The Fourth Catch

Chapter 25: What Goes Around Comes Around

Clarissa. "What the hell are you doing here?" Brian asked in a gruff voice. Letting her know she wasn't welcomed. Anthony had just asked himself that question shortly before he heard Brian speak it out loud. Anthony scowled at the man. They had enough trouble as is tonight. Anthony didn't want anymore. "It isn't worth it." He whispered into the man's ear so Clarissa couldn't hear. "Let's get out of here." He started pulling Brian along down the street. "Oh come on now. Is that any way to treat someone who helped bail you out?"

Anthony stopped dead in his tracks. Brian gritted his teeth as he felt Anthony's hand grip tightly around his arm. He could see Anthony doing his best to keep calm and collected. Anthony turned his head towards Clarissa's direction as he let go of Brian's arm. "What do you mean? Nobody bailed us out. We were let go." He said in a cool tone.

Clarissa laughed. "Well duh. Of course he would tell you that silly. I paid him a generous amount to keep it a secret." Anthony could feel his breathing quicken as Clarissa continued explaining. "Charley wouldn't do that." "Well. I can be very persuasive. As you know." Clarissa winked at Anthony. "Not to mention, cash was involved. Besides, I may have told a little white lie that I was trying to help bring you both closer together. I'm honestly surprised you haven't figured it all out yet." Anthony stared at her in silence. As he thought about it more, his breathing became heavier. Hands clenched in fists. Elias mentioned something about having friends on the outside who could take care of Melanie. "You planned all of this? You called the cops from the beginning? Had those two men placed in the same cell as us? Charley said he had the original papers in the beginning. What did you do with them?" Anthony asked.

Clarissa smirked as Anthony began figuring all of it out. "I have my ways Tony.." Anthony glared at her. "Don't call me that." He said in a cold tone. "Do you realize what could've happened tonight while you were plotting this little scheme of yours?" Anthony growled. Clarissa lifted her finger. "First off. That technically wasn't how it all was supposed to go down. I was trying to help."

Brian sighed. "Anthony lets just go. Like you said, she's not worth it." Anthony stole a glance at Brian. Crossing his arms across his chest. "Hold up.." He said before turning his attention back towards Clarissa. "I'm very interested exactly what Clarissa had in mind. Start explaining.. I'll give you five minutes." Anthony ordered.

Clarissa rolled her eyes. "Are you always so tense like this? Besides, I told you, I really was trying to help. And this is how you thank me?" She shook her head. "Unbelievable." She was mostly muttering to herself now. She was stalling. Anthony gritted his teeth. "Spit it out Clarissa!" "Fine fine.. You're so impatient." Clarissa looked over at Brian. "I sure hope he isn't this way with your daughter. Hopefully he respects her more than he's respected me" Brian glowered at Clarissa but didn't say anything. He knew she was trying to piss the both of them off. This time, Brian wasn't buying into her game. Unfortunately, he wasn't sure he could stop Anthony this time. He certainly had his limits for the night.

"Elias and Theo are two of my closest friends. I met them a couple of months ago at some night club." "Of course you did." Anthony commented. Which received a glare from Clarissa. "I explained a little of what was going on. They were thrilled to help out." She grinned. "My original intent was. Help make you look like the hero. Show your buddy here you've changed. You're one of the good guys." Clarissa explained. Anthony raised his eye but allowed for her to continue. "I paid Theo and Elias. All they were supposed to do was start a simple fight. I told them do what it took to rile him up." She pointed at Brian. "Hoping it would anger him enough. Then I figured with you seeing him in trouble. You would jump at the chance for saving him. After all. He's Melanie's father. And she would hate your guts if anything happened to him in your presence. So you'd have no choice but rescue him. I figured with the fight breaking out, you'd jump at the chance in being a hero, make yourself look like the good guy. Take the opportunity of showing him you've changed. And with you saving him. He would've seen you aren't all that bad of a guy. That you after all, were good for his daughter. Then you'd all kiss and make up. Live happily ever after, and blah blah blah.." Clarissa finished.

Anthony laughed. "Do you think I believe you?" He asked. "Charley wouldn't do that." "Wouldn't he?" Clarissa shot back. "You can believe me or not. But it's the truth. There was just a slight misunderstanding." "You and I have a very different definition of slight misunderstanding." Anthony retorted. Suddenly Anthony felt someone grab a hold of his arm. He ignored for now as he knew it was Brian. Catching his attention and letting him know they should be going before any more trouble could be caused. Anthony reached out of Brian's grasp and stepped closer towards Clarissa. Staring her straight in the eye. "You come after me or my fiancé. My family again. You will regret it." Anthony warned in a low tone so just them three could hear. "You won't like the outcome if you threaten my family again.." "Is that a threat Clark?" Clarissa asked in a teasing tone. She thought all of this was a game. "Yes.." Was all Anthony said before he and Brian turned around, heading back towards his apartment and Melanie.