Chapter Five
She had been very disappointed to find herself alone in bed 'again' when she awoke the next morning, and she kicked herself for having such an emotion. She knew that her marriage was not for love and she told herself that that was the way she wanted it, the way she liked it. However, the past few days had shown her that she and Sonny made a great team, in and out of bed. They were both deceptively dangerous, and in some cased deadly. They were incredibly loyal when it benefited them. Family was very important to them as was power. Also he was the only man that had ever been able to completely satisfy her in bed. She had gotten up but this time she didn't bother with changing the sheets, she discreetly made her way back to her room to shower and dress, and then headed downstairs.
As she descended the stairs she heard a familiar voice and as she reached the foot of the stairs she saw Sonny standing near the bar. There was another man with olive colored skin, wavy jet black hair and electric blue eyes, sitting on the sofa.
"Vinny?" She called out to the man as a wide smile spread across her face, and the Italian man turned to face her with stunned eyes.
"Claudia, bella!" He replied and he stood and moved to her, quickly enveloping her into a tight embrace. "It's so good to see you, it's been too long."
"I know, when I got back to America I heard that daddy had sent you to Italy." Claudia spoke as they pulled apart.
"Yes me and your father's main lawyer, Trevor Lansing didn't have the same work ethics, and it seemed that your father preferred Trevor's style of lawyering over mine. By the way I'm so sorry to hear about your father." Vincent said sincerely.
"I'm not," She threw out quickly. "What are you doing here anyway?" Claudia asked as she looked from Vincent to where Sonny still stood by the bar drinking a glass of whiskey.
"I've been summoned back from Italy to be the legal advisor to the new head of the Zacchara organization."
"To be interviewed for the position of legal advisor." Sonny corrected.
"Of course, I apologize for being presumptuous."
"Oh come on Sonny don't be mean to Vinny, he's a great lawyer, loyal, and by the book, he wasn't cutthroat enough for daddy, meaning he's not willing to compromise his integrity to do anything illegal. But you get him in a court room and he'll get you out of any bind." Claudia stated.
"Looks like you have my wife's seal of approval." Sonny said and Vincent's eyes nearly bulged out of his head.
"Wi...wife?" Vincent asked nervously as he looked to Claudia who giggled at the apparent fear on the young man's face.
"Yeah I'm Mrs. Corinthos." Claudia confirmed.
"Ah, I'm sorry Mr. Corinthos," Vincent quickly apologize. "I meant no disrespect by being so informal with your wife."
"Oh stop it, don't you dare apologize, or start feeling like you have to treat me differently. We grew up together, we've never treated each other like we were in different classes, so don't start now." Claudia said slightly irritated.
"She's right," Sonny said agreeing. "You're friends I don't have a problem with that. So long as you're not disrespecting her or putting your hands on her in an inappropriate manner, then you know, I don't have a problem, and we won't have a problem."
"Oh no sir, I respect Claudia and lov...like her too much." Vincent assured nervously.
"Good, now that you're our new legal counsel we can get down to some business. I had breakfast set out on the patio." Sonny said directly to Claudia. She couldn't help but to associate Sonny giving her breakfast on a patio with the money a John would leave a hooker on the night stand after a night of her services. If Sonny wanted to act like their lovemaking was nothing more than 'Sex', she'd play along.
"Actually I think I'm going to see if John's free for Breakfast." She replied.
"You sure you don't want to be in on the meeting?" Sonny asked as he wondered why she didn't want to sit in on a business meeting, when she had been insistent on being involved in everything from day one.
"You can tell me about it later. I haven't spent much time with my brother since we got married, he doesn't exactly feel welcome here yet."
"Hey I already apologized to him for beating him up and threatening to kill him." sonny threw out casually as if it were the most normal thing in the world. Vincent's eyes grew a bit wider as he swallowed down the lump that had formed in his throat.
"Yeah well it'll take some time for him to come around." She said and then focused back on Vincent. "I'm so glad you're here Vinny. We should have lunch you, me, and John, to catch up."
"I'd like that." Vincent said with a smile that quickly faded as he turned to Sonny. "Of course with your permission, Mr. Corinthos."
"Stop it," Claudia said exasperated as she rolled her eyes. "I'll see you both later. Play nice please." She said as she leaned around Vincent and spoke directly to Sonny.
"I'm always nice." Sonny said and gave her his most charming smile.
"Right, bye." She said with a smile as she headed out.
Later that afternoon
"Hi," Claudia greeted as she moved to the lobby desk of the Metro Court Hotel. "I'm looking for my brother John Zacchara, he left a message saying he was going to be here. His girlfriend works at Crimson so I'm guessing he's there."
"Mr. Zacchara and Miss. Spenser left about thirty minutes ago, but I can take a message if you'd like Miss. Zacchara." The blonde lady behind the counter offered.
"Actually it's Mrs. Corinthos now." A voice spoke out from behind, and Claudia closed her eyes and sighed heavily before she turned to face the new bane of her existence.
"Kate, it's so 'not' nice to see you." Claudia said with a fake smile and then turned back to the lady behind the counter. "Could you just let my brother know I stopped by."
"Sure Mrs. Corinthos, or would you prefer Zacchara?" The lady asked nervously, fearing it wouldn't be good to offend her if she had either of those names.
"Mrs. Corinthos is fine, my husband gets testy about people not using my married name." Claudia said with a smile, knowing that her words would get under Kate's skin. "If you'd just tell my brother I stopped by I'd appreciate it, thank you."
"Sorry but I can't allow that, see I insist that my employees get personal calls and messages on their on time." Kate said.
"Excuse me, your what?" Claudia asked in disbelief.
"Your brother has agree to be a model for me." Kate gloated.
"Like hell."
"Oh it's true you can ask him yourself, but on his own time not while he's working for me. So there will be no messages for Mr. Zacchara when he comes back."
"Just who the hell do you think you are?" A voice asked and all eyes fell on Carly who had come up during the middle of their conversation. "You don't own this hotel, you rent space here. You're a tenant here. Don't you ever boss my staff around." She spoke as she shot daggers at Kate. "Melissa please make sure Mr. Zacchara gets his sister's message as soon as he gets back."
"Yes Ma'am," The blonde said and then quickly hurried to the other side of the desk to assist a new customer, who had walked up.
"Thanks," Claudia addressed Carly who graced her with a smile as she still eyed Kate.
"Any time."
"You're unbelievable and such a fool Carly." Kate spat out. "If you knew the monster that Claudia really is you wouldn't be so buddy buddy with her."
"Oh Claudia and I aren't buddies, just acquaintances. Whereas you I despise, detest, hate, loathe."
"I know the feeling," Claudia added causing Carly to give her an appreciative smile.
"Well then maybe you and I have more in common then I thought, other then having married Sonny that is. You know that's like a badge that you wear, being married to Sonny I mean. There's this sense of privilege and respect that comes with it, even if you divorced. But I guess you'll never know about that will you Kate." Carly gloated and Claudia laughed a little, which only added to Kate's growing humiliation and irritation.
"That's it you should know how stupid you're being right now. You should know the truth." Kate said as she looked directly at Claudia, whose smiling face instantly turned to one of terror.
"And what would that be Kate?" Carly asked as she spat out Kate's name in disgust.
"Your new best friend here, Claudia, is the reason Michael got shot. She was the one who put the hit on Sonny." Kate said gloating a bit as she watched the color drain from both Claudia and Carly's faces.
"What?" Carly asked as she bunched her brow disbelief.
"You heard me, Claudia was the one who put the hit on Sonny and got Michael shot. She's the reason Michael's in a coma right now." Claudia closed her eyes and prepared herself for Carly's wrath.
"You bitch!" Carly snarled out in contempt. "Stop trying to displace the blame. The only person at fault for what happened to Michael is you Kate." Claudia and Kate both looked at Carly in surprise. "Sonny's a mobster a fact that you ignored and then tried to change but you couldn't and you never will because Sonny likes the power too much. But with that power comes enemies, mob wars, and the people close to Sonny can get hurt, God you've been shot twice already. That's why I always kept my children from around his businesses. You took Michael to that warehouse and he got in the way of a bullet meant for Sonny. I'm not surprised that it was a hit by a Zaccharas, another mob family. If it didn't come from them, it would have come from Karpov or some other mob family. It's what they do, it's what Sonny does. You hit them, they come back and hit you harder all for the power, it's the nature of the beast. I understand that, I expect that. What happened to Michael happened because of your actions. It's your fault, I will never ever see it any other way, and if you get in my face about it again I swear to God..." She let the sentence hang there.
"Fine, I don't know why I expected you of all people to see this witch for what she really is. I guess that would be like the pot calling the kettle black." Kate said snidely causing Carly to take a step forward and Claudia quickly stepped in between them.
"It wouldn't be good for business if your customer's seeing you rolling around on the floor, fighting." Claudia said in a low voice to Carly, who took a step back.
"Don't worry I'm leaving, I'm sorry for wasting your time. Maybe I'll go see Sonny. I don't think he'll be as forgiving as you seem to be Carly."
"Would you just stop already you're not accomplishing anything." Claudia said.
"Except making yourself look bitter, desperate, and foolish." Carly threw in. Kate sent a hard glare to both of the women in front of her, before she turned and stalked to the elevators.
"I'm sorry," Claudia said once they were alone.
"Don't apologize to me. I get it I was married to Sonny a couple of times and long enough to know about life in the mob. I don't blame you, I blame Kate for taking Michael to that warehouse without mine or Sonny's permission, I blame Sonny for letting him stay, for not sending him home, and I blame myself because I never should have brought children into that life."
"Yeah it can mess up a kid's head, I know from experience." Claudia said. "As much as I hate to admit this Kate's right. I don't think sonny will be as forgiving."
"No he probably won't which is why you can never tell him. I'm assuming that there's no proof because if Kate had any proof she would have told him already." Carly said and then took note of Claudia's fidgiting. "There isn't any proof is there?"
"Yeah there is, thanks to your presumably dead brother-in-law."
"Jerry?"
"Yeah, he was the go between guy. Your brother-in-law wasn't as innocent as he may have made you believe. He had a lot of powerful connections. Being new in town I needed someone who knew the right people, Jerry claimed he did. So he helped me find an assassin to take Sonny out, but only 'after' Sonny nearly killed my brother." Claudia defended. "I was just trying to protect the only true family I have."
"Claudia I get it, really I do." Carly reassured. "So I take it Jerry had some damning evidence?"
"He made DVDs telling about my involvement, which are hidden all over Sonny's house. Kate found one, that's how she found out, but it got destroyed in the fire at GH."
"You have to find those DVDs before Sonny or Kate does. Without the DVD it's just Kate spouting off and looking like a bitter ex. If Sonny finds them there's no telling what he may do, he can get irrational and very lethal at time."
"Believe me I've been searching high and low for them, there's a million places in that house that Jerry could have hidden those DVDs."
"Well I can come by and help you, but it has to be when Sonny's out of the house." Carly offered.
"Why would you want to help me, not that I'm not grateful?" Claudia asked.
"Like I said I don't blame you, and I want Sonny to be happy. I'm not suggesting you two will have some 'Gone with the Wind' romance, but you two grew up in the mob so you both understand and accept that life. That makes you compatible. Also I'd want him with the devil himself before seeing him with Kate Howard."
"Thank you."
"I'm just glad your family and Sonny have made this merger. Hopefully it will stop any further mob wars, with retaliations that can cause innocent people to get hurt." Carly stated.
"There's still Jason," Claudia replied.
"Jason and Sonny will never go to war with each other and you'd be wise not to try and push that issue with Sonny. Take it from someone who once upon a time try to come between them, it won't happen." Carly said and Claudia simply nodded her understanding.
"Well this can't be good." A voice spoke from behind them and they both turned to find Sonny and Max standing there.
"What you have a problem with your wife and ex-wife having a civil, amicable conversation?" Carly asked with a smile and playful glint in her eyes.
"Yeah you should be pleased Carly and I are getting along." Claudia added and she smiled at him.
"Actually it scares the hell out of me. The two most scheming and cunning women I know hanging out together. Like I said this can't be good."
"You and Carly have children, we're married now that makes me their step mother, I think it's important for Carly and I to get along, don't you?"
"Right, and if Morgan spends the night with you I want to make sure he'll be OK with Claudia, and that she's comfortable having him around." Carly said and both Sonny and Claudia looked at her surprised.
"Wait you'd let Morgan stay with us?" Claudia asked calling Carly's bluff, knowing how much it would mean to Sonny to have Morgan stay.
"Sure, unless you don't feel comfortable with children."
"No, I love kids. I have a very big family in Italy. I use to babysit my little cousins all the time, and I practically raised John before daddy sent me away. I don't have a problem with having Morgan around if you don't mind it."
"Nope, I don't have a problem with it."
"What changed your mind, not that I'm complaining." Sonny asked.
"You, you changed your mind about marrying Kate. I don't want that bitch anywhere near Morgan."
"She won't be, I'll make sure of it." Claudia cut in quickly, before Sonny started defending Kate and cause Carly to change her mind.
"Good, so how about tonight?"
"You know anytime is good for me, Morgan is always welcome." Sonny answered.
"OK, I can bring Morgan around 6." Carly said.
"I have a meeting at the docks at that time." Sonny stated.
"Actually that's perfect," Carly said. "That way Morgan can spend some time getting to know Claudia without you there. I'll hang out with them until you're done with your meeting."
"I honestly don't know how long the meeting will be."
"That's fine, but I would really appreciate it if you'd give me a call to let me know when it's over and you're coming home. That way I can call Jax and let him know when to expect me home." Carly said and Claudia couldn't help but be impressed by how Carly had not only arranged a time for them to search Sonny's for the DVDs, but also arranged for Sonny to call to let to let them know when he'd be coming home.
"Not a problem and thank you for letting me spend some time with Morgan." Sonny said and then focused on Claudia. "Have you had lunch yet?"
"Uhm, no." Claudia answered as she eyed him suspiciously.
"Is it too late to get a reservation?" He then directed to Carly.
"Not at all I'll call the restaurant and let them know to expect you. Enjoy your lunch and I'll see you later." Carly said and Claudia mouthed 'thank you'. Carly threw her a quick wink and a smile in reply before moving back to the main desk to place the call.
"you didn't have any other plans I hope, no dates or anything?" Sonny said jokingly with a playful smile.
"No, I'm a married woman and I don't have dates unless their with my husband, so you're in luck."
"Oh really and what about Rick?" Sonny asked as he gently grasped her arm and lead her to the restaurant.
"Rick and I never technically dated, we just had a lot of great sex." Claudia answered as they entered the restaurant, leaving Max seated at a table by the door. They waited until they were seated before they continued their conversation.
"So the sex was great?" Sonny questioned.
"Yeah it was pretty good, but don't worry sex with you is much more pleasurable and gratifying." Claudia stating teasingly as she picked up a menu and looked it over.
"Good to know, and hey you're not so bad yourself." Sonny teased back. "Since we're on the subject, I don't want you seeing Rick anymore." He said as he looked at his menu.
"OK...well I guess I won't have to now that I'm getting it at home." She replied as she watched him closely for any negative reaction.
"Good so lets eat." They both fell into silence but Claudia couldn't help but to smile at Sonny's seemingly jealous behavior but she hid her smile behind her menu.
