If Only…
Chapter 1
"I told you not to contact me in public"
Carly halted in her tracks, hearing Hannah's panic-stricken voice. She quickly hid in the shadows, keeping her eyes on the other woman. She couldn't make out whom her partner was but she would bet it was the infamous Professor Bradburn.
"Let's talk somewhere else"
Carly watched as Hannah was pulled away towards the docks. Hannah looked behind her quickly making sure no one saw her. Carly ducked deeper into the shadows a muttered curse escaping her lips. She hoped to God Hannah hadn't seen her. She waited until their footsteps were faint before making her way out of hiding. She contemplated calling Jason in on this but knew that would only make her lose valuable time.
Screw it.
Carly made her way in the direction that Hannah and her "friend" had gone.
Johnny heard the ding of the elevator and the sound of Jason laughing. Jason laughing? He stuck his head around the corner in time to catch Jason leading Elizabeth into his penthouse. Well I'll be damned… He shook his head at Jason's stupidity. The guy had someone like Carly all over him willing to do whatever was necessary for him and he chose to be with girls.
Maybe it was for the best. Johnny always thought Carly was too much woman for Jason. She needed someone she couldn't walk all over. Someone who wouldn't take her shit and vice versa. The door opened behind him and Sonny stuck his head out. "Johnny?"
Wonder where she could find that? Johnny rolled his eyes at the irony of it all before turning to look at his Boss. "Sir?"
"Was that Jason that came in?"
Johnny nodded, "Yes, sir, but he's not alone." He added quickly when Sonny started to walk to Jason's penthouse. Sonny looked at him his eyebrow raised in a question. "Carly?"
"No, sir. Ms. Webber."
Sonny hid his surprise at that little fact. Jason was seeing someone behind Carly's back. She wasn't going to be happy about that. His cell phone rang and he ran into the penthouse to answer it. "Hello?"
Silence.
"Hello?" he repeated a little louder. "Is someone there?" He started to hang up when he heard a strangled voice.
"Sonny?"
"Carly?" He was almost sure that was her voice but it had been too low. "Carly?" Why the hell was she calling him? "Carly?"
"Sonny - I need - Help me, please."
A feeling close to panic started forming in his gut and he ran to the door, flinging it open and motioning to a surprised Johnny. "Get the car." He walked back to his desk and pulled out the handgun in his drawer. He wasn't sure what was going on but he knew Carly would never call him unless there was some serious danger. "Carly?" He could hear her soft sobbing on the other end. "Listen to me, okay? You need to tell me where you are?"
"I - I don't know. I'm in an alley - I -I was trying to - and then they- h-hit -I don't know."
Sonny ran out the into the hall toward Jason's door but stopped seeing the elevator open and Johnny step out. He pushed the bodyguard back into the elevator, following him. He'd call Jason later. "Carly? Tell me where you are?" He saw Johnny's shocked expression before stepping off the elevator into the underground garage.
"I followed - I - I'm in an alley off of Van Buren, I think. Please hur…"
Sonny cursed when the call was cut off. "Van Buren. Now!"
Sonny looked out the window trying his best not to panic. This was Carly for Christ's sake. Knowing her this was probably one of her crazy plans. She probably thought he'd tell Jason and he would come rescue her, that was all. He shook his head reassuring himself that she was fine. He'd find her there waiting for Jason. When he showed up they'd fight and he'd send her home. He jerked back when the car stopped suddenly. He opened his door and motioned for Johnny to back him up.
Sonny pulled out his gun, testing the weight in his hand. He moved silently down the alleyway. He could hear Johnny moving around behind him. He looked around the corner seeing that the alley went in two directions. One path lead to another dark alley with no apparent end and the other was a dead end. He could barely make anything out in the dark but he saw the shape of what looked like a payphone. She most of called him for there.
Sonny motioned to Johnny to check out the other alley as he made his way to the payphone. He could see something a few feet from the phone. He blinked his eyes trying to adjust to the dark. He held his gun tightly in his hand looking around him slowly. He stopped in his tracks, his heart leaping to his throat when his eyes focused on a foot.
A foot encased in a red stiletto.
"Jesus." Sonny stored his gun away and ran to kneel down next to Carly's prone body. "Johnny! Over here!" He screamed behind him as he turned Carly over to get a better look at her. He pushed her blond hair off her face and went cold at her bloodied and mangled face. Her eyes were swollen shut and the bruises on her face were turning black and blue. His eyes followed the marks on her face down to her neck. He noticed her exposed bra and covered her with her ripped blouse.
Johnny knelt down next to him, his eyes going cold at seeing Carly. "Oh man." He tired to help but Sonny jerked him away, holding on to Carly. "Get the car started. We're going to the hospital."
"No- no hospital."
They looked down in at Carly. She opened her eyes slightly, focusing them on Sonny. He had come. She knew he would come and help her. "Please, Sonny." She whimpered, her eyes pleading with his. Sonny nodded in agreement and picked her up. She started to protest but the pain stopped her and all that came out was a groan. She felt Sonny stiffen under her and she turned her face into his shoulder. Sonny walked down the alley to the car. Johnny ran ahead and opened the car door, helping Sonny with Carly.
"Take us back the penthouse, Johnny."
Sonny stepped into the limo, looking over at Carly who stared down at her lap. He watched her fiddle with her fingers. He noticed her ripped up nails and the scratches on her hands. He closed his eyes against the sudden rage he felt. He wanted to know who did that to her but he knew she was too fragile right now. "Carly?" he said her name softly.
Carly had held herself together not allowing any of her fear or pain to show. She just wanted to hide away and the best way she knew how was to stop feeling. She wanted to be numb. But then she heard Sonny's voice say her name so gently and she felt the barriers break and the tears begin to fall.
Sonny watched her shaking shoulders and heard her heaving sobs. They tore at his heart and he moved closer to her. He pulled her into his arms on reflex and smoothed her hair back from her face, "It's alright, honey." Her crying became louder and she started shaking uncontrollably. He pulled her into his lap, one hand at the small of her back, the other still stroking her hair. Her sobs turned into small hiccupping noises and the shaking subsided but they stayed that way until they reached Harborview Towers.
When the car stopped, Carly turned her face up to Sonny, and he gently wiped the moisture from her eyes. She looked away quickly but stayed on his lap. He stared down at the top of her head.
"I'm sorry."
"Nothing to be sorry about." Sonny replied, gently setting her down from his lap. He clasped her hand in his and met her eyes. "Let's get you cleaned up."