Chapter Twenty-Seven: Removing Obstacles
Tony is summoned by Stefano into the drawing room of DiMansion. The two men embrace and have a seat. "Antony," Stefano takes a sip of his brandy, "I have some business in Palermo that needs immediate attention. I would very much like for you to see to it personally." Tony sits silently for several moments, then replies, "You're sending me away." Stefano sighs and puts his hand on Tony's shoulder, rubbing it slightly. "You are my son. I love you. I love all my children, and I need them. Right now, I need you to do this for me." Tony turns slightly so he can look at his father. "You don't trust me?" Stefano looks at him with sympathy. "Yes, I trust you, Antony. I trust you to do this for me. And I trust you to trust me. I know your heart. This is best for you." Tony looks in his father's eyes for a moment, then reaches his hand up and gently pats the hand that Stefano still has resting on his shoulder before nodding slightly and turning his head away. Stefano stands up and makes to leave the room. Before he opens the door he addresses Tony one last time. ""What is put together by the gods cannot be taken apart by man. She is meant for Elvis." With that, he quits the room, closing the doors quietly behind him.
Kate sits handcuffed in front of Roman's desk. "I want my lawyer," she says curtly, before he can get a word in edgewise. "Of course, Kate," he says, "you don't have to answer any questions without your lawyer present. But while we wait for him to show up, why don't I just fill you in a little bit. See, we've got concrete evidence that you paid Roberto to take the rap for Franco's murder, and your son Lucas has agreed to testify against you on both the Franco Kelly murder and the attempted murder of EJ Wells." "I had nothing to do with any of this!" Kate hisses at Roman. He chuckles, "Can I quote you on that?" Kate leans back in her chair and glares at Roman. "I want my lawyer," she repeats. "So you were saying. Well, you can wait for him in the holding cell."
Sami rushes around her apartment shoving things in her purse while at the same time talking to Eric on her cell phone. "I can't believe that Roberts. I never liked him. He was a bad influence on you," Eric says. "Gee," Sami retorts snidely, "your hatred of Lucas wouldn't have anything to do with his Mommy's five million dollars, would it?" "Nice," Eric replies. "Anyway, when can I expect Will?" Sami looks up at Will, who is standing by the front door, tapping his foot impatiently. "We're on our way to the airport right now."
EJ is up on the roof, lifting weights in the moonlight. He hears the door open and turns his head behind him slightly to see who it is. "I tried your apartment but no one answered. I thought maybe you'd be up here." Sami watches EJ's back muscles flex as he continues to work out. Even though it isn't a terribly warm night, EJ's body still glistens from the sheen of sweat covering his exposed skin. Sami is aware that EJ is speaking to her, but she cannot hear a word he's saying. She watches as a trickle of sweat runs down the back of his neck, slowing rolling down his spine. She walks up behind him and puts her hands on his waist. She dips down and places her mouth on the small of his back, slowly licking her way up his spine, running her hands up the front of his chest as her mouth makes its way up his back. She puts her arms under his and wraps her hands upwards, her fingers trailing on his collarbones. She stands on tiptoe so she can whisper in his ear, "When I saw you there, standing in the moonlight, you looked so beautiful." A smirk creeps across EJ's face at the familiar words. He turns to face her, moving her arms so they are around his waist. "You know, darling, 'he says softly, leaning in to kiss Sami's neck, "it is a shame that you're so overdressed. You really should wear less clothing." Sami backs up from him, shucks off her purse, and pulls her shirt over her head. EJ closes the distance between them and kisses her while he unbuckles her belt and pulls it from her jeans with a flick of his wrist. "Lucky for us," he whispers on her neck as he undoes her jeans, "these are very easily removed obstacles."