Chapter 12

Kristina was sitting at home reading when Michael came to the door. "Hey kristina. Can I come in?" she moved away from the door, motioning him in with a wave of the hand. "You know you never have to ask Michael. What's up? She asked. "I wanted to check in and see how things were with you considering who you have decided to be friends with." Michael replied quietly. Kristina rolled her eyes at Michael but her heart warmed at his concern. Putting a hand in his, she led him over to the couch to sit down. "Michael I am fine. I appreciate your concern but trust me." Michael leaned back into the couch, staring at the ceiling in frustration. "Kristina I know you want to just be you and live your life the way you want to. I do to. However being friends with dad's number one enemy is pushing it. I am sure Johnny is a good guy but not when it comes to dad. Do you want to hurt dad?" He asked her honestly.

Kristina didn't get offended when Michael asked if she wanted to hurt dad. She knew and understood where Michael was coming from in regards to their father. Michael was always Sonny's golden boy. Sonny and Michael were thick as thieves together. Michael loved their father and idolized him in ways that even Kristina didn't understand. Kristina was Sonny's only girl and that earned her a special place in his heart in her own right but Michael she felt was always Sonny's favourite though Michael would deny it. Michael loved his sister though. They were best friends and he would deny her nothing.

"No Michael. I have been in therapy for a while now with dad. We have been working through our issues. This has nothing to do with him. Well not absolutely nothing. If something does come up I will warn dad about what Johnny's up too." Michael eyed Kristina with a critical eye. "Aren't you worried that will affect your friendship with Johnny. I mean he might be pissed if you go running to dad. He can't trust you." He pointed out. "I know what you are saying but Johnny isn't stupid. He knows I won't let anything happen to dad. He knows I would say something if I saw anything" Michael shrugged. "Maybe. I just am worried about what will happen when dad finds out."

For that Kristina didn't have an answer.

Later that day….

Kristina was walking down by the docks on her way to meet Ethan for a coffee at Kelly's when she bumped into Johnny. "Hey Kristina! What are you up to today?" Johnny asked putting his cellphone back into his pocket. "Not much. Just going to meet Ethan for coffee." She said gleefully. Johnny couldn't help but laugh. "Of course. That is why you have that gorgeous thousand watt smile of yours today. Kristina couldn't help but smile thinking of meeting the man she loved."Of course. What are you up to down here or should I even ask?" she asked with a hint of a smile and a raised eyebrow. "You know me and of course it's always best not to ask." He admitted. Kristina smirked. "Well just try to stay safe and out of trouble. Coffee soon?" Johnny nodded. "Of course. Good to see you Kristina."

Johnny pulled Kristina in for a hug when suddenly a growl from out of the darkness pulled them apart. They looked to see a furious Sonny emerge from the darkness. "Oh fuck" was the only thing Kristina heard Johnny muttered. Other than that the docks were silent. You could hear a pin drop. Kristina squeezed her eyes shut and opened them trying to will away the image of her father before her like a bad dream. He would not go away. Panic seized her as she began to think of possible scenarios for why she would be here with Johnny Zacharra but none would come to her.

Finally she decided to speak. Sonny was still as silent as a stone. "Hey dad. What are you doing here?" Sonny eyed Johnny dangerously before turning his attention to his daughter. "I think the question is Kristina what are you doing here? Why are you with my greatest enemy. A man ten years older than you and a criminal no less." Kristina cringed at her father's tone. "Dad look i-" Johnny interrupted Kristina holding his hand up in an effort to stop her.

"Kristina let me. Sonny look I know- we both know how much we hate each other. Kristina isn't part of what is between us. I would never do anything to hurt her. I do have some morals. She is a sweet girl and we are just friends." Sonny closed his eyes tightly in an effort to control his growing already out of control temper. "You are just nothing as far as I am concerned. I don't know what is going on here. I don't want to know. Kristina you are too young to be friends or otherwise with Johnny. Also he is a criminal. He is just using you to get to me sweetheart." Kristina could tell he was dangerously close to losing it but she couldn't help herself. She was angry that her father would think that the only reason Johnny would want to be friends with her was because of bad intentions. Of course she was realistic. Sure their friendship was a benefit to Johnny if he wanted to hurt her father. However knowing Johnny as she had gotten to know him as of late, she knew they were past that point. Johnny cared for her. Not just what he could get out of her.

"What about you dad? Are you some car salesman? No you are a criminal too. You are no better than Johnny. I am not in the Mob so I can be friends with whoever I want. I am not picking sides. I get that you are enemies but I am not Johnny's enemy. Why are you down here anyways? Did Michael tell you?" Sonny narrowed his eyes in anger. "Your brother knew about this?" Kristina instantly regretted saying anything. She should have known her brother wouldn't turn on her. "Well he just found out. So ,why are you down here?" Sonny debated on answering before stating his reasons. "Business nothing more. I just happened to be here when I overheard you two. Kristina I think this needs to end now. Please go home." Sonny pleaded. Kristina sighed. "Dad I have plans with someone so I can't.. However don't think this is over. Johnny is my friend and will continue to be. End of discussion." Before Sonny could say anything else Kristina walked away. She knew that Sonny and Johnny could possibly tear each other's throats out with her gone but she had to get away before she said anything she would regret. She loved her father but they were just starting to get to a better place because of their weekly therapy sessions. She didn't want that changed with words said in the heat of the moment. She could only hope that they didn't hurt each other.

Johnny looked cautiously at a pained Sonny as he watched his daughter storm off. "You couldn't have come after me? You had to go after Kristina." Sonny bit out. "Sonny I didn't expect to ever be friends with Kristina. It just happened. We have a mutual friend in Ethan and I helped her out the other day with some kids from school on the docks here that were harassing her about her ex- boyfriend. That is all. I would never hurt her." Sonny stayed quiet a moment as if deep in thought. Johnny wasn't sure what the older man was thinking. They had more in common than Kristina since Johnny had dated Sonny's ex-girlfriend Olivia Falconari. He loved her but she couldn't take his wanting revenge on Sonny. It hurt to think that she seemed to care so much about Sonny but they did share a past and a son. Johnny wasn't naïve in thinking she wouldn't be affected by his vendetta against Sonny.

"I don't know what is going on with Kristina at school but if you helped her than fine. Thank you. However that is all. You can't be in Kristina's world. She is my little girl and I don't want to see her hurt. One day this war between us will affect her if she stays in your life. I want her out of it. I don't care what you have to do John but you can't have her in your house, in your car. Whatever. She is not to be your friend. She is off limits. She is still a kid and you are too old to be her friend or whatever it is you want to call it. If you are using her to get to me you will regret it. I will make you suffer in ways you can't even imagine." Sonny turned without another word and left.

Johnny wasn't sure what to think. He hated Sonny Corinthos with every fibre of his being. He destroyed his sister. His best friend. He wanted to make him pay. However he really cared about Kristina and didn't want to see her hurt. He didn't want to see her pay like his sister had for being involved with him and Sonny. For once Johnny's conscience was getting in the way of what he truly wanted making him more confused than ever.

Kellys...

Ethan arrived at kelly's to find Kristina in the back with her grandfather Mike. She was in hysterics crying on his shoulder but about what Ethan could not tell. Mike was consoling her and shaking his head in dismay. What was going on? Mike looked up to see Ethan and he whispered something into Kristina's ear. She quickly wiped away her tears, saying something to Mike before coming out front to sit down with Ethan.

Kristina sat down, her eyes red from crying. Ethan frowned, concerned what had set her off. "Kristina what happened?" She looked down at her hands as if deciding whether she should let Ethan in on what had happened to her. "It's my dad. He caught me with Johnny down on the docks. He was furious, the more I think about it the more scared I am about what he will do to Johnny." Ethan knew that no good could come from Kristina and Johnny being friends with one another. Ethan took Kristina's hand in his, squeezing gently. "Kristina I knew this would happen. I know you want to be friends with Johnny but you don't belong in his world. You don't belong anywhere near this cesspool of violence, hatred and revenge that motivates the adults in your life. Now Johnny is a good guy and has good intentions but he too is motivated by hatred and revenge. His hatred for Sonny has taken on a life of its own. One day it going to blow up and hurt everyone around him. He already lost Olivia. Who next?" Kristina wasn't sure what to say to this. "Please just stay clear ok?" Ethan pleaded, only hoping she would listen for once. Kristina sighed. "Ethan I really like you and everything you have done for me. You know this, but don't ask me to give up my friendship with Johnny. That isn't fair." She pouted.

"Look Sonny is dangerous. We aren't talking about some normal daddy that plays golf on the weekends. We are talking about Sonny Corinthos. Scary crime boss." Kristina sighed. She had dealt with this her whole life. "I get what you are saying but-" Ethan stopped her. "No seriously. There are lives at stake here. Your father is a dangerous psychotic man with a hair trigger on the best of days. You are aiming him at Johnny like a loaded weapon. If you keep it up someone will end up dead. How would you feel about that?" Ethan asked her seriously.

Kristina squirmed in her seat feeling uncomfortable at the direction the conversation had taken. "I guess I never thought of it that way. Still I am in control of my own life. It isn't fair that my father asks me not to be with who I want." Ethan suspected she wasn't just talking about Johnny anymore. "Look Kristina. I can't pretend to even fathom what you grew up with because I cant. However this is your life and you are responsible for your choices. Please watch and think about what you are doing with this relationship with Johnny. It will hurt more than one person." Kristina didn't want to hurt anyone but she was tired of having her life's choices taken away from her. "Let me think about it Ethan. That is all I can promise. " Ethan supposed that was as much as he could ask for.