Lorenzo leaned his head back against the cushion of the limo seat and closed his eyes.

Six months.

[I]"Give me six months, and I'll get you out clean," Robert had promised.

"It's taken me years to get Renata to agree to this first meeting, and you think we can get him on U.S. soil in six months?"

"Yes, we can," Robert said, "because he's going to want to meet the woman who helped you reestablish yourself in the business world... and you're going to refuse to take her to him."[/I]

He hated the idea already. Lorenzo had been swallowing down this one and only lie he had let Alexis believe because he didn't want her involved in this. When he'd taken Scorpio's advice and approached her about working for him, she'd just been a woman who might get him what he needed-a break with Renata, something to finally get the man to cave in and expose himself after years of hermit-like living in Colombia. But now... everything was so different now.

And yet those differences were the very reasons why he needed this to finally be over. Living as Lorenzo Alcazar, feared drug lord and gunrunner, hadn't mattered much to him in the years of mourning Sophie and seeking the only justice it seemed life would allow him. No one could get close enough to him for him to care if they were hurt by what he did or who he knew. In truth, sometimes he knew his callousness had caused others to be drawn too far into his world for them to get out alive, and though he regretted it now, then Lorenzo's heart had been too stony and deadened for him to notice.

But life had changed... life had begun again, more correctly. The woman who was no more than a means to an end had come into his life, trusted him with her safety and with her child, and peeled away years of armor that Lorenzo had grown weary of wearing. He'd failed to notice many of those subtle differences in his own existence, only noting the larger, monumental moments of the past several months, but apparently they hadn't gone unnoticed by his mentor. He knew that when Robert led him into an expansive building on the Port Charles waterfront. There was a loft overhead in the "warehouse" that looked to be a sleeping area, but the entire bottom floor was a near duplicate of the infamous workshop, complete with sparring area, weapons workstation and a fully-equipped communications center.

"When on earth..."

His mentor's laugh cut off Lorenzo's words. He turned in time to catch a wink as the legendary elder Scorpio brother shed his suit coat and dropped it on the back of a chair near the weapons table.

"I knew you were close. Renata's been making more inquiries about you. I figured it was time to get ready. Besides, it was clear you'd turned the corner. I knew you'd want out sooner rather than later."

He'd been floored at those words. Lorenzo himself hadn't known he wanted out until yesterday when he'd realized the danger he could be pulling toward his family. Robert chuckled at his puzzled expression and added another comment to his statement as he sat down behind his worktable.

"New Year's. When you called me to check in, I knew."

"How?" Lorenzo asked.

"You sounded like a different man than the one I met that day in Mexico City. It was the difference between a man who was half alive and one who has something to live for."

The observation had temporarily been set aside in Lorenzo's mind as he and Robert discussed the upcoming meeting and a strategy to get Renata out of Colombia, where they could finally take him down. Though she hadn't been mentioned again, it was clear to Lorenzo that Robert considered Alexis a viable part of their tactical maneuvers.

"Drive around town once," he said calmly, and his driver nodded, unfazed by the privacy glass moving up into place. Hector had driven Lorenzo since the day he'd returned home to the Alcazar compound, three months after he'd met the man who put his world onto a new axis. Robert had assigned the other agent to him, and everywhere Lorenzo traveled, Hector went as well. Three people in total knew of Lorenzo's true "employment"--Robert, the WSB Director Trent and Hector. Yet the one person he trusted implicitly all those years was not a fellow agent, but his oldest friend. He wondered often what Nano's reaction would be the day the truth came out. But for now, he knew that his ally and comrade in arms was completely loyal to the man he thought Lorenzo to be, and that's why his main duty was protecting Alexis and Kristina.

Other than lying to Alexis, keeping his secret from Nano had been the only thing about his goal that Lorenzo had ever felt sadness over.

Sighing, Lorenzo tried to let the motion of the car relax him before he got home. He didn't want Alexis to feel his apprehension, not when she had Corinthos to deal with. That in and of itself was more than she should have to take on, and he hoped--he knew most likely in vain--that Sonny would come to his senses and talk to Alexis rather than attack her when it came to Kristina.

'New Year's.' Robert's words came back to him, and Lorenzo let his mind now wander back to the beginning of this new, wondrous and terrifying year. The weeks leading up to December 31st had been trying to him at best. As their business efforts continued to prove profitable and as their friendship deepened, Alexis had suggested to him that it was time to work on his public image. When he argued that no one was going to be fooled into thinking he was a good man, she told him that wasn't the point.

For years, she explained, Sonny Corinthos had been able to navigate the elite circles of Port Charles because the town couldn't turn their nose up at his charitable generosity. It allowed him to meet people who otherwise would have slammed doors in his face, and proved that the old money businessmen and women of the city didn't really care how you made your millions so long as you could make them more. That's what people realized when they met Sonny in person and heard him speak about business. Alexis knew Lorenzo could be just as if not more successful doing the same thing.

He reluctantly agreed, and even as Christmas began to descend upon them, Alexis began planning a New Year's Eve fundraiser to benefit the neonatal and pediatric units at General Hospital. Lorenzo had asked her to pick the cause, and he wasn't at all surprised that it involved children, not when a woman who loved her daughter so completely was in charge of the operation.

Somehow, while she organized guest lists, dealt with the reluctant Quartermaine-led hospital board, planned the entire party and still juggled their busy business schedule, Alexis had started preparing for Christmas. That was when it happened... when Lorenzo began to feel like an outsider in her world for the first time in a very long while.

Thanksgiving had been a lost holiday to them both because an emergency with the resort in Fiji had put them in a very non-holiday atmosphere. Though she'd covered admirably, Alexis' disappointment at not being with her family had been evident, and she'd been terribly lonely for Kristina, who she had decided to leave with Stefan and Nikolas rather than bring on the hectic trip. Because of that, Lorenzo had made a private vow to avoid any business that might disrupt the Davis Girls Christmas. He wanted it to be perfect in every way for them.

She had, of course, invited him to participate in her family's celebration because she was Alexis Davis and her manners dictated she do so. That's what he'd thought at the time anyway. She was simply too kind to not ask, but even knowing that, it had been painful to Lorenzo to decline. Being a part of Kristina's birthday party had been fun for him... much more so than he'd ever have expected. He could imagine what it would be like to watch the stunning dark-eyed child look wide-eyed at a mountain of Christmas presents, see the joy on her face as she unwrapped precious gift after precious gift, and quite shockingly, he had realized he wanted to see that. He also knew that the pleasure Alexis would get from Kristina's happiness would be mesmerizing. But he feared that his presence would facilitate dire glares and harsh words from Alexis' brother and nephew, and he didn't want that to ruin their first Christmas as a real family. So decline he had.

As the last few days of preparation flew by and Alexis finalized the party plans, Lorenzo's mood had grown more and more inhospitable. He barked at the servants when they asked simple questions, something that was totally out of character for him, and he'd more than once caught himself acting nearly petulant with Alexis during meetings. That she'd noticed his change in personality was clear when one day, as they discussed the silent auction for the party, he'd grumbled about having a sculpture that Sonny had donated in the cache of items for sale.

[I]"Tell Corinthos he can keep his shabby art to himself."

He'd half expected her to walk out on him, but instead, Alexis had put her hand on her hip and raised her eyebrows at him.

"It's a Degas, it'll earn us many thousands of dollars, and you need to get in a better mood if you're going to be my date for this party."

He'd had a retort half formed before he realized what she had said. Her date for the party? Of course, he thought, it made perfect sense. They were co-hosting the event. It was perfectly logical that they should go together. And suddenly Lorenzo's sense of disenfranchisement began to lessen. He might not be getting Christmas with Alexis and Kristina, but he was getting New Year's Eve with Alexis, even if it was technically business. For the first time in days, he'd smiled at her there in the office, and when she smiled back, he felt his heart swell.

"Much better. Marring that handsome face of yours with a scowl should be a crime."[/I]

She had rushed off to answer a phone call, leaving Lorenzo pleasantly surprised once again.

"She thinks you're handsome," he had said absently to himself. And from then on, the holiday season had taken a definite turn for the better for Lorenzo Alcazar. Though he stayed determined to keep out of the way of the Cassadine family celebration, he realized he could still enjoy the holiday simply by doing what felt right to him... and that was heading out to the car and heading into a few local shops to do his part to support the Port Charles Christmas economy.

Lorenzo had planned to take a plane out of town the morning of the 24th, thereby forcing him to keep his promise. It was time to go home to Venezuela and check on the family estate, something he could do quickly enough and be back in time to enjoy his promised New Year's with Alexis. The gifts he'd purchased had been expertly wrapped and he had them hidden in the gym--a room Alexis was loathe to enter--so that Nano could bring them out after he was gone. But as usually happened when Lorenzo was certain he'd found a way to surprise his newfound friend and business associate, Alexis did him one better. When he walked downstairs on Christmas Eve, he found the living room decorated except for a tree that stood bare in the corner. A bevy of ornaments lay spread out over the tables and sofa, just asking to be placed on the gorgeous blue spruce. Alexis held Kristina in her arms, and two sets of brown eyes rose to greet him as he came through the entryway.

[I]"What's all this?"

"Um, a Christmas tree."

Lorenzo chuckled and put his hands out to take hold of Kristina, who was reaching for him with one hand while she held a cookie in the other. "I meant, why is it here. You're going to Wyndemere, I thought."

"We are," Alexis confirmed. "But Kristina's never gotten to decorate her very own Christmas tree, and you are the tallest one in the house, so I think the star job has to fall to you."

"I see," he said. "Well, I certainly can't let Little Miss Davis here down, can I? Nano."

Lorenzo's call brought his lead man into the room.

"Will you call the airport and tell them I'll be leaving later than expected?"[/I]

Nano had done just that, and Lorenzo and Alexis had worked together to help a delighted Kristina place some of the less fragile ornaments on the tree. Alice joined the group, playing with the little girl as the glass bulbs and snowflakes were handled by the grownups. And finally, Lorenzo climbed atop a step stool and stretched his long arm up to place the glittering silver star on top of their Christmas masterpiece.

"Look, Kristina," Alexis had cooed as she took her daughter into her arms and walked up next to where Lorenzo was descending the small ladder. "Isn't your tree beautiful?"

Once when he was very small and he'd spoken out of turn about a topic far too adult for him to be discussing, he had angered his father. Lorenzo had been saved from the elder man's fury by the soothing sound of his mother's voice saying, "Some children are just born knowing special things. You can't blame them for wanting to share." Well, clearly, Lorenzo realized, she had been right. There in the living room before the lovingly decorated tree, Kristina had reached for him and when he took her hand, she pulled it over so that Lorenzo's arm ended up draped across them in a light embrace. He hoped now to hold them there forever.

By the time Lorenzo climbed aboard his jet and waited for the plane to taxi down the runway, he was a very happy and content man. Exactly the things he'd been afraid he would miss had been presented to him as the very best gift imaginable. And there was more to come... New Year's Eve had been a mere week away. But first, he'd needed to wipe the grin off his face, thereby alerting everyone in South America that something wonderful was happening in his life... even if he hadn't been sure what it was.

A host of little things he'd let fester greeted him in Venezuela, and Lorenzo found that the few days sped by as he dealt with staffing problems, negotiated a small sale of some land the family owned, and finally, as he checked in with his many business acquaintances in order to keep up the façade that kept him alive. He glad handed and sipped café con leche at breakfasts and lunches and brandy at dinners. He made promises to facilitate a few weapons runs for some associates, to block drug moves by rivals in the territories of others. Then the day before he was scheduled to board a plane home, his housekeeper entered the study a few minutes after the phone had rang out.

"Señor Alcazar. A Señor Mancuso."

Nicolo Mancuso--Antonio Renata's right-hand. Getting access to Mancuso was the last step to getting access to Renata, but Lorenzo had still be dealing with men one or two steps down from Mancuso the last few years. That had all seemed poised to change, however, as he lifted the receiver to his ear.

[I]"This is Lorenzo Alcazar."

"Mr. Alcazar, Nicolo Mancuso. I trust I find you well."

"Yes, very," Lorenzo said. "Though you just caught me. I'm heading back to the States tomorrow."

"I'm about two hours away. I was hoping I could call before heading home."

Lorenzo was stunned. His last contact with the Renata organization had brought him direct orders from Mancuso, but this was a big step... one he'd been working toward for a long time.

"Certainly. I'll be here."[/I]

Anyone who ever had the time or the desire to imagine what the right-hand of the man responsible for 30% of the terrorism in the world looked like would never have conjured Nicolo Mancuso. He was Italian, but he didn't look like a mobster or even a businessman. He was blond... very blond, with blue eyes and classic features that probably made women think he was a model or an actor. In truth, he was a man who had sent countless numbers of his fellow human beings to their deaths, either by his own hand or by providing weapons to those who did the killing. Reading the bio Robert had compiled on him had literally made Lorenzo feel ill. Mancuso placed no value on life... and that made it all the more important for the WSB to take him and his employer out once and for all.

The staff at the compound had prepared a light late meal for Lorenzo to serve to his impromptu guest, and when Mancuso showed up not a minute past the two promised hours, the two sat down in the formal dining room. The blond man welcomed the dinner, but got right down to the point of his visit as the two ate.

[I]"I understand you have some good sources around the Libya/Egypt border."

Lorenzo took his time before answering. He knew that Renata had dealt extensively in the Middle East for years, so asking about his connections in that area could be a test of some kind. Thinking on the possibilities, Lorenzo raised his napkin, wiped his mouth and then laid it to rest on his lap again.

"I have some friends who I can call on from time to time, yes."

Mancuso eyed him carefully, and Lorenzo felt the scrutiny. This was a test, but not a manufactured one. He could sense that from the body language he was seeing. Whatever it was Mancuso needed, he really needed it... and a golden opportunity had just landed in the lap of a man who had been living a lie for years in order to get it.

"Friends," Mancuso said, "funny you should use that word. Mr. Renata has a few friends who seem to have gotten lost in Egypt on their way to Libya. And unfortunately for them, the travel agent we might have used to help them was killed two days ago in a rather unfortunate accident."

Seif Abdel--a known purveyor of forged passports that had allowed terrorists to travel from one country to another with ease for decades. Unfortunately for him, he'd met up with one who liked to cover his tracks... and the legendary forger had been murdered and left for dead on his living room floor. Lorenzo had heard the news from his own contact in Egypt.

"Would one of those people you can 'call on from time to time' be able to help our associates make passage out of the country?" Mancuso let the question hang between them for a second before he added, "Mr. Renata would greatly appreciate it."

To people who didn't understand how their world worked, it would no doubt seem odd for a man as powerful as Renata to need help from an outsider after one man's murder. Surely when one criminal link was torn out, it was easy enough to plug another in? But the truth was, trustworthy contacts in the Middle East, Russia and definitely in North Korea took years to cultivate. And whomever these people were that Mancuso wanted help getting out of Egypt, they didn't have years. Lorenzo had to move quickly if he wanted to seize this opportunity.

"I know a gentleman who's quite good at booking last minute excursions," Lorenzo replied. "I think he could definitely help these people get to their desired destination."[/I]

Mancuso didn't know, of course, that the two men in question would be aided on their way by favors called in by the WSB to make sure it looked as if they had skated across the border into Egypt with just enough ease for it to appear that Lorenzo's contacts had done an adequate job on their behalf. Not too easy, not too dangerous... that was the key.

Within 36 hours, Lorenzo and Robert had made the arrangements necessary to facilitate the escape of the two bomb builders safely into Libya where a jet chartered by Renata waited to fly them home to Colombia. Those hours saw the Alcazar plane headed back to Port Charles and saw its owner excitedly tapping his foot as the car approached the house. Nano greeted him at the front door, his lieutenant already fully briefed on the non-WSB aspects of the job for Renata.

[I]"Everything's on schedule," he reported. "The transport should be done in the next few hours."

"Good. Let me know as soon as you have confirmation."

Nano nodded and Lorenzo headed toward the living room. When his glancing eyes did not reveal what he sought, the man in charge glanced back at his right-hand. Though Nano was clearly in full business mode, Lorenzo did not mistake his friend fighting back a smile as he realized easily what it was his boss was looking for.

"They're in the kitchen having lunch."

A blush might have shown on Lorenzo's cheeks if it weren't for his beard, but he ignored the slight feeling of embarrassment and held his tongue in favor of walking toward said kitchen. Kristina was sitting in her highchair, one hand up, pushing away the spoon Alexis was trying to navigate to her mouth, the other one buried in a bowl of applesauce.

"Just one more bite of carrots?"

"Mnh-mnh," Kristina replied to her mother's plea.

"Not even one more?" Lorenzo asked, drawing both of their attention his way. Their eyes seemed to brighten at seeing him, no doubt, he imagined, making his own sparkle just a bit. However, he would live to regret surprising them because Kristina, in her excitement, drew her hand from the applesauce, flinging half of the bowl at him as she exclaimed "Zo, Zo, Zo!"

The beige-ish liquidy substance landed smack in the middle of his chest, the clump claiming his shirt and the silk tie he wore. The applesauce quickly began to run down his clothes as Alexis stared at him wide-eyed.

"I'm... oh, God, Lorenzo, I'm so sorry."

She stood and grabbed a dishtowel off the table so that she could attempt to mop up the mess Kristina had made of Lorenzo's clothing. Lorenzo was about to protest and tell her it wasn't necessary, but she was intent on somehow fixing the situation, and so he stood still with his arms held out like a scarecrow as she tried in vain to somehow erase the applesauce from the expensive fabric. All the while, Kristina continued to chant his name from her seat, her tone growing more annoyed as seconds ticked by without any acknowledgement.

"I, um, it, well..." Alexis' words died out as she looked up at Lorenzo, ready to admit defeat. She looked so absolutely horrified that he couldn't do anything but laugh.

"It's okay, Alexis, really. I have a lot of shirts and ties."

"She just... she's asked about you every day. I didn't realize she'd gotten so attached to you, but..."

A sudden shyness came over her, and as her teeth sank into her bottom lip, Lorenzo felt his amusement turn into something else. Kristina had missed him. Was there a chance that maybe her mother had too?

"ZO!"

The emphatic and demanding tone held an edge to it that told both adults a tantrum was only seconds away if a certain little girl did not get her way. Lorenzo took a step around the concerned looking mother. In moments, he had triggered the tray release on the highchair, and one very messy but joyous baby was in his arms.

"Well, a shirt and tie is a small price to pay for such a happy greeting. Because you know what? I think I might have missed you, too," he said, leaving the "you" nebulous and undefined.[/I]

And he had. In fact, he could barely remember Nano coming in later that day to give him a signal that Renata's men had safely made it to Libya. What he did remember was that in those few days between his return and the new year, Lorenzo began to realize the strength of the bonds he was forming with both his houseguests. Part of him was terrified of letting someone make him feel anything. Since Sophie's death, he had kept himself so shut off, even from his own family. Only his mother had been able to reach him at all, and once she was gone, there'd been no one he could let see the side of him that he was now exposing to Alexis and Kristina. The risk involved was monumental. They were a borrowed family at best... not his, with no reason to stay in his life except for the protection he could provide them. Any day, Alexis could choose to end their arrangement and he would not stop her. And yet despite all of that, he did not stop himself from finishing his days with a stop in Kristina's nursery to read her a story, nor did he pass up the opportunity to share evening coffee with Alexis in the study to talk about whatever happened to come up.

And then it was New Year's Eve, and despite himself and all the reasons he should run away, Lorenzo donned his favorite Hugo Boss tuxedo and waited at the foot of the stairs for Alexis to join him. Kristina and Alice had long since headed up for bath time and a bit of playing so that the baby was fully distracted from her mother leaving. Even after so many months and despite her clear security with her surroundings, Kristina still hated to say good-bye to her mother.

[/I]"You have the lists, you have the gift for Mac... what are you forgetting?" Alexis muttered to herself from the landing. Her voice drew Lorenzo's eyes toward her... and what he saw stole the oxygen from his lungs and forced him to grip the railing of the staircase to support himself. She was stunning... her body wrapped in curve-hugging burgundy velvet. The top of the dress was tank cut and had a slight drape at the neck, which showcased the elegant diamond choker she wore. Her hair was swept up in a seductive style that let tendrils of hair flow down and curl around the column of her neck.

Lorenzo wasn't sure how he was going to manage to speak intelligently when she finally approached him. His cool seemed to have evaporated in the presence of this woman that was bringing to life things he was certain had died within him years earlier. He felt the world suddenly fill with possibilities as she smiled at him casually while she walked to the entry table to set her bag down for the moment. He was smiling back, he assumed with all the presence of a befuddled 18-year-old, when he saw that the back of her dress was nonexistent... the drape in the front was echoed and exaggerated, leaving everything from her shoulders to the top edge of her lower back exposed.

'Get a grip, man,' he told himself silently as he walked to the closet and pulled out the black dress coat he assumed Alexis was planning to wear. He figured giving himself something to do was the best way to do that, and so he would take the lead and help get them out of the house. When he turned back to her, she was still muttering to herself.

"I know I must be forgetting something."

A soft, low chuckle escaped him as he held her coat up for her. "You've forgotten nothing, Alexis. The event will be spectacular, New Year's Eve will be wonderful for everyone in attendance, and the night will be huge success. How could it not when the hostess looks so positively amazing?"

She started to say something to him, but then Lorenzo noticed her do a double take as she really looked at him. He saw appreciation in her gaze, and though he knew there was a good chance he was projecting, he thought he saw a bit of excitement and anticipation as well.

"Thank you," Alexis said quietly, then she turned and slipped her arms into the coat. Over her shoulder, she added, "The host doesn't look so bad himself."

Lorenzo settled the expensive cashmere garment on Alexis, his hands drifting from the collar over her upper arms and then down. His fingers lightly passed over hers as he held his ground, staying close to her body.

"Thank you," he whispered, his warm breath teasing against her neck. A light shudder ran through her, and Alexis nervously turned and began to chatter to him about the party as she moved to the door. He followed, grabbing his own coat, a smile on his face. He wasn't sure what had made him so bold a moment ago, but he liked the reaction he'd gotten. And the night was still very, very young.

"A Night Of Hope" was being held in the Grand Ballroom of the Port Charles Hotel. Alexis, though not a fan of parties, knew how to plan them from start to finish thanks to years of Cassadine events. Stefan's contacts had proved invaluable to her, and even though she had come by to survey the final preparations earlier, Lorenzo could see that she was relieved when they arrived a half hour before their guests to find the midnight blue silk canopies and the oceans of vases of white roses with silver accents were all in place and ready for the many couples who had paid top dollar to be at "the" party of the season. Alexis had definitely delivered what she'd promised... an event the elite of Port Charles couldn't dare stay away from, no matter whose money was paying for it.

The hotel party planners descended on the two of them the moment they arrived, and the casual, comfortable conversation Lorenzo and Alexis had shared in the limousine on their way over was put on hold as they dealt with a last minute champagne emergency, okaying the use of 1996 Veuve Clicquot Vintage Réserve rather than the initially planned bottled bubbly. Alexis then left Lorenzo to discuss security with Nano while she greeted Mac Scorpio, upon whose sense of humor and tact she was depending to usher the evening along as master of ceremonies. Mac was all too glad to help. He would never forget the terrifying days when Maxie had been fighting for her life in GH. He was happy to do anything to help other parents in the same situation.

Before they had time to find each other again, Lorenzo and Alexis were set upon by their numerous guests, which included the usual suspects--the Quartermaines, including Ned and Skye, who both icily ignored Alexis' polite greeting. Monica, Alan, Lila, Edward, and A.J. were also in attendance. From where he stood, Lorenzo saw his magnificent co-host hug Jax, Stefan and Nikolas as they arrived, then he set about saying his own hellos to Tony Jones, Bobbie Spencer, Lesley Webber and Elizabeth and Ric Lansing. The Barringtons were the last old money family to arrive... and Amanda was obviously highly entranced by Lorenzo's charms. Alexis winked at him as if to say, "I told you so" before she signaled to Mac that he could begin his opening remarks.

The whole crowd was laughing, getting settled down for the amazing dinner to be served when Sonny and Carly Corinthos walked into the room. Lorenzo left the second door, eyeing Nano to let him know he had full responsibility there, and moved to Alexis' side. Without thinking, he let his hand come to rest at her lower back in a gesture of support. But comfort was the last thing on his mind as his palm set upon the smooth skin left uncovered by the bold cut of her gown. Lorenzo felt a genuine smile break upon his face, though it was far more about the warmth of her body where he touched her than it was about the two people standing before them.

"Mr. and Mrs. Corinthos," Lorenzo kept his address formal to try and hide the bad blood that existed between the two, "we're so glad you could come."

He'd have been blind not to see the daggers that Carly threw Alexis' way. Lorenzo had no doubt it was simple jealousy over how amazing Alexis looked in comparison with the blonde, who was poured into a too-tight satin dress with fabric missing in all the wrong places. He'd have also had to be sightless to miss the look of appreciation in Sonny's eyes as he took in his former lover's appearance. Suddenly possessive, even though he had no right to be, Lorenzo took another step closer to Alexis. He smiled anew as he felt her arm wrap around him, though he assumed it was only to say "Thank you" for not leaving her alone with them.

"Sonny, Carly, I hope you have a lovely evening," she said with more warmth than either of them deserved in Lorenzo's opinion. The mob wife had started to open her mouth to say something, but Sonny wrapped his arm around hers and chimed in with his own voice to cut off whatever she might have said.

"We've both benefited from the good work at GH, Alexis. We both have healthy, beautiful children because of them."

Lorenzo let his grip on Alexis' waist firmly because he could sense her knees wanting to buckle. Corinthos had no idea how much he truly owed the staff of GH, but Alexis did.

"Dinner's about to be served, so the ushers will show you to your seats," Lorenzo offered, hoping to send the couple on their way and alleviate the discomfort Alexis was feeling. The party usher took the hint and quickly moved to direct the couple toward two of the few empty seats and after they were safely away, Lorenzo leaned in and whispered in her ear.

"It's okay. Kristina is safe, and he doesn't know anything."

She nodded and he felt her free hand rest down on his chest for extra support as she drew in a deep breath and released it slowly, clearing away the last of her nerves. After a moment, she stepped back and looked at him, her eyes still showing a bit of tension.

"We should take our seats so they can start serving."

He nodded his agreement, and the two moved to the head table. The evening progressed smoothly from then on, Lorenzo catching glances from Alexis throughout dinner as he caught Stefan's interest with discussion of the medical research ventures Asilo was gearing up for in California, and as he got Amanda Barrington very intrigued by talk about the resort company. Once again, she'd been right. Old money was willing to work with questionable money so long as more money was the result.

Mac returned to the stage as people finished their dessert of chocolate mousse and informed them that it was time for dancing to begin. Alexis had hired a large Big Band ensemble and the guests quickly took the floor, enjoying the Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman tunes. The party was a success, full stop. The silent auction items were already pulling in very high bids. The only thing Lorenzo would have changed was the amount of interest he'd managed to draw from the same people Alexis had thrown the party to put him into contact with. While she danced with her brother and nephew, Jasper Jacks, Tony Jones and the lately arrived Cameron Lewis, he was busy talking international finance and exporting.

He was plotting his escape from Edward Quartermaine's insistent discussion about how he could reward Lorenzo for driving Sonny Corinthos out of town when Alan Quartermaine took to the stage and the party goers gathered together on the floor to listen to him speak.

"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, and almost Happy New Year," the doctor began, receiving applause in response. "As the chief of staff of General Hospital, I just wanted to take a moment to thank our hosts Lorenzo Alcazar and Alexis Davis for putting together such a wonderful event. I can't think of a better way to ring in the 2004 than by coming together to make sure that the children of our town and all children who find their way to GH receive the cutting edge, fantastic care they all deserve.

"It wasn't so very long ago that a baby born prematurely had almost no chance of survival. But wonderful generosity such as you've all shown here tonight has helped fund research and provide doctors with the tools they need to do better. Even the tiniest of our children now have an opportunity to live a healthy, long life. It is a miracle even to us old, haggard doctors who think they've seen everything."

Alan's speech continued, but Lorenzo's attention left the stage when he caught site of a flash of burgundy velvet heading for one of the exits. He turned to see Nano open the door as Alexis slipped through it, and Lorenzo carefully extricated himself from the crowd and followed the same path. He heard the muffled sounds of applause and the orchestra beginning to play again as he searched for her. Lorenzo found her down the hall in an alcove leading to the patio.

"Alexis... are you all right?"

She turned toward him and he saw a few tears on her cheeks. Concerned, he moved closer, but she waved him off, needing space to walk off the upset that had come over her.

"I'm fine. Really, I just... I just needed a moment."

"A bit too close to home?" he asked, remembering Alan's speech. She smiled weakly as she nodded confirmation.

"I'm sure someday I won't weep like a faucet when someone mentions a sick child, but it's still a little too soon, I think."

"Understandable," Lorenzo agreed. "You and Kristina went through a great deal."

"You don't know the half of it," Alexis answered before she leaned against the wall and faced him. "My whole pregnancy was one long panic attack... who would find out, where was the next bit of danger going to come from. Every time I'd try to relax and hope that things would be all right, something went wrong, and not just in my life... I had... I could have lost her more than once, and then when she was born so early..."

Her voice faded as new tears threatened. Lorenzo watched her silently as she fought them and struggled to regain her composure.

"What amazes me is people who go through something like that or, god forbid, even worse... and then they take the risk and have another child. I'm not sure I could ever do that. I just couldn't go through all of it again."

Lorenzo smiled and stepped toward her again. This time, she did not move away. "Well, you managed perfection your first time out, despite the trials you went through, so I think you've fulfilled your responsibilities."

She chuckled and his heart grew lighter. He hated seeing her scared or upset, but he knew better than to think he could fix all that had caused her mood to darken. Still, he was glad that he could make her smile in spite of it.

"We should probably get back," Alexis said. "People might wonder about the quality of the party if the hosts disappear before the big midnight celebration. What time is it anyway?"

"11:40," Lorenzo answered after glancing at his watch. He moved then and offered her his arm. "Shall we?"

That it had taken this long for him to get her alone had annoyed him all evening, but now that he had her, Lorenzo was determined not to let her go. When they returned to the ballroom, he immediately drew Alexis toward the dance floor as the band began "Moonlight Serenade." He held her hand and led her around in a well-executed spin before pulling her into his arms and taking a traditional dance pose.

"That was impressive," she said, her smile reaching her eyes again.

"I have a good partner."

The music was infectious and the two moved around the floor expertly, each mixing years of training in social dance with a natural rhythm that served them well. Lorenzo obviously couldn't see them, but he imagined they made one hell of a striking couple... all dark features and expensive designer clothes on attractive bodies that fit, he realized, incredibly well together.

He was thoroughly enjoying himself until he saw those all-too-familiar nervous habits Alexis had return--her eyes flickering around the room, her teeth pulling at her lower lip.

"What's wrong?"

She shook her head, then turned her face back toward him only her eyes were cast down. "Everyone... everyone is looking at us."

Lorenzo casually scanned the room and found that she was right, whether they were standing around the room or sharing the dance floor with them, the eyes of every guest were firmly fixed on him and the incredible woman he was holding.

"It must have just dawned on them that no one's railed at me for being crazy or irrational yet tonight."

His stomach tightened... was that really what she thought? Hardly. The eyes of the men on them, most definitely those of her ex-husband, ex-fiancé and ex-lover, were burning with jealousy. Stefan and Nikolas were looking on with their usual level of concern where he was concerned. As for the women... he'd have been willing to bet that they were all wondering how on earth Alexis had taken all they had to dish out and was still standing.

"I'll tell you what they're thinking," he whispered as he pulled Alexis closer and then used his left hand to tilt her chin and draw her eyes back to his. "They're thinking, 'what on earth did he say to her to convince a woman with that much grace, that much class to work for him?'"

Her shoulders bounced slightly as she laughed at him. "Oh, really?"

"Really," Lorenzo answered. "But that's not all they're thinking. They're also thinking, 'he's so not good enough for her, so why is she smiling at him?'"

This time she blushed.

"They're thinking, 'who did he sell his soul to in order to get her to dance with him?'"

Lorenzo pulled her even closer, his open palm burning into the skin at her lower back. His heart felt like it was pounding in his chest, and some part of his mind registered that people were screaming numbers around him, but he didn't see anything or notice anything except the quickening of Alexis' breath as he held her.

"They're thinking, 'when is he going to kiss that exquisite woman he's somehow been blessed to spend this evening with?'"

When he whispered the words, he half expected her to run, at the very least to pull away. But she didn't. Alexis' eyes bored into his, and Lorenzo let his mouth drift down to hers. He felt the flutter of her eyes closing as he gently moved his lips against mouth, seeking permission, hoping for confirmation that what he wanted was mutual. He received his answer as Alexis tightened her hold and kissed him back.

The crowd around them erupted into "Happy New Year's" and the band began to play "Auld Lang Syne." Lorenzo imagined that those who had watched them so closely only moments before still had one eye on them now as his tongue gently brushed her lips, again seeking permission, and again receiving it. And all thoughts of what anyone else thought or felt disappeared as he lost himself in the overwhelming passion Alexis Davis was stirring in his soul.

As the midnight celebration began to die down, Lorenzo felt Alexis tense. She pulled back from him and he knew she was going to bolt, but he kept his hold firm. She relented and settled her head on his shoulder since she had no other idea what to do. He understood that she was confused... he felt pretty overwhelmed himself. But he wasn't going to let this become something else people could use to whisper behind her back.

"If you run out, they'll never stop talking about it," he whispered. "Right now, it's just a New Year's kiss, nothing more. Take a deep breath, count to ten, and then I'll take your hand and we'll walk over to your brother, all right?"

Her nod was so slight he would have missed it had he not felt it against his body. He felt her draw in the breath he'd advised, his hand moving up and down her bare back as she exhaled.

"Okay," he said as he stepped back and smiled, his right hand holding onto her left. "Let's go wish Stefan a happy new year."[/I]

Back in the present, a grin had replaced the worry on Lorenzo's face. That night had changed so much for him, but not even the dance and the kiss he and Alexis had shared were more important to him than what had happened after their silent ride home.

[I]"Lorenzo, I... about tonight..."

They hadn't spoken of the kiss since it happened, though Lorenzo had endured a look of certain menace from Stefan and Jax until Alexis had sent them both home while they closed out the accounting paperwork for the event. It was nearly 3 a.m. by the time the limousine returned to the compound. Now they were in the entry, Alexis not even taking the time to shed her coat before she decided to address the elephant in the room.

"The dance was lovely... and well, so was what happened after."

It was a difficult choice... be playful or be understanding? Lorenzo suspected either could work, but Alexis had already been through several emotional ups and downs, and so he decided to go for understanding... this time.

"But you'd prefer it not happen again."

She sighed with relief. "It's just... I don't have a lot of luck mixing friendship with... anything else. And I do think we're becoming very good friends. What we have here... you and me and Kristina... I just don't want to do anything to risk that."

He nodded and smiled warmly. "Understood. Friends it is."

There was no doubt Alexis seemed surprised that he was making this so easy on her. But she was right, they were becoming very close, and he knew that pressing her would not get him the result he wanted. If he wanted more, then for now he had to accept the status quo. But that didn't mean he wasn't going to make it clear to her how wonderful he thought "more" could be.

"By the way," he said as he stepped closer and took hold of her right hand. "Thank you for the amazing job that you did." He was silent a moment as he drew her hand toward him so he could place a very gentle, friendly kiss upon it. "It was a lovely evening."

He managed not to smile at the small gasp his gesture elicited, at least not until she was up the stairs, and he was standing alone, his mind already replaying the night's events.

"Happy New Year indeed."[/I]

Twelve hours later, Lorenzo had made his fateful phone call to Robert Scorpio, the one where his mentor claimed to sense the definite change in him. After reviewing the amazing memories he held of that night, Lorenzo no longer doubted him. The last hours of 2003 had set his 2004 on a path he'd never expected, but one he welcomed and cherished.

And no one, not Sonny Corinthos and surely not Antonio Renata was going to get in the way of it lasting forever.

*****

Alexis awoke wrapped in the warmth of comfort of his bed... their bed... and smiled. The nap had done her good, and she rose, pulling on some jeans and a t-shirt before heading out to check on her little girl. Kristina was engrossed in a building project with Alice, her giant-sized, toddler-safe Legos forming some shape that Alexis couldn't recognize, but that her baby was quite proud of. She sat down and joined them for awhile before heading down to take care of the pressing business she knew needed to be handled for the good of the dark-eyed child who so owned her heart.

After retrieving the court order and the preliminary custody papers she'd worked on earlier, Alexis made her way to the office she and Lorenzo shared. It was obvious whose desk was whose to anyone that knew them. His was in perfect order, hers was stacked with papers and books and research projects. But both had a variety of toys appropriate for Kristina to play with when she came in to spend time with them during the workday.

She decided to sit at his neater desk in order to deal with the two very important pieces of paper in front of her. Reaching for the phone, Alexis keyed in the number of her former adversary turned trusted attorney. Dara's assistant greeted her and asked her to hold a moment, and Alexis assured her it was no problem. While she waited, her eyes scanned the court order again, and then she looked away in an effort to stave off the inevitable. That's when she saw it... the 5x7 leather frame that held one of her favorite pictures in the world. It was from Kristina's birthday party--Lorenzo holding Kristina in the air as the baby flashed her dimples for all they were worth. It had been Kristina's gift to him for Christmas during their impromptu celebration before he left for South America.

Christmas Eve to New Year's Eve... what a whirlwind week that had been for the two of them. There was the true upset she sensed from Lorenzo as he continued to refuse to join them for Christmas at Wyndemere even though it was clear he wanted to. That's why she had finally decided to just surprise him with a holiday celebration at home. It was a decision she was overjoyed she had made because the light in Lorenzo's eyes when he'd found her and Kristina waiting for him by the tree... it had taken her breath away.

She'd wracked her brain for several weeks prior to that wondering what to get him for Christmas. His gift from the baby was obvious, and he'd loved it as much as she had anticipated. But what to present him herself had been more of a challenge. She knew he'd graciously accept anything she gave to him, and she'd looked at a seemingly endless parade of designer apparel, so-called "priceless" antiques and considered everything from tickets to the latest Broadway show to electronics. But none of that spoke to the bond they had been growing over the months leading up to Christmas, and Alexis had wanted so much to give him something that said, "I know you."

The perfect gift, it turned out, was not in a store but in the library of Wyndemere. She had been visiting her brother, listening to yet another lecture on why she should bring Kristina to live there, and to distract herself, Alexis had been glancing over the aged spines of the various volumes that covered the bookcases. That's when she'd seen it--an ancient first edition of Herodotus' "Histories" translated to Spanish. The book was not an unusual find in a Cassadine book stack, but the moment she saw it, she knew she'd found exactly the thing Lorenzo would love. It was worth a small fortune to be sure, but he wouldn't be impressed by its value so much as he would be thrilled to have it. The former history major adored the Greek historian, and Alexis knew he would treasure the book that now languished on a shelf and probably hadn't been touched in 20 years.

Stefan had wanted to deny her, she'd seen it on his face, but instead he'd let the exquisite work of history go and she had raced home to wrap it up and put it safely out of Kristina's reach. Her expectation of his response had been exactly right. When Lorenzo had opened the gift, he had turned the volume over carefully in his hands again and again, then he had looked at her in awe.

"It's wonderful. It's unbelievably wonderful."

Alexis adored the memory of his face in that moment, almost as much as she treasured the evenings that had come since, when Lorenzo would sit in the study and read aloud from the treasured book. It didn't matter that Alexis didn't understand the exact Spanish he spoke, so he'd have to stop every now and then to summarize the passages for her. It was just the feel of those evenings, when she would sit with a hot cup of tea or a glass of wine near the fire and listen to him share something he loved.

Sometimes she wondered how she'd managed to fight her feelings for him for so long, especially after the mesmerizing New Year's Eve kiss they had shared. For days after, looking at him set off a flutter of butterflies in her stomach, but she had held firm somehow to her "friends only" edict. Even the last week or so before she'd finally given in completely, before she'd taken his hand when he'd looked at her and simply said, "Come with me" before he headed toward his room for the night, even then there had been a raging battle going on inside of her. Her heart and her mind remembered the last man like him she had loved... and they remembered the pain that followed. But God help her, she had decided to hope that her gut feelings about Lorenzo were right. Something about him spoke of such a deep and abiding goodness, she couldn't turn her back on it. She couldn't turn her back on him.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Alexis," Dara said over the phone line, ending the melancholy reflections her client had drifted into.

"Not a problem," Alexis assured her. "I got the court order. I'm not going to fight it. There's really no point, but I'd like you to get a stipulation that Sonny not be at the hospital for the test."

"That shouldn't be a problem. And your notes on the rough draft for the custody agreement?"

"I'll drop them off to you tomorrow. I think it's better that come directly from your office. Do you know who his lawyer is?"

The pause Dara was just long enough for a knot to form in Alexis' stomach. When she heard the name "Derek Hampton," she knew why Dara was concerned. The man was a bulldog and a damn good lawyer. If Sonny wanted to fight, he had a strong ally in his corner.

"Alexis, I don't want you to worry about this. No matter what, I'm gonna stand by you, and we're going to take care of Kristina. I promise."

It amazed Alexis that she and Dara had reached this place given their history, but she wasn't going to question it. She knew this would be too volatile a situation for her to represent herself, and Dara wasn't afraid of Sonny. Together, they could do this... they had to, because it was Kristina's future they were fighting for.

Once she said her good-byes, Alexis called the hospital and made an appointment for the next day. She made sure that Dr. Navarro was personally available to do the blood draw because Kristina got hysterical whenever needles approached her. No one blamed her. For a child so young, Kristina had endured far too many sticks and pokes. Hopefully, this would be the last one for a good long while.

With her immediate tasks taken care of, Alexis found herself staring at the phone as she thought about calling Sonny for the hundredth time that day. She'd think for ten seconds that if she phoned and they just talked, that maybe... but then she'd remember his drunken, ugly anger from the night before, and her hope would dissipate. She couldn't take another scene with him, not today. The wounds of last evening were still too fresh.

What she'd said to Lorenzo had been the truth... Sonny had made her marvel that there had ever been anything in or about him that she could possibly have loved. But then she'd seen the realization in his eyes at how deeply he had hurt her when he'd basically called her a whore to her face, and even though she'd been too furious to acknowledge it then, she'd seen the regret. Sonny wanted to take it back, but he couldn't. And that was always the problem between them, wasn't it? They always wished it could be different, yet it never had been.

But something would have to change, and she knew it. Alexis was resigned to Sonny in Kristina's life. It had no doubt been inevitable, and now it was here, and fighting the idea of that wasn't going to help. But it would be on her terms, it had to be. Because the plain fact of the matter was, she didn't trust Sonny anymore. She knew he probably felt the same about her, but she couldn't focus on that. She was the one who had fought for Kristina from day one... and she would continue to kick and claw at anyone, including him, who tried to upset the life she'd worked so hard to give to her daughter.

"Mama!"

Alexis looked up and found Alice standing in the door of the office with Kristina in her arms. Apparently, the interlocking blocks had lost their appeal, and it was time for some mommy time. Alexis' dimples emerged and were on full display and she walked over and took her daughter into her arms.

"What are you up to, Munchkin? Are you getting hungry?"

Kristina was just nodding that yes, she was getting hungry when the door opened and thoughts of food momentarily vanished as "her Zo" returned home. Though he instantly grinned and warmly greeted them, Alexis immediately picked up on the fact that something was bothering him. But when she asked if everything was all right and he shook his head, she let it drop. Instead, they decided to order pizza for dinner and gave Alice the night off so she could go spend some time with Harry. And for a few hours that evening, Lorenzo and Alexis both let go of the worries that were bound to make sleeping difficult tonight so they could just enjoy their night together.

By the time Kristina was in her pajamas and down for the night, Lorenzo was propped up in bed reading through the real estate paperwork he'd picked up earlier in the day. Alexis peeled off her clothes without feeling a hint of embarrassment and crawled into bed with him, her body cuddling against his as her cheek came to rest on his chest.

"You want to tell me what's bothering you now?" she asked.

Lorenzo dropped the papers on the nightstand and switched off the light before snuggling down more comfortably with her. "It's nothing talking about will help. But there is something I should tell you. I went to see Sonny today."

Alexis lifted her head and looked at him fearfully. His response was to wink at her and rub his hands up and down her arms. "No blood was shed, I promise. I just... I felt like I had to try at least once to make him see that you're just trying to do what's best for Kristina."

She nodded, then laid back down, her head again on his chest. "I doubt he took that well."

"No, he didn't."

Sighing, Alexis shook her head slightly. "Well, the paternity test is tomorrow, and then the rest will happen how it happens. Trying to predict how Sonny might react to things never worked well for me before, so I guess rather than waste the energy now, I'll just wait and see."

"Well, you know I'm here for you, whatever you need."

Lorenzo's words warmed her heart. She did know, but it never hurt to be reminded. She changed her position so she was laying more on top of him, her face staring down at his.

"Thank you for telling me you went to see him."

"Thanks for understanding why I had to."

The fingers of her left hand moved slowly, touching down lightly on his beard. She'd never imagined she'd like a man with a beard, but she couldn't imagine him without it. Leaning down, she kissed his chin, then she inched forward and kissed his lips once, then twice. When she moved still closer and sought to kiss him with more intensity, Alexis was shocked to hear Lorenzo protest and to feel him pull away from her a bit.

"Sweetheart, you know, I don't expect you to... for us to make love every time you're here in this bed. I can just hold you if that's what you need."

It was another of those small occurrences that only made Alexis more sure of her love for this man. Had many of the men in her past said that to her, she knew she'd have taken it as rejection... them not wanting her. But she knew that Lorenzo was honestly trying to reassure her of the depth of his feelings. It seemed wrong of her to chuckle, but she did as she let her fingers play over his face once again.

"That's very sweet of you, but here's the thing. I am feeling a little tense, and this is definitely one of those times where I would have to admit I'm in the market for a little comfort sex."

"Comfort sex?" he said, smiling at her despite his rather shocked expression. "Why, Ms. Davis..."

"Hey, a woman has needs, you know? And when she happens to be madly in love with the sexiest man in existence, it seems silly to let those needs go unattended."

They were laughing together as he rolled them over, pinning her beneath his body. He dropped a teasing peck on each of her cheeks and her forehead, but withheld a real kiss, which earned him a pout.

"I am more than happy to take care of all your needs, but first there's one thing we need to clear up."

"And what's that?" Alexis asked.

"Your terminology. There will not be tonight nor will there be on any other night anything termed 'comfort sex' in this house."

"Oh, no? And what will it be?"

She was astonished at how quickly the playful air around them vanished as Lorenzo's gaze suddenly started to burn through her. Her body came instantly alive just from the way he was looking at her, and the sensations she felt reminded her of the balcony and the rainstorm and that feeling of being consumed by his passion for her.

"There will no doubt be days and nights when we want each other so badly that our clothes probably won't survive." His words were nearly a purr, and Alexis felt her breath catch in her throat.

"And there will be times when I can't remember what control is because the feeling of being with you is so amazing, that all I can think of is having more of you."

Now he shifted his body slightly, his leg pushing between hers as he dropped soft, tormenting kisses on her collarbone and the slopes of her breasts.

"Oh, and the times when it's just about taking time... when I want to map every single inch of this beautiful body of yours... and it takes me hours and hours to give you all the pleasure I want to give you..."

Her body was totally under his command, and she reveled in it. There was such an absolute sense of trust between them that she knew he'd never toy with her and leave her wanting nor would he ever make a demand of her that he wasn't willing to let go of if she said no. But no was the last word on her mind right now. Alexis wanted the feelings of love and security and completion that came from being with Lorenzo.

He pressed his thigh against her, eliciting a moan as his fingers lightly brushed over all of the tiny, sensitive spots of flesh he had come to know in the few days they had been lovers. Alexis gripped her fingers into his shoulders as his mouth again neared her ear.

"There may be comfort or uncontrollable lust or slow, deliberate passion... but every single time I touch you, it'll be making love you to, Alexis. It'll be about how much I love you. Every single time."

Her back arched as his last words synchronized with the feeling of him filling her body with his own. When he moaned at the sensation himself, Alexis was totally lost, and they joined together in a heated series of movements that weren't about technique or positions or anything but the undeniable need they felt for each other. A series of nearly incomprehensible "I love yous" spilled from Alexis lips as Lorenzo pushed her closer and closer to the release she needed. When it tore through her, she tucked her face into his neck to try and stifle the scream that resulted, her hands then moving up and down his back to soothe him through his own moment of surrender.

Lorenzo rolled them back over so that she again lay sprawled across him, and Alexis felt dreamland calling to her as she stayed wrapped in his embrace. Still, she was awake enough to plant a kiss on his chest and then sleepily get the last word on the subject at hand.

"Comfort love making... much nicer ring to it."

*****

Jason stepped off the elevator and walked toward Joseph, the guard on duty outside of penthouse 4.

"Is he in?"

"Been in since he got back earlier today," Joseph reported. "Only one visitor."

"Who?" Jason asked.

"Lorenzo Alcazar."

Stunned didn't begin to describe what Jason felt. Lorenzo had come here? Why? The two had largely avoided each other for months, especially now that Alexis worked for...

Carly's earlier suspicions replayed themselves in Jason's mind as he made the connection. Sonny had gone off on Ned about something... and Alexis was a good bet. Sonny had ordered his best guards put on guard detail for Alexis and her daughter. And now Alcazar had come here.

Jason shook his head as realization dawned for him. Dear God... Carly didn't know how right she was, or how permanent the situation would be.

Kristina... Sonny had specifically said to put guards on Alexis and Kristina... Ned was connected to Alexis and Kristina... and Alexis and Kristina lived in Lorenzo Alcazar's home.

"Let me know if he tries to go anywhere," Jason ordered the guard, "And I mean immediately."

Joseph clearly wasn't sure why he was agreeing, but he did. Every time the boss started to have one of his meltdowns, Jason was the one who seemed to pull him back... every time but when Jason had been gone, and Ms. Davis had been the one who did it. If Jason said to watch him, then they would.

"Sure thing," the guard answered.

For a few moments, Jason thought about going inside and confirming what he'd just figured out on his own, but he knew it wouldn't do any good. Sonny wouldn't talk until he was ready to talk. So he instead headed into his own apartment and switched on the lights before sinking down on the couch. He needed to get some rest, because if he was right, the next several days and weeks of his life were going to be about trying to keep Sonny from doing something that could hurt himself or someone he loved. And Jason was fairly certain that list had just grown to include a little girl whose mother was none other than Alexis Davis.

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