A/N: Disclaimer still stands...the only character that is mine is Cianna...but I brought Kristoff back with a twist ;) Thanks to everyone who continues to read and review my story. ENJOY!
Credits: Lyrics to BB King's "The Thrill Is Gone" is courtesy of AZLyrics website.
Chapter 19
The repeated gun blasts from the pier echoed through the warehouse. Tesorieri covered Guarisco's body and dropped him gently but swiftly to the ground. Fonti drew his gun and crawled toward the exit to check on the guards outside. Armando Sandoval tried to shield his glee by dropping quickly, and attempting to fall under Kryptonite's lean muscular frame.
Miguel Gamboa and Jason reached the floor at the same time, but Jason's face filled more with rage than fear. After the last shot, he immediately jumped up and crossed the room toward Armando, whom Kryptonite was shaking off under the meeting table.
Jason yanked Sandoval from his curled position, and though Armando feigned panic by making his body limp, Jason squared the man's head so they were looking eye to eye.
"What the hell have you done?" Jason demanded angrily, his fists tightening around Sandoval's suit jacket, cutting off his breath.
Sam could see her attacker ogling her chest as he came to pounce on her again, and her eyes went wide. She could see a man and woman running down the stairs but her attacker was too close. She pulled her gun and let off six shots in his direction, but heard three bodies fall to the floor.
The masked man slumped over Sam's body lifelessly, and she could feel the blood dripping from his neck on her face. She quickly pushed him off her and finally screamed out loud. She couldn't think straight, and her eyes seemed to cross in front of her despite her attempts to look around for the people she assumed were running to her aid. Sam shook her head, grabbed her gun and slid away from the dead body and finally looked up at the other two people lying on the pier.
The man's long dark coat was thrown over the woman, but as Sam approached she heard a familiar Latin accent whispering urgently.
"Rachel? Rachel?" Lorenzo said, shaking the blonde woman's body softly.
Jax's eyes were indeed cold, but the pain overtook the anger when he spoke. "Is it more urgent than telling me how the hell you could give up on us?"
"Jax I don't have time to explain," Courtney said, not oblivious to his pleading. "AJ is out to do serious harm and what he and Rachel tried to do to me..."
Jax rushed up to Courtney. "I don't give a damn about AJ! Or Rachel – I just want to know that you love me. Do you love me?"
Courtney couldn't ignore his breaking heart anymore than she could ignore her own. "Jax, of course I love you. But I," she rubbed her forehead furiously before continuing. "I'm sorry... I just can't deal with us right now."
Jax removed his hands from her shoulders pitifully. He inhaled deeply and set his eyes hard on his former fiancée. "You mean you won't."
"Excuse me," Steven said, walking up to the arguing pair, "I don't mean to interrupt, but Courtney I have to talk to you. It's about Rachel – you know, what you said that night in the ER."
Courtney sighed. "Look, Steven, I'm sorry I didn't talk to you about it before, but I have nothing more to say about Rachel Adair."
"I know, and I'm sorry she put you – the both of you – in such a position," Steven said, looking at Jax's now severe face. "I just want to know what she told you about our past. I want to know how you think she's mixed up with AJ and the kidnapping." Steven knew he wasn't making much sense to either of them. He had placated Liz's questions by brushing all his anxiety off on work, but the swirling questions in his head refused to go away, and all were intensified at Carly's accusations this afternoon.
"Well, I'm sure you have plenty of time to delve into more of this drama," Jax said hurtfully to Courtney, before turning toward the elevator. He had almost reached the button when Reese nearly knocked him over to get there first.
Courtney saw Sonny and Carly running behind her and she pushed past Steven to get to Carly. "What's going on?" Courtney steadied Carly's shaking hands.
"There were shots fired at the docks," Carly said breathlessly, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. "Jason may have been down there," she whispered into Courtney's ear, but just loud enough for Jax to roll his eyes and step onto the opening elevator with Reese and Sonny.
"Oh my God," Alexis whispered as she peered around the corner toward the docks. She had huddled on the ground until the blasts stopped, clutching her stomach, but eased out of hiding to see if she could recognize any of Sonny's men.
Before she could stand up fully, a gloved hand covered her mouth and dragged her backward. "Shut up, or we're both going to get caught," Durant whispered, looking over her shoulder to see Mac and Ric running to the scene.
Jerking herself from his grasp, Alexis spun around and faced her future accomplice. "I may not have to work with you after all."
"But as you well know, counselor, having a back up strategy always comes in handy," he whispered smugly. "Let's go."
Alexis bit her lip anxiously, but followed Durant toward Kelly's, looking back at the dark wavy locks on Ric's head. I'm doing this for us...
Sam moved closer to Lorenzo as he rolled Rachel's body over slowly. "I didn't know what to do...I-I" she stammered helplessly, watching Lorenzo check Rachel's pulse. "He was coming after me – I couldn't think."
"We heard you screaming," Lorenzo said, never taking his eyes off Rachel. "Help me look for anymore gun shot wounds."
"I thought they all went into him," Sam said, looking regretfully from Rachel to her attacker. "Is she breathing?" She felt light-headed, but she continued to look to see if she had hit Rachel anywhere besides her right shoulder.
"Barely," Lorenzo said, his calm demeanor fading as Rachel's pulse weakened. "Rachel! C'mon, stay with me!"
Suddenly, Mac and Ric were behind Lorenzo and Sam. "What happened?" Ric asked, but knew immediately when Sam looked up at him with frightened eyes and bruises forming all over her face. The sound of the siren blared over Mac trying to speak, and the EMTs rushed past the four of them to get Rachel on the stretcher.
"She was only hit once, in her shoulder," Lorenzo shouted at them, "but her pulse is getting weaker!" They pushed him aside gently and worked to get her in the ambulance. Lorenzo started to follow, but Mac stepped in his way.
"You're not going anywhere," Mac said sternly, his green eyes indifferent to Lorenzo's panic. "So tell me, Alcazar – where you responsible for tonight, or do I have Sonny to thank for this?"
"He was trying to help me," Sam said quickly, while Ric continued to study her face. "That guy attacked me, I screamed and Alcazar and that Rachel woman came down the stairs." She stopped before admitting that she had pulled her gun and fired wildly, but looked at Alcazar quickly, who gave her a questioning look. She felt all their eyes on her, and she had to look away, but the only other thing on the dock to focus on was the coroner pulling her assailant's dead body from the edge of the dock, blood still pouring from his head.
Sam felt her knees go weak, and she passed out in Ric's arms – just as Reese and Sonny arrived to survey the fallout.
"Get your hands...off me!" Armando struggled against Jason's grip until Miguel wrapped his arms around Jason's shoulders.
"Jason! Stop, man," Miguel pleaded, but he knew he couldn't pull him off.
"This was a set-up, wasn't it?" Jason said, his grip only slightly loosened by the pressure of Miguel's arms over his. "I thought you were going to try and hit the dons, but you just wanted to make us look worse, huh! What did you do? What did you hit, Sandoval?" Jason voice was urgent, as the pit of his stomach twisted harder than it ever had before. "ANSWER ME!"
Tesorieri, having helped Guarisco up to his chair, came over and finally pulled the men apart. "Enough!"
Guarisco caught his breath, and Fonti came back from checking on the guards to report they were fine. He went to Guarisco's side and waited for someone to speak.
"Don't blame me for your territory being in jeopardy," Armando said defiantly, still standing behind Tesorieri. "If you can't control random people from shooting minutes away from your businesses, you and Sonny have no business running it." He took his seat again, making sure his stall tactics were at least marginally effective. "Don Guarisco, these occurrences would never happen if the territory were under my control, that much I can assure you."
"Yeah, because Jason and Sonny don't blindside associates," Miguel said, returning to his seat as well. "Don, I believe the Corinthos-Morgan organization has done nothing but be fair to us thus far, and we're only going to be in a less stable position if their territory is given to this man."
"What if it was divided?" Fonti said, finally making his intentions clear. He looked to Kryptonite, still unsure about his loyalties after he last spoke up on behalf of Sonny and Jason, but he knew Kryptonite would work any angle he could to get what he wanted.
"Gentlemen, I didn't come here tonight to witness bloodshed – mine or anyone else's," Kryptonite said calmly. "Is it wise to continue such talks at present," He turned to Sandoval, "or should we call it a night before there are anymore surprises? In any event, I have a call to make."
Jason was not oblivious to Kryptonite's smooth approach, but he wasn't about to take his eyes off Armando Sandoval for one more second.
Kryptonite walked to the far corner of the room, and pulled out his cell. "Yeah, it's me. We've got a problem."
"What the hell do you mean a problem?" Keesha's voice was more bored than annoyed. She continued looking at the accounting reports as Kryptonite cryptically reported the last few minutes of the meeting. "Was anyone hurt?"
"Not that we know of right now, Sandoval's stalling to continue the meeting," Kryptonite said lowly into the phone. The other men were not listening, as they were trying to keep Jason from jumping across the table again.
"He won't live out the month," Keesha said nonchalantly, "but don't let anyone discuss dividing the territory. Sandoval's mistake could become our greatest gain." She smiled ruefully and checked her nails. "Call me back once you know the details of what happened. We'll plan from there." She hung up the phone without a goodbye, and quickly heard a small beep from her secretary. "Yes?"
"Mr. Nikolas Cassadine to see you," the secretary's tired voice came through the intercom.
Keesha looked at her watch, surprised at how long she had been in the office. "Thank you, Cindy. You can take off if you want." She went to the door to welcome her guest and see that Cindy had indeed left. Nikolas stepped in quietly, looking around Keesha's well kept, yet simple office. "Come here, you," she said, pulling him into a hug.
He embraced her warmly. "Who would have ever thought, huh?" She ushered him into a seat, and opened her mini-fridge.
"Is beer ok?"
"Perfect," Nik replied, smiling. "I'm glad you invited me up here, Keesha. I've been anxious to talk to you, especially considering your ties to my grandmother."
"Yeah, well," Keesha began, opening two bottles of Corona and handing one to Nikolas, "a lot changed after I left Port Charles." She sat back down in her leather desk chair and looked at him thoughtfully. "Are you angry...you know, about me working for Helena?"
"No, not really," Nikolas said, after taking a long drink from the long neck bottle. "I just don't quite understand it."
"It's simpler than you might think," Keesha answered his implied question. "After my father passed, I wanted to continue my social work studies, you know, open a Ward House like my grandmother's here in Philly. I got the degree, the grants, cut the ribbon on the house and everything..." Keesha trailed off as the memories of the countless children she had there flooded back to her, and one in particular. "I planned on staying there and being content forever, but things change. Life happens while you're making plans – or so I've heard."
Nikolas immediately thought of Emily – all their plans, dreams for the future. "Yeah, tell me about it." He cleared his throat. "So you got involved in international business?"
"Yep, kinda fell in my lap," Keesha said, running her fingers over her favorite picture of the little boy she loved. "I signed the Ward House over to one of my associates, and began working for this firm." She sighed softly, hoping Nikolas didn't catch the memories in her eyes. "I was given the Cassadine account and my partner at the time didn't want to let go of it, so we worked with Helena as she requested," Keesha said matter-of-factly, leaning forward. "Nikolas, trust me, it's amazing the things you'll do for love."
"I'm giving up medicine," Emily said, not a flicker of regret in her voice. She watched Monica's face contort in absolute horror, and heard Alan sigh behind her. "Well, at least you have the decency to keep your mouth shut – this time."
Her hurtful words felt like someone had stabbed Monica in her chest. "This isn't happening...not again..."
Emily walked toward her angrily. "Oh yes it is, Monica, and you – the both of you," she said, looking back at her father's paling face, "had better learn to stop alienating the children you claim to love so deep – oh wait, I guess you don't have any left." Emily almost bit her own tongue at how harsh she was being, but resolved in her mind that that reflex would dissipate soon enough. She brushed past her mother, without looking at her father, and headed to her next scheduled stop.
Monica watched her go, her heart beating wildly. "Alan, we can't...we can't let her do this!" She turned back to her husband. "There has to be something we can do, an intervention, a family meeting..."
Alan's eyes roamed over his wife's frantic figure. "We can do what she said, Monica. We can stop alienating the child we have left – AJ."
"You're not Michael's dad," Lulu said confused.
"She's right, you're not," Michael insisted vehemently, "and you're supposed to be dead. Now get out of here, before I have my real dad come back here and handle you!"
AJ's face fell, especially at hearing how easily Michael accepted Sonny's way of "dealing" with people. "Ok, I'll leave. I didn't mean to upset you Michael. Maybe we can talk later, ok?"
"Maybe not," Michael said, clutching his sheets and focusing his eyes on the petite girl that wandered into the room, never taking her eyes off AJ.
Lulu watched as the unknown man ran his fingers through his dark hair frustrated and left, looking reproachfully at her. She turned back to Michael, who had finally stopped staring at her. "Hey, who was that guy? Why did you say he was supposed to be dead?"
"His name is AJ Quartermaine," Michael replied. "I thought he died a few weeks back, but I guess not."
"How does he know you?" Lulu questioned, walking closer to Michael's bed.
"He's my father – from biology," Michael said softly, "but Sonny's my real dad. AJ's just a liar – my mom told me, he'll say anything to make me his son."
"Wow, I thought I had it rough," Lulu commented, rolling her eyes.
"Anyway, thanks for coming in, but...who are you?" Michael said, looking toward the window and seeing one of the guards coming back to the door.
"I guess I'm your cousin from biology," Lulu said shyly. "I'm Lulu, Luke's daughter."
They shook hands and Michael felt at ease with this new girl. He knew about his Grandma Bobbie, but he also knew her brother Luke and his mom didn't get along too well. "So what are you doing here?"
"Well I got lost looking for my brother's room," Lulu admitted. "I'm trying to convince him I can live with him and his girlfriend, instead of Grandma Leslie."
"Why don't you live with your mom or your dad?" Michael asked naively.
Lulu looked at him and realized he was clueless about anything outside of his dad, Sonny's, lifestyle. "That's a story I don't even get, but let's just say my parents are probably more screwed up than yours."
"So you wore leather pants? I don't believe it," Maria laughed, bringing the glass of red wine to her lips. "Your family must have flipped."
"That's putting it mildly," Ned commented between chews, his dimples flashing. "I can't tell you how much fun it was then. I mean, seriously, I got a rush from being on stage."
"With all the girls screaming your name," Maria responded, her eyes twinkling.
Ned cleared his throat, as the image of Lois clapping wildly, her long nails tapping against one another came to mind. "No, it wasn't about the girls," he answered. "It was doing something I really loved, and solely for myself. I didn't have to worry about answering to investors or a board – it was just me and the band, having fun and living life."
"So you're not sentimental about it, I see," Maria said jokingly. "But c'mon, enough of the 'greatest time of my life' stories. No, I want to hear – the most embarrassing thing that happened to you out on the road."
Ned began laughing again, and Maria got the dimples she wanted once more. He quickly looked over at Viola, who was engrossed in her own conversation with Officer Murphy, and he began to laugh out loud. "Well, it didn't so much happen to me as, um...'Eddie's Angel'..."
Viola couldn't take her eyes off of Murphy as he talked about the various beaches in Jamaica. She could tell how much he loved where he was from, yet how proud he was to be here and have made something of himself.
"Viola, I can't even tell you how absolutely translucent the water is there," Kristian said, as if he were feeling it rush over his body right then.
"So why leave all that behind?" Viola asked politely. "You and your family sound like you were so happy there."
"We were, but my brother got into some trouble," Murphy said, and a sliver of the bitterness Viola had seen before had returned to Murphy's brow. "He started running with the wrong kind of people, especially him being so young. My mom and dad thought we had to get out, so we left."
Viola reached for his hand. "Did you ever stop missing it?"
"Not really," he admitted, "but I'm going to go back." He took her hand but the waiter came up with their dessert and sparkling wine. "I used to dream of going home to live, but now Port Charles is my home. I'll go back to Jamaica when I have a family of my own – show them everything I used to know, maybe discover some things I never knew."
"Sounds like a plan," Viola said softly. "Look, Kristian, I don't mean to bring up anything more painful, but what happened to your family once you got here? Your brother I mean?"
"We grew up, and grew apart," he answered. "I haven't seen him since our father passed away, and I don't want to. Not ever again." Before he could explain further, Murphy's cell went off. "Hello?"
"Sorry, Murphy but we need you down at the docks," Mac said quickly. "There was a shooting, and we need as many people as possible to gather evidence."
Kristian sighed. "I'm on my way." He looked at his beautiful date apologetically.
"You have to go," Viola said, shaking her head. "That's what I get for dating the upstanding, responsible for all citizens in Port Charles-types."
Murphy put money on the table for dinner and a cab. "Hopefully, my dessert will cheer you up," he said smiling, and bent down to kiss her softly on the lips. "I'll call you."
Viola returned his kiss with one of her own, and Murphy had to curse the person responsible for making him leave his promising evening behind.
"Ok, can we just get one thing straight?" Alexis said, hugging her coat closer to her body. Durant turned from his steady pace to look at her, annoyed. "I don't want to work with you. I don't like you, and I don't trust you..."
"Cuts both ways, my dear," Durant shot back.
"But I need my daughter safe," Alexis continued as if he hadn't interrupted her, "and I have to save my husband and our family from ever having to deal with that kind of scene back there." She walked around Durant and looked inside the window of Kelly's, making sure no one she knew was inside. "That's what I called you for."
"It better be something more than your questionable high moral hopes for your family that dragged me away from my bourbon and promising date," Durant said, looking at his watch. He still hadn't called Felicia to inform her he would be considerably late.
"Well, it seems your date could be one of the reasons you have the police commissioner gunning for you," Alexis said calmly, turning to face him. "I called you because I want your help to get the insufferably arrogant criminal out of mine and my daughter's life, but to warn you that the way you're going about it is alienating people."
"Cut the code speak – what do you know?" Durant asked impatiently.
"I know that you're after Felicia Jones, and it's ruffling Mac's feathers," Alexis commented, "and that your tirades about what happened to Michael are reason enough for my husband and Mac to team up and get you out of here."
"I want Alan Quartermaine to pay for what he did to my grandson," Durant declared. "It's a little thing most people know as justice – you do remember that, Alexis? Someone does something wrong, they get punished for it? The law?" His voice raised with each question, until he was practically shouting.
"You want to look redeemable in your daughter's eyes," Alexis retorted, her mothering tone warning him to be quiet, "so that when you strike her favorite ex-husband she won't bat an eye quite so annoying...I mean, quickly."
"Fine, and you're in this for your daughter, so we're even," Durant said, exasperated from listening to this woman explain his motives to him. "Do you have a plan of action, or is that also why you called me in?"
"First, you need to stop ranting," Alexis said slowly, until a light went off in her head. "Then, pull a research team together, one that could rival homeland security intelligence, and dig up everything you can on the cases that have fallen by the wayside under Mac's tenure as police commissioner."
Durant's eyes widened, and then narrowed in admiration. "I do like where you're going with this, Ms. Davis."
"It's Mrs. Lansing," Alexis corrected him. "Anyway, after you have all the evidence you need against Sonny and ever other crime committed, you submit it to the mayor with the ultimatum that it all gets reported to the governor unless you become the new Port Charles police commissioner."
"And why not DA?" Durant said, offended that he would give up his cushy lifestyle and reputation for a job reporting to Sonny's brother.
"Because if I'm going to help you, my husband's job will be secure," Alexis said pointedly, stepping closer to him, "and you'll have the entire arsenal of the PCPD at your disposal to raid Sonny, wherever you want and whenever you want." Alexis could see the very idea made Durant almost wet himself with delight. "As the commissioner you bring a solid case against Sonny, and I get Ric to follow through."
"One problem," Durant said, looking down into Alexis' self-satisfied face. "Your plan could take months."
"Then you had better get started," Alexis stated, turning on her heel and leaving Durant to ponder who to call for reinforcements.
Liz pulled her coat on, ready to get Cameron from the hospital nursery and finish packing her belongings at her grandmother's house. She knew cutting through the ER was against the rules, but she could care less at this point.
Suddenly, the doors burst open as Liz approached the nurses' desk. "Never stops around here, huh?" Liz commented to one of her fellow classmates, and the young man just shook his head solemnly.
"Gun shot vic, and one passed out at the scene," he said. He saw she was going home, and envied her. "Better run before they ask you to scrub up."
"I hear ya," Liz said, looking at her schedule once more and walked around the desk. She saw the gurney come flying through the double doors, but was struck motionless at the person on it. "Rachel?"
"Move her into trauma 4," Tony called out, pushing past Liz.
She couldn't believe it. Steven...Liz rushed off toward the far elevators to find her brother, not noticing her ex-husband coming in, Sam in his arms.
"Wha...what happened?" Sam whispered softly, unsure of how or why Ric was carrying her into the hospital.
"You passed out," Reese called from behind them, and Ric sat her down in a chair.
"All that blood," Sam remembered, and then looked up at Ric and Reese's concerned faces. Sonny was behind Reese, and his wild eyes gave away how bad her face must have looked. "What happens now?"
Ric knelt down in front of her. Mac had been less than pleased when he carted her away from the scene, but he assured him that he'd question Sam when she woke up. Her face had begun to swell around her jaw and eye, and she had winced when he picked her up, so he knew she had bruises all over. "Sam, do you remember what happened tonight?"
Sam looked up at Reese's worried look, but Sonny stopped her. "Ric, she's in no shape to be questioned alright!"
"It's ok," Sam said, and Reese nodded at her. She turned back to Ric. "I was out running errands today, and I got a voice mail from Jason. He had a surprise for me, and he wanted to meet on the docks around 9. I went there to wait for him," she sighed. "I got cold, and decided I'd go home and just come back."
"Sam, you don't have to say anything else," Sonny insisted, but Ric reached out for Sam's hand, urging her to continue.
"Sonny, I didn't do anything wrong!" Sam looked at him nervously. "I stood up from the bench and that's when that guy came at me." She tried to rub her face but instantly flinched at her own touch. "He grabbed me from behind, and we struggled. He knocked me to the ground," Sam recounted, not letting any tears fall. She could see Reese cringing and clinching her fist. "I screamed, and I guess that's when Alcazar and Rachel heard me. They came down the stairs right as the guy tripped me. He was going to come after me again...and I didn't know what else to do."
Ric looked up at Reese, and he could see in her face that she knew what he was going to say next. "Sam, was it your gun or your attacker's?"
"It was mine," Sam admitted, looking to Reese for help.
"That's it, not another word!" Sonny demanded, shoving Ric away from Sam. He led her toward the nurses' station. "Can I get an ice pack – some help here!"
Ric shook his head at his brother, and then groaned as he saw Carly, Steve, and Courtney race into the room. "All accounted for except..."
Carly took the words out of his mouth. "Sonny," she exclaimed, more excitedly when she saw Sonny's arm around Sam's waist. It wasn't until Sam turned around that she saw the damage. "Where's Jason?"
Kryptonite walked slowly back to the table, hoping his presence would not be noticeable until he had garnered some of the conversation he had missed. Keesha taught him that the minute he fell into her fold, and her bed.
"Where did you learn the tricks of this kind of trade, a beautiful woman like you?"
"From the best – the love of my life," she answered him, the sadness swept over face like the waves they were watching.
"You're accusing me and Sonny of not taking care of business, but you're stalling, Sandoval," Jason said, still trying to press down the rage and uneasiness he felt. "Why are you trying to keep me from leaving to find out what put all of us in jeopardy tonight?"
"Your organization's lack of control and forethought is what put us in danger," Armando replied scathingly. "Corinthos and Morgan should not be allowed to continue on this way, to the detriment of all of us here."
Jason's cell rang softly in his pocket. "Don, if I may?" At Guarisco's nod, Jason answered, "Hello?"
"You need to come to the hospital," Sonny's staid voice came through softly. "It's Sam."
Jason felt his veins start to burn, and he lost all sensation in the hand that held his phone. He closed it without answering, and the look on his face spoke volumes.
"I want this matter settled as much as the rest of you gentlemen, but I'm inclined to agree with our invited guest," Guarisco spoke up over Sandoval and Fonti's mumbled barbs at one another. "We need to reschedule, and give the Corinthos-Morgan organization a chance to investigate and respond...accordingly." He waved his hand, and Fonti grudgingly accepted his motion that the meeting was over. He and Tesorieri exited the warehouse to prepare their guards to round up everyone's cars.
"But Don..." Armando Sandoval's face paled as he began to plead but Miguel cut him off.
"Don't beg – even though it becomes you," he mocked and tapped Jason's shoulder lightly. "You want me to..."
"Miguel, please leave us," Guarisco said, watching Sandoval stomp toward the exit, already on his phone. Miguel nodded and walked out to join Tesorieri and Fonti, though he knew he wouldn't be well received. Kryptonite followed him after paying his respects, but hung back just enough to see Guarisco place a stern hand on Jason's shoulder.
Once everyone had left, Guarisco spoke. "Who was it?"
"My fiancée," Jason said through his teeth. "I was going to propose to her again tonight."
"Mr. Morgan – Jason," Guarisco sighed. "I believe that Corinthos has taught you well. You show respect, intelligence...real heart, my boy. You still break the rules – tip your hand too quickly when provoked – but you're good at this business." He used Jason's shoulder to stand up and Jason helped him to the door. "Unfortunately, they say the good die young."
Jason looked at the old man thoughtfully. "Do you want us out?"
Guarisco grunted. "You say you were going to propose tonight. It seems to me that you should be more concerned about what you want, Mr. Morgan." As they reached the door, Guarisco could still hear Sandoval's voice, and he shut it quickly. "But if you go, Jason, take him out with you."
With that, Jason helped Guarisco to his car, and walked stealthy to his motorcycle without looking in anyone's direction. His only thoughts were of Sam.
AJ entered the Metro Court dining room at almost a full sprint, looking for his only remaining ally. He halted when he saw Ned and an attractive looking woman at one of the tables, and he hid behind one of the lavish drapes at the entrance. He peeked out several times, watching Skye at the bar with her club soda.
Skye finally stood up, tired of her own thoughts interrupting her attempts at a relaxing evening. She gathered her purse and nodded at Ned as she left. She had made it to the elevator when AJ's arm shot out and grabbed her behind the curtain.
"Shhhh!" AJ insisted, pulling her further behind the curtain. "I had to find you."
"AJ, whatever it is, I don't want any part of it," Skye whispered back. "What you were planning before was creepy enough..."
"If you could have children, you'd understand," AJ retorted, but regretted the wounded look in her eye. "Skye, wait – I'm sorry, ok? I really need you."
Skye was still stung by AJ's words, but she could see the panic in his eyes. "What now?"
AJ hugged her quickly. "I knew I could count on you," he whispered. "Carly said Sonny and Jason are on to my plan, so I need to dump what's left of my cash into something, to you know, cover my tracks."
"AJ did you really think you were going to be able to keep this a secret?" Skye whispered, but instinctively shielded AJ from sight as a few hotel guests peered behind the curtain.
"Look, if Jason finds me and gets proof, he'll tell Sonny and they will kill me, Skye," AJ said persistently. "All I want you to do is let me float the money into the Haunted Star, as a silent partner."
"AJ..." Skye inhaled through her teeth, "I dissolved my partnership in the Haunted Star not 12 hours ago. I have no pull there – whatsoever." She thought of Luke, and decided to take her rage out on the closest person. "Besides, AJ, if Carly knows she got it from Jason or Sonny. You may not have a prayer anyway."
AJ recoiled at her harshness, and stepped back to look at her. "Thanks." He walked back toward the elevator just as it opened.
"Skye? What are you doing?" Ned's voice rang out to her, and she whirled around to see Ned and his date watching her expectantly.
"Daddy, like it or not, I'm running ELQ now," Tracy shouted over her father, "and we need help! Now, I suggest we do something drastic to attract new investors or our stock will plummet so low, Enron will look like Microsoft!"
"Did you ever think maybe it was your leadership that's gotten us in this mess?" Edward shouted back. "Tracy, you've done no better than anyone else I've let take the reigns."
"Well I would be able to if you didn't try so hard to favor Monica and Alan's spawns and have them battle for your affection with our company!" Tracy's indignation peaked at her father rolling his eyes and fixing a drink.
"That won't be a problem anymore, Tracy," Emily called out from behind them, standing in the doorway of the family room. "ELQ simply needs new life..."
"Emily, I said we'd discuss..." Edward tried to cut her off before she heightened Tracy's latest tantrum.
"There's nothing to discuss, Grandfather," Emily said, walking past her aunt. "ELQ needs help; it needs a better image, a new focus." She turned to face Tracy's snide look. "It needs me – and I'm taking over."
Tracy's face fell when she saw the obvious resignation in her father's face. "You can't be serious. You think you can handle running ELQ? How exactly is that going to fit between cleaning bed pans and taking people's blood pressure at General Hospital?"
Emily returned Tracy sneer with one of her own. "You just can't take it, can you Tracy?" She stepped closer to the woman, who shifted her weight mockingly. "You want to be everything to this family – to be the one everyone depends on, the one they run to when the company's in crisis. It didn't happen before, and it's not going to happen now!" Emily stepped back and stood next to her only family tie. "I'm going to give ELQ what it needs to survive, Tracy. I'm in control now."
"No, Emily – you're out of control, and it ends now," Monica said as she came into the room to her stern faced daughter.
The stereo blared B.B. King as loud as Luke could stand it, and he poured himself another scotch.
You know I'm free, free now baby
I'm free from your spell
Oh I'm free, free, free now
I'm free from your spell
And now that it's all over
All I can do is wish you well
"Cheers," Luke said, thinking he was alone – as alone as he had ever felt in his entire life. The same alone that he felt when he found Laura out of her mind, and when he thought Skye had jumped off that parapet at Wyndamere. In truth, he felt lonely all the time, but those women in his life and their adventures kept him from curling up to the blues with his loneliness and a pistol.
"Well, I would say cheers back, but I don't have a drink," an overconfident voice bellowed out from the shadows. AJ stepped out, one hand in his pocket, and strolled toward Luke. "Nice music."
Luke looked back at his drink. "Man, this must be some really good stuff."
AJ chuckled. "I know – death becomes me." He leaned over Luke's shoulder to inspect the bottle. "Top shelf...I'm more of a vodka man myself."
"Help yourself," Luke said, and sneered at AJ's surprised expression. "Well, I've been called every name in the book lately, but my favorite is self-destructive. So if you're gonna stay," he quipped as he walked to the other side of the bar and slammed a shot glass down, "then you have to follow my lead."
"No problem," AJ said, bringing the clear, burning liquid to his lips. The rush of alcohol on his tongue made AJ feel even more invincible, and with one look at Luke he knew he had come to the right place. "So, how long do you think I could stay here?"
"Sorry Junior – I already got one Quartermaine boarder, I don't need another," Luke said sarcastically, finishing his drink. He turned his back to find another record he wanted to play.
"Then, how about a partner? One with a lot of capital to invest?" AJ poured himself another shot and filled Luke's scotch glass too.
Luke turned slowly and eyed the not-so-dead Quartermaine suspiciously. "How much are we talking about?"
"Millions," AJ said raising his eyebrows. "I need an investment and you," he said looking around at the sheet covered gambling tables, "you need the money. Besides, what better way to hide the ELQ budget in plain sight?"
Luke thought about the appalled look on Edward's face when he lost even more money at the craps table that was being operated on his company's budget. "Let's forget you said that last part, shall we? Silent partner?" Luke extended his hand.
AJ shoved Luke's scotch into it and raised his shot of vodka. "Silent partner." They clinked their glasses and knocked back the drinks.
Skye, who had chased AJ down after dodging Ned's questions, felt a knife twist in her gut at the scene before her.
"So when do you think you're gonna get out of here?" Lulu asked, handing Michael another piece of chocolate from the bar she bought in the cafeteria.
"I don't know. I hope it'll be soon...it's so boring here," Michael replied. "But thanks for the chocolate."
"No problem," Lulu said, her cheeks semi-full. "I usually have to sneak junk food around my house – my Grandma Leslie always has a fit."
"Yeah, my dad, too," Michael laughed. "Do you like video games?"
"Heck yeah! You have the new Grand Theft Auto?" Lulu's eyes lit up.
"Nah," Michael said, and Lulu face immediate frowned. "My dad and Uncle Jason said it was too violent."
"Ummm, Michael..." Lulu was about to comment, but Michael just shook his head.
"Yeah, I know."
Lulu looked at the clock on the wall. "Oh, shoot!" She hopped off the side of his bed and threw the rest of the candy bar at him. "They've probably put out a search party for me by now." She ran to the door but stopped. "Hey, thanks for...you know, hanging out."
"Yeah, you too," Michael replied, grinning a little bit. "You coming back?"
"I'll try," Lulu said, and crept out the door. She smiled politely at the guard, who chuckled quietly at the girl as she sprinted away from the room.
Lulu had made it halfway down the hall and ran smack into Liz. The two of them went flying toward the floor. "Sorry Liz," Lulu said. "I know you guys were worried, but I was visiting..."
Liz rubbed her back where she landed. "Have you seen Steven, my brother, Lu?"
"No...is something wrong with Lucky?" Lulu asked, hiding her disappointment. No one had been looking for her at all.
"No, sweetie, he's fine," Liz said, catching a look in Lulu's eye. She used to have the same one when her parents only paid attention to Sarah. "Where are you supposed to be, by the way?"
Her stern voice almost made Lulu leap into her arms. "I was visiting Michael."
"Ok, but you should tell someone where you are next time, ok?" Liz said, putting forth her best mother tone.
"Deal...thanks Liz," Lulu said, and gave into her impulse. She hugged Liz around her waist and ran off to get to Lucky's room. Liz simply looked after the girl, realizing she was definitely going to try and make everything work for their family.
Murphy arrived on the scene, still dressed in his dinner attire. "Where's Mac?" He turned to one of his colleagues expectantly.
"He went to the hospital to check on how fast we could get a coroner's report," the other cop said. "He said for you to make sure everything got wrapped up here and meet him at the station if you find anything else."
"Alright," Murphy replied, patting the guy on the shoulder and instructed him and the other men to comb the stairs for any kind of evidence. He walked over to the chalk outline of the deceased. "It's always something."
"You sound like Mommy," Kryptonite's usually casual voice stiffened as he spoke behind Murphy's back. He could tell the way his brother's shoulders squared that the blood in his veins had just run cold at the sound of his voice.
Murphy stood up, in what felt like slow motion, and turned to face the one person he had hoped would never darken the same path again. Looking in his eyes, he could see he hadn't changed a bit – same glittering, mischievous eyes, cocky smile, and flashy attire.
"Kristian," Kryptonite said, a sliver of hate in his smooth voice.
"Kristoff."
"So does my proposal sound appealing to you, even a little bit?" Nikolas said between mouthfuls of the cheese steak that Keesha insisted that he have.
"Work for Cassadine Industries exclusively," Keesha said, finishing her last bite, "and oversee the transfer of headquarters to Port Charles?"
"You have the experience, Keesha," Nik said, putting his food down. "You know how my grandmother ran it, and I need your information."
Keesha looked at him thoughtfully. His sincerity almost made her feel guilty about how well he fit into her plan. Almost. "Looks like I'm coming home." Nikolas missed the small smile curve at the corner of her lips.