ETHAN VAN RUSSELL-A Storm is Brewing

Something was not right in the atmosphere. He always had a sixth sense about these things. Just a creepy feeling.

He felt off his game. He was losing focus on the Scoville deal that his brother had given back to him. He was losing interest in his women, especially Anita. She was beyond a nuisance. He was getting close to letting her go.

Even Simona was not doing it for him anymore. He spent more time at home. He did not spend more time with his kids, though they were constantly wanting his attention.

He waited for the storm to hit.

And then it did with one phone call.

"Hello."

"Ethan, this is Antonio Jackson."

Ethan smirked at the phone. He was waiting for this call. Wrong Jackson he thought would call, but this would do.

"Tonio, old buddy, old pal, what's the honor of this call? As if he did not already know.

"We can put all personal issues aside and talk business."

"But of course."

"You recently acquired some properties that we were interested in."

"Scoville."

"Exactly. Now, seems as if you guys are not giving it the attention it needs. Maybe we can work something out."

"Like?"

"A buyout."

"Oh no! We're not interested." But yes, he was.

"Look, we can meet and go over the numbers, but you know we would handle these properties a lot better than you have. It's in our market. It's what we do! You can't make every strip mall into a Van Russells department store. Stop kidding yourself."

"Still the cocky mother fucker you always were."

"Not any more than you."

"Look, here's what I'll do. You can come work for me and handle the properties, how's that?"

Antonio laughed.

"You're a comedian now? When you're ready to talk real legit business, el mano el mano, bring it."

"I see that whore Sasha is rubbing off on you."

"The fuck you say about my wife?"

"Remember, she was my wife first. She was a whore then, she's a whore now. But I thought you were smart enough to figure that out on your own."

"Don't you ever let me see your ass out, I'll kill you for disrespecting me and my wife!"

She's not worth it, Ethan thought.

"Shame dear old friend, what a shame."

Antonio hung up the phone.

He did feel some sort of pity for Antonio. They were, after all, best friends growing up.

ANTONIO JACKSON-Out for Blood

Antonio stormed into his sister's office.

"Baby sis, you were right."

"Always am," she said, not even looking up from her computer.

"We can't do business with the Van Russells."

"Correct."

"I just got off the phone with that punk Ethan."

Now he had her attention. She turned to him and frowned.

"Ethan? Why were you talking to him?"

"To get him to sell to us. But the bastard disrespected my family, me, even Sasha. I got the right mind to go over there and deal with him," he said as he swung his fist in the air. The ex-boxer, in a rage.

"Tonio!" Donna stood and spoke to him in a calming manner. "He's not worth it."

Antonio relaxed a bit and unballed his fists. "I know. I'm cool. He's just a cocky, arrogant bastard."

Donna nodded then chuckled. "True."

"I want Sasha and me to fight for custody of Chrissy and Ejay. She never gave any fight, just gave up to that bastard. Maybe if she had them she would stop pressuring me about having a baby."

"Oh, I doubt that," Donna replied. "Sit bro."

She went to her minibar and poured him a shot of tequila. She poured herself some peach Ciroc. She set the drink in front of him and sat beside him.

Antonio drank it all in one swig and reached for the bottle.

"Sasha loves me, right?"

"What did that bastard say to you?"

"I love Sasha so much, I just want to make her happy."

"You do."

"She wants a baby. I don't want another kid. But...but maybe just to keep her happy."

Donna hugged her brother. He was in pain. All because of that evil seed Ethan.

TONY JACKSON-Time to Fess Up

He felt the best way to deal with his issue was to tell someone. Anyone. Not his homie Xavier because it meant nothing to him. But Chrissy could understand.

She was coming over to study anyway, he was going to tell her about Elayne.

"It's still crazy at my house, thanks for inviting me over," Chrissy said as they sat on the living room sofa.

They spread their work across the table. He brought out cups of juice and a bowl of chips. They were doing more talking than studying.

"Sorry, wish I could make it all better."

"You have. Just by asking me over here," she said with a smile at him.

"Good. Because I feel like we can talk about anything. You feel the same way, right?"

"Sure."

"There's something I need to tell you."

"Uh-oh, spill the beans."

"I'm seeing someone."

Chrissy simply blinked at him.

"We've been seeing each other for a while actually, we just couldn't tell anyone."

"Oh."

"I care for her, so I want to do things right."

Chrissy crossed her arms across her chest.

"It's Elayne."

"What?"

"I know I should have told you. We should have told you. I mean, she's your cousin and best friend. And I think I can call you one of my best friends, so-"

"No! No! No! You can't be with her because I'm in love with you."

"Huh?"

"You're so dense Tony! I've been trying to get your attention for the past year. Should have known you'd fall for my pretty little, wild child cousin. Maybe if I dance naked...."

Chrissy started to gather her things, sniffing and brushing away tears.

"No Chrissy, wait."

"You're not my friend Tony," she said, between sniffles. "How could you do this to me?"

"Chrissy, I'm...I'm sorry. Look at me."

He grabbed her shoulder, but she would not look at him.

"I do find you attractive, but I can't help how I feel about Elayne, I'm sorry."

Just then, Chrissy reached up to him and kissed him. A full-on, sensuous kiss. It felt weird.

"What the hell!"

His mother had walked in and dropped her purse and laptop bag.

"Mom!"

"Oh my God," his mother gasped, hand over her mouth, tears in her eyes. "Stop! She's your sister!"

DONNA JACKSON-Cat is Out of the Bag

The world stopped spinning. The earth stood still. Seeing her son kissing his half-sister froze her blood. It was all her fault.

"Mom, what did you just say?"

"Tony, what is she talking about. I don't understand," Chrissy said.

But Donna could not say a thing.

"Mom! What the hell do you mean, she's my sister? Mom, please explain."

"Tell me!" Chrissy pleaded, near tears.

"Mom!"

"Tony, I'm sorry, I..."

"Mom, please."

"Ethan's your father."

"Oh God," Chrissy said, bent over, and threw up on the floor.

"Chrissy," Tony said, already protective over her. He kneeled and held her hair back from her face.

Donna watched in shock still. Tony would hate her. Chrissy would go tell her mother, or worse, her father.

"Chrissy, I'm so sorry," Donna said. "I never planned on telling anyone. And I knew seeing you two grow close was dangerous. Sasha's my best friend."

"How could you do this? Are you insane? What kind of mother are you? Oh my God! My dad? Does he know?"

"No! No, please don't tell him. I can't, not now. Please!" Donna said, going to Chrissy. "Sweetheart, no one else has to know. I just couldn't see you and Tony--"

"Ugh! Mom, this is sick. I can't believe you. Fuck it, Chrissy is right, what kind of mom are you? Come on Chris, I'll take you home."

"No, don't leave, let's talk about this."

"Like you've tried to do the past eighteen years? No! You've just lied to me."

"Tony, if you don't mind, I need some air, I can't...I can't be near you right now," Chrissy said. "I have to get out of here."

Chrissy ran for the door and out of the house. Tony glared at her.

"Tony baby, I love you so much, I only wanted to protect you."

"By keeping me away from my father?"

"He's not good enough for you! He's not much of a father to Chrissy or Ejay, you're better off without him."

"I didn't get that option. Neither did he. I hate you," Tony said and stormed out of the house.

"No! Tony, come back. We need to talk about this," Donna yelled out to him.

Tony got into his car and sped away. She cried and fell to the floor. Her son hated her. Chrissy hated her. Her brothers would hate her once they finally knew. And worse, she would have to face Ethan and feel his hatred.

Hey readers!

I feel like every part of this story has lead to this point. Now what? How was this secret kept hidden for so many years? What do you think happened with Ethan and Donna?

Learn more about the cast of characters so far.

XOXO
Kimberly