If Only...

Chapter 12

Luke burst from the back office of his club. Claude had pushed the red button that they used when there was a problem with the clientele. He rounded the corner and came to a dead stop. At the bar were his little niece, his ex-pal and the good-for-nothing Quatermaine drunk. He looked from his niece's hurt face to Sonny's livid one. His eyebrow came up at the reaction he was witnessing from Sonny and he decided to stay back for the moment.

Everyone's eyes were trained to the hostile trio at the bar.

AJ smirked at Carly. "So, you couldn't get the flunky in your bed so you go for the Boss man. How very like you Carly." He guzzled from the flask he held in his hand. He'd been watching from the corner booth as Carly threw herself at Sonny. "How long have you been fucking him Carly?"

Luke rushed forward when Sonny grabbed AJ by the collar and hauled him up and off the floor. Before he could reach the bar, Sonny had flung AJ across a nearby table, his fist slamming against AJ's jaw. He saw Sonny swing low hitting AJ in the gut and felt a sick sense of glee to hear a cracking sound.

Sonny couldn't see straight. His vision clouded by a rage he'd never felt before in his life. He made a move to pick AJ up again when he felt a hand on his shoulder pull him away. He turned angrily and met Luke's amused stare. "Sonny, I think he got the point." They glared down at AJ.

"Get out." Sonny seethed. He moved back to the bar, his eyes trained to Carly. She stood frozen in the same spot she'd been in when AJ had arrived. He stopped at her side, stroking her hair gently. "You okay?"

Carly nodded, her eyes still rooted on AJ.

"Look at me."

The soft command in his voice pulled her out of her state and she met his gaze. He could make out the grunts coming from AJ as Luke hauled him off the floor but he kept his eyes on hers. In the next instant, he stiffened hearing AJ's slurred voice.

AJ glared at Carly. "No matter how many designer labels you wear, sweetheart, you'll never be anything but a piece of trash."

Sonny saw Carly visibly flinch as if she'd been struck. He held back the rage that consumed him once more turning calmly to stare at AJ. He walked slowly to the other man. "I will make you pay for this." Sonny stated quietly.

Luke wisely thought it best to escort AJ out of his club before he and Claude found themselves mopping up blood all evening. /Well Claude anyway./ Opening the door, Luke shoved AJ forward causing him to stumble and fall to the ground. Luke surveyed the area quickly before bending over AJ.

"You listen to me real good, you scum. You're not welcome here. Ever. I catch you anywhere near this place, I'll have you put away for trespassing." Luke squinted at him dangerously. "And if I catch you within 50 feet of my niece or my grandnephew, I'll make sure you regret it. If hear you've insulted her again, and trust me when I say I'll hear about it, Sonny won't have to beat you to a bloody pulp." He leaned in closer. "Cause I promise you, they weren't be any of you left to beat. Sonny can hurt you but I, mi amigo, I can make you disappear. Comprende?"

Without another word, Luke entered his club, leaving a bruised AJ fuming.

Once inside, Luke slowly made his way to Carly and Sonny. "You all right, man?" He asked, pointing to Sonny's hands.

Carly glanced at Sonny's hands, reaching out to softly caress them. "Does it hurt?"

"No."

Luke glanced from Carly to Sonny and back. "Um...you okay?" He threw the question in their general direction.

Carly tore her eyes away from Sonny's hands, smirking at her uncle. "Everything's hunkey-dorey there, Uncle Luke. You know how it is when I'm around. Always creating havoc." Carly slammed her hand on the counter. "Claude, this rounds on me. "

Claude glanced at Luke who in turn looked at Sonny. Sonny's gaze stayed on Carly. He knew she was hurting because of all the things that AJ had said to her. "Carly..."

"Hey, Son. Come on and drink up. Give me a shot of my friend Mr. Cuervo, Claude."

Claude looked at Sonny.

Carly's brow furrowed. "Hey. I want a drink. I'm a little old to need permission there Claude." She refused to look at Sonny, knowing that would be her undoing. She was angry. Angry that AJ had said those things. Angry that it had been in public. Angry that Sonny had been hurt.

Claude set the shot in front of Carly. She stared at it for a second and in one fluid movement, picked it up and gulped in down. The bitter liquid scalded her throat, bringing tears to her eyes. She wheezed slightly, feeling the deliciously numbing burn spread to her chest and her stomach. She slammed the glass down. "Another ."

"Carly, maybe you should take it easy." Luke warned.

Carly smiled stiffly, raising the shot glass in his direction, she winked. "Thanks for the concern there, uncle. I'm a big girl." She gulped it down, this one going more smoothly. "Too bad it couldn't have come about 25 years ago, huh?" She motioned to Claude again. The bartender sighed deeply, refilling her glass.

Carly finished the drink, feeling the dizzying sensation the alcohol produced.

"Okay. How about a nice sour apple martini Claude? You know yours are the best."

Luke leaned in slightly. "Caroline. It ain't the smartest thing to mix drinks."

Carly met Luke's eyes and he looked away from the pain he saw there. "Claude. Give the lady whatever she wants."

Sonny stared at Carly mutely. He could see the pain she was hiding under the surface of the tough veneer she was wearing. He sat quietly at her side, sipping warm beer. He knew better than to try to stop her. She needed to do this. He settled back on the stool watching her down her forth shot. It was going to be a long night.

"That little bitch." AJ muttered, swilling a drink from his flask. That piece of trash had gotten to him as always. When he's walked into Luke's and seen the way she looked at Sonny, he'd wanted to hurt her. She was supposed to have been his.

"I'll get you Carly, I swear if it's the last thing I do." AJ spoke aloud.

"AJ?"

He whirled to look at Hannah. "What are you doing here?"

Hannah retreated a step at the fevered expression in AJ's eyes. "I was...looking for you." She set her small bag down on the ground. Hannah had been away for a couple of weeks at a training session. She glanced at her watch. If she hurried she would be able to see Sonny.

AJ inhaled slowly, controlling his emotions. "Well, you found me."

The look was gone as quickly as it had come that she was unsure whether she'd seen it all. "What happened?"

AJ snorted. "Your current case and my ex are most definitely fucking each other." He watched her face tighten with rage and he felt that familiar sense of arousal.

"That...little...whore." Hannah started for the steps but AJ blocked her. He reached out and touched her face.

"No." He hissed, grabbing her hand, pulling her aside as a couple strolled by. He followed them until they disappeared from his sight. "There's more. He moved her into the penthouse today."

Hannah inhaled sharply. "What? He never even talked to me about it."

AJ studied her intently. "You can't be this stupid. He doesn't love you. He never did."

"That's not true." Hannah started for the stairs again. She needed to get to Sonny.

"He's sleeping with her Hannah or if he isn't, he wants to. He's probably through with you already.

Hannah shook her head but she knew it was true. She'd felt something change between her and Sonny. This would explain it.

AJ grabbed at her. "We stick with the plan. I'm not satisfied with merely hurting her, Hannah. And now." He touched his bruised face. "I want him destroyed."

"And you think killing Carly will do that to him?" Hannah hated that Sonny felt so much for a woman she despised.

"Oh, yes." AJ recalled the fury in Sonny's eyes earlier. "I most definitely think so."

A few hours and several sour apple martini's later...

Francis glanced up from his paperback, hearing the ding of the elevator. He straightened up, setting the book aside and rounded the corner. He stopped mid-stride, his jaw dropping. Sonny was striding toward him at full speed, his clothes and hair in disarray.

The sight of his usually calm and cool Boss, looking for all the world as he'd been caught in the middle of a hurricane would give anyone pause. But add to that the fact that he was carrying a loudly singing Carly over his shoulder and he was left dumbfounded.

Sonny paused, staring at Francis.

Francis stared back.

"Francis?"

"Hmm?"

"Are you going to open the door?"

"Hey there Frankie!!" Carly bellowed, twisting her neck to get a look at the bodyguard. "How you doing?"

"Hello, Ms. Benson."

"Oh for fuck's sakes, man. Carly. C-A-R-L-Y. Caaarrrlllyy." She giggled. "You ever notice how funny that name sounds. Carly." She continued to repeat the name between bouts of giggles.

Sonny sighed. "Francis."

The guard tore his gaze away from Carly's upside down face and blinked.

"The door, Francis."

"Oh. Of course." Francis reached over and twisted the doorknob. It was locked. "It's locked."

Sonny stamped down his temper. It wasn't Francis fault that Carly was drunker than a skunk. Nor was it his fault that AJ had shown up at Luke's and driven her to it.

"Where are your keys?"

Francis patted his pockets. He knew he had them on him...somewhere.

Sonny gritted his teeth. "Get mine. They are inside my jacket pocket."

Francis hesitated for a moment. Carly was wearing the said jacket and he wasn't sure if it was a good idea to get too near her. He glanced quickly at Sonny's frustrated scowl and decided it was worth the risk. He reached into the pocket, pulling out the keys. He dared a glance at Carly who flashed him a silly grin and waved seductively at him. Francis almost waved back but stopped cold at Sonny's stare. Francis handed him the keys. The ding of a bell broke the silence. They both turned to the elevator when it opened, ignoring the "Weeee!!" from Carly.

Francis breathed out a sigh of relief when Adam came around the corner. "Adam! You're early."

The other guard looked at him strangely. "Um...not really. I was just-"

"Wanted to get a few extra minutes in? No problem." He shoved Adam at the door, almost knocking Sonny over. "Sorry, sir." He glanced at his watch. "Well, look at the time. I got to go. See ya later Adam. Sir. Ms.- Carly." He didn't hide the fact that he was running. When the elevator doors closed, he leaned against the wall. That was a close call...

Adam stared at the spot his friend had been standing. What the heck was that about? He turned and took his first good look at Sonny. Ahhhh...

"Adam?"

Blank stare.

"The door."

"Oh. Right."

Sonny stepped through the open door, turning slightly to call over his shoulder. "I don't care who calls or comes by. I'm not available."

Adam gave him a curt nod and closed the door soundly.

Sonny shifted Carly's weight, steadying her, while he deposited her purse on his desk. He walked to the couch, leaning down and gently setting her on it. Her eyes were closed. Sonny shook himself out of his jacket and called her name.

"Carly."

She didn't move. Sonny smiled softly, thinking how sorry she was going to be about those tequila shots and martinis in the morning. He took a moment to watch her sleep, desire melded with something he refused to name as he looked at her peaceful face. He let his gaze run down the length of her body. The red dress melded to her curves. His eyes fell to her leg that was visible through the slit of the dress. She had great legs...

Stop it Corinthos...concentrate... Sonny closed his eyes briefly, summoning all his strength, he leaned over her. The scent of roses teased his senses and he suppressed a groan. He needed to get her to her room, into her bed and then he had to go take a shower. A long cold shower.

"Sonny?"

His startled eyes met her confused stare. "Hey."

Carly smiled. "What are you doing?"

"Trying to get you to bed." He watched her smile widen and he cleared his throat. "I mean...um..." Sonny eyes scanned the room nervously. This was not going well.

Carly giggled drunkenly, bringing his attention back to her. "I can get up to my room on my own." She eyed him wickedly, her words slurring. "Wouldn't want to make you do anything that made you act like that."

"What?"

"You're nervous."

"I am not." Sonny replied, stepping forward when Carly struggled to right herself. He held her arm as she rose from the couch. Carly wobbled for a second before regaining her balance. She met Sonny's eyes and smiled knowingly, the alcohol giving her the courage she usually lacked when it came to Sonny.

"I make you nervous." She'd always known that he made her react strangely but she could see, now through her alcohol induced haze, that he had a similar reaction.

Sonny rolled his eyes. "Do you always get delusional when you're drunk?" He followed closely behind her as she walked to the stairs; his arms ready to catch her.

She stared at the steps then turned around suddenly, leaning into his open arms, her arms circling his waist. "Sonny."

"Yeah?" Sonny whispered harshly.

"You like me, don't you?"

Sonny stared at her strangely. "What are you...WHAT?"

Carly paused, trying to clearly remember her point. She leaned her face closer now only inches from his. "You like me. Admit it, Corinthos." Even in her stupor, she felt her heart freeze, paused for his response. She was teasing him but his answer was more important to her than he could ever guess. Carly waited for his usual flippant remark. The one that always broke her heart.

He started to protest, started to brush away her question as a joke, when he looked at her. Really looked at her. And deep in her brown eyes, Sonny saw the vulnerability that lay beneath the surface. The pain she always tired to hide. He ran his hand down the side of her face, cupping her cheek. "Yes, Carly. I like you."

Her eyes widened and she whispered an almost inaudible "oh." Her head was swimming and she knew the alcohol must have really been kicking in cause she could have sworn Sonny Corinthos had admitted to liking her without having his arm twisted.

Sonny smiled, dimples peeking out. "Wow. If that's all that I had to do to get you to keep quiet..."

Carly laughed softly and met his eyes. He was grinning at her. That beautiful smile that he saved only for her.

Without waiting to second-guess herself, without thinking about it, Carly pulled him to her, hearing the hitch in his breath when their lips touched. She closed her eyes, her arms coming to warp around his neck.

It took Sonny a moment to register that Carly was kissing him. That her lips were on his. Before he could fully begin to enjoy that fact, she pulled away, looking up at him. Suddenly unsure of what she had done, she stared at him nervously.

"Sonny."

His gaze fell to her parted lips. He licked his own, tasting her there. And wanting more. Forget common sense, Corinthos... His hand delved into her silky hair, holding her gently. Meeting her eyes, he leaned in, an inch of space separating their mouths. His breath caressing her lips.

"I want to taste you."

Carly nodded in acceptance, her eyes falling closed, savoring the warmth of his kiss...