Chapter 11

Sonny and Johnny watched the movements of the men as they walked into the penthouse. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary yet. Once they were all in and seated, Sonny walked to the door and motioned toward Max to come in as well.

"Max, come on in and have a seat. You need to be in on this."

Sonny walked away from Max to stand in front of the men. Max did not notice Johnny move in behind him and was startled when he felt an arm go around his neck and lift him off his feet. The more he struggled, the tighter Johnny's arm became and to keep from losing consciousness he stopped struggling.

Johnny stood firmly with a subdued Max and looked to Sonny with an imperceptible nod.

"Gentlemen, it looks like we have a weak link in the chain." Turning to Max, Sonny walked over and stood directly in Max's line of sight. "Don't we, Max?"

"I don't know what you mean, boss. I do my job."

"Where were you this afternoon when Miss Davis was attacked, Max? Did you get hungry? Did you have to go potty? Or were you paid to be conveniently absent during a certain period of time?"

As Sonny questioned Max, everyone in the room saw Sonny pull a gun from his pocket. He placed the barrel of the gun against Max's temple and held it there.

"No, boss. I wouldn't do that. You know I wouldn't."

"It seems awful funny to me, Max. You were there, then you weren't, and then you were." Sonny backed up a couple of steps and turned toward the rest of the men as he held the gun to his side.

"Can anyone tell me what happens to someone in my organization who turns on me?"

Sonny looked back at Max and then toward the men again. Lifting the gun back up to Max's temple, and as he pulled the trigger he calmly stated , "They disappear!"

Hearing complete silence as the sound of the gun proved its empty chamber, Sonny looked at Johnny and nodded once. Johnny led Max to the door and took him out of the room. They would all know Sonny meant business when they no longer saw Max around.

"Now boys, you may be asking yourselves, what happens now? Well, I'll tell you. I have a war on my hands and I do not want to have to second guess anyone in my employment. If you have a problem with me, or the way I handle my business, you best get up and walk out that door right now. You won't be given a second chance. The next time the chamber won't be empty. Do I make myself clear?"

Sonny waited to see if anyone would leave. He watched their reactions. In some he could see them relax, others he saw their respect, and there were a few he simply couldn't read.

"Ok, when I have more information I'll call another meeting. Until then you'll get your assignments from Benny. That's all."

He watched them file out. No one said a word. He would talk to Benny later to find out what, if anything had been said. Once the last man left he pulled his cellphone out. He had instructed Johnny to take Max next door into penthouse 2 and wait for his call.

"How's our guest? Find out anything?"

"Great timing, this joker was just about to lose his life. You better come over here to hear this. Might want to bring Alexis with you."

"I don't know that I want Alexis near him, Johnny."

"Sonny, she has a right to know."

"Ok, man. Be right there."

Sonny went to get Alexis. When she saw him in the doorway, she ran to hug him. He didn't look any worse than he did the last time she saw him. She had been worried sick about him and Johnny being in the middle of a bunch of men they didn't know whether they could trust or not.

"How did it go?"

"So far, so good. We watch the tape now and wait. We need to meet Johnny in penthouse 2."

"Ok, let's go."

"He's got Max with him, Alexis."

"Sonny, is Max harmed in any way?"

"He wasn't the last time I saw him."

After seeing the result of Johnny's anger earlier and the dead intruder, Alexis wasn't sure she wanted to know anymore if Max was all right. Forcing herself to move forward, she followed Sonny to penthouse 2.

She nearly fainted when she saw Max. His face was unrecognizable, a mass of torn flesh. Blood was not only running out of his mouth, but his ear as well. She looked at Johnny with fear in her eyes.

"Johnny, tell me you didn't do this."

"Alexis, sit down please. You need to hear what this boy here has been up to."

"Johnny, nothing he's done could justify this. You could go to prison for this."

"No, I don't think so. Max and I have an understanding now. Don't we old boy?"

Max jumped as he felt Johnny's hand slap him on the back. "Yeah, we do."

Sonny was taking it all in and knew that Johnny was able to uncover enough to send him to the brink of killing Max. He believed that the only thing that stopped Johnny from killing Max was his phone call earlier.

"What have you got, Johnny?"

"It seems our boy here has been on Helena's payroll ever since you and I came here from Puerto Rico."

Johnny let his statement sink into the consciousness of Sonny and Alexis then continued.

"Max, here was being paid to keep an eye on me. Seems Helena wanted to keep tabs on me, no matter what I was up to. And that's not all. Sonny, get a chair for Alexis."

"No, just say it, Johnny."

Alexis could feel herself losing control. She was staring at Max and was also seeing the dead man lying in the floor earlier. This was not normal. Her life had become messy, out of control and she hated it.

She watched as Johnny calmly wiped the blood off his hands and moved toward her. As he reached toward her she caught a glimpse of some remaining blood on the palm of his hand and quickly stepped away from him drawing her hands behind her so he couldn't touch her.

Johnny watched her reaction to him and saw her emotional retreat. Sonny saw it as well and his heart ached for her. He feared they had pushed her too far.

"Johnny, I think that's enough for now. The rest can wait until tomorrow."

Alexis looked at Sonny coldly and saw he was trying to protect her.

"I am fully capable of taking care of myself. I don't need you or anyone else troubling themselves on my account. Finish it, Johnny. What else?"

"Alexis, Sonny's right. This can wait."

"Johnny, you've already gone this far, what else could you possibly say that could do any more damage than this has; so just say it."

Johnny was afraid he had just lost his sister again. She was looking at him as if he were a stranger. If he hadn't done it already, the news he was about to impart to her would send her over the edge. He only hoped she was strong enough to overcome it.

"Alexis, Dixon is on Helena's payroll as well."