Chapter 3

Nikolas walked into the FBI's New York office like a man possessed. He headed towards the interrogation rooms, only to be intercepted by his boss, Special Agent in Charge Aaron Spurlock.

"Agent Cassadine," he began, seeing the look in Nikolas's eyes.

"Where is he?" Nikolas asked without preamble.

Spurlock sighed. "In holding room two. Hammond is with him." He looked at Nikolas. "Hammond tells me that you know both Mr. Corinthos and the lady in his hotel room."

Nikolas merely nodded. His hands were still clenched into fists at hi side, and tension radiated from his body.

"He's already asked for his lawyer, so Hammond's just babysitting him until his counsel arrives," Spurlock continued.

Nikolas said nothing. He continued on to interrogation room two and walked inside. Sonny was sitting at the metal table in the center of the room, looking as smug and cocky as he had at the hotel. As Nikolas shut the door behind him, Sonny looked at him. A twisted smile broke out on his face.

"Well, well, well," he said slowly. "If it isn't Prince Cassadine. Long time no see, Prince Nikky."

Mark raised an eyebrow at Nikolas, but Nikolas ignored him. Planting his hands on the table across from Sonny, Nikolas leaned in and stared at him. "You son of a bitch," Nikolas said slowly, trying to control his anger. "How could you do that to her? To Emily?"

"What's the matter?" You bent all out of shape because you weren't there to protect her, Prince?"

Nikolas tried to ignore the truth in Sonny's statement. Instead, he leaned in closer and fixed him with his steeliest glare. He needed an answer to just one question. "Did you rape her?" he hissed through clenched teeth.

Sonny tilted back in his chair, still grinning as he looked at Nikolas. "No," he finally replied. "It wouldn't have been as enjoyable if she was unconscious."

Nikolas felt a muscle pulsing in his jaw. He didn't know whether to be grateful or disgusted. It was all he could do to keep himself from attacking the mobster. Flexing his hands, he stared Sonny down. "You will pay for ever laying a finger on her, Corinthos. I'll make sure of it."

Sonny just continued to grin. "We'll see about that, Cassadine," he replied smugly.

They were interrupted as the door opened and Spurlock poked his head in the room. "Agent Cassadine? Can I speak to you outside for a moment?"

Nikolas sighed inwardly as he left the room. "Yes, sir?"

"What's the story here?" Spurlock asked him.

"Sonny Corinthos operates out of Port Charles, where I'm from," Nikolas explained. "I've known him since I was a teenager."

Spurlock nodded. "And Emily Quartermaine?"

"She's…an old friend," Nikolas replied, cringing as he heard the words leave his mouth. An old friend? More like the woman I've been in love with for the past six years of my life. The woman I think about constantly. The only woman I have ever, and will ever, love. "We used to be best friends, but I haven't seen her in years. Since I joined the Marines."

Spurlock said nothing for a moment. "Are you going to be able to handle this case?"

"Yes," Nikolas replied with conviction. No way in hell was he going to let anyone else handle this case.

"All right," Spurlock acquiesced. He looked over Nikolas's shoulder. "Here comes Mr. Corinthos's legal counsel."

Nikolas turned and was mildly surprised to see Ric Lansing walking towards him. Last he knew, Ric hated Sonny with a passion. He waited for Ric to approach him.

"Nikolas?" Ric asked, surprised to see him.

Nikolas inclined his head in greeting. "Ric."

"Where's my brother?"

Nikolas motioned behind him. "In holding room two." He opened the door. "After you."

Ric walked in and sat next to Sonny.

"This is Ric Lansing, Sonny's lawyer," Nikolas said to Mark.

"Ah," was his simple reply.

Ric looked at the federal agents. "What are you charging my brother with?"

"Felony assault, for starters," Nikolas answered, straddling an empty chair and sitting down across from Sonny and Ric.

"Assaulting who?"

"Emily Quartermaine."

To his credit, Ric didn't show much visible reaction, although Nikolas did notice his eyelid twitch.

"I see," he said. "Anything else?"

"Well we got a warrant to search your client's hotel room," Mark continued. "We have his laptop, which I hear has some very interesting information in it about his 'coffee business' and various public officials. So expect bribery, extortion, and federal racketeering charges to follow. I've also been on the phone with the PCPD, and Commissioner Scorpio might be looking to file charges as well, as is the NYPD."

"I'll never see the inside of a courtroom," Sonny arrogantly boasted.

"Like hell you won't," Hammond retorted. "We've got physical evidence from the crime scene, you, and the victim."

"I tend to agree with my brother," Ric said. "Evidence can be thrown out or ruled inadmissible, or it can simply…disappear."

"Victims aren't ruled inadmissible," Mark replied.

"True," Sonny conceded. "But then again, tragic accidents happen to people everyday." He sighed dramatically. "And a trial would take weeks, months maybe. So much can happen…"

"You listen to me, Sonny," Nikolas, who up to this point had remained relatively silent, said with remarkable calm. "If you, or anyone even remotely connected to you, do so much as look sideways at her, I will personally see to it that your mob kingdom comes crashing down around you."

Hammond pulled Sonny to his feet. "Come on, we're going to book you, and then you're going to spend the night in lockup."

Ric stood as well. "You'll be hearing from me."

"I'm sure we will," Hammond muttered under his breath.

"Hey, Mark, can you handle this?" Nikolas asked, checking his watch. "There's somewhere I've got to be."

"Sure."

Nikolas grabbed his jacket and headed for the hospital. He had promised he would be there when Emily woke up, and he had no intention of breaking that promise.