Faith Rosco blew onto the pier like a raging storm, her hair flying behind her, her eyes snapping fiercely. She stalked towards Zander Smith on her viciously high heels, her fists clenched at her sides. She stopped in front of him, mouth set in thin line, toe tapping angrily. Zander hazarded a smart remark.

"A little steamed, are ya, boss?"

"Oh, don't start with me, Zander," she warned. "I have had it up to here with that thug Jason Morgan and your arch-enemy, the prince. Both of them have treaded a fine line, keeping me from destroying them. Well, guess what?! They crossed it! We're not gonna play games anymore, my little manservant. This time we're striking where it counts."

"Faith, what are you talking about?" he asked somberly, worried by the maniacal expression on her face. "What are you asking me to do?"

Faith smiled the calm, irrational smile she always gave.

"Well, you see Sonny Corinthos is up to his ears in trouble right now. He's out of the picture. And Jason has gotten a little too big for his mob britches. He and Nikolas, the playboy prince, think they can take me down. This blown shipment was the last straw. Now it's personal."

Zander sighed, rubbing his chin, thinking of other times when it got personal for Faith-like all the attempts to murder Elizabeth Webber. He was afraid to ask but did anyway.

"Alright, spit it out without the grandiose threats. What do you want me to do?"

"Well, I've heard from a reliable source that Jason's Rambo Barbie wife has left him. She's got herself a little apartment already. Now I'm willing to bet that grunt still loves Sonny's baby sister. She's our target."

Inwardly Zander winced, although you could never tell through his stoic face. He happened to like Courtney. He had been one of the first people she had met upon traveling to Port Charles. She was spunky, strong-willed and had a smile like sunshine. Before all the mess with Emily's return, he had even entertained the idea of asking her out on a date.

"Zander, sweetie?" Faith sidled up to him with a poison grin. "Is something wrong?"

He frowned and shook his head. He well understood Courtney was, both by blood and by marriage, the enemy now. And Faith had a point. This would be the weak spot for Morgan and Corinthos. He kissed Faith nonchalantly on the nose.

"Nope, not a problem. Just tell me what you want done and I'll carry it out."

Faith squeezed his cheek proudly.

"Oh, you're such a good, little grunt. Now listen closely. You'll take her tonight at…"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Courtney walked as if in a dream from Kelly's late that night, her coffee warm in her gloved hands. She didn't feel the warmth though; her whole body was cold all over. Trying to think straight, she found her thoughts only went to her recently naked ring finger and…Jason. The icy pain she felt on this frigid December night was almost unbearable. She didn't know why exactly she had left the apartment. She just couldn't stay in that empty place any longer.

She slowed her pace along the sidewalk as snowflakes began to fall like diamonds from the sky, glittering all around her. Her loneliness was tangible but as fragile as one of the snowflakes. Tears filled her eyes for the hundredth time, stinging her cheeks as they fell. She wanted Jason so badly and her neck craned to look down the other end of the street. She knew by heart that it led to the Towers where she and her husband shared their beautiful penthouse. Memories tumbled inside her head and she tucked her chin against her chest with the weight.

Everything was different now. There was no happy family to go home to. Carly, her best friend, had no feelings for anyone, Sonny was facing insurmountable odds with his many crimes, and the boys were away on the island. Nothing was right anymore. She bit her lip until she nearly cried out with the pain. She couldn't think of the past anymore.

Suddenly, before she could form a single thought, someone grabbed her from behind. An arm hard and powerful wrapped around her neck and a hand clamped over her mouth. She fought back, kicking and screeching muffled. Her and her assailant began to stumble backwards as she desperately tried to get away. A sharp pain pierced her arm, right into the flesh. The world grew hazy and finally disappeared altogether.

Zander dragged her into the alley, leaning down with her dead weight. When she was out of sight, he cautiously stashed the syringe into the nearby dumpster. He waited, blowing hot air into his freezing hands while Courtney slept at his feet. Finally Faith arrived. She entered the alley like it was a posh nightclub and then with equal grace, drove her stiletto into Courtney's stomach. Zander turned his head away in disgust and even in her drug-induced dreams, Courtney doubled in pain.

"Good work, Zander, baby," Faith smiled sharp-edgedly. "You know what to do next. Take her away and keep her there. Watch her carefully too. If she can escape Alcazar by jumping into a freezing ocean, she can get away from a farmhouse in Vermont."

Zander hoisted the girl over his shoulder with a groan. He nodded towards the top of the building.

"Is the copter ready?"

Faith nodded, rubbing her hands together in glee. As she watched Zander lumber up the fire escape aided by two of her men, she could just imagine the horror. Big, strapping Jason, handling the business all by himself, wasn't boss material, and under the duress of his marriage dissolving, the little wife is kidnapped. And who could forget about Sonny? His sanity already hanging by a thread, he might lose when he finds out baby sister is gone. It was all coming together so nicely.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the little apartment complex, Officer Brian Beck shuffled back and forth in the hallway, waiting for Courtney to come home. He couldn't understand where she could be. He had watched her head towards Kelly's and figured she just needed time alone. But that had been three hours ago. Gazing out the nearest window, he searched the dark streets for her beacon of blond hair, but there was no sign of her. There was a horrible twisted feeling in the pit of his stomach, something foreboding, something he hadn't felt since the death of his wife and son.

He balled his fists and aimed at the wall in his frustration. He shouldn't be so infatuated with Courtney Morgan-he knew that all too well. Her kind had destroyed his family and her kind happened to be the biggest crime lords in the state of New York. It was all wrong, but somehow when he saw her smile or flip her hair over her shoulder; he felt a twinge inside him that felt so right. Even when she was glaring him down or practically yelling at him, he just wanted to wrap her in his arms. He shook his head and thought contemplatively.

She's not like them, I know that. She's not violent or cruel or power-hungry. She's just a little, lost girl caught up in their drama. She deserves something real, something true, something…like me.

His thoughts were interrupted when he saw movement down the street. Ducking down he peered his head just enough over the window sill. The shadowy figure dressed in black stopped mysteriously in front of the window showing Courtney's apartment. Brian squinted hard, trying to decipher who the strange was. A passing car's lights washed over and it was just enough for Brian to catch a glimpse. His heart stopped cold as he watched Jason Morgan slip away back into the night.

Now he was sure of it. Something wasn't right and he'd bet his life that Jason had something to do with it. Patting his holster for assurance, he headed down the stairs, determined to follow Morgan and discover where Courtney had disappeared to.