Second Chances

Chapter 7

Sonny watches Jason leave. He still couldn't believe that he had seen Emily again. She was even more beautiful if that was possible. The way that she felt when he held her in his arms. The way her skin felt against his hand. The way she looked at him with hurt in her eyes when she saw him. He had to push her away. It was the only way to keep her safe. He ached to have her in his life. She had brightened it just for a moment with her light then she left again. He felt the darkness encase him again. It was suffocating him. The lies were suffocating him. He had to leave her two years ago in order to save her. He would do it again to make sure that she was alive. Listening to what Luis said Sonny knew it was the right decision even though it killed him inside. She would hate him but at least she would have a long life doing it. He couldn't live with himself if something happened to her.

Sonny flashes on the phone call. Emily was a mother. She had a 2 year old son. When did she have him? If she was pregnant she would have told him ? Did she meet someone new but if...Had she found someone else? The pit of jealousy tied a knot in his stomach thinking of the concept of her being with another man. She was his woman. That was supposed to be his child and his life with her. She sounded so tender when she was talking to her son. He could hear the love in her voice. He remembered that love when she had talked to him.

The older man watched the torture of what Sonny had done. Manuel motioned to one of his bodyguards over. He whispered to him quietly, "Subsistencia cerca de Srta. Quartermaine y su hijo. No deje cualquier cosa sucederle. El jefe no quisiera que la tocaran. Guárdela con su vida." (Keep close to Miss Quartermaine and her son. Don't let anything happen to her. The boss doesn't want her touched. Guard her with your life.)

The bodyguard left. Sonny looked back and saw Manuel looking at him.

"Sonny?" Manuel said walking over and shaking Sonny's hand.

"Manuel estoy apesadumbrado que usted tuvo que ver eso. Mi hermano y yo no vemos siempre el ojo para eye"(Manuel I'm sorry you had to see that. My brother and I don't always see eye to eye."

"No, it's fine. So she is the regret that I see in your eyes my young friend?" Manuel said in English.

Sonny looked at him surprised and unsure of what to say in return."You speak English?"

"Just a little when necessary. It's important in our line of work, no? Nothing is needed to be said my young friend. The looks between you and Miss Quartermaine spoke volumes. You seemed happier with her than I have seen you in a long time even if it was just for a moment."

"I'm sorry," Sonny said uncomfortably. The older man was able to read him better than he thought. "Look let us go back to our business dinner. We can have some wine and talk about what we want to do."

Manuel noticed that the happy Sonny he had seen a couple of minutes ago was gone. He was all business again.

Sonny looked at Manuel. There was no point talking about Emily. She was out of his life. As much as he ached to hold her and get lost in her again, there was no point. This was his life. He mind as well get used to it.

"No I think we were able to cover everything earlier. Actually I want to show you something if you would let me. I have a sample of the shipment down at docks. If you come with me. I can show you it. I know you will like the shipment very much." Manuel said

Sonny looked at Manuel unsure how to act.

Just then before Sonny could respond, Sam walked down the stairs. Sonny looked at her and saw the smug look on her face. She tried to cover it but there was no use. He realized that she had been the one that had called Luis. She had been the one to put Emily in that danger.

"Did your little friend go? I'm sorry Sonny. You can do so much better." Sam said as she touched Sonny's arm.

Sonny grabbed her hand and held it hard. Sam winced in pain.

"I'm not going to even dignify that with an answer you little...perra." Sonny muttered in Spanish. He grabbed Sam's arm by the wrist and pulled it off his shoulder.

"Sonny, that hurts!"

Sonny let go of her hand, "Nobody crosses me and I mean no one. Don't bother trying to hide it Sam. I know what you did. You are not even close to the same level of beauty, grace and class that Emily has, so don't even bother speaking about her. So help me God if something happens to her and her son..."

The smug look on Sam's face was gone replaced by one of fear.

"Max."

Max came down the stairs and looked at Sonny.

"Make sure that Sam gets back to the apartment. I don't want her to leave until I talk to her."

"Sure boss."

Max is about to walk away. He had a hand on Sam. She was about to fight him but saw the look on Sonny's face that told her not to disagree.

"Max?"

Max turned and looked at Sonny.

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry to be sticking you with her. I know that you wanted to spend time with Elizabeth tonight. Thank you for helping out." Sonny smiled.

Sonny and Manuel got into the limo when it showed up.

"You are good with your men?" Manuel remarked.

"If they show me loyalty then I will show them the same. It's important to have it go both ways. It was something my father showed me when I was younger." Sonny said looking out the window.

"You sound like you miss Senor Corinthos?" Manuel remarked.

"I do. You sound like you knew my father?" Sonny said looking over at the older man sitting across from him. He didn't know much about the man other than of his business dealings in Puerto Rico with Sonny's father. There was something calming about him that put Sonny at ease.

"I did some business with him back in the day but I presume you already know that."

Just then Manuel's phone rings.

"I'm sorry I have to take this."

"That's fine."

Manuel talks on the phone.

"Sí, estoy en mi manera al jefe del almacén ahora...que le hacen en los muelles y usted está en su manera allí también...Bueno, yo le satisfará allí. Ningún usted necesita hacer la otra llamada telefónica para mí. Todo está muy bien. Era todo el cuidado tomado de." (Yes, I'm on my way to the warehouse right now boss...You're done at the docks and you are on your way there as well...Good, I'll meet you there. No you need to make the other phone call for me. Everything is fine. It was all taken care of.)

Sonny looked at Manuel not really listening to the conversation. Instead he was thinking about how beautiful Emily looked tonight and how his life seemed so dark without her in it.

Emily arrived just outside the penthouse door with Elizabeth.

"Em you need to slow down and think." Elizabeth said touching her shoulder.

"Elizabeth...I'm sorry I know you want me here for your wedding. I wish I could stay but Michael's...Sonny's life is dangerous for both me and Carlos. I have no choice I need to return to Madrid." Emily said leaning against the wall. She felt like her whole world was spinning out of control. Everything that she thought made sense didn't now.

"Emily, you just found out that Sonny's is alive."

"I know...why did he lie to me? I needed him. Carlos needed him. He lied to me about everything." Emily said as she prepared to open the door.

"Emily it sounds like he had no choice. He had to let you go to keep you safe."

"Safe from what Elizabeth?" Emily questioned.

"His family." Jason said as he got off the elevator.

"Jason..." Emily looked at her brother. Jason went over and hugged his sister. He pulled back and looked at her. She still was as beautiful as before. Carlos had brought a calm to his sister's life again.

"Emily, I had no clue that Sonny was Michael. If I had known that I would have told you sooner."

"Really would you have Jason?"

"Yes, I could see the agony in your face when you thought that he died. I remember your face that night. Emily I would never want you to feel something like that but Sonny's life is very dangerous. He may have been a different man in Madrid but here his life is very dangerous. Sonny's brother is very dangerous. Luis is not a man to be crossed without consequences."

"Then why do you work for him? " Emily said looking at her brother.

"I couldn't stand the demands that grandfather had on me for the business. He wanted me to be a miniature version of himself. I can't do that. I'd suffocate. It's a good life with Sonny if you know the risks. I never would want you to do that. You deserve better than that. Sonny knows that. That is why he left you. He had to make the only choice possible."

"But he didn't tell me? I can't deal with this I have to go back to Madrid."

"I know."

"Sonny sent you here to make sure that I leave? He never really cared about me did he?"

"Emily he loves you more than anything in his whole life. He like a prisoner."

"Can't he leave?"

"Not without consequences." Jason said.

Elizabeth opened the door and they all walked inside.

"Carlos?"

"Mama usted es casero. Le falté." (Mama you're home I missed you.) Carlos said running out.

Jason caught his breath looking at the little boy. He was a miniature version of Sonny with the dark curly hair and dark brown eyes.He even had Sonny's dimples. He was like a minature version of his father only he was wearing spiderman pjs instead of a three piece suit.

¡Tío Jason!(Uncle Jason) Carlos said after seeing Jason. He rushed over and hugged Jason. Jason picked up the small boy. "Hey how are you sport?"

"Good. I'm having a lot of fun here in America."

"Well that's good but aren't you supposed to be in bed?"

"I...I wanted a glass of milk and a cookie. Mommy promised." Carlos said looking at his mother. Emily laughed.

"Yes, I know I promised. Carlos I need you to go pack your bags please."

"¿Por qué mama? Estoy teniendo diversión aquí con Cameron. Pensé que iba a conseguir ver a la abuela y a abuelo mañana."( Why mama? I'm having fun with Camerone. I thought we were going to go see grandmother and grandfather tomorrow.)

"Sé pero necesitamos ir a casa. Tiíta Lily llamado ella necesita mi ayuda en la clínica. Ahora va el paquete sus bolsos.(I know but we need to go home. Auntie Lily called She needs my help at the clinic. Now go pack your bags.)Emily said knowing that she was lying to her son. She could see the disappointment in his eyes. He should be having the time of his life but instead they had to leave and he would never know that his father is alive.

"Mama!" Carlos said with a sad voice. He looked at Emily with those big brown eyes about to cry. Emily could see the beginning of a pout. She had to be strong.

"Ninguno de eso. Ahora vaya. Si usted es bueno entonces usted puede inmóvil comer una galleta antes de que vayamos."( None of that. Now Go. If you are good you can still have a cookie before we go.)

Liz took Carlos into the other room. She looked at Emily. Emily brushed a tear that was rolling down her cheek.

"I'll just be a moment. I just need to change and pack my bag. I knew I never should have come. I could feel it in my heart. It was better that I never knew."

"Em, I'm so..." Jason said unsure of what to say. He could hear the agony in his sister's voice.

"Don't say it Jason." Emily said as tears started to fall down her face. She rushed down the hall into the bedroom.

The limo arrived at the docks outside of the Coffee House. Sonny got out of the Limo with Manuel. He then saw another limo pull up. Luis got out.

"What are you doing here? Is this a setup? Emily is leaving tonight. You got your wish. She's out of my life for good. "Sonny said looking at his brother.

"Good, Sonny but I did not call you here. Manuel called me on the phone and asked me to meet you," Luis said reaching for the gun that he always kept at the small of his back.

" Why are we here Manuel? " Sonny looked at Manuel trying to understand what was happening. Sonny went to reach for the gun at the small of his back as well. He looked over at the bodyguards.

Manuel looked at both of the brothers. They were both so different now.

" Put those guns away now. They are not needed. It will all make sense when you both go inside."

Sonny and Luis looked at each other. Both of them eased the grips on their guns and walked inside of the warehouse. There was nothing there that was different. Just crates full of the latest orders of coffee beans that Sonny had ordered from Columbia.

" What are you trying to do old man. There is nothing different here. I was here earlier." Luis questioned. He felt uncomfortable. He looked over at Sonny. He touched the gun at the small of his back.

" What were you doing here? This is my end of the business. We agreed upon that." Sonny questioned looking at his brother.

"He was dealing in this. Your mother would be disgusted in this Luis."
Sonny looked over at the door where the voice had come from. A figure stepped out into the light. The older man walked out caring a package of what looked like white powder.

"We were never supposed to sell this." Hector said as he came closer into the light.

"Father?" Sonny questioned.

"But you are supposed to be dead? They told me that you had been killed?"

"Just like you had killed your mother and brother Lorenzo? I survived just barely and I've been waiting for this day for a long time."

Sonny looks at Manuel."You knew about this?"

"Manuel has been my right hand man down in Puerto Rico for many years Michael."
Sonny walked over and hugged his father. Hector looked at his youngest son and touched his face. There was so much love there. He looked over and saw a cold glare coming from his oldest son. There was no love there just pure anger.

"Luis you disappoint me. Are you not happy to see your father alive?...Manuel is the car ready."

"Yes boss."

" Do you have a guard watching Emily and the boy?

"Yes, I sent Marcello to watch her and the boy. He's one of my best men." Manuel said.

Luis and Sonny both looked their father.

"Why do you have someone following Emily? She's leaving tonight. I made sure of it."

"Michael you are not understanding me. I know this is a shock my son but go with Manuel now to the airport. You need to stop Emilia. Go now. You will regret it forever if you don't stop her."

Sonny looked at his father. Hector touched his son's face.

"Go now before she leaves."

"What are you talking about? How do you know about Emily and her son?" Sonny questioned.

Hector then turned to Luis. He looked at Sonny for a moment. He touched his beloved son's face. " I've been watching both of you for many years trying to understand what happened. I could not come out into the public until I knew who had attempted to murder my family. You are lucky you were at school my son. I knew that someone had murdered your mother and Lorenzo that night. They had attempted to kill me but narrowly missed. I knew that it was an attack from the inside. Nobody but people close knew where we were staying. I didn't know who it was until tonight. I've been watching over all of my famly. Now go Michael. Manuel will answer your questions."

Hector looked at his son with disapproval and hatred, " Is this why you tried to kill me because I refused to deal in drugs? Is this why? It is one thing to attempt to kill me. I have had to live with the loss of my beloved wife and son for many years but it is another thing to attempt to kill my innocent grandson. That will never be acceptable. Michael go now before you lose her again."

Luis heard the anger in his father's voice. He tried not to tremble but there was no use. He attempted to pull out his gun but Manuel pulled his gun and fired once hitting Luis in the back. Luis crumpled to the ground.

Manuel led Sonny out of the warehouse. Sonny looked back at his father standing over the lifeless body of his brother.