E. Jamie

Lies. All lies. Bree was shaking so hard she bit her tongue, but she didn__ even feel the blood in her mouth. Kill her husband and seduce the widow. She thought she__ never felt as angry as when Michael died, but this, oh God, her entire body was a live wire of rage. She was so furious, she was almost numb. So numb that she didn__ even feel herself reaching for the gun she had pulled out of the glove compartment and pocketed. So numb that she didn__ feel herself lift the gun and aim. So numb that she saw nothing, but his eyes, staring back at her in wide eyed surprise and confusion. She felt so numb she didn__ even feel herself pull the trigger.

She met her father in the living room. __'m begging you not to kill him._ Her father scowled at her. __his man is our sworn enemy. He has-_ __ know who he is and I know what he's done. I also know he is Gianni's father, and in our hearts, he is Will's father. Will loves him._ __nd you,_ Jack snorted. She glared at her uncle. __his is not about me._ He was silent, but his disbelief was there in his eyes. Bree turned back to her father. __e did what he did on the order of his father. Even though I despise Bernardo, we all know that family is everything. It doesn't make it forgivable, but it does make it understandable. I'm begging you for Will's sake. Don't make him lose another father._ __he could be pregnant with his child,_ Beth said softly, coming out of the kitchen. Bree gave a start. They hadn't been trying to conceive but it wasn't outside of the realm of possibility. She grabbed on to the lie. __ am._ Her father's mouth fell open and her uncle swore. She met her sister's gaze in gratitude. __hat's right. I found out in Ireland that, yes, I'm pregnant again._ Beth gave her a tiny nod, acknowledging the lie. __on of a_ Her father clenched his fists. __on't leave this baby without a father, Daddy. Please._ John looked from her to her sister. __ntie the son of bitch and toss him on the street.

How could she even think what she__ thinking? Alessandro wondered silently as he watched Brianna glare pure murder at the misguided Gertie smiling up at him. Alessandro cocked an amused eyebrow and gave her a polite smile when he noticed the look on Brianna__ face. Didn__ she know that if it weren__ for all these people, Alessandro would drag her onto the bar and fuck her madly? As it was, his body had maintained its state of semi arousal for most of the morning and into this late afternoon. He was half-tempted to drag her into the nearest closet. And she was jealous. Alessandro wanted to laugh at the ridiculous notion. While he could still appreciate the beauty of young Gertie on an aesthetic level, Brianna really had ruined him for other women. If anything, the fact that she had carried his son in her body, given birth to his child, made his primal need and want of her all that more intense. Alessandro considered himself sophisticated and well-schooled in the ways of women and how to seduce them. With Brianna, he just wanted. Her strength, her heart, her passion, her courage, all coupled with a body that kept him hard as a rock for more time than was surely healthy, created the only woman he would ever love. Ever.

Alessandro! Will!!_ He could hear Brianna__ voice a few seconds before his head came up through to the next floor. Stubborn, bloody woman! he cursed. __h God, Will!_ Bree screamed. __hat happened?_ She rushed towards them, coughing as she grabbed for her son. He shifted his weight to hand him over to her, but the movement sent another bolt of screaming pain from his ankle up to his leg and Alessandro lost his footing, falling back into the basement. Alessandro!_ Bree screamed, and then he heard no more.

Bree arched, trying to stretch out her muscles and Alessandro gave her a dirty look as if she was displaying herself to him on purpose. Well, maybe she was a little. Even though he blocked her from the hotel attendant__ gaze with his body in the doorway, Bree was sure to cover herself with the blanket. Alessandro turned around, pulling in the tray with him and his eyes flared hungrily as he looked down at her. __ou look like a beautiful debauched angel,_ he said, his voice rough with desire. __nd you__e what, the demon that__ corrupted me?_ Bree asked raising an eyebrow and letting the blanket fall down to her waist, baring her to him. __t__ my life__ work, you know?_ Alessandro grinned, going down on to his knees and leaning over her. Bree placed a hand on his chest, halting him. __s that coffee, I smell?_ she asked. __he debauched angel is kind of hungry._ She bit her lip and smiled up at his frustrated face.

My, my, and you accuse the Dardanos of trying to run the world. As you so succinctly put it, you have no desire to be a part of my life, which means you have no say in where I choose to live, sunshine. I, on the other hand, made no such declaration._ __od, I hate you,_ Bree seethed. Alessandro smiled and tapped the end of her nose playfully, resisting the urge to tear her thick coat off of her and take her right against the wall. __ou keep telling yourself that, love. We both know better.

Okay, someone__ been smoking the wacky tobacky. And keep your hands to yourself!_ She smacked at his roving fingers, fighting the shivers following his touch. "I agreed to let you accompany me because, well...maybe you're right. We should try and put the animosity between our families-stop that!" She gripped his fingers and tried to twist them, but he easily pulled out of her grip. Alessandro laughed. __arling, I haven__ laughed in ages like I do when I__ with you. I propose a clean slate, eh?_ He sighed and sat back against the seat. __rianna. I__ not going to give up until you are mine. You could make this so much easier if you just accept the inevitable._ He lifted his hand to cup the side of her face. __e belong to each other, and you know it.

Alessandro burst out laughing and Bree wrapped her arms around his neck. __on__ think about the past anymore. Let__ move forward and let__ be happy._ Alessandro cocked an eyebrow. __s that an order, young lady?_ __es, Sir. From this second on, you__e not allowed to think about how much we hurt each other and how stupid you were-_ __ow stupid I-_ __h!_ Bree pressed her fingers against his lips. __ow stupid we both were._ __nd what would the punishment be for disobeying such an order?_ Alessandro asked, his fingers trailing down her back. __h it would be very bad,_ Bree assured him playfully. __ery?_ Alessandro asked, his eyes lit with amusement. __h yes. Brutal. Vicious even._ __h that does sound terrible,_ Alessandro agreed. __here might even be whips,_ Bree warned. __h dear,_ Alessandro smiled.

Father, perhaps you__e forgotten the fact that when my child was conceived, neither Bree nor I knew who the other person was._ __i, ai, ai_ Alessandro, open your mind, please! It was fate, my boy._ __h, good God, here we go again,_ Arturo threw his hands up. __on__ you have a puppy to go kick?_ Alessandro asked, his brother__ voice grating on his already stretched nerves.

Bree nodded eagerly, anxious to see her friend again. __ooh. I like that idea. Yeah. Let__ stay, Alessandro and then in the morning, we can have wine with our toast! Oh hey, that__ funny, huh. Wine, toast, get it?_ Bree giggled. Oh wow. Her head was feeling really, really fuzzy. __kay, let__ go to bed,_ Alessandro said rising from the couch after he and Kevin finished discussing the plans for the vineyard in the coming year as well as the progress it had made thus far. Bree gasped. __lessandro! We can__ have sex in someone else__ house!_ Alessandro blushed and placed a hand on her back, leading her towards the stairs after wishing Hadley a good night. __t__ my house, darling,_ he reminded her. __h well, that__ okay then, but you can__ be loud though cause that would still be rude,_ Bree said, reaching down and squeezing Alessandro__ ass. Gosh, her hubby had a really nice tight ass. __ere we are,_ he said, leading her into one of the mansion__ many bedrooms. __lessandro, I hass_have_a little confestion to make,_ Bree said leaning her head on his shoulder. __ou do?_ he asked placing her on the bed and bending down to remove her shoes. Bree lay back and stared up at the spinning ceiling. __mhm. I think_I__ ina...Little drunk bit._ __eally?_ Alessandro asked with feigned surprise.

Mmm,_ Bree licked the ice cream scoop and tossed it into the sink. __et__ just say that for the sake of the baby, Alessandro and I have reached a sort of_an...agreement, I guess._ __oes that mean I can__ punch him anymore? __ause that was fun._ __es. It does. Sorry._ __o are you two_ __o. Hell no. Not after him using Rebecca Malford as a scratching post,_ Bree grumbled, her stomach clenching tight at that little reminder. __e__ what? Alessandro and that...viper?_ __hat__ right._ Bree clenched her teeth. __ebecca and Alessandro? Oh my God. Mental bleach! I need mental bleach!_ Meggie rubbed her temples. __eah, keep doing that for another week and you might be where I am right about now._ __h, he__ a smooth one, that__ for sure,_ Meggie said with a sudden smile. __hat__ with that look?_ __ou__e so jealous,_ Bree snorted, turning away from her and taking a seat opposite of Will. __hat__ ridiculous._ __nd so true.

Alex cornered her right before she was going to make an appointment at the nurse__ station to see him. __ree, I__ going to be referring you to Carlo from now on,_ Alex informed her. __ think in light of recent events it would be a conflict of interest for me to continue to be your doctor._ __s that right?_ Bree asked leaning her elbow on the counter and raising an eyebrow. __es, I wouldn__ feel comfortable about it considering what you did to Carrie._ __w, that__ nice,_ Bree smiled sarcastically, staring up at his smug self-righteous face. __ice to know this place has such moral upstanding doctors._ __es, so I will be referring you to him from now on,_ Alex said, clenching his jaw. __reat,_ Bree said, fighting not to roll her eyes. __ave a good afternoon,_ he said curtly and turned to walk away. Don__ do it. Don__ do it, Bree. The evil Bree won though. __ou too, Dr. Home Wrecker._ Alex__ step faltered but he didn__ turn around.

You will never have to worry about safety. Being a Dardano will buy you all the security you__l ever need._ Bree shook her head and threw her hands up. __eing a Dardano will put the bulls eye on my back, you asshole,_ __eally, darling, once you become Mrs. Dardano, we__e going to have to work on cleaning up that saucy mouth of yours. At least in public,_ Alessandro purred, tapping her nose. Bree saw red. But she smiled at him. She took the plate from him and set it down on the vanity table. Then she took the vitamin shake, pulled out the waistband of his pants and poured it down inside.

I like that,_ Bree admitted. __t__ like_it__ never too late to change._ Her eyes met his, and she hoped he understood that she meant it for him as well as for herself. She wanted Alessandro to give in to the good she knew was in him and leave the Dardano family behind. __ forgot about that. I feel rather ashamed of it now. Because of the things I__e done. Then I was looking at this tiny creature here, and you__e going to think I__ mad but_every time I look at him, he looks different to me. He__ the same boy, but something in him is always changing. It__ not a physical thing that I can explain to you, but it___like_I don__ know,_ Alessandro said shrugging and lowering his head. He sat on the bed next to her and stared at the incubator. The baby__ eyes were open, staring back, blinking slowly, sleepily. __ou__e seeing him become a person. Like all the parts of him are coming together and making this tiny person__ soul. He was one person in here,_ Bree pointed to her stomach. __nd now he__ changing on the outside so he can be a part of the world._ __hat__ it,_ Alessandro nodded. __e__ a part of the world now. My world, in a completely different way than when he was inside of you. It__ like having two sons and watching them become one as a slow minute by minute process. He__ never going to stop changing. What he thinks and feels now is not going to be what he thinks and feels tomorrow or fifty years from now._ __t__ the same for you,_ Bree said, closing her fingers over his on the bed. __ don__ want to forget that again, Brianna. I don__ ever want to forget that I can change._ He looked so earnest that Bree couldn__ help bringing his hand to her lips. __hen don__.

He lowered his head and shook it from side to side, giving her a rueful smile. __ find it so ironic that someone I think of as sometimes so brave to the point of stupidity could be so terrified of her own happiness,_ Bree felt the shot hit home, and she couldn__ look at him. She ran her finger along the marble topped of the island. __hat__ ridiculous. Who in their right mind is afraid of being happy?_ __omeone who has lost too much,_ he moved slowly towards her in gentle careful strides as if he was afraid of startling her. Fair enough, she did tend to attack him when he tried to corner her, but for some reason, Bree just couldn__ tonight. The much too relaxing bubble bath must be making her sluggish. __omeone who is so used to being told she caused too much pain to others to ever be worthy of happiness herself,_ Bree closed her eyes. __hut up. Please, Alessandro.

Alessandro shrugged and pushed the blade in, dragging it down the man__ skin, making him cry out. He struck him again with his fist, blood spurting onto Alessandro as well. __id Arturo tell you that the mother of my child was in that limo? She__ carrying my baby inside of her, and that her son was in the limo too? I__ sure he did. I__ sure he left explicit instructions as to who exactly you were supposed to dispose of, didn__ he?_ __e__l kill me. I swear, he__l kill me,_ the man cried, tears mixing in with his blood. __ext, I__l take an eye, you snivelling little shit!_ Alessandro growled, raising his bloody blade to the man__ left eyeball. The unmistakable scent of urine filled the air. Alessandro stepped back in disgust and turned to Jason and his other man, Marty, two of the best Dardano soldiers, loyal and efficient. They took his cue and slipped on their brass knuckles. __ust say the words, ol_ boy, and we__l stop this,_ __uck you,_ the man shouted. Alessandro smirked. __uch defiance for a man who just pissed himself._ He crossed his arms as Marty and Jason went to work. It only took a minute. __ll right. Okay! Stop! Stop! Fine, I__l talk!

Bree stared down at Bernardo__ still form. The monitor was the only sound in the room apart from his deep breathing. Alessandro had gone down to the cafeteria with Will and Gianni to grab something to eat before they left for home. Bree lied and told him that she wanted to check in with Tina and her mother Roxanna for a few minutes before they left. Even unconscious, the son of a bitch was formidable and Bree felt nervous around him. __hy don__ you do everyone a favour and just die already?_ Bree said. No response. Bree sneered and shook her head, turning to leave. __ou could always smother me with a pillow,_ a groggy voice said behind her, making her heart nearly stop. Bree whirled around wide-eyed and met Bernardo__ dark gaze. She forced herself to shrug and crossed her arms. __o you think Alessandro would forgive you for murdering his father?_ Bernardo asked. They both knew the answer to that.

That__ our clue. I know where he is now._ Alessandro said, pulling her away from the dead fish. __ dead fish means_what? The docks?_ Bree asked. Alessandro gave her a small smile. __ou__e as smart as you are exquisite, my darling._ ____ sorry. A crazy man has my son. Could we get a move on now?_ Bree pushed him towards the door. __orgive me, darling. Old habits._ Bree rolled her eyes, but she was grateful for the brief, light moment. It allowed her to regroup and focus, to lift her head from the haze of panic that gripped her thus far.