Thanks for all the comments, reviews, and subscriptions. I have a vision of where I want this story to go, and I am having a bit of trouble getting there. So, forgive my tardiness. I hope you enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 12:Somebody Told Me…You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say will be misquoted, and used against you.
Most upstanding citizens of the world don't often hear the Miranda rights but in our case that is commonplace. At least it used to be. Sonny has heard those words far too many times to count; Alexis had defended people, who heard these words, in the name of the truth and justice.
"You are getting out? When were you going to tell me that?" Alexis had burst into her living room with Dante on her heels. Before following Alexis out, Dante had made sure to find someone Alexis trusted, someone like Bobbi, to sit with Kristina just in case, otherwise, he would have to deal with Alexis and that's was not something he was looking forward to under the circumstances.
Sonny was in the living room talking with Michael and Sam had just come down from putting Morgan and Molly to bed.
The only other person shocked by the proclamation was Michael, who again reiterated, "You are getting out?"
After getting his bearings in order, Sonny replied, "Yeah, I am working on it. Nothing is set in stone, yet and I wasn't going to tell anyone until I was closer to knowing if it was at all possible," Sonny finished the sentence with a pointed look at Dante. He also added, "By the way, who is with Kristina?"
"Bobbi," Dante succinctly replied.
"When did you decide this?" Alexis asked pacing.
"A few days ago…I felt it was time." Aren't you happy about it? I thought you of all people would be happy about this. This is what you have always wanted."
"You can't just walk out…it's not done that way, especially at a time like this. There is so much to consider." Alexis replied.
"I will still protect my children. I will still have parts of my busi-"
"Your business be damned, Sonny, Kristina is in a hospital and the person who did this to her is still on the run…and what about retaliation from the other families, enemies, whatever they are called these days?"
"You told me to leave it alone and let the police do their job, why are you so against this decision?"
"I am not against this decision! I just want to make sure you understand what you are getting into. I want to know why? Why now? After all this time, you've had so many brushes with death and not to mention the law. Why now? Besides you can't just walk out. You need a plan. This takes time. This is so typical of you, you know, act now, and think later. What Sonny wants; Sonny gets."
"That's not fair and you know it. How the hell does this sound selfish? I know what I am doing and you, more than anyone else in this world, should know that too."
"What about the kids? Besides, you can't just walk out of the thing, there are repercussions," Alexis asked, confused about her feelings regarding this change.
"Alexis, what is it exactly that is bothering you about this decision? Is it because you weren't involved in it or because you can't see me as anything other than a common thug?" Sonny asked, his temper getting the better of him.
"How dare you? You should know better than that. I have always thought more of you than you think or ever thought of yourself."
"So what's the problem?"
Alexis wasn't sure how to answer the question. A part of her always wanted Sonny to get out and lead a better life, a life without violence and as much as she abhorred violence and guards, her daughter was in the hospital. She would need his protection. She would need him to be ruthless. She was willing to do to do anything to protect her kids even if it meant bending her principles. She needed whoever was out there to get them that they were protected by Sonny. She didn't want to admit it, but she was scared. Instead, she replied, "You could be killed."
"That only happens in the movies," Sonny replied.
"Will you be serious for once?"
"I am being serious…this is probably the one good decision I'll ever make in my life."
"Why now, Sonny? Why can't you wait until Dante's connection from the WSB gives us a better idea? And why this Russian, Ivanov? We don't know anything about him. How can we trust him?" Alexis continued with a barrage of questions.
"This isn't about trust. I am going with Ivanov. This is the best deal out there."
Alexis looked Sonny straight in the eye and demanded, "What aren't you telling me, Sonny?"
"Nothing." He knew better and so did she.
"Sonny, I know you are not telling me something and it would make my a life a lot easier if you and I were on the same page right now because I don't think I can fight anymore. So, please tell me Sonny," Alexis pleaded.
"Ivanov promised me Keifer," Sonny replied to the utter amazement of everyone in the room.
"What?" Alexis, Dante and Sam asked in unison.
"In addition to buying me out of the business, Ivanov promised me Keifer," Sonny replied. The dead or alive question hung in the air.
Alexis was the first to recover, "So, this is about revenge; getting out of the business was about revenge."
"How does he know where he is?" Sam asked.
"I don't know and I didn't ask because I don't care and I just want Keifer," Sonny replied.
"How can you trust him?" Dante demanded.
"I can't but right now this is the best shot we have at finding Keifer. And this isn't about revenge, Alexis."
"The hell it isn't," Alexis shot back.
"I decided to get out of the business because it was the right thing to do, because of the kids, because of you," he paused still holding her gaze. "Because it felt like it was time. I can't do this anymore. I can't see my kids in the hospital or dodging bullets for the rest of their lives. Ivanov giving me Keifer just sweetened the deal. I hadn't even thought about it, but we weren't making progress on anything before, so I decided to take it," Sonny answered trying to explain himself.
"Sonny, I know you love your children and you want to do right by Kristina but making a deal with this guy in Kristina's name isn't right, for anyone, there are no guarantees," Alexis tried reasoning with Sonny.
"Alexis, I am getting out of the business," Sonny said with finality.
"What took you so long?" Michael inquired, catching Alexis and Sonny's attention, who up until that point were oblivious to everyone else in the room.
"I agree with Michael," Morgan interrupted. Alexis, Sonny, Dante, Sam and Michael all looked toward the top of the stairs to see Morgan and Molly clad in their pajamas.
"Me too," Molly chimed in. Morgan and Molly had awoken to Alexis' very noisy entrance and now were watching an interesting scene unfold in their living room.
"Morgan. Molly. Bed. Now." Sonny ordered.
"How long were you up there?" Alexis asked uncertain. She wasn't sure they should have spoken about this in front of them.
"Long enough," Morgan replied, "this calls for a celebration."
Before anyone could respond, Max knocked on the door with Bernie right behind him.
"Can I speak to you a moment?" Bernie asked, and after noticing the presence of others in the room, he added, "In private."
"Is everything okay with Kristina?"
"Yeah everything is fine. Sonny, I need to speak to you in private. Now." Bernie added with urgency in his tone. Alexis noticed it too and offered them her office down the hall.
Molly's Bedroom
"Sweet dreams, honey" Alexis said while tucking Molly into bed after a long day and an especially an eventful night.
"They will be especially sweet, mom, now that Uncle Sonny is getting out. Now if only Kristina wakes up. Tomorrow I am going to spend some time with Kristina and tell her the good news. "
"Molly, I don't want you to think about Uncle Sonny's business." Alexis told Molly truthfully. She still wasn't sure what to make of Sonny's decision to get out of the business. She wasn't sure she wanted to tell Molly about it. There were so many things going on that they didn't need to deal with this right now. It was so typical of Sonny to be rash and just act without thinking of the consequences and how this would affect everyone.
"Why mom? It's common knowledge. You always said that I could talk to you about anything so, I am. Did Dr. Drake say anything about Kristina?"
"He is very hopeful. I hope he is right."
"He is mom. Have a little faith.
"Thanks sweetie." Alexis tucked Molly into bed and checked in on Morgan and Michael who were already asleep, so she made her way downstairs to further talk to Sonny, when she heard a heated exchange between Sam and Dante.
"Why can't you give him a little credit?"
"Too little, too late. Besides, he can't make a deal with this guy. Why is he so stubborn?"
"At least he got something on Keifer, which is a lot more than we have."
"He is talking about revenge and selling out to TPTB, that is completely against what he needs to do," Dante was having a very time understanding what Sonny was trying to do.
"At least he is trying," Sam interjected, equally confused about Dante.
"Were you so forgiving of Alexis when you found it she was your mother? It takes time and the weird part is that I don't even care that Sonny left me because that's what happens. I didn't expect much from him."
"You are lying. Every child wants their parents' love and validation no matter who they are. Alexis and I had our problems and we still do, but we are working through them."
"How long did it take and how many mistakes later did you'll forgive each other. I have heard things, Sam, it wasn't pretty, so please don't talk to me about Sonny. We don't even know if it is a good idea. If he stays in, we could use it to our advantage."
"You just want to use him to bring down this organization. What about Kristina?"
"This is about Kristina. You're right. I don't care much for Sonny right now. What he represents is everything I am against. This is about the law. "
"You don't even know him."
"I know enough. He can't get out yet." It was at this time that Alexis interrupted them before this escalated.
"What is going on here?"
"Nothing," they both replied in unison.
"In that case, can we table this discussion until tomorrow? It has been a long day and I need to speak to Sonny and I need one of you to go to the hospital to sit with -." Before she could finish her sentence, all that could be heard was an anguished cry from Sonny and the sound of glass breaking.