Well Worth the Wait
a Sonny & Brenda story
Chapter 17
Sonny sat frozen with dread at what Joe had told him. "What's the matter Sonny boy? Cat got your tongue?" Sonny blinked and then answered, "naw Joe it's just that…Frank's been good to me." Joe narrowed his eyes, "and I haven't?" Sonny quickly shook his head, "that's not what I meant." "Good Sonny, glad to hear it. I'd hate to think you didn't appreciate me, after everything I've done." "Joe, you don't have to remind me what you've done for me. I know I owe you my life." Joe beamed and put his hand on Sonny's shoulder. "I'm so proud of you Sonny; you've done great." He then took Sonny's face in his hand and looked him in the eyes. "You're the king of Port Charles, and I'm not looking to change that. In fact, you stick with me and you'll have even more power." Sonny pulled away, "I'm happy with what I've got Joe. I'm not greedy." "It's not about greed my boy; it's about knowing where one belongs in the world and making it happen. Yeah, I've got a good chunk of the City, but Frank's got practically the whole Eastern Seaboard and the Caribbean. And he's unwilling to share it; does that seem fair to you?" Sonny shrugged, "he shares with me." "So what are you saying? Are you going against me?" "No, I'm suggesting you rethink this Joe. It can't end well." Joe became very angry. "Either you're with me or you're against me; there's no middle ground here Sonny!" "I'll think about it," Sonny told him in a quiet voice. "Well I guess that's something then," Joe said as he stood and headed for the door. As soon as he left, Sonny got up and hurried to the phone. He called Harry Silver and told him, "we've got serious trouble; get over here."
Harry listened with concern as Sonny filled him in on Joe's visit. "You've got a tough choice to make kid, but I think you should have all the facts first." "Meaning?" "Meaning, I just got wind of something you need to know about. It looks like Frank's making a new deal with Barrett…and he's cutting you out of it." Sonny's stomach began churning, and he asked, "why?" Harry shrugged, "I'm not sure. But maybe he thinks you're getting distracted from business." "Because of Brenda," Sonny stated. "Maybe." Sonny paced a bit while he thought it over. On the one hand he had Joe, a man he owed so much too. It was Joe who finally freed Sonny's mother from Deke by having him executed in an alley. And while Sonny didn't ask Joe to do it, he knew it was done on his behalf. On the other hand there was Frank; a man Sonny had pledged his loyalty to and who had made Sonny rich and powerful. But neither man was above selling Sonny out to get what they wanted, and he knew it. If Frank was already cutting him out of a deal, who knew what else he would do? And as far as Joe was concerned, Sonny resented like hell that he was being put in such a position because of Joe's greed.
Harry interrupted his thoughts; "you're going to have to take a side Sonny; hopefully with the winner" "Not necessarily; there's another possible scenario Harry," Sonny stated. "What's that?" "That neither of them win." Harry was incredulous, "you're going to play them against each other?" Sonny stared him in the eyes, "Who would you rather work for, Frank Smith, Joe Scully, or Sonny Corinthos?" Harry smiled, "you've got balls kid, I gotta tell you that." "Beef up security Harry, let the boys know there might be trouble." Harry nodded his head and left the penthouse. Sonny poured himself a scotch and took a seat on the couch. It was amazing how quickly things could change. One day he was perfectly content to be the boss of Port Charles, and the next, through someone else's doing, he was poised to take over the world.
"Sonny?" Brenda's voice brought him back to reality.
He turned his head and smiled as she walked over to him. "Is Joe gone?"
Sonny nodded, and pulled Brenda into his lap. "Yeah. Do me a favor, if
you see him or hear from him, let me know right away, ok?" Brenda was
concerned, "Sonny, what's going on?" Sonny let out a deep breath,
kissed her, then replied, "things are happening baby; big things. I need
to know that you're going to be by my side…can I count on you?"
Brenda tilted her head and gave him a dreamy smile, "I'm with you all
the way baby."