school.” Aiden furrowed his brow. “It wasn’t?”

“Danny stole a vape pen from someone and he knew how to get the stuff. I never asked because I didn’t care. I just gave him the money. It was his idea to start doing it after school—”

“Okay, but Danny’s, like, trying to stop. Or trying to make up for last weekend. Rocco, we could have got my mom put away. Like they might have dragged her back to jail if your dad hadn’t stepped in.” Aiden leaned forward. “I can’t stop thinking about how much I could have messed things up.”

“So what if she did?” Rocco challenged, his eyes hot. “You were fine. Jason stepped in and you were fine. Nothing’s gonna happen to you if she ends up back there. You’ll get to stay in the same house with your brothers.”

Aiden straightened. “That’s a shitty thing to say — ”

“What? You think there’s something special about you? That you get some kind of protection from losing your mom?” Rocco demanded. “You’re not. No one is. So good. Danny’s pissed at his mom, yours might go to jail. But they’re alive—”

“So is yours, you shithead—”

“Yeah, okay, sure.” Rocco rolled over. “Whatever. I get it. Your mom is perfect and we have to protect her at all costs. Dad made that real clear. No one gives a damn about mine. Including him.”

Aiden opened his mouth, then closed it. “This is about your dad going away, isn’t it? He was gone for two years—”

“Don’t pretend you give a damn. You don’t. You’ll just say at least he came back, but he didn’t, did he? He was all fucked up in the head and had to leave again, and then still wasn’t right when he came home.” Rocco’s eyes burned, his throat was on fire but he forced the words out. “Mom wasn’t enough to fix him. I wasn’t enough. But Sam, sure. She was the magic he needed. And then he’s in love with her, and I gotta leave my house and Maxie and her gremlins moved in and now it’s not mine anymore. There’s nothing for Mom to come back to, but don’t worry. She’s not coming back anyway.”

Kristina’s Apartment: Living Room

She’d thrown out at least a dozen ideas already that morning, and Kristina wasn’t any closer to figuring out how to make Elizabeth or Jason look more guilty. She’d thought framing Elizabeth would be the best choice since Jason would confess but it was taking longer for that to happen.

Maybe he wouldn’t do that until it was a sure thing Elizabeth was going to jail — like when Michael had been sentenced to Pentonville, Jason had confessed to get sent away with him but even that hadn’t happened right away.

Damn it, if Molly hadn’t poked her nose where it didn’t belong, none of this would be happening. The FBI was positive they had their guy, and it was only because Molly made Chase and Dante redo every step that they were even talking to Harry about her apartment security footage.

And she couldn’t take anymore risks the way she had with the gun. It was just a miracle that no one had really questioned her visit to Elizabeth deeply. But could they come back to that?

Kristina paced the length of her living room again. The only card she hadn’t played was the knowledge Dante had covered up the kids getting high and drunk — and getting arrested on Elizabeth’s property. But if she played it — it wasn’t a guarantee to work and it would end up throwing Danny under the bus.

And it might make Dante and Sam suspicious. After all, how many people even knew about the drugs?

She grimaced. She was out of ideas — and praying that her luck would continue to hold. That something would come up pointing at Elizabeth or Jason before Kristina had to play the one weak hand she had left. She had to find a way to put the pressure back on them.

Penthouse: Living Room

Sam jerked the door open as soon as she saw Danny through the peep hole, her smile bright. “Danny! You came home!” She embraced him tightly, ignoring the reluctant way his arms came around her shoulder or the lack of enthusiasm. “I’ve missed you so much—” She stepped away, framing his face in her hands. “I’m so sorry about what happened last week at the station. I never should have left—”

“It’s okay,” he said awkwardly, pulling out of her grasp and walking past her — but not going further than the desk. “Um, is Dante around?”

“No. No, um, he went to talk to his dad. Does—Does Jason know you’re here? Is—” She folded her arms, forcing herself to take a deep breath. “Did he drop you off, or—”

“No. I mean, I have a ride—I’m not staying,” he said, averting his eyes and her stomach dropped. “I’m sorry about Scout. What Drew’s doing. Jake and Dad are gonna try to fix it—”

Sam forced herself not to make a face. “It’s not their fight—”

“No, I know. But they wanted to help. Um, I came to ask you—” He scratched back of his neck. “I came to ask you—the therapist I’m going to—he said there are sessions for my parents. And I know you didn’t want me to go, but then you agreed, so I thought maybe you’d go.”

“Of course.” Sam stepped closer to him. “I only refused because I was worried you’d been pressured into, but if this is something you want to do, if you need to do it, then of course I’ll help. I love you, Danny. You’re my son. I’ll do anything for you.”

Relief flood Danny’s expression and he seemed to relax slightly. “Good. Good. Thanks. I know—I mean, maybe Dante’s mad at me, but Dr. Fletcher said maybe he could come to. Since, like, I lived with you guys. And maybe I will again.”

Maybe. Sam had to ignore that word. “Of course. Dante loves you! And if this is working, then maybe it’s something we can do together. Maybe Rocco—” She stopped, everything going cold. “You said it’s because you lived with Dante. Are you—is Elizabeth going?”

“Mom.” Danny grimaced. “Don’t start—”

“You’ve lived with her for a week! How can that possibly compare with all the time you and Dante have lived together? Dante’s been like a father to you! Elizabeth is barely an acquaintance—”

“Mom. It’s not—you’re making this more than it has to be, okay? I live in her house, and Jake’s my brother, and she’s really nice. I know you don’t like her, but I do—”

“She has no right to be part of your therapy. She’s not your mother. I don’t want this—”

“Forget I asked. This was stupid. You’re never going to change.” Danny started past her, and Sam caught his elbow. “Mom—”

“No! This is your home, and you’re not leaving! Call your father or Jake and tell them you don’t need a ride—” She stopped when Danny dropped his eyes. “You said they were trying to fix things with Drew. They’re not downstairs. They’re not your ride.”

“Mom—”

“Is she down there?” Sam growled. Without waiting for Danny’s response, she lunged for the door, pulling it open and heading for the elevators.

“Mom! Mom! Stop! I don’t want to do this with you—” Danny tried to block the elevator buttons but his mother had already managed to press it, and he couldn’t stop her from getting into the car when the doors opened. “Mom!”

“I’m done playing these games with her. She’s going to learn to keep out of my business—”

Danny managed to get on board just before the doors closed and pulling his phone out, hoping he could warn Elizabeth — but Sam snatched the phone from his hand. He scrambled for it but Sam had already shoved it into his pocket, and short of tackling of his mother he didn’t have a choice.

The elevator slowly descended toward disaster.

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