Show: General Hospital

Title: Las Vidas de los Corinthos' II: Chapter 7

Disclaimer: See Chapter 1

A/N: First off, I would like to apologise for the abominably long time it has taken for me

to get a new chapter out. I was on vacation for a very long time and access to a computer

was very sporadic. Then, when I finally came back home, I suffered a really long bad

case of writer's block… it's not fully cured as yet, but I figured I'd take a swing at things

again so that you don't lose track of the story. Well here goes: enjoy!

*~*~*~*~*~*

From one of the many dark corners in one of Sonny's warehouses on the docks, Jason

silently watched the many people gathered before him. It seemed like half of the PC

Underworld was packed into the large room, many of them whispering amongst

themselves or darting furtive glances in the direction of the Corinthos Enforcer.

At the main table set up in front of them, Sonny stood conversing with Benny while

Alexis sifted through some papers she'd withdrawn from her briefcase. Johnny and

Francis stood guard at the door and numerous faceless Corinthos guards were spread out

around the perimeter just in case things got out of hand. Jason's cold glacier-blue eyes

swept the room constantly. He didn't like these people. They had worked for that scum

Taggliatti and now, most of them would end up working for them. He didn't trust them –

*any* of them. He hoped Alexis made it known to them all what would happen if they

dared to cross the Corinthos family – the same thing that happened to their former boss –

certain, painful death.

Alexis glanced at her watch. It was eight o'clock on the dot. She caught Benny's eye and

the diminutive accountant nodded his head. "May I have everyone's attention, please?"

he called, waving his hands in the air to catch their attention.

The din still continued as the people ignored Benny's plea for silence. Seeing that the

accountant was getting nowhere with the crowd, Jason withdrew his gun from his holster

and discharged one round into the ceiling. As the deafening sound echoed throughout the

room the people, who had screamed and shouted in surprise, turned shocked and fearful

stares towards him. "In other words, shut up!" he ordered.

"Hey, you can't tell us to shut up," spoke up some wiseacre from the front row.

Jason leveled a frozen stare in the man's direction. His mouth clicked audibly shut.

"Thank you, Mr. Morgan," Alexis spoke up in gratitude, rolling her eyes and trying to

hide a smile. She turned to the gathered people who all looked expectantly at the future

Mrs. Corinthos. "Now I know most of you are wondering why we gathered you here

tonight," she paused as the people resumed their murmuring. "The answer is simple," she

continued as they settled down yet again. "Joseph Taggliatti left a lot of untied strings as

a result of his… untimely death. Many of you were not paid, no arrangements made for

you or your families. Mr. Corinthos is prepared to change all of that--"

Yet again the din resumed. People turned to their neighbours, curiosity furrowing their

brows as they discussed what they just heard.

"How's he gonna do that?" the wiseacre spoke up again.

Sonny pulled himself up from his leaning position against the metal desk. "I'm prepared

to offer each and everyone of you gathered here a job."

Surprisingly, the din did not begin anew. Instead, the people seemed to be lost for words.

Their eyes widened as they stared at the man standing before them – the most powerful

crime lord in the Eastern Seaboard.

"With limitations of course," Benny spoke up quickly.

"Jobs?" asked a dark-haired woman in the front-row.

"Yes, jobs," Alexis answered, her dark eyes sweeping across the room. It was an eclectic

group: dockworkers, low-level guards, housekeepers, maids, waitresses, bartenders, even

Taggliatti's personal chef. "You need them and we've got them. You have a choice of

course – you can either accept Mr. Corinthos' offer of gainful employment or you can

find yourself a new source of employment, outside of Port Charles, of course," the subtle

threat behind her words was not mistaken.

"What kinda jobs?" spoke up a burly dockworker in the middle of the crowd.

"You will all continue to work in the specified field in which you worked in for

Taggliatti, the only change is that your wages will be paid for by Mr. Corinthos,"

explained Benny. "Those of you who do not wish to renew their contracts should do so

by a show of hands."

Jason smirked in his corner as no one raised his or her hand.

"I think it's important to mention that your choice will not be held against you," Alexis

explained, catching Sonny's eye. "Mr. Corinthos is willing to assist those who want to …

shall we say, start afresh."

"Meaning…?" asked the dark-haired woman, her gaze riveted to Alexis.

"Meaning, I'm willing to pay you to get out of the business," Sonny clarified.

More silence.

An amazed smile slowly spread across the woman's face as her neighbour poked her in

her ribs incredulously and the din began yet again.

Things got so bad that Jason had withdrawn his gun to discharge another round when

Alexis stopped him with a hand on his arm before letting loose an unladylike whistle.

"I take it that your enthusiastic babble means that you have no objections to Mr.

Corinthos' proposal," Alexis deduced.

"Are you kidding me?!" exclaimed the woman. "Where do I sign?!"

So many others echoed her sentiments that Jason's watchful gaze shifted to the people

crowding around his bestfriend and he missed the thin, balding man slip out of the room,

his dark eyes shooting daggers at the Corinthos crime boss.

*~*~*~*~*~*

(Penthouse 2, later that night)

Sonny quietly closed the door to Kristina's room and quietly padded down the hall to the

bedroom he shared with Alexis. She sat with her back turned to him at the dressing-table,

dragging an ornate ivory brush that had belonged to her mother through the thick chestnut

strands of her hair.

He rested his hands lightly against her shoulders and Alexis sighed in contentment as she

tipped her head back against the hard warmth of his stomach.

"We did good tonight, didn't we?" he asked, trailing his strong bronze fingers down her

delicate throat.

"Uh-huh," she answered, sighing contentedly as Sonny took the brush from her and

resumed the task of brushing her hair.

The majority of the people had chosen to align themselves with Sonny. Others, like the

woman in the front row, had chosen to accept the severance package and make a new life

for themselves outside of Port Charles. The gratitude on their faces was heartwarming

and it felt good to be giving these people a second chance.

"It seems that things are just settling into the swing of things. It's almost too good to--"

"Don't say it!" interrupted Alexis, knocking rapidly on wood. "We don't want to jinx it

do we?"

TBC…

A/N: Well what do you think? Kinda short after so long? I'm sorry and I know that you guys

are craving some good old-fashioned Liason, but please remember that this is more than just

a sappy romance story. There's a whole lot going on as well, so please bare with me. R&R.

Don't castigate me in your reviews, constructive criticism welcome.