Ava’s reading through The Spectator’s DiMera article, talking to herself about how much heartache EJ has caused for everyone in town. “But what goes around, comes around.” She notes that there are other ways to get justice than the police and digs Melinda’s gun out of her bag.

She thinks of EJ, points her gun at the tablet with the DiMera article and insists he won’t get away with it this time.

Johnny Learns Something Dangerous from Roman

Johnny’s waiting for Chanel in the Horton Square, checking in on how she’s doing after the adoption fell through. Not good. She’s hoping to get out of town for a bit — maybe drive up to Chicago for the night. Johnny tells her that as lovely as that sounds, he owes Grandpa Roman a visit.

He heads over to the pub to tell Roman about the adoption falling through. Roman’s so sorry for that, and for putting his foot in his mouth about Johnny’s conception. Johnny hates everything about this, including hating his father. Roman tells him that anger may never go away, but hopefully in time Johnny may understand why his mom made the choices he did.

Regardless, there’s a part of Roman that wants to grab his gun and shoot EJ. Johnny’s surprised to hear his grandpa has a gun behind the bar. Of course he does, he just kept it away from the kids. Like what EJ did — which he’s so sorry again for letting spill.

Roman asks Johnny if he’s talked to Sami, but she’s been avoiding him. Johnny tells his grandfather then that when EJ showed up asking for forgiveness, it took everything he had not to stab him with a knife. Just then, Ava rushes out. “I know a woman on a mission when I see one,” Roman notes.

Chanel Confronts EJ

Back home, EJ thinks back to his run-in with a wired Belle, drinking away. Chanel shows up to tear into him about ruining their adoption. EJ sighs, “Let’s get this over with, shall we?” Chanel just wants to know why he ruins people’s lives. He knew they were looking to adopt, and all he had to do was not be a criminal for a few months.

“You are a dangerous man,” Chanel spits at EJ. Amy’s right to be afraid of him being near her grandchild. Well then it’s good Johnny’s cut EJ out of his life, he says. She didn’t know Johnny said EJ was dead to him, but she gets it after what EJ did.

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Maybe Johnny could have even gotten past it if EJ hadn’t partnered back up with the other man who hurt Sami. That shows a pattern and a lack of remorse. Before Chanel storms out, EJ asks if she could at least tell Johnny he loves him. She agrees, despite it being the last thing he wants to hear.

Brady Comforts Belle

Belle gets home, rips the wire off and takes a breath. Brady fills her in on John news after talking with Marlena. Belle’s not in the best headspace to hope for the best, and Brady notices the wire and asks what’s up. She failed in getting a confession from EJ.

Brady’s impressed with how brave Belle was as she lays out what happened — including EJ claiming she’ll never get him out of her system. Worse? She thinks he’s right.

Brady talks her through it, saying he gets it. He was an addict, with Kristen, too. But he kicked the habit and moved on. And so can Belle. She notes he moved on with Ava, but he corrects her saying they broke up.

It was a long time coming, Brady shrugs sadly, then turns in for bed. Belle checks in with Jada to let her know she failed.

JJ Tries Comforting Shawn

JJ gets the news that Belle fails and lets Shawn know — but his partner’s distracted by thoughts of Jada, instead of his ex-wife and EJ. She decided to tell Rafe before the truth came out. JJ reassures his partner neither of them did anything wrong.

Shawn’s worried about how Rafe is going to take it, so JJ offers to feel things out when he sees Gabi.

Gabi Tries Talking Sense Into Rafe

Rafe tells Jada he needs space and he’s heading home without her. She asks is he’s asking her to move out, but he just tells her they need space, and leaves, despite her cries for him to stay and work this out.

He gets home where Gabi’s working at the table. She thought he’d be out late with Jada, and Rafe tells his sister she’s not coming home. “Jada cheated on me.” Gabi’s shocked, especially since Rafe and Jada have seemed so happy since he came back. It happened before he got back, he says.

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“Oh,” Gabi shrugged. Those circumstances are different than cheating. What’s the problem? Rafe’s ticked she didn’t tell him right away, and even more upset that she didn’t know something was wrong with him. Gabi goes to bat for Jada, saying she saw how much Arnold devastated her.

But none of them knew he was switched, they just knew something was off. And that includes Gabi, despite knowing him her entire life. “What’s my excuse?” The only person to blame for this is EJ DiMera.

Gabi loses her cool. EJ ruined both their lives “and I could kill him for it.” Rafe calmly tells her she can’t go around saying that. She shouldn’t risk her freedom by even saying that — and they know she’d never do it for real, anyway. “You sure about that?” She thinks back to pulling a gun on EJ.

Jada Confides In Paulina

Jada heads over to Paulina’s, hoping to talk. The mayor’s happy to, especially since she’s on her own tonight, with Abe visiting Lani and Johnny and Chanel out mourning how EJ ruined their adoption chances. That man destroys everything.

Jada then tells Paulina that she slept with “Detective Brady.” Paulina notes they slept together after getting fired and before getting reinstated, so there’s no issue. And she’ll handle it if this gets leaked to the press. But she can tell there’s something more, so Jada tells Paulina about Rafe’s reaction.

“That’s ridiculous!” Jada thinks she should have figured this out sooner, though — as a detective and someone who loves Rafe. Paulina stops her cold, insisting they both know who’s to blame: EJ.

Jada refuses to shift the blame, but Paulina insists every horrible thing in the town the last few weeks has been because of EJ. He’ll pay someday — “If not in this world, the next.” Jada then gets Belle’s text saying she failed.

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Paulina admits she doesn’t think EJ will pay anymore. “Not unless someone makes him pay. And they would be doing the world a favor if they just took care of him once and for all.” Jada nods knowingly.

In the Show’s Final Moments

JJ knocks on the Hernandez door, but it’s dark inside. No Gabi or Rafe. Shawn texts Jada to see if she’s OK. “No,” she says to herself. “I am far from OK.” She grabs her gun.

Chanel gets home to find her mom asleep on the couch with a book. She wakes her mom, hoping Johnny was home, but no luck so far. She hopes nothing’s wrong. Roman gets a call, and when he goes to take it, Johnny heads behind the bar, unlocks the gun box and takes the weapon out.

Outside, Ava pulls her own gun out of her bag and looks around.

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We see “Some time later…” and get back to EJ, talking to Stefano and throwing back some drinks. “I am my father’s son. You were always one step ahead. And so am I.” He sits, laughs, raises his glass and notes, “I win.” Then he looks offscreen. “What are you doing?”