Somewhere In Between

-----

Chapter Four: The Bend…

-----

He hadn't been sure of exactly what he was seeing. Doubt and impossibility warred furiously with reality as he stared at the man speaking to Emily. But the second he saw Lorenzo reach for her, Nikolas knew it didn't mater if what he was seeing was actual or just a mirage. He wasn't about to let that man touch her, whoever he was. In an instant Nikolas was through the door, barking a jarring command that bounced loudly off the stone walls of Kelly's courtyard.

"Get the hell away from her!"

Granted, his choice of words didn't exactly speak well for his royal upbringing, but Nikolas didn't have to time to care, let alone make his warning 'princely' in any fashion. He reacted on pure impulse, something he wasn't very accustomed to doing.

Emily spun around, her face shocked to say least. "Nikolas? What are you doing? I can handle—"

The dark haired prince didn't give her the chance to say anything more as he reached out and pulled her behind him, out of Lorenzo's reach. Nikolas squared his jaw and took a step closer to the mysterious man in front of him, grinding out his next words. "I'm not sure who you are, but this girl is off limits. You don't come near her. Ever."

Lorenzo could only smirk at the little display the young man had put on. Did he really think himself intimidating? Surely, someone would have to set the boy right. No good to have people wandering around under false realities. Lorenzo leaned to his side, looking past Nikolas to lock eyes with Emily. "Is this how he normally introduces himself to people?" Slipping his hand back into his pockets, Lorenzo straightened his back and looked Nikolas dead in the eye. "Because I have to say, I find it rather rude."

Nikolas refused to relent. This man had to have been the other Alcazar his foreign contacts had been buzzing about. The striking family resemblance wouldn't allow for any other possibility. And if that were true, he could be just as dangerous, if not worse, than his brother had been. And being dangerous in Port Charles almost always meant having some kind of a connection to Sonny, and Emily already had way too much of that working against her wellbeing. She sure as hell didn't need a possible crime boss successor taking direct interest in her. "Just stay away from her, and you and I won't have any difficulties."

"Difficulties?" Lorenzo cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. "Was that an attempt at a threat, junior? Because if it was, I'd have to advise you against it."

"The name is Nikolas Cassadine," the prince stressed his family name. This guy was obviously important, or thought himself as much, and, at the risk of sounding arrogant, everyone important had heard of the Cassadines… and their formidable legacy. "And let me be the first to tell you that you in no way frighten me. So, I suggest you leave now. There isn't anything here for you."

Once again Lorenzo peeked around Nikolas to look the surprisingly quiet Ms. Quartermaine up and down. "Oh I don't know. I think there could be an awful lot here for me."

Emily stiffened at the silky, suggestive words and for the first time since their "meeting", the brunette felt a spark of true wariness ignite in her consciousness. Lorenzo seemed charming enough, but she had no illusions. The man was a carbon copy of his brother, perhaps in more ways than one. And that equaled bad in the worst possible way.

Nikolas opened his mouth to sputter another angry warning, but before he could, the other man turned on his heel and walked away. And if the prince's ears were still as true as they used to be, Alcazar was humming.

"Nikolas…" He spun around at her soft voice, instantly struck by the confusion that shone in her delicate brown eyes.

He stepped forward suddenly, taking her by the arm and scanning Emily's form head to toe with a concerned eye. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Why was he talking to you? And where's your guard? Why are you out here unattended?" The questions rattled off in rapid succession, and Emily found her confusion falling away just as quickly, another sentiment settling in its place.

Unattended? The nerve! "Okay, back up a sec, Nikolas," she said, gently taking back control of her arm and running a smoothing hand over the slightly crumpled fabric of her jacket. "I'm fine. He didn't hurt me, unless you consider trying to chat me to death inflicting harm."

"Emily…" Nikolas groaned. Sometimes this girl could be so damn stubborn. Did she always have to think she could handle everything that came her way? "This isn't a joke, okay? Do you have any idea who that man was, how dangerous he could be?"

The urgency in his voice stilled Emily and she let out a defeated sigh. Why was it that all the guys in her life seemed obsessed with overprotecting her? Really, couldn't they find another hobby? She wasn't new, she could take of herself, had managed just fine with the big creepy guy all on her own. That was until someone decided she needed to be saved. "Actually," she breathed, not really all that concerned with curbing the annoyance in her tone. "I did happen to catch a clue this time, Nikolas. I know exactly who he is." Emily dropped her gaze then, the ground between her shoes seemingly interesting. "And unfortunately… he knows exactly who I am."

-----

Formerly lost cell phone in hand, Johnny broke into a near run back to the courtyard and back to Emily. AS he rounded the corner to Kelly's, the animated display taking place just outside the diner's entrance managed to grind the harried guard to a halt.

"He knows who you are! " Cassadine nearly shrieked at a scowling Emily who appeared to be having no part of it. "Emily, how could you tell that man who you are? Don't you have any regard for your own safety?"

"Oh, for the love of…" Emily huffed out an aggravated breath and leveled a cold as ice glower at the prince. "A little credit, please, Nikolas! I'm not an idiot. I didn't tell Lorenzo Alcazar anything. Someone already provided 'Mr. Look-alike' with everything he needed to know about me."

Lorenzo Alcazar talking to Emily? What in the hell? When did that-- Oh, God. The bodyguard felt his heart nearly seize up in his chest when realization flooded through him.

Three minutes. Three lousy minutes. That's all he'd been gone. Just to the car and back. Nothing earth shattering was supposed to happen in three godforsaken minutes!

"Lorenzo Alcazar was here?" Johnny showed himself and stepped between the pair, brow knitted, fists clenched.

Well, look who finally decided to show. Emily wanted to laugh. What good was a big bad, gun-toting bodyguard supposed to do if he disappeared, and at the worst possible moments? Pointless much?

"Well, there you are" She said coolly, trying her best not to seem peeved, but knowing she wouldn't succeed. She never had been good at hiding her feelings… well, her anger, anyway. "So what's the deal, huh? I ask you in for a bite to eat and you flat out refuse, saying 'I need to be outside to do my job', and then when I actually come back, you know, outside, you go all invisible on me?" Emily took a deep breath and crossed her arms. "So, is this how the whole bodyguard deal works? Cause if it is, I think the system needs some serious work."

If Johnny hadn't been so anxious for an answer he definitely would have found the young Quartermaine's mini-rant (complete with air quotations) absolutely adorable. But, unfortunately, if what he'd heard was true, he didn't have time to be charmed by Emily's spit-fire sarcasm. "Was Lorenzo Alcazar here or not, Emily? I need to know."

"Yes, he was." The dark-haired prince replaced himself between Emily and her bodyguard. "Which is more than I can say for you."

Again, Johnny didn't have the time or the desire to give a damn about what Cassadine thought or said. Admittedly, Johnny had slipped up—major. But now that he knew Lorenzo Alcazar—a formidable new enemy to Mr. C—had not only dared to speak to Emily, but also possessed some sort of knowledge about the girl; all that mattered was getting her to some place completely safe, and letting her brother in on every single detail. Even the parts that made him look incredibly bad… not to mention stupid. But again, not the issue.

Emily nearly squeaked when Johnny's hand closed over her wrist. "What do you think you're doing?" Emily asked with shocked eyes, as the guard began to lead her away from Kelly's and a set-in-stone Nikolas.

"My job."

Emily rolled her eyes as the guard pulled her behind him. Oh, that was rich. Where was this career enthusiasm five minutes ago, when it would have actually helped some?

"Oh, okay. So does that mean I can expect you to wink out existence anytime soon?" Truthfully, she really didn't want to be so hard on the guy, but her encounter with Lorenzo had caught her off guard, thrown her bit. Though she'd never admit it to anyone. And if Johnny had been there, waiting outside like he said he would be, then she'd be blissfully free of the icked-out feeling crawling around in her gut.

"Not likely."

As they neared the car, Emily gave a very unladylike snort. "Oh, so now you're all about the guarding again. Flip-flop like this often, Johnny?"

Johnny O'Brien wasn't the kind of man who rolled his eyes; he was more of the narrowing type. He'd always leaned more towards the silent, pissed of mystique. But Emily was coming closer than anyone ever had at bringing out his inner brat. Granted he deserved what she threw his way, but that in no way meant he had to like it. Or take it. This little girl had no idea what kind of bad just saddled up to her back there. And Johnny intended to lay it all out for the princess, whether she liked it or not. Affability went soaring through the window the second Lorenzo Alcazar reared his ugly head. The bodyguard didn't have time to play nice anymore. It was time little Miss Quartermaine knew the score, before things got out of hand.

Johnny stopped abruptly when they reached the car and pulled Emily in front of him, placing the girl between himself and the black Mercedes. Silently, he backed her up against the passenger side door, pinning her there with his eyes. "Now look, I realize that I messed up—" Johnny's jaw tightened at the little face she made. "Hey, I do, okay? It was stupid of me to leave you alone like that," the young bodyguard shook his head in self-admonishment. "But that's not the point now. What's important now is that you need to understand a few things about the man who talked to you back there. He is bad news, Emily, in every conceivable way. He is not the kind of guy you need to be chatting with; he's the kind you need to be running away from. Remember that, because if that creep made contact with you, knew things about you, then I can damn near guarantee it won't be the last you see of him. Men like that don't operate on whim. Everything has a purpose, and nothing is sacred. Especially not little sisters. In fact," the bodyguard took a shallow breath and drew his face closer to hers, absolutely determined to make Emily grasp her new situation with undisputable clarity. "The closer, the dearer—the better. Do you understand what I'm saying here, Emily?"

Emily was captivated by the intensity in his eyes, and absolutely floored by the implications his warnings brought about. The proverbial light switch had just been flipped. And all she could manage was a tiny, wide-eyed nod in her stunned silence.

Maybe her little run-in with Lorenzo Alcazar hadn't been as coincidental as she thought.

-----

A flicker of movement on one of the monitors caught Ric's eye. At first, he expected it to be his loving wife, but upon further examination, Ric discovered it wasn't Elizabeth at all.

It was Jason, almost predatorily approaching the front door.

Oh, how completely perfect. Ric peeled himself off the low cot, and cast a glance back at the living room monitor before making his way out of the panic room. Running a smoothing hand over his dark hair, Ric made it to the door just as a series of harsh knocks erupted through the quiet house. He heaved a sigh of preparation. Visits from Jason were never fun; they almost always ended in threats of physical violence and/or implied death. What a wonderful way to cap off the day.

Allowing for one more bracing moment to pass, Ric undid the lock and pulled open the door to his rather perturbed looking nemesis. "Jason." Ric greeted him, his tone perfectly flat, conveying accurately every bit of enthusiasm he felt for this drop-by. The darker haired lawyer folded his arms and eyed the, thus far, silent man on his doorstep suspiciously. Part of Ric entertained this possibility since failing to nab Carly. He just figured Sonny would have waited at least a touch longer before deciding to sic his head-goon on him. Oh, well… so much for the ties of family and all that garbage. "Let me guess, you're in legal trouble… again," Ric let a harsh grin pass his lips. "Well, sorry, Jason, but I'm a tad busy at the moment. No time for hopeless cases."

A firm and, more than probable, deadly hand reached out and stopped the closing door midway, sending it back, flush against the wall, with a jarring thud. "Cut the crap, Lansing." Jason glowered, pushing his way past Ric and into the house.

A set of deepened lines appeared on Ric's forehead as he stared back at Jason from the open door. Was he always like this? Ric wondered. Was being this obnoxious and unnecessarily overbearing a permanent sate of affairs? Ric didn't see any other way. You can't half-ass that kind of social ineptitude. "Please, come in," Ric muttered as he closed the door. "My home is your home."

"Look, Ric, I didn't come here listen to your snide comments. I came for answers."

Fighting off a sudden migraine, Ric pinched the bridge of his nose. "Regarding…?"

"Carly."

That one word commanded all of Ric's attention, as he assumed it was meant to. Certainly cuts to the chase, doesn't he? But then it wasn't as if Ric expected Morgan to be stopping by for a chat; that wasn't the nature of their relationship. Constant, never wavering antagonizing was more like it. And it was getting old. Fast. Sure, Ric was guilty as sin, but he'd be damned if he let Morgan connect those dots.

"All right," Ric huffed. "This is where I get off." He approached Jason with folded arms and a set jaw. "I am not having this conversation with you, Jason. You already grilled me the day after the attempted abduction. I'm not all that interested in a round two, okay?"

Cold as ice and just as rigid, not one emotion, save unadulterated disdain, flickered over Jason's face. "I really don't care what you're interested in. You don't have a choice here. You had something to do with what happened at the church, and you're going to tell me the truth. Now."

No options? Ric could barely contain the ball of rage igniting in his stomach. Morgan may have been Sonny's right hand man in the mob world, but this wasn't the big bad streets of PC, this was Ric's living room and he wasn't about be dismissed as a insignificant in his own home. No way in hell.

With a surge of confidence unknown in its origin, Ric stepped forward, putting less than the standard acceptable distance between himself and Jason. "I believe you're mistaken. Not only did I not have a thing to do with what happened, but I have plenty of options, not to mention rights. The first of which being the right to exist in this town without you coming to my home and hurling baseless accusations at me."

The sound that rose form Jason's throat was uncharacteristic at best, ringing almost as a scoff in Ric's ears. "Quit lying to yourself, Ric. Everything you've done to Sonny, to Carly... to Courtney… you deserve a hell of a lot more than just accusations."

Here we go… "And right on cue with the threats." Ric had to focus to keep his eyes from rolling involuntarily. It wasn't easy. "What are you going to do, Jason? Beat me up? Kill me and dump my body in a shallow grave somewhere? Because let me tell you, eternal rest is starting to look pretty good compared to living a life with you constantly breathing down my neck." Extreme? Damn straight. But as with Alcazar, Jason didn't respond well to cowering and if for some reason his little show of confidence backfired, well, then Ric assumed it would just be his day to die. After all, you can only tempt fate so many times in one day.

That tiny part of Ric that wasn't completely behind his confident and cocky demeanor wanted to squeeze his eyes closed as Jason's cold silence intensified, the stillness of the air practically drilling a hole in his brain. But then, mercifully, the Enforcer broke his Silent but Deadly routine and spoke: "Sounds good to me."

Wow. How completely… predictable. Still scary as hell, but run-of-the-mill nonetheless. "Nice," Ric said, the word dissolving into a light hiss as the lawyer shook his head as if chiding the other man. "Have you ever tried being even the slightest bit original, Jason? Because I think even you could have managed to slip a little more creativity into that one."

From the moment Jason stepped in the door, his patience level began a nose dive for the ages, and now it had just hit bottom. He wasn't going to waste one more second listening to Ric play at being something even remotely worth the effort. Putting even less space between himself and the mouthy lawyer, Jason peered down his nose at Ric, his blue eyes steel-like. "Don't get cocky. You're nothing but a mistake and a coward and you know it. That's why your whole world is one big, twisted revenge fantasy. No one would miss you, Ric. And it just burns you up inside."

Okay, so Ric wasn't exactly Citizen of The Year, and he didn't have people banging down his door to cozy up to him. Well, except for Faith. He mentally shuddered at the thought. But he did have a wife, a beautiful and adoring wife who would most definitely miss him. "I beg to differ, Jason. Or have you forgotten about my wife?"

Elizabeth. Jason felt a twinge of restraint kick in at thought of the petite brunette, just a twinge. She was a good woman; she just had allowed herself to be used by Ric, manipulated by his lies and constant head-trips. Losing Ric would sting at first, but Jason firmly believed Elizabeth's life would be the better for it. They may not be close anymore, but he still believed she deserved more than what she was married to. She deserved what Jason had with Courtney, a real life built on honest love, not what this pathetic excuse for a man had created around her. "She would get over it. Eventually."

Cockiness gave way to anger at Jason's insinuation. Elizabeth loved him, damn-it. And he loved her. This was all for her, to avenge her. Bringing his arrogant brother to his knees was just icing on the cake. And speaking of unfortunate siblings, Ric couldn't waste the opportunity to remind Jason of what he suspected bugged the Enforcer most. That for all his blind devotion and faithful service, Ric had one thing Morgan would never have: Sonny's blood pumping through his veins. It was worthless to Ric, but to Jason… well, it had to mean something.

"And Sonny? You really think my brother would condone my cold blooded murder? If you killed me, Sonny would hate you." Ric cocked his head to the side, his menacing smirk returning. "And that just burns you up inside, doesn't it? Knowing that when it really comes down to the wire, he'd choose me, his brother, his family, over you… the hired help." The serpent in Ric went into full effect as a dramatic hiss hit the air. "That's really gotta sting, Morgan."

Games. That's all it ever was with Ric, just endless games and doubletalk. Nothing was straightforward, and for a man like Jason, nothing was more infuriating. Did he not remember all that went down a few months ago, the lengths to which he went just to stick it to Sonny? Who exactly did Ric think he was fooling? As far as Sonny himself went, the blinders may have been up, way up, but the truth was still the truth. Mending fences was the last thing on Ric Lansing's twisted mind, the absolute last thing. "It won't be long before both Sonny and Elizabeth realize exactly what you are, Ric. And when they do, there won't be anything left standing in my way, nothing between me and making Sonny's world a better place."

"And you think killing me will magically solve all of Sonny's problems?" A cackle crept past his lips. "Now who's delusional?"

Jason slowly shook his head, a deadly calm to his eyes. "Maybe not all, but a lot, and knowing you, probably not just for Sonny, either." The Enforcer relaxed his brow a moment, as if contemplating something. "In case you hadn't noticed, Ric, you tend to piss people off, the wrong people. Who knows, Maybe I'd be doing the public a service."

He couldn't put his finger on it, but something about Jason's last words, coupled with his decidedly unsettling nearness, stirred a flutter of caution in his stomach. And Ric's self-preservation instinct kicked it up a notch as he remembered the definite edge he had over Jason. Ric held Jason's heart in his hands, the fate of his precious Emily, and the fact that Morgan was none the wiser made it all the more delicious. He felt like laughing. This goon really had no idea who he was messing with, did he, what these blunt threats could unleash? Fools, all of them… "Ever consider that my death could create a few problems, Jason? Problems you and your family want no part of?"

Ric watched as the Enforcer's brow knitted in a fierce glare. Guess he didn't like having the tables turned on him. He realized his blunder in threatening what Jason held dear, and also by choosing to go about it in such a vague manner, but really now, how could Ric have possibly resisted? The look on Morgan's face was reward enough. And he was just getting started.

"I'm not interested in your games, Ric." Jason imagined truer words had never been spoken. He didn't find his way to Lansing's doorstep to go around in a never ending circle of puffed up bravado. Allowing this to go on any longer would only be playing right into Ric's hands; allowing himself to be distracted and thrown off course. Jason's visit had purpose, a purpose he intended to share with Ric. "You can try to talk your way out of it all you like, but I know you were behind the attempt on Carly. And no matter how long it takes, I will make you pay for messing with Sonny's family."

Ric gave a hateful grin. "I am Sonny's family, Jason."

The fact that Ric expected the Enforcer to waver at his words proved Ric didn't know Jason as well as he thought. Instead Jason merely stepped away, not a threat, but a promise forming on his tongue. "Not for long."

With that the room went deathly silent and Jason made his exit, leaving Ric's front door wide open in his wake.

As Ric watched him leave, an unsettling smile twisted across his lips, a gleam of pure wicked shining in his dark eyes. It seemed a visit from the henchman himself proved all the encouragement Ric's undecided mind needed.

He couldn't have said it better himself. And while the context wasn't exactly what Ric had in mind, Jason was right. Elizabeth was a strong girl and she would get over it, but it wouldn't have a damn thing to do with Ric's fate.

"You just screwed yourself, Morgan."

-----

(Um… let's just say a few hours of nothing happened and it's nighttime now, okay? Good, read on….)

The haunting full moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow about the darkened runway. It seemed the airport had become quite the popular place to take a business meeting.

"Care to explain that hideous smile?"

At his friend's words, Lorenzo's eyes drifted up and settled on Miguel's face. Miguel's smirking face. "Monitoring my facial expressions are we?" He asked.

"Well, after thirty plus years of friendship, I think I know your 'looks' pretty well," Miguel replied easily, his eyebrows drawing upward just a bit. "And that is most definitely your 'I've-got-a-new-toy' look."

He really couldn't help the sudden laugh that choked out of him, nor could he do much to avoid the sly smile on his lips. He just felt… happy. Like everything was finally coming together, and not a moment too soon, either. The victory of it, if not just a tad premature, was intoxicating. He would never admit it, but the future that had just been mapped out for him and his business, made him a little… giddy. Exclusively on the inside, of course. Alcazars just didn't do giddy, no matter how good the news. "Let's just say I stand firmly behind our previous decision now."

"No more second guesses, hang ups?" Miguel asked, testing Lorenzo's new confidence tentatively.

"Not a one. All I see is potential, my friend."

Finally! A big, resounding, finally! Miguel felt like jumping for joy or breaking into song. Either one would capture his elation at this moment perfectly. Lorenzo had come around and now, as his friend had said so wonderfully, their futures were bursting at the seams with pure, unadulterated potential. The Potential to send Sonny Corinthos tumbling off his lofty perch in this town, and to do it with a deft touch. The poor bastard would never even know what hit him, and when he finally did realize, he and Morgan would be too far gone to give a damn about anything but getting their precious Emily back. And after they signed over every last stitch of territory worth a damn, they would get her back… but of course that whole 'alive' thing was still open for debate. God, this felt good. "So, I take this to mean our plans are still in tact?"

Lorenzo shook his head. "Of a sort," he said, shielding his hands form the growing cold within the pockets of his pants. "I want you to stay. I'll go to Caracas instead and ready the compound."

Miguel's eyes danced in anticipation. Well, this day just kept getting better and better. What next, a bonus? "I get to focus on the main event?" he asked, gleefully clapping his hands together. "Goody."

Seriousness abruptly returned to the air, and Lorenzo sighed tiredly. "This is not a game, Miguel. She's wary of me and, after today, she won't be the only one."

'Wary of me'? Miguel felt his good mood drain from him at warp speed. Oh, good God, no. Emily being 'wary' of him could only mean one thing, one very bad and very risky thing. "Please tell me you didn't." Miguel asked sharply. Lorenzo's unresponsive stare was all the answer Miguel needed and he let out a mournful groan. "Lorenzo, why would you go see her? Why on earth would you risk that now?"

"I had to be positive, and now I am," he said, fighting hard to keep the authoritative tone which always escaped him when dealing with Miguel. Most times Lorenzo felt like he was explaining himself rather than passing down an order, a weakness—albeit minute—that didn't always sit well with him. "Don't worry about it; just be sure to act quickly. Use as many men as it takes. Make the capture messy if need be. Just get her and get out."

Mild shock splayed itself across Miguel's handsome features. "Messy? Am I hearing you right? You want me to go in guns blazing?"

"No, that's not what I said." Lorenzo kept his jaw squared and deepened his baritone for emphasis. "Wait till she's outdoors, guard or no guard and go for it. If it comes to it, show as much force as necessary. I don't want her getting away, Miguel."

Miguel nearly rolled his eyes, but settled instead for an arched brow. "Do I look like Lansing to you? I think I can mange to capture that slip of a girl without her pulling a kick-and-run on me. I just didn't think we'd be approaching this like storming a castle. I thought it'd be more…covert."

"Our schedule doesn't allow for any such luxuries. In fact, it's working quite viciously against us. We have a backlog of pending shipments that need to find port, and quickly. There isn't time for dawdling or waiting for the perfect moment, finesse isn't an option here. So again, anything, and I do mean anything it takes to get her is what I give you my full permission to do," Lorenzo paused, drawing a short breath before giving Miguel the last of his orders. "Do what you have to do, but don't hurt her, in any way." Hardening his gaze, Lorenzo gripped Miguel's shoulder firmly, needing to drive his point home. "She comes out of this completely unscathed, Miguel. Not so much as a scratch. Understood?"

Giving his usual nod, Miguel thought better of probing his friend's statement any further, although Lorenzo's resoluteness on the subject of keeping Emily safe did raise a few flags. Flags he would have to keep a definite eye on as things progressed. He just hoped Lorenzo—who had always been the… softer of them—hadn't allowed Ms. Quartermaine's obvious charms to distract him from the task at hand. Emotional derailment at this point would only be self-defeating; a thing Miguel would never allow coming to pass. "When?" he asked, subtly shrugging off Lorenzo's hand.

"Like you said, we need to move quickly. The sooner this happens, the better. And I want Emily Quartermaine at the Caracas compound as soon as possible."

-----

"Wow, somebody's living in style." A sharp whistle followed Elizabeth Webber-Lansing's words as she shrugged off her jacket and handed it to Emily.

Emily blushed slightly, not always completely comfortable with just how much her money and her brother seemed to provide for her. "Yeah, Jason doesn't really do things small, ya know?"

Crossing to the large, loft style window on the opposite side of the apartment's unbelievably spacious living room, Elizabeth claimed a spot on the ledge beneath it. She scanned the glittery cityscape of nocturnal Port Charles, but eventually her eyes zeroed in on something a little more familiar amongst the jumble of dimly lit waterfront warehouses and high-rises. "Is that what I think it is?" She asked, turning to look at Emily who had come to stand beside her.

"Elizabeth, you already know Jason's building is across the street."

The tinier of the two brunettes scrunched up her nose. "Yes, I do. But I didn't know anything about that," she said, continuing her inspection of building opposite them.

Emily squinted and followed Elizabeth's gaze. Oh, God. Why had she never noticed that before? "I don't believe it," she said, clasping a hand over her rising smile.

"I do," giggled Elizabeth. "This had Big-Brother-Jason written all over it."

Emily shook her head and gave her eyes a good roll, lowering herself next to Elizabeth. "Well, this explains why he insisted on this unit," she said, narrowing her eyes at the apartment building across the street, or more specifically, the row of faintly illuminated, yet definitely familiar windows that stared back at her.

"He really has gotten good at that chaperone-from-a-distance thing, huh?"

You have no idea, Emily thought. She loved Jason dearly, but over the years she had come to realize that though Jason would never be as presumptuous or as stifling to actually choose for her, he was not beyond being a protective big brother. And this proved that perfectly. Emily turned him down when he wanted her to move to Harborview, and though a well trained eye told her he was a little disappointed, he came up with a "suitable alternative", one that placed her across the street from her brother and quite literally—as had become apparent—under his watchful eye, as well.

Jason's own penthouse, positioned directly across the street, overlooked her new home with perfect clarity. In fact, if he were standing at his window now, she'd even be able to wave, or toss him some other hand gesture.

Emily sighed. Once a big brother, always a big brother.

"So, are the guys coming by later?"

Elizabeth's cheerful voice dragged Emily from her thoughts. "Lucky is," she nodded, shifting in her seat to face Liz. "He actually invited himself."

A perfectly plucked eyebrow arched dubiously. "Only himself? What about Nikolas?"

Nikolas. Emily hugged herself and drew in a steadying breath. She really had to stop letting that man get to her, and stop letting her thoughts shut down at mere mention of him. Their… incident earlier was nothing, hardly even a blip on the radar, but still. It and the argument after left Emily with that same old nagging feeling, like no mater how hard she tried for it not to, Nikolas' disapproval would always cut through her, always make her wince. "I'm not sure," she said softly, idly staring at the wedding ring on Liz's petite finger. "He may not want to after..."

Being the true and attentive friends she was, Elizabeth caught the doubt in Emily's tone with ease. "Uh-oh… you two go at it again?"

Emily looked up quickly, a little thrown by the 'again' part. "Liz, it's not like we fight all the time."

"No," she conceded. "But as far as non-couples go, you two sure do pitch a mean squabble."

Emily narrowed her eyes. "We do not squabble."

"Not usually, no. But lately…"

"Okay, so we've exchanged the occasional barb back and forth," Emily relented with a shrug of her shoulders. "But come on, Lucky and I do the same thing."

"But Lucky doesn't get all broody and silent, and you don't resort to that Avoid-and-Retreat tactic you love so much." The small brunette reached out and gave Emily's clasped hands a gentle squeeze, understanding gleaming in her warm brown eyes. "It's different with Nikolas, Em. Admit it already."

Sometimes she really resented how well Elizabeth knew her. Resented it, but thanked God for it all at the same time. Emily really didn't know what she'd do without her, or how in the hell she managed all that time away from her best friend. "It's always different with him, Liz," she sighed, traces of defeat weaving heavily into her words. "That's the whole problem."

Emily's woeful tone only made Elizabeth squeeze her hand tighter. God, did Nikolas even realize what a wreck he could leave her, how easily he affected her? He couldn't, she knew that. Nikolas was as oblivious as a rock when it came to this kind of stuff. Hell, he had no clue that Emily felt anything outside the bonds of friendship for him all those years ago, not until Emily did quite possibly the gutsiest thing she'd ever heard of, and kissed him square on the mouth in the middle of the park. But, that was a long time ago, only Elizabeth doubted that, though buried by time, distance and other loves, Emily ever truly stopped feeling for Nikolas in that way. What she felt for him was too real, too true, and too beyond her years. Something like that doesn't just stop being. It fades in its intensity, yes, but end? Taking in the picture Emily made before her, her friend's typically smiling face drawn in a saddened defeat of sorts; Elizabeth didn't think it would ever end for Emily. Some things just don't go away, no matter how badly you want them to. They're just… there. Always in your heart and never far from your mind. Elizabeth definitely knew the feeling.

Shaking free from her reverie, Elizabeth urged Emily on with another gentle squeeze of her hand, determined to set this conversation back on its cheery course. "So what happened this time?"

"Oh, nothing major. It was just Lucky being Lucky, doing his best to embarrass me." A furrowed brow from Liz pushed Emily to elaborate. "We were talking about my new bodyguard…" Emily cut herself off, giggling slightly, when Elizabeth waggled her eyebrows suggestively at mention of the handsome guard. "And Lucky made a big deal about warning me off him, telling me that it wouldn't be smart to go falling for him."

Elizabeth pulled a face. "Oh, no."

Emily nodded, her eyes slitting in recollection. "Exactly. He did it just to rile Nikolas up."

"And did it work?"

"Like a charm. My god, Liz, you should have seen Nikolas' face… mouth wide open, eyes bulging… he looked like a fish," she laughed.

"But a cute fish, right?"

"Well, duh," she giggled lightly. "Nikolas isn't capable of non-cuteness. It's against the rules of humanity or something; he must be adorable at all times." The smile slowly faded then, the saddened mask once again being dropped over shinning eyes. "Even when he is being a jerk."

A pang of sympathy shot through Liz as the mood once again became somber. "I'm sensing the fish-state didn't hold for long."

"Unfortunately," Emily replied dryly. "He took it upon himself to interject something about my less than savory romantic history."

"He didn't!" Elizabeth's eyes widened and her perfectly painted mouth curled into a frown when she realized that he, in fact, did. Nikolas, you complete blockhead. Was the man trying to push Emily away? Because if his oddly abrasive behavior towards her during the past few months was any indication, than the prince might get exactly that: Emily, away… again. Elizabeth tried her best to suppress a sigh. For all his worldly knowledge, Nikolas knew not a godforsaken thing about how to handle the women he cared for. Not a one. "What did you do, after that I mean?"

"I went rigid and bolted for the door. But he grabbed my arm and we ended up having a sort of … intense moment."

Intense is always good. Intense is a sign of passion, and that's even better! The smaller brunette brightened slightly at the thought, but made sure to keep it well hidden "Ahh, Intense moments… you two are really good at those."

A giggle, well, more a playfully indignant snort escaped Emily suddenly. "Shut up."

Elizabeth raised her arms in defense. "I'm only stating the truth, my dear. When you two have at it, you can cut the tension with a chainsaw." The brunette paused, looked at Emily pointedly, and scrunched up the bridge of her nose again. "It's all very dramatic."

But Liz's attempt at lifting her spirits seemed to have the opposite effect, and Emily's face grew grave, fiercely woeful. Elizabeth felt her heart pinch in her chest. "What if I don't want it to be dramatic, Liz? What if just for once in my life, I want it to be easy?"

Liz lifted a tiny hand to Emily's hair, and pushed it back gently, soothingly, understanding written all over her face. "Oh, sweetie, there's no such thing when it comes to love." Elizabeth clamped her mouth shut at the look of perfect horror that swept over Emily's face. Whoops-y… "U-um… what else happened?" She asked quickly, hand dropping back to her own lap, mentally scrambling for a cover. She knew Emily wasn't ready for that word in conjunction with Nikolas yet, that part would take awhile. But it would happen; Liz just didn't see any other outcome.

Emily shifted in her seat gazing out over the city with an absent eye. "Nothing much, really," she shrugged. "I left, ran into a creepy associate of Jason's, Nikolas went big-brother on me… again, we argued a bit, and then my guard literally hauled me away and brought me home." Turning back, Emily finished with a tiny smile.

"Right, sounds very uneventful," Liz said sarcastically, rolling her eyes teasingly. But then, as if someone had flipped a switch, the smile left and Elizabeth began to snake her inspecting gaze around the relatively empty apartment. She seemed to be looking for something, or someone. "Speaking of damnably handsome bodyguards… where is he? Isn't he supposed to, you know, be around? That it how it works, right?"

A sneer in place, Emily shot the front door a withering glance. "Johnny? Oh, he's outside. He just loves it outside."

-----

Johnny leaned against the wall beside Emily's door, infamous cell phone in hand. How could a hunk of plastic, metal, and wires cause him so much grief? Well, he knew the answer to that. The phone currently being clutched in his unforgiving grasp really wasn't at fault. This gigantic disaster was all him. He should have stayed put and waited until Emily got done with her friends. He never should have run back to the car to get the damn phone. He never should have given Alcazar that golden opportunity to get close to her. Never.

Johnny banged his head back against the unyielding wall, somewhat satisfied with the dull thud it made.

He could go through all the 'shouldn't haves' in the world, but the point was, he did.

And now he had to face the consequences. He couldn't let Alcazar's blatant contact with Emily go unreported. Even if—by some happy miracle—his job survived his silence, his conscience never would.

Nope, the guard thought determinedly as he viciously punched a familiar number into his phone's keypad. He may find himself out on his ass, but at least Jason would take the proper measures to keep Emily safe. That was all that mattered now.

-----

A shrill, electric buzz pierced the still night air, and Jason dug hastily into his jacket pocket.

"Morgan," he answered gruffly, holding the phone to his ear. This had better be good, he thought edgily. After his encounter with Ric and even more fruitless digging, Jason was anything but in the mood for mindless interruptions.

"Jason, Its Johnny. Look, I'm glad I caught you. There's something I need to talk to you about."

Emily. A sharp wave of panic swept through him. "Is my sister all right?" He demanded, the edge in his voice only growing.

"She's fine, Boss," Johnny said quickly. "But this does have to do with her, though."

He was relieved, but the impatience wasn't gone. "What are you talking about?"

"Lorenzo Alcazar, actually. He, um… he approached Emily today."

Alcazar? The bastard never should have been allowed within fifty feet of Emily… "Wait—hold on, he talked to her? Where? What—where the hell were you, Johnny?" Jason demanded, words crisp, unforgiving.

There was a moment of hesitation and then came an onslaught of words seemingly forced out by nothing else but sheer determination.

"I was gone from my post. I left her alone in Kelly's to get my cell phone from the car so I could check in. And when I got back, I found out that Lorenzo Alcazar had spoken with her." The guard took a shaky breath. "I'm sorry, Boss. I screwed up."

"Yeah, you did," he said sharply.

There was a slow, meticulous intake of breath on the other end and then a quietly, yet firmly spoken statement.

"Anything you need to do, Jason… I completely understand."

"Johnny…" Jason trailed off, doing his best to quell his anger and disappointment. This was Sonny's best guard; he couldn't lose it on him. Years of faithful service prevented Jason for showing the other man that kind of disrespect, but it still didn't change the fact that Jason wasn't very happy. "Look, I appreciate that you told me the truth, but this can't ever happen."

"I know and I—"

"No. Emily is my sister. She means everything to me and I entrust you with her safety. I don't need to lecture you about everything Alcazar is capable of. You know, you were there." Jason took a steadying breath. "With him and Lansing still out there, I need to count on her being protected, Johnny. I need to know my sister is safe with you, always."

A few seconds of what Jason suspected to be stunned silence ticked away, and then the other man answered, a quiet gratefulness to his words.

"Emily will be protected with my life, Jason. I promise you that."

-----

The ride had been silent so far, nothing but the softly humming radio playing in the background as Lucky and Nikolas made their way to Emily's penthouse, in the Jag of course.

Lucky decided to break the—in his opinion—mind numbing session of classical music that kept droning on and on and on… "So, hey… you were a pretty big jackass back at Kelly's." Lucky had never really been known for his tact, at least not where his brother was concerned.

Lucky watched said brother closely, noting the slight twitch of lips and the distinct narrowing of dark eyes, well, as far as he could tell from profile anyhow. The obvious negative reaction didn't discourage the Spencer in him though—hardly anything could—and he pushed on. "I mean, really man, way to stick your foot your mouth."

"Are you trying to help somehow?" Nikolas bit out, flashing a quick glance at his younger brother's—big surprise here—smug face. "Because if you are I think you need to do a little research on the concept."

"Easy there, Princely," Lucky laughed, putting up a defensive hand. "No need to get all flustered, just stating a fact. You managed to royally—excuse the pun—screw up that little meeting with Em back there."

An aggravated sigh flitted through the cab's still air. "I know."

"That's all you've got to say for yourself, 'I know'?" The brown of Lucky's eyes flashed indignantly. "What the hell is that, man?"

"What else do you want, Lucky? I'm not sure what I can give you considering that I'm just as clueless as you are here."

That was exactly the problem. Lucky wasn't clueless. He knew all too well what the little incident back at Kelly's had been about, where it truly rooted from. Of course he knew—he put it into motion, didn't he? And why did he do that again? Lucky couldn't be sure. Maybe it was the ass-backward mating dance his brother and his best friend had been performing right under his nose all summer. Sometimes he found it completely absurd as to how two people could behave the way they did toward one another and not even realize the truth behind their own actions. Their obliviousness baffled him, and annoyed him. Greatly.

In the beginning, Lucky found it cute, endearing even, the little verbal jabs they slung back and forth. But lately, the quiet flashes of hurt that swelled in Emily's soft brown eyes during the 'episodes' gritted something in him. It made his heart bunch in his chest for her, and clench in anger toward his brother, toward both of them all at the same time. While most times things were thankfully pleasant and easy, the fact remained that Nikolas and Emily had taken to making one another miserable, quite completely and with surprisingly little effort. Today proved that. One tiny, but damn well aimed remark sailed through the air and managed to strike her right where it counted. In the one place their returned Emily seemed to keep well guarded nowadays: her heart.

Lucky saw the way it stung her, read it all over her face and kicked himself the second Nikolas let the one-liner rip. Lucky felt responsible, and in truth, he was. Lucky foresaw the potential rift, meaning O'Brien, and decided, on pure whim, to toss it out there before his brother had the chance to do it on his own terms. Lucky's intent (aside form having a little fun) had been to stun Nikolas silent, disable the subject, and get on with their conversation, effectively avoiding another showing of the 'Nikolas and Emily Battles'. But, of course, it hadn't really worked out that way. Seldom ever did when it came to those two, lately at least. "Well, I wasn't asking for me. Emily's the one you threw for a loop."

Another sigh, deeper, more resigned this time. "It tried to apologize, Lucky, she wouldn't let me. You wouldn't let me."

The Spencer brother raised an annoyed eyebrow. "When does she ever? And besides that, I wasn't trying to keep you from apologizing; I was trying to keep you from pissing Emily off… well, anymore than you already managed to."

Nikolas chanced a glance at his brother, dumfounded to say the least. "In what way would my saying that I'm sorry upset her?"

Lucky held in a snicker. "God, you really are clueless aren't you?"

His hold on the steering wheel suddenly resembling a death grip, Nikolas groaned in frustration. "Didn't I just say that!"

Aside from how humorous this moment could have been, Lucky, being the person he was, couldn't help but feel a little sorry for his brother. Nikolas had never really been too good at this kind of stuff, the emotional sides of their two favorite girls that is. Actually, Nikolas tended to be as dense as a concrete wall at times. Sure, he could spot a fake smile and a heavy heart in Em, or Liz for that matter, a mile away, but asking Nikolas to understand the intricacies of their feelings and reactions to things? Well, that would be like asking Nikolas to name the entire starting line up for the New York Giants. Chances are he wouldn't be able to do it.

Sighing, Lucky tried his best to explain, inwardly doubting if any of it would really sink in. "Look, with Emily… she just, the past is hard for her, Nikolas. You know that. And the Zander stuff… thinking about it, talking about it… well, I think that's the hardest of all. She just doesn't like to bring it up anymore; it isn't easy having to admit all over again just how wrong she was when she believed with everything in her that he was worth it, when he wasn't. It's the very definition of a sore subject and here you are, Prince Nikolas, the overbearing, overprotective best friend whose opinion—for some unknown reason—happens to mean a hell of a lot to her, throwing one of her less favorable decisions right back in her face. How did you think she'd react, huh?"

Nikolas took advantage of the stoplight to digest his brother's words. Honestly? Nikolas had no idea what he expected to gain from the remark. Except that when the words came to his lips, his mind seemed to be running on a completely different track, busy being preoccupied with envisioning disastrous scenarios involving Emily and her new guard. It was like someone flipped on a flashing danger sign in his head and before he knew it, versions of the future, with Emily hanging all over that shaggy-headed bodyguard started running through his thoughts at warp speed. Suffice it to say, all sense then theft Nikolas Cassadine's brain, in favor of complete thoughtlessness and utter stupidity. At that instant all he wanted was to jolt her back to reality, and prevent her from entertaining thoughts of following another doomed man down a dark path. Though somewhat tangled and unclear, he knew his true intent couldn't have been malicious; it never was when it came to her. His actions or words, however blunt or rash were always pointed toward a nobler aim: keeping Emily protected, even if only from herself. It was a habit the Prince couldn't break, one he had no desire to break. "Look, I'm not even sure what happened. I didn't mean it, Lucky; it just flew out of my mouth."

Lucky shook his head as the car sped up again. "That's exactly the problem. You never mean it, Nikolas, but you always do it."

"Always?" Nikolas surprised even himself with the pitch his voice took on. But it couldn't be helped, that took the prince by surprise. "What on Earth are you talking about? Emily and I don't always fight and I certainly don't bring up Zander all the time. I positively loathe the idiot, Lucky, You know that. I'm happy they split up, in my eyes that jerk was never good enough for Emily, never."

"That's exactly what I'm talking about. You may not always fight with her in the traditional sense, buy you always have something to say about her life, about her choices, romantic or not, even from before. It's just gotten worse since she got back." Lucky paused and considered his brother's profile for long moment, positive his words wouldn't be well received. "It seems like you're always dissecting her life, cutting it up into the parts you approve of, and the parts you don't. And I really don't care if you only have 'her best interest at heart'; it isn't your place to pass judgment on her, Nikolas."

Well, Lucky had been right, dead right. "I do nothing of the sort!" Nikolas yelled, his vehement denial echoing through the car's enclosed cab.

Lucky winced but just slightly. "Hey, take a breath, okay? Like I said, I'm just calling it like I see it, something you should be used to by now."

The Prince closed his eyes and tried hard to level out his temper. He'd already allowed it to get the best of him once today, yelling at Lucky would accomplish nothing. Nothing worthwhile anyway. "And what, pray tell, is it that you see, brother dear?" Nikolas, though quieted considerably, didn't bother to still the acidity in his voice.

Drawing in a deep, fortifying breath, Lucky said the one thing he knew Nikolas wouldn't be expecting, but also the most truthful thing he could think of. It was time someone opened up his brother's eyes. "A guy who's slowly realizing that he let something incredible slip through his fingers, and who really isn't handling it very well."

-----

"You can't come in here, sir." The tall guard pushed at Jason's chest, attempting to keep him in the hallway. How the man even got on the Yacht in the first place was puzzling enough, he certainly didn't need another uninvited guest making his way to Mr. Alcazar's office for a second time that day. He shoved at Jason's chest again, receiving a deadly glare as a reward.

"First of all, get your hands off me." Jason kept his glare with the other man as the guard's hands slipped from the leather of his lapels and back to his sides. "Second, I'm Jason Morgan, and I'm here to see your boss."

The guard tilted his head, no doubt considering the validity of Jason's statement. "I don't care who you are, Mr. Alcazar isn't taking any visitors at the moment."

Without another glance, Jason forced himself past the dimwitted guard, throwing a stern, "Trust me, he'll make an exception" over his shoulder as he barged right into Alcazar's study.

What met Jason's eyes, though, set the Enforcer's brow in a confused and somewhat wary tilt. Alcazar's desk was occupied all right, but the man behind it didn't look anything like him. The man was an associate of Alcazar's, a right-hand-man of sorts. He also had quite the reputation for being just as much of a ruthless bastard as Luis ever was, and twice as a crazy. And that was saying something. "Where the hell is Alcazar?" Jason snapped, nearing the desk with cautious, measuring eyes.

The other man didn't answer right away; instead the dark haired man rose from his chair, revealing himself to be of fairly impressive height, with an equally impressive build. He crossed to the front of the desk and made a drawn out production of leaning against it, the picture of leisure, as he never broke gaze with Jason. This was definitely a tough guy, a bigheaded tough guy. Great, Jason thought dryly, just what we need around here, another arrogant pain in the ass.

"I believe we haven't been properly introduced. Miguel Garcia-Covas," he said with a small quirk of a smile, confidence—legitimate confidence—dripping from every syllable. He stretched out his hand to Jason.

Jason lowered his gaze to the outreached hand, and then back to the other man's face. "Jason Morgan," he said back, keeping his arms to his sides, blatantly snubbing Miguel's' gesture. Jason wasn't there to make friends or to shake hands with psychos.

A light chuckle rose in the back of Miguel's throat as he withdrew his hand from the air. "I know very well who you are, Mr. Morgan, very well indeed."

"Good for you. Now, do you mind telling me where Alcazar is? We have a few ground rules to set and I don't like wasting my time."

Miguel drew his arms up and crossed them over his chest, all while looking quite bored. "I'm afraid Lorenzo's not here," he said smoothly, gesturing to the otherwise vacant study. "As you can see."

"When will he back?"

Miguel shrugged his shoulders, the movement laden with poised and unflappable grace, a trait he shared with Jason. The mark of a Made Man. "I'm afraid not for a while. You see, he's out of town. Just left tonight, in fact. Pity, you only just missed him."

Left town? Jason felt relief creep through him, but it was short lived as he let his deductions go deeper. If Lorenzo was out of town he couldn't try to chat up Emily or harp on Sonny about territory, but if he was out of town, it could be some sort of effort to cover himself, deflect attention or—and this was unsettling—construct an alibi. But it could also be nothing. There was no way for Jason to be sure, not with a man he knew next to nothing about. "Is he coming back at all?"

"Of course," Miguel grinned coldly. "Lorenzo has a vested interest in this city. But then I don't have to tell you that. Do I, Mr. Morgan?"

Hardening his glare, Jason began to remove himself from the room. "Tell your boss I need to speak with him," he said sharply. "It has to do with that 'interest' of his."

"Will do, Mr. Morgan, will do."

With that Miguel watched through hooded eyes as Jason exited the study, pushing past a clearly pissed off Rico.

The second Jason was out the door and it closed after him, the amused smiled fell from Miguel's face, and a look of twisted anger filled the void. What the hell have you started, Lorenzo?

The stakes were already high, the game had already been stripped of its rules, and the plan had been handed to Miguel to execute as he saw fit, as brazenly as he saw fit. But if Morgan was on the scent then that changed everything, absolutely everything.

Lorenzo's lack of self-control, of judgment, had just forced Miguel's hand sooner than either of them had been ready for. They would have to move quickly, and before the girl's dear brother got the chance to build an army around her and extinguish their last hope.

Reaching behind him for the telephone, Miguel's fingers quickly worked Pedro's cell phone number into the dial pad. With the phone held tensely to his ear, Miguel needed only to utter one solitary sentence, a sentence which would plunge Emily's life into unimaginable and irrevocable turmoil.

"Assemble the men, its time."

-----

TBC…