Surprises

Part Twenty

"The ends justify the means."

Sorel smiled as Luigi repeated the phrase. Some words were just a cliché. Becoming ineffective with common, everyday usage. But the words he just uttered were more than that. They were a prayer, his credo. He had believed in them for years. Time and again, those five words hadn't failed him. When people and circumstance betrayed, those words never did.

"And Corinthos will just hand everything over to you?" Luigi questioned, turning around to face his boss. "He won't do that. Taking his kid will start a war."

Sorel's mouth twisted in a faint smile. "Whether it's voluntary or the spoils of war are of no consequence. In the end, it will be because Sonny Corinthos wasn't man enough to keep what he holds dear. His emotions will be his downfall. Trust me."

Luigi didn't miss a beat. "I always trust you, Sorel. You know that. What do you want me to do? She's out, loose and nobody seems to be looking for her. Want me to tell the boys to grab her?"

"Are the facilities ready?" Sorel asked.

"Everything is as you requested. The notice was short, but they managed to pull it through."

Sorel looked around his home for the last time. With his current plan in motion, this place was now nothing more than common digs. He was on the verge of being big time. And his environment must reflect that.

"Yeah, tell them to get her. No use in prolonging the moment."

Sorel jutted his chin toward his tan camel hair ankle-length coat. Luigi lifted the expensive garment and held it out for Sorel to slide into. As they headed for the door, Luigi said, "The guys are set to torch the place on your word."

"I changed my mind," Sorel said. "Corinthos will look here. I want him to find something, a little memento from me to him. We'll leave the building here." He reached inside his pocket and handed Luigi a five by seven glossy of Hope that had been taken by Lucky Spencer as a test shot for Deception. "Put that over there. Let him see it the minute he comes in."

Luigi propped the photo on top of the only thing left in the building, an upturned wooden crate. The image faced the door, and its message would be clear to Sonny Corinthos.

Sorel glanced at the photo before he and Luigi left. Amusement and the taste of victory were sweet on his tongue. Laughing, he closed the door and said, "And they say I don't have heart."

# # #

By the time Hope reached the docks, she began to question the recent turn of events. Was running the best option? Wasn't it possible they really cared about her and weren't just trying to ease their conscience?

And then, there was the most important question of all:

How could she find out if she wasn't there?

Wondering about that last question took a lot of concentration. She tripped over a wobbly plank and landed hard on her butt. "Ouch!"

Falling down and getting back up again had become a habit. Sure, she wasn't even legal yet. Nowhere near it. But she'd had her share of ups and downs. Sent to live with Phil Ramón had been the absolute lowest point of her life. One look into his creepy black eyes and she knew exactly what he wanted, and it wasn't a daughter to buy nice things for and love. He wanted a playmate, an in-house toy to use at whim.

She shuddered. Just thinking about him made her sick to her stomach. Thank God, she kept a blade handy. He took one look at that and backed up. But Hope knew the weapon would only last as protection against him for so long. Sooner or later, he'd make his move. She knew that as clear as day, so she ran.