"Come in, Brick."

Sonny's eyes caught the man looming from the doorway at Pozzulo's. A smirk crossed both their faces as Brick approached the kingpin's desk.

"What do you got for me?"

"Something you've wanted for awhile," Brick replied, "West Coast intel."

"Oh yeah?" Sonny sat up, clasping his hands together. He propped his elbows up on the desk as Brick took a seat across from him, "What'd you discover?"

"Well, lucky for you, they aren't investing in caffeine. In fact, they aren't investing in any…exports."

"They don't have a front?"

"I didn't say that," Brick swiftly said, "They have a front, but it's not…tangible. They're not selling a product."

"So then what goods are they providing?"

"Secrets."

The word gave Sonny pause. He and Brick exchanged looks, the kingpin ruminating on the comment. He knew that not every family dealt in shipments, that their business stemmed from other avenues, but trading "secrets" seemed like a first.

"...What kind of secrets?"

"Political ones," Brick said sternly, "Seems like this kingpin has his hand in a lot of corruption in the west."

"So, what, this guy has dirt on politicians? What good is that?"

"Well, a local politician in Seattle had their campaign upended. Their opponent, who the mob favored, ended up running unopposed and got the seat."

"But that's local."

"That was the most recent move they've made. I'm still digging, but I'm sure this guy's gone far beyond manipulating local elections."

"You're saying 'this guy' a lot, do you have intel on who you're talking about?"

"I do," Brick stood up, meandering around the office, "The kingpin's got a pretty checkered past. Born and raised in Germany, orphan, got into a lot of trouble with the law as a kid."

"So he's a brute."

"You'd think. Guy's got a college degree. And considering this mob's venture into insider trading and political secrets, calling him smart would be an understatement."

"And he's gaining power out on the West Coast through that?"

"Looks like it."

"Hmm," Sonny pursed his lips, his mind wandering, "...y-you mentioned Seattle. Is that where he conducts his business?"

"Yes sir."

"What's the area code?"

"206. Why?"

"...I got this number," Sonny pulled out the sheet of paper from the desk drawer and gave it to Brick, "I talked to some guy on it who tried to taunt me over the lost contracts for Corinthos Coffee."

"That's his phone number."

Sonny raised his eyebrows, straightening his posture. Brick studied his expression and glanced between the paper and his boss.

"The guy I talked to," Sonny began, "was the West Coast Mob kingpin?"

"It was. Seems like he wanted to agitate you."

"He didn't succeed. He even tried to come after my family, as if he knows what family is."

Brick bit his bottom lip in response, "Well, he's certainly…bold in his outreach."

"He's also bold in how he named himself," Sonny cackled softly, "calling himself a foreigner or a stranger. He also mentioned something about me 'finding what I was looking for.'"

"Were you looking for something at the time?"

"Well, yes. Esme Prince."

The second her name left his lips, Sonny paused and leaned back in his chair. The realization washed over him, his eyes cast out at the rest of the office before looking at Brick's solemn expression.

"...He's got my office bugged, huh?" Sonny asked after a moment of silence.

"Not quite," Brick sighed, sitting back down, "He's got a spy."

"But how? There's only one person who…" Sonny paused again, thinking things over before he felt anger begin to boil inside him, "...What's this kingpin's name?"

"Wallace Heller."

"...Son of a bitch!" Sonny screamed, aggressively swiping at his desk lamp and knocking it to the floor. Brick looked on in shared disappointment, "So what is Dex to this guy then?"

"Dex is not only Wallace's plant," Brick paused briefly, "he's Wallace's son."

"...Damnit," Sonny placed his face in his hands, "I, I knew something was up with him. He was...too eager to work for me-"

"And thanks to Dex, at a minimum, Wallace is aware of everything that's happened these past few months."

"That bastard," Sonny hissed, "He played me for a fool."

"You were vulnerable and they took advantage of that."

"We need to track down Dex," Sonny said coldly, "No one comes after me and gets away with it."

"You're gonna make the guy sing?" Brick stood up.

"...Something like that," Sonny said, a smile slowly creeping onto his face, "Wallace tried coming after my family; let's see what happens when I go after his."


"Answer my question, young man."

Dex struggled in Victor's grip. He glowered at the older man, whose face was stern and focused. Ava stood between them, glancing between them both with heavy concern.

"I don't owe you anything," Dex hissed.

"You are in possession of a ring that solely belongs to members of my family," Victor pointed out, "It seems to me you do."

"...Okay, that's enough," Ava grabbed both men's arms and tried to pry Victor off, "Let him go, Victor. He made it clear he isn't going to say anything."

Victor looked down at her briefly before looking back at Dex, noticing the slight red in his face and his flared nostrils. As he was studying the young man's expression, he noticed Valentin from the corner of his eye, suddenly stopping at the entryway.

"...Valentin!" Victor smiled, aggressively throwing down Dex's upper arm as he let go. He pushed the young man with his shoulder and approached his son, "You're just in time!"

"Just in time for what?" Valentin asked, looking over at Dex and Ava, "Why is Dexter here?"

Victor looked at the pair, "Dear Dexter seems to own a Cassadine family ring."

"Oh, does he now?" Valentin's eyebrows shot up. Dex shot him a glare, "And tell me, Father, where did he get such a relic?"

"His mother."

Valentin paused, his mind racing. He rapidly glanced between his father and the young man, and the realization hit like a truck.

"You think-"

"I believe we're well beyond 'think,'" Victor said slowly, footsteps echoing from the hallway. Nikolas and Spencer appeared, standing behind their relatives, bitter expressions on their faces.

"Why are you here?" Spencer spat, moving by them before seeing Ava, "and why are you here? Are you going to have this guy accidentally fall off the parapet like Esme?"

"Once again, I didn't-"

"Mind your manners, Spencer," Victor spoke up, "We've been over this."

"Answer my son's question," Nikolas said, glaring at Valentin. Spencer looked back and glared at his father, "Why are you here, Valentin?"

"I'm meeting Alexis here-" the front door to Wyndemere echoed as it closed. The men looked behind them to see Alexis, a number of folded documents in her hand, "and there she is."

"...What's going on?" Alexis asked, raising an eyebrow, "Why are you all crowded in the hallway?"

"Well, Alexis," Valentin swiftly walked over and guided her into the great room, "come and see why."

Dex felt sweat tinge the back of his neck. All eyes rested on him, some of which he hadn't ever met. He felt Ava gently hold his bicep through the fuzz of his jacket.

"Dex?" Nikolas asked, approaching the pair, "Why are you here? And what are you doing with my wife?"

"Yes, Dexter," Valentin was the next to walk into the great room. Spencer and Alexis both raised their eyebrows, looking at each other with understanding, "why are you back at Wyndemere?"

"I was just leaving-" Dex spoke up.

"Don't lie," Nikolas's voice boomed.

"Back off, Nikolas," Ava snapped, "I brought him here."

"Why?"

"He owns something that belongs to our family," all eyes shifted to Victor, who then approached Alexis and held out a hand, "I'll be taking these back now."

Alexis scowled as she gave the documents to the man. He bypassed her and approached Dex. Nikolas moved out of the way in response, gently pulling Ava with him.

Spencer inched closer to the rest of the group, his eyes on Dex, "...Who are you?"

"Dexter Heller."

All eyes returned to Victor, who was looking down at the unfolded birth certificate. A gentle smirk graced his face as he looked up, "That is your name, is it not?"

Dex's mouth was shut, his green eyes glowing. His breathing quickened and his heart raced. He felt the room begin to fall apart around him, the Cassadines seemingly closer than they appeared.

Why is this happening? he thought hastily, These people don't know me at all; how do they know my full name? What is he holding? …Why is the room shrinking? Is it hot in here? I feel dizzy - what is going on?

"I'll take your silence as a yes," Victor said, hissing out the confirmation. He began to walk away from Dex, the other Cassadines dispersing around the great room.

"...What do you want from me?" Dex spoke up, his voice shaky. Victor laughed under his breath, looking at Valentin and gesturing his head to the archway. Dex began to sweat bullets as Valentin shut and locked the doors in front of him.

"It's simple, dear boy," Victor replied, "I want answers. We want answers."

"I have nothing to say."

"Oh, give it up," Valentin rolled his eyes, "You've been caught."

"I don't know what you're talking about-"

"Dex," Alexis spoke up, taking a step towards him, "you're not in trouble-"

"Says you," Nikolas interjected, "In my eyes, we've got a criminal on our hands."

"You're one to talk, Father," Spencer snapped in response.

"Oh, shut up!" Ava spat, "Both of you!"

"...How long did your father think he could keep this up?"

The room fell quiet once more, Victor turning around and staring directly at Dex. The young man glanced around the room, taking in Alexis and Ava's concerned looks, Valentin's smug expression, and Nikolas and Spencer's hostile gazes.

"Keep what up…?" Dex's voice was hoarse. Electricity shot through his body, his skin tingling all over.

"I have to hand it to the man," Victor began, slowly approaching the young man, "he's quite the fugitive. It's impressive the amount of years he spent hiding you under the ridiculous idea that he was keeping you safe."

"What are you talking about?"

"Twenty years, that's a long time. He kept you away from us for twenty years. All those years you spent away from your own family."

"Family…?"

"I thought it was just a coincidence that you had a Cassadine ring. Maybe it was pawned off, maybe it was stolen. But then you mentioned your mother."

"Don't-"

"Your mother died ten years ago, you said," Victor said, unfolding one of the journal entries, "She died after her mother, your grandmother, shot her in the chest."

"That's how she…" Dex breathed out, a tightness in his chest.

"Wait, great grandmother Helena is this guy's grandmother?" Spencer asked slowly.

"I'm sorry, who did Helena shoot?" Nikolas followed with, "She only had three sons."

"She had a daughter too," Alexis cut in, "Irina."

Dex swiftly looked at Alexis, a glimmer in his eyes. His ears perked up when the name registered, and his heart softened.

"That was her name…?" Dex asked gently.

"It was," Alexis affirmed, "...and it's clear that you had no idea."

"Your father did a bang-up job," Victor said with a wide smile, "he did his damndest to…scrub you clean of your heritage. Too bad for him that it couldn't last forever."

"...What do you want from me? Why are you doing all this?"

"You're family, dear boy. And now that you're here, it's time you finally got acquainted with us," Victor gestured around the room, "To most of the people in this room, you're their cousin. To my son Valentin, you're his nephew."

"And to you?"

"You're my grandson."

The word gave Valentin pause, glancing at his father. The confusion rested on his mind for a second before the realization dawned on him. He clenched a fist in response while the other family members looked between Victor and Dex with a mixture of shock and awe.

"The long wait is finally over," Victor placed his hands on Dex's shoulders. A part of him took joy in seeing how overwhelmed the young man was, "This meeting has been years in the making. I think it's time I…formally introduce you, no?"

Dex could only avert his eyes towards the floor, an unfounded shame coursing through his veins. His eyes began to burn at the corners as Victor faced their family.

"My dear family," Victor began, his voice booming, "It is my honor to introduce to you Dexter Heller: the long lost son of our fallen relative, of my daughter, Irina Cassadine."

All eyes were back on Dex, and if he could, he'd melt into the floor. Victor stood in the middle of it all, flashing a wicked grin in his direction as everything came into view.

"Welcome home."