The Play's the Thing
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Chapter 2
July 2013
It had been over a week and Sonny still had no clues as to who was behind the threat to Elizabeth and Jake. All seemed quiet on the business front and he was beginning to suspect this just might be personal.
Max walked in with the mail and a frown. "Another one, boss. Same fake address as before."
Sonny took the envelope and ripped it open. There were no pictures, just a note which said, Make me believe in your love.
He cursed and crumpled the offending page up tightly. What the hell did that mean? And how the hell were they supposed to go about it?
Elizabeth's footsteps on the stairs drew his attention. She could see something in his eyes and held out her hand as she approached. He gave her the paper ball and watched as she smoothed it out. Her brows furrowed as she read the message. "How do we do that?"
Sonny shrugged. "I don't know."
Max looked from one to the other. "Why not go out? You know, have dinner at the MetroCourt, see a show, something."
Elizabeth nodded. "Okay, we could do that. Maybe if we hold hands or something…"
Sonny grimaced. "In other words, we would be the show."
They both had serious doubts but knew their stalker wasn't giving them much choice. They made plans to head out that evening and Sonny called Carly to make reservations.
-gh-
It was such a little thing that Sonny almost missed it. He and Elizabeth had finished dinner and were talking quietly about the boys' day at camp. He played with her hand on the table and shot her dimpled grins which she appeared happy to return. As they stood to leave, he drew her close and kissed her gently. She pulled back with a gasp.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sam smirk. It was an odd reaction, one unlike any other they had received that evening. It was as if she knew something he didn't.
Taking Elizabeth's hand, he crossed to the elevators without looking back to Sam but his mind was working furiously. She knew Jake was Jason's son. She hated Elizabeth. She wasn't all that fond of Sonny despite years of pretending otherwise. Sam had the motive to want them to suffer. Sonny was now glad he hadn't brought in Spinelli. The kid was loyal to his partner, who just might be playing a game she couldn't win.
As the elevator doors closed, Sonny kissed his wife again. Elizabeth seemed more prepared and returned this kiss. And Sam's smirk remained.
-gh-
The next day Sonny ordered his people to get him everything there was to know about Sam McCall Morgan. He wanted to know exactly what she had been doing for the last few months and who she spoke to. He wanted credit card statements and computer records. If she was hiding something, he would find it.
Elizabeth was on the patio watching the boys play soccer. He joined her and shouted encouragement to Jake as he slipped by Cameron and almost made a goal. He couldn't help grinning. "Man, it seems like I was just watching Michael and Morgan play out there and now they're grown. It's good to see this yard useful again."
Elizabeth smiled back at him. "It's certainly bigger than ours. I love seeing them so happy."
"They're adjusting better than us."
She rolled her eyes. "I'm adjusting."
He laughed. "So we didn't argue for an hour the other day about you working?"
"I love being a nurse! I hate not supporting myself but I understand your point. The wife of mob boss Sonny Corinthos does not work. So here I am, spending my days watching soap operas and eating bonbons."
"Alleged mob boss," he corrected. "And where are you hiding bonbons? That stuff's not good for you."
It was her turn to laugh. "As if I'd tell you that! A girl's gotta have some secrets!"
The idea of girls and secrets made him frown. "Could we step inside and talk? Milo will watch the boys."
"Sure."
-gh-
It was close to midnight and Elizabeth was still fuming. Sam! This was exactly the sort of thing she would do. Elizabeth should have known since Sam staged that incident with the Russians after Jake was born to keep Elizabeth and Jason apart. Sam loved to manipulate people.
The longer she and Sonny talked earlier, the more convinced they both became that Sam was their culprit. Elizabeth lost count of how many times she had caught Sam staring at Jake since Jason's death. Given the fact that she was partially responsible for his first kidnapping, Elizabeth had seriously considered a restraining order. Now it all made sense.
Sam must be trying to prove that Elizabeth was an unfit mother and a mob marriage was fairly good grounds. If Jake's paternity were known, his stepmother just might be able to convince a judge to give her custody. It was infuriating but Sonny reassured her that it would never come to that.
Elizabeth covered her face with her pillow and screamed. There was no way in hell that bitch was coming anywhere near her son!
-gh-
Two weeks later Michael returned to town and immediately headed to Greystone. He didn't really trust his siblings' version of this new marriage. Dad and Elizabeth had been seeing each other in secret and fell in love? That was about as likely as his mom taking up with Spinelli!
He found Elizabeth in the den and asked about his dad.
"Oh, he's at the warehouse. He should be here soon if you'd like to wait."
She was always kind to him. It made his next move almost too easy. "I think I will. So, you and Dad?"
Elizabeth bit her lip. "Yes."
Michael hesitated, not wanting to hurt but wanting the truth more. "I don't believe it."
Her eyes widened. "That's your problem. Take it up with your father."
Her strength surprised him and egged him on. "Come on, this whole thing, it's all about sticking it to my mom. Dad knows how she feels about you and getting her worked up is a rush for him. You have to know he doesn't really want you."
"Michael! What on earth do you think you're doing?" Carly bellowed from the doorway. "Apologize before your father gets here!"
Michael stood shocked at his mother's appearance but Elizabeth reacted with her usual grace. "Carly, it's okay. We left him out of the loop and he's confused."
Carly shook her head. "He's not confused. He's acting out but he's not a child anymore so that's not gonna fly."
"Mom, don't tell me you're happy about this?"
"Yes," she shot back, "I am. Sonny and Elizabeth have my full support."
He looked from one woman to the other, unable to believe his eyes and ears. Hell must have frozen over.
-gh-
Sonny was frustrated. Either Sam was better at covering her tracks than he thought or she wasn't the one behind this. They had no evidence so far. He refused to let go because Sam was definitely up to something but he also had his men checking for other leads. He couldn't take a chance with Jake or Elizabeth.
-gh-
It had been almost a month since the wedding. Cameron had a sleepover and Jake was at Audrey's so Sonny decided to take his wife out again. He believed Sam was guilty but there was a slight possibility someone else was. Until they were absolutely certain, appearances had to be kept up.
The intimate Italian restaurant on the edge of town was a perfect choice. They passed the meal discussing everything from their children to the upcoming charity ball at the MetroCourt. Elizabeth wanted to go and it would be provide another opportunity to show off their loving marriage.
The small dance floor near the back of the room was practically deserted. Sonny asked and she accepted. The slow song led them to dance closely and Sonny dropped several kissed to the top of her head. When she pulled away at the song's end, he kissed her mouth. She leaned back into him and deepened the kiss. He forgot that they were only putting on a show and slid a hand from her back to her side and then up toward her breast.
Elizabeth broke the embrace and giggled flirtatiously. "Now, now, some things are best saved for private."
Sonny remembered then where they were and why they were there. His attraction to her didn't surprise him. He had always thought she was beautiful. His unwillingness to ignore it shocked the hell out of him though.
Once they were safely in the car on the way home, Elizabeth broke the ice. "Don't worry about all that. I mean, we have to pretend and it has to look good. We need to think of ourselves as actors playing parts. As long as we are in this, the curtain's up and someone's watching. Jake's safety depends on our performing well."
"Yeh, but the play's the thing. You know, we play at this and sooner or later we're gonna mess up." Sonny paused as he tried to find words to explain his feelings. "Not about Jake. But can you honestly tell me that you can keep touching me, keep kissing me, and leave it all at the door when we get home?"
Elizabeth gulped. "We have to. It's not real, Sonny. We both know that."
"Right." Sonny knew that their marriage was a sham but wondered how long it was stay that way.
-gh-
The next day another letter arrived. Separate bedrooms will never do.
Elizabeth kept reading it over and over. "How does Sam know we're not sleeping together?"
Sonny shrugged. "I don't know." He took her hand and forced her to look at him. "We have to consider that she's not the stalker."
"Do you know something you're not telling me?"
He shook his head. "No, but I've had her under pretty tight surveillance. I don't see how she could have sent this without my men knowing."
Elizabeth pondered his words. "Okay, so I guess that means I'm moving across the hall." She wasn't thrilled about sharing a room with her husband but this wasn't about her or Sonny. It was what was best for Jake.
He stood up. "I guess you are."
She watched his face, hoping to see reassurance but all she found was nervousness. Their conversation from last night appeared to be on his mind too.