"We've got to stop meeting like this."

If looks could kill, Victor would have been in pieces on the floor. Valentin's scowl was strong and present, and a smirk rested on Victor's face in response. It was the same cycle every time Valentin met with his father: meet publicly, bicker about the terms of their agreement, and do the elder man's bidding anyway. If it meant that Charlotte was closer to coming home with each completed task, Valentin, begrudgingly, did what was asked of him.

"Any new developments?" Valentin asked sharply, "Surely you wouldn't meet with me unless there was something worth discussing."

"I just wanted to make sure everything was still going according to plan," Victor sighed, "It's just a shame you want our meetings to be so…public."

"I'd hardly call the Metro Court restaurant a public venue, especially early in the morning."

"Regardless. Your affinity for open displays is quite…perturbing. But if it means our union is intact, I suppose I'll have to accept the terms as they are."

"Cut the small talk, Father. What is it that you want?"

"I want to make sure you're upholding your end of our deal."

"This is the third time you've done this. As much as I bemoan working with you, what matters to me is Charlotte. I've done what you've asked of me."

"Mostly."

"Killing Laura would ruin everything, and you know that."

"But eliminating her would prove to be so much easier for us."

"I don't see how me being behind the walls of Pentonville makes things easier."

"You let me worry about that," Victor grinned, his teeth locked behind his lips, "but let us get to the main topic of discussion: family reunion-"

"We've gone over this-"

"Beyond the grave."

Valentin felt a slight chill go down his spine. The Cassadines were nothing if not crafty, always finding a way to defy the laws of physics and nature to ensure their own success. He knew Victor dabbled in resurrection before, bringing back infamous matriarch Helena and his half-brother Stavros. The second (or third) time around wasn't as prosperous, but knowing Victor had the ability to provide for a second time on Earth at all was enough to consider.

"Valentin," Victor said, "do you have something more pressing?"

Valentin snaps out of his head, re-engaging with his uncle.

"Certainly you're not shocked that I've considered this."

"Why would you even bother with resurrection?" Valentin scoffed, his hands clasped together on the table, "my dear mother passed away years ago, and my half-brothers before her. And as far as I know, their bodies are long gone."

"That may be so, but that doesn't mean there aren't others to bring back for another go-around."

"I'd be surprised if anyone older than my dear mother still has a physical skeleton."

"Valentin-"

"If you're so insistent on reuniting the Cassadine family, why not focus on the ones who are currently here?"

"As far as I'm concerned, I have Nikolas and Ava in my corner. Spencer as well," Victor said, which caused Valentin to scowl, "And here you are working with me, of course."

"Alexis?"

"Her and her daughters are…a work in progress."

"See? That's everyone."

"Either you forget that the Cassadine name is quite expansive, or you're being willfully ignorant," Victor shook his head.

"I truly don't see the need to drag any other Cassadines into your plans. You have enough."

"I would be inclined to agree with you. Fortunately, your dear mother left behind one last surprise for us to discover."

"And what could that be?"

"A daughter."

Not possible, Valentin thought, It was only Stavros, Stefan, Alexis and Kristina. And the women weren't even Helena's. How could that harpy have produced another child?

"It seems that Helena kept quite the secret from the rest of us," Victor continued, "A daughter of her own."

"That's not possible," Valentin chuckled, "Alexis and Kristina were the closest she got to having her own daughters, and they weren't even hers."

"Ah, but Irina was."

Valentin's eyebrows rose. He was aware of an Irina, the sister to the long-dead Ivan. He didn't know much else beyond her name, but assuming Victor meant the same woman would be asinine, "Irina?"

"Yes. Helena had Stavros, then you, then Stefan, and then Irina. To my knowledge, there is quite the age gap."

"That damn viper had a daughter of her own?"

"Indeed. Such a shame she chose to hide the girl away from the rest of the family."

"If she was hidden away, how did you even learn of her existence?"

"I have my sources."

"You can't tell me?"

"I don't have to."

"Hmph," Valentin tightened his lips, shooting daggers at his father. Victor stifled a chuckle in response.

"How I know about Irina doesn't matter," Victor began, "What matters is that I know of her to begin with, as well as what will be done about it."

Valentin casted his eyes on the black dining table, his hands moved onto his lap. His mind wanted to reject the notion of a second Irina Cassadine, that Victor's claims of her existence were just a load. However, part of him knew that if there was something Helena did well, it was keeping a secret.

If you're truly out there, Irina, stay put. This family isn't worth upending everything you've come to know.

"You did what?"

Ava rolled her eyes, walking into the living room. Nikolas marched in after her, looming over her as she took a seat on the sofa.

"You honestly should have expected this," Ava said, smoothing out her black pencil skirt, "We are currently in a crisis, and we needed the help."

"So you go to Sonny?" Nikolas asked in response, "You honestly thought he could help us out of this?"

"I went to him about Trina."

"Doesn't make a difference."

"I asked Sonny to help Trina. The entire trial has been a sham to throw an innocent young woman behind bars for a crime she didn't even commit, and that damn ADA has twisted so much of Trina's character. I was worried, so I went to someone who I thought could help ensure Trina's innocence."

"So, what? You got Sonny to tamper with the jury? You got him to pay off the judge to not accept a guilty verdict?" Nikolas asked, his tone sharp, "You know that kind of intimidation and bribery can backfire, don't you? What were you thinking?"

"First of all," Ava stood up, shooting daggers at her husband, "you should not be lecturing anyone on poor decision-making. Secondly, just because I asked Sonny to help Trina doesn't mean I asked him to commit jury tampering."

"Then what did you tell him to do?"

"Certainly not that! I trusted Sonny's judgment enough that whatever he decided was the right move."

"So then what did he decide to do?"

"...He's sending someone to comb Wyndemere."

Nikolas felt his blood chill. His eyes widened at his wife, who looked slightly downtrodden herself. As much as he chided Ava over the possibility that Sonny would manipulate the legal system for her, knowing that one of his goons was stopping by made the idea look brilliant.

"Ava…" Nikolas breathed, "You didn't-"

"I had to."

"You really didn't."

"I couldn't lie to him, Nikolas. He could tell I was off. I told him what happened on the parapet, and before you ask, I spared the gory details of your little tryst with Esme."

A wave of relief ran over the man, a small sigh escaping his mouth, "So he's going to have someone find Esme."

"With our help," Ava quickly added, "I'm not letting Sonny's goon investigate the shore by himself. It's much too vast and treacherous for one man alone."

"Why do we have to help?"

"If you want to start atoning for your infidelity, this is a way to do it. Plus, the shoreline is full of sharp boulders and aggressive tides. If she's dead down there, I'd much prefer we keep it that way. I don't need someone else falling victim to this castle."

"It's Sonny's man. He should be more than capable of searching on his own."

"Nikolas," Ava's voice was cold, "If you want to make things right, helping Sonny's muscle search the beach is a start. Finding her shoe doesn't mean anything at this point. We have to find a body, and the more people we have searching, the better chance we have of finding it."

"...Alright," Nikolas sighed, crossing his arms, "When is he coming by?"

"In an hour or two."

"Do we have a name?"

"Sonny didn't say, but I'm sure when he arrives, he'll let us know."

"You really trust Sonny to help us like this?"

"Sonny is Avery's father, and he's not going to let anything happen to her. So he's not gonna let anything happen to me," Ava sighed, walking up to Nikolas, "I get you have your issues, but right now, we need his help to get us out of this Esme mess. So put your ire aside and suck it up."

"Suck what up?"

Victor stood in the opening, his hands in his pockets. While Nikolas sucked in his lips, a warm smile appeared on Ava's face. She side-stepped her husband to greet her relative, who smiled back at her.

"Uncle Victor," Nikolas said, a flatness in his tone.

"Nikolas," Victor nodded, "Ava."

"What brings you by?" Ava asked, her hands clasped together.

"Well, I was just with my son, so I figured I'd stop by and see my nephews as well."

"Well, Spencer went to see Cameron half-an-hour ago."

"That's alright. I still have you two."

"What do you really want?" Nikolas countered.

"I was…hoping to use the study for a spell. I need to do some research."

"We're expecting company."

"Who?"

"Just an associate of Sonny's," Ava explained, "We're going to be at the shoreline, looking at some items the tides brought in. Sonny thinks something happened to one of his shipments."

"Ah, I see. Well, I hope I'm not a bother. I'll keep myself scarce in the study. Good luck in your endeavors, you two." Victor replied, nodding to Nikolas and Ava before turning the corner to his right. Ava smiled as he walked away before turning back to Nikolas, who was pinching the bridge of his nose.

"I hope this associate shows up soon," Nikolas remarked, "I'd really like to look around before the weather worsens and we lose what we're looking for."

"He'll be here soon, Nikolas," Ava smirked, "All in due time."