Life After Dark: Book Two of the Dark Series

Chapter 69

[AUTHOR'S NOTE: Timeline-wise, this chapter begins before Chapter 68. Toward the end, the storyline catches up.]

"Are you sure it'll work?" Tommy asked, disbelief clouding his green eyes, as he watched Lucky warily.

"Sure, I'm sure!" Lucky replied. "Trust me. It'll work like a charm. You'll know within seconds."

"I don't know," Tommy said, rising from his seated position on the bed. "Gina's pretty smart. She'll see straight through it."

"It doesn't matter how smart a person is when it comes to emotions. If she feels the same about you, you'll know."

"And if she doesn't?" he asked, turning around to face Lucky.

"Well, you'll know that, too," Lucky said with a good-natured grin.

"Yeah. That's what I'm afraid of," Tommy mumbled under his breath.

Lucky heard him and was about to respond with reassuring words when they were interrupted by the sound of jangling keys and heavy footsteps.

"Look alive, guys. I've got your walking papers," Marcus said, unlocking the cell door.

"We're out of here?" Lucky asked.

"For the time being. You have to go back upstairs, fill out some paperwork and then you're free to go. But as I told the others, don't leave Port Charles," Marcus said in all seriousness.

"What others?" Lucky asked, suspiciously.

"Who cares!" Tommy said, brushing past Marcus to wait for Lucky in the hallway. "Come on. Let's get out of here."

"I care!" Lucky replied, grudgingly as he followed his friend.

"Well, you'll find out soon enough," Marcus said. "Funny thing is, I was surprised to see that you had such caring friends. Tommy, sure, but you? I never would have thunk it."

Lucky kept his typical sarcastic comment to himself and merely rolled his eyes in reply. Marcus laughed softly to himself and moving ahead of the two young men, led them out of the cellblock.

~*~

"I wonder what's taking so long," Elizabeth said, as she began to pace in the small waiting area.

"He hasn't been gone for long," Gina said from her seat on the hard bench. Her hazel eyes were tired with strain and worry, as her hands clenched her purse in her lap. Trying to calm herself in preparation for Tommy's reaction at seeing her had proven to be futile. Instead, she had chosen to just ride it out. Tommy would be angry at first, but he'd get over it, she told herself. Um...sure.

Lizzie ended her pacing to move closer to Carrie. With a warm smile, she told her, "Mrs. Jensen, thank you so much for helping Lucky. He may not show his appreciation at first, but deep down, he'll be thankful."

Carrie chuckled softly as she said, "You don't have to sugarcoat it, Elizabeth. I know Lucky won't be too pleased after we have our little talk, but I'm prepared for it. You don't have to apologize for him. I know him, and I can handle him."

Lizzie frowned and then, nodded her head. Mrs. Jensen and Dawn seemed to be similar in many ways. Maybe she could handle Lucky. We will find out soon enough, she thought.

Carrie smiled as she watched Lizzie walk away and resume her pacing. Ah, the joy and pain of young love, she thought with a small chuckle.

"Carrie," Stefan said her name softly.

Stefan's quiet voice interrupted her thoughts and she turned away from Lizzie to look him squarely in the eye. "Yes?"

"Are you certain about your decision regarding the Spencer boy? I believe Miss Webber may be correct in her assumption regarding his reaction. I've had the rare fortune, or perhaps misfortune, to speak with him when he's-"