Chapter 25

Robin shook her head against her fathers' chest. "I need to get back to Wyndamere. You don't understand…"

"I understand more than you think." Robert needed her to believe him. "You are not going back there Robin."

"But Emma…" Robin couldn't bear the thought of anything happening to her little girl because she wasn't doing what she was supposed to do.

"Emma has more guards on her than Fort Knox – did you really think Grandpa Robert would let anything happen to her?" Robin started to say something but Robert stopped her. "Patrick too. Everyone is well protected from Helena and her minions."

Robin stepped back and looked at him questioningly. "You knew?"

Robert could see she was misunderstanding what he was saying. "Not until a few weeks ago. Mac and I had no idea about what was going on with you and your, uh, situation until recently. We have been working together to get to the bottom of your disappearance and what happened to you in the months you were gone. To say we are both a little upset with your mother and ex-husband for keeping us in the dark would be an understatement."

"They didn't know." Robin spoke softly in a half-hearted attempt to defend them but it still hurt too much. "I didn't tell them anything."

Robert led Robin to the couch and they sat down. "Robin, Patrick knew you were being blackmailed into helping Victor and he still ended things with you. Anna heard the desperation in your voice on that call and she ignored it. Neither one of them heard from you for months and still they did nothing and said nothing to anyone. Hell, Faison even told him that Victor caused the accident that killed Patrick's son to keep you in line and still he assumed that you left him willingly."

"Faison? How did he know that?" Robin was deflecting because she was hurt by what Robert had revealed. Patrick knew the truth and still didn't look for her?

"He was working with Helena." He patted Robin's hand. "I wish someone, anyone, had told me what was going on because I would have searched for you and brought you home to your little girl. I love you sweetheart."

Tears fell from Robin's eyes and she hugged her father close. "I love you too Daddy."

"We are going to figure this out but I need you to know that you can trust me."

"Of course I trust you." Robin wiped her eyes and tried to understand what her father was getting at.

"Good because I have something to tell you and I know you aren't going to like it. Are you ready?" Robin took a deep breath and nodded her head so Robert continued. "Marcus is working with Helena."

"No!" Robin stood up and began pacing the room. "Marcus was held with me and he made sure they didn't hurt me. He has been protecting me."

"No luv, he has been working with Helena." He pulled out his phone and pushed a button.

Tears filled Robin's eyes as she listened to what had happened during her last session with Marcus, the one before he proposed. Robert wasn't going to play the whole recording, just enough to prove what he was saying. Robin began looking around the room, looking more and more nauseated as the recording played. "Bathroom?"

Robert pointed at a door and Robin ran through the door and slammed it shut. She leaned over the toilet, unable to stop herself from getting sick.

Robert stood outside the door and listened, making sure she was okay. He gave her a few minutes and then knocked on the door. "Sweetheart? Can I come in?"

"Yes." Robin's voice was shaky.

Robert opened the door and saw her sitting on the floor, sobbing. He sat down beside her and pulled her into his arms. "It's going to be okay."

"There has to be another explanation – I can't believe that he would do that to me." Robin said the words but there was no conviction behind them.

"He's obsessed with you Robin. Nikolas installed a recorder in Marcus's room not long after you came back – he didn't trust the man." Robert gently rocked Robin in his arms as he spoke to her. "I have hours of recordings of him talking to Helena and Jerry Jacks…"

Robin turned her head and looked at her father. "Jerry?"

"He is working with Marcus and Helena. That is why we had to move quickly, we think Jerry is hiding out at Wyndamere. You already were in danger because of Marcus and Helena but add Jerry to the mix…" Robert smiled at her. "I already shot him once and I have no problems with doing it again, especially if you or Emma is in danger."

Robin shut her eyes and then suddenly gasped in pain. Her head was pounding and she was nauseous again. A dizzy spell overwhelmed her and Robert quickly picked her up and took her out to the living room. He set her down on the couch and helped her lay down. "Robin?"

She didn't open her eyes but started whimpering in pain. Robert pulled out his phone. "Lucky – I need you in here now!"

Moments later Lucky bust through the door and kneeled down by the couch. "What is going on?"

"I told her about Marcus."

Lucky nodded and looked at his old friend. Robin's eyes were still shut but she was shaking her head and sweating, almost like she was caught in a nightmare. "She is fighting with the suggestions he planted – it's a rough process. The good news is that if she is already fighting it then it shouldn't take too long to undo the damage he has done. She never really believed it. Do we have all her medications?"

Robert nodded. "She isn't ready for her evening protocol yet."

"Okay but we need to get her calmed down." Robert got what Lucky was saying and went to retrieve the sedative while Lucky took Robin's hand in his. "Robin, I know this is hard but you need to trust us. I have been through this before and if I can do it I know you can."

Robert came back in the room and handed Lucky the syringe. "Robin, I am going to give you something to help you sleep."

Lucky quickly injected the medicine into Robin's arm and stayed by her side as she slowly stopped shaking. Minutes later she was in a deep sleep and Lucky placed her hand on her stomach. He stood up and looked at Robert. "How soon until Marcus tries to go after Emma and Patrick to get to her?"

"Not long enough. I've already talked to Frisco and we think it might be a good idea to bring Emma to the safe house."

"And Patrick?" Lucky understood that Robert was still angry at Patrick but the man was in danger and Robin loved him.

Robert sighed. "Him too I guess. I'll call Frisco and make the arrangements but I want him to give us at least 48 hours alone with Robin. Do you think that will be enough time to remove his suggestions?"

"Maybe but we have a lot more to deal with than that – we still don't have a clue who this man is and that makes him more dangerous than Jerry or Helena. We don't know how far he will go to get her back."

Robert walked over and gently brushed Robin's hair off her cheek. "That's what scares me the most."