Chapter Six
Stefano: I promise you that I will undo whatever
wrong you think I have done
Tony: Can you bring Renee back?
1985
Bar at Tony's hotel
One hour later
It felt as though it were midnight already by the time Tony reached his hotel but he knew it was only jet lag. In reality it couldn't have been more than ten o'clock or so and the bar was packed. It was fortunate he knew the maître d' personally. One phone call had secured a quiet enough corner table where Lexie was already waiting for him along with a bottle the hotel's most expensive cognac.
He was still in the mood for celebrating.
At the same time, his curiosity was beginning to get the better of him after his conversation with Marlena. He'd agreed to meeting Lexie back at the Grill out of a sense of obligation more than anything else given her ties to Celeste, though admittedly, he was suspicious of his Father's old paramour and whatever her role might have been helping Stefano haul him off to an institution, and frankly, hearing of the reappearance of Rachel Blake provided him an attractive opportunity. After all, Celeste was unaware that he knew about her connection to the Blake's. She had no idea her secret had been discovered and he had a pretty good idea the lengths Celeste might go to in order to keep it that way because the alternative would make his experience over the last fourteen months seem a walk in the park.
Slowly, he made his way through the crowd. The bar, while popular was also exclusive and the owner had some rather conservative ideas when it came to entertainment. It boasted a single baby grand and pianist who'd garnered himself quite a reputation locally though he graciously shared the stage with a string of ladies, his partner this evening a little more exotic than usual with a sultry deep register Tony figured could make even Rogers and Hammerstein sound sexy. Her voice brought back memories too…nights he and Anna had spent dancing until long past the hour when the clubs in London and Paris would finally lock their doors and he'd pay the bartender to let them stay…pay the vocalist exorbitantly too so she could sing his heart's desire…
In love with the night mysterious,
The night when you first were there,
In love with my joy delirious,
When I knew that you could care,
So taunt me, and hurt me,
Deceive me, desert me,
I'm yours, till I die...
How bloody close he'd come to that and all for a woman who didn't give a damn. But he was free of her now. Her, with John's child in her belly and simply the idea of what that must be doing to Stefano put a grin on Tony's face. She'd truly learned the least attractive of all her father's lessons, how to scratch tooth and nail to hold onto what was nonexistent.
Once a thought such as that would have saddened him. Maybe it would again someday but if anything her behavior tonight only substantiated the fact he'd blinded himself by falling for her.
Don't play the fool, Tony. You didn't care if she measured up or not…you let yourself fall for Kristen because you couldn't bear the thought of being without HER every day and night. You were desperate…
Applause broke out as the last notes of the Porter standard drifted like an echo from the keyboard, and it nudged him from his reverie back to the matter at hand…Mrs. Caver.
When he reached his table, Lexie appeared relieved and he guessed that she'd thought she was going to be stood up.
Along with the bottle on the table were two glasses. Both were still empty.
Smiling at her in greeting, he sat across from her and poured himself a drink. "Would you care for a glass or can I order you something else?"
"I'm afraid I'm a terrible lightweight…"
"You have my word, I won't get you drunk," he told her with only a hint of dry humor.
She hadn't been looking at him and it didn't take much for Tony to think she was nervous around him because of whatever she'd witnessed at the Blake house in Aremid…or heard.
In hopes of putting her more at ease, he leaned back and waited patiently, which didn't help Lexie relax. After that tirade back at the Grill and some of the things he'd said about his past…things she'd never heard about, she was even more appalled to be part of this family. To have Stefano's blood running in her veins was obviously a curse.
And then she'd arrived here at the club and waited with nothing to do but sit and listen and fret...nothing to do but hear Tony's words reverberate over and over all to the sound of music with those bluesy strains that reminded her of her childhood in the south and angst that filled her mind with images of her mother and Stefano. And then there was this establishment. She'd never been here before and though she couldn't exactly call it stuffy, it had an air of refinement, which instantly whipped up a mountain of insecurities. She hadn't grown up with this kind of vast wealth and frankly, it made her nervous, especially having to hear her friends talk about how it corrupted the people she suddenly found herself related to, including the man sitting across from her. In the few months since she'd learned they were related, she'd watched and listened as his reputation had been torn to shreds…but now…
In a single night, everything had changed and she wanted to believe they had a real chance to get to know each other and form a bond.
She reached over and picked up the bottle and poured herself a drink.
"To begin with, I should like to welcome you home," she said and lifted her glass in a toast. It surprised him but recovering, he nodded his thanks gracefully and took a sip of the amber liquid. At the same time, he eyed her over the rim of his glass.
For news that according to Marlena at least, he'd find pleasing, it didn't appear to be something Lexie was nearly so confident about. "Is this the prelude to a warning," he asked when she set her glass down, hesitating once more.
"No." She lifted her dark eyes and found him sprawled comfortably in his chair, the picture of ease except for his guarded expression…not so much one of suspicion as a sense that he needed to protect himself from the inevitable and recognizing that convinced her even more than his performance that her instincts had been right…perhaps this was someone who could show her how to avoid the traps Stefano set for his children. "This is a new experience for me," she said.
"Consorting with the enemy?" His tone was dry again.
"I hope not."
"Lexie…"
"Alexandra," she corrected him.
"Well, that's quite formal. Perhaps you'd rather I used Mrs. Carver."
"No, it's just that I'd like to hear you say it."
For a second his guard dropped and he looked perplexed and the tiniest bit flattered. It improved his appearance for the better, in her opinion.
"Okay…Alexandra," he said in that smooth accent.
"Yes," she nodded. "I like that."
"If I didn't know better, I'd think the Police Commander's wife was flirting with me."
She shook her head vehemently. "I didn't…" she stopped and sighed, irritated at herself mostly for doing such a half-assed job of this. "I learned something in Aremid a couple month ago that until this second, I wasn't happy about and I'm sorry, I'm not usually this hopeless when it comes to conversing…"
"Except in the present company."
"You need to stop doing that, you know."
And for the first time since he'd taken his seat, the humor in his voice was reflected in his eyes. "Not to be rude, Alexandra, but I just spent an hour with a psychiatrist…"
"I'm not your psychiatrist. I'm your sister."
The amusement in his gaze suddenly burned away and his eyes grew bright. "Would you repeat that?"
His tone was almost demanding.
Lexie tried to swallow past the lump in her throat and when she opened her mouth, she hoped her voice wasn't going to come out in a squeak. "Celeste was afraid of Stefano and asked her sister to raise me."
"Celeste is your mother?"
Quite suddenly his entire demeanor changed. She didn't think she'd ever seen this side of Tony because even when he turned on the charisma he had a way of keeping a distance between himself and everyone around him. He could fool people into believing it wasn't there but Lexie had seen through the act. The fact was, he stayed in control. And yet, right before her eyes she watched it vanish and he was staring at her as though it were Christmas morning and he was five years old again…as though there were magic in the air.
"Yes," she nodded slowly, "I'm her daughter…with Stefano."
What he did next shocked her even more though to tell the truth, she'd not been all that certain what she'd been expecting him to do. Still, it happened so fast, she didn't even realize how he got out of his seat before he was standing in front of her, taking her hand and lifting her gently to her feet, his eyes shining as though someone has just given him the most incredible gift. "Alexandra." It sounded just as it had before, rolling off his tongue with that suave accent but there a depth to it now that she'd not heard the last time. "It's really true?"
She couldn't bring herself to joke with him when he was looking at her with such joy so she smiled and nodded.
"Oh my," was all he could manage for the next few minutes. "I'm not sure I quite believed her when she said I'd be happy about your news."
"She?"
"Marlena."
"Where did the two of you run off to anyway?"
Tony's smile altered slightly so there was a hint of sadness to it now but it didn't last long. Suddenly his expression brightened again as a new idea occurred to him. "I have so many things to share with you…wonderful things."
"You mean, there is something wonderful about this family?"
"Contrary to public opinion," he laughed, "yes…or at least there is now."
"I doubt my mother would agree with you."
The mention her mother seemed to bring Tony's happy spirits to a screeching halt. "Your mother." He sighed and motioned for her to sit back down and then pulling his chair around, sat beside her. "Has she opened up at all since you found out about your relationship to Stefano?"
"Not really but…" Lexie hesitated, searching her brother's face and wondering if she ought to risk asking what he knew, wondering again if she wanted any more of the truth because so far, it hadn't brought her much in the way of peace of mind and she doubted anything else she learned about the DiMeras would break the mold.
"We don't have to do this tonight, Alexandra," he said gently as she sat trying to make her mind.
"So you could tell me about my mother and Stefano."
The guarded look returned to his eyes and then disappeared again as though he'd made a conscious effort to lower his defenses with her. "I'm the last person who would wish to keep you in the dark…"
"That's not what you told Kristen tonight."
"That's different."
"And you're not in love with me."
"Alexandra, you have to understand that the decision to keep Kristen ignorant was complicated. I suppose part of me knew all along it could backfire but as I said earlier, I'd experienced the alternative and I didn't want that for either of us."
"And it didn't help having a father who behaves as though our feelings matter less than his." There was already a bitterness in her voice when she spoke of Stefano that he'd never heard in Kristen's…a kind of acceptance. It was difficult to hear but it also made Tony breathe a sigh of relief internally. Better this. It would make Stefano's attempts at manipulating her more difficult.
"No matter how he fits into this, Stefano is the last thing I want to dwell on tonight. Whatever this family has left, we have in spite of him, not because of him and I'd like to celebrate that," he told her, and picking up his glass again, he waited for her to return his toast. There was something so exuberant about his mood now that she couldn't refuse and once they drunk their toast, he set his glass down. "I never had a relationship with Peter or Kristen as siblings," he explained in a quiet voice. "I wasn't around when Stefano adopted them and even when I returned, there was a…"
"Distance between you and your father and everyone connected to him?"
Tony's smile returned and it lit up his eyes. "God, I've missed that."
"What?"
"Someone in the family who understands. The last person I could do that with is dead and I'd begun to think it would never change, that I was stuck in the middle of this disaster…completely alone."
"I'm not sure I understand."
"I love Kristen and Peter but they've never been able to recognize the nature of the beast which always made them easy targets for Stefano to manipulate…"
"Which you've been guilty of too," she interrupted him, unable to help herself from calling him out on his confession.
"Yes," he agreed. "But explaining the truth to them is useless. It certainly didn't work tonight which is why I've never told either of them before now because the fact is, they can only see as far as their own petty self-interests. The family," he said, his eyes growing sad again, "means nothing to them."
"And why would a family that has put you through this much hell mean anything to you?"
He looked a little surprised at her question. "It will be my children's someday…and yours."
Something in the way he'd said it made her stare at him, hard. "What children? I have none and…"
"But Abe wants them, right?"
"Yes, but you don't have any…"
At almost the exact moment she said it, he put his head down and his hand snaked over to play with his glass that was now empty.
"Oh my god, Tony…" Forgetting her earlier shyness, she gripped his chin and lifted his head up so he was facing her. "You have children already, don't you?"
His only answer was far-a-way look of affection in his eyes and a tiny smile.
"And Stefano has no idea they exist?"
"And he's not going to either," her brother told her in a steely voice. "Not ever. Their mother and I swore that to each other and until he's dead, that is the way it's going to stay."
Shaken, Lexie sat back in her chair. "That's the real reason you called Shane, isn't it?"
Tony glanced away and the chuckle that slipped out just before he answered her was bitterly sarcastic. "I'd be lying to myself if I said it had nothing to do with my wife but for the most part, yes."
"But you still love Kristen."
"I never wanted to. That wasn't the plan at all and I wish could just…" A grimace twisted his handsome face. "Erase it." The two words were almost a snarl.
"And the mother of your…" Lexie lowered her voice so that even Tony could hardly hear her, "children?" she mouthed.
His expression changed again. There was an air about it that was indescribable…she'd never seen such faith and distress trapped in someone's eyes all at once.
"This is what you meant…what you said to Kristen at the Grill earlier, isn't it? What it means to be a DiMera?"
"I'm sorry," he said, reaching over to take her hand and squeeze it, "but yes. I'm afraid no one has been able to escape the curse so far."
"But you haven't given up."
Perhaps the melancholy in his eyes should have worried her but it had the opposite effect. Sure, Tony had no illusions when it came to the family, but his dreams remained intact and this small truth gave Lexie a spark of hope literally for the first time in months.
"DIMERA!"
The roar came from just inside the entrance to the club and it was obvious to both siblings who it belonged to. Lexie glanced at her brother, looking faintly apologetic but if he was perturbed, it wasn't evident from the gleam of amusement in his eyes.
"Stubborn, isn't he?"
Lexie hadn't figured out what to say in reply before John was standing at their table.
"Where'd you take her?" he demanded, without even a glance in Lexie's direction.
An eerie silence had descended throughout the room. The vocalist cut off in the middle of a song was eyeing the scene curiously along with everyone else both on the dance floor and sitting either at a table or the bar. Hovering a few steps behind John was a man Tony recognized. He belonged to the hotel's security detail. They were discreet but effective, particularly so when it came to keeping an eye on the hotel's wealthier clientele.
"What happened," asked Tony, unable to pass up the opportunity to needle his rival, "I thought you were busy rushing your pregnant lover home."
John took threatening step towards the table. "Don't push me, DiMera."
"Sir, I must ask you to leave," said the security guard, not wanting to take chances but John's eyes continued to bore into Tony.
"I'm not going anywhere until you tell me where the hell you took her tonight."
"John, you're being…" but before Lexie got any further, Tony's hand covered hers once more and squeezed it reassuringly.
"I assume you're speaking of Marlena who I dropped off exactly where she asked me to; at the hospital, though this little demonstration of your concern…forcing me to announce the fact in public is hardly the way to keep the information a secret from my father."
"Don't bother with the phony act, Tony because we both know you and your old man set this up."
Leaning back in his chair again, Tony glanced at his sister and sighed. "You got what you came for John," he said after a moment, feeling the edge of his temper begin to fray, "now I'd appreciate you leaving."
John turned to his friend's wife. "Lexie, I think you should come with me…"
"And I think," said Tony letting his voice rise just enough to drown out John, "its time for you to stay away from my family and mind your own bloody business."
"He's trouble," said John, paying no heed to the other man's outburst.
"And I'm tired of people telling me how to feel," snapped Lexie, surprising both men, "as though I don't have eyes and ears of my own. I was at the Grill tonight too John. I can make up my own mind without your expertise, thank you."
"Abraham will not be happy about this…"
But that was the wrong thing to tell Lexie whose own temper was quickly disintegrating. "I am NOT your cheap, empty-headed, spineless wh…" she bit back the word almost immediately. "Don't you dare try using emotional blackmail on me when it comes to my husband. You have NO right to be telling anyone else in this town how to conduct a marriage, and as for my relationship to Tony, it's none of your affair and I'm warning you now, stay out of it." She'd jumped up about halfway through her tirade and she was so angry she was shaking.
"You don't know these people like I do, or…"
"…or yeah, I'd turn my back on my own flesh and blood for no better reason than your arrogance, just because you hate his guts."
"He's just like his old man, Lexie and you saw what he did to his wife."
"How about what you and Kristen did to him?"
John glared but then turned away without answering.
"Oh, that's right," sneered Lexie, "he had it coming being he's just like our father. That's quite the rationalization you have for sleeping with other men's wives, its all my father's fault. I can't wait to hear you use that one in court."
Behind her in his chair, Tony laughed outright and it was too much for John who whipped around on his heel, looking as though he meant to come through the table but there were two security guards now and while one cut off his access to Tony, the other herded him towards the back exit.
Once the door closed behind John, silence was replaced with a buzz of excited conversations and a moment later, the music started up again, but to a different tune now, a little more upbeat. Everything returned to normal except Lexie who stood rooted in the same spot.
Tony let her be.
"I apologize for the disturbance to your evening, sir," came a voice in his ear and Tony thanked the man, making certain to get the names of both guards so that he could show his gratitude in a more tangible manner later on.
"How do you get used to that?" asked Lexie when the man was gone finally.
She was sitting down again but she'd poured herself another drink.
Tony shrugged. "I'm not sure you do," he told her, a wry smile twisting his lips.
"But you don't run away from it."
The smile was more of a grimace now. "Believe me, I tried that," and he shook his head. "It didn't work so well."
"What happened," she asked, not bothering to hide her rather morbid fascination.
"I tell you any more stories about this family and you're liable to go running after John."
She wasn't quite sure if it was meant to be a joke or not. Either way, she didn't find it complimentary but she couldn't really blame him after everything he'd been through recently and it wasn't as though all that many of his friends were rushing to give him the benefit of the doubt. Considering the reason he was in the situation to begin with, cynicism probably wasn't on the list of things she ought to be scolding him about.
Instead she took his hand and looked him square in the eye. "I'm not John, or Kristen or anyone else in this town. I'm your sister and my god, getting you back is a miracle so please don't ever think I'd walk away from that."
"Oh, Alexandra," he sighed, and his smile made his eyes gleam in the dim light of the club. "I've waited so long to have a sister again. And one who isn't afraid of a name."
"I don't think Kristen is afraid any longer."
"With her ties to John, she'd better be. A man who spends all his time and energy protecting another woman is not in love with her and I don't believe John can ignore the fact that it was Stefano who taught Kristen her values. Eventually, that will ruin their relationship because in John's eyes, just being related to the bastard is our undoing, not to mention, Stefano considers that child she is carrying to be his grandson or daughter. Just how do you think John will handle that?"
