Chapter 3

When Benny arrived at the warehouse the next morning, he was surprised to see Max standing outside the office door. "He's here?" Max nodded his head. "Since when?" Benny asked. "Late last night. He'd had enough of that babe he's been...with." Benny didn't reply, but knocked on the office door and then opened it. "Good to see you boss," he greeted Sonny. Sonny looked up, "oh, hey Benny. Come on in." Benny walked over to the desk, and Max closed the door behind him. Taking a seat across from Sonny, Benny studied him carefully. "You look all right," he stated. "I'm fine Benny," Sonny replied. "If you don't mind me saying so sir, you've got more lives than a cat." Sonny laughed, "yeah. I guess so." Then, Benny remembered the important piece of information he needed to share, "oh, I looked into that woman, Angel Ellis." "And?" "And, it's not good. In fact, it's as bad as it could be," Benny sullenly told him. Sonny narrowed his eyes, "go on." "She's Sorel's daughter." Sonny's only reaction was a flash of anger that passed over his eyes; but Benny noticed it. Inside, Sonny was wondering how he always found the one's who lied and betrayed effortlessly, or rather, how they found him. To Benny, he simply replied, "fine, what about Sorel?" Benny wanted to ask more about Sonny's time with Angel, but knew he shouldn't press it at the moment. "We're still working on it Sonny." Now Sonny got visibly angry, "well work harder Benny! I want every available resource on this. I want this over, now!" He augmented his orders by slamming his fist on the desk, causing Benny to jump in his chair. "OK! Whatever you say!" Benny quickly replied. Sonny stared at him, "damn right whatever I say."

Sonny's cell phone, which he had placed on the desk, rang. He pushed it towards Benny. "Answer that; I'm not taking calls." Benny picked up the phone, "yeah?" "No, this is Benny. Who's this?" "Luke? What can I do for you?" "No, he's not available." "Sure, I'll tell him." He hung up the phone and reported the brief conversation to Sonny who was wondering why in the world Luke Spencer would be calling him. "That was Spencer. He'd like you to come by the club at your convenience." Sonny scowled, "he probably needs a favor or help dealing with those damn Cassadines." "Will you go?" Benny inquired. "Probably. But I'll let him wait. Get out there Benny and find Sorel." Benny stood up, understanding he was dismissed, and left the office. Sonny let out a deep breath and went back to work, looking at the books for the coffee business.

That evening...

Not wanting to return to the penthouse yet, and determined to make Luke wait, Sonny headed to the No Name for dinner with Max and Johnny. There, he was greeted with the usual respect and deference, as well as some stares by the patrons. The word had gotten out that he'd been betrayed by someone close to him, although only a few of his key people knew it was Carly. It had also been rumored that he was missing for a week or so, as was Joseph Sorel. Everyone who knew about these things was braced for a bloody street war. The three men were led to Sonny's usual table. They had just taken their seats when a stunning blonde woman approached them. Max and Johnny couldn't help but stare, but she only had eyes for Sonny. "It's Jasmine," she told him as he looked at her blankly. "We met last year, at Teddy's." Sonny searched his recollection, but couldn't place her. But, to be polite, he responded, "oh right. How've you been?" "Oh just fine Mr. Corinthos. How are you? I haven't seen you since that awful incident last Christmas. We were all so worried." Sonny smiled at her, showing his dimples to their full effect. Jasmine felt light-headed. She'd admired Sonny Corinthos for a long time, though he'd barely even looked at her the one time they'd formally met. She attributed that to him being in love with his wife, but she'd heard that they'd recently separated and thought maybe she'd have a chance with him now. "Well," Sonny replied, still smiling, "anyone who's that concerned about me can call me Sonny." Jasmine smiled back, "OK Sonny. I hope to see you again, soon." Sonny nodded his head at her, indicated that she probably would. She was very beautiful, and well put-together,  no doubt with the help of a good plastic surgeon. He watched her as she walked back to her table and her companion, who knew he was totally out-classed by the mob boss of Port Charles and was feeling about two-feet tall. Max spoke up, "she's hot huh boss?" Sonny shrugged, "I guess." He'd always been a one-woman-man, well, at least after he was out of his twenties. But Carly was dead to him now, so he figured he was free to do whatever, and whomever, he wanted. And since Angel was now out of the running, being the daughter of his mortal enemy, he needed to find other female companionship. Yeah, he'd be calling Jasmine soon, and he knew she'd come running.

After dinner, Sonny's curiosity got the best of him and he headed over to Luke's Club to see what his ex-friend and partner had to say. Luke greeted him as soon as he stepped in the door. "Corinthos, thanks for coming man." Sonny stared at him, "what do you want Luke?" "Could we talk in the office?" Sonny nodded his head, told Johnny and Max to wait at the bar, and then followed Luke into the back. He felt very sad walking through the place that was once so central to his life, and started feeling resentful as hell at Luke for taking that all away from him. Once in the office, Luke poured Sonny a scotch, which he accepted. Then, he offered a cigar, which Sonny waved off with his hand. "Let's just get to the point Luke. What do you need?" Luke took a seat behind the desk and Sonny took the one in front of it. "No man, that's not what this is about. I need to say some things to you." "Go on." "When the Cassadines came back to town, they ripped my family apart. First, there was Laura and her long-lost son. Then, there was her relationship with Stephan; both things I knew nothing about. That all put me in a really bad mood." Sonny interjected, "I remember." "So," Luke continued, "when things started heating up with you and Moreno, and it touched the club, I just freaked. And then Lucky died, or so we thought, and I blamed you. What I'm trying to say is, I was wrong. And I'm sorry man." Sonny stared at him, then tossed back his drink. "What do you want from me Luke, forgiveness?" Luke shook his head, "naw, I know that's not your strong suit. No, I have to live with what I did, but if there's any way we can go on from here...I really miss you man. You were the kind of friend a guy only finds once or twice in his life, if he's lucky. I found it twice; in Robert Scorpio, and in you." Sonny narrowed his eyes, "what about DiLucca?" Luke took a deep breath and let it out. "I don't know him Sonny. I thought I did, but he's changed. The man I knew could never have been an FBI snitch. And...I know what he did to you; what Caroline did to you." "How'd you find out?" "Well, Bobbie told me. I was wondering why she had them all living with her now, so she told me what happened. Sonny, what Roy did was dead wrong, there's no two ways about it." Sonny's eyes got dark, "you got that right." Luke leaned forward on the desk, "I know I have no right to ask you this Sonny, but is there any way you could let it slide with him?" Sonny shook his head, "I can't do that man." "How about this..." Luke quickly searched his brain for a solution. "How about if I convince him to leave town? Bobbie's through with him, and so am I. He's got this new girlfriend, someone who came here from Chicago, but I bet I can talk him into taking her and leaving. What do ya say?" Sonny mulled it over; it would be neater than having to take Roy out. "Fine. You have two weeks to get rid of him, or I will." Luke smiled, "thanks man. I owe you for this." Sonny shook his head, "let's just wipe the slate clean Luke, OK? Neither of us owes the other anything. We'll go on from here." Luke stood up and put out his hand. Sonny stood as well and offered his. The two man shook, both grateful to regain such a valuable friendship.

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