Show: General Hospital

Title: Las Vidas de los Corinthos II: Chapter 5

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: I apologise for the weird symbols from last chapter – I don't know what was up with that.

Thank you to those of you who looked past the weird symbols and made the effort to read the

story and leave a review. You guys are the best. BTW: I seem to be getting a few Courtney

sympathizers. Am I being too nice?

*~*~*~*~*~*

Port Charles, New York

It had been almost three months since Joseph Taggliatti's brutally disfigured body had been

discovered floating face down in the Port Charles River. Sonny and Jason waited with bated

breath as the necessary police investigation was carried out. But in the personal vendetta, Jason

had left nothing to chance and the case was closed due to lack of evidence although Taggart had

been especially tenacious with both Sonny and Jason. Though they were both itching to inflict

serious bodily harm to the bald-headed Lieutenant, Alexis had warned them to keep their nose

clean and out of trouble and appear as they usually did: calm and level headed in the face of his

accusations.

They had not relaxed their guard after the official investigation had been closed. Indeed they had

waited with bated breath for possible retaliation from loyal members of the Taggliatti organization

or other families eager to seize control of Taggliatti's territory. Fortunately unlike the sudden

appearance of Luis Alcazar's brother, Lorenzo, nothing of the sort had happened, and Sonny

seized the territory for himself and spent the last couple of months cleaning up the dregs of the

PC Underworld.

Now, Sonny sat behind his gigantic oak desk in his warehouse office listening intently as his loyal

accountant/information-gatherer extraordinaire Benny recounted the state of Taggliatti's affairs.

"He was in debt up to his eyeballs, Sonny," he recounted, pacing the floor or the office.

Jason watched from his seat in the corner next to Sonny with an air of detached amusement.

"Dock workers, sailors, captains, guards, even his f'ing housekeeper hadn't been paid in weeks."

Sonny frowned. "Did you take care of it?" he asked concerned. Joseph Taggliatti had been a hard

man to work for… no provisions would have been made for his employees, many of who were

forced to work for him. They would most likely starve or end up working for other crime families

now. Some might be in worst situations than before. Sonny didn't want that to happen.

Benny frowned but nodded. "Yeah, I did. Cost you a pretty penny, too."

"How much?" asked Jason from his corner.

"Two hundred grand," replied Benny, his accountant's mind wincing at the figure.

Sonny and Jason both shrugged. The money was inconsequential to them. "So where's the

problem?" asked Jason.

"The problem is that we've got a hundred plus people out there without a job, that's what," Benny

replied. "And we all know what's gonna happen. The other families are gonna come in and snatch

up the ones they think are most important and leave the rest on the wayside. That spells trouble

not just for the PCPD but for us as well – petty crime and drug and intoxication rates are gonna

shoot sky-high."

Sonny nodded thoughtfully. "So what do you suggest we do?"

Benny paused. He had an idea. He just wasn't sure how to put it into words. "We hold a meeting."

"What kind of meeting?" asked Sonny carefully.

"You have a meeting where you invite all of Taggliatti's former staff – everybody – and you offer

to rehire them. Those who wanna get out of the business you let them – in fact you offer to help

them get out. The others who come to you, you treat them like you treat us – with respect. It's

important that you come across as merciful to those who are loyal to you. Not only do you get the

staff to continue running Taggliatti's territory, but also, the people you helped out will be indebted

to you for life. That's handy, especially if you wanna keep your nose looking clean."

Sonny could see the logic in the plan but Jason frowned. "I don't see why we should spend any of

our time and money cleaning up Taggliatti's mess. We got rid of him, didn't we? Isn't that

enough?" he asked.

"No, it's not. What if one of them squeals?"

"None of them will do that because they know what will happen to them if they do."

Sonny mulled over the accountant's words. Finally he said, "Do it. Call the meeting. But make

sure it's someplace quiet."

*~*~*~*~*~*

Two hours later, Sonny knocked softly at the glass door.

"Come in," came the voice on the other side.

"Hey, you," he said, dimples ablaze as he strode into Alexis's office.

Alexis returned his grin, removing her glasses as she walked around her desk to loop her arms

around his neck. "Hi," she replied, kissing him softly. "What can I do for you?" she asked when he

pulled away and tossed his coat over one of the chairs in front her desk.

"I need your advice on something."

Alexis lifted an eyebrow. "Go on," she invited.

"I've decided to hire on some of Taggliatti's staff."

The name of the man who had kidnapped her daughter and assaulted her other daughter gave

her pause, but despite a tight jaw-clench, she continued to listen as Sonny recounted Benny's

idea for rehire.

"So, do you think it's a good idea?"

"Why ask me when you've made up your mind?"

"I haven't hired them yet, Alexis. I've only asked Benny to organize a meeting. Now, tell me what

do you think?"

The logical part of her admitted that it was a sound plan of rehiring the same people who know

how to get the job done. The other part of her didn't want Sonny or Jason to be any more

involved with Taggliatti than before.

But Sonny wasn't paying her to be illogical… she was his lawyer in addition to his fiancée and the

mother of his children and he was asking her this question as his lawyer, right? "It's a very good

idea," she conceded albeit unwillingly. "But you're also taking a huge gamble, Sonny. What do

you know of these people? Can you trust them? I mean they must not be very trustworthy or

sound in mind to work for Taggliatti in the first place."

Sonny chuckled, but sobered as he replied. "Most of them didn't have a choice, Alexis. They

worked under threats to themselves and their families. Now they do have a choice. Come with me

or get out. Simple."

Nothing was ever that simple. She chewed on her thoughts a little longer before finally speaking.

"Fine… go along with it. But if you hire them, make sure you're covered both with your authority

and with the law."

Sonny grinned and wrapped her in his arms again. "That's what you're here for, Counselor."

Alexis grinned. "It's good to be needed."

TBC…

A/N: This chapter sets the tone for the action/adventure/suspense/mystery part of the story, and

there was a little bit of Sexis. Well, sorta at least. I promise to get Liz outta the hole in a little

while, I just needed to get these background chapters outta the way. R&R please, ciao!