Guys, I changed my mind. This fanfic will have three chapters. I wanted to include reactions from Hope, Adrienne, and the rest of the Brady and Kiriakis family members.

One Week Earlier

Brady exhaled sharply as he entered the mansion. He had news for his granddad and Adrienne (to pass along to Justin), and he couldn't wait to see their reaction.

"You're home early." Victor noted.

"I was just over at Sami's." Brady replied. "Is Adrienne here? I need to tell you both something."

"She is. But why Adrienne? Do you two even talk?" Victor asked.

"You'll understand once I tell you." Brady replied. They heard footsteps, and Brady saw Adrienne head towards the door. "Adrienne, wait a sec. There's something I have to tell you and my grandfather."

Adrienne looked a tad confused, but headed into the living room, anyway. "Okay. What's up?"

"EJ DiMera was murdered last night." Brady said. "Cops said it was a mugging."

"What?! Oh my God! Poor Sami and her kids." Adrienne exclaimed. "And Will! They all must be so devastated."

"You sure it was a mugging? I can't believe EJ would allow himself to be in that position." Victor remarked as he poured a glass. "He must have slipped."

"Yeah." Brady chuckled. "I'll leave it to you two to tell the rest of the family."

"Okay. Hey, thanks for the good news! I needed that." Victor raised his glass and drank. "Good riddance to that poor excuse for a human."

XX

Adrienne walked to her car and called Justin. "Hey, honey. Do you have a minute?"

"A few. I'm heading to a meeting." Justin replied. "What's up?"

"EJ died last night." Adrienne announced. "He was mugged and shot to death."

Justin stopped in his tracks in shock. "Really? I'm surprised. He seriously died during a mugging?"

"I know. You would think it'd be more…exciting." Adrienne shrugged as she started her car. "How do you feel? I mean, you and he used to be friends."

"For a hot minute." Justin rolled his eyes. "In the end, he was a liar and a criminal, and the world is a better place without him."

"True." Adrienne nodded.

XXX

In an office in Chicago, Phillip Kiriakis hurried to set his briefcase and coffee on his desk as he heard his phone ring.

"Kiriakis." Phillip answered.

"How'd you know?" Victor joked. "Though usually, I would prefer 'Dad'."

Phillip rolled his eyes at his dad's humor. "Sorry, my hands were full. I didn't get a look at the caller ID. What's up?"

"I have news. Are you sitting down?" Victor asked.

"I am. This sounds intriguing."

"Elvis…has finally left the building. And I'm not talking about Presley." Victor said.

"Wait….are you telling me EJ's dead?" Phillip raised an eyebrow.

"Yep! It gets better: he was shot by a mugger." Victor announced with glee.

Phillip chuckled in disbelief. "What? After everything he's been through, he's felled by a mugger of all things?! I am disappointed."

"Hey, I'll take it!" Victor shrugged. "He's dead. That's what's important."

"Christmas came early." Phillip grinned widely. "How are Sami and the kids? Do you know?"

"Well, I'm sure they're devastated." Victor scoffed. "They really shouldn't be- they're better off without him."

"Seriously. Too bad Bo missed this. This was like his dream come true!" Phillip exclaimed.

"I know!" Victor replied, shaking his head. "Stefano's running out of soldiers- I mean children. He only has two left."

"Well…there's always Johnny and Theo."

"I hate Sami with a burning, firey passion; but, no way in hell is she going to let her son be brainwashed by Stefano. Same with Abe." Victor pointed out.

"Yeah…old Stuffy Nose is going to lose in the long run." Phillip sipped his coffee.

Victor laughed. "Oh, that's good!"

Phillip chuckled. "Dad, I gotta get back to work. I'll talk to you later."

"All right, take care." Victor hung up and sighed.

XXX

Stephanie raced to her office holding a stack of folders. She was late for work. That never happens! She just got herself set up, when someone knocked on her door. Groaning inwardly with dread, she opened.

"Hey, I know I'm late." Stephanie said, thinking her boss was at the door. Kayla smiled politely. "Oh! Mom, hey." She stepped aside to let her in. "What's going on?"

Kayla sighed. "EJ DiMera died last night."

Stephanie just stared at her mother. "Oh. Are you sure?"

"Very. He was shot in the stomach and succumbed to his injuries."

"Wow…poor Sami and her kids." Stephanie replied. "Oh, well. Least we don't have to worry about him kidnapping anyone ever again."

"True." Kayla nodded. "That's why I thought I'd tell you. You don't have to worry about him, anymore."

"Well, I'm happy to hear that." Stephanie smiled and nodded.

"Okay, well, I will let you get back to work." Kayla replied.

"Thanks!" Stephanie waited until Kayla left and called Chelsea.

"'Ello, poppet." Chelsea responded in a fake British accent.

Stephanie chuckled. "Hey, Chels. How's it going?"

"Going good! Max and I are hanging out at a coffee bar."

"Cool. Um, so, listen, something happened." Stephanie said.

Chelsea sat up straight. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong." Stephanie shook her head. "EJ DiMera died last night. He was shot."

Chelsea gasped quietly. "So, that's it? He's gone forever?"

"Clearly."

"Oh…geez. Have you talked to Sami?" Chelsea asked.

"No, not yet." Stephanie sighed. "I haven't told my dad, either. I doubt my mom will."

"Okay, I'll let you off so you can tell him." Chelsea replied. "Thanks for letting me know."

"You're welcome. Bye." Stephanie hung up and called her dad.

"Hey, Sweetie. I only have a minute." Steve answered.

"Okay, I'll make this short and sweet: EJ DiMera was shot and killed last night." Stephanie replied.

"Seriously? Oh, well, that's…I'm not gonna lie: that's the best news I've heard all year!" Steve exclaimed.

Stephanie chuckled. "Yeah, really!"

XXX

Chelsea set down her phone and sighed. Max looked at her expectantly. "What's wrong? Did something happen to Sami?"

"Not really. EJ died last night." Chelsea announced.

"Seriously?" Chelsea nodded. "Wow. Funny, I was just thinking about him yesterday. I thought about calling him to say hi."

Chelsea smirked. "Guess you missed your chance."

"Yeah." Max pulled out his phone and sent a text to Sami, giving her his condolences. He then called Melanie. "Hey, sis, I don't know if you've heard, but EJ DiMera died last night."

"Oh. Did Sami finally kill him?" Melanie asked.

"Nope. Someone else did." Max replied.

"Oh, well, good riddance." Melanie smiled.

"Real humane, Mel."

XXX

Carrie put her toddler down for a nap, and her phone rang. "Hey, Dad!"

"Hey, Carrie. Listen, uh…something bad happened." Roman said.

"What's wrong?"

"EJ died last night. He was shot and Sami found him."

Carrie gasped. "Yikes. How are Sami and the kids?"

"Hanging in there." Roman replied.

"Do you know who did it?"

"All signs points to a mugging."

Carrie winced. "Ooh. That must have taken a hit on his ego."

Roman chuckled. "Anyway, I'm- oh, Sami just walked in. Now's not a good time to talk, but I'm sure she'll appreciate you calling her."

"Okay. I'll call later."

"All right, love you."

"Bye." Carrie hung up and sighed.

"Hey, so, I brought home Scandanavian." Austin walked in carrying two takeout bags and set them on the table. He stopped and noticed his wife's expression. "What's wrong?"

"EJ died last night. He was shot in a mugging." Carrie announced.

"Wow. I'd say 'Poor Sami', but…"

"Yeah." Carrie nodded. "Yeesh. The DiMeras are dropping like flies. What is this- Stefano's fourth kid that died within the last ten years?"

"Yep. I'm starting to think Stefano will outlive all his children. And grandchildren."

"You know, I wouldn't be surprised." Carrie remarked. She paused. "Hey, since when is there a Scandanavian place nearby?"

XXX

Rex hung up his phone and went over to Cassie's apartment. His mother just called to tell him EJ died. He felt bad for Sami, but, whatever. That punk deserved to die.

"Yes, o brother of mine?" Cassie asked as she answered the door.

"So, guess what?"

"You finally learned how to tie your shoe?" Cassie joked.

"Nope. EJ died last night. He was-"

"Oh, I'm gonna stop you right there." Cassie interrupted. "Not because I already know, but because I don't care. One less DiMera to worry about."

"I totally agree." Rex nodded.

XXX

Hope was about to crawl into bed when her phone rang. "Hey, Roman."

"Hey, Hope. Listen, I have something to tell you."

Hope was slightly nervous. "Okay."

"EJ died earlier tonight. He was shot." Roman announced. "Sami was the one who found him."

"Oh, no. Poor Sami. She must be devastated." Hope said. "I'll stop by in the morning."

"She'll like that."

Tears of sympathy came to Hope's eyes. She hated EJ to a point where she had violent, homicidal thoughts about him daily…but that doesn't erase the fact that Sami just lost her husband. The love of her life.

"Hope?" Roman said over the phone.

"I'm fine. It's just…Jennifer, Maggie, and now Sami all lost their husbands." Hope swallowed. "All those husbands died, Roman. Mine chose to leave."

Roman sighed deeply. "It doesn't seem fair, does it?"

"No."

Just so you know, Hope was talking about Mickey when she was talking about how Jenn, Maggie, and Sami all lost their husbands; not Victor (although, who knows how much longer he's going to be around…).