Scorpio's Eight

Chapter Twenty Two- Take a Hit Now

The next day

Sonny sped through the streets of Port Charles in his jag, the tires flying over the rain soaked road. He knew he should have left guards on Carly. Just because he paid those guys from Miami off didn't mean they would disappear. Though, after today, he would make sure they did.

He could still hear the terror in her voice when she called him, "Someone's in my house...oh my god, help me...plea-" the line went dead.

Sonny didn't think about anything but getting to her. He was at The Metro Court having dinner with Lois when the call came. Giving her a vague line about business, Sonny literally ran for the stairs.

Carly needed him. There was something in her eyes, every time he ever saw her, that made him long to rescue her from herself and the world. Now here was his chance, he only prayed he got there in time.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Jason asked, "Do you think he bought it?"

Carly smiled. "He bought it. Now you better get out of here before my knight in shining armor shows up." She stood in front of the mirror, putting on make-up that would make it look like she was beaten up.

"You sure you can handle this?" What he meant was You sure you can avoid sleeping with that jackass this time?

Carly gave him a look. "You doubting my skills?"

He came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. "Never." Jason kissed her neck.

"Mmm. So good. You better stop before I say 'Hell with this con,' and take you right now."

He smiled but took a step away.

They both loved this. The feeling that filled their guts once the con got started. It made it all worth while. It made them both feel alive. Everything started to move fast, like a roller coaster out of control, until the job moved with a life of its own. Each player had to do his part to perfection and, when they did, the crew became a force that could not be stopped. It was power and greed and thievery at its best.

(Don't you wanna go for a ride?
Just keep your hands inside
and make the most out of life.


Now don't you take it for granted)

Carly's eyes met his in the mirror. Without any words she ordered him to come back to her alive. He nodded, then Jason slid from the room.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Robert hated when it rained on the day of a job.

Though Luke said he was full of it, Robert considered that bad luck. But everything was in place, all the players knew their parts, it would flow like a well orchestrated dance, there was no reason to not do it today.

He sucked in a deep breath as he got dressed. His eyes moved to the mirror. Where had the last thirty years gone?

Robert remembered what it was like to be twenty five- bold and brash, and living so close to the edge that every breath felt like his last. Anna had been by his side, her skills as finely honed as his, never one to take his orders, always pushing him to be better and faster and more cunning or else she would steal his score right out from underneath him.

The first time they made love, he was hooked on her for life. Did he tell her that then? Hell no.

Should he tell her that now? Would it make a difference? How could his own brother be the man she needed instead of him for this last year?

He pushed those thoughts away. On his hands, he slid on a pair of surgical gloves, then put black gloves over those.

Time to go to work.

(Life is like a mean machine.
It made a mess outta me.


It left me caught between-
like an angry dream I was stranded)

He had screwed up at being a husband, father, brother, even friend. But he never messed up at this.

Robert Scorpio was a true professional when it came to conning. And he had to be, especially now, considering it was all he had left.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Gia had to fight the urge to throw her body in front of Zander as he walked out the door of their brownstone.

She still, after all these years, didn't know why he did this. Why he suited up in all black and slipped off into the night to steal or why he felt it was thrilling to wear a disguise, be someone else long enough to take what wasn't his, what he hadn't earned and didn't deserve.

"Smile, baby," he said as he gave her a good-bye kiss. "This will all be over soon."

The way he said it, so soft and sure, it nearly made her believe.

(And I'm steady but I'm starting to shake
and I don't know how much more I can take.

This is it now,
everybody get down.


This is all I can take.
This is how a heart breaks.)

She pulled him into another kiss, taking it slow, pressing her slightly rounded pregnant stomach against him. I will not cry, she ordered herself, He's coming back to us...he is. He has to.

Gia held on hand against his cheek and said "Be careful out there. Remember...this baby of ours and me...we love you-" despite her best efforts she started to cry.

"Shhh, come on, now. I love you both, too. I'll be home in a few hours. This is an easy score. Won't be no big thing."

She nodded, as the lump in her throat only grew and her hands clutched his shirt. Damn him! Damn all of them and their con artist ways, Gia silently cried, I love him. I've only ever loved him. Don't take him from me.

There were some people born to live this sort of life and others who never could. Gia knew it wasn't for her. She hadn't been sleeping lately, was barely eating, and her cosmetics business was suffering from lack of attention. She needed to know Zander was safe, and through with the crew for good.

He pried her fingers off of his shirt, kissed her palm and then let go. "I love you, G."

Zander hurried past her and out the door, as she stood there sucking in huge gulps of air. Minutes later, when she calmed down she said, into the now empty living room, "I love you, too, Z."

(You take a hit now.

You feel it break down


Make you stay wide awake.
This is how a heart breaks.)

XXXXXXXXXXX

Todd had pulled out of the Metro Court parking lot right after Sonny. He tailed him as he raced across town. This was the first time he caught the mob boss with a guard. He watched him pull up in front of a cottage, jump from his Jaguar, and run up to the doors. Sonny went inside without knocking.

Reaching into his glove box, Todd pulled out a gun. A slow smile crossed his face.

They were in the woods, no one would even hear the shot. He could be back to Blair's side in an hour, telling her how Sonny had begged for his life, how sorry the man professed to be, and how, in the end, it made not a damn bit of difference.

He pulled his bag out of the backseat and slid on a mask. Sonny wouldn't even know who took his life.

Todd always got his man. Blair would have it no other way. He only hoped this was the last time he had to do something like this to prove his love.

(Feels so good you could cry,
now won't you do what I told you.


I remember when you used to be

shy.


Yeah, once we were so

fine.


You and I

why you gotta make it so hard on me?) ( Rob Thomas)

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Lois ended up in Jax's hotel room after Sonny ditched her. "It's in play," she said "How long until we hear something?"

Jax was bored with her. The look on his face said it all. That worried Lois because it was the first time in all the years they had been screwing on the side that he ever was anything less than captivated by her.

"When its done," he said as he poured himself another drink. He had been doing more of that lately too.

She wondered if he was cut out for this kind of takedown, after all. So far, Jax held more of the cards that she did, while she was doing all the heavy lifting- having to live with Sonny and sleep with him and promise to love him and have his babies. It made her sick.

Anything she ever felt for Sonny died in high school when he threw her over for Connie. Now all she wanted was some sweet revenge and lots and lots of stolen cash to make up for the life he didn't give her back then. He should have known better than do wrong a girl from Bensonhurst.

(You take a hit now you feel it break down
Make you stay wide awake
This is how a heart breaks)

End of Chapter

Note- This story will probably get bloody in the chapters to come. Like the end of a lot of heist movies, not everyone can survive when greed and lust surpass morals.