Change of Heart
Chapter 9: Hello future, Goodbye Past Part 1
Carly's POV
I don't know where we are, but the way the moon and stars reflect off of the water is beautiful. I haven't seen anything like it since I lived in Florida. Thinking about Florida always makes me think of my horrible past. Something I don't like to do. Sonny always asks me about my past, but I'm always very vague when answering him. There are just some things about me I don't want him to know. Its not that I don't trust him, because I do; its that I just want to forget and move forward with my life. I look over beside me and am startled to see Lorenzo sitting beside me and watching me.
"How long have you been sitting there?"
"About five minutes," he replies chuckling.
"Why didn't you say something?" I ask.
"I called your name twice, but you were in your own little world and didn't hear me."
He's right. I don't think I would have heard him if he were screaming in my ear.
"What were you thinking about?" he asks.
"Nothing," I lie.
"That wasn't a nothing look."
"Then you should take that as a hint to mind your own fucking business," I tell him angrily, but that only makes him more curious.
"How about I make you a bet. I win you tell me, in depth, what you were thinking about. You win I'll answer any question you want, in depth, except anything to do with this arrangement and our location," he suggests.
I don't really want to talk about it, but I'm never one to turn down a bet.
"What kind of bet?" I ask curious.
"Backgammon, of course. That's all that's here."
"Alright, I'm in." If I lose, which I won't, I don't need to tell him all of it.
How wrong I was. I ended up losing. Damn it!!
"So what were you thinking about?" he inquires.
"My past in Florida," I answer. "Go on," he says urging me to continue. Sighing I begin to tell my tale. "After I graduated from high school, I wanted to make some money so I could find my birth mother. I ended up taking a job in a strip club owned by Vinny Puretti."
"The mob boss down there?" he interrupts.
"Yep, that's the one. That was the first of many mistakes."
"Go on," he says completely interested with my story.
"Like I had told you before, I wanted to find a rich, powerful man and take him for all he was worth. I had only been working there a few weeks when Vinny started to show interest in me. I knew he was rich and powerful, but I had no idea at the time who he actually was. A year later I was engaged to him and ended up running one of his other stripclubs. Things were going great too, until I started noticing things. Money going in and out of the club that wasn't in the books, small things like that. Then one night, Vinny was having a meeting at the club and there was a shoot-out. Some of the dancers were killed, and I took to bullets. One bullet in the shoulder and another in the neck that were really bad. I was in the hospital a long time. I had to be on a respirator. I had a lot of time to think and I started piecing things together. When the cops finally came to take a statement from me, I was to doped up before, that brought me to my final conclusion. What you already know, he was in the mob. When I was better, I went back to work without questing him. I didn't want him to get suspicious of me so I minded my own business. Two weeks after going back to work, I stole some money out of the safe there and ram. Vinny didn't catch up with me until six months later in Vegas. I was dancing at the Paradise Lounge when he came in. He dragged me back to his hotel room and just went nuts. He beat the shit out of me and brought me back to Florida the next morning. I had hid the money and I would never tell him where it was and he didn't ask. I don't think he cared much about it then. This process went on for two years until I came to Port Charles," I tell Lorenzo. I can't believe I told him the whole story. It's still painful to talk about.
"He's never came after you since you've been in Port Charles?" he asks.
"Nope. Not to long after getting to town I got involved with Jason Morgan, and Jason's been in my life since then. Plus now I'm married to Sonny so he wouldn't dare come after me now." I sometimes wonder about that myself. I don't care anymore. I'm glad I'm out of his life.
"In the end how much money did you end up taking from him?" he asks.
"Two-million," I tell him casually.
"Two-million! He's not going to give up, when you took that much. He's probably still looking for an opening," he tells me.
"I doubt it. It's been quite a few years since then. I'm sure he's moved on," I tell him even though I've often wondered about it too.
"You don't honestly believe that do you?"
Sighing I tell him "I don't know anymore."
"Well I'm tired I'm going to bed," I get in between yawns. "Good night, Lorenzo."
"Good night, Carly."
Lorenzo's POV
I can't believe that she actually told me the whole story. I expected just bits and pieces of it from her. I mean this is something that even her husband doesn't know about her. I think that she actually trusts me now. At least as a friend. This is definitely something to build on. Maybe things will work out in my favor after all, but I'm not going to count on it just yet. I knew there was something about her that was far too comfortable in this life. When I took her from Ric, she wasn't scared or anything, almost like it was second nature to her. I guess in away it is. I've done some business with Vinny Puretti, and I know how he operates. He's definitely not one to screw over. I also know that he wouldn't let something like what she did simply go. He's probably still looking for away to get at her. I'll have to do some checking. I take out my cell phone and make a call to one of my guys.
"I want you to look into Vinny Puretti out in Florida. See if he's looking into Carly Corinthos. Let me know when you find anything out," I tell the man over the phone.
"Alright, boss," the voice replies back.
Hanging up the phone I make the decision to tighten security around the villa. Just in case either Joseph or Puretti come after her here. I know Joseph will, and I just want to take every precaution in case Puretti does think this is the opportunity too.
Everything that I learn about Carly just makes me even more intrigued with her. I remember hearing rumors about what she had just told me. Back when she had finally left for good there was a lot of talk about how easy it was to screw Puretti over. If his woman could walk out with that kind of money and he didn't know about it, makes him look bad. I know he'd do anything to change that. Including coming after her after all these years. I hate to think about what he'd do to her if he ever got a hold of her again. He'd probably beat her to death or worse torture her. Yes, I'm definitely going to have to keep my eyes open. I can't allow for a single screw up.
My cell phone starts to ring interrupting my thoughts.
"Yeah."
"Puretti disappeared a week ago, boss."
"Do we have any idea where he is."
"No. Not even his men know where he is. They think that one of the other families killed him, but no ones confirmed or denied this."
"Alright. I want you to tighten security around all of our locations. Did you find out if he's inquired about Mrs. Corinthos?"
"A few weeks ago he had one of his guys dig around about her. He mostly found newspaper clippings and her address at Harborview Towers."
"Alright. Get me copies of those papers and fax them to me immediately."
"I've already got them and I'll send them now."
Hanging up the phone I head into the study to wait for the clippings to arrive. "This should be interesting reading," I say laughing to myself.
As the last of the articles arrive I start to read the first one. There's story's about Carly's son being kidnapped by a former lover. There's some more on the trial and then the next one catches my eye. The guy got off with community service and Carly shoots him in open court. Now that's priceless. The next few are about that and how she ends up at Ferncliff, the local mental institution. The next bunch is mainly society articles. Carly's wedding to AJ Quartermaine, and pictures of them throughout their marriage. I can't believe she was married to that jerk. There's probably a story behind that. The next few are about her and Sonny. There's one about Carly's accident at the Quartermaine mansion when she lost her first baby with Sonny and nearly lost her life too. A bunch more society pictures with Sonny and some stories about him being arrested. There's an interesting one about Carly hiding in a hotel room dressed as a hooker to get Joseph Sorel on tape doing a deal, but ended up getting Sonny arrested instead. Their three weddings are among the articles too. There's a bunch with Jasper Jacks and there club. Another one catches my eye, this one about Carly's car accident. One of them confirms that the DNA test came back that she had died in the accident, and then one a few days later saying she showed up at her own funeral. Then there are the latest stories about her kidnapping.
Well Puretti definitely is up to something, and he seems to know every detail of what she's been up too.
Sighing, I get up to check the guards. Then I double check to see that everything is in order for my deal with Corinthos tomorrow.
When I see that everything is in order for tomorrow, I head up to bed. As I'm walking by Carly's room I hear her start screaming. I push open her door with my gun drawn to see that she's having a horrible nightmare, no doubt caused by her story.
I go to shake her awake, but she's thrashing so hard that she nails me right in the face. Damn she's got a good right hook!
"Carly, wake up! You're all right; it's just a nightmare. Please Carly, wake up." All of a sudden she sits up and pulls me down with her. I can't tell if she's awake yet or not, but I highly doubt she's awake yet.
"Carly, Carly wake up." I urge her once more while stroking her face. She's soaking wet from sweat and I wonder how long her nightmare's been going on for.
When her eyes snap open I can tell she's surprised to see me lying beside her.
"What.... What's going on?" she asks me breathlessly.
"You were having a nightmare. I heard you scream so I came in to check on you. I couldn't get you to wake up, and then you pulled me down next to you," I tell her as I continue to stroke her face.
We lay there and stare at each other for a few minutes before she notices a bruise begin to form around my cheek and jaw.
"Did I do that?" she asks while tracing it with her finger.
"Mmmhm," is all I can get out. What she is doing to me feels so good.
"I'm sorry."
She's staring at me and when she goes to lick her lips I can't resist the urge to kiss her any longer. As I lean to kiss her, she closes her eyes in anticipation. At first the kiss starts out gentle, but fast becomes very heated. As our hands start to roam, we break the kiss. I go to sit up and apologize for kissing her when she reaches out for me.
"Please don't go. Will you just hold me for awhile?" she looks almost lost. I think she's afraid of having another nightmare.
"Sure," I tell her softly.
I lay down beside her and wrap my arms around her. When I think she's asleep I close my eyes. As I'm drifting to sleep, I feel her lips brush mine softly.
"Goodnight, Lorenzo." I hear her soft reply.
"Goodnight, Carly," I mumble in my sleep.
Elsewhere
Joseph Cadenza picks up the phone. "I want to move on Alcazar's villa in the morning before he heads back to Port Charles. I want Mrs. Corinthos unharmed."
"What about Mr. Alcazar?" asks the man on the other end.
"If he gets in the way kill him."
"Alright, boss."
Hanging up the phone Joseph smiles. "I warned you, Lorenzo. You should have taken my offer. Now you will regret it and your love for Mrs. Corinthos will be your down fall."
Smirking he heads of to bed.
Elsewhere, at the same time
Vinny Puretti is looking out over the French countryside when his phone rings.
"What"
"We're all set to move tomorrow," says the voice on the other end.
"Alright, anything else?"
"Alcazar had one of his men looking into you, sir. He's also beefed up security on all of his locations."
"Ok, thanks. I'll meet you tomorrow."
Hanging up the phone he moves to make himself a drink.
"Well Caroline, it would seem you told Alcazar about me. No matter though, I will get you back. It'll just be a little more difficult to get you, is all. Tomorrow we will finally be together again."
He's laughing as he too heads off to bed.
Carly's POV
I don't know where we are, but the way the moon and stars reflect off of the water is beautiful. I haven't seen anything like it since I lived in Florida. Thinking about Florida always makes me think of my horrible past. Something I don't like to do. Sonny always asks me about my past, but I'm always very vague when answering him. There are just some things about me I don't want him to know. Its not that I don't trust him, because I do; its that I just want to forget and move forward with my life. I look over beside me and am startled to see Lorenzo sitting beside me and watching me.
"How long have you been sitting there?"
"About five minutes," he replies chuckling.
"Why didn't you say something?" I ask.
"I called your name twice, but you were in your own little world and didn't hear me."
He's right. I don't think I would have heard him if he were screaming in my ear.
"What were you thinking about?" he asks.
"Nothing," I lie.
"That wasn't a nothing look."
"Then you should take that as a hint to mind your own fucking business," I tell him angrily, but that only makes him more curious.
"How about I make you a bet. I win you tell me, in depth, what you were thinking about. You win I'll answer any question you want, in depth, except anything to do with this arrangement and our location," he suggests.
I don't really want to talk about it, but I'm never one to turn down a bet.
"What kind of bet?" I ask curious.
"Backgammon, of course. That's all that's here."
"Alright, I'm in." If I lose, which I won't, I don't need to tell him all of it.
How wrong I was. I ended up losing. Damn it!!
"So what were you thinking about?" he inquires.
"My past in Florida," I answer. "Go on," he says urging me to continue. Sighing I begin to tell my tale. "After I graduated from high school, I wanted to make some money so I could find my birth mother. I ended up taking a job in a strip club owned by Vinny Puretti."
"The mob boss down there?" he interrupts.
"Yep, that's the one. That was the first of many mistakes."
"Go on," he says completely interested with my story.
"Like I had told you before, I wanted to find a rich, powerful man and take him for all he was worth. I had only been working there a few weeks when Vinny started to show interest in me. I knew he was rich and powerful, but I had no idea at the time who he actually was. A year later I was engaged to him and ended up running one of his other stripclubs. Things were going great too, until I started noticing things. Money going in and out of the club that wasn't in the books, small things like that. Then one night, Vinny was having a meeting at the club and there was a shoot-out. Some of the dancers were killed, and I took to bullets. One bullet in the shoulder and another in the neck that were really bad. I was in the hospital a long time. I had to be on a respirator. I had a lot of time to think and I started piecing things together. When the cops finally came to take a statement from me, I was to doped up before, that brought me to my final conclusion. What you already know, he was in the mob. When I was better, I went back to work without questing him. I didn't want him to get suspicious of me so I minded my own business. Two weeks after going back to work, I stole some money out of the safe there and ram. Vinny didn't catch up with me until six months later in Vegas. I was dancing at the Paradise Lounge when he came in. He dragged me back to his hotel room and just went nuts. He beat the shit out of me and brought me back to Florida the next morning. I had hid the money and I would never tell him where it was and he didn't ask. I don't think he cared much about it then. This process went on for two years until I came to Port Charles," I tell Lorenzo. I can't believe I told him the whole story. It's still painful to talk about.
"He's never came after you since you've been in Port Charles?" he asks.
"Nope. Not to long after getting to town I got involved with Jason Morgan, and Jason's been in my life since then. Plus now I'm married to Sonny so he wouldn't dare come after me now." I sometimes wonder about that myself. I don't care anymore. I'm glad I'm out of his life.
"In the end how much money did you end up taking from him?" he asks.
"Two-million," I tell him casually.
"Two-million! He's not going to give up, when you took that much. He's probably still looking for an opening," he tells me.
"I doubt it. It's been quite a few years since then. I'm sure he's moved on," I tell him even though I've often wondered about it too.
"You don't honestly believe that do you?"
Sighing I tell him "I don't know anymore."
"Well I'm tired I'm going to bed," I get in between yawns. "Good night, Lorenzo."
"Good night, Carly."
Lorenzo's POV
I can't believe that she actually told me the whole story. I expected just bits and pieces of it from her. I mean this is something that even her husband doesn't know about her. I think that she actually trusts me now. At least as a friend. This is definitely something to build on. Maybe things will work out in my favor after all, but I'm not going to count on it just yet. I knew there was something about her that was far too comfortable in this life. When I took her from Ric, she wasn't scared or anything, almost like it was second nature to her. I guess in away it is. I've done some business with Vinny Puretti, and I know how he operates. He's definitely not one to screw over. I also know that he wouldn't let something like what she did simply go. He's probably still looking for away to get at her. I'll have to do some checking. I take out my cell phone and make a call to one of my guys.
"I want you to look into Vinny Puretti out in Florida. See if he's looking into Carly Corinthos. Let me know when you find anything out," I tell the man over the phone.
"Alright, boss," the voice replies back.
Hanging up the phone I make the decision to tighten security around the villa. Just in case either Joseph or Puretti come after her here. I know Joseph will, and I just want to take every precaution in case Puretti does think this is the opportunity too.
Everything that I learn about Carly just makes me even more intrigued with her. I remember hearing rumors about what she had just told me. Back when she had finally left for good there was a lot of talk about how easy it was to screw Puretti over. If his woman could walk out with that kind of money and he didn't know about it, makes him look bad. I know he'd do anything to change that. Including coming after her after all these years. I hate to think about what he'd do to her if he ever got a hold of her again. He'd probably beat her to death or worse torture her. Yes, I'm definitely going to have to keep my eyes open. I can't allow for a single screw up.
My cell phone starts to ring interrupting my thoughts.
"Yeah."
"Puretti disappeared a week ago, boss."
"Do we have any idea where he is."
"No. Not even his men know where he is. They think that one of the other families killed him, but no ones confirmed or denied this."
"Alright. I want you to tighten security around all of our locations. Did you find out if he's inquired about Mrs. Corinthos?"
"A few weeks ago he had one of his guys dig around about her. He mostly found newspaper clippings and her address at Harborview Towers."
"Alright. Get me copies of those papers and fax them to me immediately."
"I've already got them and I'll send them now."
Hanging up the phone I head into the study to wait for the clippings to arrive. "This should be interesting reading," I say laughing to myself.
As the last of the articles arrive I start to read the first one. There's story's about Carly's son being kidnapped by a former lover. There's some more on the trial and then the next one catches my eye. The guy got off with community service and Carly shoots him in open court. Now that's priceless. The next few are about that and how she ends up at Ferncliff, the local mental institution. The next bunch is mainly society articles. Carly's wedding to AJ Quartermaine, and pictures of them throughout their marriage. I can't believe she was married to that jerk. There's probably a story behind that. The next few are about her and Sonny. There's one about Carly's accident at the Quartermaine mansion when she lost her first baby with Sonny and nearly lost her life too. A bunch more society pictures with Sonny and some stories about him being arrested. There's an interesting one about Carly hiding in a hotel room dressed as a hooker to get Joseph Sorel on tape doing a deal, but ended up getting Sonny arrested instead. Their three weddings are among the articles too. There's a bunch with Jasper Jacks and there club. Another one catches my eye, this one about Carly's car accident. One of them confirms that the DNA test came back that she had died in the accident, and then one a few days later saying she showed up at her own funeral. Then there are the latest stories about her kidnapping.
Well Puretti definitely is up to something, and he seems to know every detail of what she's been up too.
Sighing, I get up to check the guards. Then I double check to see that everything is in order for my deal with Corinthos tomorrow.
When I see that everything is in order for tomorrow, I head up to bed. As I'm walking by Carly's room I hear her start screaming. I push open her door with my gun drawn to see that she's having a horrible nightmare, no doubt caused by her story.
I go to shake her awake, but she's thrashing so hard that she nails me right in the face. Damn she's got a good right hook!
"Carly, wake up! You're all right; it's just a nightmare. Please Carly, wake up." All of a sudden she sits up and pulls me down with her. I can't tell if she's awake yet or not, but I highly doubt she's awake yet.
"Carly, Carly wake up." I urge her once more while stroking her face. She's soaking wet from sweat and I wonder how long her nightmare's been going on for.
When her eyes snap open I can tell she's surprised to see me lying beside her.
"What.... What's going on?" she asks me breathlessly.
"You were having a nightmare. I heard you scream so I came in to check on you. I couldn't get you to wake up, and then you pulled me down next to you," I tell her as I continue to stroke her face.
We lay there and stare at each other for a few minutes before she notices a bruise begin to form around my cheek and jaw.
"Did I do that?" she asks while tracing it with her finger.
"Mmmhm," is all I can get out. What she is doing to me feels so good.
"I'm sorry."
She's staring at me and when she goes to lick her lips I can't resist the urge to kiss her any longer. As I lean to kiss her, she closes her eyes in anticipation. At first the kiss starts out gentle, but fast becomes very heated. As our hands start to roam, we break the kiss. I go to sit up and apologize for kissing her when she reaches out for me.
"Please don't go. Will you just hold me for awhile?" she looks almost lost. I think she's afraid of having another nightmare.
"Sure," I tell her softly.
I lay down beside her and wrap my arms around her. When I think she's asleep I close my eyes. As I'm drifting to sleep, I feel her lips brush mine softly.
"Goodnight, Lorenzo." I hear her soft reply.
"Goodnight, Carly," I mumble in my sleep.
Elsewhere
Joseph Cadenza picks up the phone. "I want to move on Alcazar's villa in the morning before he heads back to Port Charles. I want Mrs. Corinthos unharmed."
"What about Mr. Alcazar?" asks the man on the other end.
"If he gets in the way kill him."
"Alright, boss."
Hanging up the phone Joseph smiles. "I warned you, Lorenzo. You should have taken my offer. Now you will regret it and your love for Mrs. Corinthos will be your down fall."
Smirking he heads of to bed.
Elsewhere, at the same time
Vinny Puretti is looking out over the French countryside when his phone rings.
"What"
"We're all set to move tomorrow," says the voice on the other end.
"Alright, anything else?"
"Alcazar had one of his men looking into you, sir. He's also beefed up security on all of his locations."
"Ok, thanks. I'll meet you tomorrow."
Hanging up the phone he moves to make himself a drink.
"Well Caroline, it would seem you told Alcazar about me. No matter though, I will get you back. It'll just be a little more difficult to get you, is all. Tomorrow we will finally be together again."
He's laughing as he too heads off to bed.