Second Chances

Chapter 4

Sonny Corinthos placed the phone back down on the table. He'd just finished talking to his top bodyguard Max. He hated calling Max in because he'd promised Max the night off. Sonny tried to be good to his men as long as the showed him loyalty. He considered Max like a brother. Max had been very lucky to find love with Elizabeth. Something Sonny had found and lost twice in his life. He brushed a hand through his dark curly hair.

"Johnny!"

A lanky man with blonde hair wearing a black suit rushed in.

"Yes, Mr. C."

"Make sure the car is ready in a half hour. We need to be at the Port Charles Grill. Is everything ready?"

"Yes, sir all the wine has been ordered. Everything is exactly as you wanted."

"Do you have any clue where Ms. Mcall is? "

"She went out earlier. She should be home soon sir."

"Good. Now I don't want them to screw up the order again. I want you to go ahead
and make sure that everything is perfect. I'm trusting you Johnny. "

"Yes, sir. What about the car sir? "

" Max will be driving us there tonight." Sonny turned his back signalling that he was done. Johnny left the room.

Sonny walked over to the bar and poured himself a glass of brandy. He drank the whole glass in one gulp letting it burn a trail down his throat. Sam was out spending his money again. He didn't care. It wasn't as if he loved her, she was just convenient. He'd only loved two women in his life and both of them were gone. One was dead and one was still alive as long as he stayed away. Sam better be back at the house soon. He didn't want to be late for the party. He hoped that the idiots at the PC Grill didn't burn the paella again. He had ordered it especially for Manuel hoping it would smooth over the deal. If he was running the party...that was another life best forgotten. Sonny poured another glass of brandy. He downed it again in one sip. He always hated meetings like this but it was part of the business. A business that he tried so hard to get away from. A business that slowly ate away at his sanity. Sonny pulled out the chain that he always kept around his neck and looked at the gold medallion. It was St. George.

"To protect you from your nightmares?"

Sonny looked over at the beautiful woman by his side. Emily's beautiful brown hair was splayed out on the bed like a crown around her. She looked so beautiful in the early morning light. They had just finished making love again. He could never get enough of her nimble body. She looked so beautiful.

"What are you talking about?" Sonny asked surprised by her statement.

"You were talking in your sleep last night. I saw you over by the window looking out over the water."

She knew him so well. They had only known each other a short time but it felt so right. He felt that connection the first time they met at the clinic.

"I just needed to think. Did I say anything?" Sonny looked at Emily worried. He was worried that he had said something about the business but if he had she would have left him. She never would have stayed knowing what his family really did.

"Just one word. Lily. Who was she Michael?"

Michael was a name that Sonny hadn't thought of in a long time. It was another life. She was another life. Emily completed him in so many ways but this damn business made him have to give her up. He had no choice like always. Luis had found him somehow. Luis only offered him one choice. He reminded Sonny what had happened to Lily.

Lily Rivera had been his childhood love. She was beautiful, ethereal, and graceful. She loved working with children. She was a teacher. She had made him so happy. Then in an instant because of his family's work, he'd lost her. She had been mugged, stabbed, and raped while leaving the school where she worked one night. Sonny had been outraged wanting to find the thug who had done this to his beautiful Lily. The police said it was random and there was no way they would find the killer. A phone call came later telling him it wasn't random. Luis had sent a message warning him not to leave the family business. Sonny had been considering it. He had wanted to run away with Lily. He would never be allowed out as long as he was alive.

Sonny had made the choice then and there. He could not deal with this life as Sonny Corinthos anymore. Sonny then did the unthinkable. He faked his own death by making it look like a car bomb went off and he was inside. He made sure that there was blood inside and his signature ring as well. The ring was a family heirloom. It was distinctive. It was gold with a phoenix rising out of the ashes. It had been handed down from their father Hector and given to each of his three sons: Luis, Lorenzo and Sonny. Lorenzo had been killed in a gunfight along with his father and mother. Luis took over the business with a ruthless hand. Sonny was his right hand man until he was old enough to take over the American side of the business. Luis would have to believe that he was dead. Sonny then left Puerto Rico realizing he could never return home again.

Sonny had changed his name to Michael which was his father's given name. He had traveled around the world always looking over his shoulder wondering when Luis would find him. Sonny finally believed that Luis thought he had died. Sonny then went home to Spain. Sonny's mother Adella was originally from Seville. She had been a high class girl from a wealthy family. Adella's family had been importers. Hector had been just a thug from Puerto Rico who had gone to Spain to do some business. Adella always disagreed with the description. He was so much more. It was by chance that Adella and Hector had met in a outdoor market. Adella loved to cook. They had connected and the rest well was history. When Adella died, Sonny was just a child but the memories that she told him of Spain haunted him. He wanted to see what it was like for himself. He wanted to feel close to the mother that he loved so much. Sonny then decided to follow his mother's love for cooking and open a restaurant. Sonny had no clue what he was doing at first but he figured it out. Placeras de Sinful became one of the most popular restaurants in Madrid. Sonny knew this was dangerous because his brother could possibly find him. Sonny was considering leaving the business when he met Emily. He had been working in the kitchen and had let a knife slip while he was slicing up a fish to go on the grill. He had been thinking about his brother when the knife slipped.

"Sonny I'm home..."Samantha's shrill voice brought Sonny back to the present.

"Where were you? The party starts in 20 minutes."

"I was out shopping with Carly. I wanted to get a couple things. I found a beautiful shirt for you." Samantha McCall was wearing her usual attire. She had on a short black skirt and a revelling tight blue sweater that showed her cleavage. Finishing off the ensemble was 3" black stiletto boots. Nothing was left to the imagination with the outfits she wore. Sam put down the bag and started looking through it. She pulled out a garish orange shirt. Sonny tried not to laugh it was so hideous in it's colour.

"Here it is Sonny. Don't you just love it?"

"You need to get ready Sam. The party will be starting soon."

"My someone is testy tonight." Samantha said. She walked over to him and started touching his shoulder. "I could take all that tension away...Ouch." Sonny grabbed Sam's hand that was running down his body.

"Get changed now!"

"Fine."

Sam turned around in her heels and headed up the stairs grumbling along the way. Not that she had to worry, she could always get it elsewhere. Luis was more than willing. Sam licked her lips thinking about their encounter earlier. Sonny assumed that she was shopping. Well she was sort of. She'd gone out with Carly earlier then had stopped by the warehouse. Carly wanted to see Jason and ask for more money. Sam found Luis in the office. He grabbed her roughly into his arms and pushed her head down...Sam blushed. What Sonny didn't have, his brother well he had in spades. Sam wondered why Luis wanted her to watch Sonny so closely. It didn't matter. She'd gladly do the job.

There was a knock at the door. Sonny went over and opened up the door.

"Max...sorry look I know you wanted to spend time with Elizabeth. How is she doing?"

"She's doing good boss. She has a friend visiting from Madrid. She's a doctor. I hope you don't mind I got them a table at the grill tonight. It's her friend's first night in town."

"A doctor from Madrid?" Sonny was stunned for a moment but he covered. There was probably a lot of doctors from Madrid. It was probably because he was still thinking of her. He always thought of Emily. She always got into his thoughts even after all these years.

Max saw the reaction but didn't mention anything.

"No, that is fine. Look tonight's meeting with Manuel has to go exact. If we can do it then we can start getting supplies from his distributors as well." Sonny remarked.

"Sure, boss. Boss look I kind of got a question for you. I know tonight isn't exactly the perfect time." Max said shuffling his feet from side to side. He had his hands in his pocket.

"Go ahead. Spit it out."

"Well, you know that I asked Elizabeth to marry me. She accepted."

"Congratulations. I hope you are very happy." Sonny smiled.

"Well, I don't really have any family in town. I was kind of wondering would you stand up for me."

"I'd be honoured to." Sonny smiled. He shook Max's hand.

" Wow, so you actually decided to marry that mousy nurse. You could have done so much better Maxy baby." Samantha said as she slinked down the stairs. She was wearing a very revealing red dress that had a deep plunging neckline and a short skirt. She exchanged the boots for 3" stiletto black heels.

"Why...you no good little whore. If you ever talk about Elizabeth that way again." Max said walking towards Sam. She actually looked worried with him marching over.

Sonny had to hold Max back.

"Enough. Not tonight. Samantha that is enough out of you. Go get your coat. We are leaving for the party now." Sam left to go get her jacket. Sonny touched Max's shoulder. "Sorry about that Max. She wouldn't know class if...I just tolerate her you know."

"Yeah, I get it boss." Max could see the sadness in Sonny's eyes.

Samantha walked out wearing a white fur jacket. Sonny grabbed his jacket off the chair. He looked over at Samantha. She was nothing like Emily. Emily had class, elegance, and a quiet grace. Sonny cursed under his breath. He had to stop thinking about her. It wasn't as if he would ever see her again. She was halfway across the world.