Chapter 11

Upon arrival, Sonny, Alexis, Johnny and Adam headed straight to the courthouse, where a local attorney was scheduled to meet them. The whole process took a couple of hours, and they then went to a hotel for the night in a rented limousine. Alexis studied Sonny's face as they rode in the back. "Are you all right?" He didn't reply at first. He was thinking about how his second marriage had just ended, and how it at least ended better than his first. Images of Lily walking to the car flashed through his mind. He shook his head to rid his brain of the depressing thoughts, and turned and looked at Alexis. "I'm fine. I'm free. For the first time in a very long time, my heart is free, my mind is free. Now I can concentrate on business, which is all I really have anyway. It's all I've ever really had." Alexis reached out her hand and put it on top of his, which was resting on his thigh. "You have me Sonny. I'm your friend, and I'm here for you." Sonny smiled, "I know. And I'm here for you, you know that right?" Alexis smiled back, "I know." They reached the hotel, and were escorted to their suite of rooms. Johnny and Adam were in a room across the hall. Sonny and Alexis each had a room that shared a patio. Sonny immediately opened the doors to his room and walked out onto it. He took a deep breath and let it out, savoring the warm Caribbean air wafting over him. He stretched his arms out and let out a groan, feeling the tension leaving his body. Alexis, had started to open the French doors in her room, when she heard the sound he'd made. She peered out instead to see what he was doing. Her jaw fell open as he took off his shirt, and stood there. "Oh God," she exclaimed in a whisper to herself. She wondered if he had any idea how magnificent he was. She now understood why Ned hated Sonny so much. In his wildest dreams, he could never be as glorious as Sonny. Sonny looked at his watch, then walked towards Alexis' room. She quickly jumped away from the door and rushed back to her overnight bag. Sonny knocked on the patio door, "Alexis, it's me, can I come in?" "Sure Sonny!" she called out, trying to sound nonchalant. He entered, still holding his shirt in his hand. He figured, he'd crushed it so there was no reason to put it back on. "I thought we'd go to dinner and then go to the casino," he suggested. Alexis didn't look at him, but kept unpacking and replied, "sure, sounds fine. Although, I only brought one change of clothes." Sonny looked her over, she was wearing a nice pants suit and a blouse. "You look nice the way you are. I'll just be wearing a regular suit too." Alexis finally looked at him, and could only manage to say, "OK." Sonny nodded his head and started to leave. "Be ready in an hour," he called back over his shoulder, and exited the same way he came in. Alexis sank down onto the bed, her heart pounding in her chest.

When Sonny returned to his room, he called the concierge and asked them to buy another shirt for him and send it up. Then, he called the manager of the casino, of which it so happened, he was owner. "Ricardo? Sonny Corinthos." "I'm fine." "Yeah, I know we just spoke last week. I'm actually here." "Yes, here right now." "I don't know, you tell me, is there a problem?" "I didn't think so. I'm just down for the night. I'm coming in after dinner with a lady friend, so make sure we're expected OK?" "Fine, I'll see you later then." Sonny hung up the phone, shaking his head. Why was Ricardo so nervous about him being there? He picked up the phone again and called Benny.

"Hello?"

"It's me. We're here."

"How'd it go?"

"Fine. It's over. Listen, I just called Ricardo to tell him we're coming to the casino tonight. He sounded, well to borrow a phrase from Luke, squirrelly."

"Really? What do you think's going on?"

"I have no idea. Have you noticed anything off with the returns from there?"

"No, but I'll look again right now."

"Call me on the cell if you find anything. I don't really want to get into anything with Alexis around, but now I'm concerned."

"Don't worry boss, we'll figure it out."

Sonny hung up, and went to answer his door, where his shirt had just arrived from the hotel shop. He'd just put it on, when Alexis showed up announcing she was ready. They retrieved the guards, and headed out to dinner. They ate at a lovely place overlooking the ocean, and Alexis couldn't help but sigh in contentment and the atmosphere. "You like it?" Sonny asked, grinning at her. "It's lovely," she replied, her eyes shining. "So are you," Sonny said, before he could stop himself. Johnny and Adam, who were sitting at the same table, both looked away, trying to pretend they didn't here what they'd just heard. Alexis was mute with shock. "Sorry," Sonny quickly added, "force of habit." Alexis blinked, "habit? You've never said that to me before." "No, I meant habit with me and women, you know...flirting." "Oh, so I'm just some woman sitting here, so you flirt. OK, I get it." She looked down at her plate, and realized she'd lost her appetite. "Alexis, you're not just some woman, and you know that. You're my attorney, but more importantly, my friend. And you know I care about you, right?" She looked back up at him. "Right, and I care about you...as a friend. So, we understand each other." "Certainly," Sonny smiled widely, showing his dimples. He hadn't been so softened by Carly that he couldn't recognize what was really going on. Alexis wanted him, she wanted him badly. And the truth was, he'd make love to her in a second if it weren't for all the fallout that it would bring. She wasn't the kind of woman he could love and leave; he wouldn't want to. So, until he was ready, able, to really be with someone again, he'd have to keep the thought of how she would feel beneath him far from his mind. After dinner, the group arrived at the casino, where Ricardo personally greeted them. "Mr. Corinthos! We're so happy to have you here tonight! And who is this beautiful lady?" "Ricardo," Sonny curtly replied, "this is Ms. Davis, my attorney." Alexis shook the man's extended hand, but felt uneasy. "Well, I have a craps table reserved just for you sir; I hope that's OK?" Sonny looked at Alexis, "do you like craps?" "I've never played," she told him, "I'll just watch." Sonny put his arm around her shoulders, "naw, I'll teach you. Come on!" 

It didn't take long for Alexis to pick up the finer points of craps, and she was enjoying herself, although not winning much. She was pleased that Sonny didn't fix things so that she'd automatically win. Of course, he'd thought about it, but figured she wouldn't approve. He couldn't help but keep one eye on Ricardo, who was acting skittish. When the man disappeared into his office, Sonny decided to follow. "Adam, stay with Ms. Davis. Johnny, you're with me. Alexis, I'll be right back." "Sonny..." she tried to stop him, but he walked off before she could speak. She looked at Adam, "what's going on?" Adam shrugged and smiled at her; "it's your roll ma'am." He didn't really know what was going on, but could figure it out. The boss didn't like the way Ricardo was acting, and it was obvious that Ricardo didn't like the fact that Sonny was there. Sonny tried to open the office door, but it was locked. "Kick it," he told Johnny, who kicked it open. Ricardo jumped up, scattering several items that were on his desk onto the floor. Sonny walked over and looked down. "No wonder you're nervous Ricky," he stated, noting the small mirror, white powder and rolled up dollar bill on the floor. He stepped on the mirror, crushing it under his heel. "You dealing in my casino Ricky?" he asked with a lethal voice. Johnny closed the door, and stood blocking it, with his hand on his gun. "N...n...no! It's...it's just mine!" "You're using, on the job, is that what you're telling me?" Ricky nodded his head emphatically, figuring Sonny wouldn't get that upset since he really wasn't dealing. Sonny slapped him on the side of the head, hard. "Clean up Ricardo, or you're out of here. Understand? I'm going to have someone watch you. If they see you using on the premises again, you're finished, permanently, you got it?" Ricardo nodded his head, "yes...yes...thank you sir! It won't happen again!" Sonny shook his head in disgust and turned to leave. Johnny opened the door for him and followed him out. Sonny pulled out his cell phone, called Benny, and told him to send someone down to keep an eye on things. By the time they returned to the craps table, the whole thing was over. "Everything all right?" Alexis anxiously asked. "Sure," Sonny smiled, feeling happy to be back in control of his business, and his life.

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