BREAKING NEWS: Sonny Corinthos, Founder of Corinthos Coffee Alleged Mob Kingpin, Dead at 56
It's as if a rock hits Sam's stomach, her eyes scanning the article rapidly. Alexis approaches her from the kitchen, dropping plates of scrambled eggs, bacon, and plain pancakes on the dining table.
"How long did it take you to write this?" the woman's voice cracks, setting her tablet down.
"Longer than you'd think," Alexis sighs, sniffing as she wipes her face, "There wasn't a lot of evidence to go off of besides preliminary CSI work and the PCPD's speculation."
"How many times did you call Kristina?"
"As many times as you did, I'm sure."
"...She didn't pick up for you either, huh?"
"Not once. She didn't respond to my texts either."
"I didn't think she would," Sam takes a deep breath, "Like Dante said, she was the only eyewitness. She's supposed to give a formal statement later today."
"She didn't give one at the crime scene?"
"No. He…He thought it would be better if she went to see Dex and Ciara," Sam shakes her head, beginning to choke up, "God, I can't imagine how she feels right now, seeing Sonny die like that."
"All we can hope for is that she's getting some peace of mind with her family," Alexis takes a seat, "Speaking of, how's Dante?"
"Not great. He came home last night and there was a…distance in his eyes I haven't seen since he returned from Turkey. It took him a little while to go to bed, and he was still asleep when I left."
"And the kids?"
"Rocco's with Laura and Kevin, and Danny and Scout are at the Quartermaine mansion. I don't think they know yet…I hope they don't."
Alexis opens her mouth to respond, stopping when she hears a knock at her front door. She gets to her feet, rushing over and offering a meek smile to the couple standing on her porch.
"Hi," she forces out, greeting Molly and TJ, "I'm glad you both can make it."
"I heard about what happened," Molly replies, hugging her mother tightly as TJ shuts the door, "I'm so sorry."
"I'm sorry too. Love or hate Sonny, it's a terrible, terrible way to die."
"Are Kristina and Dex here?" TJ looks around.
"Uh, no, I don't think they'll be joining us."
"Why?" Molly frowns, crossing her arms.
"Well, uh, they…they probably want to process this news on their own."
"Really? You expect me to buy that?"
"This is not the time to fight over your sister."
"Then give me the real reason she and her ex-boyfriend aren't coming to breakfast."
Alexis glances between her daughter and the doctor, "...Sit down."
The couple follows her command, grabbing their own plates and sitting down at the dining table. They pull some eggs and pancakes to eat as Alexis sits at the head.
"What I'm going to tell you stays at this table, at least until it's published in The Invader," her tone is firm, "Got it?"
"What did Kristina do?" Molly scoffed.
"It's not about what she did, it's about what she saw," the woman clears her throat, "Kristina…witnessed her father's murder."
"Oh my God," TJ shakes his head slowly while Molly sits next to him, stunned, "that's…that's awful."
"She was with him on the docks. The shot went past her and struck Sonny in the forehead," Sam continues, pointing at the referenced area, "Dante thought that being with Dex and Ciara would 'relax' her, so he took her to them."
"I…That's…wow," Molly stutters, "A-At least she's with her family."
"She hasn't answered my calls or texts, nor has she answered your sister's," Alexis says, eating a bit of scrambled eggs.
"Well, then she's definitely not going to pick up for me."
"Have you guys tried to contact Dex?" TJ asks, pulling out his cellphone, "I can reach out to him-"
"I already did," the woman nods, "He didn't reply."
"It's probably best that we give them some space," Sam follows with, "They don't need the extra stress of us demanding they respond."
"Is she going to give a statement to the PCPD?" Molly questions.
"She's supposed to, according to Dante."
"Was he called to the pier?"
"He was. He…unfortunately had to see Sonny's body too."
"I can't imagine how he feels about what happened," TJ shakes his head.
"It's been hard for him too. I was going to bring him here, but he went to bed only a few hours ago."
"And how are you?"
"I'm sorry?"
"You have histories with Sonny, both of you," TJ looks between Alexis and Sam, "This news is difficult for you too, isn't it?"
"Very," Alexis attempts to clear her throat, "Being his attorney way back when left me with some unforgettable memories and a part of him that I will always cherish. I won't take that for granted. He played a big role in my life, bigger than I ever expected."
"If not for Sonny, I wouldn't have met Jason, I wouldn't have had Danny or Scout, and I wouldn't have the life I have now. I'm grateful for what I got through him, and it's just…surreal that he's no longer here," Sam nods solemnly, tears forming in the corners of her eyes, "We're just…processing what happened, how it happened…everything."
"We're trying to process it ourselves too," Molly remarks, "It's…tough. It's so, so tough."
"And it's only going to get tougher," TJ drops his fork onto the empty plate, "What happens now? Someone has to take over his businesses, right?"
"Yes," Alexis nods, "I imagine that'll be something Diane will have to work out with his employees and his children."
"Do they know too? Y'know, besides Kristina and Dante?"
"If they read the article, they did. I don't think Dante or Kristina reached out to anyone. Not yet, at least."
"God," TJ shakes his head, "poor Donna and Avery, losing their dad at such a young age, not to mention Wiley, Amelia, Rocco and Ciara losing their grandpa, and I can only imagine how Michael will take the news. I know he and Sonny were on the outs, but not making peace with his dad is probably going to haunt him forever."
"Same with Dad," Molly frowns, "He's going to hate this news regardless of the fact that he and Uncle Sonny weren't close."
"Sonny was a lot of things to a lot of people, good and bad, and losing him in such a…horrific fashion is going to impact each and every person who knew him. Like it or not," Alexis ducks her head, her brown eyes dimming into a pale gray while everyone else drinks in the somber silence, "It's a dark day in Port Charles."
Every part of Kristina aches as she stirs in the bed, her rigid spine clashing with the soft comforter beneath her. She rolls onto her back, eyes fluttering open as a sudden sensation of peace shoots through her. Just as her eyes adjust to the sunlight striking the ceiling, they blur with tears. A familiar tension returns to her arms and legs before they're proverbially crushed by an incredible, invisible weight. She tries to reach a hand out to her right, feeling nothing but the matching cotton fabric of the comforter and mattress.
"Dex?" Kristina sits up immediately, scanning the bedroom. She notices how empty the wooden crib in the corner is, which only causes her to panic more. She gets to her feet, searching the room and nearby bathroom for any sign of life, "Dex?! Ciara?!"
She bolts out of the bedroom, heart racing a mile a minute as she checks each and every door upstairs, seeing nothing but furniture and space. Her feet slam against the staircase as she travels downward, stopping dead in her tracks when she sees a warm pair of brown eyes stare up at her.
"Mama!" Ciara chirps happily.
"Baby…!" Kristina finishes going down, planting a firm yet gentle kiss on Ciara's forehead, "Thank God!"
"Krissy," Dex's voice comes from behind, standing under the archway leading to the kitchen. He sets down two bowls of food before giving a small sippy cup to the infant, "hey."
"Hey?" her voice dons an edge, "You left me alone upstairs and 'hey' is all you can say to me?"
"I wanted to let you sleep in," Dex replies, and Kristina instantly notices the dried tear stains on his shirt. She runs her hands over her cheeks, sighing when she feels how dry and rigid they are. The young man pulls her into his arms, holding her tight and planting a kiss on her forehead, "I'm sorry that I worried you."
She doesn't respond, keeping her arms around his torso as he rocks her from side-to-side, her head against his shoulder. She closes her eyes, a fresh set of tears falling down her face.
"Here," Dex guides Kristina to a chair at the dining table, seating her right next to Ciara, "have something to eat."
The young woman eyes the fruit in front of her, a mixture of pineapple, watermelon, cantaloupe, honeydew, and grapes, and feels a pit form in her stomach. While Ciara sips on the cup in her hands, Dex consumes the similar contents in his bowl. She eventually picks up a fork and takes a piece of watermelon into her mouth, savoring its taste.
"I'm sorry," she chokes out, wiping her face, "about your shirt."
Dex looks down at the stains dotting the chest area, "Don't worry about it. You had a rough night. We both did."
"Did I keep you up?"
"No," he eats a slice of pineapple, "and I'm not just saying that to make you feel better."
Kristina squints her eyes at the young man, seeing the faint outline of a stream of tears stuck to his cheeks. She relaxes and eats a couple pieces of honeydew.
"So, uh," he clears his throat, eating a slice of cantaloupe, "do you plan to give a statement to the PCPD?"
"I do," Kristina nods, eating a few grapes, "I'm going to go after breakfast, so I'll be out of your hair."
"You're not bothering me, okay? Not at all," Dex gives her a sad smile, tucking a few strands of hair behind her cheek. Ciara lets out a coo, catching their attention. Kristina gets to her feet as Dex collects the empty dishes, pulling the baby into her arms. She cuddles the infant against her, meandering around the living room. Her heart melts when she feels Ciara relax into her embrace.
"I love you. I love you so, so much," Kristina says sweetly, kissing the side of the baby's head. She then turns towards Dex as he reappears from the kitchen, "Hey, uh, can I have her for the day? I'd…really like it if she came with me; she'll make things easier."
"...Okay," Dex nods, "You two should probably get ready then. Do you want to borrow anything for the day?"
"No, uh, that's okay. I can wear my clothes from last night," the young woman walks towards the stairs, heading up to the master bedroom. Her clothes still sit on the bathroom floor, wrinkles present in her purple and burgundy flower blouse and dark denim jeans. She dresses herself in what she thinks is record time, exiting the room with very little, if any, evidence she shed a single tear.
"Okay, baby girl," Kristina digs through a nearby drawer, pulling out a pair of white pants and a light pink sweater, "you and I are going on a little trip."
Ciara doesn't respond, staring up at her mother with wonder. Kristina helps stand her up, getting her dressed, "Do me a favor, okay? Let Daddy know it's okay to cry in front of me. If there's one thing I know about that man, it's that he thinks he needs to protect everyone. While it's true for you…it's not true for me."
She runs a hand through her long brown hair, "He thinks that he has to be strong for me, that I need a rock, but…he's already my rock," she then taps the center of her daughter's nose, "and so are you."
"Dada!" Ciara giggles.
"Yeah," Kristina beams, picking the infant up. They travel downstairs, reuniting with Dex, who covered his sweatpants and shirt with a long black trenchcoat.
"Ready to go?" he asks.
The car ride is mostly silent, Ciara's coos of curiosity and random songs from the radio filling the space. While Dex keeps his eyes on the road, Kristina opts to stare out of the window, observing each and every tree, streetlight, and building that passes them by. The sky's overcast, and part of her thinks that the world's mourning with her.
Snow crunches underneath the tires of the SUV as he pulls in front of the police station. Kristina takes a deep breath as she and Dex exchange looks, receiving a comfort she knew she'd get. They sit in complete silence for a beat, and eventually, she grabs his face and pulls him in. The kiss is deep and heavy, and before he settles in further, she pulls back and exits the car.
"Be good for Mama, okay?" Dex turns to Ciara, flashing her a toothy smile, "I love you."
"Wuv you," the baby responds in kind just as Kristina opens the door and frees her from the carseat. He waits to put the car in drive until they disappear into the station, following the roads until he ends up at Kelly's. The diner is fairly spacious when he walks in, and he takes the table to his immediate right.
It doesn't take long for the quiet mood to be broken: "Long time no see."
The young man meets Michael's sharp eyes, a jolt of electricity coursing through him. He sets down the menu and takes a small yet deep breath.
"Mind telling me what you're doing here?" Michael asks, scowling.
"I'm getting breakfast," Dex answers, "Why are you here?"
"Same reason," the man turns towards the counter, looking for a to-go bag, "but it's not ready yet."
"I see," the young man takes another deep breath, "...I'm sorry."
"You have a lot to be sorry for."
"I know you and Sonny still hated each other, but it still must hurt to know he's dead."
"...Oh," Michael takes the other available seat at the table, "It…does sting a bit. Finding out through The Invader didn't help."
"Alexis wrote an article?"
"Yeah? You didn't read it?" Michael keeps his scowl as Dex shakes his head, "Then how did you find out Sonny died?"
"Dante told me."
"Why would he tell you before me or anyone else in our family?"
"Because…" the young man averts his eyes, "Because he brought Kristina to my place…after she watched Sonny die."
"She-" Michael's eyes widen, his eyebrows shooting up, "She was on the pier with him?"
"Yes. Dante was called to the scene, and when he dropped her off, he told me."
"Oh my God…I can't imagine how Kristina's feeling right now. I had no idea," the elder man looks around, "Where is she?"
"She's at the police station, giving them her statement."
"And Ciara's with her?" Michael asks, prompting Dex to nod, "That's good. That should help ease things for her," he then leans in, "I heard about what you guys went through."
"From who?"
"Take a guess," Michael turns towards the counter, and Dex flinches when he sees Josslyn standing firm, rolling her eyes as she pours a cup of coffee for a customer.
"Oh, great," the young man sighs, "let me guess: you think I'm a cheating dirtbag who had no business picking my baby mama and her criminal father over you and your sister."
"Well, if the shoe fits," Michael shrugs, "but I also heard about the court battle and the incident in Greenland. Things have been tough for you, haven't they?"
"It's only getting tougher, and that's thanks to you."
"How so?"
"My mom flew in yesterday-"
"Did she," Michael fakes his concern, "What a nightmare."
"Let me finish?" Dex huffs, "She had some news for me."
"And you're just going to tell me this news just because? We're not friends."
"No, we're not. We're brothers."
Michael freezes in his seat, shock present in his face, and it takes a moment for Dex to realize what exact words left his mouth. He shuts his eyes tight and cringes when he hears his comment.
"We're what?" the elder man snaps.
"She told me…" he forces each and every word out of his mouth, "that AJ Quartermaine is my biological father."
"No," Michael shakes his head, "no, I refuse to believe that you and I are related. Why the hell would she say that?"
"She came in to check on me because the man I thought was my father died recently. He wrote a letter to me and said that I wasn't his son, and she told me that I was AJ's."
"I don't believe her. If AJ had another son, the rest of the Quartermaines would've known."
"I didn't say that he knew."
Michael crosses his arms, pouting as he processes the news, "I still don't believe her. I need proof."
"I don't have proof," Dex says.
"Take a DNA test. That'll be your proof," he snaps as Josslyn approaches the table, a large white bag in tow
"Here's your order, Michael," she places the bag on the table, "Hopefully Wiley and Amelia like the extra placemats and crayons I packed in there for them. I'm sure Mom won't mind ordering some more for the place."
"Thanks, Joss."
She turns towards Dex, shooting daggers, "We don't serve jackasses here. Get lost."
"Don't worry, I was just leaving," Dex abruptly stands up and exits the diner, getting back in the car. His phone buzzes a number of times as he slots his car key into the ignition.
From: TJ (9:42 AM)
Hey man, I heard about Sonny.
I'm so sorry - call me when you can.
From: Kristina (9:42 AM)
Done at the PCPD
Dante will take us to Mom's
Thank you for letting her be with me :)
Tears burn the corners of his eyes as he swipes to respond, a lump forming in his throat. Streams of saltwater form on his face as he proceeds to drive away, and it takes everything in him to keep his composure even somewhat intact.
To: TJ (9:44 AM)
Thank you. I'll call you in a bit.
To: Kristina (9:43 AM)
You're welcome. Whatever you need.