Grace toys with her dessert, her appetite having vanished some hours earlier with the news that two of Stefano's children are dead. She has never met any of Stefano's children, but she feels his loss nonetheless.
"Grace," Stefano's growl rouses her from her contemplation of the gateaux. He hands her a brandy and she drops the spoon with a clang against the delicate china. He smiles, his earlier anger dissipated by the shroud of time. He will never forget his children but he must move on. And with Grace by his side, he knows he can finally do that.
She holds out her empty hand and he takes it, helping her from her chair. In a smooth movement, he runs thick fingers over her soft skin. With a shiver, Grace realizes this is the first time he has touched her tonight. In fact it is the first time he has *really* touched her since she came back to him.
He moves his hand along her arm and he rounds behind her, his fingertips tracing the fine bones of her shoulder. Grace smiles victoriously as she feels his warm breath against the nape of her neck and then she feels his body, taut against hers.
"Grace." It is little more than a moan. The exhalation that follows stirs the golden locks that linger against her neck, eluding the clips that restrain the luxurious golden mass against her head. She feels a thrill as his hand circles her wrist and then moves the length of her arm. "*Grace. * Tell me that you will help me."
She doesn't move for a long moment. And then she twists against him so that he is looking directly into her amber eyes. Her smile is so sensual that Stefano feels himself tremble.
"Of course I'll help you."
~
"John?" Bo's voice approaches from the darkness and John feels his stomach turn with misery and fear. "John, what the hell are you doing down here?"
John can't answer, but Bo knows he has heard because he sees the telltale twitch of that familiar muscle in John's jaw. Bo is on a mission of his own to find answers and like John, he has come to seek for them on a rickety old pier, overlooking the river.
But, as with John, he has found none. Hope is still pregnant with a child that is not his. And there is no answer for that. It simply *is* and he has to deal with it.
"Hey buddy." Bo scoots his butt onto the makeshift seat next to his friend. His once-brother. He has trusted this man with his life so many times. He wonders if John can trust him with his demons now. "Wanna talk about it?"
"No." John buries the two-day old growth on his chin in his hands. What can he say to Bo? My wife threw me out for screwing your fiancé, Bo. Sorry buddy.
He can't even imagine the reaction if Bo finds out it was John, his trusted friend, who fathered the bastard child Hope is carrying. He can't imagine how any of the Brady's will look at him. Another Brady marriage down the tubes, thanks to John Black, number one jerk.
What a prize fucking asshole I am. Jesus, what the hell am I going to do? What am I going to do without her....?
Bo puts his hand on John's arm sympathetically. "John, bro, it can't be that bad surely."
"Bo, just leave me alone, okay?" John snarls angrily. He looks like a wounded animal and Bo shrinks back instinctively.
"Sure, okay." He nods and stands up, jamming his hands into the pockets of his jacket as he does so. He knows John well enough not to push him. But still.... "If you wanna talk bro..." he shrugs. "You know where."
"Sure." John nods, clamping his bleary eyes closed. He can't deal with Bo's sympathy right now. Especially since he in no way deserves it. "Thanks Bo."
Bo nods and moves off towards the stairs. When John is sure he is gone, he opens his eyes and stares out across the river.
He needs her like he needs to breathe, but what is terrifying him is that he can no longer feel her.
He's lost her. Maybe this time, for good.
~
"There is something else you need to know." Stefano sits close to Grace on the sofa and hands her a manila folder. She opens it to find the face of Roman Brady staring back at her.
She turns to Stefano with a quizzical expression. "I'm not sure I understand."
"You know him." He purses his lips as he watches her golden eyes study the photograph.
"But I thought-"
"No, no, no, no." He shakes his head. "No-one knows the location of the *real* Roman Brady. No," he points at the picture, "this one is a remarkably good imposter."
"And I know him?" she repeats slowly.
Yes... the eyes. There's something about those eyes...
"Lamont." Icy fingers of hatred chill her blood. "What the *hell*-?"
"He's a good man." Stefano is defensive. He knows what's coming.
"You didn't think he was a 'good man' when you just about had him executed did you?" she demands furiously. "What the *hell* did you think you were doing putting him anywhere *near* me, you bastard!?"
"It wasn't you Grace," Stefano returns calmly, "it was Marlena."
"It was my *body* Stefano," Grace spits back in pure rage. "And you and I both know that was what he was after."
"Grace," Stefano lays his hand on her knee, but she slaps it away.
"Don't patronize me you double-talking asshole." Grace springs from the couch and stalks across the room. "In case you've forgotten, that fucker tried to *rape* me."
"Grace, that was *years* ago," Stefano returns with an easy smile on his face. "Anyway, he thinks he is Roman Brady. He would *never* do anything to hurt his beloved Marlena. And besides," he grins gleefully, "if *you* remember, *you* were the one that begged for his life."
Grace's eyes would impale Stefano if they could.
Lamont had been her bodyguard when she was first at Stefano's compound. But he had done more than guard her body. He had coveted it, and one day when they had been alone, he had tried to seduce her.
When she had resisted his advances, he had become more vicious in his methods. It was only Stefano's intervention that had saved her from being brutally violated and she had never forgotten that feeling of helplessness and terror. It had been then that she had vowed never to feel that vulnerable again. Still, she had irrationally intervened with Stefano for the man's life.
Grace has no such moral qualms now. "I was weak and foolish then. But not a day goes by, Stefano, when I don't regret that decision."
"Well," Stefano's eyes twinkle obscenely, "maybe now it is your chance to right that wrong, my dear." He leans back and crosses his leg atop the other. "Lamont is 'extraneous' to requirement now. What better way to start the Brady's on their road to destruction, do you think, than to tear their heart out?"
His laughter is silent and he sees Grace's eyes come alive. "Yes my dear," he nods. "He's all yours."
Grace smiles and moves to the sofa. She sinks to the seat next to Stefano and leans into him, her bosom rising and falling with short, aroused breaths. "How soon?" she asks.
"Whenever you want my dear," Stefano hands her the equivalent of a reward. "Just remember that the Brady's think he is Roman. It would be useful if they were not disabused of that notion."
"They won't learn the truth from me," she smiles, baring perfect white teeth and for a moment, Stefano is reminded of a golden lioness stalking her prey.
"Don't let me down Grace," Stefano warns, so close to her that his nostrils are filled with her scent. He can hardly concentrate and he has to close his eyes for a moment to regain his balance.
At that moment, he feels her soft, velvet lips on his and her tongue enters his mouth. And then, just as quickly as it begins, it is gone and he opens his eyes, panting for breath.
Grace smiles naughtily and winks at him before she rises.
"I really must get going. I've a full day ahead of me tomorrow." She knows she has him completely off-balance and she thinks it serves him right. After what he just pulled on her? "Don't bother seeing me out Stefano, I think I can find my own way."
She gathers up the dossier and turns for the door.
"Grace." It is a distinct command and she contemplates ignoring it, but only for a moment. With an air of contrived innocence, she turns around.
"Call me when you have some news," he instructs her, trying hard to hide his admiring frustration. "*Any* news."
"Oh I will," she nods, excitement barely concealed in her lithe body. "Who else am I going to share my triumphs with?"
"Be careful, Grace," Stefano warns. "The Brady's aren't stupid. Neither is John Black. Watch yourself around them if you want to succeed."
"Don't worry Stefano," she shrugs the folders further into her arms. "When I'm finished with them, the Brady's won't even know what hit them. And by the time they figure it out, we'll be on our way to Europe."