Chapter 19

The next morning, Alexis returned to her own apartment across the hall to dress and get ready for court. She hated leaving Sonny, who was already suggesting she just move in with him. "Let's not go there right now Sonny, OK?" He shrugged, "whatever. But you're going to be here every night, so..." "Oh I am?" Alexis teased. "Yeah, you are. You think I'm sleeping alone, with out you beside me? Without making love to you? No way." Alexis shuddered at his passion; she'd never known anything like it. "Well, maybe you'll sleep at my place sometimes." Sonny smiled and kissed her, "maybe." Once she'd left, he picked up the phone.

"Hello."

"It's me."

"Hey boss."

"Benny, I want someone watching Alexis, 24 hours."

"I can put Adam on her."

"No, not on her. I don't want her to know." Sonny figured there was no way Alexis would accept a bodyguard.

"Can I ask why?"

"Because she's with me now, and I want her kept safe."

"With you?"

"Yeah Benny, do I have to spell it out for you?"

"No sir." Benny was getting dizzy from keeping track of all the women in Sonny's life lately. "Uh, what about Jasmine?"

"What about her? Just get it done Benny!"

"OK."

Sonny hung up the phone. Then, he remembered he had one other thing that needed taking care of, and hit redial.

"Hello."

"It's me again. I have another job for you."

Jax usually ran in the mornings, but an early business call interrupted his routine that day, so he headed out in the evening after dark. As he ran through the dock area, something, or someone, tripped him. He fell face down on the ground and tried to get up right away. "Stay down," a voice boomed out, and he heard the distinctive click of a gun being taken off safety. "Oh shit!" he groaned, thinking he was being mugged, and realizing there was at least two of them. A kick in his ribs soon told him they were probably not after his money. What followed was the worst beating he'd ever experienced...by far. When it was over, he lay in agony on the dock. "Maybe you'll learn some manners now," one of his assaulters spat. They both walked away. They didn't say it, they didn't have to; Jax knew full well what precipitated the beating...or rather who.

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