If Tomorrow Never Comes

Chapter 17

The blade dug deeper into Carly's skin when she tried to struggle against her assialant. Her attacker leaned in closer, his rancid breath hitting her cheek. "I wouldn't, sweetheart." He moved his hand to squeeze her breast hard. Bile rose up in her thoart, a whimper escaping against her will. He laughed at the sound. "Don't worry baby, I'm real good." His hand moved up her front, parting open the collar.

Fear quickly turned to anger. "Do you know who I am?"

The hand stopped, hovering over the button. "The great Sonny Corinthos slutty wife. Pretty ain't she Ralph?" He looked over at his partner Ralph who stood in front of them, laughing. "Very pretty, Vinnie. I hear you screw anything that moves. My kind of girl." Ralph stepped forward, bringing his knife to her face. "Such a pretty face." He gripped the back of her head, pulling her hair and pushing her face forward. He pressed his lips on hers roughly. Carly bite them hard, drawing blood. She saw his hand come up and braced herself. The wave of pain hit her face sending her head swinging to the side. She felt darkness beckoning but her fighting instincts wouldn't let her give in to it. Opening her eyes she stared at the man who'd hit her. "You'll pay for that."

"You think I'm afraid of your husband?"

"Who said anything about my husband." Carly's eyes went cold as she stared at him. He saw death in those eyes and swallowed realizing that she wasn't going to go down easy. "Hey, dude, let her go, man. We should book."

But Vinnie was nothing like his partner. He wasn't in this for the score. He liked the power. The feeling he got when he weilded the blade. When he saw the blood running from his victoms bodies. This one was going to be a good one. He loved it when they fought. He brought the blade over her heart, pausing to relish the moment. Vinnie heard a loud pop and watched as Ralph fell to the floor, blood and brains spalying from the back of his head. Joseph moved up from his position on the floor, his eyes falling briefly on Carly. There was a flash of rage when he saw her face. He aimed his gun higher. "Let her go."

Vinnie smiled. "Or what? You shoot me. I slice her. No win situation here."

Joseph saw some distant movement behind Vinnie. He almost laughed in relief. Vinnie had noticed the action and he became distarcted, looking quickly behind him.

Carly took the oppurtunity, ramming her elbow into Vinnie's gut. He grunted, loosening his grip slightly. She heard the sound of screeching tires, doors slamming, someone shouting her name. /Sonny./ Vinnie heard it, too. He pushed her out of the way and into Joseph, knocking them both to the ground as he ran down the alleyway. Carly lost her footing and fell, smacking her head. For a few seconds she saw nothing but black then she felt warm hands on her face, could hear a familiar deep voice, then another one. She opened her eyes but all she could see were blurry images. "Sonny?"

"Baby, open your eyes. Come on." Sonny commanded, his voice catching in his thoart.

Carly heard the desperation and fear, knew he was barely keeping it together. Forcing her eyes open, she could make out Sonny's terrified face. "Hey, babe." She tried to get up but a wave of dizziness overtook her. She heard Luke's and Johnny's voices in the distant shouting at each other. "I'm okay. Give me a minute."

"Come on. We got to take you to the hosptal."

"No. No hospital. I'm fine."

Sonny stilled his voice serious. "That wasn't a request."

Carly looked up at her husband, letting her hands caress his face gently. "I'm okay. Really. Look, we go to the hospital and they'll ask questions. The cops will show up..." Carly's eyes went dark as she looked over at the dead man on the docks. "Please, Sonny. I just want to go home." She pulled away from him wrapping her arms around herself. "Please."

Sonny nodded curtly, knowing that an interrogation wasn't going to help right now. Johnny, Joseph, and Luke made their way over to them. Johnny shook his head, letting him know the other guy got away. Sonny pointed at the dead body and Johnny nodded in understanding. He turned his gaze to Luke. "I'm taking her home." Without waiting for a reply he took Carly by the waist and walked to the car, Joseph trailing behind them.

Luke rubbed the back of his head, turning to Johnny. "You need any help?"

Johnny shook his head. "No. Go on. You should let Lucky know Carly's fine."

Luke glanced at the figures of his neice and best friend knowing that Carly was anything but fine. "Right."

"Lucky, please calm down." Gia repeated for what felt like the fiftith time. "Your Dad and Sonny will get to her."

"Right. Sure." He continued to pace glancing breifly at the worried faces in front of him. Juan sat holding onto Shari's hand staring into the distance. Shari jumped when the door to Kelly's opened, her face falling every time it wasn't Carly or Sonny. Nik stood by the entrance looking out of the window every few seconds. Lucky glanced at Gia and wondered briefly why she was the only one not freaking out. What felt like an enternity had passed and not a word from anyone about Carly and Gia just sat there, her hands clasped neatly in her lap. He let his worry get the best of him. "Why the hell aren't you more concerned anyway?" He spat out, needing to direct his fear somewhere.

Gia stared at him in shock. She knew he was hurting so she let the comment slide. She looked away from him, concentrating on the door, hoping that she could make Carly or Sonny or Luke materilize.

Her non-response fueled his anger and he stood in front of her. "Hoping she leaves the way open for Sonny." The minute the words left his mouth he wished he could take them back. Gia stiffened, raising from her chair slowing. Facing Lucky, she slapped him quick and hard. "Go to hell, Spencer." With that she moved to leave but stopped as Nik rushed forward to open the door for Luke. They spoke quietly. Luke pointed behind him and Nik nodded, grabbing his jacket and running out of the door.

Luke felt the tension in the room. He looked from his son to Gia and back. He noticed the red mark on Lucky's cheek and Gia favoring her hand. He stifled a sigh. Sometimes his kid wasn't too bright. "Carly's okay."

No sooner had the words left his mouth than Gia was out of the door, squeezing his arm gently on the way. Juan and Shari hugged each other briefly then moved to Luke followed by a silent Lucky. "Do we know what happened?" Juan asked cautiously.

Luke shook his head, his eyes straying to Lucky. "No. We got there just as Joseph and Carly were taking care of the bastards. Seems two assholes decided to "hit" on Carly. They knocked Joe out and roughed Carly up. Joe regained consiusness faster than they thought he would and got one but the other little motherfucker was too fast. Carly and Sonny went home."

"Home? What about a hospital? I mean shouldn't she get checked out?" Shari asked, her voice full of fear. She couldn't even begin to imagine what Carly was feeling. Or Sonny.

"She's fine."

Lucky gave a derisive laugh. "Come on, Dad. She was assaulted by two thugs. She's not fine."

"You don't think I know that Lucky. I was there. I saw her face, man! I know how..." Luke stopped, cutting off his angry rant. "I'm sorry, son. It's not your fault."

Lucky walked to his father hugging him quickly. "I know. I'm sorry, too." He pulled back and glanced at the door. "Shit!"

"What?"

"I'm such a dick. Shit!"

"What?" Luke repeated impatiently, looking from his son to the door, thinking perhaps it could give him some insight into what the hell Lucky was talking about. Then he remembered Gia and looked back to the group. "What the hell happened?"

" Damn idiot." Lucky hit his head with his hand.

"Oh yeah." Juan agreed with Lucky knowing immediately what he was referring to. "That was beyond wrong Lucky." He moved to his friend's side. "I think you're got some major sucking up to do. I suggest flowers." He swung one arm around Lucky's shoulder. The other one waving dramatically in the air. "Maybe jewerly."

"Would someone please tell me what is going on?" Luke bellowed. Shari moved to his side and whispered in his ear. She pulled away and they turned to Lucky as one. "Son, two words: Knee pads."

Johnny stepped out of the elevator wearily, the events of the night catching up to him. He glanced at the door to Sonny and Carly's penthouse, silently praying that Sonny wasn't doing anything stupid this very moment. He knew his boss and friend well. What happened tonight probably made him start doubting himself when it came to Carly. The man didn't seem to realize how happy Carly made him. Or maybe he did. /The things that make us the happiest, are the things that scare us the most./

He found hinself knocking on the door just wanted to see her face tonight. To reassure himself that she was there. He heard footsteps from the other side and the door opened slighly, the safety chain in place. Alexis eyes met his and without a word she undid the chain and opened the door. "What's wrong?"

Johnny stared at her for a long moment, drinking in her face. He took the papers he'd conned out of Benny and handed them to her. "Dropping these off." He had spent the good part of an hour partically begging Benny for some papers to bring to Alexis. God he was getting as pathetic as a teenager.

Alexis reached for the papers, glancing briefly at them. "These aren't urgent. Johnny, what's going on?" Hair fell from her haphazardly made ponytail. Out of need, Johnny reached out and pushed it away from her face. "I needed to see you."

"What?"

He couldn't believe that had slipped out. "Something happened tonight and I thought you might want to know."

"Oh. Come in."

Johnny stepped into her apartment, taking note of the files and papers that covered her entire couch. "You're busy."

"No more than usual."

He nodded, looking at her intently. "I think Carly might need someone to talk to." He blurted out, knowing that at least that was true.

Alexis walked past him cautiouly. "Okay. What happened?" She took a seat on the couch, gestuing to the chair next to her. Johnny took the seat and for the next half hour proceeded to tell Alexis everything that had happened. She nodded tamping down the need to ask what happened to the attacker that Joseph had shot. She knew better than to ask. "I see. Why didn't Sonny take her to the hospital again?"

"Because Carly can be as stubborn as him. She didn't want to go. She was too scared, I guess."

"Alright. I'll talk to her tomorrow. Damn it. None of this would happen if..." She bit her lip to keep from demeaning Sonny's life and the choices he made. They were also Johnny's choices and no matter how she felt about them or how much it scared her she would keep them to herself.

"If he weren't in the business, right?" She heard Johnny say with contained anger. Whirling around, Alexis nodded vigoursly, her previous thoughts to keep her feelings to herself going out the window. "Yes. That's right." Her eyes flashed with something akin to rage and... desire. Johnny moved closer, invading her space until she couldn't breath. "This life isn't an easy one, Ms. Davis. The actions we have to take aren't ones that we're proud of. We lose too much and sometimes we have to give up the things that we want most." His eyes fell to her lips and Alexis breath caught in her thoart. She saw a challenge in his eyes and on instinct she met it. "What things, Johnny?"

Johnny brought his hands to her face, bending to meet her lips. Alexis froze, her common sense screaming to push him away and her heart shouting at her to take the chance. She closed her eyes and for the first time in her life she let her heart win. She needed this. To feel him if only once. If only to quench the desire she felt whenever he occupied her breathing space. She bit his lower lip, smiling when Johnny groaned at the action. Pulling him forward, she guided him to the couch. He needed her and she needed him. /Just this once.../

Carly observed her husband from the top of the stairs. He had brought her home not saying a word the entire time. He'd held her to his side in the limo and on the ride up the elevator. Once inside the quiet and privacy of their penthouse, Sonny had taken her face in his hands and kissed her softly her bruised cheek. Carly had almost cried at his gentleness but he'd stopped abruptly, helping her up the stairs and into the bathroom instead.

She'd sat silently as he's worked quickly to draw her a bath, even going so far as to use her favorite bath oil which he hated because it clogged up the tub. She rolled her eyes at the thought. God, he was so anal. She leaned on the railing, keeping a close watch on his expression. He'd been silent all night and when she had said she was going to take a nap, he had kissed her on the cheek and walked to the kitchen without a word.

Suddenly, she jerked up from her positiom. "Don't even think it, Sonny."

Her voice startled him and he glanced up at her before turning back to the fire. "Why aren't you in bed, Carly?"

She came down the stairs and stood behind him. "Don't change the subject or try to distract me, Sonny."

"Is that what I'm doing?" He threw her an annoyed look and rose from the couch, walking to the bar to pour himself another healthy dose of brandy. Gripping the glass, he knocked it back in two gulps. "My bad. I just thought I was showing concern for my wi... for you since you were nearly killed tonight." He played with the bottles on the bar, slowing adjusting them. Carly's angry stare began to bug him and he whirled to look at her. "What? What is it, Carly?"

"Nothing. I just want to make one thing clear to you." She waited until he looked at her. "Leaving is not an option."

Sonny stared at her dumbfounded that she could read him so well.

"Yeah. You heard me. I know you better than you know yourself, Corinthos. So, just get that thought out of your head. We are married. We are a family. You can't stop that. You can't hide from it." She walked up to him, placing her hands on his shoulders and massaging them slowly. " Sonny, I love you." Sonny froze, his mind screeching to a halt with her declaration.

Carly gave him a small smile. "I do. I love you. Nothing is going to change that. Nothing you say and nothing you do. I choose this life with you. This..." she gestued at the bruise on her face. "is not your fault. So don't think for a minute that it is. Maybe my life would be easier if you weren't in it. And I know yours would be if I weren't. But a life without you would merely be existing. You're my heart. You're my soul. You are my life. Remember that before you decide to do something stupid." She kissed him softly before pulling away and walking up the stairs.

"Carly..."

She stopped, slowly looking at him over her shoulder.

"I love you, too."

"I know." Without another glance she walked up the stairs leaving Sonny to stare at the spot she'd occupied.

"No. You don't..."