"Where is she?"
Jason cringed as Sonny's increasingly frantic state got worst but he had no answer.
"I'm going to find her," Sonny declared, grabbing his jacket. Jason started after him, alarmed at what Sonny might do to find her.
"Wait," he started before Sonny cut in with an impatient wave of his hand.
"Don't you understand?" he begged, near tears. "Dara saw what I did and ran away. Your best guys haven't found her so far. I can't wait, I have to look. I won't rest until I know she's at least safe." Dropping his voice, he continued,"I can't even begin to think about what happens when I find her. But I have to do that at least."
Jason nodded, relenting silently. The two men left the Penthouse and in a few minutes were on the road in an unmarked vehicle. They each pondered possible solutions quietly. Jason watched Sonny's pensive state with worry. Never before had he seen his best friend like this. Furrowing his brow, he concentrated hard on where Dara might have gone.
"Wait!" he suddenly said out loud. With a jerk of the steering wheel, the vehicle squealed around a corner.
"What!? Where are we going?!" Sonny demanded.
Jason's clear blue eyes flashed in anticipation. "Vitali Estates. I have a hunch."
***************
Vitali Estates
"Oooooooh," Dominik groaned aloud as he groggily rose to a sitting position. His hands rested against the cold, hardwood flooring as he took a few moments to get his bearings. His eyes opened to a spinning room. His head ached terribly, and as his hand rose to feel the wound against his head, the memory of what had happened flashed through his mind. Dara was in trouble and Danté was out of control.
"Here." Vincent Tyson knelt next to Dominik and handed him the ice pack. Dominik eyed him angrily but took it from him, wincing as he pressed it gently against the side of his head.
"Danté wanted me to make sure you were okay," Vincent explained. "But there's more going on that I think you should know about." Dominik leaned forward suddenly, as if overcome by nausea. Vincent grabbed him to stop him from falling over.
Always quick with his hands, Dominik expertly snatched Vincent's gun from its holster and pointed it at him. "You will take me to where Danté is going first," he demanded gravely. Vincent considered his options for a moment before nodding tightly in agreement.
With Vincent's help, Dominik was able to make it to the garage where he instructed Vincent to drive the Jaguar. As they pulled through the Estate gates, turning onto the main road, Dominik turned his attention to Vincent. His headache was subsiding and his balance and strength was coming back as well. "Now, you will tell me everything."
*********************
Moreno's Warehouse
Dara glanced nervously at Danté for what felt like the millionth time. This was a man she had met more than once in the courtroom. The menace he brought with him to those occasions was intense, but now things were different.
Now they were on his turf and there was no way to predict how he would behave around her.
"Hurry up!" Danté hissed, tightening his grip on her upper arm. Wordlessly Dara complied and eyed her surroundings carefully, hoping to recognize where she had been brought. Seeing nothing familiar, Dara sighed. She wouldn't know where to go even if she did manage to escape. Anywhere could be a dead end.
"So what does Moreno have on you?" Danté inquired gruffly.
Snapping her head back to him, Dara shrugged. "I don't know," she answered shakily.
"Bull, you're the A.D.A. You must have something he wants."
Sensing that any answer she gave him might be the wrong one, Dara proceeded carefully. She knew all too well of his tendency to explode with violence. "I've had a few cases against him but nothing's ever stuck. The D.A.'s actually more preoccupied with you."
Danté turned and flashed her a grin, almost proud at the achievement.
"What does he have on you?" Dara asked tentatively. "I'm just curious," she added as he gave her a suspicious look.
"My girlfriend. He's got her and wants you instead."
Dara stumbled at the mention of Tori. Anger flooded within her.
"Come on!" Danté shouted, tugging her closer to the Warehouse.
Dara's face hardened with determination. If this was it, if her life was ending tonight, then at the very least she intended to take Tori with her.
At the very least.
*****************
Vitali Estates
"Dammit!" Sonny yelled in frustration at the locked gates of Vitali Estates. Pounding his fist on the hood of the car, he swore in his native tongue. They were no closer to finding Dara if Dominik Vitali was not home.
Jason eyed the grounds carefully. A familiar vehicle caught his eye. "Isn't that Dara's car?" he asked.
Sonny rushed over, narrowing his eyes in the dark. "Yes!" he said gratefully.
"The gates are locked and nobody's answering the intercom," Jason reported.
He barely finished his sentence when Sonny had quickly scaled the high fence and leapt to the other side. "You keep calling our guys," he instructed Jason as he jogged towards Dara's car.
Opening the unlocked driver side door, Sonny bent down and examined the inside of the vehicle carefully. Some garbage, a few library books, a backpack full of legal papers in the backseat. Nothing he hadn't seen before. Running a hand through his jet black hair, Sonny gave one last look. A flash caught his eye and he turned his attention to it.
Pulling at the length of beads off the rearview mirror, Sonny suddenly recognized what it was.
"My rosary," he said softly, cradling it in his hands. He'd given it to her as a gift. The desire to find Dara surged and he clasped the rosary tightly in his hand. "Help me, help me find her. Please keep her safe," he begged to the stars above.
"Sonny!" Jason called.
Standing, Sonny shut the car door. "What?"
"I've got a hit! We know where they went!"
****************
Moreno's Warehouse
Adrenaline surged through Danté's veins as he entered the warehouse. Licking his lips in anticipation, he made his way along the partially lit corridors until he came upon the group waiting for him and his package.
Moreno eyed Danté, his eyes full of loathing for the nephew that had caused him so many problems over the years. Soon, it would all be over.
"Nephew," he announced.
"Uncle," Danté replied, his voice full of bravado.
The two men remained silent for a few more moments, weighing in the importance of the meeting. Neither had foreseen their lives to intersect in this way, but neither were willing to walk away either. Now was the time for one to go and one to stay.
A guard produced a stricken Tori from the shadows. Danté's heart lurched at the sight, but outwardly, he revealed nothing.
"I have what you want."
Moreno smiled briefly, "so do I."
Dara's gaze centered on the red haired woman she'd seen not too long ago. Clenching her fists, her resolve grew stronger.
Moreno tilted his head to one side, then to the other, hearing each crack. "I think we can agree that there's more to this moment than a simple trade."
Danté nodded. "But before we do anything, let's make the exchange."
Pushing Dara forward, he let go of his vice like grip on her. Moreno nodded and Tori was also pushed forward.
"Wait," Dara said suddenly. "I have something to say."
For the first time, Tori's gaze turned to Dara. Her mouth parted open slightly, suddenly realizing what Dara's intentions were.
"Shut up and maybe you'll stay alive," Danté demanded.
"No, let her speak."
All turned as Dominik and Vincent emerged from the shadows.
Dominik gave his brother and Uncle a hard look. "She has much to say about this matter, and so do I."
******************
"We got a hit!"
The squad room bustled with nervous energy as police officers in all types of various uniform rushed about the room getting ready to move in just a few minutes.
"Who called it in?" Taggert demanded Garcia who was strapping on his bulletproof vest.
"It was anonymous, but a squad car drove by the warehouse and confirmed that Danté Vitali's vehicle was there. My guess is that Dara will be with him. The streets have been buzzing that Corinthos and Morgan have been looking for her too."
"Asshole," Taggert growled as he made sure his extra clips were in place. "He probably screwed her over and she fell into the wrong hands."
Placing both his hands on Taggert's shoulders, Garcia gave him a hard stare. "We have to do tonight by the book, no matter what happens," he warned.
"I'm not making any promises," Taggert snapped back before stalking off.
"How did I know you'd be saying that?" Garcia muttered under his breath.
"Let's go people, move!" Mac thundered from the double doorway.
******************
Moreno's Warehouse
Sonny crouched behind their vehicle, motioning Jason over. "You come in through the West entrance, I'll come in through the back," he whispered.
Jason nodded calmly. "Be careful," he said before silently heading off into the dark.
"We all have to be careful tonight," Sonny replied softly.
******************
Moreno's Warehouse-Inside
All at once voices began to speak in earnest tones. Accusing eyes roved the room and a nervous tension began to build.
Dara gave Dominik a worried glance. He offered a faint reassuring smile. He was OK, for now.
"Alright, everybody stop, stop!" Moreno shouted impatiently and after a few moments, the noise died down.
Danté approached Dominik. "What are you doing here?" he asked. He couldn't hide the concern from creeping into his voice. Taking out Moreno was going to be a piece of cake, but Dominik's presence now made things considerably difficult.
"Making things right," Dominik replied. Vincent eased a few steps away from Dominik. Tori looked at him urgently, she had the permission they needed! Vincent frowned in confusion, shaking his head at her.
"He's not the only one."
In that moment, all eyes and ears turned in disbelief as Sonny Corinthos entered the disjointed circle. The guards exchanged nervous looks. The night was not going as originally planned.
Sonny's heart thumped against his chest as his stone faced gaze rested on Dara. For a brief moment, their eyes locked and connected before Dara turned away. Sonny gave a silent thanks to those above him who'd kept her safe.
"This is great," Moreno said with a laugh. "Everybody I hate is right in this room. My nephew, his right hand man, my other nephew, the A.D.A. my nephew's slutty girlfriend and one Sonny Corinthos." He laughed again, "I guess God decided to be good to me for once."
"Shut your face!" Danté hissed, feeling himself coil with rage.
Dominik had caught the glance that Sonny and Dara had shared. It only lasted a brief moment, but it had spoken volumes. This was the man Dara had spoke of. The one she loved. His eyes narrowed. The one who had obviously hurt her.
"I wanted to say something," Dara said loudly to the room. She stood tall and proud. She was not going to cower, she never had and she wasn't about to start now.
"Go ahead," Moreno said. "Fate awaits you anyway," he added snidely.
"For the past few months, I've been involved with Sonny Corinthos," she started, refusing to look at Sonny. Danté's eyes widened with surprise. Quickly he looked around the room but found no expression matching his. He was the only one who didn't know. A sense of foolishness filled him as he looked back at Dara. He was the only one out of the loop.
Dara's chocolate eyes turned to Tori. "And tonight I caught him cheating on me."
With sudden energy, Tori sprang forward and rushed at Dara. "You stupid bitch! You'll ruin everything!" she screamed.
Dara easily deflected Tori attack, sending the redhead to the dirt floor. "You heard Moreno," she said icily. "Fate awaits you anyway."
Danté watched as Vincent pulled Tori to her feet. A sudden curiosity filled him. What was really going on here?
"I know how the rest of this story goes!" Moreno's delighted voice interrupted the tense moment.
"So do I."
Sonny's soft voice filled the room. Even after leaving the organization, he could still command a room with just a few softly spoken words.
"I slept with Tori tonight."
The admission was like a brick smashing into a thousand panes of glass. Vincent sucked in his breath. Dominik's fury grew. Dara bit her trembling lower lip, Moreno smiled with satisfaction, Tori began to shake her head.
Danté froze. He looked at the woman he loved and before she could say or do anything in defense, he knew.
He knew.
"You?" he croaked, his voice barely audible.
Tears streamed down her face. "Baby, it was for you," she sobbed, taking a step towards him.
Danté slowly shook his head. His eyes flicked to Vincent. "And you knew!" he accused. Vincent said nothing.
Danté blinked. He looked at Tori again. "I loved you."
Tori opened her mouth to speak, but the words died before they passed through her lips as Danté fired one bullet from his weapon at her. With a shriek of pain, Tori crumpled to the floor.
"Tori!" Vincent cried, rushing to her side. Dara gripped Dominik's arm in terror. Sonny and Moreno glanced at each other, Danté's violent and unpredictable explosion of rage and hate catching them both off guard.
Danté's hollow gaze settled on Vincent. He raised his weapon once more, only to be halted by a familiar click of a hammer from another weapon being pulled into place. His dark eyes rose. Moreno smiled, almost in sympathy, his glock nestled firmly in his right hand.
"You gotta do what you gotta do, right?"
Lurking in the dark, behind Sonny, Jason took position behind a few crates. His gaze shifted from Moreno to Danté and back. He didn't know which to center his line of fire on if all hell did break loose. Sweat trickled down his forehead. All he could do was wait.
"You know why Corinthos slept with her?" Moreno asked aloud. "Come on Vincent, fill in the blanks."
Vincent looked back up at Danté. He just didn't care anymore, Tori had survived the shooting but would die if she didn't get help soon. His fate was probably going to follow hers in the same fashion. "Corinthos was the only one who could secure our bid for control. She forced his hand. She made it clear that Dara would be killed if Corinthos didn't do exactly what she wanted." He paused. "She did it for you. We both did," he insisted to Danté.
Danté remained stone faced, too far gone to evaluate the new information. Dominik groaned inwardly at the foolishness on Tori and Vincent's part. Even after being already informed of the grand plan, the reaction of his younger brother hit home of the gravity in Tori and Vincent's choices.
Moreno turned back to the man and gave him a look of utter disbelief. "You see what I gotta put up with? The incompetence is hard to believe."
Dara's eyes widened with surprise as she finally looked at Sonny. Silently, she begged the truth from him. His eyes filling with tears, he nodded slowly, mouthing the words 'I'm sorry' at her from across the room.
The moment was interrupted as one of the guards rushed back into the warehouse. "Cops! Everywhere, we gotta move!" he shouted.
Moreno's head whipped back around to Danté, to find his nephew's gun was now pointed at him. Both men eyed each other, their guns trained on their target. Sonny's hand reached for his own weapon as did Dominik and Vincent.
Moreno glanced around the room at the newly armed men surrounding him. His own wild eyes surveyed each man carefully before he released a hollow laugh. "Isn't this fabulous? All these people, all these guns. The possibilities of life or death can change in just a few seconds. Seems like fate brought us here."
Overhead, the sounds of a helicopter echoed through the warehouse. Each person in the room heard the firm instructions relayed by Mac Scorpio.
Danté's eyes never moved, nor blinked. "You wanna do this?" he asked coldly.
Moreno returned the cool stare. "Fate is fate. We can't change that."
And with those words, Sonny screamed for Dara to get down and the room erupted in gunfire.
Outside, Taggert and Garcia heard the deadly pops and rushed to the building. Mac expertly sent the S.W.A.T. team after them.
He hoped they weren't too late.