A/N: I was in Pittsburgh last weekend and got home late Monday, thus there was no update. Now I'm back, and here's the update!
BREAKING NEWS: Trina Robinson found NOT GUILTY in PCU Sex Tape Trial! Esme Prince Still at Large!
The headline from The Invader was plastered on every tablet as Michael stepped into the Metro Court restaurant. He raised an eyebrow at the scene, taking in how full the tables were and how distracted the patrons looked. He meandered through the tables, making his way to the spacious bar. He pulled out his phone upon sitting down, rereading the last few texts from his covert employee before sending one himself.
To: Dex (10:12 AM)
Call me when you get this
"Who're you texting?"
Michael whipped his head to his left, Valentin occupying the seat.
"An employee," he replied swiftly, pocketing his device in his blazer, "I was checking on him after they…called in sick a few days ago."
"Well, aren't you considerate," Valentin said, "Who at ELQ is out sick?"
"It's Aurora, actually."
"Oh."
"Any reason you're here?"
"Well, I do live here. And I'm enjoying the luxury of the five-star hotel my dear friend runs," Valentin replied smugly, smirking when he caught Michael wince, "...and I have a meeting."
"With?"
"My father. Family matters."
"Of course," Michael muttered, ducking his head. Valentin, toying with his glass, looked at Michael with a hint of concern.
"This employee thing is really bothering you."
"What's it to you?"
"Just thought I'd ask."
"Well," Michael sighed, resting his face in his palm, "yeah. This employee of mine does great work. He's been really instrumental in getting things done for me."
"Sounds like a good servant."
"He's more than that."
"Sure."
"I haven't heard from him since he called. I'm not sure if he's getting my texts or…if his condition has worsened. I just…wanna hear from him soon so we can go back to work. It's not like him to not talk to me."
"Maybe he just needs some space."
Michael and Valentin turned to see a man leaning against the edge of the bar. He had dark blonde hair and a muscular build, somewhat defined by the black sweater he wore. The pair found a familiarity in his face, a sharpness in his brown eyes that they've both seen before, but couldn't quite place the person who held those features.
"And you are?" Michael asked, making a face.
"Wallace," he said, glancing between the pair, "I came in last night."
"What brings you to Port Charles?" Valentin asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Just visiting," Wallace replied, "Any chance you could spare me a seat?"
Michael rolled his eyes, getting to his feet, "I have to leave, anyway."
"Thanks," Wallace smirked, sitting down. He grabbed Michael's arm before the man could turn and leave, "and that employee of yours? He'll get back to you soon. Count on it."
Michael felt uneasy with Wallace's wink, turning and taking his leave. Wallace's smirk remained as he turned to Valentin, "He's a charmer."
"He gets it from his mother," Valentin scoffed, running a finger on the rim of his wine glass, "My daughter wouldn't dare be that huffy."
"Oh? How old?"
"Twelve."
"Ah. I've got a son: twenty-five."
"Hopefully he's better behaved than Michael Corinthos," Valentin chuckled. Wallace laughed with him, uneasy. Dex storming out of the hotel room replayed in his head, an unease that grew the more he hadn't heard from the young man.
It was a gut-instinct within Wallace that something was wrong. What it was, he couldn't quite place yet.
"Hmm," Wallace tried to get back into the present conversation, "I've heard that name before. His father's a coffee importer: Sonny."
"...Right," Valentin turned to Wallace, "You know Sonny?"
"Mhm," Wallace hummed, "we're…acquaintances."
"You're in the coffee business?"
"No," Wallace chuckled, shaking his head, "I work in…negotiations."
"You're a businessman?"
"...Sure," Wallace replied, gesturing to a green bottle on the display shelf, "You could say that."
"CEO?"
"Pretty much."
"So am I," Valentin raised a hand, "CEO of the local conglomerate ELQ. Michael is one of the employees, actually."
"Is he?"
"Well, more than that. He's a member of the founding family through his father. He was set to inherit ELQ, and yet here I am."
"Ha!" Wallace laughed, taking a sip of his drink, "Well done."
"Thanks," Valentin smirked, extending a hand out to Wallace, "Valentin Cassadine."
Cassadine, Wallace thought bitterly. He took the man's hand in response, "Wallace Heller."
"In the flesh?"
Wallace whipped his head around upon hearing the British accent, Victor standing right beside him. There was a smug smile on the elder's face, which made Wallace scowl in response.
"Welcome to Port Charles, good sir," Victor beamed, holding a hand out. Wallace got to his feet in response, "So lovely to meet you in person."
"Meeting you is anything but."
"Wallace Heller," Valentin repeated, standing up, "You're Dexter's father."
"Indeed," Victor grinned, "and we have much to discuss. Please, Wallace, join us. I think it's time we really got acquainted with one another."
Ow…
The room was dark and blurry as Dex came to. A blue hue filled the area, and just as he grew more aware, he felt the heat of a head wound clash with the frigid temperature surrounding him.
He wasn't sure what hurt worse: the throbbing at the back of his head or the ache in both of his arms, tightly tied above his head.
"Oh good, you're awake."
Dex rapidly blinked as Sonny appeared in his vision. A number of boxes, each containing different frozen meats, appeared around him.
"Where…" Dex breathed, the chill biting his cheeks, "am I?"
"That's not important," Sonny answered, two goons behind him, "What's important is why you're here."
"I found Esme," Dex reasoned, "I've done everything you've asked me to."
"Except tell me the truth."
"What?"
"How long…did you think you could keep this up?" Sonny walked closer to Dex, his hands in his pockets, "Do…Do you think I'm stupid?"
"N-No-"
"Did you really think you could pull off this con?"
"I…I don't know what you're…talking about…"
"I know you're a plant."
Dex sucked in his lips, shaking from the cold. The fabric of the rope burned against his skin, red and exposed from the coarse texture. He felt himself rock gently as he squirmed.
The force of Ray's punch swung him backwards, the wind knocked out of him.
"Your father…thought he was smarter than me," Sonny said, "He thought he could…plant you in my organization and get away with it."
"Boss, please," Dex said, his voice hoarse, "I can explain. If you let me down-"
"I don't think so."
"Please-"
"Why would I want to entertain anything that comes out of your lying mouth?"
"Boss-"
"Ray," Sonny turned around, gesturing his head towards Dex, "you know what to do."
"Wait! Please!" Dex called out as he felt Ray's fist against his abdomen. He gasped in pain, swinging side to side, "Hear me out!"
"What could you offer to me to make your situation better?"
"I…ah…" the broken skin of his wrists continued to burn.
"That's what I thought," Sonny shook his head, approaching the door. He gave one last look at Dex, "And to think, you could've gone so far."
"Please…" Dex shivered as Sonny closed the door behind him. Ray remained in the room, cracking his knuckles. The young man gulped, his eyes shooting up to the bright lights on the ceiling.
Please, God, get me out of here. It doesn't matter who, just send someone to save me.
"What were you doing with my sister?"
Wallace raised an eyebrow at Valentin, who sat between him and Victor. He glanced between the two men, wondering how long he'd last before laying his bare hands on them.
"Sister?"
"You know that dear Irina was my daughter," Victor said, "Valentin here is my son."
"What were you doing with my sister?" Valentin repeated.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't play dumb. You two share a child."
"I wasn't doing anything malicious, if that's what you're concerned about."
"Why were you involved with Irina?" Victor asked.
"None of your business."
"It's about my daughter, which means it is my business."
"I owe you nothing, especially after how she was treated by her so-called family."
"I told you I wasn't involved with what Helena did. Believe it or not, Wallace, but I care about Irina. By extension, I care about Dexter."
"Doubtful."
"Father," Valentin chimed in, "it's clear he's not going to give you what you want. Let me take over."
"...Alright," Victor slowly stood up, buttoning his blazer. He began to walk around before stopping behind Wallace, leaning close to his ear, "Send my regards to Dexter, hmm?"
"Go away," Wallace muttered sharply, the worry coming back as Victor walked away. Valentin shifted into the seat across from him.
"Talk to me," he said, a firmness in his gaze.
"I don't owe you anything either, especially if you're going to report back to your father."
"I won't do that."
"I don't trust you."
"I don't mean any harm, Wallace."
"That's laughable," Wallace shifted in his seat, "Look, our little 'conversation' was fine; you know how to sound pleasant. But you're still in that family. All you do is cause harm, so I know that whenever one of you mentions Irina or Dex, you're doing it for your own agenda."
"I don't fault you for feeling this way," Valentin sighed, "I'm certainly not one to boast about my family, and it wasn't until recently I learned about Irina at all. I know you have your prejudices, well-founded as they are, but I'm genuinely interested."
"Valentin-"
"As a father, I commend you for how you've protected Dexter all these years. You knew the risks of crossing Helena, and you went through with it anyway."
"A father worth their salt would do anything to protect their child," Wallace crossed his arms, "Helena was frightening, I won't deny that, but what mattered was Dex's safety. I'd let myself be subjected to a blood eagle if it meant my son was out of harm's way."
"For someone so brutish, it seems like you have a big heart."
"At least I have a heart."
"Touché," Valentin smiled in response, trying to fight off the lingering thoughts of Charlotte in his head, "...if only that heart persuaded you not to leave Irina behind."
"...She wasn't left behind."
Valentin raised an eyebrow, pressing his back against the chair. His legs were crossed, pointed away from the table, "Oh? How so?"
"She…" Wallace took a breath, "she had us flee. Orchestrated the whole thing."
"She loved you that much?"
"She loved Dex that much."
"And what about you?"
"What about me?"
Valentin opened his mouth to speak, but swiftly closed it. He took in Wallace's dejected expression, his arms crossed, slouching in his seat with his eyes cast toward the floor.
His words were chosen carefully, "She didn't love you?"
Wallace remained silent.
"She didn't love you," Valentin repeated, "You're the father of her child, and she didn't love you."
"How Irina felt about me doesn't matter," Wallace's voice was low, almost a mumble.
"But how you felt, how you feel, about her does."
"Dex mattered…Dex was all that mattered…"
"Wallace-"
"You want to know why I was involved with Irina? Fine," Wallace's gaze was focused and sharp, "Helena hired me to train her."
"Train her for what?"
"I was supposed to make her a premier assassin."
"Were you an assassin yourself?"
"I was."
"Were you any good?"
"Good enough to cause tangible political discord in Germany, and good enough that the Helena Cassadine hired me."
"How does Dexter fit into that?"
"...Things happened," Wallace shrugged, "Nothing worth talking about."
"Concerned that your unsavory behavior's going to come back to bite you?"
"Unsavory? Look, call me what you want, but don't call me an abuser. I didn't hurt Irina, I'd never hurt Irina."
"Because you loved her."
"...Are we done here?" Wallace slowly got to his feet, "I have things to do."
"Wallace-" Valentin called out as the man walked away. Wallace kept his focus on the elevator, one thought on his mind: I need to find my son.
"Leaving so soon?"
Victor appeared from behind the corner, the usual smirk on his face. Wallace stood still, a jolt of electricity running up his spine.
"Out of my way," he forced out.
"Why? What's so pressing?"
I need to find my son, "I have plans with Dex."
"Those can wait."
"They really can't. I have to go."
"Dexter will understand that you're busy."
"Move."
"Please, Wallace, sit back down-"
"I need to find my son."
The words tumbled out of Wallace's mouth, his face growing more pale the moment he realized what was said. Victor raised an eyebrow in response.
"Find your…?" Victor asked, perplexed, "Dexter's missing?"
"Yes-" Wallace stopped himself, "No-"
"Let me help."
"You're not getting involved."
"Wallace-"
"We're done here," Wallace brushed by the older man and stepped onto the elevator. Victor was able to catch a bit of his muttering, "That damn kingpin…"
"Kingpin?" Victor asked himself, the proverbial lightbulb flashing in his head. He pulled out his phone, looking for his speed dial, "Johann, it's me. Get the car ready. We're making a stop at Pozzulo's today; there's something we have to pick up."
