Chapter 14
"Everyone down on the ground!" The robbers pointed their guns at the group. "Throw all cell phones into the middle of the floor."
Everyone in the room quickly complied. Patrick took a look around the room to make sure everyone was okay. Fortunately it still early in the evening and most of the guests had not arrived yet. Among the doctors, nurses and various guests he saw among Maxie, Lulu, Liz, and Epiphany lowering themselves to the ground but his focus was on the trembling woman he was guarding.
Patrick turned around and gently stroked Robin's face. "It's okay – just focus on me." He helped Robin to the floor and took the cell phone from her purse. Without breaking their connection, Patrick threw their two phones into the center of the floor. "I'm not going to let anyone hurt you. Tell me what will make you most comfortable."
Tears fell down Robin's face. "Would you hold me?"
Patrick leaned his back against the bar and pulled Robin into his arms, wrapping them around her tight. "Keep your face against my chest and don't look at them. It will all be over shortly."
One of the gunmen walked over to Lulu and Maxie, who sat across the room from Patrick and Robin. "You're the owner, right?" Lulu nodded. "Good – take me to the safe."
Lulu stood up and headed to the back room with the man while the other three gunmen stood in the center of the room, guns trained on the crowd. A few minutes later they came back out with a bag full of cash and the gunmen threw Lulu back over to Maxie. "Let's go."
The men were headed to the exit when they heard a voice call from outside. "This is the Port Charles police department. We have you surrounded – come out with your hands up."
The gunman threw the bag of money down and fired his gun into the air. "Damn it!" He looked at the people on the floor. "Get comfortable – we're in for a long night."
Patrick held Robin close and gently stroked her hair. "It's going to be okay Robin. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."
Nikolas pulled up to the Haunted Star and was shocked to see police cars outside. He saw Dante and ran over to him. "Dante, what is going on?"
"Nikolas – the alarm sounded a few minutes ago. I have access to the Haunted Star security cameras on my phone – Lulu set it up – and there are 4 gunmen inside." Dante loved his brother-in-law but he didn't have time for this. "Look, Lulu is in there…"
"What about Robin?" Nikolas was under strict orders to be there to watch over Robin. He wasn't happy to be helping his grandmother but it was the only way to protect Robin right now. "I was supposed to meet her here."
"Don't worry – she's with Patrick and he won't let anything happen to her." Dante had just finished speaking when Marcus walked up to the men.
"What do you mean she is with Patrick?" Marcus stared in disbelief at the scene unfolding before him.
"There is a hostage situation." Nikolas pulled Marcus aside. "Did you have anything to do with this? I know that Helena sent Jerry back here."
"No, the man left the hospital when I did – he had nothing to do with this. I will ask you again, what do you mean she is with Patrick?" Marcus was not happy with what he was hearing.
"Patrick and Robin were both in there when the robbers struck so I would imagine that he is protecting her. Patrick would die for her." Nikolas felt like Patrick needed a little defending.
"Which he proved by divorcing her." Marcus pulled out his phone and made a call. "We have an issue that needs taken care of immediately."
"How are you doing?" Patrick held her close and kept rubbing her back. It had been an hour since the start of the hostage situation.
"I'm okay. You don't have to worry about me…"
"I like worrying about you. It's alright if you're scared – just remember that I've got you and I will do everything in my power to protect you." Patrick continued to hold her close, not wanting to let her go. "At least time I'm in here with you, rather than going crazy standing outside."
"Yeah, no storming the doors and demanding to be traded for me and, as an added bonus, no Carly." Talking to him helped her feel a little bit better.
"And no one has been hurt. That was one of the worst moments of my life, knowing you were inside the Metro Court, shot, and I could do nothing to help you." His hold on Robin didn't break.
"But you did help me." Robin looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "You talked Emily through my surgery and saved my life. If you hadn't done that, I would have died. You were my hero that night."
"Too bad I couldn't be that man again when you needed him." Patrick wiped her tears away as they began to fall down her face. "I have let you down so many times and I hate myself for doing it. I want you to know that I never stopped loving you and no one has ever taken your place in my heart."
"But what about Sam?" Robin wasn't sure what he was saying.
"I care about Sam but it doesn't come close to my feelings for you. Maybe a part of me was trying to get back at you for leaving me, maybe it was a screw you to Jason, or maybe I am just so pathetic that I needed someone by my side instead of doing what I promised and waiting for you." Patrick gently rubbed her cheek. "I love you Robin, so much and I know you still love me."
Robin nodded her head. "Of course I still do, I have never loved anyone the way I love you but…"
"But nothing." Patrick leaned down and gently kissed Robin. "I know we have a lot of issues to work through but I believe that we can do it. I'm not asking for an answer now - just promise me you will consider what I am saying."
"Patrick…"
He kissed her one last time. "Just promise."
Robin nodded her head and laid her head back on Patrick's chest. "I promise."
Meanwhile the four gunmen were talking. The second gunman was getting nervous. "We need to get the hell out of here – this was supposed to be simple."
"In and out – isn't that what you said?" The third gunman glared at the man holding the money, clearly the one in charge. "What are we supposed to do now?"
The leader looked around the room and smiled. "We have the upper hand – the van is right outside and I see at least four lovely ladies that we can use as human shields. Everyone grab someone and let's go."
The first gunman grabbed Lulu while two of the others grabbed Maxie and Liz. Patrick took Robin and shoved her behind the bar as the last gunman went for her. Patrick stood up to stop him. "You leave her the hell alone!"
The gunman looked at Patrick. "Fine."
He turned to leave and then turned back around, hitting Patrick in the head with his gun. Patrick fell to the floor in an unconscious heap. Robin ran out to help him. "Patrick!"
The gunman grabbed Robin and dragged her over to the others. "I figured we might as well take girls we can have a little fun with."
The men began dragging them to the door and had almost made it there when gunfire filled the room.