Part Three
Caroline's visit with Lily had left her feeling empty and sad. Gone was the optimism from this morning. She was walking idly around town, not really noticing anything, or remembering who had approached her to say hello. Her mind was like a vacuum, sucking everything out and leaving a dark void of raw motions. Everything that had been going on in her life was finally starting to hit her full force.
She had left her husband.
The separation had not been pretty
In fact, it had made Carly and Sonny's parting look like a walk in the park.
Cary had been walking for quite awhile now. She hadn't eaten breakfast and was running on fumes at the moment. As she rounded a corner, she saw somebody behind her. A man dressed in a suit, following her. Carly smile as she thought of Sonny putting guards on her already.
"Overprotective…" She murmured to herself and chuckled.
But, the light feeling did last long. She had entered a deserted section of the docks and the air suddenly felt cold. Carly could feel somebody right behind her. The muscles in her neck tensed uncomfortably and cold hands wormed their way to her shoulders and around her neck.
"I gotta message for you, Caroline." The man whispered.
Carly felt white hot panic surge through her. She stepped back, digging her sharp heel into the mans' foot. He grunted in pain and let her go. Carly grabbed his arm and hefted him over her shoulder, flipping him to the cold ground, which was not an easy thing with her broken arm. She silently thanked God for letting her mother enroll her in those self defense classes all of those years ago. She then jabbed the back of her heel right into the mans' ribs. She could feel the bones separating. He cried out in pain.
"Marcus sent you?" Carly asked him, her voice steady, and anger filled. "Yeah? Sent you to kill me? Well, he's got another thing coming, buddy. And, man, I would not want to be in your shoes when my ex gets a hold of you." She smirked, her fear rising within her.
"Yeah?" The man grunted. "Who's your ex?"
"Sonny Corinthos." Carly exclaimed. "You heard of him? Half of the east Coast has. And, you know what he does to people who cross them?" She pointed to the harbor. "You know how to swim?" She asked in a dead voice. Carly then kicked him in the head and watched his head fall to the ground with a dull thud.
She opened her purse and pulled out her cell phone. She dialed a number she knew all too well and almost smiled when he answered.
"Yeah." Was all he said, his voice rough.
"Sonny, I need you." Carly said, not being able to keep the tremor from her voice.
What did he always do this to her?
"Carly? What's wrong?" He asked quickly, worriedly.
"I'm at the of South end of the loading docks. Come quickly and bring some of your men." Carly instructed.
"What happened?" Sonny asked.
Carly caught the raw emotion in his voice and said soothingly, "Sonny, I fine, for now. But, please, hurry."
She then hung up and stared at the cold water. After Sonny was done with this man, he would be dead within twenty-four hours.
And, she didn't even care.
*
Sonny felt hot adrenaline rush through his system. They had gotten to the South docks fast, but never fast enough to ease Sonny's anxiety. But, hen he saw Carly presumably unharmed and standing, he let out a slow breath. Then, he saw the unconscious man.
"What the hell's going on?" Sonny demanded, thought in a soft voice.
He stopped himself from embracing Cary on the spot, and made himself strong.
"His name is Donavon Adrian Rodriguez. He's 32 years old. He lives in San Francisco, he works for Dante Imports." Carly said blandly. "He is a close, personal friend to my soon-to-be ex-husband. He is as Jason is to you. By the way, hey Jason." Carly smiled, noticing her long time friend and hugging him.
He embraced her back, but kept his face a mask. "What'd you do to him?" He asked, then touched her cast. "And, how?"
"A tale for another time, my friend." Carly smiled, then grew grim. "My dear husband is not happy with me. I've left him and he has surely gotten the annulment papers I've sent him. Marcus is a very dangerous man when he is unhappy. And, let me tell you, he's sure as hell unhappy."
"You're telling me your own husband sent a hit out for you?" Sonny asked, his rage inside of him growing when each word she said.
"Not in so many words, but yes. Yes, Marcus wants my head on a silver platter. It's a wonder they found me so quickly, but I can guarantee that Marcus doesn't know yet. Donavon isn't the sharpest tool in Marcus' shed. He acts, then reports. Not the other way around."
Sonny looked at Carly for a long time. She met his eyes and something passed between them. He then turned and looked at Jason.
"You know where to take him."
Jason nodded and he and Johnny took he unconscious man. Sonny went to stand next to Carly and noticed her shaking.
"Hey." He whispered, turning her towards him.
Her face had turned bone white, even her lips had no color.
Sonny knew what was going to happen. As her knees buckled, her lifted her up and safe in his arms.
Carly looked up at him, slightly dazed. She trailed her hand across his cheek, running perfectly manicured nails lightly over his skin.
"Still so handsome. So serious." She murmured. "You'll always be there to catch me when I fall." She whispered and her head lolled against his shoulder, her eyes closed.
Sonny kissed the top of her head and carried her back to the limo.
"You have no idea, sweet Caroline."
*
Sonny had instructed Max to drive him and Carly back to the penthouse. He had carried her in and was bombarded with the memory of their wedding night. A night he would remember for the rest of forever.
*
The wedding itself and the reception had been beautiful. Held in the Queen of Angels Church with white roses surrounding the love struck couple. Sonny couldn't keep the smile off of his face. He was happy, a feeling that had been foreign to him for so long. The rest of his life was stretched out before him and he could see the path clearly.
Carly had looked radiant. She had chosen a simple white dress with thin straps. The hem almost touched the floor. Whenever she moved, she dress seemed to whisper with her. Her cheeks had been flushed and her eyes bright with wine and happiness. Her mother had walked her down the aisle and Jason had been his best man.
When it was over, the had rode the limo to Sonny's penthouse. It was where Carly had wanted to be.
"Our first night as husband and wife should be spent in our home." She had told him His heart had jumped when she said 'our home'.
It was really happening.
He had carried his young bride through the door and watched her gasp at what he had done. Red and white rose petal covered the floor and the stairway, giving the home a heavenly scent. White candles were lit everywhere, placing a lovely glow on everything.
"Oh, Sonny." She had whispered, her eyes bright with tears. "It's perfect."
He kissed her long and hard. He then placed her standing on the floor and wrapped his arms around her.
"My dreams are coming true." He whispered to her softly. "I never thought I could ever be happy like this. I never thought God wanted me to be happy."
"Sonny-" Carly tied to interrupt, but he placed a finger against her lips.
"After Lily and the baby…I never thought I could live again. I never felt worthy of anything. I was falling into the dark hole and I couldn't get out. No matter hard I tried. But you…" He looked into her eyes. "You were there. You grabbed me when I was slipping and never let me go. You saved me from my own hell, Carly, you saved me. You screamed at me, cried, and fought until you had me angry enough to live. Carly, you make me alive. You make me happy. Without you, I would die." He finished. "Carly, I love you." His voice cracked. "I love you with everything I have."
Carly had tear tracks down her cheeks, her lips quivering, her hair glowing in the candle night, and Sonny never thought she looked more beautiful.
"Sonny." She whispered, kissing him. "I love you." She whispered. "I love you, I love you, I love you." She chanted between kisses.
He swooped her into his arms and carried her up to their room. He showed her how much her loved her. Their first night as man and wife.
Together.
In their home.
*
Sonny set Carly down on the sofa and she stirred slightly, her eyes fluttering before she settled down. Sony knew what had happened. Carly was exhausted. When she had her mind set on something, she went, and went, and went until she was running on nothing except determination and adrenalin. While they were married, it had gotten her a concussion, from passing out, twice.
He knew that her good-for-nothing hubby had something to do with this. Carly was determined to run and save herself. Carly never ran from anything, but she was now. He covered her with a blanket and walked into the kitchen. He pulled out his cell phone.
"Benny, give me all the information you can on Dante Imports and Marcus Fascinelli. ASAP." Sonny ordered and hung up.
He shed his suit jacket and started pulling out tomatoes, uncooked noodles, his cutting board, and spices. Carly needed food in her stomach. And, he'd be damned not to give her the best meal.
After boiling the noodles, and setting the sauce on simmer, her walked back out into the living room and checked on his sleeping ex-wife.
She had snuggled deeper into the blanket and her shoes were on the floor.
He perched on the edge of the couch by her feet and studied her features.
"You awake?" He asked softly.
"Nope." She mumbled, her eyes still closed.
"You haven't been eating well, have you?" He asked.
"You know me too well, Mr. Corinthos." Carly murmured and opened her eyes. "Whatever you're cooking smells delish." Carly murmured, licking her lips slightly.
"Delish?" Sonny asked with a sardonic smirk. "Babe, the California sun has fried your brain."
Carly rolled her eyes and sat up, looking around the place that used to be home. Gone where the tiny mementos and pictures that used to frame the dark walls. Carly could easily remember red drapes and warm afghans had once cloaked this room. She noticed the absence of her precious ottoman and idly wondered where the rest of her things she had left here had gone. She had left PC in such a hurry, she'd forgotten most of her cherished.
"Storage." Sonny said softly, as always, knowing what she was thinking.
"After you left, I had to get them outta the house."
"I understand." She answered, her voice faraway and Sonny wondered what she was thinking.
Sonny went to check on the food and Carly stood up, ignoring the spinning walls and walked to the window that overlooks the city. Many a time, late in their marriage, had she found Sonny staring out this window. She had always wondered what he did here, what he thought about. What had worried him so?
Sonny softly announced that lunch was ready and she followed him into the kitchen. It was the same as always. Spick and span. This room was truly Sonny. While all of the other rooms were slightly impersonal, this one held all of what was Sonny Corinthos. Worn cook books sat on shelves and well cared for utensils sat in their spots. One shelf held a beautiful picture of Sonny's mother, Adella Corinthos. Another held Sonny and Carly's wedding picture. It was small, but lovely.
Carly felt her heart swell at it.
"You do know that I'm putting guards on you." Sonny said as he poured the hot noodles on her plate, followed by thick sauce. He took the Parmesan cheese and spread some on her plate. He gave her a glass of water and then sat down, preparing his own meal.
"I suspected as much." Carly answered, looking into his eyes.
She saw fear there.
For her.
"But, don't not, and Sonny, I mean this, do not go after Marcus. Do not place a hit on him, Sonny. If, and only if, he comes here, I will deal with it. You got it, Sonny?" Carly asked him.
"Yeah, yeah. I got it." He said, calmly.
"I'm serious. Damn it, Sonny. I if find him floating in the harbor…" Carly trailed off.
"Just out of curiosity, kiddo, why are you sticking up for him?" Sonny asked his voice hard.
"Did I say I was sticking up for him? No. I hate his guts. I want out of our marriage. But, I don't want him dead." Carly tried to explain.
"Carly." Was all he said.
Carly stared at him absent mindedly. "Caroline." She murmured softly, the unruly habit of correcting her name rising again.
"Why do you do that?" Sonny asked.
"Do what?"
"Correct your name."
"I don't correct my name." Carly scoffed.
"Carly."
"Caro—oh… Damn!" She swore, pushing her hair out of her face.
"Why?" Sonny prompted.
Carly rolled her eyes. "Marcus didn't like 'Carly'. He likes formal names. He's always called me Caroline. Never, ever have I been Carly to him."
"What a nut you chose for a hubby." Sonny muttered, silent anger coursing through him.
"Oh, right. Like you're the poster boy for sanity, Mob-king Corinthos." Carly retorted.
"I'm a coffee importer." Sonny smirked.
"Uh-huh. Right. Like all coffee importers need 24/7 guards. Sonny, I've known you for a long time. I've seen you rise from the bottom to the top. Don't play me for a fool."
"I don't." Sonny answered, his voice slightly rough.
Carly just smiled and ate her food.
Sonny snuck little glances at her. She had changed. Her eyes were guarded. Gone was the innocence she had before. Now, there was hidden pain and anger.
What had that bastard done to break her?!
Thoughts of 'what if-' ran through his head. Did he beat her? Had he ever hit her? Did Carly fight back? Has she been scared? Did she cry? Did that bastard apologize to her when it was over, promise never to do it again, just to have it happen again the next night.
Sonny bristled. He had never hit a women. Especially Carly. He would never, ever hurt the women he loved because of rage. Or, any women for that matter.
Carly reached out with her good hand and squeezed his hand. He had been clutching the table with white knuckles.
"Don't obsess over it, Sonny. I've survived this much, it'll be a piece of cake from here-on out." She promised.
She got up and walked over to his. Hesitating slightly, she leaned over and pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth.
"Thanks for lunch, Sonny. Thank you for catching me." She whispered and walked out.
Before she left, Sonny called her name.
She turned around and looked at him.
"Just so you know, you'll always be Carly to me." He told her.
She smiled at him, her eyes softening.
"Thank you, Sonny."
And, she was gone.