Chapter 24
Noticing the door was locked he had just enough time to remove his hand from the handle when he heard the elevator door open.
"Uncle Nik?"
He struggled momentarily to remember the kid's name. "Hey Michael. What are you doing here?"
"I came to find Aunt Em." Michael pulled the box out of his pocket. "She left this at my house. I thought she might like to have it"
The man smiled. I bet she would. Is it a gift from you?
No. She's not staying at our house anymore and," Michael bowed his head, "I wanted to see her."
He gave the young boy a knowing look. "You came all this way by yourself?"
"Yeah. Dad's going to be really mad but Aunt Em's special. I don't want her to be mad at me and Morgan."
The dark haired man got down on his knee in front of Michael and nodded at the door. "Why don't you do the honors?"
"But aren't you here to see her too?" Michael grabbed the other mans hand. "You and Aunt Em are still friends right?"
"Yes we are. She and I share some special times. I just wanted to wish her a Merry Christmas."
"Cool. Then she won't mind us being here together. She was pretty sad when she left. Maybe we can cheer her up together." Michael said knocking on the door.
Emily hurried out of the kitchen towards the door. She called out to see who it was and speeded up when she heard her godson's voice on the other side, opening the door and focusing on Michael before looking to see who was standing behind him.
"Michael? Nikolas?"
The two of them walked right in.
Emily knew something was wrong when she didn't see any guards with Michael. Helping him with his coat. "Are you here alone?"
Michael lowered his head as he had done before. The last thing he wanted was for her to be disappointed in him. "I had to see you Aunt Em. You didn't even tell Morgan and I that you were leaving. I know you're mad at dad but why are you mad at us?"
Tears came to her eyes and she hugged him to her. "Oh Michael. I'm not mad with your father and I am definitely not mad at you and your brother. I just needed to get away. I should have came to see you but I didn't have time."
"Yeah I know. You weren't even planning on telling dad."
It was then that she realized that her nephew knew more than he should have about the events of earlier. "Michael does your father know you are here?"
"No. I got away from Leticia and my guard. I," he turned to reach into his coat pocket found this and thought you might want it."
She recognized it immediately. "Thank you but I think we need to call your dad and let him know where you are. I bet Leticia is pretty worried about you too."
"Yeah. I guess."
Emily had almost forgotten her ex-husband was there until he spoke. His question sending chills down her spine.
"Aren't you going to open your gift first?"
Slowly she turned her head to look into the eyes of the man who had not only haunted her dreams but now her conscious reality as well. She instinctively stood in front of Michael fearing what could happen next.
Michael looked back and forth at both adults standing before him. He could sense something was wrong but didn't know what.
"Aunt Em?"
Not taking her eyes off of the man before her she wracked her brain for a way out of this situation.
"Yes Michael."
"Are you and Uncle Nik ok? I saw him outside the door when I came up. He said he wanted to just wish you…"
"Merry Christmas." He said finishing the boy's sentence for him. I saw your brother's girlfriend leave and I thought you'd be alone. Imagine how surprised I was when Michael showed up."
"Can I have a moment with my nephew please?"
He shrugged. "Make it quick. We need to be going, I don't want anymore interruptions."
"Going? You and Uncle Nik are going somewhere?" He looked up at Emily.
"To where it all began."
She glared back at him and grabbed the young boys hand and walked him over to the couch and lowering her head to talk to him.
"Michael do you remember the game I taught you this summer in the park? About what to do when something didn't seem right?" Emily looked up to see the dark haired man speaking on his cell phone.
He followed her gaze. "Yeah. What's wrong Aunt Em? You look scared."
"Do you trust me Michael?"
"Uh huh." He nodded.
"Then whatever happens I want you to just do as I say ok."
"But?"
"No buts Michael please. Trust me and just follow my lead. Can you do that?"
"Ok."
Emily heard his cell phone close and stood up to face him.
"It's time. Let's go." He said stepping in between her and Michael.
"You know Uncle Nik you're not being very nice."
The man squatted down and patted Michael's head not noticing Emily reaching for the heavy statue adorning the end table. "Maybe that's because I'm not your Uncle Nik." He told him as she hit him as hard as she could hoping if anything to knock him off balance just enough so she could get her nephew out of there.
"Now Michael." She screamed, as she dropped her weapon and ran with the stunned boy to the door. "Run as fast as you can. Find your dad and Uncle Jase." She turned to look behind her. "Go Michael. NOW!"
"Aunt Emily NO!" Michael cried when she closed the door in his face. He heard her scream from within and he took off knowing that he had to get help fast.