Author's Note: I had an interesting time writing this chapter, because in the beginning, I was trying to formulate where exactly I'd end. I think it worked well, trying to piece the two worlds together a little. I promise you that I won't drag this out too terribly long as there isn't a terrible amount left. With any luck, we should get a reunion within the next few chapters.;)
Which..by the way, I am going to make an attempt at posting once a week. I think one of the problems was that I didn't have a set schedule as to when updates would be posted. While I still don't, updates will be much more frequent in the next few weeks. Okay? So, please leave me a review. It'd be very much appreciated. :)
Lightning lit up the sky outside of the office building, but no one inside seemed to notice. Two guards stood solemnly by the door, one thinking of a way he could alleviate the itch that was troubling him without disturbing the air in the room. He didn't have to ask to know that this meeting was business.
"You called me here, Corinthos." Lorenzo said from across the wooden table. He gave Sonny a look that told him he was tired of playing games. "If you're expecting an apology, you won't get one."
"It's not what I'm here for." Sonny assured the man. He anxiously tapped his fingers against the aged wood, going over in his mind of what he intended to say. Running a hand over his stubbled chin, Sonny let out a sigh. "That shooting, though...it was a nice touch. I mean, I was distracted...you wanted to send a clear signal that you were in control. What better way could there be?"
An amused smile crossed Lorenzo Alcazar's face, but his eyes held an entirely different look. Suspicion lay there in a slightly darker hue, but he decided he'd let it go for the moment. "You're saying you thank me?"
"So you're admitting it, then? No dancing around it this time?" Sonny asked, raising an eyebrow. "Didn't think it'd be that easy."
"What do you want, Sonny? Retaliation for some long forgotten act? To insure your family is safe, you want us to team up against some other enemy? Because honestly, I don't see us becoming anything close to friends." Lorenzo said sarcastically. His fingers brushed against the shot glass that sat in front of him, long since emptied, but none the less worthy of capturing his attention.
"You're right about that." Sonny said, thinking back to the day that single handedly catapulted plans into motion, that led him to where he was. Thunder cracked loudly outside, and the window shook visibly. "I want answers, Alcazar. For the moment, that's all I ask."
His gaze scanned the room, checking momentarily for any sort of hidden recording or video device, and then to the two guards standing obediently by the door. "You really called me all the way here for answers?" Lorenzo spat, as if saying the word tasted like poison. An evil grin crossed his face as a smile formed against his lips. "It's Alexis, isn't it? The woman turned you soft. Played on your heartstrings, got you to realize that there's some bigger, more important thing in life, right?"
Sonny sighed audibly before rubbing the tension from his neck.
Lorenzo reached for the bottle of rum that sat on the edge of the table and slowly poured some into the shot glass. He shut the bottle, returned it to its place. Setting the glass back down with a soft 'clink', Lorenzo stared across the table at Sonny. Lines brimmed his eyes, and it was evident even to him that the last few weeks had taken their toll on him. It didn't make him feel any worse, but only served to make him feel like a nail had been put in the coffin. "I guess I could take your silence as a yes." He said before downing the contents of his shot glass.
"It isn't like that." Sonny replied, his voice coming out harsh. "It doesn't matter who or why I'm here, what matters is what will happen."
Raising an inquisitive eyebrow, Lorenzo again resumed his hold on the shot glass, seemingly using it as a source to work out his frustration. "And that's supposed to be..."
"You want Port Charles, right? It's the reason you've teamed up with countless people in an attempt to bring me down? What I can't figure out exactly is why." Sonny settled for being quiet and firm, but understated.
"Why? Because I've got a business, Sonny. You should know that better than anyone else. Am I right? Your alleged coffee business is only a cover, and we all know it. Mac and those fine officers at the PCPD do, too...they just don't have enough hard evidence to prove it." Lorenzo cleared his throat, the effects of the rum beginning to take an effect on him. "You'll slip up, though. Guilt, maybe. Alexis and all of her self-reighteousness eating away at you, begging you to do the right thing. To turn away from the business for once."
Sonny shifted in his chair, the only sound in the room coming from the rain that now assaulted the window. Neither man dared break their steady gaze.
"So you do. You turn yourself in, agree for some kind of deal." Lorenzo said, recognizing the look of surprise Sonny wasn't entirely good at hiding. "What? You think I'm stupid? You didn't call me here to become friends, Corinthos. You came here because you want out. You're scared as hell, and you're willing to do whatever it takes."
"Making so many assumptions can't be good for you." Sonny said, pouring himself a shot of rum. Instead of downing it however, he simply held the glass midair in his hand. "That isn't how this is gonna go. Even if it were, well-"
"What happened to you, Corinthos? You used to be hard, stone cold...unreadable. The trouble started when everything started to unravel, didn't it?" Lorenzo asked, his vision blurring a little. Blinking, he assumed it was only due to lack of sleep.
Smiling, Sonny offered a shrug. "What can I say? I guess you know me, don't you? You've got me pegged."
Lorenzo pointedly directed a finger in his direction. "Yeah. Yeah, I do. You don't deserve anything you've got, and sooner or later, it'll be taken away from-" Lorenzo stopped, thunder once against cutting through the room. He smiled, shaking his head. "But why bother, right? Why warn you." He stood up with a start, and slowly began trudging to the doorway. He turned back to Sonny, who simply offered a shrug. "And just so you know...this isn't over."
Sonny waited until Lorenzo's guard escorted him out to sink back in his chair, defeated. He'd gotten an inch closer to unraveling the enigma that was Lorenzo Alcazar, but knew what he'd said was true; it was far from over.
The sun shone brightly overhead as Alexis looked over to see Morgan chasing Kristina around an old swingset. She sighed, laughing a little. It felt good to know that in the midst of things, Kristina has someone to cheer her up. "Hey-" She called upon seeing Sam come from inside the house. "Come on guys, it's time for lunch."
"But I'm not hungry..."Morgan cried, running over and out of breath. He looked over at Kristina, and grinning, reached out to tag her. "Tag! Ha...you're it!"
With that, both Kristina and Morgan ran off again. Kristina laughed, finally catching him on the other side of the slide.
"Guys." Alexis cried, finally shaking her head in defeat.
Sam laughed, sitting next to Alexis in the grass. She set the plate of sandwhiches on the blanket, and took the moment to study her mother. She'd barely known for that long, but knew enough about Alexis to tell when she was putting on a brave face for everyone else. She also knew that having a picnic in the backyard was just as much for her as it was for the kids. Being cooped up in a house wasn't what anyone's idea of a great time was, let alone someone who had no idea where their husband was. "They're peanut butter." Sam said, offering Alexis a half of a sandwhich. "I figured the kids would like them."
Alexis nodded, slowly taking it from her. "Thanks." She said, smiling in a way that didn't quite reach her eyes. She saw Kristina and Morgan finally running toward the blanket, and nodded carefully, any hint of sadness carefully tucked away. "So, you really were hungry then, huh?"
"I am." Kristina replied, greatly making a plateful from everything Alexis and Sam had taken out. "Where's Michael? Or Carly?"
"He's helping her with something important for you guys, but don't worry about it." Same said with a grin, wiping at peanut butter that stuck to her lip. Thinking of the cake that Carly practically begged her to make, and the scene she and Michael were causing as they iced it, she knew it would cheer the children up at least. "They'll be out soon."
Alexis nodded, nudging Kristina's shoulder. "So who won?" She asked.
"I did. But then Morgan asked to rematch, so that's what we did." Kristina replied, popping a grape into her mouth. In that moment, she looked even more like Sonny.
Beside Alexis, Molly gurgled, tossing her toy bear against the ground. Alexis tousled her curls before smiling. "Well, at least you guys had fun."
"Uh-huh." Morgan agreed as his fingers had oranged from a cheeto. At that very moment, Michael came barreling through the back door. "Mikey!"
"Alexis, Sam! Do you-" Michael leaned on his knees, desperate to catch his breath. "Where's Max?"
"He's talking to Francis out front, I think. Why, is something wrong?" Alexis asked, growing worried.
"It's my mom." He said, red hair shaking with worry. "She said it's the baby."