The Songbird Trilogy Book 1 Something To Remember

by Darkrayven

Sami Brady gets a job working for Tony Dimera at Club Echelon, much to the dismay of Lucas Roberts. However all is not as it seems and Sami definitely has an agenda of her own where both men are concerned. Will she get in over her head? COMPLETE

1. Part I

Days of Our Lives and it's characters are the property of Ken Corday and NBC respectively. I have no affiliation with Days Of Our Lives, Ken Corday Or NBC and do not claim any rights as such. The song Something To Remember is by Steven Sondheim for the Dick Tracy Soundtrack. I have no claims on this song whatsoever and have merely borrowed it for the purpose of storyline. I have no money so suing me is pointless.

Something To Remember is an original work of fiction by Darkrayven and said story as well as any original ideas contained within the story are the sole property of Darkrayven. You may not copy and paste, edit or paraphrase this work or any ideas contain within without the sole permission of the author. Thank you and enjoy!

Something To Remember – Part I

CHAPTER 1

The auditions were taking forever and Sami was waiting nervously in the wings for her name to be called. She couldn't believe she was doing this, had never done anything like this before actually. Sure, she liked to be in the spotlight, but she had always been shy when it had come to singing. She knew that she had a good voice, better than most actually, but it wasn't something she had ever wanted to exploit before. Chloe was the voice of Salem, not Sami Brady. But after tonight, all that would change. After tonight, Salem, or at least it's men, were gonna be blown away!

Tony rolled his eyes as the brunette, with the frizzy brown hair struggled through her song on stage. When Lucas had suggested they audition for a female singer at Echelon, he had thought it was a fantastic idea. It was a perfect way to attract more clientele. Just get a stunning girl, with a sultry voice up on stage and the customers would line up to see her! And they'd stick around to sample what the other girls of his club had to offer. Now however, as he sat through yet another squeaking mouse, he had to wonder if he shouldn't just scrap the entire idea. He had a headache and all he wanted to do at this point was to home and take several aspirin, anything to forget this night.

"Enough, enough" he shouted at the girl on the stage "But I wasn't finished" the girl squeaked. "Oh yes you were" Tony mumbled under his breath, putting his head in his hands. "Um, thanks, we'll call you" Lucas piped up, from his seat next to Tony. He could sense that Tony was quickly losing patience and that was the last thing he wanted. After all, this had been his idea and if it ended up pissing off his boss instead of pleasing him, Lucas would be in hot water. "Lucas can we please wrap this up." Tony said impatiently. "Sure boss, I think there's only one more for tonight anyway." Lucas said. "Harry, call the last girl onto the stage please" "Sure thing Mr. Roberts" Harry said

"Brady? Samantha Brady?" Harry called

Sami was feeling a bit nauseous at this point, but she steeled herself and her nerves. "I can do this!" she told herself "I can do anything!" She took a deep breath and sauntered out on stage.

Lucas's head shot up in disbelief, as did Tony's, when Harry called Sami's name. He couldn't have heard right, but in the next instant, Sami strolled onto the stage and up to the mike and his stomach sank. "Lucas! Is this your idea of a joke?" Tony shouted as he stared at first Sami and then Lucas in disbelief. "No! Lucas choked out "I have no idea what she's doing here!" He jumped out of his seat and ran up to the stage. "Sami, what the hell are you doing? Get down from there! Are you trying to get me fired?" "Yes Sami, what are you doing?" Tony asked her. Sami folded her arms across her chest defensively and glared at first Lucas and then Tony. "I'm here to audition, what does it look like I'm doing" she said, "Sami please cut it out, please! Lucas pleaded with her even as he attempted to grab a leg and pull her down. "Ha, ha, ha." Tony laughed, "Alright Sami, joke's over, but thank you, I needed that laugh" Sami glared at Tony "Well, that's great, except that I wasn't joking! I came here to audition! Now are you gonna hear me or not?" Tony suddenly stopped laughing and stared at Sami. "My God, you're serious aren't you? "As a heart attack!" Sami shot back at him. "Lucas, get the hell off me! She shouted down at Lucas as she tried to kick him away from her leg. "Lucas, leave her alone and sit down. If she really wants to audition, then I'll let her." Lucas spun around and stared at Tony in shock. "Tony" he began "Lucas, sit down and shut up! Tony cut him off. Lucas walked back to his chair and took his seat next to Tony "Well, Miss Brady, you have our complete attention. Please begin whenever you're ready. And this had better be good!"

Sami looked at Tony and Lucas and gulped. Now that she was up here and they were watching her, she wasn't so sure that she could do this anymore. "Sami," Lucas taunted in his annoying way" We're waiting" Suddenly, the lump in Sami's throat disappeared and any doubts she had went with it. She'd do this and she'd do it well, if only to show Lucas up. She turned her head and nodded at Harry to start her music.

Sami took a deep breath as the music to Lena Horne's "Love Is The Thing" began to play. Then she opened her mouth and began to sing. It seemed to come so naturally to her, almost as if someone else were guiding voice. The tune strummed along and she looked out, without really seeing anything. All she could see, all she could hear and feel were the notes and words as they overtook her, became part of her.

Lucas couldn't believe it, she really could sing! How in the hell had she hidden this from everyone for so long, from him? He glanced at Tony who seemed mesmerized by Sami and her singing. He took a look around the club and noticed that everyone else seemed entranced by her as well. All the staff had stopped what they were doing and were listening to Sami intently. Lucas was dumfounded, it was only Sami after all.

Sami closed her eyes as she hit the final note of the song. There was silence for a moment and then everyone in the club burst into applause. She opened her eyes and looked out, for the first time seeing all the staff. And they were all applauding, for her. She blushed and looked at Tony as he walked up to the stage "Bravo, Sami, Bravo! Where in creation have you been hiding yourself?" he said as his hands circled her waist and he swung her down. "Well I" she began. "Oh never mind, Sami" he said as he gave her a hug. She pulled back to look at him. "You liked it then? She asked nervously. "Liked it?" he laughed, "When can you start?" "Ha ha" Sami laughed, "Well, anytime, Tony!" "Good!" he said. You'll come by the mansion in the morning and we'll discuss all the details over breakfast, alright?" Sami nodded at him happily. He gave her another quick hug and placed a kiss on her forehead, before letting her go. "You, my dear, are going to make us a fortune!" "Now go on home and rest that voice of yours. I want my star, fresh in the morning, ok!" he said "Ok Tony" Sami giggled "Lucas you lock up and see to it that Sami gets home safely! Goodnight you two!" Tony said as he walked out the door, happily humming "Love Is The Thing"

CHAPTER 2

"Alright everybody, it's time to lock up, so get on out of here!" Lucas shouted angrily. He was really ticked off. He couldn't believe that this was happening. How in the hell could Tony actually hire Sami of all people! She was still here, waiting for him to drive her home, since her car was in the shop and she'd taken a cab there. He waited until everyone had left before he turned around and furiously faced Sami! She was so happy, that she was oblivious to Lucas's anger, until he swung around and unleashed it on her full force.

"How could you do this to me Sami! Huh? What, keeping Will away from me all of that time wasn't enough torture for you, so you came back for more?" Sami was so startled by Lucas' outburst that she actually took a step back from him. She couldn't remember the last time she had seen him this angry! "Lucas," she said "just calm down ok, nobody did anything to anyone, sheesh!" "NOBODY DID ANYTHING, NOBODY DID...ARRGGHH." Lucas couldn't even finish the words. He was so furious that he began to turn a shade of purple that she hadn't seen on him before. She took a few more steps back, putting a table between them this time. Not, that he would ever dare to touch her, but she wasn't taking any chances. She decided to try a different tactic with him, since reasoning obviously wasn't working. "Now look you loser. Tony hired me to sing at the club. ME, out of all of those girls. So you had just better believe that I am taking this job and if you don't like it, then tough shit! Just shut your mouth, do your job and stay the hell out of my way, because I'm here now and I AM NOT LEAVING! Now I will be waiting for you in the car!" Having said that, she grabbed his car keys off the table, tossed her hair and flounced out the door.

Lucas stared at the door in disbelief and then, suddenly, he burst into laughter. The entire night just struck him as incredibly funny and Sami's performance just now, was the icing on the cake. He could see right through her and he knew that although he might have overreacted to the situation, his doing so had just made her very, very nervous. "Fine," he thought to himself "If the little girl wants to play, we'll play. But now, she's on my court and she's gonna play by my rules!"

Sami was shaking a bit by the time she got into the car. She couldn't believe that she had pulled it off. She had actually gotten the job as the singer in Echelon. She wasn't sure what to make of Lucas' reaction, though. What did he care if she sang there or not? They'd probably have almost no contact with each other, since she assumed that she would be answering directly to Tony and only Tony. Well, it didn't matter what Lucas thought or did, it couldn't matter. This job was more important than their petty squabbles and somehow, she'd have to make him see that, without telling him the whole truth. No matter what , he could not find out the real reason she had sought the job at Echelon and he could not get in the way.

CHAPTER 3

The ride home had been an uncomfortable one. Lucas hadn't said one word. He'd just gotten in the car and hadn't even glanced Sami's way. "Well fine" she thought. "Let him sulk, there's nothing he can do about it anyway." The thought that she had succeeded in getting a rise out of him for once made her smile, as he turned off the engine. "What the hell are you smiling about" he growled. "Nothing, nothing at all!" she said sweetly, reaching for the door handle. "Hold it" he said gently grabbing her arm to stop her from getting out. "Look, if we're gonna be working together at the club, I think there are a few things we need to get straight." He said. I'm the manager at Echelon, which means that I'm in charge! Tony trusts me to see that things run smoothly there, and I'm not gonna have you coming in and screwing that up for me, understand? Sami wanted to concentrate on what he was saying, but his hand was still on her arm and it was hard to hear when the blood was roaring in her ears. She tingled where he was touching her, somewhere deep inside, she knew that she should remove his hand. But she couldn't seem to move. Breathing seemed a bit too much to ask as well, at this moment. She didn't understand it, but lately whenever he accidentally brushed up against her or was even close to her, her body just came to life. "Sami? Sami are your listening to me?" "Huh? She said coming out of her private reverie. Man, she had to get a grip or she'd blow everything.

"I asked if you understood me. You'd better not screw this job up for me or else!" he said. "Oh blow it out your ass, Lucas. Contrary to your beliefs, the world does not revolve around you and I do not live to torture you. Just stay out of my way and I'll stay out of yours!" having said that she shook off his hand and got out of his car, slamming the door. "Don't slam my door!" he shouted out her. But she was already on her way upstairs to her apartment.

Sami, collapsed against her door as soon as she was in her apartment. Damn, but that man could unsettle her. Her contact was right, she was gonna have to learn to control her emotions a lot better if she was gonna pull this off. She walked into her bedroom and reached under the bed for the headset she'd been given. She adjusted it on her head and clicked the transmitter on. "Songbird here, over." She said into the mike. "So," the voice in her ear said, "How'd it go tonight?" "Like clockwork. I'm in, just like you said I'd be." "Good work, songbird. Any problems?" he asked. Sami hesitated as the confrontation with Lucas ran through her mind "No, no problems, all's proceeding according to plan." "And Dimera, what'd he say?" her contact asked "Are you kidding me, he's thrilled. There was nothing but dollar signs in his eyes when he left. I'm meeting with him in the morning to discuss the particulars of my new "job"." She said. "Good, good. Just make sure you put something other than dollar signs in his eyes when he looks at you. But take it easy, we don't want to arouse his suspicions." He said "No, just other parts." She laughed. "Don't worry about a thing. I can handle Count Dimera." "Alright, but don't kid yourself and don't underestimate the Count. No matter how well you know him, he's still a very dangerous man, so be careful." He warned. "Don't worry I will be" she answered. Songbird out."

Sami put the headset back into its box and under her bed. She lay back on the bed and sighed, thinking about the evening's events. Tony, she was sure she could handle, Lucas Roberts was another matter altogether. She had to stay away from him or she might just blow this whole thing. "I won't think about him." She thought. "I need to concentrate on my meeting with Tony in the morning." But as she drifted off to sleep, it wasn't Tony who haunted her dreams, it was the father of her son.

Meanwhile, across the hall, Lucas was tossing and turning in his bed, his mind also on the evening's events. "Damn Sami," he thought. Why the hell did she have to get a job singing at the very club that he managed? It wasn't fair. It was bad enough that he'd had to see her every day when they had worked at the hospital together. That had been pure torture. Eventually, he hadn't been able to take it anymore and had taken the job with Tony. But now, here she was again, back to put him through more hell. What was worse was that this time he not only had to see her, but he'd have to hear her beautiful voice singing all those songs of love and lust up on that stage. He turned over and angrily punched his pillow. How the heck was he supposed to sleep when every time he closed his eyes all he could see was her. But eventually he did fall asleep, with Sami singing to him in his dreams.

CHAPTER 4

Sami walked into the Dimera dining room the next morning and knew that the outfit that she'd chosen with such care, had been the right thing to wear to her meeting with Tony. His eyes traveled the length of her body, clad in the tasteful black pants suit. It clung provocatively in all the right places and it seemed to be having the desired effect on the handsome man before her, as his eyes finally came back up to rest on her face. "Good morning Tony" she said walking over to him. Tony took her hands in his and placed a kiss on her cheek. "Sami, how do you manage to look this stunning so early in the morning?" He asked. "Well, it's not easy, but someone's got to do it." She said with a smile. "And you do it so well! Breakfast?" he asked gesturing to Iliana who stood poised in the doorway. "Just coffee, thanks. So, shall we get down to business?" she asked, taking the cup of coffee from Iliana.

For the next hour they went over the details of Sami's new position at the club. Tony had arranged for rehearsal time in the mornings and already had a band and choreographer as well as dancers lined up for Sami. When they came to the topic of salary, Sami managed to keep her mouth from dropping open. She certainly hadn't thought that a job singing would pay that much She suspected that Tony had upped the salary because of their friendship and because he knew she could use the money, or just maybe to buy her off, but for what? She pushed the thought to the back of her mind and turned her attention back to her boss. "Well, now" he said leaning back in his chair and looking at her "I think we've covered everything. There's just one thing left, your wardrobe." He said "My wardrobe?" Sami asked glancing down at herself and then back at him, confused. "What's wrong with the way I dress?" she asked him a bit defensively "Nothing, my dear, you look beautiful, but it's certainly not suitable for the Echelon stage." He put an arm around her shoulders "Now, I've arranged to have Bliss from the club meet you at Salem Place this afternoon and take you shopping and.." "Hold on!" Sami said, removing his arm and turning around to face him. "There is no way that I am letting one of your Echelon bimbos dress me, so if that's your idea, you can just forget it buster!"

Tony was taken aback by Sami's outburst and looked at her in surprise. "Sami!" he said without patience, "Did you forget that you now work for me? What that means is that I make the all the rules now. When it comes to your job at Echelon you'll work when I tell you to work, sing what I tell you to sing and wear what I tell you to wear! Now is that understood or do I need to find myself another songstress?" Shit, she thought to herself. She'd pushed too far. Good thing she knew how to fix it. "Tony, I'm sorry." She said quickly, taking a step towards him. "I didn't mean to undermine your authority, it's just that I had my own ideas and I was hoping you'd listen to them…with an open mind." She said placing one hand lightly on his chest and gazing at him with wide, questioning eyes. She bit her trembling lower lip lightly for effect and she knew it was working when his gaze shifted to her mouth and his mood suddenly seemed to change. He put his hands on her shoulders and then ran them down her arms. Then he drew her closer to him, so that their bodies were almost touching, causing her to shiver with excitement. "So," he asked huskily, "what were your ideas?" He put his arms lightly around her and caressed her back with his hands. Sami smiled inwardly as she gazed innocently up into his eyes. She knew she had him.

CHAPTER 5

"I can't believe that I let you talk me into this!" Tony said as he handed yet more packages to Bart to take to the car. "My God, woman, how much shopping can you do?" Sami smiled and went to stand in front of him putting her arms around his neck "But I thought you wanted me to look nice for the club?" She asked innocently "I mean all this is for you." She lowered her eyelashes as she said it and when she looked back up at him, she was startled by the white-hot intensity of his gaze. He wanted her, she thought. Badly! She'd better take it a bit slower though, no need to rush things. "All of this? He asked putting his arms around her waist and drawing her closer. Sami's heartbeat quickened as he lowered his head and covered her lips with his own. So much for going slowly she thought. Time seemed to stop for those few seconds and then suddenly, she remembered where she was and why she was there. This was not how she'd intended things to go this afternoon. She pulled back slowly "Time to stop I think" she said shakily "Are you certain that's what you want?" Tony asked, running a finger down her cheek. Sami wasn't sure of anything when he was looking at her like lion looking at his dinner. His eyes held hers and she understood why all those women, including her own mother had been so drawn to him. His style was a powerfully seductive one. Her entire body tingled and her mouth went dry. She licked her lips and felt him harden against her.

She had to put some distance between them and fast or she was gonna end up flat on her back in the limo, and she wasn't so sure that she would care. "Tony" she laughed, lightly pushing away from him and trying to affect an amused air "We're in the middle of Salem Place, for heavens sake. Behave yourself!" She turned her back on him and pretended to study the outfit in the window of Ballistics. Tony sighed disappointedly. "If I must." he said putting his hands on her shoulders. But then he leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "But next time, I won't be so easily put off" Sami shivered, but whether it was from fear or excitement she wasn't sure She took a deep breath and turned to face him. "Time for more shopping!" she said, grabbing his hand. "Oh alright" he groaned as she dragged him into the store, a far safer place for her to be at the moment.

CHAPTER 6

Sami was standing with Tony in her living room as Bart finished putting away the last of her packages. "Bart, just wait in the car downstairs." Tony said to him, staring at Samantha. It was making her a little uncomfortable, the way he was looking at her. He hadn't said anything to her, since arriving at the apartment a few minutes earlier. But he was staring at her, as though he were undressing her with his eyes and it made her nervous. Bart exited the apartment, leaving them alone. Alone, she thought, in her apartment, with a bed in the next room. She gulped nervously. Tony must have been thinking the same thoughts, because he was suddenly standing directly in front of her, their bodies mere inches apart. "Alone at last" he said picking up a lock of her hair and playing with it. "I guess so" was all that Samantha could say, looking down at the floor nervously. He tilted her face up to his and slipped his hand behind her neck so he could kiss her. Just as their lips were about to connect, the door burst open. Sami jumped away from Tony as though struck by lightening. "Guess what Mom!" Will yelled as he came running in, stopping dead in his tracks as he saw his mother leap away from Tony. "What is it honey?" Sami said breathlessly, going over to her son and dropping to her knees to hug him. "What's "he" doing here?" Will asked, belligerently. "Will" said Sami in a shocked voice. "That is not polite! Apologize to Mr. Dimera!" "Sorry" Will said, looking down at the floor and scuffing his shoe on the carpet. "Oh that's alright Will. I understand. It must be hard seeing a strange man here with your mother. Especially after what Brandon Walker did" Tony said, looking at Sami sympathetically. "Ahem" Sami cleared her throat before turning back to Will "What was your news sweetie?" "Oh" Will said "I won first place in the science fair" He said, holding up a blue ribbon. "Honey, that's great!" Sami said hugging him excitedly "I know how hard you worked on that rocket!" Yes, congratulations Will." Tony said smiling down at the boy. "Thanks" Will muttered, glaring at Tony mutinously. He had been taught from an early age to hate the Dimeras, by his grandfather and his great grandfather and he viewed Tony's being there as an invasion. "Mom," he said to Sami "Can I go up and play at Jimmy's?" "Sure baby," she said "Just be back down by 6. I wanna take you out to dinner to celebrate, ok!" "Ok Mom!" Will said, running out of the apartment, leaving the door open in his wake. Sami turned back to Tony, embarrassed, by Will's behavior. "I'm so sorry, that he was rude to you. I just don't know what's gotten into him lately. "Oh that's quite alright." Tony said. "It must be hard on him, your breakup with Brandon that is." "Yeah" Sami answered quietly. "Now" Tony said taking a step towards her and placing his hands on her shoulders. "Where were we?" Sami's eyes met his as she tilted her head up and he bent his down to kiss her. "Hey, Will" Lucas called from the hallway. "You forgot your …." Lucas' sentence trailed off as he stood in the doorway, witnessing the intimate scene before him. For the second time that day, Sami jumped as though struck by lightening.

CHAPTER 7

Lucas walked slowly into the apartment, stunned by what he had witnessed. Tony and Sami?? He thought. His mind could barely conceive of it, Tony was old enough to be her father. He had to have been seeing things, he thought. But one look at Samantha's guilty face told him, he hadn't been. "Sorry to interrupt!" he said coldly. "What is it Lucas?" Sami asked, finally looking him in the eye. "Will left his book in my car, I was just bringing it to him" he said, placing the book on the table and looking from Sami to Tony and back again. "Thank you!" Sami said tightly. Geez, she thought, what is he doing here? Lucas broke the moment of uncomfortable silence and said "Sami, I need to speak to you, now please!" "Can't it wait?" she said exasperated. Gosh, why did he have to come in now, just when she was getting somewhere? But secretly she was relieved that he had arrived when he did. She wasn't sure how that Tony would have settled for a mere kiss. "No, it can't wait." He said casting a meaningful glare in Tony's direction "It's about Will and it's important! I'm sure that Tony will excuse us." "Of course! Tony said with a small smile "I have to go anyway, Sami. I have a business meeting to get to." "Oh, alright" Sami said, trying to sound disappointed. "I'll walk you out" she said, glaring at Lucas as she passed him. "Lucas" Tony said, "I'll see you at the club tonight?" "You bet boss." Lucas answered, turning away, not wanting to witness the goodbye between Tony and Sami. "Well thank you Tony, for everything." Sami said, looking up at Tony expectantly. He leaned down and placed a light kiss on her forehead. "It was my pleasure. I'll see you in the morning alright?" "Sure" Sami said and closed the door as he walked away.

Sami was halfway between furious and embarrassed. But ultimately the feeling that won out, now that she was left alone with Lucas, was nervousness. "So what was it that you wanted to discuss?" she said hastily, pretending to pick up Will's toys so that she wouldn't have to look Lucas in the face. "What are you doing Sami?" Lucas asked "Picking up Will's toys" she said, although she knew that's not what he meant. "No" he said grabbing her arm and forcing her to look at him "What are you doing with Tony?" "I don't know what you're talking about Lucas!" she said trying to free her arm, but he wouldn't let go. "Geez Sami, if you want to ruin your life fine, but you will not ruin Will's!" he hissed at her "Let go of me Lucas! It's none of you damn business what I do or who I do it with. Tony Dimera happens to be charming and handsome and exactly the type of man I should be dating" "Dating?" Lucas spat out. "Funny but it didn't look like that's what you were doing in here to me" "You pig" she said reaching out to slap him with her free hand. But Lucas caught that one too. "And what the hell is all this stuff?" He asked looking around "What is Tony outfitting you to be his whore too?" "Go to hell Lucas" Sami yelled at him "And I said Let Me GO!" "Gladly!" he said shoving her away a bit harder than he meant too. She wound up sprawled on the floor. "Ow!" Sami said grabbing her wrist and glaring up at him with tears in her eyes. "Sami?" he said anger quickly turning to concern that he'd really hurt her. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to…." But Sami looked at him angrily, tears spilling down her face "Just get out Lucas, Get out and don't come back." She said and began sobbing "Sami" he began "GET OUT!" she screamed at him. He looked down at her and then stalked from the apartment slamming the door behind him, as Sami sat on the floor and sobbed.

CHAPTER 8

Sami walked out of Craig's office a bit disappointed. She had expected Craig to ask her to stay when she handed in her resignation, but he hadn't. Instead he had told her it was no problem and that she didn't even need to give notice if she needed to start her new job right way. Apparently they had someone who could take over her duties right away. So much for appreciation for a job well done, she thought. She began to walk towards the elevator, looking in her purse for her car keys and ran right into her mother. "Oh, Sami." Marlena said surprised. "What are you doing here? I thought this was your day off." Oh boy, Sami thought to herself. "It is mom, I just came here to see Craig…to hand in my resignation." "What?" Marlena asked, clearly shocked "Well, see mom I got another job, so I don't need to work here anymore!" Sami was dreading Marlena's next question "Oh!" Marlena said excited for her daughter "Sweet girl, that's terrific! Where are you going to be working?" Sami fidgeted nervously, unable to look her mother in the eyes. "Sami?" her mother said questioningly. "Tell you what, why don't we go into my office and talk about this, ok?" "Mom, I really should go." Sami said but one look at her mother's face and she knew that Marlena was not going to let this go.

Marlena walked into the office behind Sami and closed the door. "Now" she said "Why don't you tell me about this new job of yours. I'm quite interested to hear about it." Sami fidgeted nervously with the button on her shirt. "Well mom" she began "I'm not sure how interested you'll be once I tell you, or how happy." Marlena looked at Sami in alarm. "Sami, it's nothing illegal is it?" "No, of course not mom" Sami said quickly. "Oh good." Marlena said, breathing a sigh of relief "Well c'mon then sweet girl. Tell me what it is. Marlena looked down distractedly at her desk. "I mean, it's not as though you're working for Tony at Echelon's or something." Silence filled the room as Sami stared guiltily at the floor. Marlena slowly raised her head, aware that her daughter had said nothing to her statement and now noticed the guilt on Sami's face. "Sami!" She whispered horrified. Sami looked up at Marlena and felt a stab of pain in her heart at the awful look on her mother's face. "Mom, it's not what you think.." Sami began. "Oh my God" Marlena said sinking into her chair. "Mom please, I swear it's not as bad as you're thinking it is!" Sami said standing opposite her mother in front of the desk. "Not as bad as I'm thinking! How in the world could it be any worse Sami? You're working in a brothel owned by Tony Dimera!" Marlena shouted at Sami shooting out of her chair and slamming both hands down on the desk for emphasis. Sami winced at her mother's shouting and knew that this was not going to go very well. For one her mother never yelled and it wasn't often she got that look in her eyes, usually only when Sami had screwed up majorly. Sami was determined to remain calm and said, "I'm not a hostess there! I'm singing there 4 nights a week." "Singing there? Marlena said, "Since when do you sing?" "I don't, I mean I didn't." Boy, she was making a mess of this. "Look mom, Tony had auditions for a singer at Echelon and I auditioned on a whim, a fluke. But he liked me and so did everyone else. For the first time in my life I can do something that I like to do, sing! And he's paying me twice the hospital did and…" Enough!" Marlena said cutting her off in exasperation. She came around the desk and gently took Sami by the shoulders. "Sweetie, you understand what that club is and who Tony is, don't you?" "Of course I do." She said wishing her mother wouldn't treat her like a dimwit. "But I have nothing to do with that. All I do is sing there! I sing a couple of sets a few nights a week and I go home, that's it! I am not one of those girls!" She turned away from her mother, so that Marlena wouldn't see the tears in her eyes. "Samantha?" Marlena said "Samantha Gene look at me!" Sami willed the tears back and turned to face her mother. "I want you to quit. I want you to quit today. If the hospital isn't making you happy, then fine, you don't have to work here. I'll talk to John and he'll give you a job at Basic Black!" Marlena said and smiled at Sami as if it were all settled. . "No!" Sami shouted at Marlena! Good God the woman really didn't have a clue when it came to her own daughter. "I don't want to quit and I do not want to work for your husband or anywhere near Kate Roberts!" "Don't you dare take that tone with me young lady!" Marlena said. "You are not working for Tony Dimera and that is that!" "No, that is not that!" Samantha screamed. "Get this straight mom, I am not a child and YOU DO NOT RUN MY LIFE! I am going to be working at Echelon and there isn't a damn thing that you can do about it!" And with that Sami slammed out of Marlena's office with her mother calling after her. She waited until she was outside of the building before she leaned up against the wall to let the tears spill over her cheeks. After a few minutes she took a deep breath and got a hold of herself. She pulled out her cell phone and began dialing as she walked quickly to her car. "It's me," she said to the voice on the other end of the line. "I need to see you….now!"

CHAPTER 9

"She actually ordered me to quit, like I was a child!" Sami ranted as her companion looked on amused. "I mean, who the hell does she think she is? Who does she think I am?" Her companion looked at her with a small smile. "She thinks she's your mother and that she's looking out for your best interests." He said "And I think you know that and that's what's got you upset, because you know she's right." Sami sat down wearily on the stone ledge, in the catacombs beneath Salem. They had chosen to meet down there, because it would afford them the most privacy. It also had the most secret entrances, limiting the chances of someone seeing Sami, if she was being watched. Sami sighed and said "I hate that you know me so well!" "Nah you love it girl and that's a fact" he said doing a perfect imitation of John Black "Odell!" she laughed, shaking her head at him "You'd better not let my stepfather hear you making fun of him, he'll blast your ass." "Shit girl, I ain't scared of him. He knows who's boss!" Ops said laughing along with her "Sure, sure." She said sobering now and looking at him. "Ops, what am I doing?" He sat on the ledge and put his arm around her. "Your job Sam, same as me." Sami sighed and put her head on his shoulder, thinking back on their past. She and Odell had been friends since grade school back in Colorado. He and Eric had pulled her out of more scrapes there than she could remember and she'd always looked on him as another brother. She'd known that he had joined up with the ISA but was unaware that John was back with them as well. That is, until Ops had knocked on her door a last year, saying that he needed her help. It seemed that someone was killing off agents and they suspected it to be Tony or someone in the Dimera organization. He'd informed her that Tony was alive and would be heading back to Salem and asked her to get close to him. Sami had been unsure at first, but had remembered everything that the Dimeras had done to her family, and had finally agreed to help. It had seemed simple at first and Tony had bought her story about needing his help to get Brandon. But then suddenly, Ops had pulled her out of the game. He said that Shane had discovered her involvement and had ordered her to be pulled. Sami had been both angry and relieved, not being very experienced at the time. But things had changed after the earthquake, when Tony had tried to kill John. It was then that Sami had contacted Shane personally and demanded to be put back onto the assignment. They had argued, her safety being his main concern. But she convinced him that she was ready for this, having trained with Ops the past year in secret. She had proved a quick study to Ops, especially since she had some martial arts training from when she was younger. She was now more than capable of handling herself, not that anyone else in Salem would ever know it. Eventually Shane had relented and had put the plan to have her get close to Tony back into action. It had been her idea to casually mention to Lucas that a singer might up Echelon's revenue. From there the rest had been easy, so far. She came out of her reverie and lifted her head from Ops' shoulder to look up at him. "Tell me again that I can make a difference." She said. "Look Sam." He said to her "If you're having doubts about this, I mean if you want out, then say the word and it's done. We'll find someone else!" "No!" she said, squaring her shoulders "Someone else's family isn't in danger here!" She looked at him, the determination slowly coming back into her eyes. "So," she said, "what's our next step?"

CHAPTER 10

"Shit!" Sami said to herself the next morning. She realized that she had left her wallet back at the club, when she'd left rehearsal. She decided to go back and made a u-turn. Suddenly a siren blared behind her. She pulled over, cursing. This was just not her day. A knock on her window got her attention and she looked out. She smiled in relief and rolled down the window. "Hi daddy!" she said. "Hey there peanut, what's with illegal u-turn?" He asked seriously. "I know, sorry daddy, but I realized that I left my wallet behind and I wasn't thinking. I'm just in a rush to get it is all." "Alright, alright, just be more careful." He said "So where'd you leave your wallet, anyway?" he asked her. Sami tried to think of a lie, but one just wouldn't come and her father was waiting for an answer. "Sami?" "What? Oh sorry Dad, I'm a bit distracted. I left it at Lucas' job." She gulped and waited for the explosion that came anytime the subject of Lucas working at Echelon came up. "What the hell were you doing at Echelon young lady?" He barked at her. "I had to stop by and give him something and it couldn't wait. Sheesh daddy, calm down. It's not like I'm working there." Damn, she thought. Why did I say that! "I know peanut, I know. But you know how Kate and I feel about Lucas working there and we just don't wanna see you involved." "I know daddy, but I really do have to run now, ok?" She asked, just wanting to get the hell out of there. "Ok, ok, but don't hang around there and drive carefully please!" he told her "I will daddy, I love you!" "Me too peanut! Bye." he said leaning in to give her a quick peck on the cheek, before she drove off and headed back to the club.

Sami walked into the club and headed into the back room. She stopped short at the sound of her mother's and Tony's voices. "I don't want her working here Tony!" Marlena hissed. "Now you are going to fix this. I want her fired, today! This is no place for my daughter to be working and I can't believe that you went behind my back and hired her in the first place!" "Now Marlena, really be reasonable. The girl is in no danger here. She's merely singing." Tony said. "Yes mother," Sami said making her presence known. She walked towards the pair. "Do be reasonable!" she said slamming her purse down on the table. "Sami.." Tony started to say, but Sami held up a hand to silence him, as she stared down her mother. "How dare you mom! How could you come here, to my job and humiliate me like this? HOW?" "As if it isn't humiliating for me to have my daughter working in a place like this!" Marlena shot back. "Sami was taken aback for a moment at the anger in her mother's voice. She had always suspected, that despite the occasional protests to the contrary, her mother was ashamed to have her as a daughter. "Sami took a deep breath and looked at her mother. She had always admired her so much, had always fought for her approval. But in the moment she didn't give a damn what her mother or anyone else thought. She knew what she was doing and why. Even if her mother didn't know the truth, it still didn't give her any right to judge or disapprove of Sami's behavior. And she had finally had enough! "I love you mom." She said calmly "But I am not Belle and I am not Carrie! I have to live my life the way I see fit. I'm sorry if that embarrasses you, but that's the way it is. I've been hired to do a job and I'm going to do it, and do it well. And if you can't see me as being any different than the other girls who work here, than I guess I really am lost to you. Now I want you to leave and I don't you to come back here." Marlena stared at her daughter in disbelief for a moment. "Fine, I'll go, but this discussion is not over." She said glancing at Tony meaningfully before looking back to Sami. "I'll wait for you back at the penthouse and we can…" "No, mom, we can't." Sami said cutting off her mother. Marlena stared at Sami for a hard minute before turning and walking out the door, never looking back. And somewhere inside Sami knew that she had just broken ties with her mother and possibly her whole family.

CHAPTER 11

Tony came up behind Sami and put his hands on her shoulders. "I'm so sorry Sami, really I am." He said. She turned around to face him, looked him dead in the eye and asked, "Are you firing me?" Tony hesitated a moment but finally said. "No." Sami sighed and slipped her arms around his neck. "Then you have nothing to be sorry about." She said simply and leaned into him. He put his arms around her and stroked her hair. This felt nice, she thought. It had been a long time since someone had simply held her. Well, she thought, there had been the one time after Brandon had left and Lucas had. But no, she wouldn't think about that right now. She needed to concentrate on the man holding her. He was being so gentle with her at that moment that it was hard to believe that he might be a cold-hearted murderer. What if the ISA was wrong, she thought. She pulled back slowly and stared up at him. She looked deep into his eyes, searching for some sign, of what she wasn't sure, cruelty she supposed. But it wasn't there. All that his dark eyes held was concern for her. And then concern quickly turned to passion and he was kissing her deeply She melted into him and let him turn her thoughts away from the world for the time being.

The next few days came and went in a blur. Endless rehearsals occupied her days, while Tony Dimera occupied her nights. She was surprised at how patient he was being with her, considering that they had yet to sleep together. He'd wanted to but she had been firm that it wouldn't happen until after her debut. She said it might jinx her opening night. He'd looked disbelievingly at her when she'd said it. But short of forcing himself on her, there was nothing for him to do but accept it, not that he hadn't tried every which way to seduce her. But Sami stood firm, she couldn't let him think she was an easy conquest or he might get suspicious. Besides she was unsure about sleeping with him. Sex tended to confuse things in the most honest relationships and their relationship was far from honest.

Finally Saturday arrived. Sami left rehearsal and headed towards one of the secret entrances to the catacombs to meet Ops. She swung down into the tunnel and whistled the signal for Ops. He gave a birdcall back, letting her know that the coast was clear. "Well, Miss Songbird, are you all ready for your big debut tonight?" Ops said, grinning at her. "As ready as I'll ever be." She said. "Don't tell me your nervous?" "About singing no, about afterwards yes." "Ahh" Ops said giving her a knowing look "Tonight is the night to give it up to the big bad huh." "That's what I promised him." Sami said sitting down wearily on the ledge. "I don't know why I'm so nervous, it's not like I'm a virgin or anything." "Well." Ops said taking a seat opposite her. "If it helps you can practice with me." He said winking at her. Sami laughed "Thanks, but no thanks." She said. "Shot down again." Ops said. "Oh well, I'm saving my self for Toni Braxton anyway." "Oh Ops!" she said laughing again. Her laughter faded and she said "Thanks." "You know you could still back out." He told her. "No!" she said firmly "I've come this far, and there's no turning back now." "That's my girl, and just to help you out, I got a little something for you." He produced a small jewelry box and handed it to her. She looked at him questioningly and opened the box. Inside was a pair of beautiful diamond earrings. "Oh my gosh." She gasped looking up at Ops. "Don't get too excited." Ops said. "They're very good fakes." "Fakes?" She asked him. "Yes fakes." He said taking the earrings out of the box to show her "Each of these," he said handing her both earrings, "contains a small tracking device, so that we'll always know where you are." "Clever and fashionable!" Sami said admiringly. She put the earrings on and reached into her purse for her compact mirror to take a look. "Ah, ah, ah." Ops said pulling out a small compact mirror, identical to the one she always carried. "Use this one." He said "Let me guess." She said with a smile "A secret transmitter." "Yup, only the finest for my girl." Sami shook her head and put the compact into her purse. "Anything else boss?" she asked him "Just one more thing." He said looking at her seriously now. "Remember to always follow your instincts and your intuition. If you feel like he's on to you or suspects you at all, get out of there. I don't want you taking any foolish chances, you got me?" "Loud and clear Odell." She said looking at him fondly. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. "Well" she said, "I'm off. Wish me luck?" "Break a leg kiddo." He said. She smiled and him and proceeded towards the cave entrance "And be careful." He whispered after her.

CHAPTER 12

Sami strolled into the club that evening and took a seat at the bar. "Hi Bliss, can I have an apple martini please." She said to the shapely blonde behind the bar. She turned and surveyed the crowd. It was a decent size, but she was certain it would be packed later on. She saw Lucas in the corner talking to Bruno and turned back around in her seat, accepting the martini from Bliss with a word of thanks. "So, big debut tonight, huh?" Lucas said taking a seat next to her. "Yeah." Was all that she said to him, looking down at her drink. They'd barely said two words to each other since that afternoon when he'd walked in on her and Tony and the tension between them was palpable. "Are you nervous about singing?" he asked her "Because you shouldn't be. You're a phenomenal talent, Sami. You have an incredible gift and you should just know that." She looked at him, searching his face for signs that he was making fun of her. But his expression was one so full of love and emotion that her breath caught in her throat. "How's your wrist?" he asked, taking her wrist gently in his hand and examining it for signs for injury. "It's ok." She managed to get out. He massaged it gently before taking her hand in his and looking into her eyes. "I'm so sorry about that day Sami! You have to know that I would never hurt you anymore. The sincerity and regret in his eyes undid her and she started to say "Lucas I…." "Well" Tony's voice sounded behind them "There are my two favorite people." Sami snatched her hand away from Lucas as if it had been burned and tried to erase the guilt from her expression, before turning a dazzling smile on Tony. "Hey." She said to him "Hello sweetheart." He leaned down and kissed her briefly. Lucas turned from the sight, disgust and pain wrenching his heart. "So, what were you two discussing?" Tony asked casually "Will" Sami said quickly "Yeah" Lucas chimed in "You know, parenting stuff." He got up off the stool. "Well I gotta check backstage and make sure everything's set." He gave Sami a reassuring smile. "Break a leg tonight ok! "Thanks, Lucas." She said quietly, before he walked away and she turned her attention to Tony.

The applause in the club was deafening as Sami took her last bow and walked off the stage. Tony stood off stage waiting for her, his arms open to hug her. She planted a smile on her face as she returned his hug. "Oh my dear, you were spectacular tonight. Just listen to that applause, they love you!" "Yeah, it's amazing." Sami said a little breathlessly. "No, no, no." Tony said tilting her face up to his. "You are amazing." She smiled at him a bit embarrassed at all the attention. "You might be a bit overwhelmed by all this, but you should get used to it. You're going to be a star….my star." He said kissing her softly. As he released her and walked over to speak with one of the bouncers, Lucas came up behind her. "He's right." Lucas said. "You really were terrific up there tonight." Sami spun around to face him. He looked so handsome in his suit as he always did and she beamed at his praise. He reached out and brushed a piece of hair out of her face. "You know I had my doubts when this all started and I know that I gave you a hard time," he smirked at her "but you did good up there tonight. I'm proud of you." "Thank you Lucas!" was all she could say. "Sami." Tony said walking over to them and putting his arm around her. "Are you ready to go?" He asked her, looking at her and then at Lucas and back again. "Yeah sure." Sami said glancing at Lucas. "Good. Lucas, I imagine I'll be late tomorrow, so open up alright." He said before leading Sami away. "Sure thing boss!" Lucas muttered angrily to himself, before turning and heading back out to the floor.

Chapter 13 is rated NC-17 and is not intended for those under the age of 17

CHAPTER 13

Sami unlocked the door to her apartment and stepped inside, Tony following her. "So," she said putting down her purse and heading for the kitchen. Can I get you anything to….." She was cut off as Tony grabbed her arm and swung her around, into his arms. He kissed her hard and when he finally stopped she had to catch her breath. "Wow, I guess that's a no." She said breathlessly. He smiled at her and kissed her again. He trailed kisses across her cheek and over to her ear and she shivered. "I have everything I want right here." He whispered and continued his assault on her senses, his lips moving to her neck. Sami moaned, she couldn't help it and then he scooped her up, carrying her into the bedroom. He laid her gently on the bed and came over her kissing her again. The kiss grew in it's intensity, his hands were in her hair and then his lips moved away from hers tracing a path down to the cleft between her breasts. One of his hands moved to her calves and stroked slowly upwards to her inner thigh, while the other caressed her breast through the fabric of her gown. His hand on her thigh moved further upward until he found her, but suddenly it was a like a splash of icy cold water on her face and she breathlessly whispered, "Wait" as she pushed him away from her. He stared down at her, his look of disbelief mirroring her own of confusion. "What's wrong?" he asked, gently pushing her hair from her face. "Nothing" she breathed, gently pushing him off of her. "I just want everything to be perfect." He leaned on his elbow and bent to kiss her shoulder. "Everything is perfect." He said, his hand going to her breast to gently knead it. "You're perfect." She looked over at him and blushed. "Just give me one minute, alright?" she said, getting up from the bed and heading for the bathroom. "Alright, but only one and I'm counting!" He called after her

Sami stood in the bathroom, looking in the mirror and wondering if she could really go through with this. The feelings that Tony stirred in her, both physically and emotionally, were dangerous ones and she was afraid of getting lost in them. She took a deep breath and cleared her mind. She had a job to do and this was part of it, she just had to remember not to get emotionally involved. Easier said than done, she thought. She took off the earrings and placed them on the shelf and then undressed. "Sami?" Tony called from the bedroom. "I'll be right there." She responded, reaching for the silk peach negligee hanging on the door and slipping it over her head. She reached inside the cabinet and took out a condom. She took one final glance in the mirror, took a deep breath and headed back into the bedroom.

Sami stood quietly in the doorway for a moment and took in the sight on her bed. Tony lay there shirtless, with his hands behind his head and his eyes closed. Sami stared at him. It was hard to believe that he could be a killer when he looked so beautiful and peaceful. He opened his eyes and looked at her, a slow smile spreading across his face. He sat up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. "Come here." He said holding his hands out to her. She walked to him slowly and he took her hands in his, kissing each one before letting them go. His hands went to her waist and traveled slowly up skimming the curves of her body. "Perfect." He whispered pressing a kiss to her belly. "Absolutely perfect." Her hand went to his head, gently stroking his hair and he looked up at her. She placed the condom on the table beside the bed and he looked at it and smiled at her. "Better safe than sorry, hmm?" he said and she gave him a sheepish grin. His hands moved down her body to the hem of her negligee. He stood up, slowly pulling the gown upwards with him until she stood there naked before him. He kissed her gently at first, his tongue finding hers and thrusting deeper and deeper into her mouth. She moaned into his mouth as he turned her around and they both sank onto the bed, clutching at each other urgently now. Her hands slid down his body until she found his belt. She undid the buckle quickly, as well as the button, finally finding the zipper and unzipping them. She tugged at them frantically, signaling him to take them off. He laughed at her urgency and got off of her long enough to do so. She moaned, reaching out to touch him and then he was pressing her back into the bed. His mouth was fierce on hers and his body hard, demanding, overwhelming her as his body bore her down. This time he was as naked as she, and she gloried in it. She felt the abrasion of his body hair against her breasts and belly and thighs, and squirmed beneath him the better to feel it. She felt the iron hardness of his back muscles under her hands and sank her nails into them, the better to test them. She felt the burning heat of his mouth against her neck, and opened her own against the salt dampness of his shoulder, the better to taste him. And then his head was moving lower, tracing a path over the soft rise of an arching breast. He took the nipple in his mouth and she gasped, feeling wonderful, marvelous trailers of fire shooting down into her belly and thighs. He suckled her like a babe and she responded with soft little cries, her fingers on the back of his head, reveling in the soft silkiness of his hair as she pressed his face to her breast. His hands were moving too, stroking over her belly and the tops of her thighs before finding their way to the thick nest of dark blonde curls and stroking there too. She stiffened as he first touched her there, but his hard fingers were gentle as they slid between her legs, leaving liquid fire wherever they touched. "Tony, oh, Tony....please!" She was moaning his name and begging, for what she didn't know, not even aware that she did so, as he did the most unbelievable things to her with his fingers. His fingers were rubbing and caressing and holding her until her legs spread wide for him and she was writhing in pleasure. When finally she felt one finger work its way inside of her, she could stand it no more. She cried out and clutched at his hair to push his head down to where his hand was. She was panting and arched her body upwards wanting to feel his mouth on her. His head dipped low and his tongue replaced where his finger had been. He suckled that secret part of her and tormented her with his tongue. Her body arched higher and her panting grew and grew until suddenly her body stiffened and she cried out, as wave after wave of pleasure washed over her body. He moved from her for just a moment and reached for the condom, holding himself above her, tearing open the package with his teeth and putting the latex on. And then he was groaning as that hot male part of him that had been pressed so tightly against her thigh moved to where his tongue had just given her such intense pleasure. He thrust himself inside of her, groaning as he sank deep within her. Her body arched to bring him in deeper still. They began to move together, bringing their rhythm to a fevered pitched, until finally she stiffened once more and cried out in her climax and he released himself inside her, crying out as well until finally, groaning, he collapsed on top of her.