Author's Note: I'm alive! Trust me, I'm more shocked than you are. At any rate…I guess I just needed a break after updating every two weeks for almost a year. Hopefully I'm over that. But all this feedback and I didn't get this out sooner? Shame on me. So I'm gonna skip right onto the chapter here for you guys, love you all. And yes, this is Luis not ugly-haired Lorenzo. LOL very funny. Thank you for the continued support and as soon as I get this up, I'm gonna start on the next chapter—you guys deserve a few back to back updates!!

Chapter Twenty

Alcazar's Demand

A zillion thought raced through Sonny's mind in the moments it took him to respond to Alcazar's announcement. He'd just found out he had a sister. He didn't want to lose her. But what if Alcazar didn't really have Courtney? What if he was playing games as he was so fond of doing? He couldn't let on how much leverage Alcazar had over him. "Why should I believe you?"

"Think of the consequences if you don't."

Sonny glanced across the room at Carly and Jason. They were both gesturing and mouthing, asking what Alcazar wanted, if he had Courtney. Sonny needed to know for sure that Alcazar did before he agreed to anything. He had to be careful. If Alcazar really did have Courtney, he was in no position to be making demands. He had to be reasonable. "If you really have her, then prove it. Let me talk to her."

There was a stretch of silence punctuated by a bit of static and clattering in the background. "Courtney?" Sonny asked the dead air.

Alcazar nodded to one of his men, and the bodyguard ripped the gag from Courtney's mouth. Alcazar held his silver cell phone to her ear.

Courtney's voice came across the line to the penthouse a moment later. "Sonny! What's going on? Who are these men? Why are th—"

Before she could finish, the same bodyguard clamped a hand over her mouth and Alcazar pulled the phone away.

"Satisfied?" he inquired smugly.

No, Sonny wasn't satisfied. He wouldn't be satisfied until his sister was back safe and sound. "What do you want, Alcazar?"

"It's quite simple really. A simple trade. I'll give you Courtney…in exchange for Brenda."

Brenda. Of course. He should have known. "That's not an option."

"I'll give you twenty-four hours to change your mind, Mr. Corinthos. If you don't, I'm afraid your sister will meet an untimely demise." With that, Alcazar hung up.

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Jason knew it was bad from the moment he heard Alcazar's name. Instantly, it became clear to him. What Elizabeth had seen was Alcazar's men dressed in black, dragging Courtney away. He was furious and terrified at the same time. It wasn't like him to get upset about business…about anything. Whatever happened, he dealt with, and he dealt with it rationally. He was finding it hard to be rational this time. He needed to fix that. Losing it wasn't going to help Courtney. He decided to start out with confirming what he'd heard. "Does Alcazar have Courtney?" The words were out of his mouth the moment Sonny hung up the phone. He had to fight to keep his tone neutral.

Carly was right on his heels. "What does he want?"

"Carly," Sonny said calmly, "you need to go upstairs."

Carly's arms moved to her waist, sticking out defensively, getting prepared for a screaming match. "What? No way! I know I haven't known her long, but Courtney is your sister and my friend! You can't keep me—"

They didn't have time to waste. Jason wouldn't have Courtney captive and afraid a second longer than was necessary. Something snapped inside him at Carly's tirade. "We don't have time for this right now, Carly!" he shouted. "Just do what Sonny says!"

Her jaw dropped, in indignant shock and genuine surprise. Jason never yelled.

"Please," Jason added more gently, trying to keep the desperation from leaking into his voice.

Carly threw up her hands and walked away. "Fine," she shot over her shoulder. Jason and Sonny watched each defiant sashay of her hips as she charged up the stairs. The second she was out of sight and presumably out of earshot, Jason turned back to Sonny.

"What does Alcazar want?"

Sonny shrugged. "What he always wants."

Jason spread his arms and raised his eyebrows, silently inquiring, and what's that?

"Brenda."

Jason let his arms drop. Brenda. Of course. Alcazar's whole reason for being here was Brenda. He'd tried to kill Sonny and Jax both, all for the love of Brenda. "Alcazar thinks we're going to trade Brenda for Courtney?" Saying it aloud made it seem even less sensible. Alcazar had to know that Sonny wouldn't sacrifice one woman for another. Jason didn't think he would either, and he didn't even like Brenda—she was loud, and annoying, and obnoxious, not to mention spoiled and selfish. Still, she didn't deserve to be trapped with a man she didn't love, who had stolen four years of her life by convincing her she was sick when she wasn't.

Sonny nodded.

"What do you want me to do?" Jason inquired. They had to come up with a plan and fast.

"We can't give him what he wants. We can't give him Brenda."

"We can make it look like we're going to hand Brenda over."

"No. That's not an option. I will not put Brenda in danger."

"But Sonny—"

"Don't even start, Jason. It's not happening.

Before he'd even finished the sentence, his wife was charging back down the stairs. Jason groaned inwardly. Why couldn't Carly listen for once? Just this once?

"There is no way in hell I'm letting you sacrifice Courtney for Brenda."

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