Chapter Fifteen: Leverage
Michael was home for two days now and things were beginning to get back to normal. The first day back Carly stayed with him the entire day at the brownstone, they talked and played. On the second day they went toy and clothes shopping to replace what was lost in the fire. The second day Michael got back into his routine of school and playing even though Sonny had a guard watching him 24/7. When they got home after dinner on the second night Carly put Michael to bed and then went to talk to Bobbie before she went to the hospital. After she left Carly sat on the couch to think. She was so grateful to Sonny for finding him. She still hadn't figured things out so once again she was avoiding him. She knew she loved him and wanted to be with him more than anything. The next day after Michael went school Carly cleaned up from breakfast and thinking. After just sitting and thinking for over two hours Carly decided to ask Leticia to watch Michael until Bobbie got home. On her way to the club she went to go talk with Jason, he seemed to always help her.
Jason: Who is it?
Carly: It's Carly.
Jason: Hi Carly, How's Michael?
Carly: He seems to have bounced right back. Actually I wanted to talk to you about Sonny.
Jason: Sonny?
Carly: Jason, I remember him. I love him. I know he said I was dead to him. I don't understand what changed in him.
Jason: You do remember you're divorced?
Carly: yes, I know he wanted to give us one more shot but he said he couldn't forgive or trust me. I couldn't live that way.
Jason: What way?
Carly: Walking on eggshells afraid to do or say something that will disappoint him.
Jason: Have you talked to Sonny about this?
Carly: No not yet.
Jason: Carly you need to talk to him. He can't guess what you're feeling and vice versa. While you were missing he went through hell. He blamed himself. He hated that he might never be able to tell you he loved you or that he forgave you a long time ago.
Carly: Now that I'm ok, what if he goes back to the way he was before the accident?
Jason: You can't live in what ifs. Take my advice talk to Sonny.
Carly: Thanks Jason. I think I'll take your advice for once. I better go I have to check on the club before I go back home. Have you gone there yet?
Jason: I went by to check it out.
Carly: And?
Jason: And what?
Carly: Do you like?
Jason: It's nice.
Carly: Coming from you that's great. I got to go bye.
Jason: Bye.
(Carly goes by the club to check everything. She takes care of some paperwork and has a quick meeting with Jax. She headed back home to check on Michael and was surprised to see Sonny on her doorstep.)
Sonny: Carly.
Carly: Sonny, what are you doing here?
Sonny: I was wondering if you would join me for dinner at the penthouse tonight.
Carly: Ummm...Sure. I wanted to talk to you about something.
Sonny (alarmed): About what?
Carly: It can wait till tonight. What time should I come over?
Sonny: Around eight, I have to go meet with someone so I'll see you tonight.
Carly: See you tonight.
(Carly went inside and Sonny headed back to the penthouse but not his. It was time to have it out with Alexis. In another part of town Tagliotti was meeting with Rob.)
Tagliotti: Dead?
Rob: Yeah, Jason killed him and then disposed of him.
Tagliotti: Corinthos must have seen you.
Rob: He did, told me to help Jason and then disappear.
Tagliotti: Then what are you doing here?
Rob: Passing on information.
Tagliotti: What?
Rob: It's not free.
Tagliotti: I figured as much. Tell me and I'll decide what its worth.
Rob: I know you were planning on grabbing the kid and getting rid of A.J. yourself.
Tagliotti: Yes, that kid is good leverage against Corinthos.
Rob: His wife is even better.
Tagliotti: Everyone knows Sonny wants nothing to do with Carly. That's why I made A.J. ditch his idiotic plan for her in the first place.
Rob: What about the man power he put into the search for her and all the guards? They weren't all for Michael. Morgan returning? Plus when A.J. got one shot off the gun Sonny shielded her.
Tagliotti: Any man would do that for a woman.
Rob: She's his weakness. Get her and he'll give you anything.
Tagliotti: Thanks for the tip. Not as valuable as I thought though. Boys make him disappear.
Rob: No wait… (Bang)
(They take Rob's dead body out to dispose of. Tagliotti gets on the phone)
Tagliotti: Change of plans forget about the kid.
Man: You sure?
Tagliotti: Corinthos found A.J. We'll have to lay low for awhile. I'll play the kiss up game with Corinthos here for awhile. I'll call you when it's time to strike at Corinthos.
Man: Ok. Bye Mr. Tagliotti.
Tagliotti: Good-bye.
(He hangs up and turns around. He is surprised to see Jason at his door.)
Jason: Change of plans.
Tagliotti: Morgan, I don't know...
Jason: You know what I am talking about. We found your men in Nova Scotia. We know the role you played in the disappearance of Sonny's son. This is a warning, next time it won't be.
(Jason turns around and leaves. Tagliotti sits down and thinks. He knew he should have told A.J. to turn around and walk away when he came to him with his plan. Now he really had to play the straight and narrow even longer before he could take down Sonny Corinthos. At the penthouse Sonny went from the elevator to Alexis's door. He could feel the anger building in him. He felt it when he found out but buried it because his priority was getting Carly back in his life but now he was going to let it out.)
Alexis: Hi Sonny.
Sonny: Hi, we need to talk.
Alexis: About what?
Sonny: About the real reason you went to LA. I know you had an abortion.
Alexis: How did you find out?
Sonny: I had my men watching you. I wanted to make sure you were ok. How could you do this?
Alexis: Would you have wanted the baby Sonny? A product of a one-night stand that should have never happened, the baby would have ruined your chances of getting Carly back. Is that what you would have wanted?
Sonny: How could you even ask me if I would have wanted the child? We could have worked it out. You know how I feel about family. We'll never know how Carly would have reacted YOU never gave it a chance.
Alexis: It was my body, my decision. It's done and over I can't change it now back off.
Sonny: Back off? Now I have three unborn children in heaven. I never thought you could hurt me. I've told you how much family means to me. You saw how devastated I was when Carly and I lost our son. How am I supposed to look at you without seeing what you took from me?
Alexis: I was pregnant for a month. You and Carly can have more children just let this go. Get on with your life and stop trying to control mine.
Sonny: Don't worry about that. I can't look at you. What Carly did to me was bad but this is ten times worse.
Alexis: What do you want me to do?
Sonny (cold): Move out.
Alexis: What?
Sonny: Leave, we are no longer friends or business associates. Like Carly was you are dead to me. You have two weeks to move out. Good-bye Alexis.
Alexis: Sonny please…
(Sonny walked out and slammed the door. Alexis stood stunned. Now she knew how Carly felt when he threw her out. She wanted to go after him to tell him she loved him. She did love him but he loved Carly and always would. She honestly never thought the abortion would hurt him so much, she should have known better. She decided just to do what he wanted and move out. Alexis began to think about how Sonny treated Carly. She had a little more respect for Carly. She was able to survive it. Alexis was going to start a new life. Sonny went into his penthouse and slammed the door. He didn't notice Courtney on the couch.)
Courtney: Sonny?
Sonny: Hey Courtney.
Courtney: Are you ok?
Sonny: I'll be fine. Are you ok?
Courtney: Fine. I came to say goodbye.
Sonny: Goodbye?
Courtney: I just need to start a new life.
Sonny: I won't stand in your way.
Courtney: Thank you Sonny.
(Courtney got up and hugged him. When she did he noticed the small bulge in her stomach. He stood back and looked at her.)
Sonny: Courtney...are you...
Courtney: You're going to be an uncle.
Sonny: Congratulations.
Courtney: Thank you. I think it would be better to raise my child away from the Quartermaines.
Sonny: Do you need anything money, house?
Courtney: You don't have to do that.
Sonny: I want to and I want you and my niece or nephew to be comfortable.
(Sonny writes a check and hands it to Courtney.)
Courtney: This is too much.
Sonny: Don't worry about it you go and be happy.
(Courtney hugs Sonny with tears in her eyes.)
Sonny: You keep in touch.
Courtney: I will. Bye Sonny.
Sonny: Bye Courtney.
(Courtney leaves and Sonny gets on the phone with Benny. He tells him to begin looking for a new lawyer. After that he begins preparing for his dinner with Carly. At 7:30 he sends Max to pick up her up. This would be the night he gets her back in his life forever.)
