Second Chances

Chapter 30

Casey felt like her world was falling apart. Just when she thought she saw the silver lining, a black storm cloud had appeared in the person of Sonny Corinthos. "Sonny......" She tried to keep her tears to herself. She wouldn't lower herself to begging. "Don't do something crazy....."

"I hardly think that I'm the one who's crazy, Mrs. Jacks." Sonny pressed the barrel of his handgun harder against her temple. "Now you, on the other hand.......well, I'm not too sure about how sane you are......"

"I'm not the one who's threatening to kill someone!" Casey's voice rose a little despite her attempt to control her terror. She felt Carter move slightly and her attention was drawn to his head in her lap. "What did you do to Carter?" She stroked his golden blonde hair and felt a shudder go through his body. "Are you trying to kill us both?"

Casey could feel the gun shaking in Sonny's hand. "*I'm* the one asking the questions here, Casey!" She jumped at his shout and tears ran down her cheeks. Sonny took a deep, shaky breath. "Now," he continued in a softer tone, "get out of the car."

"Why?" Casey felt Carter stir. His hand gripped her leg tightly.

"Just get out of the car!" Sonny shouted again. "I told you, I ask the questions, and once we're in the limo, you'll be giving me answers!"

"OK, OK!" Casey put up a hand, trying to stall Sonny. She felt him lower the gun and Carter's body tensed. As she put her hand on the lever to open the passenger door, everything seemed to go into slow motion again.

"NOW, CASEY!!" Carter sprang up from her lap and gripped the steering wheel with both hands. Casey jerked the passenger door open, slamming it against Sonny's body and throwing him off balance. She tried to pull it shut again and when she heard the click, she screamed something at Carter about hitting the road. The engine roared as Carter turned the key in the ignition.

But before Carter could get the SUV into gear, Sonny's arm snaked in through the broken passenger window again. "DON'T DO IT, PRETTY BOY!" Sonny shouted at Carter. He wrapped his arm around Casey's neck and pressed the gun against her temple again. "I'LL PUT A BULLET IN HER BRAIN, I SWEAR IT!!" Despite the noise coming from the SUV's engine, the click as he cocked the weapon echoed through the car like a cannon shot.

Carter stared at the twosome on the passenger side of the car. He was breathing hard, his face set with a combination of determination and fear for Casey's safety. He paused, but then lifted both hands off the steering wheel in surrender. "All right, man! You win! Just don't hurt her!"

A smug smile blossomed on Sonny's face. He tightened his grip around Casey's neck as Carter's car door opened. When Carter glanced towards the door, he saw one of Sonny's bodyguards standing there. He was holding a tire iron – probably what he used to break the window and knock Carter for a loop initially.

"Now," Sonny commanded, breaking into Carter's concentration. "Let's try that again. Both of you get out of the car – and no tricks this time."

Carter gave Casey a quick nod when she questioned him with her eyes. "Do what he says, love."

Casey slipped her hand down to open the passenger door gently. Sonny loosened his grip on her just long enough so that she could get out of the car. When Carter did the same on his side, the bodyguard pulled his right arm behind him at a painful angle and held the tire iron against his head. He forced Carter to walk around the front of the SUV to meet Sonny, Casey, and the other bodyguard.

"Well," Sonny cackled, "now that everyone's here, I think we should move to more comfortable quarters." He jerked the gun away from Casey's temple towards the right. "Let's go." He directed his attention to the bodyguard. "You drive the SUV. Johnny will be with us."