Chapter 20

"They are in a cottage about a mile from here." Robert relayed the information to Patrick, Mac and Anna that he had just gotten from Dante. "We are going to park a little ways from the place and advance on foot."

"Who else is helping us?" Patrick had only seen one car.

"Just Dante." He saw the anger rise in the doctor's eyes and quickly explained. "Technically Robin isn't missing – she has only been gone a few hours and she left the house willingly."

"Because she thought she was meeting me Robert." Patrick ran his hands through his hair and tried to calm down. "She would have never gone if she had known he was waiting there for her."

"I know but we cannot prove it and the police need proof. Lucky for you – we don't." Robert got a twinkle in his eye as he started the car. "It's time to end this."


"So the first thing we need to discuss is your relationship with Patrick." Manrico was cleaning up the dishes from supper as he spoke. "I understand that you will need to stay in contact with him for Emma's sake but I think that is all you should discuss – anything else might give him the wrong idea."

"And what idea is that?" Robin had decided to not humor the man – her family would be here soon to help free her. "That I love him and want to spend the rest of my life with him? Because that is exactly what I want."

He turned around – a look of hurt filling his face. "What about the plans we made?"

Robin's face turned to stone. "The only plans we made were for me to escape Jerry and get back here to my daughter. That's it."

"You know how much you mean to me Robin." He knelt down in front of her.

"And you know that I am in love with Patrick." She flinched as he reached up and stroked her face. "I have never lied to you about that."

"But he doesn't deserve you. He let Helena and Jerry take you. He divorced you and took another woman into his bed while you were being tortured." His hand moved from her face to her neck and the caressing her shoulder. "I would never let that happen to you. I will protect you Robin."

Robin squirmed under his touch. She looked away from him and her gaze turned to the living room window. A pair of familiar eyes appeared through the glass and Robin relaxed. She turned back to Manrico, her eyes still cold. "You and I will never be together."

"Yes we will." Furious at her words, he grabbed her by the neck and kissed her.


Patrick felt the fury build as he watched the man grab his tied up fiancée and kiss her. "Mac, we need to get in there now."

Mac held Patrick back. He hated the scene that was unfolding in front of him just as much as Patrick did but he knew that Robin had seen him and would react accordingly. Robert and Anna were making their way to the back of the house while Dante prepared to bust in the front door with Mac and Patrick right behind him. "Just wait, it's almost over."


Anna worked quickly to unlock the back door to the cottage. Robert kept guard over her shoulder, making sure that no one was sneaking up on them. "Come on Anna, Emma could have picked that lock by now."

"If I wanted your opinion, I would ask for it." Anna heard the final tumbler click into place and slowly turned the handle. "I want to end this as much as you do. Our daughter deserves her happy ending."

"Which I'm beginning to believe will never happen if she stays here in Port Charles." Robin had mentioned the job in Berkeley to both them and Mac.

Anna nodded her head as they entered the house. As much as she would miss Emma and Robin, she was inclined to agree with him. "We can discuss that later – right now we need to get Robin away from this madman."

"Words we say way too often." Robert listened closely and nodded down the hallway. "They are this way."


Manrico pulled back and smiled at Robin. "I know we can be happy together – just give us a chance."

She smiled back at him. "Come here."

He closed his eyes and moved back towards her for another kiss when he felt something strike him in the forehead. Opening his eyes, he saw the mark on Robin's forehead and the tears in her eyes from the obvious pain the headbutt she had given him had caused her. Anger overwhelmed him and he slapped her hard across the face, knocking Robin and her chair to the ground.

Moments later the front door flew open and gunfire filled the cottage.