Chapter 22: Never
"Lila?" Michael asked dragging his lips away from hers.
"Huh?" she asked looking slightly dazed.
"We can't do this."
Lila looked around and realized they were still in the elevator. "You're right, anyone could walk in on us."
He shook her head, "I mean at all. Princess you know how much I care about you, but you're going to get hurt if you stay with me. You don't know what I've gotten myself into, but once you do you'll hate me and I'll deserve it."
She looked like she'd just had her heart ripped out of her chest. Her eyes full of hurt bored into his. "I- uh. Yeah. I get it. Don't worry. Being with me is just too much of a hassle in you already too complicated life. It's fine Michael." She jammed the button to make the elevator move again.
"Princess," he started brokenly.
She spun on him, "My name is Lila, use it. Or better yet, don't!" Her voice was tight and she was desperately trying to hold back tears. The doors slid open and she quickly darted out of them, through the lobby and onto the street. She walked quickly towards her apartment, ignoring the crisp snow that was falling obstructing her vision. "I should have never stayed in this God Forsaken town. I should have crawled back to San Francisco with my tail between my legs." She was mumbling to herself and not paying much attention to her surroundings. A car screeched up next to her, headlights blinding as three men jumped out of the vehicle and charged her.
She knew better than to fight. She'd taken self-defense courses, but knew she would be no match for three grown men. She let them grab her, and stuff her into the back seat of the car. She was quickly blindfolded and bound before being shoved down against the floorboards.
"Do as you're told and you won't be hurt." The voice belonged to a man, but beyond that she knew nothing. It was too dark to have gotten a description of them. Lila bit her lip and began to recite a prayer in her head. Our father who art in heaven, hallow be thy name... She repeated the prayer over and over again, until the car came to a stop. Lila belatedly realized the absence of fear. Why should she be afraid? Something inside her told her that this wasn't some random abduction. This had to do with who she was or wasn't related to. She felt strong hands pull her up from the floor and stand her upright outside of the car. "I'm going to untie your feet so you can walk. Don't pull anything."
She felt her feet being untied then a slight shove as her captor started her moving. She walked along silently and within seconds felt the terrain shift. She was walking on grass now whereas she was walking on pavement or concrete. They came to a stop and after a few silent minutes Lila heard a low murmur. It quickly came closer and she recognized the sound as a boat motor. Seconds later she felt someone else's presence next to her.
"Did everything go as planned?" It was another man.
"Yes, boss. She hasn't struggled or said a word since we snatched her."
"Good. Ms. Morgan, please allow me to accompany you to my yacht."
"McCall-Morgan," she told him stiffly though she wanted to laugh out loud. He was so polite, treating her like she was his guest.
"Well Ms. McCall-Morgan," he emphasized. "I apologize. Come along." He linked her arm through his and all but dragged her the next few feet. "I'm going to remove the blindfold so you don't accidentally fall into the harbor. It's quite cold this time of year. I'll be right behind you the whole time." The cloth was removed, but she kept her eyes averted away from him. If she couldn't I.D. anyone she would be better off. He grabbed her arm again and forced her walk with him towards the docks. He pushed her through a door, which led into a small sitting room. He shoved her into a seat and she listened as he gave instructions to a man, in Spanish. She kept her eyes squeezed shut as the boat's motor sputtered to life and into open water. "Sea sickness?" he asked sounding genuinely concerned.
She shook her head 'no'. "I'm safer if I can't I.D. you."
He let out a hearty chuckle, "You're safe no matter what. Come on, look at me."
She looked up hesitantly into green eyes that looked vaguely familiar to her. The rest of him was a mystery though. He had slicked back graying brown hair and deep lines around his eyes. "Who are you?"
He shifted in his seat, "That's not relative. The only thing you need to know is that you are a bargaining chip. I'm simply using you to get from point A to point B."
"People will look for me. I have a family and friends." Lila was desperately trying to figure out who this man was.
"Yes, I have no doubt that your father will come looking for you, but it's your mother I'm more interested in."
"My father is de-" She trailed off realizing what he'd said. "My mother?"
He nodded, "Yes, Brenda Barrett."
"What do you want with Brenda?"
He rolled his shoulders as though trying to release tension. "She and I have an old score to settle. Nothing that concerns you."
It hit her all at once, who he was. She'd seen his picture among some of her father's belongings. And those eyes…She'd run into them several times since arriving in Port Charles. Time to turn the tables. She gave him a slow, wicked smile. "Oh but it does Mr. Alcazar."
10 points to whoever guessed it was Lorenzo. Shall I force you to review by stopping there?
No, not even I am that evil.;)
He looked only mildly amused that she had figured him out. "Points to the lovely lady who recognizes little ole me."
She shrugged her shoulders, her smile never once slipping. "It's not you I recognize as much as your eyes."
He looked startled, before letting his cool facade wash back over him. "I beg your pardon?"
She leaned forward conspiratorially, "Your daughter has your eyes." She had missed playing hardball with the big boys. Never again would any man call the shots. The look of shock and surprise almost made her laugh out loud. "What's wrong Lorenzo?" She let his name roll off her tongue like a smooth brandy. "Cat got your tongue?"
"Shut up!" He told her gruffly. "Just keep your damn mouth shut!"
Lila pursed her lips together, "It must really burn you that your daughter bears the name of your worst enemy. First and last. Named after Sonny's mother you know? She lives in his house, under his rules, and you're reduced to a kidnapper. Shame, shame." She watched as he became more and more irritated until his eye developed a nervous tick. "I wonder, do you still see Carly? Is she jerking you around, whining to you about being Sonny's wife? Ooh! I've figured it out!" She began to laugh hysterically. "Carly bitched to you about me ruining her perfect little family, and you like the good little whipping boy you are, volunteered to kill two birds with one very large stone.
You accomplish your goal by trading me for Brenda, which suits both your purposes by effectively getting rid of Sonny's real love. Then what Lorenzo? You kill Brenda and get rid of me? Then you and Carly ride off into the sunset with that bitch of a daught-" His hand reeled back and slapped her hard across her face. She tasted blood in her mouth so she spit onto the expensive carpeting. "You and Carly ride off into the sunset taking that BITCH of a daughter of yours with you. I commend you for your plan, however it's not going to work."
A slow smile crept across his face, "And why is that?"
She returned the smile whole-heartedly. "Because I won't let it." Without warning Lila sprung from her seat and punched Lorenzo with all her might. He fell back, with her sprawled on top of him. Lorenzo spun her so that he was on top and she underneath him, hands wrapped around her throat squeezing. She struggled a bit before her eyes fluttered closed and her body stilled. Her breathing went shallow then stopped all together. He climbed off top of her and walked over to the desk. Lorenzo whipped out his cell phone and began to punch in a number. A heavy vase was brought down on top of his head knocking him out.
"Rule 1 when attempting to kidnap someone. Never let them draw you into an argument. It's usually just a distraction so that they can untie themselves." Lila picked up the rope that she had been restrained with and tied Lorenzo's hands behind his back with it. "Rule 2, never assume that someone is dead until you've checked their pulse you dumbass." She gagged him with his own tie and looked down on him. "And last but not least, never in your life try to kidnap a woman whose boyfriend just broke up with her!"
Alright guys, sorry for taking so long, the story was just not coming and I rewrote this chapter about 4 times before coming up with this. I hope you all liked it and can forgive me…(blushes)
A challenge to all you writers: I would really love a "companion piece" featuring Cam and Kristina. It can be written in this time frame, or in the past. I'd post it as a chap in this story. I will give you full credit! If you want to do it, e-mail me (my addy is in my profile) please don't put it in your review. If not, that's cool but I figure it will need to be written eventually, so I thought why not? Go for it!