Chapter 12

Sonny approached Alexis' door and didn't see Johnny. But he didn't wonder about it, he knew where Johnny would be and it was ok with him. He would take Johnny aside tomorrow and tell him that he was making Alexis his permanent assignment for a while. He would go wherever she went. He also decided to give Johnny an expense account and increase his salary. Johnny had been his protector for many years, and they were good friends. But Sonny wanted Johnny to be able to spend as much time as he wanted with his new sister. Sonny would begin to train Max to take over until the time came that Johnny wished to return to his old job, if he ever did. He would miss Johnny, but Alexis was more important.

Alexis and Johnny were quietly talking in the kitchen when she heard a knock on her door. As she rose to answer it, Johnny smiled softly at her and told her he'd get it. She let him this time because he needed to, but she and Johnny were going to have to set some ground rules eventually. But, that would come in time. She was basking in the protective shadow of her newfound brother and she didn't want anything to tarnish it.

Alexis was smiling peacefully when Sonny walked into the kitchen. When Johnny didn't follow him in, she silently questioned him on it.

"I asked Johnny to wait outside for a few moments until we could get the matter of Carly and Michael settled. Is that ok with you?"

The fact that Sonny was asking her if she was ok with something he did was enough to rattle her, but there was something else going on with Sonny and she couldn't tell what it was. Something wasn't right.

"Sure, Sonny that's fine. Are you ok?"

"Yea, why?"

"You don't seem quite yourself this evening. Is Michael ok?"

"Yea, he's fine. We had a great day together." Sonny didn't want Alexis to question him any more. He knew what she was seeing and he needed to distract her from her present line of questioning.

"Michael asked about you today?"

Alexis froze. Her mind did a flip-flop and was off and running nine ways from Sunday. Did something happen she wasn't aware of? Did she say something that hurt him? Did she...?

Sonny could see her eyes darting back and forth with questions and he knew she was examining her actions of the day. After what he witnessed on the roof earlier, he began to understand Alexis more. And for the most part he was grateful but he knew he was also taking advantage of knowledge he should never have had. Man, he was on thin ice.

"Alexis, breathe. It's ok. He asked if he could come visit you tomorrow, to thank you for letting us go out alone today."

Alexis' eyes slowly came to rest on Sonny and it made his heart rejoice at the joy he saw in them.

"No, he didn't. Did he? Did you tell him yes? What time are you bringing him? Ill be out in the morning, but I'll be back by lunch time."

Sonny was laughing so hard he missed seeing the potholder come flying at him.

"SONNY, stop laughing at me."

"Ok, Ok. I told Michael that we would come by for lunch tomorrow about 1:00. Is that ok with you?"

"Yes, Sonny, that's fine." Alexis answered with laughter in her voice.

They sat in silence for a few moments enjoying the camaraderie they were sharing. It felt good.

Alexis knew they had business to discuss and it wasn't going to be pretty. She had things to tell Sonny that she knew were going to hurt and possibly anger him and she wondered if she should call Johnny back into the penthouse for support. No, she would wait to see how it went. If she needed Johnny, he was just a call away. She rested contentedly a moment with that thought and then began to tell Sonny what she had been up to for the last couple of weeks.

"Sonny, after you left my office two weeks ago I made a call to a special investigator I know. I gave him the assignment of tailing Carly wherever she went. I told him I wanted to know who she spoke to, what she wore, how much she spent and what she spent it on, even what kind of gum she chewed if he thought it mattered to the case I was working on. He does not know why I want the information, nor does he want to. I only use this investigator when I want total anonymity for myself and the clients I work for. I am telling you this because I want you to know that not only am I protecting Michael, but I am protecting you as well. You have trusted me so far with this case and I am asking you to go on trusting me a little longer." She stopped and waited for a response from Sonny. She saw his eyes twitch when she told him about the investigator, but he had not interrupted. So she waited.

"Go on Alexis. What did you find?"

"Its not pretty Sonny, but I can guarantee you that we will have no problem in obtaining total custody of Michael for you."

"I also put a tail on Jason Morgan. Carly has been meeting with him on a regular basis in what appears to be secret meetings. She has also been spending a lot of time with someone else on your payroll. Zander Smith."

"Alexis, I knew about Zander. I told him to keep an eye out on her."

"From what my investigator tells me, they have now joined forces against you and are planning to take you down. Financially as well as territorially."

Sonny stood up abruptly and went to the door. He opened it and asked Johnny to come in.

"Alexis, Johnny has been with me a long time. I trust him and I believe he needs to be a part of this conversation. If that is ok with you, would you please repeat to him what you have just told me?"

Johnny was concerned. He had seen that look on Sonny's face before and it meant trouble. He knew he didn't want to hear what Alexis was about to say, but he turned his full attention on her, smiled confidently at her and waited.

As she watched Sonny cross to the fireplace and stand beside it, Alexis retold Johnny what she told Sonny then waited for him to rejoin Johnny and herself. When he turned from the fireplace to face them, he had regained control and was ready to continue.

"Sonny, I need you to understand, that what I said to you two weeks ago about who my real client is, I meant it. I'm in this for Michael first. With that said; after I realized what was going down, I pulled in a few markers and put into motion a plan to stop the three cohorts dead in their tracks."

Alexis could see Sonny was getting angry. And she knew why. Sonny didn't like to be handled any more than she did.