An intense emotion flashed across Connie’s blue orbs for a split second before she replaced it with a blank stare. She shrugged her shoulders and shook her head. "I don't know anything about that man; I'm sorry,” she said. Jason cocked a brow in response to Connie’s feigned ignorance. “Really?”“Yes, so is there any other way that I can repay you?” she urgedJason rolled his eyes. “There’s no need to lie, Connie; I know you know who Shadow is. He needs your help.”Connie scoffed “Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful for your help with that scumbag Gabriel,” her face twisted with anger at the mention of his name. “But you can’t force me to tell you things about a person that I don’t know, then claim that I know him without having any proof.” Her tone was resolute and firm. Without saying a word, Jason quickly reached into the front pocket of his jeans. He pulled out a small photograph and showed it to Connie. The photograph depicted Connie with a small smile on her face. Shadow stoo
Jason finally spoke after hearing everything that Connie had to say. “How did the Consortium find all of this out, if I may ask?”“Do you not believe me?” Connie cocked an eyebrow.“Don't be offended, Connie, but this is a serious accusation; I just want to confirm that it's true," Jason said calmly Connie scoffed. “Of course it's true. The boss didn't even want to believe it till he found proof to back it up.”“What proof?” Jason urged “Photos, one of our-” Connie paused immediately as if she were being controlled by a remote. “I've said too much. Listen, whether you believe me or not, that's what happened. I suppose you're doing some sort of business with him, so you're trying to find out if he's trustworthy.”“That's not exactly the case,” Jason stated. He knew that he already had Connie where he wanted her. She was a high-ranking member, yet she was talking to him about the Consortium. All he had to do was get her to tell him how those photos came about so he could confirm if hi
"Connie,” Shadow said, his voice barely above a whisper. He had been standing in front of the car, waiting for Jason to return.“Cole!” Connie exclaimed, and before she knew it, she was embracing him tightly. “Cole I'm so sorry for everything you had to go through. We-” Connie’s words came out so far that he could barely make out what she was saying.“Connie, relax; it's fine. There will be time for apologies later, but for now, we need to find a way to get my daughter back tonight," Shadow said.Connie let go of him and imported himself, dusting invisible specs of dust off of her shirt. “Sorry, you're right. Are you two absolutely sure that Dmitri has Aurora?” she asked.“Yes,” Shadow answered, then he explained everything that happened to Connie, from the day that he was sent to deliver the guns and drugs until a few moments ago, when he and Jason nearly got arrested.In turn, Connie explained how the Consortium thought that Shadow betrayed them.Shadow was dumbstruck when he heard
“The job is done,” Shadow said into his phone speaker. “The District Attorney agreed to release Connie tonight.” Jason and Connie stood at either side of him, anxiously awaiting Dmitri’s reply.“Yes, yes, Wallace told me, good job, Cole; you're not so useless after all,” Dmitri’s mocking tone emanated through the phone speaker."Dmitri, I did what you asked; now I want my daughter,” Shadow sneered."Well, okay, then, I'll rally some of the Consortium’s finest men to get her back from Black Lotus tomorrow,” Dmitri said.Shadow’s face turned red with rage. “Stop playing games, Dmitri; I know you have her; I want my daughter back tonight.” The sound of Dmitri’s hands clapping together suddenly became audible. “Bravo Cole, for once you put the pieces together, Meet me at the warehouse, and I'll bring her to you.” Dmitris paused dramatically. “And come with your friend, Jasper?”“Jason” Shadow corrected“Yes, come with Jason. Just the two of you. No funny business, my friend,” Dmitri said
“Surprised to see me, Dmitri?” Dario asked as he picked up Dmitri’s gun, which had fallen to the ground due to his shock.“You’re supposed to be out of the country on your business trip,” Dmitri said, still stunned.“So because I wasn't around, you thought you could play leader?” Dario cocked his brow. “And since when are you the one to tell me where I’m supposed to be?” Dmitri stammered, “I'm not, not at all." His usual domineering presence crumbled completely in Dario’s midst.“Exactly. Especially not after what you just admitted.” Dario snarled. “You set up a member of the Consortium out of petty jealousy. Then you kidnapped his daughter and tried to kill him and his friend. This isn't how we operate!” Dario exclaimed, “You don't think; you just operate off of your emotions! That's why I could never make you my right hand, man." Dario said his tone was dripping with disdain.Dmitri’s face was flushed, and he tried to open his mouth to speak, but it was as if it were sealed shut. H
As Jason stood in front of Dario, the weight of his question hung heavy in the air. Dario was shocked by the question but he swiftly masked his surprise by offering Jason a tight-lipped smile “Hmmm Abigail” he pressed his finger on his temple as if he was actively trying to retrieve information from his brain “Nope that name doesn't ring a bell”“That's strange because I'm positive that this is you,” Jason said. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the photograph that was in the envelope that Reuben had given to him earlier.After unfolding the photo he lifted it up so that Radio could see it clearly. It was a photo of Dario placing a bouquet of flowers on a grave. The name on the tombstone was very clear: ABIGAIL HAYES GREY. Jason’s mother.The aloof facade that Dario was trying to maintain fell apart completely once he saw the photo. His eyes widened and his voice came out in a low tone “How'd you get that?”“Answer my questions first and I'll answer yours,” Jason said, his ton
Exhausted from the night’s events, Jason plopped down on the couch as soon as he got to his apartment. He couldn't stop thinking about what Dario had told him about his memories being blocked because of trauma.What could've been so traumatic that almost all my childhood memories were blocked? The question was on repeat in Jason’s mind. Try as he might, he couldn't find an answer.It wasn't until he heard his ringtone that he was drawn out of his thoughts and brought back to reality. He checked the caller ID and saw that it was Diana who was calling him. He deliberated for a few seconds but eventually answered.“Hello?” Jason said as he sat up.“Hi Jason, I'm not going to take too much of your time. You forgot one of your boxes at my place. Please come over tomorrow and pick it up,” Diana said curtly.Jason furrowed his brow in confusion. He thought that he had taken all the boxes with him. "Sure, I'll be there tomorrow morning,” Jason said before he hung up.“Tomorrow is going to be
As Jason reaches the tall gates of the Sinclair mansion, he can't shake the feeling of bitter nostalgia that looms over him.He greeted the security men, who let him through the gates. As he headed to the front door, he looked around and realized that all the cars were parked outside, which meant everyone was home.“Great, that's exactly what I want,” he said to himself, his tone dripping with sarcasm.Jason knocked on the door three times before he was finally let in by one of the housekeepers. All of the Sinclairs were sitting in the living room, except for Diana and Stefan. They were all cheery, and their laughter filled the air.However, once they noticed Jason standing by the door, it was as if the joy was sucked out of the room. Jason internally prepared himself for the unpleasant interactions that he was about to have.Andrew was the first one to say, “I thought that we'd gotten rid of this trash already.” “Don't tell me he and Diana got back together,“ Annette said in horror.