Chapter 14

"I've got nothing," Lucky sighed in frustration as he hung up the phone and turned to his brother. "None of our sources have given us anything reliable."

It had been that kind of day. The PCPD was no closer to making an arrest in the dock explosion despite Nikolas and Lucky's strong inkling that Faith Roscoe was responsible. The entire shift had been spent chasing down leads that all led to total dead ends. No one seemed to be willing to share what they knew about the explosion, and both Nikolas and Lucky were getting frustrated with the lack of progress. With less than two hours left until the end of the shift, Nikolas was beginning to think that maybe it would be better to just call it a day, go home, and come back with fresh eyes and optimism in the morning. The distance would help to clear his mind and give him the opportunity to get a fresh perspective and figure out what he was missing, but more than that, he just wanted to get home to Emily. The few minutes he had spent with her at the hospital today had not been enough to quench his thirst for her, if it was even possible to do so. He could never get enough of her. He wanted to wrap her up in his arms, breathe in her uniquely wonderful scent, drink in her taste and let her presence drain away the tension and frustration of the day.

As if in response to his thoughts, the sound of his gorgeous fiancée's voice reached him from across the busy precinct. Looking up from his notes, Nikolas saw her beginning to thread her way across the room, and even from a distance he knew something wasn't right, that something was troubling her. Her brown eyes still sparkled, but this time it was from a light sheen of tears instead of the usual joy and happiness. Worry and fear were evident on her face, and the way in which her arms were wrapped tightly around her body was a dead giveaway that she was uncomfortable and tense.

He stood as she neared, reaching a hand out to gently rub her upper arm. "Hey, is everything okay?" he asked with concern.

"Can I – can I talk to you for a minute?" she questioned in reply, trying to keep her voice steady. She knew how well Nikolas could read her and that he would know how hard she was trying to keep it together and not succumb to her emotions, at least not until they were alone. When they were alone, then she could show how shaken she was by Zander's words. With Nikolas, she never had to hesitate to share her feelings or to maintain the strong façade everyone else saw. She could be as scared, or upset, or angry as she wanted and he would accept it, and her, without question or reservation. She really loved that about him.

He nodded immediately. "Of course," he replied, his attention solely on her as his hand slid to the small of her back and he guided her towards the interview room behind him. He closed the door behind them before leading Emily to the table standing in the middle of the room, leaning against it as he maneuvered Emily so her body was positioned in between his legs and linked his hands together around her waist. "What's wrong?" he asked tenderly.

Instead of answering right away, Emily sank into him with a sigh, her body molding against his as her head found its familiar spot in the crook of his neck. She inhaled the scent of soap and cologne that lingered on him, allowing it to comfort her as her lips brushed the skin on his neck and one of his hands began stroking her hair, the other firmly anchored at her waist. Emily reveled in the feeling of safety and security she got only when she was in Nikolas' muscular arms. The world could tilt on its axis and she wouldn't even notice because she was engulfed in the love and protection of his embrace. She belonged here, in his arms, and no one was going to take that away from her. That certainty, coupled with the feeling of his warm lips pressing gentle, reassuring kisses to the top of her head as his fingers trailed up and down her back, imbued her with the strength and courage to recount the events of only minutes previous.

"Zander approached me as I was leaving the hospital this afternoon," she revealed softly, the words vibrating against his neck as her lips moved against it. She felt him stiffen against her, his hand freezing halfway down her back as he took in her words. Gently, he eased her away from him so he could look into her eyes, seeing the fear and unease written there as well as the tears still threatening to fall.

"What did he want?" he asked, trying to keep his tone calm and neutral while inside his anger was slowly building at the thought of Zander causing Emily any measure of pain or worry.

"He said that he wanted to talk to me, and that this was the only time he could without you being around and interfering," she told him, her gaze dropping to his chest as she rested her hands against the solid wall of muscle hidden beneath a dark grey long-sleeved t-shirt. "He accused you of stealing me away from him and then started saying how he and I would still be together if you hadn't come between us. You were right," she conceded with a rueful laugh, lifting her eyes to meet his momentarily before dropping back to his chest. "Zander is still in love with me, and he wants me back. He didn't like it very much when I told him that it wasn't going to happen because I was in love with you and was going to spend the rest of my life with you."

Nikolas tensed under her hands, his anger threatening to bubble to the surface. "Did he hurt you?" he questioned, his hands clenching and unclenching at his sides. "Did he threaten you?"

Emily shook her head, slipping her hands into his and tangling their fingers together to calm him. "No, he didn't hurt me, Nikolas," she assured him. "And the only person he threatened was you." At Nikolas' confused look, she elaborated. "He told me that if the only way he could have me was if you were out of the picture, then he would make sure the next explosion killed you." She swallowed the lump in her throat, tears of anger pricking her eyes as she thought of how close she'd come to losing Nikolas because of Zander's actions. "Nikolas, Zander was responsible for the explosion on the docks."

Nikolas raised their linked hands so he could brush the moisture from her face, dropping her hands in favor of cupping her cheeks with his own hands, thumbs brushing her soft skin as he comforted her. He knew she was still shaken by what had transpired on the docks – she had woken in a cold sweat last night from a nightmare about it, and Nikolas had needed several minutes to calm her and convince her it wasn't real – and it pained him that she was still being affected by it. The confirmation that Zander had been the cause of it all only intensified both his dislike for the man and his desire to ensure that neither he nor his actions ever caused Emily pain again.

"Did he say anything else to you?" he asked quietly, his fingers never stopping as they glided over her perfect cheekbones.

Emily shrugged. "Just that the explosion was a message to the PCPD that Faith is going to take over Port Charles, and that any attempts you make to stop her would be futile and would result in further violence." She sighed, remembering the feral look on Zander's face as he had made his threats. "It wasn't… it wasn't so much what he said as it was the way he said it. I mean, he freely admitted to setting that bomb. He practically boasted about it, and he had absolutely no remorse about it. And then when he threatened you, it was like he was actually looking forward to hurting you!"

Unable to contain her agitation any longer, Emily broke away from Nikolas and began pacing in front of him, her face pained. "It was almost sadistic, the way he was talking. There was no compunction, no guilt at all in his voice. Just bitterness and anger, you know? Zander's worse now than when I first met him – he's more out of control, more violent and careless." She looked up at Nikolas. "I can see it now… the person Zander truly is. I always defended him, always said that he was just misunderstood, that he only put up a tough front, but now… not I realize that the only front he put up was with me. He pretended to be this gentle person with me, and I fell for it. I let him pull the wool right over my eyes because I wanted to believe the best about him, but now it's gone and I can finally see the real Zander. I know he loved me, but I was in love with the person I thought he was, not the ruthless man he is. I can't believe I was so naïve, so blind."

Nikolas took a step towards her. "I'm sorry," he said honestly, feeling no satisfaction in Emily seeing Zander's true colors. Instead, he was saddened by her pain, by her realization of her disillusionment and her sadness. "I'm sorry that this is hurting you. That he's hurting you."

"He was so convincing with me." Emily spoke softly, as if to herself, lost in her thoughts, mentally replaying her entire relationship with Zander and wondering how she could have missed everything, every hint that he was not who he pretended to be. "He was gentle. He was kind. He was a good person. Was it all because of me?" she questioned, more tears falling from her eyes. "Did I do this to him? Is it my fault he's become the person he is today? Is it my fault -"

Her self-recrimination was stopped as Nikolas took her face in his hands and covered her mouth with his. His tongue swept inside her mouth to tangle with hers, effectively cutting off any further speech as well as Emily's ability to think rationally. The kiss was powerful, his lips keeping firm pressure as they slanted over hers again and again, and Emily wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him closer in response to his touch.

When Nikolas pulled away, both he and Emily were breathing heavily. His eyes bore into hers as he cradled her face in his hands, his gaze stern. "This is not your fault," he stated emphatically. "I don't want to hear you blame yourself for what Zander's become again, all right? You are not responsible for Zander's choices and actions that have brought him to this point. Zander is. You did not destroy whatever goodness Zander possesses. You did not make him into the unrepentant he has become. Please, please baby, please don't blame yourself. Please don't regret being in love with me," he begged.

Touched by Nikolas' passion, Emily reached up and brushed the side of his face lightly with her fingertips. "I could never regret loving you, Nikolas," she vowed. "Never. You are everything to me. I may hate what Zander has become, but I could never blame you, or us and our love, for it." Her hand wrapped around his forearm, stroking the skin gently. "Our love is and always will be the greatest gift of my life. I'm just afraid Zander might try to take it away."

Nikolas shook his head. "He would never succeed. It isn't possible. No matter what happens, our love will always remain. I will always, always love you, Emily." His eyes locked on her. "I promise."

Before Emily could find her voice to reciprocate Nikolas' sentiments, his mouth once again covered hers. The kiss started off as gentle and comforting, but soon became passionate and hungry as the desire both Nikolas and Emily had kept in check all day became unleashed. His tongue probed the warm recesses of her mouth, teasing her, and Emily wrapped her arms around his neck, allowing herself to be swept away on a tidal wave of sensation. Her fingers tunneled into his hair as her lips and tongue danced with his, a moan catching in the back of her throat as Nikolas' hands slid around her waist and pulled her body flush against his, allowing her to feel his arousal stirring against her thigh.

Tearing his lips away from hers, Nikolas trailed soft kisses to Emily's ear. "God, I've wanted to do this all day," he breathed before lightly tickling the sensitive skin behind her ear with his tongue, feeling her shudder in response. Nikolas could feel his control slipping, and so he reluctantly removed his lips from her skin, drawing her further into his arms as he ran his hands up and down her back. "But… it's going to have to wait until later," he continued, regret evident in his voice.

Emily sighed and nodded against his shoulder. "I don't like it… but I understand," she told him playfully, her fingers playing with the hair at the back of his neck. Leaning back slightly, her gaze became serious. "What are you going to do about Zander?"

"We're going to need more evidence before we can bring him in for questioning," he replied truthfully. "But we're working on it. Don't worry – he won't get away with it." He ran his knuckles down the side of her face before brushing a kiss across her forehead. "Everything is going to work out," he assured her, pulling her back into his arms and holding her tightly, his face nestled in her hair.

The door to the interrogation room opened and Lucky appeared. "Sorry to interrupt," he apologized, "but we've got a tip on one of Faith's drug shipments, Nik."

Nikolas looked at Lucky over his shoulder and nodded. "I'll be right there." Once the door shut, he turned back to Emily and dropped his forehead to hers with a sigh. "I've got to go," he murmured. "Are you going to be okay?"

Emily nodded and smiled sincerely. "I'll be fine," she promised. Leaning up, she kissed him gently. "Thank you for listening… and for just being here."

"Anytime," he whispered, kissing the tip of her nose before escorting her from the room. "I'll see you at home?"

"Don't forget the pizza," Emily reminded with a grin. "Or else I won't let you in."

"Wouldn't dream of it," Nikolas promised with a replying grin. "I love you."

"I love you, too," she replied sincerely. "Bye." As she exited the PCPD, Emily knew that Nikolas was right. Everything would work out, because no matter what obstacles they faced, she and Nikolas would always have each other and their love, and that would always be enough.

TBC...