Chapter 10.
Anna Devane's Apartment.
Anna walked into the living room with two cups of coffee in her hands, she sat one down in front of Courtney and sat down across from her, "It looks like Brenda has been a very busy woman lately. She's had contact with most every woman from Sonny's past, every mobster Sonny's ever had run ins with and from what I can tell, is in the process of bringing them all together in her plan to destroy him."
"Well, are we going to let her?"
"You know it's not our assignment. Sonny may have the illusion of being out of the mob, but in the eyes of his enemies he's still a player and that means he's fair game. We don't know that Brenda wants him dead, just that she wants to ruin him, so I don't think there's much we can do."
"We could warn him."
Anna smiled, but only briefly as Courtney didn't approve, "I know you still feel some type of connection with him, but he made his bed long ago and sooner or later it's going to catch up to him and it Brenda makes it happen, then I can't think of a more ironic outcome to Sonny's days a self centered mobster."
"If she kills him I'm not letting her get away with it."
"Of course not, we don't sanction murder, but let's just focus on the Zacchara's and Jason Morgan right now." Anna said, flipping open a folder for Courtney to look at, "If our information is correct, Jason is in for the fight of his life. Whether Sonny is calling the shots or not, there is a very large family planning to join the Zacchara's in their plan to take over Port Charles."
"Who are we supposed to stop?"
"Well that's just it, if they want to kill each other we aren't going to do anything, but whoever's left standing is going down, one way or the other. If that's Sonny and Jason and it looks like it might be, are you sure you can do your job and not let your emotions get in the way?"
"I'd rather not be around for the bloodshed, but I won't get in the way." Courtney agreed as she picked up her purse and made her way to the door, "I'm meeting Claudia for dinner, so I'll call you tomorrow."
Anna didn't get a chance to reply as Courtney left before she could say a thing, so she got up and walked over to her den, pushed a button on a panel behind the bar and waited for a partition to slide open and she stepped inside.
She sat down at the large desk in the middle of the room, clicked on some buttons on a glowing panel on her desk and a massive number of TV screens appeared in a circle around her. Each one at least 30 inches wide, each with a different view of the many people and places of interest in the small yet dangerous city of Port Charles.
After checking most of the feeds, she spotted something in the west wall, the camera just outside the entrance to General Hospital. She zoomed the camera in, turned up the sound and enjoyed the show.
Claudia stopped Elizabeth on her way down the hospital steps, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"
Elizabeth stopped in her tracks, folded her arms across her chest and glared at the dark haired mobster lady, "Make it fast, I have things to do."
"I will." Claudia agreed quickly, "I know you have or had a relationship with Jason Morgan which makes you at the very least an acquaintance of Sonny Corinthos, what I'm wondering is what are your feelings towards these two men right now? Are you still friends?"
"Do you really think I'd discuss that with you?" Liz asked with a mocking laugh, "I know who you are and if you think I'd betray someone I've known for all of my adult life you don't know me at all."
"I know you are angry with Jason for not keeping his word about protecting you and your children. I know that Jason has made the very same promise to Robin, Courtney and Sam and guess what they all have in common? They were shot simply because they were too close to him. I know that Michael was shot because he to was too close to mob. " Claudia took a step closer after every sentence until she was literally right on top of Liz, "As a fellow mobster I know all about your relationship with Jason and that makes you a target. Is that really the kind of life you want for your two beautiful boys?"
"Do not threaten my family." Liz yelled, stepping backwards away from Claudia, "Now if you are done making threats I have someplace I need to be."
"I didn't come here to threaten you at all. I came here to ask you to reason with Jason. I'm not sure if you are aware of this or not, but I've joined up with a very powerful family and in a matter of weeks we will take over Port Charles. You may not care about that, but you might care that Jason will be a casualty unless he bows out and joins us. I personally think you'd be better off without a mobster in your life, but you may not want to see him dead. If not, I suggest you find a way to reason with him or it's going to get very messy around here very soon."
"Why are you asking me to do this? He doesn't listen to anyone. He knows the risks, he doesn't care. I asked him many times if he wanted more out of life than just working for Sonny and he doesn't. He hasn't known any other life. After the accident he began to work for Sonny and I don't think he believes he can do anything else. Either way, he has never listened to me in his life and he sure won't listen when it comes to the mob, because women aren't supposed to have opinions about that."
"Well, I thought I'd give you a chance to persuade him to do the right thing, but I think you're right, I don't think he'll listen to anyone. He'll go down with the ship and you can move on with your life and so can I."
"He won't go down without a fight. You're an idiot if you underestimate him."
"Oh sweetie, this isn't a fight. It's simple math. Sonny's organization was never big. I believe we'd have enough manpower to take him out now, but with the addition of a huge new ally, Jason could be Superman and he'd still be outnumbered about 10-1, so no matter how amazing you think he is, even he can't dodge bullets from that many guns at one time."
"I hate the world you live in."
"And yet you didn't seem to mind when you were chasing after Jason. Funny how that works."
Doing her best to ignore another of Claudia's personal insults, Elizabeth tried to stay focused on the topic at hand, "Even if I could get through to him, I don't think he would ever work for you or your father or whoever is running your organization. He worked for Sonny and I think that's the only person he'll ever work for."
"Then he'll die a very proud man, but being dead isn't anything to proud of, is it?"
"Why did you have to come to town? Why? Like you said, Jason has a very small organization, why even bother with it?"
"Are you sure you've moved on from Jason? Last I heard you were shacking up with Lulu and yet you seem so hung up on what happens to Jason."
"I wouldn't want any of my friends or family to be killed, what's so horrible about that? It's what people with feelings do, they care about others. Just because Jason is out of my life doesn't mean I want him dead." Elizabeth stated angrily, looking over the dark haired mobster with a puzzled stare, "I heard that you weren't that bad, that maybe you'd be better than your father, but obviously that's not true at all. You seem just as ruthless and uncaring as Sonny."
"In my business that's a compliment." Claudia said with a smile, still circling her prey, enjoying the view as she stopped moving and stood behind Liz, "Can I ask you something personal?"
"You can ask but I'm not going to promise I'll answer."
"Fair enough." Claudia nodded and moved even closer to the attractive brunette, "Have you ever thought of a career change?"
Elizabeth stood silent, a smile slowly appearing over her pretty face, "I know I'm going to regret asking this, but what kind of change did you have in mind?"
"I know that years ago you were pretty into fashion and design and now you're into painting, but being a single working mother, those dreams have been put on the backburner." Claudia said, confidently reciting Elizabeth's history, "I could make them happen for you?"
Pausing just a moment, Elizabeth shook her head, "No, I don't want anything from you, but thanks for the offer." She then turned and began to walk way.
Claudia grabbed her arm and stopped her before she had taken a step, "Look, I know that I'm the last person you would ever take something from, but what if the money came from say Audrey or Lucky or Robin, someone you like and trust, would you be interested in starting your own art center, something that encompassed both your love of fashion and your love of painting?
Letting out a sigh as she stared down at Claudia's hand squeezing her arm and then glared up at her, "That's really not the way to gain anyone's trust." Elizabeth said, pulling her arm away from Claudia's very firm grip, "I'm not sure why you are bringing any of this up, because I know you don't do anything without a price and I'm just not willing to pay it, so if that's all, I have work to get back to."
"Don't let your pride rob you of a chance to live out your dream." Claudia said, almost pleading for Elizabeth to listen, "Let me say something as Claudia the person, not the mobster. I did some research into everyone that had a connection to Sonny and Jason and that's how I discovered your talent for painting and your passion for designs. When I was younger I had the same dream. I went to college so I could get a degree in fashion, and believe it or not I used to do a lot of drawing. I didn't paint, but I sketched and my dream was to somehow make a living out of it, but I didn't have the talent you do, nor the perseverance it takes to succeed, but you do. In spite of what you think about me, my offer is genuine. If it helps, we can set it up so you can pay me back any money I give you to start up the company, but I would like you to think about this. Money isn't going to make your dream come alive, but it will give you the chance to see if you can make it work."
"I don't understand any of this." Elizabeth said, shaking her head at the insanity of the situation, "One minute you are insulting me, the next you want to help? How can I trust someone like that?"
"You know, if I had another business to put my time into I would happily give up the family business. I may not have the talent for designs that you do, but I am a good business woman and I would do everything I could to make this work, not just for you, but for me to. So it's not some charity case here. I have a stake in this to. We'd be partners and who knows, we might actually learn to like each other in time."
Still in a daze, Elizabeth walked past Claudia and tried to comprehend what was being offered, "Is this just some ploy to use me to get at Jason or someone else I care about?"
"No." Claudia laughed, "But I can see why you'd think that. Look, we could spend the next few weeks and months trying to get to know each other so you could feel more comfortable about this offer, but I don't need that time. I know this could work and I'm already excited about the idea. Is there any one thing I can do or say that might help you see that I'm serious?"
Pausing for a moment, Elizabeth wondered just what could change her opinion of this woman she'd come to despise, "I don't think you can undo the last 6 months. You haven't been nice to anyone that I know of. You've treated most people with disdain as if they are beneath you and now you seem to be a completely different person talking to me right now. Do you have some kind of personality disorder that I should know about?"
"Humorous, but no, I'm just a very passionate person and I tend to say what I think, before I think it through and that usually gets me into trouble." Claudia said, smiling longer than she had in a long time, "Anyway, I can take a lie detector about this if you that will help, because this offer is real and while it may be coming out of the blue, it all makes sense to me know. It might just be what we're both looking for."
"I need some time to think about this. It's all happening so fast." Elizabeth said as her head spun in a million different directions, "I need to see this side of you more often though, you know, the sane, less bitchy side. I know you hold all the cards, but I can't enter into any partnership until I feel you are actually willing to leave the mob world behind, because I left Jason for that very reason and I'm not going to let you bring it into my life. You better be sure you can do this first."
"Well, I can and will leave it behind. Johnny's wanted control for a long time and he can have it."
"Just like that?"
"Yep, just like that." Claudia smiled, snapping her fingers as if they she were casting a spell, "I thought I needed it to prove to my dad I was worthy of his love, but nothing was going to change that. No matter what I did, my dad was never going to see me as an equal. Even when he left us the business he wanted Johnny to run it and for me to help, so now that he's gone, I have nothing left to prove."
Elizabeth stared at Claudia, trying to get a read on the woman she had been told to fear, "People have said I'm too trusting and it's got me into a lot of trouble in the past, so while I want to believe you, it's going to take more than just words to prove yourself."
"Good, you should be cautious, but you will need to give me a chance or this is doomed from the start."
"Oh I will. If you can stay like this I think there's hope."
"Well good." Claudia said as he cell phone went off. "Well, I'll let you get back to work and I'll be in touch."
"Okay." Elizabeth said as she watched Claudia walk away, wondering what she'd gotten herself into as she walked back into the hospital.
Claudia stepped up to her car, flipped her cell phone on and let out a sigh, "What do you want?"
"Is that any way to talk to your partner?" Brenda said as she leaned back in her lawn chair, enjoying the warm sun on her naked body, "I've been meaning to talk to you about your commitment to this organization. Your little fling with this reporter has really made you soft and I can't have that right now. I told you that everything has to go according to plan or this isn't going to work. That means I need you focused, so you need to dump your pretty redhead for a couple weeks until this is over."
"No." Claudia snapped, "It's taken me a long time to meet someone that I actually enjoy spending time with, I'm not going to toss that aside just so you can get your final revenge on Sonny. I mean, get over it, he left you at the altar, boo hoo. You should consider yourself lucky. Had you stayed with him you'd likely be dead now."
Instantly sitting back up, Brenda's happy go lucky smile was quickly replaced with good old fashioned anger, "Well, if you've ever been left at the altar on what should've been the best day of your life, you'd understand. Now, if you refuse to stop seeing this girl, then you had better start showing a bit more commitment to my plan or you'll be out of this operation and out of this organization in a flash."
"Really? You think Johnny will ever go along with that? Think again."
"Johnny's a guy, if you want me to show you how quickly I can win him over, just say the word and he'll forget he even has a sister."
"Don't you dare." Claudia threatened, her tone changing to meet Brenda's, "Don't make an enemy out of me. You wouldn't like that."
"Oh stop with the threats, you are hardly in a position to make them." Brenda said, happy to point out the obvious, "Let me be very clear about this. You'll do what I ask or you're out. It's that simple."
"You know Brenda; you really shouldn't alienate your allies like this. My relationship with Amelia has nothing to do with how I run the business, so why are you so intent on me ending things with her?"
"I don't like having to explain myself, but since we are still getting to know each other I'll do it this one time." Brenda said with a deep sigh as she got up from her chair and walked around the edge of the large swimming pool, "Let's just say there are things about Amelia that you may not be aware of that I feel make her a threat to my plan. If you are aware of her connection to Sonny, Jason and even the slutty con artist Sam McCall, then you are as stupid as I thought."
"Whatever connection Amelia had to those people is over. She is with me and that's where her loyalty is. I guarantee it."
"Is that so?" Brenda questioned, her disbelief clear in her tone, "Perhaps you can explain why she is having a secret meeting with Sonny right now."
Silence filled the airwaves as Claudia's face went white and she tried to find something to say, but the words just didn't come.
"Just as I thought. What do you suppose Amelia would be discussing with Sonny? We do know they had sex, but you don't suppose she's back for more do you? I wouldn't think so, but Amelia has been prone to bad choices her whole life, so I can't really take that chance, can you?"
"There has to be an explanation for this." Claudia said, doing her best to convince Brenda and herself that Amelia was not betraying her. "I need to find out what's going on."
"You will do no such thing. If she knows you're onto her she will clam up, so I think we need a different approach." Brenda explained, "I want to use a friend of mine to see if she can get any information on Amelia. She's very discreet and she's very good at what she does."
"Just what is she going to do?"
"Oh stop your worrying, she's not going to sleep with Amelia, she's going to befriend her, gain her trust and then find out what's really going on inside that pretty little red head of hers. Nothing sinister I assure you. Well, unless she has turned against you, which would make her an enemy of mine, then all bets are off."
"That's not going to happen, because whatever she was doing with Sonny was not about betrayal, it was about telling Sonny she wasn't going to help him."
"We'll see about that. Now, on another note, could you explain what you were doing with Elizabeth Webber?"
Claudia gritted her teeth and shook her head in amazement, "Are you following me?"
"Not specifically, but I have a lot of friends in Port Charles and that gives me eyes and ears in all the right places. What I do know is you had a very long conversation with her and I'm curious as to why you would even want to talk to her. She's not exactly a big player in any of this."
Claudia sneered at having to explain herself, "But she does know Jason and I wanted to find out if she'd talk him into joining our side."
"Why the hell would you do that?"
"Because he's good at what he does. If he could find a way to work with us, we'd be even more powerful."
"That's the most ridiculous idea I've ever heard. Jason has loyalty to Sonny and himself and that's it. He would never work for you or me. That's just not his thing. Call it macho pride, but he's just never been good at taking orders from anyone but Sonny. I have no real quarrel with Jason, but if he wants to go down fighting for Sonny, then I can't really change that."
"I disagree. I think Jason knows when the odds are against him and I think he'd rather keep doing his job, even if it's with us. We could make him an equal partner, that might make the offer more appealing."
"If that's something you want to do then be my guest, give it your best shot. I say he says no and goes down with Sonny's sinking ship, but I won't stop you from trying."
"Good, then I'll get in touch with him." Claudia said, more than happy to exit the conversation.
End of Chapter 10.