CHAPTER THIRTEEN
"What about this one?" Carly shows Gia a real estate listing.
Gia considers it but decides against it. "This is going to be next to impossible." She takes a sip of her wine. "Maybe we need to be realistic. Finding two houses for sale next to each other that we both like is a one in a million. We were lucky in Houston. I don't see our luck holding here."
Carly carries the baby to the window. "We're going to find a house next door to each other. We're going to have connecting backyards and our kids are gonna be the best of friends. If we have to have the guys coerce someone to move then so be it. I can't go back to this penthouse living. I thought I could but I can't. I feel caged."
"I know. So do I." Gia admits. "Or maybe it's because we haven't left the penthouse since we landed." They entered Port Charles under the cloak of darkness and haven't ventured out since.
Carly turns to her. "You know you don't have to stay cooped up, G. I don't want to run into Sonny or Kate until I'm ready but that doesn't mean you're confined."
"I'm not complaining." Gia shrugs. "It's not like I really want to see anyone in Port Charles but you, the kids and maybe Lucky."
Johnny comes in. "Hey babe." He bends down to kiss Gia.
"Hey you're back early." Gia lets the kiss linger.
Johnny nods as he moves towards Carly and the baby. After dropping a kiss on Carly's head he smoothly takes his Godson. "Jason will be here in a minute."
Carly stretches. "That's the best thing I've heard all day."
Johnny looks at her hopefully, "Has he eaten?"
Carly has to laugh. "Yes Uncle Johnny but he can have a few more ounces." She leaves to make the bottle.
"So what's going on?" Gia tries to get it out of him.
Johnny smiles at her. "Nothing beautiful. Just an early one."
"Come on babe…" She wraps her arm around his waist and kisses his neck.
Jason walks through the door. He hangs his jacket on the back of the chair and puts his gun away. Carly comes in with the bottle. He kisses her in greeting.
"Hey you." She whispers against his lips.
He savors the feeling of coming home to her for a moment before he lets her go. "Hey."
"So what brings you guys in so early?" Gia inquires. The sun has barely begun to set.
Jason laughs softly, "Well we have to go back out later but Johnny can't seem to stay away from his Godson for more than an hour or two at a time."
"Neither can you." Johnny argues as he flips him off.
Jason doesn't bother to deny it as he takes his son away from Johnny. As he gazes down at him, he feels his heart literally skip a beat. He looks over at a beaming Carly and mouths the words "thank you". Her smile grows wider in response.
A knock sounds against the Penthouse door making them all tense up. Jason hands the baby over to Johnny as he stands to answer it.
"Good evening." Diane greets the room as she saunters in. "Due to my judicial prowess I was able to expedite the situation regarding Morgan Corinthos nay Lucas Morgan and Michael Corinthos the third. Congratulations." She stops to look at the baby. "You are one cute kid."
"Maybe one day you and Max…" Carly gets a mischievous twinkle.
"Bite your tongue." Diane clucks her tongue. "I will be sending you my bill." She waves a hand as she exits the penthouse.
Carly hands the paperwork to Gia. "Look those over for me. Diane is good but she still works for Sonny. I just want to be sure there are no legal loopholes."
Jason frowns. "Diane wouldn't cross me."
"Well I didn't know she still represents you and Sonny. Talk about a big fat conflict of interest." Carly places a hand on her hip. "If it were up to me, you'd fire her and let Gia be our legal eagle. Who'd have more incentive to see you and Johnny free then her?"
Gia objects, "I don't want to be their legal counsel."
"Why not?" Carly demands to know.
Gia rolls her eyes. "Two reasons. One: I don't want to know more than I have to about what they're into. Two: If I know more than YOU about what they're into you'll start to resent me and I'll lose my sister. No thanks."
"Shut up." Carly sticks her tongue out at her but can't refute her logic. "Fine but when I get Crimson I want you to be counsel of record."
"Deal." Gia agrees.
Jason rocks the baby as he starts to get fussy. "How's the plan for Crimson going?" He's kept his word and given Carly free reign of how she wants to extract her revenge.
"It's not." Carly pouts. "I can't find Jax. I've left a ton of messages but he hasn't called back. I even called Lady Jane but she hasn't heard from him."
Jason frowns. "When's the last time you talked to him?"
"When he signed the divorce papers." Carly shrugs.
Gia chuckles, "Only you would try to reach him in order to give back a small fortune in exchange for one company."
"I don't need his money." Carly shrugs.
Jason hands her the baby. "I can have Spinelli track him down."
Bobbie knocks once as she enters the penthouse. "Where are my grandbabies?" Bobbie greedily heads for little Jason. Morgan comes bounding down the stairs and barrels into his grandma.
"Hi Grandma, I've missed you." He hugs her waist tightly.
Bobbie drops to her knees and wraps her arms around him. "I have missed you so much baby boy."
"I'm not the baby anymore." He protests. "I have a baby brother now."
Bobbie kisses the top of his head. "You will always be one of my babies Morgan."
"I'm Lucas now." Morgan announces. "Just like Uncle Lucas and Great Uncle Luke."
Carly rolls her eyes and mutters, "Like there's anything 'great' about Uncle Luke."
Bobbie throws curious glances around the room as she rises. "Wow that's…something."
Carly sighs and explains. "Jason adopted him and Michael. Diane just dropped off the papers. It's official."
"Congratulations." Bobbie smiles, "Carly, can I talk to you in the kitchen?"
Carly turns on her heel and walks into the kitchen. Before Bobbie can say a word, Carly pounces. "It's done. I understand that you may feel I'm making a mistake but Jason is the best thing that's ever happened to me and my boys. He is not Sonny and I know he'll never make the mistakes that Sonny did."
"Can I speak now?" Bobbie leans against the counter. "I know you love Jason honey, you have for years but you have to understand my concerns. One moment you're married to Jax, the next that's over and then you're gone for months without a word. Next thing I know Jason is on my doorstep and you're married and having a baby. Now he's adopted Michael and Morgan. Morgan is changing his name. It's all a bit much AND what do you think Sonny is going to do when he finds out about all of this? I don't want to see you get hurt."
Carly sits on a stool. "Sonny is not my concern. This family is. Sonny gave away all rights to the boys just so he can impress Kate. He was able to drop the boys like it was nothing. That is not the kind of man I want anywhere near my kids."
"I said I want you to come home." Sonny flashes his dimples at her.
Claudia isn't buying it. "And I said no. Actually I said hell no but either way the no stands."
Sonny takes a deep breath to reign in his temper. "We have an arrangement. If you're not at home with me the men may start to think…"
"That I left your sorry ass?" She leans her hip against the doorway. "Good. I did. I told you Sonny, I'm not about to be disrespected in my own home and you tried me more than once. This is the result. Now if it's hard for you to swallow that someone would actually leave you? That's too damn bad."
As she watches him fidget she wishes for the umpteenth time she could go on and kill him but she made Johnny a promise he'd get that honor and though it pains her to think of her brother as a killer…she agreed out of duty. Johnny's the boss now and she'll follow his lead until she sees whether or not he can truly handle it.
Johnny taps Sonny on his shoulder. "I told you to stay away from my sister Corinthos."
"And I told you to stay out of adult conversations, boy." Sonny puffs up. "This is between me and my wife."
Claudia rolls her eyes. "I'd really like it if you'd stop calling me that."
"Like it or not that's what you are until death do us part." He emphasizes the death part with a raised lip at Johnny.
Johnny takes a step closer. "Please tell me that was a threat against me or my sister. You might want to remember you don't have Jason to do your dirty work Corinthos. You come around my sister again and I will take you out personally."
"This isn't over." He warns Claudia as he leaves.
She calls after him, "But it can be. Remember that." She pushes off the doorway and heads for the bar. "I swear to ugh that man shows more interest now than the entire time I lived in that house."
"Because Sonny wants what he can't have." Johnny accepts a drink from her. "The man is a pig."
Claudia nods as she hops up on the table. "Yes he is but he's also a dangerous pig. With or without Jason, he's going to make a move soon."
"I've finished moving the last of my men into place." Johnny reveals. "None of our people wanted to be merged with Corinthos. Maybe if Morgan had come in with him but Sonny's reputation alone doesn't inspire loyalty amongst the ranks."
Claudia sneers. "Why would it? The man walks in and out of the mob at will depending on what angle he's working with the latest piece of ass he's chasing. There's no real honor, no loyalty. He's a joke and our father just proves how insane he really is by allowing him anywhere near our family business."
Johnny gets up to answer the door. He barely suppresses his smile when he sees the Prince standing on the other side; his hands clasped formally behind his back.
"What can I do for you?" Johnny asks.
Nik gives him a measured look noting the tiny crinkles of barely suppressed laughter around the corners of his mouth. "May I speak with Claudia, please?"
"Claudee it's for you." Johnny opens the door wide and makes a sweeping gesture for Nikolas to enter.
Claudia makes a gesture to fix her hair but catches herself just in time. She slips on a mask of indifference. "What do you want Batman?"
"I'm going to make some calls in the yeah okay…" Johnny leaves them alone.
Nik steps close to where she's lounging on the table as if it's an actual seat. "You haven't returned my calls."
"I don't want to talk to you." She lies effortlessly.
Nik smiles and it sends butterflies through her stomach. "I do not believe you."
"If I wanted to talk or see you I know my way to the bat cave." She swings one leg lazily.
Nik shakes his head and catches her leg mid swing. Pulling her leg with one sharp tug he plants himself directly in between her legs. "You said you love me too." He places one hand firmly on the back of her neck.
"I lied." She hates the breathless way her voice sounds and the sudden urge she feels to devour the man standing in front of her. She can't have feelings for Nikolas. She just can't. She won't.
"Claudia?" Nik leans in closer to her lips.
"What?" She lifts her chin in defiance.
"Shut up." He closes the distance between them with ease.
Claudia barely recognizes herself. The soft whimpers. The low moans. The way she clings to him as they make love right there in the middle of the apartment she shares with her brother; a brother who she prays is wise enough to stay in his room. By the time they make it into her bedroom they are spent.
She lies with her head on his chest as he strokes her hair. She kisses his chest lightly. Her reward is the sound of his breath quickening.
"I love you." He lifts her chin so she will see the seriousness in his eyes. "I understand the strange loyalty you're trying to show me by not allowing yourself to feel for me. You fear that your father will eliminate me from your life if you allow yourself to be with me. I have the same fear because of my grandmother. She will surely not approve of you."
Claudia snickers slightly, "Crazy Granny Cassadine and loony Papa Zacchara; we should hook them up."
Nik tugs on her hair sharply. "Claudia, I need you to take this seriously. Helena is dangerous. You will be in danger because of her."
"I'm in danger on a daily basis anyway." Claudia dismisses it. "What's one more person looking to take me out?"
Nik shakes his head as he frowns. "She isn't some thug who is going to come at you guns blazing or even knife you on the pier; though she is quite fond of stilettos. It will be more subtle. Maybe poison. Perhaps she'll kidnap you as she did my mother Laura or brainwash you as she did my brother Lucky."
Claudia sits up and stares at him. "Nikolas, I'm not scared of Helena. If she wants to try me, I say bring it Granny. Anthony is the bigger problem here. You will be in danger because of him. He will come at you guns blazing or have you knifed on the pier."
"I can and will take care of myself." Nikolas sits up as well and leans against her headboard. He takes her hand between his own. "My main concern is for you."
"And mine for you." She responds equally as intense. "Johnny is the only thing in my life that I've ever given my heart too and for the most part I know daddy won't really hurt him. If he finds out there's someone else in my life that I love he won't hesitate to kill you just to hurt me. Do you really understand what you're getting yourself into by being with me?"
Nik touches her cheek lightly. "I think I may be the only person who truly understands. My entire life has been drenched in death, betrayal and deception. I've spent my life denying parts of who I am to please some people and embracing parts of who I'm not to please others. I'm ready to be whole Claudia. I can be whole with you. You can be whole with me. The choice is yours. Will you allow yourself to love me? Will you allow me to love you?"
"I'm going to take a shower." Claudia dodges the question as she tries to take her hand from his.
He tightens his grip. "Answer me now. If the answer is no, I will leave and wait until you are ready to come to me. If the answer is yes, we need to strategize the best way to keep each other safe. You know the avenues your father will try to use against me. I know my grandmother. We have to work together for this to be successful."
"You're pushy, you know that?" She folds her arms across her chest.
He smiles suddenly. "And you're stalling. You love me Claudia. Say it."
"No." She presses her lips firmly together. He slips a hand beneath the sheet and her breath comes out in a resounding whoosh. "You're not playing fair."
"Because I'm not playing." He kisses her lightly. "I love you."
"Damn it I love you too. Are you happy now?" She glares at him.
He laughs slightly as he pulls her underneath him. "Indubitably."
"Report." Sonny demands as he walks into his office.
Julio clears his throat nervously. He's newly assigned to Sonny and judging by the little he's seen he understands now why promotion inside Sonny's organization is met with trepidation more so than elation.
"Nikolas Cassadine arrived at Mrs. Corinthos apartment shortly after you left. He's still inside." Julio informs him.
Sonny clenches the glass in his hand and hisses, "That whore."
"Also Mr. Morgan is back in town." He continues hesitantly.
Sonny smiles smugly. "Another dry search for my other whore of a wife no doubt."
"Sir, according to our man inside Harborview, Mr. Morgan was in the company of your ex wife, son and a newborn as well as Johnny Mancini and Gia Campbell. The women and children have not left the Penthouse since they arrived but Mr. Morgan and Mancini have been out regularly. No word on what they're doing."
Sonny is sitting in stunned silence. "Johnny? They're sure it was Johnny Mancini?"
"Yes Sir."
"All this time Jason has been lying to me. He betrayed me." Sonny covers his mouth briefly and bows his head. When he raises his head, he gives Julio instructions in a flat tone. "Jason is a traitor and traitors must be dealt with. Call Miguel."