Chapter 8

After reading through the preliminary divorce papers, Sonny realized taking care of Michael without supporting Carly as well would be next-to-impossible. He could set up a trust fund for the boy's future, that Carly couldn't touch, but in terms of day-to-day living, he'd have to support them both. He threw the papers down on the floor in disgust. "I want this over!" he yelled to the empty room. The penthouse door opened after a brief knock. "What Max? What the hell is it now?" Sonny yelled. Max gulped, then answered, "uh, sorry sir. It's your father. Should I send him away?" Mike Corbin brushed past him and entered. "Don't bother Max; Sonny will send me away soon enough," he stated with a smile. Sonny rolled his eyes; "it's fine Max." Max backed out of the apartment and took his post again, not liking the mood the boss was in. "Then again," he thought, "when is he not in a bad mood?" Inside, Sonny walked over to the bar to pour himself a scotch. "Michael, it's not even lunch time!" his father declared. Sonny downed the drink, then turned to face him. "Why are you here Mike?" "I heard that Carly and Michael had moved out. What happened?" "Where'd you hear that?" Sonny asked, wanting to know who'd been talking. "From Bobbie. I saw her at Kelly's and just asked her what was new. She told me that Carly and Michael had moved in with her." "Well at least she didn't tell him everything," Sonny silently mused. Out loud he said, "it's over Mike, that's all you need to know." "I don't get it. I know you were both concerned about Sorel; is this to keep them safe?" Sonny glared at Mike. "There's no keeping people safe Mike, don't you know that by now? Carly and I are through, and I don't want to discuss it." "Great Michael! That's just great! Trash your life once again. Throw away someone who had the nerve to actually love you; to want to make you happy!" Sonny snapped and launched the empty glass he was holding at the front door. Max heard the glass breaking from the outside, but knew better than to enter. It was sound he heard often coming from inside those walls. "She betrayed me Mike! She ripped my heart out!" Sonny screamed. "What? What do you mean? Was she unfaithful to you?" Mike asked, very concerned at how agitated Sonny was. "I wish it was just that. Then I could kill somebody and feel better." "So if it wasn't that, what happened?" Sonny took a deep breath and walked over to the couch to sit down. Mike followed and sat across from him on the ottoman. "Remember my last arrest?" Sonny asked quietly. Mike nodded his head, "sure. They said you had kidnapped the guy who put the bomb in your birthday present. But they had to drop the charges, right?" "Right. But how did they know I was at the warehouse with the bomber in the first place?" Mike paused to think, then it hit him between the eyes. "Carly? Carly told them you were going there?" Sonny stared at him without responding. Mike was incredulous; "why in the world would she do that?" Carly cooperating with the Feds? It made no sense. "You'd have to ask her that Mike," Sonny curtly replied. "I don't care why she did it. All that matters is that she did, and she brought Roy DiLucca in to help her." "Damn it!" Mike exclaimed. "So you threw her out?" Sonny nodded. "And what about Roy?" Mike added. "Luke's convincing him to leave town," Sonny replied. "And you're OK with that? You're letting him go for Luke?" "Yeah. Luke and I have come to an understanding. We're at a good place. As long as Roy is gone from this town, I'll let him live." "And Carly?" Mike reluctantly asked. "Are you going to let her live too?" "Carly's already dead," Sonny told him, "at least to me."

That evening...

Wanting to ensure that Roy was indeed leaving town, Sonny dropped in at Luke's Club. There, he was quite disturbed to find DiLucca himself behind the bar. When Roy looked up and saw him, he stared at Sonny. Sonny stared back, and motioned with his hand to Max, who had accompanied him. Max stepped over to the boss' side and waited for instructions. "Keep an eye on him," Sonny told him in a loud voice. "Don't let him leave." Max nodded his head and reached into his jacket to put his hand on his holstered gun; just in case. Roy wasn't sure if Sonny had come there for him or to see Luke. Sonny walked past the bar, to the back of the club, and into Luke's office, which he entered without knocking. Luke looked up with a start from his desk, where he'd been working on invoices. "Oh Sonny!" "That's how you get him to leave town Luke?" Sonny asked, fuming. "Oh DiLucca? Yeah, I'm working on that," Luke replied. Sonny gave him a brief smile, then scowled. "Don't play with me pal. What was all this making up crap just a diversion to protect your friend?" Luke shook his head and stood up, "no man, I swear! I've been trying to ease him into the idea that's all; so he'd think he came up with it instead of me." "I don't give a damn who comes up with it Luke, or what the hell Roy thinks! If he's still in this town tomorrow morning, I'll remove him myself, in a body bag! You got that?" Without waiting for the answer, Sonny turned and left the office. Luke ran out after him. Returning to Max, who'd been watching Roy's every move, Sonny then headed for the door. Changing his mind mid-stride, he turned back and walked over to the bar. Roy looked at him, waiting for the tirade he was sure Sonny was about to unleash. Instead Sonny calmly told him, "your friend Luke is about to give you the best advice you've ever gotten. I suggest you take it." Then, he turned back to Max and the two men left the club. Roy looked at Luke, who joined him behind the bar. "What advice man?" Luke looked him square in the eyes, "you're leaving town tonight pal. Pack up your clothes, your new girlfriend, your FBI connections, and go." "And what if I don't?" Roy challenged. Luke chuckled, "oh you'll go; one way or the other. If you choose the other, don't bother packing."

Sonny stormed into Luke's parking lot and slammed his fist on the roof of the limousine. "Shit!" he yelled, shaking his hand. "You OK boss?" Max tentatively asked. "No damn it! I'm not OK!" Sonny yelled back. Max didn't press the issue, but waited silently for instructions. Sonny took out his cell phone and dialed Benny. "It's me. Get Johnny and Adam over to Luke's. I want them to watch DiLucca and make sure he leaves town tonight. If he doesn't, have them escort his body to the city limits in the morning." "Yes, that's exactly what I'm saying Benny. Make sure it gets done." He hung up and looked at Max, "get in the car Max." "Where to?" Max asked. Sonny thought it over, "Jasmine Cooper's." Once in the back seat, he called her.

"Jasmine, It's Sonny."

"I know, I'd recognize your voice anywhere baby."

"I'm coming over. You didn't have plans did you?"

"Of course not! I'll be here, waiting for you. I can't wait to see you Sonny."

Sonny hung up feeling guilty. He knew he was stringing her along and getting her hopes up. He was going to have to have the talk with her soon; the talk where he told her that there was no room in his life for love anymore.

Meanwhile, Alexis Davis sat in her apartment eating a bowl of popcorn and reviewing legal briefs. She couldn't get the sight of that woman out of her mind; that fake blonde coming down the stairs of Sonny's penthouse like she owned the place. She knew Sonny was rebounding from Carly's betrayal, and was probably seeking comfort in meaningless sex. She could understand, but it bothered her none-the-less. But what bothered her more was the realization that she didn't object to it on moral grounds. No, she objected that he didn't turn to her. "Oh my God Alexis! What is your problem? He's your client, just barely, and your friend, maybe. He's totally wrong for you; totally!" she told herself, out loud in an excited voice. She pictured his face, and groaned. "But he's so beautiful...I didn't know a man could be that beautiful," she added. "Stop it, just stop it! Get back to work!" Returning to her papers, she tried to put all thoughts of Sonny Corinthos from her mind. It didn't take long to realize that was a battle she wouldn't win.

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