All that was left was the black rope.
Wallace and Sonny took everything in, shock coursing through them. The rope laid undone underneath the hook, and everything in the room was untouched. While Sonny looked on in bewilderment, Wallace felt panic creep in.
"He was here…" Sonny mumbled, "He was right here…"
"But he's not," Wallace replied, turning to glare at the man, "Where is he?"
"Didn't you hear what I said-"
"I did. And I know that you're lying."
"I'm not-" Sonny said hastily as Wallace pointed the gun in his face. Ray, who was now awake and alert, pointed his at Wallace in response.
"I want my son, Corinthos. That's the deal."
"He was here in the freezer, hanging by his wrists."
"What a puny little brute you are."
"Look who's talking."
"I-" Wallace took a deep breath, trying to suppress his anger. He sensed Sonny discovering cracks in his armor, clenching his fists as he tried to calm down.
"...Ray," Sonny turned to the bodyguard, "how did Dex escape? You let him overpower you, or…?"
"I stood guard directly in front of the door," Ray explained, "At some point, I heard footsteps coming from my left, and then I was knocked out. Next thing I know, I was on the ground and you found me, sir. That's all I remember right now."
"These footsteps," Wallace said, "were they outside the freezer?"
Ray gave him a look, glancing at Sonny to get his approval, "...Yes."
"So someone broke Dex out," Sonny followed with, looking at Wallace, "I wonder who that could've been."
"Oh please, I would've snuck in and freed Dex myself if I knew he was here."
"Hey, I'm doing you a favor."
"And you're failing to fulfill it."
"Well I didn't move him," Sonny shrugged, looking at Ray, "I mean, d-do you remember anything about who hit you?"
"I remember that it wasn't one person," Ray closed his eyes, willing himself to recall the incident, "It was…two men. One was tall and big…he was the man who incapacitated me. The other seemed to be his boss…it was an old man in a business suit."
Old man in a business suit, Wallace thought to himself, his heart dropping to his stomach, …Oh no.
"Did they say anything?"
"I don't remember anything specific, but one had an accent….British? It sounded British."
"Verdammt," Wallace swore under his breath.
"...What interest would Victor Cassadine have in Dex?" Sonny asked, raising an eyebrow, "I don't think they've ever met."
"Not sure, sir."
"Verdammt…" Wallace huffed out, marching back to the main room. He pulled out his phone, searching for his son's number in his contact list. It went straight to voicemail.
"Dexter Heller," Wallace began, "I need you to call me immediately. I need to know you're okay."
Sonny made his way into the room, watching Wallace in silence.
"I'm at that fake pizza place Sonny owns. I know he was holding you hostage, I was here for you. But you're gone and all that's left is the rope he bound your wrists with. It seems like Victor came by and broke you out…but I refuse to believe that."
Sonny frowned as he heard the man's voice crack.
"I don't care if you're still angry at me over your mother, or if you think you're better off with her family, I need to hear from you. You're still my son at the end of the day, and despite what you may think, I do still care about you."
Mother? Her family? Sonny thought to himself, Is Victor…?
"You know Victor is an evil man, and him breaking you out only means you're stuck in something far more dangerous. I…I don't want to accept that he's got his hands on you."
Sonny slowly approached Wallace, whose back still remained turned. He reached a hand out towards the man's shoulder, but stopped himself and dropped his arm.
"Mein kleiner Bär, Papa macht sich Sorgen um dich. Ich habe dich lieb. Ruf mich bitte an."
"Wallace," Sonny finally said as he turned around. Distress was present in his face, and little effort was made to hide it.
"Don't you dare say anything, and get out of my space."
"Dex is a Cassadine, isn't he?"
"...What business is it of yours?"
"I have my issues with a few of them," Sonny took a few steps back, "and it seems like you do too."
"So?"
"I…I can help you."
"Please," Wallace scoffed, parts of his face beginning to burn with emotion, "you hung my son off a meat hook in your freezer. I'd be a fool to accept your help."
"I'm offering help because w-we have a common enemy. And as a father, I-I want to help."
"I don't want your help."
"Y-You really think you can take Victor down?"
"I can certainly do more than you," Wallace spat, turning to exit. Sonny caught his mutter, "I'm not failing my son again."
"Should I go after him, sir?" Ray asked as the door closed behind Wallace.
"No, leave him be. We'll face off when the time is right," Sonny replied, pulling out his phone and beginning to type, "In the meantime, there's something important I need to take care of."
"Dex, this isn't funny. I've been trying to reach you all day. Call me back, answer my texts, do something so I know that you're still in this."
Michael slammed his phone down on the coffee table in the gatehouse as he finished his voicemail. He sat on the couch, hunched with annoyance coloring his face.
"C'mon Dex," he mumbled, "get back to me."
A knock at the door snapped Michael out of his thoughts, Brando appearing in the window. Michael gestured for the man to come in, the door slamming behind him as he walked in.
"What's up?" Michael asked.
"I know what you've been up to," Brando replied.
"I don't know what you're talking about. I'm pretty sure you're not interested in the goings on with ELQ and Aurora."
"I don't mean your business ventures, Michael. At least, not those two."
"Those are the only two I have."
"You hiring a mole doesn't count?"
"...Mole?" Michael looked at his cousin in disbelief, "For what?"
"Don't play dumb, Michael. Sonny knows."
"He knows what?"
"He knows you hired Dex Heller to infiltrate his organization."
Michael's mouth slammed shut, his eyes bright and his gaze firm on Brando. He ducked his head down, his hands on his hips. Brando looked on in anger, clenching his fists.
"How did he find out?" Michael asked.
"I don't know. He texted me about it just now. I had to find out the truth for myself."
"My dealings with Dex don't concern you, Brando."
"Actually, it does. It concerns all of us, Michael."
"Sonny wasn't going to die. He was going to pay for all the crimes he's committed."
"Doesn't matter. You removing him from all of our lives puts all of us in danger."
"Removing Sonny protects everyone. I mean, come on, Brando!" Michael threw his hands up, "You know Sonny has caused such irreparable harm to so many people, taken so many lives! Is it really so bad that something is finally being done about it?"
"You're really letting your bitterness over Sonny and Nina's affair blind you," Brando shook his head, "Michael, if we lose Sonny, we lose the perks that come with him."
"What perks? Living off of his criminal enterprise, having all the money in the world?"
"Protection from his enemies."
"I can hire private security. I'm sure my family would be more than happy to spend cash on guards so that we're safe from Sonny's enemies."
"God, you really don't get it," Brando said, exasperation in his tone, "You putting Sonny behind bars screws all of us. He has bodyguards on-call whenever they're needed. We're able to live our lives like nothing's wrong because he shields us from mob violence."
"And yet all of us have been victims of mob violence thanks to him. I'm doing us a favor."
"No, you're doing yourself a favor."
"I don't have to take this," Michael spat, "I think we're done here."
"No, we're not," Brando approached his cousin.
"Leave, Brando."
"You're not taking Sonny down because you feel like justice should be served. You're doing it for revenge, because he cheated on your mom."
"Are you suggesting I'm not allowed to be angry at him hurting her?"
"No, I'm saying that how you've expressed that anger could lead to some bad things happening."
"Brando-"
"I get you could provide us with private security, that money isn't an issue, but there's still the family aspect to consider."
"How?"
"Sonny being gone means you and your siblings lose their father."
"Dante, Kristina, and Josslyn are adults-"
"Avery and Donna are not. You'd leave such a big hole in their lives."
"I'm doing this to protect them."
"But they'll resent you when they find out big brother Michael took their father from them."
Michael paused, taking a step back, "I don't want them to feel like that."
"You give up this plot, and you won't have that problem."
"...I can't."
"What? Michael-" Brando began, Michael walking past him.
"I'm doing what I'm doing because it's been a long time coming," Michael laid a hand on the front doorknob, "It's not about Sonny cheating on my mom with Nina, it's about all the wrongs he's done because of his lifestyle. AJ died at his hands, Jax was constantly victimized, I was shot because he prioritized his girlfriend. He's done a lot of damage and we can't keep overlooking it just because he's a great chef or his smile lights up a room."
"Michael, please."
"You can't change my mind. We're done here," Michael opened the door, only for Dante to appear. The three men exchanged looks with one another, "Dante, how can I help you?"
"I'm looking for Dex Heller," Dante answered, walking into the gatehouse, "Have either of you two seen or heard from him?"
"I haven't seen him since he cornered Michael in the GH stairwell," Brando said, glaring at Michael, "At least, I thought he was cornering Michael."
"Now's not the time, Brando," Michael rolled his eyes.
"Now's not the time for what?" Dante raised an eyebrow, "If this is about you and Dex, I already know. Dad told me."
"Ugh, great."
"I'd get in your face about it, but I have something more pressing right now. And besides, judging by Brando's presence, I'm sure you've gotten an earful already."
"Why are you looking for Dex?" Brando asked, "Are you going to arrest him?"
"...No."
"Then why are you looking for him?"
"He's a person of interest. I can't give you the details, but it's important that we find him," Dante looked at Michael, "When did you last hear from Dex?"
"A few days ago," Michael answered, "I've texted and called, but he hasn't replied to any of it."
"Is the PCPD looking for Dex?" Brando asked.
"Not the PCPD, no."
"But you said 'we.'"
"Yes. It's not just me looking for him."
"Who else is looking for Dex?"
"That's not relevant to you two. Don't worry about it, forget I said anything."
"Wait, Dante, if someone's looking for Dex, that matters to me," Michael chimed in, "He works for me. I have a right to know what's going on."
"Have you talked to Sonny?" Brando asked.
"Dad was the one who tipped me off about Dex, actually," Dante said, sighing, "He told me about Michael's betrayal, and then asked if I could track Dex down."
"He's not with Sonny?" Michael raised an eyebrow.
"Not according to him, no. He said that Dex stopped by Pozzulo's for a meeting but that was the last time he was seen."
"Dex just…vanished?" Brando questioned, "That doesn't seem right."
"That's because it's not," Michael scowled, "Dad's lying to you, Dante. He knows about me and Dex, and him saying that Dex just randomly disappeared after meeting with him means he's just covering his ass."
"You think Dad got rid of Dex?"
"I know he did something to Dex, and I intend to get the guy out of there."
"Michael!" Dante and Brando shouted in unison as the man rushed out the door. They exchanged looks with one another before following him, pursuing him as they left the Quartermaine mansion for Pozzulo's. A mix of emotions was present as they all set foot in the restaurant, Sonny and Michael exchanging cold, sharp glances as a nervous anticipation hung in the air.
"Michael," Sonny greeted.
"Dad."
"We have a lot to discuss."
"Yeah, we do, starting with this: what did you do with Dex Heller?"
A/N: (According to online translations)
"Verdammt" - Damn it
"Mein kleiner Bär, Papa macht sich Sorgen um dich. Ich habe dich lieb. Ruf mich bitte an" - My little bear, Daddy is worried about you. I love you. Call me, please