image courtesy of Maurice Benard Connection

a Sonny & Brenda Story
by scullysboy

Chapter 22

The couple finally left Kelly's that afternoon, to head to Il Paradiso. They both felt good about how they worked through the latest glitch in their relationship, although Brenda was still curious about this mysterious person from Sonny's past that he wouldn't discuss. They walked to the parking lot, where the limousine was parked. "Where's the Jag?" Brenda asked. "I don't normally drive myself around," Sonny told her in response. "Why not?" "Because this is more fitting to my position," Sonny replied. Before Brenda could ask what that meant, a man approached them. "Sonny, can I speak to you?" Brenda looked from the man, back to Sonny, whose eyes seemed to go totally dead. "Get in the car Brenda," Sonny said in a low voice. Sonny's guard and driver had walked over to make sure the boss and his woman were all right. "Sonny..." Brenda began. "Adam, take Ms. Barrett to the car." Brenda persisted, "Sonny, who is this, what's going on?" Mike Corbin looked at her and smiled. "You must be Sonny's girlfriend." He extended his hand, "it's nice to meet you, I'm Sonny's father." Brenda look at his hand and hesitated, realizing this was who Sonny had been talking about. She looked back to Sonny for some cue, but got none. Instead, she saw the man she loves punch his father...right in the face.

They rode in silence in the back of the limo to the restaurant. Brenda could tell Sonny was extremely agitated, and could only imagine what had transpired between father and son over the years to cause Sonny to react in such a way. When Sonny pulled her into the limo, leaving his father lying unconscious on the ground, she didn't fight him. But she was concerned, both about Sonny's feelings, and his temper. When they got to Il Paradiso, Sonny headed right for his office, and Brenda followed. She shut the door behind them, and Sonny tried to busy himself with paperwork. He didn't want to answer her questions, not now, and not about this. "Sonny, I know you're upset. It might make you feel better to talk about it. I just want to help." Sonny kept looking down at the desk and replied, "you can't. Nobody can." "Why do you say that? Listen, my relationship with my father was awful. I think I can understand how you feel." Sonny looked up and laughed. "I don't think so sweetheart." "How do you know? Do you know that my father never loved me? Do you know that he never paid any attention to me, ever?" Sonny softened, "I'm sorry. That must have been rough. But you still don't have a clue about my life." "So tell me about it!" Sonny shook his head, "nope. You do not want to go there, believe me." Brenda paused then asked, "why Sonny? Did...did your father beat you?" Sonny had to grab onto the desk to stop himself from falling to the floor. On the verge of totally losing it, he said, "get out of here. Get out of here right now!" Brenda knew he meant it, and she turned and threw open the door. There, stood Jason, who looked at her face, and then at Sonny, who was leaning over the desk in agony. "What happened?" he asked. Brenda pushed past him, whispering, "help him Jason. I don't think I can."

Later...Sonny sat in his desk chair, nursing his second scotch. Jason had immediately poured him one after seeing the state he was in. When Sonny had finally calmed down, he looked at Jason in despair, "I've done it this time. She'll never be with me now." "Why?" "She's seeing the real me Jason. You know, that bastard that screams at you all the time." Jason shook his head, "you don't do it all the time. And most of the time you're right to do it. I mess up too." Sonny smiled, "I thought you didn't lie?" "I'm not. You're not a bad person Sonny. You're the best friend I could ever have, not to mention, you're like my father." Sonny shuddered, "uh, bad choice of words. If I'm anything like my old man, you don't want me as a father." "Can you tell me about him?" Jason asked, pulling up a chair. Sonny took a deep breath. He felt like he had to tell someone or he would explode. But telling Brenda was too big a risk. Sonny knew the stigma being an abused child carried; people think you'll be an abuser too. Sonny believed it himself most of the time. He couldn't handle it if Brenda looked at him with that kind of fear. But Jason...Jason wouldn't pass judgment on him, Sonny knew that. "I'd like to tell you Jason, but I need your word. You can never tell another soul." Jason stared him in the eyes, "I'll take it to the grave Sonny." Sonny nodded his head, and began the tale of Michael Corinthos, Jr., and the events that led him to become Sonny Corinthos.

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