Skye Chandler Quartermaine was sipping her juice and picking at a croissant, wondering yet again why the Quartermaines insisted on a buffet breakfast together in the living room of all places. Perhaps it was a subtle acknowledgement that family meals had little to do with food and more to do with power plays. Today Skye was ostensibly there to discuss her adoption with Alan. Unfortunately, Alan was late and Tracy appeared in his place.

"Skye, what an unpleasant surprise. I thought we were rid of you after the scene you caused at Christmas." Tracy swirled the orange juice in her glass, preparing for combat.

Skye smiled falsely at Tracy. "Being the subject of a Quartermaine feud just makes me feel more like one of the family, Tracy."

"Oh. So you didn't get the message. We. Don't. Want. You." Tracy's glare was glacial. Could it really be that Skye had no idea who she was talking to? advertising her

"I don't know which "we" you are referring to. Alan has not changed his mind about adopting me formally. He is already more of a father to me than Adam Chandler ever was." Skye wondered to herself why she hadn't insisted on meeting Alan for breakfast someplace civilized.

"Alan has already proved that he's a failure as a father. Jason is a mobster, A.J. is a drunken thief, and his last attempt at adoption, Emily, is a self-righteous prig. Are you really so desperate for love that you'll beg for it from a man who will forget you exist the moment his back is turned?"

Skye held her chin a little higher. "I could ask you the same about Edward."

"I was born with this pedigree. I don't have to justify my presence in the family." Tracy's tone was menacing. "You, on the other hand, would be making a big mistake to try and sneak in the back door with this pseudo- adoption."

"The only mistake, Tracy, would be taking advice from you." Skye had faced down many people in her time, but underneath her bravado she had to admit that she almost believed Tracy's threatening tone.

"This is your one and only warning. You will never live to see the day you are a Quartermaine." Tracy said this lightly, and the contrast with her earlier tone made the words all the more chilling.

Alan was walking to breakfast with Dillon, and they had heard Tracy from the foyer. Alan assumed this was just Tracy blustering.

"Tracy, I already consider Skye my daughter." Alan's voice was firm.

"That's unfortunate for her. Now, I have business to attend to." Tracy turned to go.

Alan shook his head in amazement at his sister's gall. What business did she have, besides trying to steal the Quartermaine treasure? hr Unlike Alexis, Faith would not be caught dead in something from IWyndham'sI. Before she had let Zander go, she had demanded his cell phone and made a call to several boutiques in New York City. Her wardrobe had been sent by overnight mail to the PCPD and for once someone had done their job right because first thing that morning the desk clerk had been overwhelmed by packages. Zander had been just in time to take the packages to Lorenzo's little hideaway, iron something appropriate, and return with an outfit for court.

Unfortunately, not all of Faith's problems were that easy to fix. Her biggest problem was that her contact at the WSB had let things get this far to begin with. If Faith hadn't gotten hooked into the FBI she never would have found out about the WSB ties to organized crime. It was a wink and nod relationship that provided protection from law enforcement for those lucky enough to operate under WSB protection. The WSB gained a stable governing force over illegal activities along with the kind of funding they couldn't dream of getting from an increasingly tight-fisted congress, not a penny of which had to be accounted for.

It was with their blessing that she had taken out the heads of the Five Families. The Families had thought they were powerful enough to cut the WSB out of the action. Faith knew better. Her handler recognized Faith as a woman of substance and the deal had been for as much territory as she could grab. Faith's men were locked in a battle for the five headless cities: Rochester, Buffalo, Toronto, Detroit, and Montreal. Port Charles would be the jewel in the crown of these, if she could take advantage of the turmoil Tracy had created. Soleto was going to wish he'd never heard the name Faith Rosco by the time she was done with him. She had left his little kingdom in New York City and New Jersey alone and this was the thanks she got?

All of which brought her back to the WSB. It was in the WSB's interest to have a friend running organized crime, and Faith was more than willing to be friendly if it gave her her own territory. Of course, having friends in high places was supposed to immunize her from this sort of harassment. First they had let her get arrested, then they had told her to cut Lorenzo Alcazar in on the action. She was still pissed about that. She shouldn't have been in a position to need his help to begin with. She was starting to feel like a pawn in somebody's game, and she didn't like it. hr "Skye!" Dillon whispered as she walked past. He reached out and grabbed her arm and pulled her into the library.

"Dillon, aren't you back at military school?"

Dillon shushed her, looked both ways, and closed and locked the doors. Skye couldn't help wondering what the secrecy was about.

Dillon shrugged. "I hid out until I missed my flight. You need to watch out for my mom, Skye."

"Don't you think you're being a bit dramatic, Dillon?" Teenaged angst was probably at the root of this little chat.

"You haven't been around long enough, Skye. My mom is serious."

"What's she going to do? Kill me?" Dillon's heart was in the right place, but like all teenagers, he must be overestimating his mother's power.

"Yeah, Skye. Do you know the name Soleto?"

Skye frowned. "You mean the mobster in New York City?"

"Yeah. My mom used to be married to him. I heard her on the phone with him last night. They set those explosions yesterday."

Skye's brow furrowed. "Tracy did that?" Her voice was incredulous.

Dillon wanted to shake Skye. She wasn't paying attention. "People think I'm joking when I say I have the mother from hell. I'm not. I heard her threaten you, Skye. She was serious."

Skye stared at Dillon for a moment. "The lawyer took the adoption papers to the courthouse this morning."

Dillon threw his arms up dramatically. "Are you getting this? My mom is going to kill you, Skye."

"OK, OK, let's say I'm getting this. How do I get your mother off my back?"

"You need help." hr "Bail is granted in the amount of three million dollars."

Alexis smiled at Faith but her smile faltered in the face of Faith's disdain.

"Now we can work on your defense."

"Now I can get back to business," Faith said, and dismissed her without a thought as she approached Lorenzo.

"Lorenzo. we need to meet." Faith eyed him like he was covered in whipped cream.

Alexis cleared her throat. "I have some more business at the courthouse."

"Of course. Two guards and a car have been placed at your disposal, Alexis," he said, liking the feel of her name in his mouth.

"Thank you, Lorenzo." For that moment it was just the two of them, and Alexis flushed under his gaze. "Umm, I should be going."

Faith rolled her eyes. "You do that. Buh-bye."

Lorenzo turned his gaze on Faith. "You will show Miss Davis the respect she deserves."

"Sounds like it's "Lorenzo" and "Alexis" now. How sweet." Faith's pose was defiant.

Lorenzo stepped forward, invading her space. "You will respect all of my guests, Mrs. Rosco."

She knew his proximity was meant to intimidate, but Faith thought only what a shame it was that such a sexy man had such piss-poor taste in women.

"Right. Zander mentioned something about your houseguests. Are you running a homeless shelter for unwanted women?"

Lorenzo looked down at Faith, his gaze thunderous. "I have offered my protection to certain guests. If you wish to reside at the compound, you will honor my wishes."

Faith was unafraid, but she could see that there would be no moving him from his ridiculous role as protector of the innocent. "Fine. I'll leave the little women alone. Just remember, I'm not one of your guests to be condescended to. I'm your partner."

"Don't make me regret that." hr Skye sat in the chair across from Dillon. Outwardly she was cool, but inside she wished that Luke was in town to take care of Tracy. Once upon a time she would have called Jax, but now Jax was with Sam, and in business with Tracy besides. "Why would Lorenzo Alcazar help me?" Skye asked, genuinely curious.

Dillon pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. He didn't want to say that he hoped Lorenzo would do it for him. "You're a classy lady, Skye. Alcazar respects that."

"Fine. I'll ask him."

Dillon dialed the phone, waiting for Lorenzo to answer.

"Alcazar."

"It's Dillon. I need a favor."

"Dillon, as I said yesterday, I think it is better if you don't get between your mother and I."

"Yeah, I know. I'm going back to fucking military school to make sure my mom leaves Georgie alone. It's my cousin, Skye, who needs the favor."

Lorenzo had not thought about Skye as Dillon's relation. Skye Chandler Quartermaine was a woman that Lorenzo had a great deal of respect for. Perhaps it was the way she carried herself, or the sudden flashes of vulnerability beneath her bravado. They had only spoken on a few occasions but other times their eyes had spoken for them.

"Perhaps Ms Quartermaine should ask me herself." Lorenzo wondered if Skye would come to him, and if she did, what would happen between them.

"OK, I'll put her on."

Lorenzo was mildly surprised that Skye and Dillon were together.

"Mr. Alcazar," Skye began hesitantly, but her natural grace shone through. "I would like to ask for your protection."

Lorenzo considered her request. Dillon would not have called him if he did not believe that Skye was in jeopardy. He knew the toll the events of the day before had taken on the boy. It was simple enough to grant this request before sending him away to safety.

Skye waited patiently through the silence. She suspected that a man like Lorenzo Alcazar would not suffer fools lightly, if at all. She was no fool. He could take as long as he liked to consider her request.

"I will send a car for you. May I speak with Dillon again?"

"Certainly."

Skye smiled and passed the phone to Dillon.

"Yeah?"

Dillon sounded so young to Lorenzo, and Lorenzo knew what it was to learn that your parent was a cold-blooded killer.

"You are doing the right thing, Dillon." hr Skye looked back over her shoulder at the Quartermaine mansion wondering if she should have left Alan a note. Then she caught sight of Tracy watching her from a second story window and quickly turned her attention back to the limo before her.

The driver opened the door for her, but there was no one inside. It felt a little creepy to be sent for like this, but not as creepy as going out to the remote lake house would feel after what Dillon had told her.

Then her cell phone rang. It was Luke. He wanted to meet at the wreck of the Haunted Star. There was something off about him, but Luke had been behaving oddly for the past few weeks. That must be it.

Skye asked the driver to take her to the docks. She might be keeping Alcazar waiting, but somehow she wanted to get Luke's take on the situation before she jumped into anything. hr Faith had heard Lorenzo's side of the conversation, and she couldn't believe he was inviting yet another woman to the compound, let alone Skye. It wasn't that long since Faith had crossed swords with Skye, back during their fight over Ned and baby Kristina. Faith chuckled to herself. Lorenzo had no idea what he was in for, inviting Skye to live with Alexis and Kristina, and Faith was the last person who was going to fill him in. There was nothing Faith liked more than a good catfight, especially between two "ladies" like Alexis and Skye.

Lorenzo heard Faith's chuckle and frowned.

"Yes, Mrs. Rosco? Is there something you have to say?"

"Oh, no, Lorenzo. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise." Faith cocked her head to the side with a sly grin.

"I don't like surprises. Especially from you," Lorenzo said impatiently.

No surprises from me. I promise." The grin disappeared and Faith turned to walk toward the door. "I have a meeting to get to, and so do you. Who did you say you were meeting again?"

"Probably no one, but I think it's worth taking the meeting just to make sure."

"Just don't go collecting any more innocent little ladies in dire need of your protection while I'm gone." Faith disappeared with a wink, leaving Lorenzo to wonder what exactly she knew that he didn't.