Sorry for the lateness of the update. To make it up for it I'll post another chapter on Monday. Have a great weekend!
"Sonny, I'll only be gone a week, you're acting like it's forever," Carly argued as she carried her make-up case down the stairs.
Sonny twirled his drink around and took a swig. "I know it's only a week, but the doctor told you no stress. Going to three different cities in a week is tiring and stressful."
Putting her case on top of her suitcase, she seductively walked over to Sonny and laid her head on his shoulder.
"Why can't Laura go again?"
"Leslie Lu is sick and she wants both her mommy and Uncle Steffy at her bedside."
Sonny chuckled. "I can't imagine refined, dignified Stefan Cassadine answering to Uncle Steffy."
"It's a sight to see, Uncle Mickey."
Startled by the term, Sonny looked at Carly in surprise.
"That's what Jason's and Courtney's baby could possibly be calling you," she responded off of his surprised look.
He shook his head. "Once Stone died and Robin- -" he paused and ran his fingers through his hair, "I guess I never thought I would hear myself called that."
Uncomfortable with the silence following Sonny's statement, Carly kissed his cheek. "I better go."
"Let one of my men handle this or have these meetings via video or telephone conferencing."
She stepped away from him and picked up her coat. "I thought we agreed you wouldn't interfere in my business and I wouldn't interfere in yours," she huffed.
He sighed and helped her with her coat. "You're right, I'm sorry. I'm just concerned."
With her coat on, she turned to him and picked up his left hand. "I promise I won't let anyone stress me out." She kissed his ring finger. "Besides you're a worry-wort; the baby isn't due for another month."
"Three-and-a-half weeks," he murmured under his breath.
She kissed him softly on the lips. "How about this? When I return I'll go on maternity leave and you can pamper the baby and me as much as you want. Deal?"
He brushed a lock of hair out of her face. "Deal."
"I promise you that when I come home, everything will be absolutely perfect. No one and nothing will be able to touch us."
They kissed tenderly and parted. Carly opened the front door and Dante, the guard assigned to her, looked to her for directions. She nodded and he grabbed her bags.
"You're not going to wait for Michael to come home from school?" Sonny asked walking her to the elevator.
"No, I said goodbye to him this morning."
Sonny nodded. "I love you."
"I love you, too, Michael Corinthos, Jr."
And with those final words the elevator doors closed.
"Part one is completed, now on to phase two, Dante."
"Are you sure about this, Mrs. Corinthos?" Dante asked as he held the limo door open for Carly. Once she was settled, he climbed in after her.
"I thought I told you to call me Carly."
He nodded. "Carly, I don't know about this."
"Dante, what's your job?"
"To protect Mr. Corinthos and his loved ones at all costs."
Carly nodded vigorously. "Do you remember when Sonny and I lost Robert?"
"Yes."
"You remember Sonny's rages? His temper?"
"Yes."
"Do you remember what work was like during that time?"
Dante frowned as his memories returned from that period of time. He nodded his head slowly.
"Do you want it to go back to that?"
"No," he said emphatically.
"Well, that's how life will be if we don't follow through with this plan."
"Mrs. - -" He cut himself off as Carly glared at him and started again. "Carly, can't we tell Mr. Corinthos about Ric's threats and let him deal with Ric?"
"Doesn't Sonny have enough problems to deal with?" Carly took a breath and continued. "Dante, you're married?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Does your wife handle problems that you are unaware of until after the fact? Or are there ever problems so unimportant she doesn't tell you about them at all because she's taken care of the situation and there's no reason to rehash it?"
"Of course."
"Why is that?" Carly inquired.
"Cause she's my wife, my partner- -"
"Dante," Carly patted his thigh, "Sonny handles problems I know nothing about everyday. He deals with things I couldn't even begin to help him with. BUT THIS is something I can help with. This is a chance for me to ease his burden a little and at the same time, protect our family. Ric is a threat to my family, but luckily he's one, I, we, can eliminate." A lone tear made a slow trek down Carly's cheek.
"Don't cry, Carly," Dante begged. "I understand and admire you for what you're doing to protect the family. I just don't want anything to happen to you or the baby. And I don't want to lie to or betray Mr. Corinthos."
"You are not betraying him. When he assigned you to me, didn't he say, 'Protect her and follow her orders.'"
"Yes, he did."
"Well, then that's that." She brushed a piece of lint off her pants suit and continued. "He can't get mad at you for following his direct orders. Orders that came from him, not Jason, not Marco, but directly from him. And if for some unknown reason, there are any problems, I'll take the blame." Carly looked him dead in the eyes and held her hand out. "Capiche?"
Slowly Dante lifted his hand, grasped hers, and shook it. "Capiche."
"That wasn't so difficult, now was it?" Carly asked as she reached into the fridge across from her and grabbed an apple juice.
"No, it wasn't."
"Feeling better about everything now?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, I am."
"So I'll take my meetings in New York City tomorrow and the next day. Then we'll go down to Pittsburgh and take those meetings," she informed Dante while sipping her juice. "While I'm in meetings all day, you'll be getting things ready for phase three. Are our people in place in Miami?"
"It's being taken care of as we speak."
"Good, this is going to go off without a hitch."
He nodded hesitantly.
Carly took a few grapes off the mini counter next to the fridge. She popped a few in her mouth. She patted his hand. "Trust me, this plan is full proof. Nothing can go wrong. Nothing at all."
Famous last words, Dante thought to himself. Famous last words.