Chapter 8

Kristina was home. And both Ric and Alexis were thrilled with the progress she was making in recovering from her surgery. Standing next to the side of her crib, Ric gazed down at his niece smiling. It was late afternoon… He hadn't meant to stay so long, but he just couldn't make himself leave yet. The hours that he and Alexis spent waiting in that small little hospital room three days ago still held him tied to both mother and daughter. Reaching down he moved a soft curl away from Kristina's face and remembered that one moment during their silent vigil that he couldn't erase from his memory. He and Alexis were standing by the hospital window, each leaning against one side of it staring out… waiting… He glanced over at her and felt his heart jump into his throat at the look of fear on her face. Assuming that she wished to be left in peace he returned his gaze to the parking lot outside. Ric didn't know what to do or say to ease her worry… or if she would even hear him should he try. He took a deep breath and began to release it when he suddenly felt the warmth of her hand slide into his. Without making a big deal out of her gesture he raised her hand and clasped it between his own and held them to his heart. He didn't look toward her or offer any words to fill the silence. She didn't need his words. She knew why he was there and that he wouldn't leave until they all left together. It was enough for her. And she said it all within the small squeeze of her hand within his and the look of gratitude she graced him with when her eyes finally met his. He wanted so much to pull her into his arms and just hold her, but he knew it would be too much. Alexis needed to stay strong and in control of her emotions. To relent and lean on him too much would make her too vulnerable to the emotions that she was holding such a tight rein on. For her daughter she needed to maintain the appearance of strong, un-nerved and confident. Ric let her have what she needed. He gave only that which she would allow and it was enough… for that moment.

Pulling himself back to the present he laid his hand gently on Kristina's back then leaned over and lightly kissed her forehead. Straightening he turned to leave and found Alexis leaning against the doorframe smiling. He loved her smile… it was warm… inviting… and it always made him smile in return.

"I was just saying good-bye. I think it's about time I let you two have your privacy back. I didn't mean to stay so long…" He was rambling and couldn't seem to stop himself. "I know she'll be waking soon and wanting her supper… so I'll just get out of your way…"

"Ric."

"I have to get to the office anyway. There's probably a stack of calls to return and cases to look over…"

"Ric."

"You'll call if anything happens, won't you? Not that you couldn't handle it… I just thought maybe I could help or something…"

He suddenly found his mouth covered with her hand and his rambling stilled. The warmth of her hand doing what little else could to quell the nervousness he felt at being so close to her.

"Ric, it's okay that you're here. It's okay that you wanted to check on Kristina. You've earned the right. Now stop your fidgeting and come talk to me. There are things that we need to discuss. You started something at the hospital a few days ago and now that Kristina is home and safe again it's time you explained a few things to me."

Ric knew exactly what Alexis was referring to and it was a conversation that needed to be finished if they were going to be able to accomplish their goal of shutting down the threat of Sonny when he was finally faced with the existence of his first born. Nodding his agreement, Ric followed Alexis out of the nursery and joined her in the living room.

She sat down on the sofa and turned to face him as he took a place beside her.

"You said that Sonny somehow compromised himself enough to allow the justice system to put him where he belongs. Is that right?"

Ric turned to face her and smiled.

"Yes. That's what I said."

"How, Ric? I was there I didn't hear anything out of the ordinary."

"Alexis, how did Sonny address you when he spoke to you?"

Ric waited for Alexis to recall the conversation and found himself physically holding onto his hands to keep them from reaching to smooth the frown lines from her brow. She was so beautiful… especially when she was intent on her own thoughts. He imagined she was totally unaware of the changing of her expressions as she tried to come to a conclusion of sorts regarding his question. When she finally looked up and caught him staring, her gaze turned quizzical at his grin.

"Is something funny, Ric?"

"No, Alexis. I just enjoy watching you sometimes. You're so intense in everything you do. You do it all full out… no hesitating… no questions… you just do whatever has to be done and keep walking."

She smiled self-consciously.

"That's not exactly true, Ric. I'm never sure of what I'm doing anymore unless I'm working on a case. And even then there are times when I have to make myself look like I know what I'm doing."

"You're very good at it."

"I have to be. People count on me to know what I'm doing and then doing it to the best of my ability. You have the same passion, Ric. You just have all that arrogance you were talking about to help sell your point of view."

He chuckled and ducked his head, suddenly a little ill at ease in the knowledge that she had spent time enough studying him to know such a professionally intimate detail about him. He lifted his head when he heard her continue.

"Evidently I'm not as good as I thought I was though, because I'm loathe to figure out how Sonny compromised himself in just that brief amount of time. He just wanted to ask the new ADA what her intentions were…"

Without allowing her to finish, Ric interrupted her.

"Alexis. I didn't tell Sonny that you were the new ADA. That information hasn't been released to anyone yet."

He watched with amusement as she rose and began to pace the floor nervously.

"There were only three people who knew you would be taking the position, Alexis?

She stopped suddenly and turned to face him. "Who?"

"You, myself and your predecessor."

"Who would be Dara Jensen! Okay. So what's your point?"

"Come on, Alexis. You're smart enough to figure it out. If you didn't tell him and I didn't tell him… "

Her eyes grew wide then narrowed sharply.

"Dara Jensen is Sonny's source of information."

"Yep."

"Still?" The question was out of her mouth before she could stop it.

"Excuse me?"

Ric watched Alexis' entire body change from one of concern to one of controlled intense anger.

"What's going on, Alexis? What do you know that I don't regarding Dara Jensen?"

Alexis turned her back to Ric and began pacing again. Dara! She should have known. From the first time she and Dara faced each other across the courtroom, Alexis knew that Dara, given the right motivation, could be a formidable opponent. But, from the moment she found out that Dara was on Sonny's payroll, Alexis made it her business to keep tabs on her every move. The manila folder that Helena had thrust into her hands so long ago to force the result she wanted in the Tony Jones case exposed Dara's involvement in Sonny's illegal business activities. Dara Jensen walked a fine line that often pulled the Five Families together in order to terrorize their way into conglomerations… property or whatever else proved important enough to pull into the underground world. Dara was also the liaison between the South American drug cartel and the Five Families. She did her job flawlessly and no one knew of her allegiance to both sides of the law. No one except Alexis! The file she kept on Dara saw quite a bit of activity while she was herself under Sonny's employ. Somehow she knew that it would be wise to keep an eye on Dara for anything that might threaten her in the future. But, since she and Sonny had parted, each going their separate way, Alexis lost her only means of watching Dara. Well, it seemed that Dara was still on Sonny's payroll and that was the only legal way to stop Sonny now. When Faith disposed of the Five Families and Sonny took over… it made him more powerful than anyone could have guessed or believed. It was why Alexis believed that Sonny now walked around as though he were invulnerable. The only thorns in his side now were Faith Roscoe and Lorenzo Alcazar. And it was only a matter of time before they turned up missing.

Alexis looked back at Ric who still watched her intently. There was a decision to be made now. Just how much should she reveal to Ric? And could she really trust him not to blow their only real chance of walking away from the whole mess without losing anything of themselves in the process. Could she trust him to help her protect Kristina? The file that she kept locked in a safety deposit box beneath the halls of Wyndemere would be invaluable to Ric if he were still harboring any ideas about destroying his brother. No one knew how much information she had garnered about Sonny's business activities while she worked for him. Not even Sonny himself. She held enough proof of his illegal activities to send him to the electric chair twenty times over. And not once, until now, had she ever considered using it to her advantage. But, when it became clear that Dara was still working with Sonny, it changed everything. Sonny and Jason were a formidable force… but when you added Dara into the equation… Alexis wasn't left with any other choice but to do what needed to be done to make sure her child stayed safe. And she couldn't wait for Sonny to come to her… It was time for Sonny to learn what his life had cost him. It was time to pay Sonny a visit.