Chapter 13

Vinney looked around. The guy had said to meet him here in an hour to pick up his money for the information he'd provided. He glanced at his watch and jammed his hands back into his pockets. He bobbed up and down to try and stay warm. It was getting colder and there was no sunlight to be seen in the alleyway behind Jake's so that made it even worse.

The information hadn't been much. Just the little bit of what he could gather from what he had overheard from the Spencer girl and the other woman. The one connected to Sonny Corinthos. He shivered and this time not from the cold. 'Maybe this wasn't such a good idea,' he thought, 'Corinthos wasn't somebody you played around with. If something went down and his name came up…' letting his mind wander not hearing the man walk up behind him until he spoke.

"I believe I owe you this."

He jumped. "Whoa, you can't just walk up on a somebody like that. That's so not cool man."

The man held out an envelope. "Sorry but it's not my fault you weren't paying attention."

Vinney grabbed it and quickly counted the contents. It was more than he expected but he wasn't going to complain about it. He looked up hoping to get a better look at the guy in front of him but the man himself must have anticipated this because he had moved further back into the shadows.

"It's all there, including a little extra."

"Yeah." Vinney's turned his head back and forth nervous that someone might be watching. "This is a one shot deal. Corinthos ain't the type who takes kindly to people who squeal on him. What are you so curious about him for anyway?"

"Don't worry. You gave me all that I needed to know in that one call. Mr. Corinthos is just a means to an end. My interests lie elsewhere."

A catfight ensued close by causing one of the trashcans to turn over. The noise made Vinney turn to see. When he looked back the man was gone and he decided so was he.

……………………………..

Sonny was about to knock on the door leading to Carly's room when Lainey Winter's stopped him.

"I wish you wouldn't do that Sonny."

He turned to face the psychiatrist. She had been adamant from the time that he had left Carly here that she did not want him to come back and see her. In the good doctor's eyes her obsession and dependence on her ex-husband was one of the main reasons for her breakdown in the first place.

"She called to see me. Not the other way around."

"Still I think it would be a mistake for you to do this. She's making progress but I don't want anymore setbacks."

"I promise I won't be long with her. I suspect she wants to talk about the kids." He wanted to tell her that he wouldn't be here in the first place if it wasn't for Durant but he kept his mouth closed.

Before Lainey could continue her could argue more Carly, who heard the voices outside of her room, opened the door.

"I was wondering if you would come."

Lainey shook her head. She looked at Sonny and then back to her patient. "Make it short. Carly we'll discuss this in our next session."

She invited him in as her doctor was walking away. Both of them could feel the tension in the in the room as she closed the door.

He nodded his head at her and looked around. "So how are you doing? I hear you're making some progress."

She leaned back against the door, moving her eyes around the room and twitching her lower lip. "Yeah some. I'm good here. I want to get better Sonny, so I can come home to my boys and try to rebuild what I had."

"That's good. They need you."

"Just they?" She asked him.

"Look Carly we all need you. You're a part our lives but if you're referring to me and you then I'm not gonna stand here and make you promise I can't keep."

She pushed herself away from the door. "So it's true then. You've met somebody else."

Sonny heard the change of attitude in the sound of her voice. "Look Carly about Emily."

Carly moved to look out the window. "I should have known little Miss Perfect would run back and tell you all about it."

He couldn't help coming to Emily's defense. She hadn't done anything wrong. "No you have you father to blame for that one. Daddy Dearest couldn't wait to brag about his conversation with you."

"My dad was looking out for me which is more than I can say for some. Still though I'm sure she came crying to you about something. She was always a whiner. Sheesh," she said shaking her head and then turning it to look back at him sideways, "I don't know why Jason or even you continue to put up with her."

Sonny was trying hard to just let it go. To talk about this with her was pointless, he was about to try and change the subject but she wasn't going to give it up that easily.

"She can't be very good in bed. I mean she faked it with Nikolas because she couldn't be anything more than a cold fish with him. That's why he turned to Courtney. You need a woman who can share your desire and feed your passion." Carly moved close to him and ran her hand along the side of his face before pressing her lips to his.

Sonny pushed her away angrily. "Stop it Carly. You and I were over a long time ago, besides did you forget about your husband."

"I asked Lorenzo for a divorce. I told him that I needed to make it on my own. He knows that I will always love you."

"Well I have to say that's encouraging news. You don't need to be with him anymore than you did with me. I hope you'll continue to focus on just you for a change. Michael and Morgan need that." Sonny decided it was time to go, tiring of arguing with her. He headed for the door.

"I need to be heading back. Jason and Sam are staying at the house tonight. He wanted me to tell you hey."

Carly voice softened. "Is he ok."

"Yeah Robin said he was in the clear. The treatments were a success."

"That's good. Tell him," she paused, "tell him I said hello."

He opened the door to walk out. "I will but just work on getting better so you can tell him yourself as well. I'll get the boys to call you later."

"Sonny?"

He stopped. "Yeah?"

"I meant what I said. I will always love you."

"I'll always love you too but just not the way you want." Closing the door behind him and walking away.