This chapter is dedicated to Cess for her birthday - and thankfully she is very understanding of my tardiness.



Lorenzo glanced up to the top of the stairs and just saw Colin's profile where he stood waiting for Alexis to finish dressing. The reassurance that her guard was in place helped him to release some of the growing pressure in his chest, and he headed into the living room for a glass of water. It was imperative that she be safe... and his ability to remain calm and to handle Renata was the key component of getting them both through these few days.

He hated having her involved in this situation, and for much of their trip, Lorenzo had beaten himself up for letting it happen. But as with most things that Lorenzo saw only as dark and hopeless, Alexis had brought light into an otherwise wholly bleak situation. Even though she knew full well that this was a dangerous enterprise for them, she hadn't let that stop her from finding pleasure in getting a glimpse into his past.

[i]"Did you tell them to put orchids in every room of the house?"

Alexis' eyes sparkled as she teased him, and Lorenzo chuckled. She knew him so well. It should have terrified him, given his history, to have someone so close to his heart, but it had the exact opposite effect.

"I might have called ahead and made a few requests."

She had asked him to give her a quick tour of the villa so she'd be able to wander on her own if need be while he was in "meetings." Alexis had been careful not to say the dreaded name, as if she were protecting this precious few hours just for them. Lorenzo released himself to that temporary illusion of normalcy and indulged her.

He was not at all surprised to see his staff genuinely and immediately warm to her. Alexis had spent her life around servants, but she had told him that often the cooks and maids and gardeners at the Cassadine estate had been kinder to her than her own family. It was clear that those same individuals at his home returned the respect she gave to them. In fact, her easy interaction with his head cook Estella as they discussed the menu for tonight's dinner reminded Lorenzo of the way his mother had run the house. She was clearly the lady of the manor, but she had always treated everyone from the family accountant to the valet as if they were valued and important. Somehow he had a feeling that the original mistress of this house would very much approve of the new one.

After they visited the library and the solarium, Lorenzo led Alexis upstairs to the master suite. Again, stunning orchids awaited them, these a delicate mix of pale lavender and white that almost looked blue at the petal tips. The splash of color was truly stunning against the dark wood of the furniture and the crisp white linens. The housekeeper had already unpacked for them, so their room was fully prepared, the vanity set with everything Alexis might need. Her glasses were even waiting on the bedside table.

"It's lovely," she said as she turned into him, her head coming to rest on his shoulder.

"It used to be the only place on Earth I felt at home... until you and Kristina made Port Charles my new one."

He sighed as Alexis' lips brushed against his cheek lightly, and then she moved to the bed and sat down on the edge. Lorenzo moved to her side.

"Maybe you should rest a bit? I'll tell him you'll be down later. You should make an entrance anyway."

Alexis shook her head. "I'm fine. I do want to call and check on Kristina, though, and freshen up a bit. "

"Well, I want you to take your time. Renata's already gotten his way by having you here at all."

She chuckled and again leaned her head on his shoulder. "You promise not to sound quite so annoyed about that when he gets here, right?"

Despite how tense he was becoming as Renata's arrival drew closer, Lorenzo managed to laugh at her teasing once again. "I'll see what I can do."

Alexis drew away from him and turned her body so she was facing him. "I want you to just relax and focus on what you need to do. I promise you, I will not take a step through a doorway without you or Colin at my side, and I know exactly what parts you and I are here to play. It's just one more thing we have to get through, and before you know it, we'll be home with Kristina and it will be behind us."[/i]

He had reached over and taken her hand, their fingers lacing together as he began to mentally prepare himself for the next part of this day. Alexis was right. He had to keep his mind on maintaining the cover he'd sacrificed his life to create. And when this was over, he would go home and be with his family and thank God that the woman he loved could see the difference between who he was and who he pretended to be to the rest of the world.

"They're here, sir."

Lorenzo nodded at the guard and then finished the rest of his water. A few moments later, he heard the front door open and footsteps approach. When he turned, Renata and Mancuso were being shown into the room as two valets walked upstairs with their suitcases.

"Welcome," Lorenzo said as he stepped forward with his hand extended. Renata shook his hand and smiled.

"Good to see you, my friend."

He forced himself to smile slightly and then Lorenzo turned and repeated the greeting with Mancuso.

"May I get either of you something to drink? Antonio, you're a brandy man, if I remember correctly."

Renata nodded as he headed toward the sofa and made himself comfortable. Mancuso followed Lorenzo to the bar.

"Champagne, if you have it," the blond said.

"Yes, I remembered that about you as well, Nicolo. Please, have a seat."

It took a moment for Mancuso to step away, so Lorenzo chose to ignore him and continue preparing the drinks. The champagne cork popped easily, and he poured the bubbly liquid into a fine crystal flute. He handed that and the snifter of brandy over to his "guests" and then returned to the bar to pour himself a finger of scotch.

"We'll head to the airfield after dinner," Lorenzo explained. "Until then, I suggest you both relax and enjoy the comforts of my home."

"If the brandy is any indication," Renata said, "I'm sure we will enjoy them a great deal. And our hostess?"

Lorenzo took a sip of his drink and then motioned toward the open doors to the entryway. "She should be down any minute."

"She's down now, actually."

Alexis' voice drew all the men's eyes toward her. Lorenzo nodded and gave her a quick wink of approval. She was wearing his favorite Armani suit, sans jacket, a burgundy silk blouse tucked into the waist of the skirt. Renata stood up and moved a bit toward her. Lorenzo noticed, though, that Mancuso held his seat a beat longer as he stared intently at Alexis, his eyes moving up slowly from ankle to eye.

"I'm sorry if I kept you waiting." Alexis' greeting was warm, but not overly friendly. It was the voice Lorenzo had heard her use when they greeted new clients or potential business partners.

"Not at all," Renata replied as he accepted Alexis' offered hand. Lorenzo sat his glass down and moved back to the bar once again. He opened a bottle of mineral water and poured it over some ice in a tumbler. When the drink was ready, Lorenzo picked it up and walked over to Alexis, offering it to her. She took the glass, barely glancing at him and offering no thank you. Lorenzo made no further welcoming gestures, showed no sign of obvious affection. The game was on, and they were both fully engaged.

"Alexis Davis, Antonio Renata," he said as he turned, taking up a stance about a foot away from her.

"Pleasure to meet you," Alexis responded.

"I'm quite certain the pleasure is wholly mine."

While Renata droned on about his admiration for Alexis' reputation in business, Lorenzo concentrated on keeping his breathing even and regular in spite of his urge to scream. Seeing Sophie's murderer in the same room with Alexis was every bit as horrifying as he'd imagined it would be. Visions from his previous nightmares pushed hard at the back of his mind, demanding recognition and begging him to react. But if Alexis could face this so bravely, Lorenzo knew that he owed her an equal if not superior effort to do the same, his deeply held fears be damned.

The conversation continued and Renata began to probe Alexis with questions about consolidating his properties into something similar to Asilo. Lorenzo interjected comments here and there, but mostly, he kept his attention on Mancuso. The man's odd silence and clear fascination with Alexis was unnerving.

"I have to admit," Antonio said, his voice sounding as full of charm as Lorenzo imagined was possible. "I'm rather surprised, given how successful you've been in managing your other clients' business affairs, that your family wouldn't have you obligated for life to Cassadine Industries."

Lorenzo watched as Alexis shrugged nonchalantly.

"I'm afraid they couldn't match Lorenzo's offer."

Renata laughed. Even Mancuso finally broke his icy stare to grin.

"I do pay extremely well," Lorenzo quipped.

"You do know what a loop that threw us all for?" Renata asked. "When I heard you had gone to Port Charles, the last thing I ever expected to happen was Ms. Davis coming to work for you, given the... history."

The first test made clear, Lorenzo decided on how to navigate the course. Clearly Renata wanted to see if he could create tension between Alexis and him by bringing up Luis. With that in mind, Lorenzo leveled his gaze at the woman he loved, and with a flat, unreadable tone in his voice, he responded.

"Ms. Davis and I have reached a peaceful resolution where my brother is concerned. The benefits of that far outweighed any other potential outcomes."

"And is that true for you as well, Ms. Davis?" Renata swung his eyes to her as he spoke.

"Well, if you know anything about Cassadine Industries, then you surely know something about Cassadines in general," Alexis replied coolly, her finger moving along the edge of her water glass. "Strange, unfathomable alliances are legendary in my family. If you doubt that, I'd do some research on a man named Luke Spencer. If I can work with him, I can work with anyone."

Renata roared with laughter. "Nicolo, I think I'm more jealous than ever that our friend here found Ms. Davis before we did."

Mancuso sipped his champagne and nodded. "Indeed. It seems Luis' bad luck became Lorenzo's good fortune."

The sound of someone's throat being cleared saved Lorenzo from having to formulate a response to Nicolo's rude comment. Looking up, the wary businessman saw his head cook standing in the doorway.

"Dinner is ready, Mr. Alcazar."

Lorenzo nodded. "Thank you, Estella. Gentlemen, Alexis, shall we?"

The group headed into the living room, Estella leading the way, and Renata at Alexis' side, since she had politely accepted his offered arm. Lorenzo fell in behind Mancuso, his eyes flashing toward Colin as they passed through the doorway. Colin nodded slightly and fell in behind them.

Lorenzo knew that Renata's mind games had only just started. Whatever legitimate interest he had in Alexis' business acumen, he wanted something else--and Lorenzo knew there were more tests, perhaps far more dangerous ones, still to come.

*****

Trent startled as he turned on his living room light and found Robert Scorpio sitting cross-legged on his couch.

"I don't suppose you'd like to tell me how you managed to circumvent my alarm?"

"Not likely, no," Robert replied.

Ever since Lorenzo had made his strange query about whether or not Trent could be trusted, something had been gnawing at the WSB veteran's gut. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but Robert could tell something was off. At first, he'd dismissed it as a tinge of his protégé's understandably growing paranoia. Lorenzo had a family to protect now, and Trent was largely a rubber-stamp name to him. He didn't know him, he knew Robert, and that's why he'd turned to his mentor for reassurance.

Robert had given that easily, covering up his own annoyance at Trent's actions that day. Only later had he gotten that little tick that kept saying something wasn't adding up.

"Is there some sort of problem?" the director asked.

"You bet there is, mate. I don't like other people making decisions about my agents."

Trent moved to a worn leather recliner and sat down. "I don't know if you remember this or not, Scorpio, but they're all [i]my[/i] agents."

"Since when do you give up tips to the U.S. Government or anyone, for that matter, about Renata without clearing it with me first?"

"The opportunity was there, we took it," Trent replied with a shrug. "There wasn't time to clear it with you."

"What if Lorenzo hadn't had a replacement shipment available? What if that had compromised the progress he's made with Renata?"

"Robert, you worry too much, and you underestimate just how good your boy has become at being the alpha Alcazar. That family's been supplying guns, bombs, drugs and God knows what else to half the damn world for nearly four decades, and none of them have done it better than Lorenzo. I figured it was a safe bet he had the guns to keep Renata happy."

"You put me in charge of this operation, remember?" Robert leaned forward, his anger beginning to flare up. "That means I decide where Alcazar goes and I regulate his contacts with Renata. Period."

Trent leaned forward in his chair, mirroring Robert's position.

"What's the matter, worried he can't handle the pressure?"

"Oh, go to hell." Now he stood, and Scorpio loomed above his boss. "You're dodging the question, and I want an answer. Why did you give the green light before you told me about it?"

Trent leaned back now and stared up at him. "I know you've got a lot of years invested in this one. We all do. But you have to remember, Robert, that Lorenzo did volunteer for this, and he knew what the potential consequences could be."

O'Reilly had taught Robert long ago that there was always a moment in a conversation with every suspect when they played a "check," like they were in a game of poker, trying to stay in the hand without betting.

[i]"That's when you play your bluff and raise the stakes. If they bite, then you'll know they're guilty."[/i]

"What happens to Lorenzo is of little consequence to me, so long as we have Renata in holding cell and his operation is in ruins. For that to happen, I have to keep him in one piece mentally and physically until we get what we want. That's why you notify me ahead of time, so I can prepare him for what comes next."

Robert's words brought a smile to Trent's face.

"I apologize if I made the situation difficult. But you were able to handle it?"

"He's probably sharing brandy with Mr. Renata as we speak."

"Outstanding."

They talked a few more minutes, and then Robert walked out of the front door and headed to where he'd hidden his car a half-mile up the road. On the way, he pulled out his PDA and turned it on, and then he activated the device he'd installed on Trent's hard drive while he'd waited for the director to return home.

"You were always right, O'Reilly. And Richard Trent is a very bad poker player."

From now on, Robert knew he had to monitor everything Trent did that related to Renata or Lorenzo. A decision had been made that his agent... his friend... was expendable.

It was a decision Robert Scorpio was not planning to let stand.

*****

It had been a very long time since he had cared for a young child, but Stefan fell into the routine quickly, his niece's absolutely delightful personality making it that much easier. Spending time with Kristina never failed to lighten his spirit a bit, and it always made him proud of Alexis that, despite not only the horrors of her childhood but the pain she'd endured the last several years, she was managing to rear a healthy, happy, loving little girl.

Not that she didn't have her moments. Kristina had been so rapt with her uncle's undivided attention yesterday, she hadn't seemed too phased by the absence of Alexis and Lorenzo. Even when Alexis had phoned from Venezuela, the toddler had simply enjoyed the sound of her mother's voice. This morning, however, had been a different story. When it dawned on Kristina that neither her mother nor her "Zo" were coming into the nursery to claim her, Stefan had been met with a trembling lower lip and a wave of tears.

It was perhaps only then that he realized the depth of the connection Lorenzo Alcazar had formed with his loved ones. Yes, it had been obvious that Alexis was growing more and more entranced with the man, and when she had asked to take a prized volume from the Cassadine library as a gift for him, Stefan had known just how serious she was becoming, even if Alexis hadn't admitted it. But the strongest evidence of her trust in Alcazar came in the bond she had allowed him to form with Kristina. The little girl loved and depended on her mother's lover as a parental figure. That was not something Alexis had let happen lightly, and it spoke volumes to Stefan about where the relationship stood.

He brayed and complained about his sister's continued attraction to dangerous, brooding men, but the truth was, Stefan could see the change in Alexis since she had taken the job running Asilo and since she had moved into this house. Slowly but surely, a sense of joy had returned to her eyes, and the uncertainty and self-doubt that had plagued her following her disastrous affair with Corinthos had begun to recede. Though he wasn't sure he'd ever admit it, it seemed his sister had found her match.

"Mr. Cassadine, he's here," Alice said as she entered the office. Stefan looked up from his place behind Alexis' desk, his attention pulled away from the legal papers in front of him.

"Thank you, Alice."

His eyes fell to the small chair between the two desks. Kristina was hard at work coloring a picture atop the little art table her nanny had set in front of her.

"Should I take her out or..."

Stefan shook his head. "No, Alice, thank you. I'll take her in. But please see to it that he doesn't disrupt her schedule."

"No worries, Mr. Cassadine."

Alice headed out towards the kitchen as Stefan made his way to Kristina's seat.

"Well, little one, your father is here. Shall we go and see him?"

Kristina looked up at him and lifted the picture off of the table. "See!"

"It's lovely. Do you want to take it with us?"

She nodded and stood, and Stefan pulled the table away to free her. He took her left hand as the right held tightly to the drawing, and the two moved toward the living room. Corinthos was waiting there. In spite of his own bias toward the man, Stefan couldn't deny the bright smile that spread across his niece's face as she saw who her visitor was.

"Sonny here!"

Her fingers pulled free of his hand as she toddled over to her father. Corinthos scooped her up, hugging her tightly and Stefan saw genuine affection there. But he didn't trust this man at all, not with his niece's safety and surely not within ten feet of the life his sister was building for herself.

"That's the true beauty of children, isn't it?" Stefan asked. "Their ability to love in spite of a person's unworthiness."

Corinthos' jaw clenched as he bit back a response and Stefan smiled in triumph. It was petty, but he didn't care. This man had nearly succeeded in doing what Helena had failed at, and no one could push his sister that close to the brink without some retribution, even if Stefan knew his hands were virtually tied by the reality that this man was Kristina's father.

"Alexis says I'm to give you... space. So Nano will show you Kristina's room." Stefan pointed to the doorway where the household's chief of security was waiting. "She also has quite an extensive collection of toys outside in the backyard if you'd like to go out there. Alice will be in periodically to check on her charge, so if you need anything, let her know."

"Is there a stopwatch running I should know about?"

Stefan felt his scowl deepen. "No. My sister's wishes were very clear. Take all the time you need."

*****

Sonny held his little girl close and watched as her uncle reluctantly turned and headed from the room. He'd been despised by a lot of people in his lifetime, but Sonny was quite certain few had matched the level of abject hatred that Stefan Cassadine felt for him.

[I]"And if Stefan is grumpy, just ignore him."[/I]

Alexis' words rung out in his mind, and Sonny smiled. He'd nearly had to bite his tongue, literally, to not respond to Cassadine's jibe, but he knew an ugly scene in front of Kristina would not win him any points with his daughter or with her mother. Thankfully, the moment had passed, and with Stefan gone, Sonny dropped a kiss on Kristina's cheek and turned to find Lorenzo's equivalent of Jason waiting for him.

He couldn't imagine what it must be like for Lorenzo's men to see him standing there in the middle of their boss' house. They seemed to have gotten used to Johnny and Max, but the guards, while from another organization, were there for a common goal--Kristina and Alexis' protection. But while they had no choice but to accept that Sonny had a legal right to be here and see his child, he knew that to this man Nano and to all the other guards who would be watching him today, Sonny Corinthos was still a hated rival who was not to be trusted.

"I'll show you Miss Davis' room now," Nano said as he stepped back and gestured toward the staircase. Sonny followed and was surprised when Kristina squirmed in his hold and strained to get down.

"You don't want daddy to carry you?"

"She's fascinated with her ability to walk up the stairs," Nano explained. "If you just take her hand..."

Sonny nodded and looked down. Sure enough, Kristina's left arm was extended up, her hand waving and waiting for another one to hold on to. Sonny obliged his daughter, and the trio started up the stairs on what was a slow but entertaining journey. Kristina sometimes studied the steps very carefully, other times she moved with such abandon, she practically skipped one, and often there were giggles when she would drop down to one knee and say, "Uh-oh," while she tried to hang on tight to the picture she was carrying in her right hand and would not relinquish.

Finally, though, they made their way to her room. Kristina ran ahead after releasing his hand and so Sonny knew where to go. Nano entered the room behind them.

"There's always at least one guard on this floor when Kristina is upstairs. If you need anything, just pop out into the hall, someone will be there. If you decide to take her outside, please ask whoever's on detail to come get me."

Sonny nodded. Much as he hated to admit it, from what he'd seen here, Johnny's assessment of the security was dead on. Kristina was a priority. She had her own guards, and she was never anywhere that someone Lorenzo or Alexis trusted was there with her.

"Play blocks?"

Kristina was pulling a large bin of blocks from a well-organized selection of stackable toy organizers, apparently not waiting for a response. Sonny laughed and shucked off his jacket, tossing it over the changing table. He then saved Kristina's drawing from where she had tossed it on the ground and set it on the dresser before he hunkered down on the floor for a good building session with his daughter.

The day would have been heaven if Sonny had been able to forget where he was. He could not deny that Alexis had made a home here that their little girl felt nurtured and safe in. Kristina's confidence and comfort in her surroundings were obvious. But it wasn't his home... and worse yet, it [I]was[/I] Alcazar's. He had a made a promise to try and get past his hang up with that, but Sonny had to wonder, could he? It wasn't in his nature to offer even a hint of trust to an enemy in business. How was he supposed to believe that a man who hated him could love and protect his child?

'You're supposed to believe in Alexis and her choice, not Lorenzo.'

He'd repeated that thought to himself at least a dozen times since promising Alexis he would give a trial period to the custody agreement she had proposed, and he imagined he'd be repeating it hundreds more before he had finally either made peace with the situation or told Alexis he could not change that much... not even for her and Kristina.

But there was time for all of that brooding and uncertainty later, Sonny thought, and now was a time to instead focus his energy on his little girl. Blocks and building and then a visit to the swing set out back ate up the morning, and soon enough, Alice came to announce lunch was ready. Sonny was genuinely surprised when Alice directed him to a seat at the dining room table already set out with a lovely lunch. The nanny took the seat across from him, and Kristina ended up between them in her high chair.

For a moment, he flashed on different people seated in those positions. He could see Lorenzo in his seat and, on the far side of the table, Alexis wrapped in the black satin robe she had been wearing that first night when Sonny had come to confront her. She had probably stolen it from the back of her lover's door.

Shaking his head, Sonny forced the image away. He nibbled at the lunch and helped Kristina with hers as Alice gave way a bit to his new position. The nanny was making a strong effort to not get in his way, but it was hard to miss her discomfort with him.

"You're, uh... you're not a big fan of mine, are you, Alice?"

The woman eyed him carefully, and then she shrugged. "Ms. Davis obviously thinks you're worth somethin', so you must be. Just know, you ever try to come between that lady and this little girl, and you and me are gonna have a problem."

Sonny nodded, taking the warning to heart. After lunch was finished, it was obvious that Kristina's active morning was taking its toll on her. Alice accompanied them upstairs as Kristina snuggled in his arms and fought falling asleep.

"Not tired. Play."

So stubborn... Sonny almost felt bad for his daughter, knowing the double dose of the trait she'd probably been cursed with.

"We'll play more after your nap, okay? I promise."

Kristina lifted her head and looked at him seriously, despite her sleepy eyes.

"Promise?"

"I promise."

Alice took charge once they were in the nursery, changing Kristina and putting her in a light t-shirt and shorts for her nap. When she began to look around as if something was missing, Sonny took a few steps closer to the changing table.

"Something wrong?"

"I usually leave Lamby here so we can find her at naptime, but I... oh, she's probably in mama's room, isn't she?" Alice had let her attention drop back down to Kristina, but now she looked at Sonny. "We were in there this morning when she was missing Ms. Davis. Lamby probably got left behind."

"I'll grab it. Where is it?"

"Oh, thank you. Go right out the door, then third door on your right-hand side."

Sonny nodded and moved to complete the quick errand so that Kristina could get down for her nap. He exchanged a brief glance of acknowledgement with the guard at the end of the hallway, who visibly tensed as Sonny approached the bedroom door.

"Lamby," he said. The man relaxed, and Sonny wondered at how every guard or staff member he'd come across seemed to know Kristina so well as to know the name of her favorite toy. It should've made him feel more secure, but all it really did was pull at the open wound that was accepting that his daughter's home would never be [I]his[/I] home.

The stuffed lamb lay at an odd angle on the pillow closest to him as Sonny walked into the room. He strolled over and picked up the adorable toy, ready to head straight back out. Why it caught his eye, what made him notice it, he wasn't sure and would examine in the hours and days to come, but right there, right in that moment, Sonny reflexively reached down and picked up the black and white slip of paper.

"Davis, Alexis. General Hospital," was typed at the top. The date... after a moment, he realized, it was the day Alexis had collapsed at the Grille. The grainy image in the center... that was unmistakable.

Tears burned in his eyes as Sonny returned the ultrasound photo to where he had found it. Clutching Kristina's toy to his chest, he made his way back to her room. Alice and Kristina both smiled as the treasured lamb came into view, and as the little girl reclaimed it, Alice started to hand her to him. Sonny shook his head, though, and took a step back.

"I don't want to, uh... it's probably better if you put her down today. You know, since it's the first time I'm here and everything. I'm gonna, uh... go take a walk."

Alice was clearly surprised, and Sonny was almost ashamed of himself for giving up this chance to share a moment with his daughter. But he couldn't... not now... not when the photograph he'd seen was trying so hard to recall an image he had fought like hell to push out of his mind.

"I'll be back to play after your nap, okay, sweetheart?"

Kristina nodded and let him kiss her cheek, and then Sonny grabbed his jacket and left the room. He stopped outside and told Johnny that he would be back soon, and then, almost as if he was running from something, Sonny tore down the street, his feet trying desperately to carry him away from the house... from the photo.

But it couldn't take him away from his memory.

[I]"Enzo!"[/I]

The balcony scene came alive for him again, and Sonny stopped and leaned against a tree, trying desperately to push it away. It was supposed to be just one night... supposed to be just a temporary obsession she would get over.

But she was having his child. Alexis was having Lorenzo's child. And Sonny was sure that his enemy would not make the same mistake he had and let the woman he loved and their child walk away.

*****

Alexis awoke to the comforting feeling of Lorenzo pressed against her, his palm lying flat against her belly. Unfortunately, she also woke with another monster bout of nausea, and much as she wanted to just lay there with him and perhaps sneak a few minutes of private conversation before they went downstairs, her body wasn't going to permit that.

Moving quietly, she left the bed and headed for the bathroom. Her morning sickness was clearly in that toying mood today--just enough to make her feel sick, but not enough to make her actually get sick. A splash of cool water on her face helped, but Alexis knew within a few minutes that it was time to fall back on the tried and true thing that had always helped when she was pregnant with Kristina--a cup of bland tea and a walk in the fresh air.

Thankfully, the weather was on her side. After pulling on a light dress and grabbing a sweater in case the morning was cooler than it seemed from inside, Alexis quickly wrote a note so Lorenzo wouldn't worry, and then she stepped out into the hallway. Colin awaited her in the same spot where she had left him, though his black suit had been replaced by a camel colored one.

"Good morning, Ms. Davis."

"Morning, Colin. I hate to drag you out, but I really need to take a walk."

"Not at all. The weather's gorgeous, and I can show you some of the grounds."

It had put her at immediate ease that Colin had Nano's trust. He was a nice man, and he made wonderful conversation. Alexis could see why Nano liked him. He joined her in a stroll to the kitchen, where Estella, upon hearing that Alexis' stomach was "upset," brewed her a cup of herbal tea. When the housekeeper handed over the warm beverage in a thermal container, Alexis had to fight to conceal her surprise when Estella winked at her.

"This is the best thing for that kind of sickness. I promise."

She hadn't considered that Lorenzo would tell anyone in the house about her condition, though Alexis reasoned, perhaps he'd given her the list of foods Alexis was not supposed to eat in deference to her pregnancy and Estella had just figured it out. Or maybe she was just guessing. Either way, Alexis decided the best response was a shy smile and a quiet thank you, and then she hurried Colin out onto the lanai.

The gardens of the Alcazar estate were reminiscent of those Alexis had grown up in. There was an intricate design, but these flowers and plants were not contained by stone walls. Instead, the layout was sectioned off with stone walkways, leaving the view wide open. It was welcoming, and as Colin led her toward the rose collection, Alexis followed happily. As she walked, she sipped the warm tea from Estella's kitchen, and soon, the combination of the herbal liquid and the fresh air had Alexis feeling human again. By the time they reached the orchid house, she was actually starting to feel hungry and thinking about heading back to rouse Lorenzo for breakfast. But when she glanced toward the house, Alexis knew her plans had just taken a dramatic turn.

Antonio Renata was walking straight toward her.

"Good morning, Ms. Davis. I see we both had the same idea."

Alexis smiled and nodded. "Definitely too beautiful a day to let go to waste."

She imagined that to those who didn't know who Renata was or what he did, he was an attractive and intriguing man. He wasn't unattractive. Not her cup of tea, but he reminded her a great deal of her Uncle Victor in the way he conducted himself so smoothly and could be so charming, yet be so capable of viciousness and cruelty. He spoke several languages, and from their conversations at dinner, he clearly knew a great deal about art and music and literature, something that stood in contrast to his seemingly rough appearance. But Alexis did know who he was and what he did. And she knew that the smile he was giving her now likely concealed a dangerous agenda.

"So are you going to be our guests for the full day?" she asked, wading lightly into the conversation. "Lorenzo didn't specify."

Renata shook his head. "No, we'll have to take our leave after Lorenzo and I have one last meeting this morning. I have business in Bogotá later this evening."

Alexis nodded. "Well, I'm sure we'll be seeing each other again soon."

She watched as his eyes shifted from her to Colin and then back again.

"Ms. Davis, I was wondering, might we walk and talk a bit... alone?"

As nonchalantly as she could, Alexis shook her head. "I'm afraid not. Nothing personal, you understand, but I have a fair number of enemies that are just as dangerous as any Lorenzo might have. He doesn't allow me to be without a guard... ever."

Renata chuckled. "A wise man, to protect someone so valuable. Well, perhaps we could walk with your friend for a bit then?"

When his hand moved to indicate the path that Colin had already told her led to the tropical garden, Alexis gave him a slight nod and stepped toward the walkway. Colin moved a polite few steps behind them, but gave up no ground to the new member of their party.

"I hope I didn't make you uncomfortable last night when I brought up Luis," Renata began. "I suppose I was curious, and it got the best of me."

"Well, it's a curious situation. I understand," she replied. "It's not as if we don't meet with that same reaction at home."

"Yes, Port Charles. I bet you and Lorenzo cause quite a stir in such a small town."

Alexis chuckled. "Indeed."

"He respects you. That's also very curious to me. Lorenzo is a very, very different man than his brother was."

"You knew Luis well?" Alexis suddenly wondered if perhaps Renata himself harbored ill will toward her for the elder Alcazar brother's death, given his interest.

"Not well. We had just begun to do business together in the year Lorenzo joined the family business, and Nicolo handled most of my negotiations with Luis."

She nodded, not sure if she felt any more at ease. "So he and Mr. Mancuso were friends?"

Renata laughed. "Nicolo Mancuso isn't the kind of man to have friends. They shared some adventures together."

The walkway turned and an opening to the right led into the large square that made up the tropical garden space. The threesome went through the entry, the pace slow and easy despite the tension Alexis was feeling. She weighed her options in the situation as Renata spoke about how he had come to trust Lorenzo by observing his business dealings, leading him to the decision to personally begin to interact with him. His seeming comfort in revealing that to her led Alexis to prod the conversation along.

"You do realize that I don't handle any of that particular business for Lorenzo?"

"I do," Renata answered. "But I think it's fairly obvious you know enough about your employer... and your lover... to know what questions to ask and what to avoid, which means you know more than just a disinterested legitimate businesswoman would."

Alexis took a long, slow breath to steady herself and to stop the reply she wanted to utter from coming out of her mouth. "Whatever... benefits Lorenzo and I happen to enjoy from each other's company, the reality of our situation is that we each provide a much needed... well, service, for lack of a better word, to one another. What I do or don't know about things that fall outside those parameters are details about subjects that don't particularly interest me."

Renata stopped and put his hand out to keep her from moving forward, though he did not touch her. A small grin drew the left side of his mouth up. "So if I were to volunteer to pay you an outrageous salary and to keep Mr. Corinthos at bay..."

The clear innuendo of the comment made Alexis' earlier nausea return. But she knew that she couldn't let Lorenzo down now by exposing him with a show of her outrage.

"If you did that, Mr. Renata, I would act as your C.E.O. and help you build a business empire. Which is all I do for Lorenzo in exchange for the things you mentioned."

Somehow she had managed a playful, teasing tone. She knew it had worked when he laughed loudly and clapped his hands together.

"Oh, I do so see, though, why a man would want to forget all the reasons he has to hate you, Ms. Davis."

Alexis smiled and then casually turned to her left. They had wound back around the path and were now near the roses again. She reached out and fingered a bright yellow one. She was surprised when Renata moved close to her, his body almost pushing her a few steps to her right and away from Colin.

"I do understand about your guard, Ms. Davis. But some things can't be said in front of even the most trusted associate. As you can see... Nicolo isn't here either."

It was a dare. There was no other way to describe it. And Alexis knew that Lorenzo would be furious if she accepted it. Her mind raced as she remembered her fervent promise and as images of her little girl and the small image on the ultra sound machine flashed in her memory. It was too much to risk. But if it gave her one more piece of information that could help Lorenzo...

"Colin," Alexis called out, "We're going to go halfway down the path. Three minutes. If Mr. Renata doesn't let me come back to you..."

This time, she left her own statement open-ended, but the "then" was clear. She didn't expect Renata to be scared, not given what she knew about his reputation, but she did want him to know she wasn't someone to be easily manipulated.

"And the issue of such import is?" Alexis asked as they reached their stopping point.

"I don't doubt Lorenzo told you I specifically asked you be brought here."

Alexis nodded.

"Well, as I explained, my decision to deepen my involvement with Lorenzo was made partly because he is something hard to come by in this business--an honorable man. That's not something that could be said about his brother, which is why I had limited my contact with the Alcazars until recently."

"Yes, you've explained all that."

Renata folded his arms in front of him and looked at her a moment before going on.

"The project that Lorenzo and I are working on is very special. If all goes well, the two of us will be in a position to become two of the most powerful men in our business."

"I thought you already were."

"On a certain scale, yes. But there is another step. It's one that I had hoped to take on my own, but circumstances have dictated that I need other resources. And that's why I need to strengthen my alliance with Lorenzo."

"I still fail to see how I'm relevant to that, Mr. Renata."

He stared at her, and his gaze left her unsettled. Alexis cleared her throat and waited for an answer.

"There are rumblings that the success you and Lorenzo have had with Asilo is the beginning of the end for him in our business. Speculation that he intends to be completely legitimate within the near future." Renata paused, perhaps waiting to see if she reacted. When she did nothing but nod, he continued. "I'm not going to ask you if that's true or not, because frankly, I don't think you'd tell me the truth. But what I am going to do, Ms. Davis, is propose to you that there is far more reward to be had for Lorenzo... for you... if he does not make that decision."

"You're asking me to campaign for you?" she asked.

"I'm asking you to point out the mutually beneficial aspects of a business arrangement, not unlike what you described between yourself and Lorenzo, one where two parties each can provide a useful purpose to each other," he replied. "I think you know my reputation, Ms. Davis. I'm not a man who generally asks for much because I take it. But in this instance, Lorenzo and I are in mutual need of each other, even if he doesn't yet see it."

Alexis looked back down the walkway and saw Colin glance down at his watch. "Your three minutes are almost up, Mr. Renata, so I suggest you tell me plainly and simply what it is you want."

"Very well, plainly and simply... the two of you are very convincing. But you and I both know that Alexis Davis and Lorenzo Alcazar are far, far more than just business associates who extend extra benefits to one another. And right now, I'm giving you the chance to help me encourage Lorenzo to make a decision that will keep him and all that he cares for safe and well. All he has to do is merge his organization with mine."

A shiver ran through Alexis' body and she wrapped her arms around herself as if she were cold to try and hide it. "You honestly think threatening me will convince Lorenzo to hand his business over to you?"

"Not hand over, Ms. Davis. You see, I mean what I say. I need Lorenzo. He can come and go around the world as he pleases. I've long been without that privilege. In order to do what I want us to do, I need a partner who is not only free to move about as he wishes, but who has the kind of reputation that would be required to get him inside these particular client's doors."

She was more than ready to end this, but Alexis had come this far, and she was determined to get it all so she could tell Lorenzo what this man's plans for him were. She would've been terrified for him except that she was holding on to Robert Scorpio's promise for dear life.

[I]"He's earned his happy ending, Ms. Davis. I'm gonna make sure he gets it."[/I]

"You said that you needed each other." Alexis stared hard at Renata as she forged ahead. "What is it you think Lorenzo needs from you?"

"A fulfillment of his destiny," he answered. "You see, I never doubted that Luis would meet an unfortunate end. He was a man given power who had no clue how to wield it. But Lorenzo... he was born to do this. He became someone that a man like me would deal with in person because his ruthlessness is combined with intelligence and an ability to command respect. His one weakness is that he doesn't see that this is his true calling. All those years he wasted, chasing after college girls, pretending he was born to live a normal life... but even Luis could see that Lorenzo needed to be steered in the right direction."

The insanity of his diatribe had Alexis' brain spinning. Lorenzo born to be this man he was describing? There was no word to describe that but insane. But still, his comment about Luis had caught her attention. When Alexis saw Colin starting to walk toward them, she put up her hand to stop him.

"I thought you said that you and Luis weren't close. Why would he share his thoughts on his brother with you?"

Renata glanced back to see if her guard had heeded her warning to stay back. When he saw that Colin had done so, Renata returned his attention to Alexis.

"Well, I'll just say that, once upon a time, a dangerous woman got a little too close to Lorenzo. Luis needed my help to take care of the situation. I did him the favor. Now, Ms. Davis, may I assume that the two of us have reached an understanding of sorts?"

Alexis listened to what he was saying and prayed that what she was thinking was wrong. Dear God... had he just told her that... that Luis had asked him to kill Sophie?

"Ms. Davis?"

His voice prompted her out of the near stupor his words had caused and Alexis held her composure and stared him in the eye.

"Don't worry, Mr. Renata. I've been properly threatened. I get Lorenzo to do what you want or you come after him until he does it. I'm clear, yes?"

"That would be it, yes."

"Then I'll take care of it. I believe I'm done walking now. Excuse me."

Alexis stepped around him and toward Colin. Though she wanted nothing more than to be miles away from him, she waited for Renata to also join them and then, silently, the trio headed toward the house.

Once they were back at the lanai, Colin moved ahead of Alexis to open the door to the house for her. She stepped inside and nearly stopped in her tracks when she saw Lorenzo pacing behind the sofa alone.

"There you are," he said, moving over to them, though he moved to shake hands with Renata rather than to touch her.

"Ms. Davis indulged me in a stroll around your amazing property," Renata explained. "And I'm a lucky man to have had such pleasant company."

She smiled, knowing it was what she was supposed to do, and then Alexis looked at Lorenzo.

"I heard from the owners of the Virgin Islands resort last night while you were out. There's a problem with the negotiations, and the president is insisting on speaking to us personally."

Lorenzo knew that they had decided weeks ago to pass on buying that property, and Alexis prayed that he would realize her ruse and know it meant they needed to be out of here and alone as soon as possible. She needn't have worried. Without missing a beat, he nodded and moved to the phone.

"Yes, we'll need to leave this afternoon. Have the jet ready."

Alexis knew he would be furious later when she told him that she had spoken to Renata alone, and she hoped that something about the conversation would be helpful to him. But mostly, she was wondering how in the hell she was supposed to deal with this new piece of information. Did she tell Lorenzo about what Renata had said regarding Luis? Did she imply that his own brother had played a part in the tragedy that had shaped Lorenzo's entire life?

"I, uh, I know you two have business to finish," she said, realizing the men in the room, which now included Mancuso, were waiting for her to excuse herself. "I'm going to go upstairs to pack."

She headed for the doorway with Colin just behind her. Alexis could feel Renata's eyes on her the entire time.

Upstairs and alone, Alexis went into the bathroom, stripped out of her clothes and climbed into the shower where, with the water to shield the sound, she cried. Part of it was a release of the true fear Renata had caused in her when she understood that he was indeed trying to scare her into doing his bidding. But she knew that the rest of her tears were being shed for the man she loved... for the possibility that the brother he'd loved in spite of so many flaws had betrayed him so completely.

As the warm water washed over her, Alexis began to think about the possibility that Renata was lying. Maybe he'd made it up to see what Lorenzo would do if she told him. It was possible, wasn't it? He was that manipulative; she'd experienced it first hand. Another thought then occurred to her... what if he suspected that Lorenzo knew he'd killed Sophie and this was some way to test him or... God, what if he suspected Lorenzo was playing him and this whole "partnership" agenda he thought he had threatened her into pushing was just a way to conceal his attempt to flush Lorenzo out?

And what if he wasn't lying or trying to test Lorenzo or investigating suspicions? What if it was true and Lorenzo had that unthinkable truth to face?

Alexis knew she couldn't tell him about this until she had some kind of proof. She would tell him everything else--about the conversation, Renata's notions about a partnership and the not so subtly implied threats.

But before she mentioned a word about Luis, she would go home... and she would find a way to get in touch with Robert Scorpio, and she would ask, demand or beg that he help her figure out what the truth was. Then... whatever they found... then she would tell Lorenzo the truth about his brother. That Renata was lying and using Luis to try and manipulate them... or that Lorenzo had been betrayed in the most unimaginable way by his own brother.

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