A/N: it's been a long time since spanish class. This contains some google translated spanish so i'm sure it's not completely accurate, but it works. Feel free to correct it if you need too! ;P
Also, i just wanted to say that both EJ and Sami POV's will be featured in this story, but there are a few chapters before we get back to Salem...
Chapter Two: Caracas, Venezuela
The jet touched down at Simón Bolívar International Airport in Maiquetia, they were only13 miles from downtown Caracas, it was late, and EJ just wanted to get the children settled.
He planned to spend a few days with them at Pestana Caracas, a nice resort hotel, while their new home in Leblon was being readied. The car he'd hired sat on the tarmac waiting for them, all three children were asleep, EJ carried Allie and Sydney, and Maria carried Johnny for him. He gave instructions and directions to the driver, and the car slowly made it way to the main road. EJ took out his disposable, hopefully untraceable, trac-phone, dialed in the code to block his number, and then dialed a phone number.
"Hello?"
"Chad?"
"Edward—"
EJ rolled his eye, how would he get used to being called Edward? Well, should be easier than living with being called Elvis, "How is everything? Are you alone?"
"Yes." He answered, "And it all happened just like you said it would. Bo took my phone in case you try to call me and they have an APB out for Marco."
Well, they wouldn't find him either! If all had gone according to plan on his end, Marco was currently in a beachfront spa resort being prodded and massage by a large woman called Hilda, "Do they suspect you had anything to do with it?"
"Not anymore." He said, "I think the fight you and I staged in Salem Place had the desired effect. Roman hauled me down to the station and got a little rough with the interrogation, but they had to let me go… I mean I was just an innocent bystander."
"Excellent." EJ smiled imagining his former father-in-law impersonating John Wayne, "It'll be a while before I contact you again, just keep you head down, and stay out of trouble. But if you need anything, you still have the keys I gave you?"
"Yeah, I got 'em."
"Good, It'll all blow over soon…" He didn't tell him, but he'd planted a passport and a large sum of cash in that safe deposit box for Chad, just in case things got too hairy.
"I wouldn't count on that."
"What makes you say that?"
"You didn't see Sami's volcanic freak out."
"Ah, but I've seen it all before—that's how I ended up with a bullet lodged in my cranium, and on the verge of my deathbed, remember?"
"It was epic." Chad laughed, "she nearly went after every single person in the park, she punched the ice cream guy, kicked someone else—it took all three of them to hold her down. And at the hospital when she found out Allie was gone too Lexie finally had to sedate her."
"I'm sure it was quite dramatic," He felt a twinge of guilt using his younger brother this way, but once he'd laid out the whole story, and what he had planned, Chad agreed to help him all on his own. "Just as I'm quite sure it was all for show… you'll see, Samantha only cares about Samantha, you let me handle her."
"Gladly," He said, "What are you gonna do about Rafe?"
"Why would I do anything about him?" EJ smiled, "That particular boil has been removed I'd say, let him use every resource he has – he won't find me."
"I don't think either of them will let this go, they'll come after you."
"Yes, well… I expect that." EJ shifted in the car seat, "good luck to them on actually finding us."
"Aren't you worried about them just tracking your passports or something?"
"I've taken care all that, EJ DiMera is on his way to the Ivory Coast according to the DiMera Jet's flight plan, and customs at least."
"You've got it all figured out, don't ya?"
"Yes." EJ said, "and, that's why I win this round. Oh, and do me another favor… make sure to catch the evening live report tonight from WXIR… it should be enlightening."
"Had to get in another parting shot, didn't ya?"
EJ's lips curled into a satisfied smile, absolutely, he indeed had the last shot in this one, "Well, lets just say no one will be looking at Mr. Hernandez the same way."
"So where did you end up?"
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to keep that to myself for now."
"I understand… it wont be the same here without you," Chad said, "Say 'hi' to Johnny and Sydney for me… Allie too."
"Will do." EJ said, "And Chad…"
"Yeah?"
Affectionately EJ said, "Thank you, little brother."
He hung up, and put the trac-phone in his pocket. He knew he'd be unleashing hurricane Samantha on Salem, and well, he didn't care. He felt pretty much the same way about them, as they felt about him, and good riddance! He'd never step foot in that town again. Let her bluster and whine at them for a while; he wouldn't have to hear it. She already spouted his failures and faults to anyone who'd listen—what's one more thing?
EJ looked down at his peaceful, sleeping, children, and it only reinforced for him that this had been the right choice. They belonged with him; Samantha should have known he'd never let them be raised by that half-wit gorilla.
The car pulled into the Valet, and the bellman unloaded their bags. EJ had Mary and Harold collect all of Johnny and Sydney's things from their rooms in the DiMera Mansion, under the guise of returning the items to their mother. Both of them did as he'd asked without question, they were good people, and had worked faithfully for the family for years. He'd miss Harold, but Mary was indispensable. He'd had an assistant buy some new items for Allie; nothing that came from that loft would come with them.
Naturally, he'd rented out the superior suite on the 18th floor, which he hoped would resemble a penthouse type room, although he hadn't really bothered to check beforehand. When he looked for their hotel, he did look through the photographs, but only got as far as the rooftop, poolside bar before booking it.
"Signor Medici?"
EJ turned toward the voice he assumed belonged to the hotel concierge, "Si."
"Ah, welcome! Welcome to Caracas," He shook his hand vigorously, "We are very pleased you and your children have chosen to stay with us."
"Gracias." EJ said, "I'm sure we'll have a lovely time."
Apparently, the online business profile he'd set up for the fictitious Edward Medici had impressed the host. Good, about time he built up a decent reputation again, lord knew his ego needed a stroke or two these days.
"Su niñera has readied the room, per your request."
"Excellent." EJ said, "Gracias, por su todos sus problemas."
"It was no trouble, Signor."
"Would you do me a great favor?" EJ asked, "Would you call to the room, and have her come down please?"
"Right away."
The children were still fast asleep in the back of the car, and he really didn't want to wake them unless he needed to. EJ leaned into the car and picked up Johnny.
"Mr. DiM- uh, Medici…"
EJ turned around, "Mary, lovely to see you, my darling."
"Thank you, sir." She said taking Johnny from him, "Everything's ready—just as you asked."
"I knew I could count on you." EJ relaxed, ever so slightly, and got back into the car to collect his sleeping girls. "Do you like your room?"
"Very much."
"Good."
EJ and Mary carried the children up to the suite. Mary set Johnny down on a plush red sofa, and EJ set Sydney and Allie down on an over stuffed chair.
"Well, if you need anything else, give me a holler." Mary said, grabbing the doorknob to the adjoining room.
"Thank you, Mary." EJ said, "For everything."
She nodded at him and closed the door. EJ pulled at the tie around his neck, and slipped it over his head. He shrugged out of the jacket, and pulled the top few buttons of his shirt open. He pulled it off… he could hardly believe it. He'd claimed his children, gotten them out of the country and away from the DiMera plague in one fell swoop.
He turned toward the open windows, the night sky glowed, Caracas lay before him bustling with activity, and for the first time in almost a year—EJ smiled, a genuine, full, lop-sided smile.
He won, and it felt as if a great weight were lifted from his shoulders. All he had to do now was stay a step ahead of their impending efforts to locate him and the children. They wouldn't. He still had a tail on Rafael, EJ knew every move that son of a bitch made, and as predictable as the wanker was, he'd surely be able to anticipate what would be coming.
EJ shuffled the children to the large bed, and tucked them all in with a sweet, little, kiss on each of their foreheads. He had the feeling it might get a little difficult in a few weeks when they started asking for mummy, but he'd deal with all that when it came.
Right now, he had other things to attend to, a few business emails to send, a few arrangements to make for their new life, and, of course, he had a news report to watch…