Author note: This is a scene I expanded on from what has happened on the show…few changes of what I would have liked to see but some of the language is the same….really more an expansion on what they were thinking when this was going on…..hope you enjoy!
Chapter 2
Ethan Lovett walked up to his friend Johnny Zacchara's penthouse and walked in. "Hey mate, How are things?" he asked walking in to find Johnny on the couch relaxing with a glass of scotch. The only liquor Ethan had ever seen Johnny drink. "Looking for your pay I assume?" Johnny replied smirking as he gulped down the rest of his scotch. "Well you know I did get you that meeting with the Lopez brothers and told you to call them instead of them calling you. I know you looked much stronger. I earned it." Johnny sighed getting up and pulling a wad of cash out of his desk. "Why do I get the feeling you are going to be my largest business expense?" He threw the cash on the table and Ethan eyed it greedily. "Ahh that should cover it." He peeled through the money with a smile adding "For starters" as an after thought.
"Did you check your messages?" Johnny asked. Ethan rolled his eyes. "Ya I saw that you called. You know I really don't do messages. " he laughed stuffing the money in his shirt pocket. "Don't do messages? Well you better start if you wanna be my right hand man." Johnny said seriously. Ethan looked at him curiously. "Why? What happened?" Johnny looked agitated but pressed on. "Why? I'll tell ya why. We are going to get serious with Sonny and fast. He confronted me at the Metro court last night in front of the whole restaurant about the goings on of the Lopez brothers. He is none too pleased." Ethan didn't understand. "Right. Isn't that the goal here. What we have been after this whole time." Johnny shrugged. "It is but the truth is the more we piss him off the shorter the time line before he guns after me. Us." Johnny stated frankly. "You know I am still impressed by the simplicity of your plan. You piss sonny off and he comes out guns blazing and he gets arrested. End of story. Well there is that one problem . That whole we could die thing." Ethan told Johnny half serious. Johnny huffed a short laugh. "Well Ethel that is why I pay you so handsomely. Ethan rolled his eyes at the nickname Johnny had for him while giving him the finger. Johnny smirked and poured himself another drink while offering Ethan one in turn.
"You know I have to confess it doesn't bother me at all that we are going after sonny either." Johnny appeared amused asking him, "Not a fan?" Ethan thought of all his run ins with Sonny and how he had threatened his life on numerous occasions for going ons with Kristina. "Ya he blamed me without even questioning it when that whole keifer thing happened." Johnny shrugged. "Yeah well that is text book Sonny Corinthos. Shoot first ask questions later. Raging ego maniac with an itchy trigger finger that doesn't think twice about ruining people's lives." Johnny spouted. Ethan could hear the hatred in his voice. This war was definitely personal and he knew full well that getting involved was infinitely more dangerous than the normal business dealings.
"Well look at Kristina. After all that she has been through. I understand why she lied." Ethan added. "Well she did think her father was going to kill the guy. I mean Kristina is stuck in a pretty impossible situation and it doesn't help being stuck with Corinthos for a father. Shes a sweet girl." Ethan knew this. Kristina was his best friend aside from Johnny. She was always there when he needed someone to talk to and she was one of the few people that he felt truly understood him inside and out. Ethan hated how Sonny seemed to ignore Kristina sometimes and how he looked down on Ethan when Sonny wasn't much better than he was. "I'll tell you what I ran into Kristina on the docks the other day and these two girls were ragging on her about that asshole keifer. I probably did something I shouldn't of but I had to help her out." Ethan didn't understand what Johnny was talking about. "What do you mean? Something you shouldn't have?" Johnny looked seriously at Ethan wanting to convey that nothing serious was going on between himself and Kristina. Normally he wouldn't have cared to tell his friend such a story but Ethan lately seemed different. Kristina Davis's name had come up in a lot of their conversations as of late. Even though Ethan might not have realised it as of yet, Johnny was certain he was developing feelings for the girl.
Johnny knew that Ethan always had a soft spot for Kristina but he began to sense that Ethan's feelings toward Kristina were growing beyond friendship. Johnny didn't care about the age difference though. "Well I didn't like how they were talking to her so I came up and made a show putting my arm around her in a territorial way making it clear that I was with her. I think it really helped her out." Johnny watched Ethan's face hardened and his jaw tense as he relayed the story to his friend. Ethan's eyes grew dark with jealousy and Johnny knew then that his friend had fallen for the girl. "Like I said though I just was trying to help her out. She's a sweet girl and I felt sorry for what she has to deal with. I have to say though I hope her brother can keep his mouth shut." Ethan wasn't sure how to feel about this whole situation. He was angry about it but not sure why so he decided to keep his emotions under wraps for now. "Why is that? I doubt Kristina would tell him knowing how close Michael is to Sonny." Johnny shook his head. "No Kristina and I were talking after we left the docks and as a thank you she kissed my cheek. Perfectly innocent but Michael came around the corner at the wrong time. It didn't look good. I hope that kid can keep his mouth shut or this is going to make this whole situation worse."
Ethan didn't know what to think. Hearing that Kristina had kissed Johnny even on the cheek irritated him a lot and that surprised him. What was wrong with him? It was an innocent kiss right? "Well I bet she thinks you're a real hero now. I bet she is madly in love with you." Ethan sneered surprised at the bitterness in his voice. Johnny looked at his friend warily but continued. "Nah man. She thanked me for helping her and that was all. I don't think you are going to get rid of her that easily. " Ethan laughed though still felt a little uncomfortable at the turn the conversation had taken. "You do realize though that you have a friend for life. Kristina loves the hero. Even if she doesn't fall for you." Ethan replied. Johnny shrugged and found himself smiling. "Yeah well maybe having a new friend wouldn't be so bad afterall. She's a sweet girl and there is another benefit." Ethan wasn't sure he liked the sound of that. "And what benefit is that pray tell?" Johnny swigged the rest of his scotch before answering. "It would really piss Sonny off if Kristina and I became good friends." Ethan frowned at this. "Johnny you better not be using-" Johnny held his hand up in effort to stop his friend. "I wouldn't do that. I have morals you know. Kristina is a great girl. I didn't have ulterior motives when I helped her out. I'm just saying that is one benefit you know. Not the only one." Ethan wasn't sure if he believed Johnny or not. His friend seemed to have a one track mind where Sonny was concerned. "Just make sure you are for the right reasons. I care about Kristina and I don't want you hurting her over this Vendetta you have with Sonny." Johnny sighed looking at Ethan seriously. "I promise I wouldn't do anything to hurt Kristina no matter how fucked up things get with Sonny. No matter how much grief and pain I want to put Sonny through I won't use his daughter to do it. If it gets too much I will stay away from her. Ok?" Ethan nodded in agreement. He just hoped that Johnny lived up to his word.