Episode 182

“Listen buddy,” Kyle growled trying to breath in, “I suggest you get your arm off my throat.”

“Give me one good reason I should,” Kevin hissed as Kyle rolled his eyes.

“Well if I am going to tell what I am doing following you,” Kyle coughed trying to gasp for air, “I need to be able to breath.”

“Fine,” Kevin growled moving his arm from Kyle’s throat and grasping the other side of his shirt and pushing him harder against the wall. “Now talk.”

“Alright, God you don’t have to be so pushy,” Kyle smiled cracking a joke to himself as Kevin dug his fingers into Kyle’s neck.

“I don’t like jokes,” Kevin growled as Kyle rolled his eyes and moved his shoulders back.

“Okay, I will tell you what I am doing,” Kyle began to explain with a sigh, “That guy I showed you in my wallet earlier disappeared and now my friend is up on trial. I am just trying to find something before he gets put away for something he didn’t do. I thought you might know a little more about it, so I here I am.”

“Sounds like a sad story,” Kevin sarcastically sniffed before grabbing Kyle by the neck, “No why don’t you tell me why you are really here. You are looking for Angela, aren’t you?”

“Who are you talking about?” Kyle questioned thinking of someone by that name, “I don’t know an Angela.”

“You are a liar, I saw that picture in your wallet,” Kevin snapped before tightening his grip on Kyle’s throat harder.

“Listen jackass,” Kyle grunted pushing Kevin back roughly making him stumble back as Kyle rubbed his neck coughing roughly, “I told you why I was here and I have no idea what you are talking about man.”

“Is that so?” Kevin questioned getting nose to nose with Kyle as he pushed Kyle back roughly.

“Listen man, I don’t want any trouble,” Kyle sighed before feeling Kevin push him again.

“Well I do,” Kevin, hissed as Kyle looked the other way, “What are you afraid to go up against me? Do I intimidate you?”

“I told you, I don’t want to start a fight,” Kyle yelled before feeling Kevin’s fist slam into jaw roughly making him fall to the ground.

“What about now tough guy?” Kevin questioned watching Kyle rise to his knees as he spit out blood. “You in the mood to fight now?”

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Kyle laughed before getting up quickly and tackling Kevin to the ground. “Listen man, I told you I don’t want to start any trouble.”

“I don’t care,” Kevin replied with growl as he kicked Kyle off him and he got up.

“Fine,” Kyle sighed before standing up and shaking his head, “You want a fight? I’ll give you a fight.”

“Come on goldilocks, take your best shot,” Kevin smiled before feeling the power of Kyle’s fist against his face making him fall back to the ground.

“That good enough for you empty head?” Kyle questioned seeing him get up slowly.

“I’m not sure,” Kevin smiled before walking up to Kyle ducking one of Kyle’s punches before kneeing him in the groin smiling as Kyle fell to the ground. Kevin smiled as he got over Kyle and looked down “How does that feel?”

“I don’t know,” Kyle groaned before opening his eyes, “Why don’t you tell me?”

Kevin fell to his knees after Kyle’s foot kicked him in the groin. Kyle closed his eyes tightly as they both laid on the ground in pain; this was going to be a long night.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Shannon tapped her fingers on the table lightly as she took in a deep sigh before looking at her watch.

“Where are you Kyle?” Shannon questioned to herself looking around the club that was starting to give her a headache.

Kyle had told her to wait there over thirty minutes ago and she was getting tired of having to wait. She jumped as she felt someone sit next to her and it wasn’t Kyle.

“Hi,” the man smiled before wrapping his arm around her shoulder, “I saw you here all alone and I was wondering if you wanted to dance.”

“No,” Shannon smiled before grabbing his arm and throwing it off of her.

“Just one dance,” he mouthed before seeing her shake her head, “Why not? Give me one good reason.”

She raised her hand to show the ring on her finger as he frowned.

“I’m married smart guy,” Shannon smiled before seeing him stand up, “So that’s a big no.”

“Fine, your loss,” the guy shrugged before walking away as Shannon laughed thinking back to Don.

“Never thought you would actually do me some good,” Shannon shrugged before hearing the sound of her phone ringing.

She took the phone out of her pocket as she looked down at who it was. She sighed realizing that the number was Don’s.

“Speaking of the devil,” Shannon frowned before answering her phone, “Hello?”

“Shannon, it’s Don,” Don informed her quickly slightly excited at what he was about to tell her.

“I couldn’t have guessed,” she sarcastically said frowning as she looked at her watch once more.

“Was that sarcasm?” Don questioned frowning to himself, “If it was I mean I could just you know, not tell you what I found on Kipp.”

“You what?” she blurted out before realizing she just yelled, “What did you find?”

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” Don questioned with a slight laugh making her snarl.

“Cut the crap Don you aren’t being funny,” Shannon hissed before shaking her head, “So are you going to tell me what you found or not?”

“You better appreciate me after this,” Don stated with a sigh before she cut him off.

“Now I am sure I will,” Shannon rolled her eyes lying out of her teeth as she tapped her fingers against the table once more.

“Well, I guess I am good for something because you are going to love what I have for you,” Don smiled to himself holding out the papers that he just found.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Isabel Chavez looked out her office window thinking about election time. She’d been working like mad to take down the Ashford family, but thus far she’d come up empty. Even in putting Ben Walters into the Ashford empire by fitting him perfectly for a position at BBK, he hadn’t come up with anything substantial. Even in his absence she could see that there was far more work to still be done. Pacing around her office, she silently vowed to find a way to take down the Ashfords.

“You have a delivery,” her secretary explained buzzing into Isabel’s office.

“Who is it?” Isabel frowned.

“I’m not sure,” her secretary paused, “Shall I sent him in?”

“Why not,” Isabel grumbled pacing around the office once again only to see a scrawny looking man standing before her, “Who the hell are you?”

“Someone who has something that might help,” he explained pulling a small package from his knapsack, “Here you are.”

“What is this?” she glanced down at what he’d presented her with.

“I don’t know,” he shrugged turning to exit, “I’m just doing as I was told.”

He exited the office leaving her to this mysterious package. She pulled it up from her desk opening it only to see a cell phone laying on top of the envelope within the box. She eased the cell phone aside, turning her attention to the envelope. Quickly she tore at the paper opening it up to find some photographs from within.

“What in the world…” she nearly gasped seeing the contents within. Suddenly everything she’d been pondering lately was starting to make sense. It was in that moment that the cell phone started to ring. Tentatively she answered it, “Who is this?”

“Someone who can help you get what you want--if and only if you do what I ask of you,” the disguised voice blurted out, “You want to take down the Ashfords and those pictures are just the beginning of how you can go about doing that…”

“And why should I believe anything you have to offer is worthwhile?” she questioned uneasily.

“Because I know that your efforts to get the goods on the Ashford to take them down aren’t working,” the voice explained, “but they can if you listen to what I have to share with you.”

“These pictures are irrelevant. They aren’t going to help me with what I want,” she frowned tucking them back in the envelope, “They’re useless.”

“They won’t be if you meet me down at Sampson’s in say an hour?” the voice tossed out at her seductively.

“And what would make you think that I’d even be inclined to take you up on that offer?” she sank into her chair curious despite her own doubts about what the caller was doing with her in the first place.

“Because not only will I be able to help you take down the Ashford Empire forever, but I’ll also be able to ensure a victory in the Mahoney murder trial.”

“Is that right,” she leaned forward, “and what’s in it for you?”

“The luxury of knowing that Grady Denton is behind bars for the rest of his days,” the voice explained further, “So as I said before meet me at Sampson’s or else the deal is off. I won’t help you and I’ll see to it that next year another DA will be filling your shoes.”

“I’ll see what I can do about being there,” she replied taking the bait.

“See that you are,” the voice replied hanging up the phone with a twisted smirk knowing that everything was going to plan.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“How long has he been awake?” Angela questioned making her way through the darkened hospital hallway.

“About an hour. I’d tried paging you, but…” the nurse began frantic to keep up at the speed Angela had set off in.

“I should’ve paid more attention to things,” Angela blurted out silently cursing herself, “How was he? Was he lucid?”

“I have to admit I was rather impressed myself when I found him,” the nurse revealed only to be thwarted by the mass of muscle before her. Her eyes widened as she took a first look at Angela’s beach side rescue. The man was a bit groggy as he leaned against the wall behind him, but there was no mistaking the handsome side of him.

“What are you doing out of bed?” Angela frowned realizing she was about to be given another distraction.

“I heard a noise and it woke me up,” he explained to her, “I couldn’t sleep so I thought I’d move around a bit. My legs felt stiff.”

“That’s because you’re supposed to be in bed. I have a coma patient to check in on,” Angela started to scold him, “You shouldn’t be out of bed.”

“I was restless,” he confessed with a half smile, “You can’t hold that against me, can you?”

“You’re trouble,” Angela frowned noticing the way the nurse just stood and practically drooled at the man before her, “Nurse Smith can you please get him back to his room into bed?”

“Could I ever,” the nurse blurted out before she thought twice of it. Suddenly her face turned a pale shade of crimson. “I mean…”

“You know as much as I’d enjoy the escort, well I’d prefer if you were the one to do it,” he reached for Angela’s arm, refusing to let her walk away just yet, “You are my doctor after all.”

“That I am, but you’re not my only patient,” Angela replied giving him a firm look.

“But I’m the only one that intrigues you, yes?” he inquired with another slow, sexy smile that caused even Angela to stop in her tracks. While she’d barely had a conversation with this man the last time he’d been awake, she could certainly see a playfulness had sparked behind his eyes. He had a fire to him that wasn’t there before--even his coloring revealed that.

“Look, I have work to do,” Angela regained her bearings, “and unless you decide to cooperate, then…”

“Then what?” he ached a curious brow, “I thought you wanted to know when I was feeling better.”

“Is that what you are? Feeling better?” she questioned.

“Other than the whole I can’t remember anything more than waking up and seeing your face first on the beach and then here in the hospital, then I’m great,” he confessed with a small nod, “Want to see?”

“It’s going to have to wait. As I said my patient needs me,” Angela replied nodding to the nurse, “Please see that he makes it back to bed untouched.”

“Yes Dr. Meloni,” the woman nodded before doing as she was told. Angela could see the protest behind her patient’s eyes, but that was irrelevant at the moment. She had something else to attend to.

Making her way down the hallway, she entered a room that was filled with silence for so very long, but now, well now there was a whole new warmth to it as a man that once seemed hopeless in regards to recovery was staring up at her with confused, dark eyes.

“Angela?” he spoke her name with a bit of uncertainty, “What are you doing here?”

“Saving your life from the looks of things,” she smiled closing the door behind her as suddenly she felt as if she was embarking upon one of what she hoped would be many success stories in the future.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“How could she do this to Russ? What the hell is wrong with her?” Grady questioned slamming his fist into the table top as Jade watched him uneasily.

“Grady, I’m sure that there’s a reasonable explanation for…” she began trying to calm him down, but she knew better. The bombshell Susan had dropped upon him was too much. It was something that wasn’t going to just fade away.

“After all that my brother gave to her…” he shook his head, fury consuming him, “I knew she wasn’t good enough for him. Time and time again I told Russ, but now…oh he’d be turning in his grave right now if he saw what she’s done.”

“Grady, you need to calm down,” Jade pleaded with him taking a tentative step towards him, “You can’t let this upset you considering…”

“Considering what? That the lying slut not only cost my brother his life, but she’s disrespecting his memory by marrying his worst enemy?” his words came out with such venom that it made Jade’s skin crawl, “Time and time again I told Russ that she was no good. I warned him and by God if he would’ve listened to me, he’d still be alive right now, but no he just had to believe the best in Avery. He had to think that she was something special--that she was worthy of his love…”

“What’s happening now isn’t about your brother. Grady if you just take a moment to speak with Avery, then maybe you’ll see why she did what she…” Jade tried to reason with him.

“Oh I know why she did what she did. Hell, I knew from the day she came back into my brother’s life again. She was just using Russ for the ride until she got what she wanted. I wouldn’t doubt that Ashford was the one who had him killed in that bombing. He probably set it all up just so that he and Avery could be together with the insurance money that Russ had left behind…” Grady’s mind ran rampant with speculation.

“Grady, we both know there was no insurance money there,” Jade shook her head at him.

“Maybe not, but it left Avery the paper and the Courier was the only place where the Ashfords haven’t been glorified. I’m sure that was part of Brant’s agenda…” he began to pace around the room, “They must’ve been playing Russ from the start. I’ll bet that baby isn’t even Russell’s, but Avery used it to get closer to him--to make him believe that they had something there. She tricked him into marrying her so that she could destroy him.”

“Grady, you’re being irrational,” Jade argued with him, “You know that’s not…”

“I don’t know anything,” he threw his hands in the air, “For all I know she’s been playing us all for a fool since this all began. How could I have trusted her? How could I have believed that she ever gave a damn about Russ? I knew that I was right about her and now that she’s representing me…oh God, I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s working with Cameron. She’s been doing a lousy job in the courtroom and now, well with this…obviously I know why…”

“Grady, Avery has been giving her all to you and to this case. She’s pregnant and she’s been putting you first. She’s been putting us first and I don’t think for a second that she deserves any of this especially from you,” Jade spat back at him having had enough of his tirade.

Grady stopped pacing long enough to stare her down, “Now you’re turning on me too?”

“I’m not turning on you, but what I’m telling you is if you keep acting like a lunatic, you’re going to be stuck in this place. You’re going to throw away everything because Susan decided it was time to get you worked up,” she shook her head at him, “I mean my God Grady are you that stubborn that you’re going to let them win?”

“Avery destroyed my brother and she manipulated me…” he shot back at her bitterly.

“No Grady, she loved your brother and she cares about you. I know that you’ve been looking for a reason for a while to hate her. Hell, I’m sure that Susan’s aware of that too. She wanted you to react. She wanted you to get upset and she wanted you to get rid of Avery. With you acting this way, you’re giving in to what Susan hoped for. She knew you’d blow up…”

“You’re damn right I’m going to blow up. Avery had no right to trample my brother’s memory like she did. That bitch made a big mistake and from here on out I hope she gets exactly everything that’s coming to her,” Grady snapped in a thunderous roar.

“Just stop it!” Jade shouted back at him, “Grady, my God, can’t you see what Susan’s doing here? She’s trying to turn you against Avery because she knows if you two are at odds with one another, you won’t win this one. She knows that you two need one another right now and if you walk away from Avery and turn your back on that, then you’re doomed.”

“She’s right,” Avery’s voice interrupted as Grady looked over to the doorway to see Avery standing before him, “Susan did this to cause a rift between us and before you fire me, maybe you should give me five minutes to explain myself.”

“I don’t owe you anything,” Grady waved his finger at her, “You’re nothing to me Avery. Absolutely nothing especially after this.”

“Fine,” Avery snapped back at him, “then you go on believing that, but I’m not leaving here without your giving me five minutes Grady. If not for me, then do it for Russ.”

“Like that means anything to you,” he spat back at her.

“Even if you think it doesn’t, it should for you. He would want you to give me five minutes,” Avery pleaded with him.

“I don’t need five minutes to see what a dirty whore you are,” Grady snarled at her, “You never loved him, did you?”

“Grady, please,” Jade tugged on his arm, “Don’t do this. Don’t say something you’re going to regret.”

“The only regret I have is ever putting faith in that slut,” Grady remarked sourly, his eyes full of anger.

“Fine, then hate me. Think the worst about me, but that’s not going to help you with your case. It’s not going to get you your freedom,” Avery threw back at him fighting the sting of his words.

“I’ll take my chances on anyone other than you,” Grady snapped at her. “You’re fired!”

“Fine, then if that’s the way you’re going to be,” Jade sucked in a sharp breath ready to play hardball, “if you don’t at least talk to her, then I walk too.”

“What?” Grady’s jaw practically dropped at he looked to his fiancée, “Jade, you can’t be serious.”

“You know I am,” Jade replied firmly, “Either you give Avery five minutes, or I’ll walk out that door and never look back.”

“Jade, this isn’t about us. This is about what she’s done to jeopardize our future…what she did to my brother…” Grady protested.

“If you don’t let her talk, then you’re the one who is putting our future in jeopardy Grady. I’m not about to let you destroy our last chance because of something Susan did,” Jade explained matter of fact, “You either give her five minutes or else I’m going to walk out and give up on you Grady Denton.”

“Jade, this isn’t about us…” he glared over at Avery before reaching out to the woman he loved, “You know that.”

“What I know is that Avery is your last chance at freedom and if you blow it Grady, to me it’ll mean that you’re giving up on us,” Jade pleaded with him, her eyes full of tears as she prayed that he would bury his anger long enough to listen to reason.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“This whole trial is going exactly where I want it to,” Cameron smiled rubbing his hands together roughly.

“I know what you mean,” Susan joined in with a wide grin across her face, “Grady is so screwed.”

“What is the sudden change in feelings?” Cameron questioned with a slightly amused smile as he sat next to her.

“I don’t know,” she shrugged still having that wide smile spread across her features. “It could have been when he wouldn’t let me back in. He never should‘ve lied to me and now he must pay for that.”

“Well, I like this change in you,” Cameron informed her, “I think you should be like this more often.”

“Oh believe me,” she laughed lightly before looking over into his intense dark eyes, “I will be.”

“I like the sound of that,” he declared before rubbing his hands together once more.

“I can’t wait to see that man rot in jail,” Susan smiled excitedly, “I couldn’t think of a better way to enjoy myself.”

“Isn’t that the truth,” he agreed before smiling, “I could think of something more enjoying.”

“Really?” she questioned seeing him nod, “What could that be? I think Grady going to jail is the best thing.”

“Well, it is,” he began with a shrug before smiling, “Not only him going to jail would be good, but if all his friends and family suffered.”

“Oh, you have a point there,” she nodded before rubbing her hands together, “What are you planning on doing with his friends and family?”

“Oh I don’t know,” he shrugged before raising his eyebrow, “I will think of something after Grady goes to jail.”

“Can I join you?” she questioned seeing him nod and turn to face her.

“Have any idea?” he questioned with curiosity seeing her nod and get a special look in her eyes.

“Do I?” Susan questioned with a laugh, “I have many.”

“Do tell,” Cameron raised his eyebrow smiling widely, “What do have planned?”

“Don’t get me started,” she smirked before licking her lips as she got lost in her own thoughts. “It is going to be perfect.”

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Douglas stood at the window inside his hotel room thinking about the way the trial had been going. While he’d kept his silence about a great many things, in just seeing Cameron on the witness stand today had him in a fury. It wasn’t right that the sick son of a bitch was able to roam free when Douglas himself began to believe that Cameron had played a hand in what had happened to his son. The more Douglas listened to what Grady Denton’s lawyer was trying to say, the more Douglas was starting to believe that maybe just maybe there was more to this story than anyone realized. Of course given the lengths that Douglas had gone to in order to secure his son’s future, he couldn’t help but feel a bit guilty himself.

“I’m telling you,” Brooke Morrison’s voice had tempted him so very easily at the time when she’d come up to his hotel room with him, “You want your son’s association with that tramp extinguished and I want my daughter to be with the man that she was meant to spend her life with. It’s a foolproof plan.”

“Nothing is foolproof,” he’d frowned in response, “My son cares very deeply for that slut. However misguided he may be in that, I don’t want to see him suffer anymore than he already has.”

“Given the laugh Heather Gibbons is having at your son’s expense, I’d have to say that the small pain of the moment is well worth the lifetime of misery you’ll be sparing him. I‘ve already got the plans laid out and if you‘re willing, then all you had to do is accept my offer,” Brooke had found the key to enticing him, “What do you say?”

“I say you’re on,” Douglas remembered his eagerness as his mind returned to the moment at hand. Little did he know that night would spin his world out of control with Kipp’s accident. He’d never imagined that things would turn to this.

“This is not your fault,” Douglas tried to tell himself as he made his way over to the minibar in his hotel room. Sure maybe he’d played a hand in what had happened, but this wasn’t the reason Kipp had been shot. Kipp’s vulnerability about seeing the woman he loved in bed with another man hadn’t prompted him to be open for the attack, or did it?

Douglas found himself so consumed in his thoughts that he hadn’t noticed the tapping at his door right away, but now he heard it loud and clear. Setting the bourbon he’d had in hand aside, he made his way over to the door only to discover JT on the opposite site of it.

“I was wondering if you were ever going to answer,” JT remarked pushing his way into Douglas’s hotel room, “They told me at the front desk you were in and…”

“What do you want JT?” Douglas frowned upon seeing his youngest son before him.

“Well hello to you too dad,” JT rolled his eyes, “Gee, what no hello? How’s it going son? You know if I wasn’t in such a good mood, then I might think that your priorities were messed up…”

“You’re the very last person to discuss priorities with me JT,” Douglas scowled back at him, “So tell me, what is it this time? Are you in over your head for gambling debts or is it drugs? Have a pusher seeking you out?”

“Gee and here I thought that maybe just maybe you could use a friendly face around now that the whole Kipp’s murder trial is going on,” JT shook his head at his father, “but what the hell was I thinking? You could care less about how I am and I’m sure the same holds true for Kipp now that he’s dead, right?”

“Your brother was a fine, young man,” Douglas snapped back at him, “You could’ve learned a lot from him.”

“Oh sure. I could’ve very easily learned how to be an attention hog or how to become buddy, buddy with the local escort service when I needed a date because I was too pathetic to land one on my own,” JT rolled his eyes, “or even better, I could’ve stuck around and took it like he constantly did from you. He was the biggest pushover and while you might’ve thought that was respect, the fact is that he hated you too. He was just better at hiding it while he was sucking up.”

“Shut up,” Douglas snarled at him, “I don’t want to hear it.”

“Yeah, well maybe that’s your problem. You never wanted to hear it or to see it for that matter especially when the truth was right in front of your face. You’re a terrible father and you’re an even worse husband, but then again if my mother didn’t convince you of that, then maybe Kipp’s did…or perhaps that little slut you knocked up before that could tell you a thing or two about how awful you are since she took your daughter and ran…”

“Shut up!” Douglas lashed out at JT striking him right square across the face, “You have no right to come in here and judge me when you’re the one who is constantly in over his head. You can say what you will about my being a father, but I gave my all to Kipp and to you. There was never anything you went without. If you wanted it, it was yours and my only crime was in spoiling you. You never appreciated it and you still don’t.”

“You stand there acting like you’re really something special, but you aren’t Doug. You never were and if someone hadn’t beat Kipp to the punch, I’m sure he would’ve offed himself after learning what it is you did to destroy him. If it wasn’t for you, he might be here right now…well maybe…”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Douglas frowned back at him.

“It means that while I don’t know exactly what happened, I’m positive that whatever happened to Kipp was of your making,” JT replied with a sneer, “and you’re going to have to live with that. Just like you’re going to have to live with the fact that you’re going to wake up one morning without anyone to give a damn about you.”

“If you’re trying to imply I should show you some kind of charity JT, then you should know by now you overextended your welcome years ago,” Douglas replied with a scowl.

“You know, I did come over here to ask for a favor, but I’d rather see you rot in hell than take charity from you,” JT hissed recovering from the hit Douglas had delivered him earlier. He threw out one last venomous look before leaving the hotel room as Douglas reflected on the mistakes he’d made over the years. As much as he hated to admit it, perhaps JT had a point.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Jenna turned off the television in her office knowing that she should be focusing on the pile of paperwork before her, yet she couldn’t help but be drawn in by the news she’d heard on Grady’s hearing. Just thinking about what was going on left her feeling distracted and unsettled and that in itself had her on edge. Her concentration wasn’t there at all and now, well now she knew the day was hopeless.

“Wonderful,” Jenna groaned wishing that she could find some clarity instead of being overwhelmed with thoughts on what she should be doing instead to lend a hand. Leaning forward over her desk, Jenna dropped her head down before she heard a knock at the door. Looking up she spotted Hart in the doorway with a dozen roses in hand.

“And it would seem I arrived right in the nick of time,” Hart smiled offering her the bouquet he’d brought with him, “Your prince has arrived.”

“Hart, what are you doing here?” she questioned curiously, “I thought that you were going to be busy with a client today and…”

“And unfortunately Mr. Flair found himself on the receiving end of a nasty flu bug which is terrible news for him, but good for me in the sense that I can find a way to spend some quality time with the woman I love,” he explained matter of fact before pulling out a bag he’d also picked up on the way over. “I brought something to eat since I’m sure that you aren’t even thinking about it.”

“I can’t think about anything else other than what’s going on with Grady’s trial,” she admitted with a heavy frown, “When I think of what he’s going through because of Cameron…”

“I’m sure that he’s going to get out of this one. Given how little evidence there is for the prosecution,” he shrugged, “Well I could easily see the jury voting in his favor.”

“Hart, have you been paying attention to this case at all?” she questioned surprised by the lightness in his tone.

“Yes, as a matter of fact I have and you should very well know that,” he leaned in to give her a quick kiss, “but as a lawyer I’d say it’s safe to say that Grady has one major key element working in his favor that goes above and beyond the forensic evidence against him.”

“What’s that?” Jenna arched a curious brow.

“There’s no body,” Hart reminded her simply, “and while the prosecution would like to point the finger at Grady for the shooting, well there is nothing substantial or concrete that leads anyone to believe that Kipp isn’t alive. I mean yeah, it sucks that he was shot and that he was in a coma, but who is to say he’s not out and about walking around living life like nothing happened?”

“This is my brother you’re talking about,” Jenna’s lip curled in a frown.

“I realize that Jen, but think about this for a minute here. Kipp might not be too happy with Douglas--and maybe when he pulled out of that coma, he realized that he needed a break. You can’t tell me that there aren’t times when you don’t dream about walking away from the situation. For Kipp, well he discovered the woman he loved in bed with another man and then after the shooting, maybe he was looking for a chance to start over,” Hart suggested with a shrug.

“So he’d just say to hell with the life he had worked for and start anew?” Jenna replied full of sudden disbelief.

“Maybe, maybe not, but if Avery’s any good, which I’m sure she is, then she’ll easily have the jury believing that Kipp is off on an island sipping margaritas and having the time of his life with a few senoritas as well,” Hart explained reaching for the bag he’d brought with him once again, “I hope you’re hungry. I stopped over at Irvan’s on the way over and…”

“You know…what if you’re right,” Jenna pondered the thought for a moment, “What if Kipp isn’t dead? I mean, I just kind of always assumed that Cameron found a way to get rid of him, but what if I was wrong? What if somewhere out there Kipp is still alive?”

“It’s always a possibility,” Hart nodded encouragingly before setting a Styrofoam box in front of her, “I got you the grilled chicken and penne pasta that you enjoy.”

“Thanks,” Jenna replied with a small smile before reaching out to the television once again. She caught the tail end of yet another report on the trial before she turned to Hart, “Do you really think it’s possible that Cameron’s got some other agenda he’s working with here that would prove him useful to keep Kipp alive?”

“You said it yourself,” Hart slid in across from her at the opposite end of the desk, “Cameron has a vendetta against your father, which would be reason enough to keep Kipp around to dangle him at Douglas if the need should ever arise, yet at the same time we also know that Cameron wants to see Grady fry for this one.”

“Which would be a reason why he might decide to get rid of Kipp forever so that the same could happen with Grady,” Jenna added with a frown, “but I’m not so sure Cameron’s ready to get his hands dirty.”

“Jen, you know the man has no problems with being a murderer. We know what he did to your friend Maria and even with that guy who had his finger shipped to the front porch,” Hart frowned remembering that less than savory moment.

“Even so I’m not sure Cameron would take action against Kipp. He sounded like he had a bit of compassion for Kipp the last time I spoke with Cameron…” she started to argue.

“Jen, the only person Cameron Stone is looking out for is himself. He’s not about to sit idle and let things have a way of blowing up in his face. If he sees your brother as a threat to what he wants, then he’ll do everything and anything in his power to make sure that Kipp is out of the equation.”

“Even so,” Jenna pointed out, “thus far there’s been no body. If Cameron had killed Kipp he would’ve no doubt made a display of it in the hopes of letting Grady spend his life in jail. He would have no qualms about destroying Grady’s life by planting Kipp’s body, right?”

“I can see your point, but that doesn’t mean he’s not just waiting for the right time to strike in the trial…” Hart frowned not liking the expression on Jenna’s face.

“It doesn’t mean that Kipp is dead either. My gut instincts are telling me that he’s still alive,” Jenna admitted biting on her lower lip. “There has to be a way to figure this one out.”

“I’m sure there is Jen, but if you’re thinking about finding a way to get close to Cameron to make that happen, then I’m going to have to issue my protest here,” Hart frowned worried of what might be going on inside her head.

“Cameron’s opened up to me. He wants to have someone whom he thinks is on his side. He’s just itching to make himself vulnerable,” Jenna began eagerly, “and maybe if…”

“Jen, he’s not looking for someone to open up to. He’s looking for someone to screw around with. He wants to find a way to bait you in and if you let him,” Hart reached for her hand, “Jenna, the guy is dangerous. You have no idea what he’s capable of and I don’t want you to put yourself as bait there.”

“Hart, that’s not what I’m doing,” she frowned back at him.

“No, you’re not doing that because I love you and I’m not about to let you put yourself in danger. If you think that you‘re going to do this then,” Hart insisted firmly.

“Are you trying to tell me what to do?” she questioned in an accusatory voice, “If you are Hart, then it’s not going to work because I don’t take being issued ultimatums here…”

“That’s not what I’m doing at all because heaven knows if I tried to stop you from doing something, it would only come back to haunt me, but what I’m saying is that you need to proceed with caution if you think you’re going to try to work a number over on Cameron. Chances are he’s already working a number on you,” Hart explained in a weak attempt to try to keep from letting his displeasure get the best of him. “Jen, you have to be careful with men like that.”

“I am careful,” she paused giving him a long look, “I’m not about to jeopardize what we have together Hart. I’m not stupid.”

“I never said you were, but it’s you that I’m worried about,” he stood up and moved around the desk to pull her into his arms, “Don’t you think one near death experience a year is enough for us?”

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe we had two of them,” Jenna replied with a small smile, “One with you and peanut oil comes quite clearly into mind…”

“Ugh don’t remind me,” he groaned curling his fingers around her spine, “and please just promise me whatever it is you think you have planned with Cameron, that you’ll at least consult me. Maybe together we can come up with something that will keep you out of trouble while still giving you an opportunity to figure out what you need to figure out there. Okay?”

“Okay,” Jenna agreed with a small smile, “I think we can do this as a team. You do have a bit more experience in scheming than I do.”

“Exactly,” he thought about what she was saying, “Hey, what is that supposed to mean?”

“It means that together we can’t go wrong,” she smiled tipping up on her toes to kiss him and bring an end to the conversation about Cameron. However, in the back of her mind she was determined to find a way to figure out the truth behind what had happened to her brother one way or another.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“You think that hurt?” Kevin questioned with a groan as he got to his feet watching Kyle get to his knees.

“I don’t care if that didn’t hurt you because it sure as hell hurt me,” Kyle grunted as he got to his feet only to fell Kevin’s body ramming into his stomach.

A sharp pain cracked through his back as it slammed into the door. The force from the shot made the door fall right from its hinges making both the men fall to the ground as they heard gasps from people at the club.

“Damn,” Kyle grunted as he arched his back up in pain seeing Kevin stand up.

“Is that all you got punk?” Kevin questioned watching Kyle slowly rise to his feet. “You never give up do you?”

“Just bring it,” Kyle whispered almost out of breath from the earlier blow.

“You just don’t know when to give up, do you?” Kevin questioned walking towards the injured Kyle.

Kevin grasped Kyle around the neck as Kyle’s face turned red from the pressure put on him. Thinking of what he could do next, Kyle grabbed Kevin by the waist and picked his up throwing him back. Kevin fell right through a table as it went crashing to the ground. Kyle tried to breath as he saw Kevin roll on the ground in pain.

“Oh no,” Kyle growled as he saw a broken bottle had gone into Kevin’s side as blood seeped through Kevin’s shirt. “Are you okay man?”

Kyle walked over towards Kevin bending down over Kevin going to help him up.

“Come on,” Kyle sighed trying to grab Kevin by the arm trying to help him up as Kevin pushed him away.

“I don’t need any help,” Kevin growled standing up and grabbing the piece of glass and pulling it from his side.

“Man you are going to need stitches or something,” Kyle informed Kevin as people from the crowd gasped noticing the huge gash on Kevin’s stomach.

“Screw you,” Kevin yelled as he socked Kyle in the stomach and then in the jaw.

“Damn,” Kyle hissed holding his jaw in pain as Kevin got above him hitting him again.

“Come on,” Kevin demanded knowing Kyle was holding back not wanting to fight him anymore.

Kyle rolled Kevin onto his back before holding his fist up ready to hit him before Shannon came behind Kyle touching his shoulder and Kyle stood up.

“You are going to need a doctor for that,” Kyle informed him pointing to his cut before holding his hand out to Kevin to help him up.

“Yeah,” Kevin grunted grabbing Kyle’s hand as he pulled him up, “Maybe next time we can finish this.”

Kyle rolled his eyes before feeling Shannon pull him away to the door.

“I can’t believe that guy,” Kyle groaned rubbing the back of his neck in pain from the tackle from earlier.

“Yeah, well I can tell you one thing…he puts up a good fight,” Shannon sighed before looking back at the puzzled people as they walked out of the building.

“So why did you stop me?” Kyle questioned wiping the blood away from his split open lip.

“I think we got the information we need,” she explained to him as she looked at his already bruising cheek. “You are going to be bruised.”

“Yeah I know,” he nodded before rolling his eyes, “So what information are you talking about?”

“I think I found just the thing that will help us out with Grady’s trial,” she stated seeing him smile.

“What is that?” he questioned seeing her smile and wiggle her finger at him.

“Just follow me,” she insisted looking over the notes she had just gotten from Don’s conversation.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Susan entered the police station thinking about her plans with Cameron. While she’d already helped play her part in letting Grady fry, she had one more man to take her revenge upon. Smiling inwardly, she vowed to make sure that as long as Ken ignored her advances, he’d never get an opportunity to enjoy his time with his little slut Carly.

“You’re not about to move on without me Ken. I’ve waited long enough,” she promised as she approached the front desk seeing a man before her. “Excuse me?”

“Yes,” the man looked up to see her standing before him in a flirty, red dress.

“Yes, um I was supposed to deliver this today from Ms. Matthews at the D.A’s office to Chief Warner,” she explained curling a lock of her blonde hair between her finger and her thumb, “but I forgot. Do you think you could take it to him for me?”

“Well of course I could…” the man started watching Susan tease her index finger over the racy neckline of her dress seductively, “It’s not a problem madam.”

“Thanks,” she blew a kiss in his direction handing him the envelope before turning to leave. Suddenly she felt that she was the one in control all over again. She’d find a way to screw Ken in a way he wouldn’t be able to imagine possible and then soon, very soon he’d have no choice but to come crawling back to her. Soon they all would.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I wonder what’s going on in there,” Brant frowned pacing around the hallway as he thought of how upset Avery was after Grady’s lashing out at her. He cleared his throat uneasily, adjusting his tie while his eyes were fixed on the doorway before him. He took a step forward as if to try to make an entrance himself, but instead he returned to the pacing that he’d been engaged in before he’d questioned his thoughts aloud.

“I’m sure everything is okay,” Jade offered up in a weak voice pondering the situation herself.

“You don’t sound all that convinced,” Brant added with a disapproving look, “I really don’t think leaving them alone together was a good idea.”

“This is something they both need to do,” Jade insisted hoping to alleviate some of his concerns as she too wondered just how Grady would respond to being alone with Avery.

“She’s pregnant Jade. Do you have any idea how this kind of stress can effect her,” Brant snapped in response, his own concerns mounting further by the minute, “Look I know you mean well, but right now this is the last thing Avery needs.”

“I realize that and I know you’re right, but…” she stopped herself, “Look, Brant I’d like to believe that Grady will give her the benefit of the doubt there.”

“He wasn’t exactly showing it to her in the courtroom now was he,” he paused letting out a heavy sigh, “Jade I’m not trying to yell at you, but I’m just worried, okay?”

“You care about her a lot, don’t you?” Jade watched him closely.

“Of course I do. She’s my wife,” Brant explained matter of fact. He turned his eyes to her catching note of her expression, “Don’t look so surprised. I’m not a monster you know.”

“I know that,” she replied in a low, solemn tone, “It’s just been a very rough year for all of us and for Grady to see that Avery married you so close to the time Russ…”

“Just stop,” Brant cut her off abruptly, “There’s a whole world of problems that Grady isn’t aware of here. Everything Avery’s done, she’s done with the full intentions of helping him. Just because he can’t see that doesn’t mean that she’s ever stopped to think about what was best for him.”

“I never said that,” Jade began catching the wounded expression on his features.

“Look, whether or not Grady likes it, Avery and I are married and if he’s got a problem with it too damn bad. If he wants to take it out on someone, then he can take his best shot on me, but I won’t sit back and let him treat Avery like a piece of trash because she’s the best thing he’s got working for him right now in this case. I’m not going to just let him sit back and abuse her recklessly,” Brant finished with an emphatic groan before taking a walk down the hallway.

Jade watched his retreat sensing his obvious anger as she looked to the door once again wondering if things were going okay with Grady and Avery. Sure, she had her own concerns about leaving them alone together, but she had to pray that maybe just maybe Grady would push his anger aside long enough to at least hear Avery’s side of things. She could only hope for that much.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Thick, uninviting silence surrounded Grady and Avery as they stood in the conference room facing one another down. Despite Grady’s protests, Jade had given them time to talk to one another without any outside interference as she opted to leave. Grady hadn’t been sure that was such a good idea given that he wanted to murder Avery right about now, but after the seriousness in Jade’s tone, he knew that he had to at least give in to her request. Now as he glared at the woman who’d obviously betrayed his brother, he found himself wishing that he didn’t respect Jade as much as he did as there was nothing he wanted more than to strangle Avery.

“So talk,” he finally spat back at her, “Your five minutes are rapidly diminishing here.”

“Grady, I know you have every right to be angry with me,” Avery started, her voice cracked with emotion, “I deserve that from you.”

“No, you deserve a hell of a lot worse, but I’m only doing this for Jade. My mind is made up about you,” Grady shook his head at her, “And to think that I trusted you--that Russ trusted you and believed in you. Tell me Avery. Was this all a game? Were you just laughing on the sidelines when my brother gave his all to you?”

“No, that’s not how it was,” Avery shook her head at him, “Grady, you know how I feel about Russ…”

“I know how you liked jerking him around,” Grady snarled at her, “that’s something you’ve enjoyed for years.”

“No, Grady, I love him. I love him with all that I am. He was the world to me…” Avery began desperately.

“Liar!” Grady cut her off abruptly, “He never meant anything to you. He was just a pawn that you played until the bitter end. You just thrived on hurting him. Even now, this shows me how little he means to you. You’re nothing but a lying, self-serving opportunistic slut who is looking out for number one. I can’t believe he bought into your fucking drama all this time…”

“I love Russ,” Avery insisted refusing to let his words break her down, “I love him with all that I am.”

“Yeah, I’ll bet you’re loving him good and hard now that you’re married to Ashford, aren’t you?” his words were pure venom cutting her straight to the core. He glared at her, giving her a long once over before he shook his head, “You never change, do you?”

“Grady, you don’t understand,” Avery began again, unable to refrain from her tears, “I didn’t do this to hurt you or Russ.”

“Sure you didn’t,” he sneered in response, “This has been your game all along. You wanted to destroy my family and guess what, you finally succeeded. You did it Avery. You took away everything that ever meant anything. Are you happy now?”

“No, Grady I love Russ. Russ is everything to me and if I could bring him back, lord knows I would. I wanted to have a happily ever after with him. I wanted…” she explained choked up on emotion.

“Spare me your sob story. I don’t even want to hear the lies that fall from your lips. You know I knew a long time ago what your game was and I knew what you were all about, but Russ was so blinded by you and your stories. You played him…you played me and to think I almost bought into it,” he snapped his green eyes narrowing in upon her as he moved forward, “Did you think I was some kind of idiot? That I was some kind of fool that you could just jerk around with Avery?”

“No, that’s not what I thought at all Grady. I want to help you. I want to get you out of here. I want…” she cried harder than before.

“It doesn’t matter anymore because the fact to the matter is that I don’t want you. Do you hear me? I don’t want you in my life or as a part of what happens next? You are nothing to me Avery. Nothing!” he shouted, his rage and contempt for her pouring from his lips, “You can go to hell for all I care.”

“Stop it!” Avery screamed back at him bringing her hands up over her ears to block out his words.

“No, you’re going to hear this,” Grady reached out to wrench her hands away from her ears. He pulled her closer to him roughly, “You’re going to hear every last word of what I have to say to you.”

“No, stop it,” Avery shook her head trying to wiggle out of his hold on her, but his arm only constricted around her.

“I’m not going to stop. Just like you didn’t stop until you destroyed my brother,” he breathed heavily in the back of her neck, his icy words tearing her to shreds in that moment. “You ruined his life with your games Avery. You lied to him about what you felt for him--about the baby and…you never wanted to be what he needed. You never wanted a family with him.”

“No, that’s not true. Grady, I wanted everything with Russ. I wanted our daughter to have the kind of life that I never…” she began to explain herself.

“No, not his daughter. Your daughter Avery because I know you’ve been lying about that too. That baby isn’t my brother’s baby,” he released her abruptly, “Russ isn’t the father of that child.”

“Yes, he is,” Avery regained her composure marching towards him once again.

“No, he’s not. It was just another game of yours and as far as I’m concerned, you and that bastard brat of yours can go away and never come back!” he roared, his voice vibrating with raw hatred as he looked at her, “You’re nothing to me Avery!”

She sobbed harder for a moment before his words finally hit home with her. Suddenly something snapped as she lashed out at him striking him right square across the face.

“You son of a bitch!” Avery shrieked hitting him harder with each passing second, unable to contain herself a moment longer as her hurt consumed her. Grady tried to fend her off, but as her wails grew louder, he felt as if she’d finally snapped. She continued her assault on him, her fists pounding into him as her tears poured over her, “I loved Russ. I loved him with all that I have and that’s why I did what I did? Don’t you see that I only did this to protect my baby? To protect him? To protect you? I only married Brant so that you’d have a fighting chance…so that I could be for you what I wasn’t for Russ. I couldn’t save him, but I’m trying to save you. I’m trying to stop you from losing everything…”

Her words faded off to broken sobs as Grady felt the sting of her attack on him. He opened his mouth to speak wanting so desperately to continue with his verbal lashing, but as she trembled in against him, something inside of him stiffened. He felt her sobs burning into his chest, vibrating against him with each heaving breath she took. He’d pushed her too hard--pushed her too far and in that moment he thought of the dream he’d had of Russ the previous night. Unable to control himself, he curled his arm around her in an attempt to soothe her.

“Avery, calm down,” he whispered at the back of her neck, keeping her to his chest, “Please…”

“No, I won’t calm down. I can’t calm down not when you think the worst of me--not when…” she sobbed harder into his chest making feel as if he’d pushed her past the point of no return.

“Avery, please…try to calm down,” Grady spoke up in a guilty tone, “please…I didn’t mean it. I’m sorry…”

“No, you’re not. You meant every word of it. You really think that I’d be so cold and calculating that I’d just let Russ die. Grady he’s everything to me. He’s the reason I did what I did,” Avery revealed tilting her eyes up to look at him, “Damn it I tried to kill Brooke so that she wouldn’t take away the only thing I have left of Russ.”

Something flashed behind her eyes and as Grady watched her step back shakily, he could see she was still too shaken to make any sense of anything. He reached out to her, feeling her stiffen against his urgings, but ultimately he guided her over to a chair. Once she was seated, he knelt before her, pushing her long, dark hair from her eyes.

“Talk to me Avery,” he began attempting to keep his voice cool and even despite the questions and emotions swirling through his mind. “Tell me how this happened…”

“She tried to kill my baby,” Avery revealed with a shake of her head, “I thought I could hide the truth from you, but I was wrong. Grady, when I did what I did, I was trying to protect my daughter--to save that part of Russ that I still had left. You know how my mother is though…she came at me with some sort of needle and she tried to kill my baby…”

“She what?” Grady blinked back in confusion still trying to deal with his own inner demons.

“She tried to get rid of all that I have to hold onto,” Avery continued to cry, “I had no choice Grady. I had to react. Before I knew it, she was falling from the window and there was nothing I could do. She kept telling me that it was for the best, but I knew that losing the only part of my life that ever mattered wasn’t for the best. My mother might’ve hated Russ, but he was everything to me…”

“I don’t believe this,” Grady paused taking in her words. He wanted to believe it was a con job--that he’d been right, but as he remembered Jade’s warning about Susan, he realized that he’d jumped too quick on this one. He could see how shaken Avery was, but still things didn’t make sense--they didn’t add up, “What about Brant? How does he figure into this?”

“He saw me do it,” Avery confessed in a hoarse whisper, “He walked in when I pushed her from that window. I was so afraid and I didn’t have a choice. I knew that if the police knew the truth, they’d never believe me…they’d never see that I was innocent and given what was going on with you…”

“You did what you could to stop this from destroying you,” Grady realized, shock building behind his features, “You married Brant to save yourself and to save…”

“You,” Avery finished for him, “If Cameron knew what had happened--if anyone knew the truth, then that would be it. I’d be finished and I would’ve been thrown in jail. I couldn’t be here to help you and…”

“And Cameron would win,” Grady realized guilt riding him heavily as he remembered everything he’d said to her, “Oh God, Avery. I’m so sorry. I never meant to…”

“Yes, you did,” she shook her head, wiping at her face in an attempt to rid herself of the tears that had overtaken her, “You meant every word of it and I can’t blame you for thinking it. I should’ve given Russ so much more. I never should’ve lied about my miscarriage and now…”

“Listen to me,” Grady reached out to her cupping her face in his hands, “I’m a jackass--a complete and total jackass and I never, ever should’ve lashed out at you like that. I’m just so stupid and when Susan baited me…”

“I should’ve told you the truth, but I was afraid. I was so afraid that you’d think the worst about me--that you’d believe that I betrayed Russ,” Avery brought her hand up over her stomach, “but Grady, I would never, ever…”

“I know,” he nodded, “Avery, I know how loyal you’ve been to Russ. I know how much it’s hurt you when you two weren’t together…”

“But it doesn’t matter anymore does it,” Avery dropped her head shamefully, “I failed him and now I’ve failed you…”

“No,” he shook his head adamantly, “Avery, you haven’t failed me. You did what you had to in order to survive. You put your life on the line for me…you did what you had to because you wanted me to have a fighting chance…”

“And what’s it going to give us Grady,” Avery questioned painfully, “We both know what we saw in that courtroom today.”

“And we both know what Cameron wanted me to see when Susan gave me that tabloid,” Grady reminded her pointedly, “He wanted me to break you--he wanted me to torture you and hurt you like I believed you’d hurt Russ…”

“I deserve a lot worse than this,” she replied her lower lip trembling at the thought of all she’d lost.

“No, no you don’t,” Grady shook his head dropping his palm down over her abdomen, “and neither does she.”

“Grady I…” she started feeling the soft movement of his fingers over her stomach.

“Avery, I was wrong. I was stupid--moronic and I didn’t mean it. I didn’t mean any of it,” he admitted painfully, his eyes glazed over with emotion as he touched her stomach, “You and my niece were everything to Russ. He wouldn’t want anyone to hurt you like I’ve just done…”

“Grady, you did what your instincts told you to do,” Avery’s fingers pressed in over his, “You believed what you saw…”

“And I saw wrong,” he replied feeling her lace their fingers together, “Susan knew I’d jump all over you.”

“But she didn’t think that you’d listen…that Jade could get you to hear me out,” Avery sighed, feeling a sniffle sweep over her.

“I almost didn’t,” he confessed reaching out to wipe at her tears, “but I’m glad that you kicked my ass.”

She couldn’t help but smile at that remark, “You’re a very twisted man, Grady Denton.”

“Yeah, well you’re a real pain in the ass Avery, but I wouldn’t have it any other way,” Grady confessed grazing her cheekbone with the underside of his thumb when he felt a small movement beneath his other hand. “What in the…”

“It’s her,” Avery replied with a tiny gasp, “All this must’ve got her kicking…”

“That’s what she’s doing,” Grady’s eyes widened in response.

Avery nodded, “I shouldn’t have gotten so upset because it’s not healthy for her. I’m sorry that I lied to you…”

“I’m sorry that I did this to her…” he replied unable to refrain from touching her stomach. His green eyes tipped up towards hers, “I’m sorry that I did this to you…”

“I understand why you did,” she replied taking in a long, slow breath, “You had every right to do what you did given our history.”

“Given our history, I should’ve put more faith in you,” Grady replied turning his attention to her swelled abdomen, “Your daddy would’ve never lashed out at your mommy like this. He’s not anything like your Uncle Grady is, but I swear to you from here on out I’m not going to be such a jerk…”

“The real jerk is Susan,” Avery blurted out with a long breath, “She’s the one who did this…although I should’ve told you the truth sooner…”

“Tell me something,” Grady replied glancing up at her.

“Anything,” she nodded back down at him.

“Do you love Brant?” Grady questioned not sure he wanted the answer. “Is there something going on between you that…”

“There won’t ever be another love like the one I have with your brother,” Avery admitted honestly, “He was everything to me Grady and there’s not a day that passes when I don’t wish like hell that he was still here with me. Without him, it’s like I’m only going through the motions…”

“I know the feeling,” Grady replied moving up to pull her into an embrace as they found themselves weeping together for the one thing that fate had ripped away from the both of them.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“You know what is funny?” Shannon questioned as her and Kyle walked along the sidewalk.

“What is that?” Kyle wondered pressing his hand against his cheek lightly as it burned.

“I think that guy whooped your ass,” Shannon laughed seeing Kyle stop and glare at her.

“That’s not funny,” Kyle growled as she hit him in the side making him groan in pain. “Watch it.”

“Oh come on, how many guys have hurt you like this before?” Shannon questioned seeing Kyle shrug.

“Not many,” Kyle nodded before sighing, “I didn’t want to hurt him after seeing him get that glass in his side.”

“I know you didn’t,” Shannon smiled before laughing, “I still think he could have killed you.”

“Shannon,” Kyle hissed before she stopped him from talking pointing to a building.

“This is it,” she informed him as he looked over at the building raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

“So what is this place?” Kyle questioned looking up at the big building they just came to.

“From what Don said, I think it’s a hospital,” Shannon informed Kyle as he frowned.

“Looks kind of different,” Kyle stated before holding his neck once more in pain.

“Yeah it seems mysterious,” she laughed looking over at him, “If this is a hospital…maybe they could help you out.”

“Very funny,” Kyle laughed sarcastically before rolling his eyes and shaking his head.

“Well, come on,” she sighed as she walked up the path to the front doors.

“For what it is worth, I hope that husband of yours is right,” Kyle coughed before seeing Shannon turn around to face him.

“Me too,” she nodded slowly before frowning, “Me too.”

...to be continued...