An Eye for an Eye
by Cowgirl

part 8

Alexis dutifully allowed Max to accompany her and Kristina home. She stood in the doorway of her apartment while he searched every room and checked every door and window lock, and she had nodded her approval when he informed her that he or Francais would be outside the house all night. She was scared. Before Alcazar's threats to her had seemed empty. A way to try and rattle her, and before it had never worked. He would make a remark here and there about her killing his brother and she would hear no more from him until the next time they both happened to be in the same place. Now he'd upped the ante. He was following her and Kristina. He boldly approached her, even with Sonny sitting at the same table and brazenly attempted to intimidate her. He had succeeded, and all the false bravado that she had shown forth at Kelly's was slipping away as she laid Kristina in her crib and stared down at her.

"Nothing will happen to you little one. I promise you that," she whispered the solemn promise as her daughter drifted off to sleep.

She watched her little girl in her innocent slumber for several minutes before leaving the room and settling herself on the couch. Thoughts were running through her head at a mile a minute. Maybe she and Kristina should go and stay at Wyndemere. She shook her head as the very thought of staying in that place made her shudder. Sure, they could go there...but for how long? Alcazar would still be out there. He wasn't going anywhere and so far he had done nothing wrong. Sonny would surely make sure now that they were guarded at all times...but nothing is foolproof.

She bit down on the corner of her lip as fear swelled in her chest and she felt the beginnings of a panic attack taking over. She walked through the house searching through drawers and cabinets for a paper bag. There wasn't one to be found. And then, without even thinking about it, she picked up the phone and dialed a number that she never quite forgot.

Sonny laid in his bed on top of the covers. He was still dressed, all he had bothered to remove were his shoes. He undid the top button of his silk dress shirt and stretched his neck from side to side. A dull throbbing had formed in his head and he rubbed his temples in an attempt to ease the ache. As he stared up at the ceiling he thought about his daughter. She was so sweet, such a little beauty. She had his mother's eyes and when she smiled there was no denying who's dimples she had...but the rest of her...the rest of her physical features were all Alexis. From the dark hue of her skin tone, to the chestnut locks of curly hair. He had seen Alexis emerge fresh from a shower once when they used to be friends. She had come bounding down the stairs clad in a terry cloth robe and her hair was wet and curly.

He closed his eyes and tried to fight off all the images of Alexis from times when they had gotten along so well. The way she smiled at him, the way she glared at him, scolded him when he needed it. Pictures of the way she would get flustered if he came too near him or dared to touch her in some way made his heart ache. How could he have not treated her better? How could he had been so callous after their night together? He had made the wrong choice. He jumped right back into a relationship with Carly out of obligation when he should have waited and took his time deciding where his heart was.

He was sure now that he would have realized his feelings for Alexis had he done that. He knew in his heart that he had been falling in love with her...instead he let her get hurt.

Sonny let out a deep sigh and rolled his head to the side to look at the clock on his night stand. It read eleven-thirty. He was tempted to call over to Alexis' place and see if she was all right, but decided it was late and he didn't want to risk waking up Kristina. He thought for a moment and picked up his cell, punching the speed dial.

"Max?"

"Yeah boss."

"They get in okay?"

"Yeah, I checked the place from top to bottom. They're all secure."

Sonny sighed. "Okay, good...ah...how did Alexis seem?"

"She was nervous boss. She didn't even put up a fight when I told her we'd be watching the place all night."

"Good. Okay, stay alert. Don't let anything happen to them."

"Not on my watch boss."

"Thanks," Sonny said and clicked off the phone.

He had no sooner put down the cell phone and settled back on the bed when his land line rang. He jumped up, crossed the room and answered it. "Corinthos," he said with authority.

"Hi," Came Alexis' uncharacteristically quiet voice.

"Everything all right?" Sonny asked nervously.

"Yes, everything is fine. I...I told you that I would call and let you know that we got in all right."

Sonny cleared his throat. "I know, I ah...I talked to Max."

He heard her chuckle on the other line.

"What?"

Silence.

"Lex, you there?"

"I'm here...it's just..."

"What ?" He asked again.

"I can't believe that after all we've said and done to one another that you..." She stopped.

Sonny could hear it in her voice that she was choked up. "That I what Lex?" he said gently.

"That just hearing your voice still calms me down...I've missed that."

A warm feeling rushed through his body and he smiled. "Yeah, well...I'll have to do my best to make sure that you don't lose it ever again."

"I'd like that," she said breathily.

"Get some sleep, you're safe."

"I know. Thank you."

"No thanks needed. I'll come by in the morning if that's all right."

"That'd be fine."

"Night Lex. Give my girl a kiss for me."

"I will. Goodnight."

Lorenzo sighed deeply before taking a sip of cognac. A small smile escaped and stood stamped across his face. A smirk really. He had gotten to Alexis. She had put up a brave exterior on previous occasions, but that cracked tonight. It was her daughter no doubt. She was terrified when he had approached the table. She had immediately moved to a protective stance over her daughter as Sonny intervened. He would bide his time, play it cool. He would strike when neither of them suspected it. Sonny Corinthos would have to make the choice of his life.

He sat deep in thought and reverie over his perfect plan when the door swinging open and slamming with a bang shook him from his thoughts. "I thought you had to close up the club tonight," he said trying to mask the disdain he now associated with this woman that he thought he had loved.

Carly huffed and dropped her purse onto the table as she kicked off her shoes. "Yeah, well, I have employees you know," she whined and stomped over to the bar.

Lorenzo winced as he watched her pour herself a drink and slam the crystal bottle down on top of the bar. How could he ever allow himself to get distracted by a woman who so obviously lacked the class he would usually look for in a woman. How could he have fallen, even for a second, for someone so self absorbed and demanding. There was nothing appealing about this woman. She had no softness, no gentle touch. No, the Carly Corinthos' of the world were meant for one thing and one thing only.

He sniffed and stood up, moving to where she stood. He might as well get all the mileage he could before he rid himself of this albatross. He closed the distance between he and Carly, grabbing her forcibly by the arms and pulling her into a rough, forceful kiss.

She pulled back and gave him her attempt at a seductive smile. "Someone's frisky tonight," she said coyly.

He plastered on a smile of his own. "I just missed you my love," he forced himself to reply and took her hand, leading her towards the bedroom.

She stopped and took her hand from his. "Not so fast. How's taking care of our little problem coming along?" she asked, her agenda clearly showing through on her face.

He arched an eyebrow. "Swimmingly," he replied smugly.

"So when will we be rid of her?"

Lorenzo leveled a gaze at her. "We? We meaning you and I?"

Carly faltered for a second, then in typical fashion regained her composure. "Of course. Who else would I be talking about?"

He moved a few steps away from her and turned his back. "Miss Davis won't be a problem for very much longer."

"How long is not much longer?"

He turned back to her. "These things take time. A good plan is like a fine wine. It gets better with age. You can't rush these things or they don't work as intended." He smiled. "You of all people should know that."

"Well, I just don't want this to drag on forever. I'm sick of that witch messing up my life. Do whatever you're planning and get it over with," Carly said, the venom in her voice deadly.

Lorenzo inhaled and shot her and icy glare. "And I don't like being ordered around," he said, his tone eerily frightening.

Carly didn't like the look in his eyes and she took a step back from him, suddenly afraid.

He stepped forward, daring her to move again. "I'm not being ordered around am I?" he said in more of a statement than a question.

Carly swallowed hard and shook her head. "No...I mean...of course not."

He softened his expression just a bit and held out his hand to her. "Good. Now...shall we?"

Carly tentatively let him take her hand and lead her to the bedroom.

part 9