Bad news comes, don't worry even when it lands
Good news will work its way to all them plans…
We'll float on, alright
Don't worry, even if things end up a bit too heavy
We'll all float on, alright
-Float On by Modest Mouse
"Have you lost your damn mind?"
The following question is the last thing Diego expected to start his morning. The person asking the question is the last person he thought to be the first person he sees for the day. However, Diego's life has undoubtedly been made up of unexpectedness. He went from Courtney Matthews's teenage foster son to discovering he was the biological son of an infamous mobster. When he first arrived in Port Charles, he was a teenager full of rage. He was surprised that someone like Courtney Matthews would take a kid like him into their home, but she did without reservations. It is also Courtney that would inform him that Lorenzo Alazcar was his father. His arrival at Port Charles led him to a whole family with various connections.
The connections of the well-known families of Scorpios, Quartermaines, and Spencers is an endless tree line of who knew who. Courtney was the sister of another infamous mobster, Sonny Corinthos. Courtney's ex-husband was Jason Morgan, a hitman for Corinthos and the son of Alan Quartermaine. His stepmother Skye, Lorenzo's wife, also had ties to the well-established Quartermaine family. Carly Spencer was once married to his father and is also ex-wife to Sonny and best friend to Jason. Robin Scorpio is also good friends with Jason and Sonny.
Robin Scorpio is also a doctor at General Hospital who works alongside Monica and Alan Quartermaine. Maxie had become part of the Scorpio family when Mac married her mother. Diego met Maxie through Georgie, and the only reason he knew Georgie was because of Dillon and Brooklyn, who happened to be Quartermaines. It is all about the connections, and he also now shares a connection with Maxie through Carly, who is currently standing front of his apartment doorway.
"Good morning to you too, Carly," Diego responded with a hint of sarcasm. He opens the door fully to allowed Carly entrance into his small studio apartment. "Why were you banging on my door. And why at nine in the morning just to ask if I am out of my mind?"
"I am just going to cut to the chase. Why in the hell are you doing side jobs for Coleman?" Carly questioned with fierceness.
"It's none of your concern, but I deserved to know how you found out," Diego responded.
"Who did you think" Carly stated in return, "Lulu," they both said.
It was a slow night at Coleman's bar. Diego was sitting lonesome at the corner with a personal bowl of peanuts. He occasionally came to Coleman's during his free time to play a game of pool by himself. He occasionally spent his free time seeing his baby sister, Lilia. However, things have become awkward since Skye moved in with the Quartermaines. The tension between him and his father did not help matters as well. So, he took up quiet nights playing pool to get away from the stress of Lorenzo, continually finding ways to pull him back into the business.
Some days it was tempting. Even though Skye kept her distance from Lorenzo, she still did not have to worry about money, thanks to the Quartermaines. When Diego chose to walk away from his father and the business, he was left with nothing. While he was grateful for Mike for giving him a job when no one else would, the money was not enough. He applied for financial aid for school, but the cost of daily living was adding up.
One night playing pool, he overheard a conversation between Coleman and a man seeking assistance for blackmailing a co-worker. When he heard what the man was willing to pay for, Diego casually and confidently offered his services. Coleman was known for shady business dealings and side hustles of the lower criminal activity ranks. If anyone can handle those dealings on a reasonable fee, it would be him, a former son of a mobster. It was ironic that playing pooling leads him to do some shady work again, but it is independent and away from his father. No one knew until Lulu Spencer walked into the bar with a fake I.D.
"Bourbon on the rocks, please, Coleman," Lulu said as she sat on the barstool.
Coleman casually and without question prepared her drink. As he placed it in front of her, Diego could not help but question, "it doesn't bother you that Lulu is underage, Coleman."
"How about you don't question other's people's decision-making. Like the way, I don't question you getting back into shady business dealings for an extra buck," Coleman responded with attitude.
Lulu stared at Diego with a questionable glare as she took a sip of her drink.
"I appreciate it if you don't announce my business out in the open," Diego responded.
"And I appreciate you not to question my business decisions," Coleman said in return.
"Fair enough. Tell me any more gigs," Diego asked hopefully as he cracked some peanuts.
"Things are kinda slow, but there has been some brewing with Escobar dealings, but that may be a little close to home," Coleman informed him.
"Look, there's nothing I can't handle. Just let me know, okay" Diego said as he cracked his last peanut to eat.
He got up from his chair as he walked past Lulu; she called out to him – "Diego."
"Yes, Lulu," he answered with a grim smile.
"Does Maxie know you been hanging around Coleman?" she questioned.
"Does your family know that you're hanging around a bar with a fake I.D.," Diego responded.
"I could care less about what the Quartermaines think, but you definitely would care what Maxie would think," she said with a glare, "so how about you keep me being here to yourself."
"Why would I? I mean, you're not known for keeping secrets to yourself. I am still wondering how you knew about Maxie's pregnancy," Diego replied.
"If it is a secret, then conversations shouldn't be done in public space. Carly should know that, especially when a family is involved," Lulu said back with a smirk.
"Well, in that case, this bar is public space, and the Quartmarines are technically your family now, so why," Diego said with sarcasm.
"They wouldn't care, but Maxie would," Lulu said.
"And what makes you think Maxie would give the time of day to hear anything you have to say, huh. Besides, if the Quartermaines wouldn't care, why would it matter if they know or not? Or is it would be one family member, your stepbrother, Dillion, perhaps."
"Don't call him that," Lulu responded angrily.
"Why not? That's what he is; you think pretending he isn't would lessen what you did. I get it, Lulu; you're angry at your father and everyone around you. But you're not the only one with problems," Diego said with a hint of sympathy, "and be careful with the bourbon. You do come from a family of addicts."
That night was three weeks ago, and he hoped Lulu would keep things to herself because she would not want the Quartermaines to know about her going to Coleman's to drink. Perhaps, he should not have said that last-minute remark on her family being addicts, but he sincerely meant it with concern. Cause anger and resentment with a drinking problem were not good, especially for someone not fully matured. He probably should have said something to someone – Nicolas, Lucky, or even Carly. Selfishly he worried that if he said something, she would let the news out somehow about his newfound work. Not that he wanted to hide anything from Maxie, they technically were not in relationship status that requires him to inform her. However, he did feel guilty for not telling her everything. He planned to do enough work to build sustainable savings to his name and then stop.
"Why did she tell you?" Diego questioned.
"Why else? She hopes I would tell Maxie, so Maxie will feel hurt and end your guys whatever relationship you got going on. Lulu is just angry and hurt. She can't deal that Maxie did the same thing she did, slept with a married man, but everything is working out for Maxie and not for her." Carly answered honestly.
"Yeah, well, Maxie hasn't had it easy, and the difference is she's trying to move on. And I am sure Lulu's anger runs deeper than the situation with Dillon. I know it may be cliché, but I think it all starts with her father, your uncle, hardly being around," Diego said with concern.
"Trust me, I know. I tried talking to Lulu about her feelings and even suggested therapy, but that made her more upset. It's hard to help someone that doesn't want the help. I can't help my cousin at this moment, but I can help you. Why are you doing work through Coleman?" Carly asked.
"I need the extra cash. It's not a permeant thing," Diego answered.
"That type of work is never temporary. Lulu said she heard the name, Escobar. Are you insane? Low-key blackmailing is one thing, but doing a side job for someone with tries to mob activity; I thought you wanted out," Carly said with grave concern.
"I wanted out from my father, and you shouldn't judge my choice considering your ties," Diego replied.
"Exactly, because of my ties, I know the seriousness of what you're choosing to do. Coleman is independent and has no way to protect you if something goes wrong. You already have a record. The smallest act can get you prohibition or, worse, jail time. You think Coleman is going upfront the cost of a decent attorney. And what about Maxie? I thought you wanted to build a life with her," Carly questioned.
Carly bought valid points, but he also knew he still needed the cash. When he became the son of Lorenzo Alazcar, he never had to worry about money. Now, away from his father, the idea of relying living paycheck to paycheck on minimum wage is deadening to him. He wants a life with Maxie, but what kind of life can he provide for her if he could not fully provide for himself. He has no other well-known skills other than criminal activity.
"I want a life with her and the baby. I haven't told her I love her yet, but once I do and start a relationship with her, I want to know I can fully take care of her. It's just to build up savings, and once I graduate with a degree in Communications and Business, I can get a better position than a waiter at Kelly's," Diego answered back with convention.
"If it's temporary, then work for Sonny instead," Carly said.
"What, why would I work for Sonny?" Diego looked at Carly like she just lost her mind.
"Why, not? You want to be free from your father, and Sonny can make sure Lorenzo stays away. You need money. Sonny's gigs will pay way more than Coleman's, and he protects his employees" Carly spoke like she solved all of Diego's problems.
Could he work for Sonny Corinthos, even if temporary? Sonny's organization is well-known, and he is the most benevolent leader out of all the families in New York. Doing work for Sonny's organization that deals with imports and money laundering is a lot better than drugs and guns for his father and other business dealings. There's also a code to live by in the business. Women and children are off-limits, but not everyone is strict about following that code, especially if it is beneficial to their own needs.
He has heard Sonny makes no expectations and always honors that code. Sonny is also known to be generous, always giving to various charities. Maxie once told him she had a level of respect for Sony because of what he has done for Robin and donating to General Hospital for Stone Cates Memorial AIDS wing. It is the connection that he thinks Maxie will forgive if he took on work through Sonny.
"Maxie told me about his history with Robin. Considering Sonny's profession, Robin always speaks highly of him," Diego spoke with hesitance, "if I say yes, what makes you think Sonny will agree."
"Cause, Sonny, trust my judgment. Cause once I tell him about the reasons why, he'll what to help you to help Maxie, who's my friend, and Robin's cousin," Carly said with certainty.
"Okay, I am in the maybe lane, but I need to talk to him first. I don't want to be a charity case here. I need to actually earn money," Diego replied.
"I am sure Sonny will want to talk to you first as well. What are your plans this Thursday?" Carly asked.
Thursday, Thanksgiving, Diego has not forgotten that upcoming holiday. He received two invitations, technically three if he counts his father's quest for dinner at a city restaurant. The other was from Skye for the Quartermaine's infamous pizza dinner. Then there was a home-cooked Thanksgiving meal with Scorpios. He chose Maxie and her family, but he promised Skye to stop for a visit to see Lilia. Carly's question, though, sounds like a possible fourth invite for a Thanksgiving meal.
"Spending it with Maxie and her family, why?" Diego questioned.
"Perfect, I was planning to take the boys to see Sonny for dessert after Jax, and I have dinner with them. I invited Maxie, come along with her to talk to Sonny," Carly said like it was not a big deal.
"Maxie wouldn't think it's odd that I am tagging along," Diego said in return.
"Why will it be odd? You have been doing a lot together, and she'll be happy to know we're hanging out. Plus you can talk about your plans and finally tell her how you feel. Don't want to start a possible relationship on deceit," Carly said wisely.
"Okay, so this Thursday, over Thanksgiving dessert, I'll talk to Sonny," Diego said as he walked to his dresser drawer and proceeded to grab his keys and wallet.
"Where you off to" Carly questioned as he walked to his apartment door. He opened the door and allowed her to step out first.
"Taking Maxie to her Lamaze class today," Diego said like it was the most natural thing in the world.