"You wanted to see me?"
Dex felt sweat on the back of his neck as he stood in the doorway of Sonny's officer. The mob kingpin looked up at him, an elbow propped on the table. He gestured for his employee to sit down across the way.
"I did," Sonny cleared his throat, "Sit down."
"...Okay," the young man slowly took his seat, "What is it?"
"I was…doing some digging around."
"Digging around?"
"You're still new, and I…I wanted to know who exactly I was dealing with."
"...Uh huh," Dex nodded slowly, his mouth slightly open.
"I had Brick look into you, to see what you've done in the past and see if there's any kind of concern."
"And?"
"Well," Sonny stiffened his posture, "do you want to tell me about your superior? Or should I let your discharge report speak for you?"
Crap. Dex gulped as Sonny passed him a manila folder. He slowly opened the file, wincing internally as he read over the words. It wasn't the first time he read the document, the image of his superiors, faceless in his vision, flashing in his mind.
"I…" Dex took a deep breath, "I can explain-"
"Then do so."
"You know that I joined the military out of high school-"
"Right. You didn't go to college," Sonny sat in a thinking position, "Want to tell me why? What about the military was more appealing?"
"It wasn't that the military was more appealing," Dex cleared his throat, his eyes cast downward, "I mean, it was appealing, but-"
"But?"
"It was a faster way out."
Sonny raised a lone eyebrow at his employee, leaning back in his chair. Dex refused to meet his gaze, ducking his head down slightly lower than before.
"Faster way out?"
Dex remained silent.
"Dex," Sonny snapped his fingers. The young man glanced up for a brief moment before looking back down. Sonny looked him over, a small frown on his face. Dex kept his focus away from his boss, his shoulders small as he practically squeezed his wrists between his knees, "talk to me."
More silence.
"Was there…" Sonny inhaled, "Was there something going on at home?"
Dex looked up at Sonny briefly. Sonny raised his eyebrows in response, leaning forward, his elbows on his desk.
"You can tell me. I…I know what it's like. I've been through what you've been through."
Dex looked up at Sonny once more, staring ahead.
"My mother…she married a man who was just…" Sonny gestured with his hands, pushing air between them, "He wasn't a good guy. He used to beat on her, and me, and it just…it never got better."
"I'm sorry," Dex's voice was soft.
"His name was Deke. He was…a monster. The harm he brought to me and…m-my mother…I wouldn't wish it on anyone."
"Yeah…"
Sonny looked the young man over, staying quiet himself, "...What happened?"
"I…" Dex gulped, taking a deep breath through his nostrils, "I'm the youngest of three boys."
"How much younger?"
"Oldest is six years, middle is four."
"What did they do to you?"
"...What didn't they do to me?"
"...How bad was it?"
"Bad. Black eyes, broken bones, concussions. I was in and out of the hospital almost every month."
"How many times?"
"At least five…that I can remember."
"Damn," Sonny shook his head, "that's…that's horrible. Your parents just let them do that to you?"
"They did. They just brushed it off as 'boys will be boys' and acted like nothing was wrong."
"But then how were you still stuck with them? Weren't people, y'know, called in?"
"My mom was a whiz with makeup," Dex smiled sadly, "and the nurses would always comment on whatever accident they made up about me. 'Sorry to hear you ran into the hallway door, sorry to hear you slipped on some water in the kitchen, sorry to hear that you tripped and hit your head on the sidewalk.'"
"They had an excuse for everything, huh?"
"Yeah…"
"...You joined the military to escape."
"I did. It was a cheaper, quicker way out. I enlisted and didn't look back. I haven't spoken to any of them since…and I have no plans to."
"Good," Sonny nodded, "they're not worth your time."
"Thanks."
"But-"
"But?"
"That doesn't really explain your file, so…" the mob kingpin leaned in close, "so tell me, Dex, why did you hit a superior officer?"
It took everything in Kristina not to snap at her stepsister. Well, former stepsister.
Josslyn briskly walked into the Metro Court pool area, donning a green bikini and a tie-dye shawl around her waist. Kristina watched from afar, seated at the minibar. She adjusted the straps of her violet bikini top, turning away the second she caught Josslyn looking her way.
"Another mango tequila?" the bartender asked.
"Yes, please," Kristina grinned as Josslyn approached her.
"Kristina," she nodded as she took the open seat.
"Joss," the young woman responded in kind, avoiding eye contact.
"Having fun?"
"Sure."
"Glad to hear it," Josslyn turned away as the bartender returned, "Strawberry mocktail, please."
Kristina gently bit her bottom lip, resisting every impulse to make a comment about the day before. She pulled out her phone, swiping through a number of apps, trying to distract herself.
"Looking at anything interesting?" Josslyn asked, leaning over.
"Nothing you're meant to see," Kristina turned away slightly.
"Really," Josslyn pursed her lips, leaning back, "I see how it is."
"What?"
"I catch you ditching your family for someone else, and I'm the bad guy."
"Whatever, Joss," Kristina rolled her eyes.
"You've got a lot of nerve, you know."
"I'm sorry?"
"Sneaking off to see Sonny's new goon?"
"It's none of your business."
"Yes, it is. You blew your family off for him."
"And you care now, why? All you've done since Dad chose Nina is complain about him and drag his name through the mud. You've gone on and on about how he 'ruined' our family."
"He did-"
"If that's the case, then why are you and Michael the only ones unhappy?"
"You mean to tell me that you support him and Nina?"
"It's not ideal, but I love Dad, and I know that he'll always have my back. So, I have his in return."
"And what if he doesn't?"
"Excuse me?"
"What if he doesn't have your back?" Josslyn raised an eyebrow, "I mean, you're his daughter, Dex is his employee, I can imagine he'd have an opinion or two about you guys."
Kristina cupped the blue glass with both hands, looking down into the light yellow slush before her.
"...Seems like he's already got one."
"Look," Kristina gazed at the blonde, "whatever Dex and I have going on is our business. He's my friend. I went to see my friend because I wanted his company."
"And that's all it is? You're just friends?"
Kristina looked Josslyn over, "You seem happy about that."
"Hm?" Josslyn's eyes grew wide, "What? No-"
"Aren't you still with Cameron Webber?"
"Yeah-"
"But you're starting to like Dex."
"What? No-"
"Oh come on, Joss," Kristina scoffed, "I know you. The raised eyebrow, the intrigue in your voice. You're thrilled Dex and I aren't anything so that way you can swoop in and take him."
"...Y-You couldn't be more wrong," Josslyn looked away, her face hot with embarrassment.
"Am I?"
Josslyn turned back to Kristina, blue eyes sparkling with a firmness Kristina typically donned herself. The two young women stared at one another for a period of time, silence lingering between them.
"Think what you want," Josslyn spoke up, "I'm out of here."
"Didn't you just get here?" Kristina asked.
"I changed my mind about swimming," Josslyn concluded, her back turned as she began walking away, "Besides, I have somewhere I need to be."
"I'm not some freak with anger issues."
Sonny stared on as Dex changed form, his posture shifting from a scared child to a determined advocate. There was a brightness in the young man's eyes that he couldn't help by appreciate deep down, even though the circumstances were concerning to him otherwise.
"Going from my family to the military," Dex continued, "I thought that things would be different. At least, at first, they were. Training was fine, and my first tour in Afghanistan went well. I was then stationed in Germany…and that's when things turned sour."
"How so?"
"The superior in the report, he was abusive. He mistreated everyone, from his subordinates to his own family. He'd demean us and put his hands on us if he was even so much as mildly inconvenienced…but we were lucky compared to his family."
"What would he do to his family?"
"Much of the same, but there was just an extra layer of ick to it, especially where his wife was concerned. She was nothing more than a toy to him-"
"I get it," Sonny held a hand up, "No need to explain."
"Whenever he'd put his hands on me, or call me names, I just…I reverted back to the small, scared little boy I was back home. It triggered me beyond belief, and one day, I…I couldn't take it anymore."
"What did you do, exactly?"
"He…got in my face over an unmade bed," Dex gestured with his hands, tugging the air, "He grabbed me by my uniform and shook me pretty violently. The second he stopped, I shoved him off of me and slapped him. He stumbled back in surprise and kept a hand on his cheek."
"You're a hard hitter," Sonny donned a toothy grin.
"I called the superior out for his treatment of me, for his treatment of my fellow soldiers, and for his treatment of his family. There was a lot of anger in his face, and I expected him to attack me back, but he walked away. Later that day, I was called to face the higher-ups-"
"And you were dishonorably discharged."
"...Not exactly," Dex replied sheepishly, "I mean, I thought as much when I sat down with them, but instead, they offered me a deal. If I agreed to keep quiet about the superior and how abusive he was, then I'd take a technical honorable discharge for 'undisclosed personal reasons' and leave the military…so I took the deal. And then, thanks to Chet, I ended up here."
"I see," Sonny commented, "...Do you think what you did made a difference?"
"I'd like to think it did."
"Hm…"
"...Am I in some kind of trouble?"
"Sort of," Sonny got to his feet, "I mean, you going after a higher-up isn't a good look. It makes me think that if I say something you don't like, you'd lash out at me."
"I wouldn't-"
"But," he held a finger up, "you explained the situation to me. You gave me a context I didn't otherwise have, and knowing that context, I'm not as concerned. You didn't lash out because you're a hot-head; you lashed out because you got hurt. You defended yourself and you had to deal with reliving something you should've never gone through. I understand."
"...Thank you, sir," Dex stood up, rubbing his palms down his black slacks, "I'm glad you understand."
"Keep in mind, however, that if you do turn into a hot-head, or if you go against my orders, you'll live to regret it."
The image of Kristina at his doorstep flashed in Dex's mind, "Understood."
"Thanks for coming, Dex," Sonny opened the door to his office, "You got the rest of the day off."
"Thank you."
Dex briskly walked out of Pozzulo's and into his SUV, his eyes focused on the road as he drove back to his apartment. He eventually turned onto Charles Street, pulling into his designated parking spot. There was an adrenaline coursing through his veins the entire ride, a mix of fear and relief clashing against one another. He marched up to his apartment, the electricity in his veins suddenly stopping when he twisted the doorknob.
The sight of Josslyn seated on his sofa horrified him.
"J-Josslyn?" Dex stammered, "W-What are you doing here?"
"I came by for a visit."
"Why?"
"Why not?"
"How did you find my apartment?"
"Kristina gave me the address."
There's no way… he thought to himself while trying to keep his composure, "Well, I think you should leave."
"I can't come and see you? Last I checked, I wasn't the one banned from visiting you."
"Get out," Dex gestured past his front door, "Now."
Josslyn raised an eyebrow at him, crossing her arms against her beige sweater swimsuit cover.
"Please."
"...Fine," Josslyn pouted, walking past him. She stopped just as she crossed the doorway threshold, turning to gaze at Dex, "But before I go-"
"What?"
"Thanks for saving Ava. It's good to know that Avery will still get to have her mother. Maybe you're not that bad after all."
Dex raised an eyebrow at Josslyn's bright smile before she walked away. He swiftly closed the door and pulled out his phone, typing as fast as he possibly could.
"Nice of you to visit," Alexis beamed as she hugged Kristina.
"I was in the area," Kristina shrugged after pulling away, "Ignore the hair."
"Don't worry about it. The pool's great, isn't it?"
"Absolutely."
Alexis walked to her desk and took a seat. Kristina sat across from her, "So, what's up?"
"Can't I just drop by and say hello?"
"You can, but something tells me there's more to it."
"Nope, I'm here just because," Kristina leaned back in her chair, her phone buzzing in her back pocket. She tried to get comfortable the more it vibrated.
"Do you plan to get that?"
"...Probably should," Kristina pulled out her phone, raising her eyebrows at Dex's contact, "Definitely should."
"Go for it."
"Hello?" she asked as she swiped to take the call.
"Kristina?" Dex asked, his voice slightly pitched up an octave.
"Yeah? What's up?"
"How did Joss get my address?"
Kristina felt her blood run cold. She then felt anger bubble up, to which Alexis raised an eyebrow, "She was at your apartment?"
"Yeah. I don't know how she got in, but my door was unlocked and she was sitting on the couch. She said you gave her my address-"
"And you believe her?"
"No! But how did she find out where I live?"
Kristina sighed, "...I think she followed me to your place."
"She what?"
"She was getting on my case because I was leaving the hospital to go see you. When I left your place, I saw some long blonde hair zip around the corner. I thought it was her, and I guess your call confirms it."
"I don't know who gave her the authority to just barge into my place, or why she even showed up, but I can't have it happen again or else-"
"Or else…what?"
"Uh…sorry. Figure of speech."
"...Okay. Is she still there?"
"No. I kicked her out immediately."
"Okay…okay. I'll take care of it. Thanks for letting me know," Kristina ended the call. She pinched the bridge of her nose, letting out an exasperated sigh.
"Is there a problem?"
"Just…Joss."
"Joss? That's who you were on the phone with?"
"No, that was Dex. It was about Joss-" Kristina stopped herself, "You know what, let's not worry about it. I told Dex I'd handle it, so let's leave it at that."
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely. Let's talk about something else," Kristina leaned in, "Give me something."
"Alright," Alexis turned towards her computer. A ping emitted from the device, and Alexis raised both her eyebrows at what was on her screen.
"What?" Kristina asked.
"It's…Smoltz," Alexis sighed, "He sent me some intel."
"On?"
"I don't think I can say-"
"Oh come on, not even a little teaser?"
"Well, it's about The Floating Rib-"
"Is it back open?"
"Not exactly. It's looking for new ownership."
Kristina raised her eyebrows, a sparkle in her eyes, "New ownership?"
"Renovations are nearly done. All it needs is an owner who wants to invest in its rebirth."
"Is that so?"
Alexis studied her daughter's face, a look of disapproval surfacing, "...No."
"What?"
"Don't tell me you're considering buying The Floating Rib."
"...Mom-"
"Oh God, Kristina," Alexis put her head in her hands.
"What? Is it really so bad that I'm considering it?"
"First of all, you have no business ownership experience."
"I helped run Perks with Aaron when we were together."
"Your managerial experience is limited to a year-"
"But I've been working at Charlie's for about five."
"You just thought of this idea now!"
"And it's just an idea!" Kristina huffed, "I'm not just jumping into it!"
"I don't think you're ready to own a business, certainly not one as storied as The Floating Rib."
"It was just an idea, Mom, and even then, if I really committed to it, you still would support me, would you?"
"Kristina-"
"Is it really so bad that I find fulfillment in the hospitality industry?"
"Managing a dive bar isn't the same as managing a five-star restaurant."
"Why does it have to be upscale?"
"There should be some pride in what you do, and that should come with a nice-looking place to support it."
"I'm happy with what I do at Charlie's, and I'm sure I'd be happy running my own bar too. If it means getting The Floating Rib, then it is what it is. I'm sorry I'm not in some amazing, high-end job like you or Molly."
"Kristina-"
"...I should get going," Kristina got to her feet, "I have some things to take care of."
"Wait-" Alexis began to get up, but stopped as Kristina swiftly exited her office. The young woman looked through her phone as she made her way towards the elevator, flipping through text threads. She thought about what to say to Josslyn, her words angry and commanding. She thought about checking in on Dex, taking on a softer, more compassionate phrasing. She went back and forth between the two before finally making her decision. She clicked on the contact and pressed down to make a call.
The phone rang a few times before clicking.
"Hey, it's me," Kristina spoke, a lightness in her tone, "I'm just checking in. How are you? Are you busy right now?"
