Cassadine security wordlessly moved into place as well and a deathly quiet cascaded over the general area.
Gia bounded from her seat, swiping tears from her eyes in a panic. “Marcus, wait!” Her brother’s gaze flicked to her briefly before rounding back onto Sonny. The mob boss simply returned the detective’s penetrating stare, his own eyes flat and unaffected.
“What do you think is going on here Detective?” An icy edge to a playful question set Marcus’s teeth grinding with anger. No man got under his skin more quickly or effectively than Sonny Corinthos. Years of practice trying to control his temper had proved effective, but at times like these, where he was tired, worried about the women in his family and unsettled by the other man’s presence, he found he had little reserve to hold himself in check.
Sonny rose and stood, casual and relaxed. “She was upset about something. She sat down with a drink to get it together. I was here as well. Nothing more to it.”
A familiar hurry of heels behind him let Marcus know Alexis had been informed and was rushing to defuse the situation. He took a calming breath, suddenly feeling foolish for having come out swinging like that.
“Gia.” One word was all it took to bring new tears forward. Her big brother’s calm, reassuring voice saying her name. “Is everything okay? Is he bothering you?”
She wanted to tell him everything. In that moment, she wanted to spill everything she’d been holding in and keeping quiet for the last six months, everything that had been pressing on her for so long. She just needed to say Jason’s name. Just once and it would all come out.
Sonny’s eyes widened ever so slightly as he watched the cogs in Gia’s head whir to a decision. She was going to break and nothing would hold back Taggert from hunting Jason down. He couldn’t have his best man out of commission like that.
Dammit.
In a loud, crude tone, he interrupted Gia before she could speak. “I don’t bother women, I fuck them stupid. Just ask your wife.”
The temperature in the room plummeted and for a brief moment, no one moved saved for the smile that grew on Sonny’s face as he gave Marcus a look. A look he knew, if the words didn’t push him to the edge, the knowledge of how Kristina came to be would do it.
That Sonny and Alexis, years and years ago, long before Marcus, had gone from client/attorney, to friends, to close friends and finally, to lovers. Years in the past, dead and buried and yet it was a sore spot for Taggert and Sonny knew it, as he knew all the weak spots in any adversary he came across.
Marcus moved so fast, even the Cassadine guards couldn’t hold back the fury that lashed out. Sonny didn’t feel the punch, just the realization that he was on the ground, the left side of his face was on fire and everyone who’d been deathly quiet before was now shouting.
A few commands in Russian, from what sounded like Stefan Cassadine and the area was cleared. Staff returned to their duties, Sonny’s guards pulled their boss from the floor and Marcus, Gia and Alexis were gone.
“Let’s go Boss, maybe come back later,” suggested a guard as he handed Sonny a handkerchief, Sonny realizing that he was bleeding from a cut along his cheek. Gingerly pressing the fabric against the area, he winced, knowing the area would soon swell if he didn’t get some ice on it. He nodded and headed down the hallway, deciding it was best to not say goodbye to Kristina in person.
Walking towards the elevator, he gave his head a shake. There’d be bruising to go with the cut and by the tightness in his neck that was already tensing, he’d have a sore neck by morning.
Jason owed him. He owed him big.
*~*
Jason’s ice blue orbs surveyed the expansive hotel room with cold calculation. He moved silently from one area to the next until satisfied they were alone. By the looks of the bed and the distinctly female clothing, they wouldn’t be alone for long. He returned to the foyer, offering Thane Bauer a once over before grabbing the necessary clothes to dress him.
They weren’t staying long. The cut along Thane’s head wasn’t deep, but it was still bleeding. Fractured skills of basic first aid came forward and Jason tended to the wound before he resumed dressing Thane. Once completed, he flipped Thane onto his front and zip tied his hands together behind his back. Another 30 seconds and they’d be leaving.
Smelling salts were waved under Thane’s nostrils and within moments, the man awoke, confused and moaning. Jason hunched over him, patiently waiting for the other to focus.
Thane blinked, his eyes heavy, nausea washing over him. His head ached and he could hardly move, but his gaze settled on the stony face in front of him and within seconds, it all came rushing back.
Nakia’s killer.
He’d lost his focus and now he was at the mercy of a merciless man.
“Who are you here with?” Jason’s voice was deceptively calm. He nodded to the heels strewn near the bed. “When is she coming back?”
Fear pricked at Thane, overriding the fury. He couldn’t let Emily walk in on this. All of a sudden, he wanted her far, far away from all of this.
“Soon,” he hissed coldly.
With ease, Jason hoisted Thane to his feet. “Then we’ll leave now,” he stated simply. Thane wrenched himself away from Jason’s hands. “Get your hands off me!” he ordered, his voice dripping with hate.
Jason shrugged, but his demeanor was anything but casual. He opened the door slowly, surveying the hallway with trained eyes. Satisfied, he turned back to Thane.
“Walk slowly to the fire exit.” He didn’t have to warn Thane or issue threats. His very presence was threat enough. Thane bit back a retort; he bit back the desire to hurl himself at the other man even with his hands tightly censured behind his back. He might have a moment to take a chance, but now wasn’t that moment. Patience and calm were his strongest assets right now.
Thane let out a breath but moved to the door and eased out, checking the hallway, finding it quiet and empty. He moved forward a few steps, waiting for Jason. Jason emerged, shutting the door quietly behind him.
Jason had taken no more than a step when a well honed sense of alarm spiked, his body turning to catch something out of the corner of his eye. It was bright red, flying at his face.
Fire extinguisher.
With a sickening crack against his face, he dropped like a marionette, crumpling to the floor.
Thane whipped around, anxious and tense until he saw who’d put Jason on the ground.
He let out a breath, sagging against the wall in relief. “Jesus!”
His rescuer placed the extinguisher down on the ground next to Jason’s head and searched the mob enforcer, relieving him of both his weapons and switchblade.
“Didn’t I tell you to keep me in the loop?”
Jerry Jacks stood, flicked the switchblade open and cut the zip ties holding Thane’s hands together with one quick flick of his wrist. The two men shook hands briefly before their eyes fell to the lump on the floor.
“I lost focus,” Thane said simply. Jerry frowned. “Sleeping with Morgan’s sister is not losing focus, mate.”
Thane gritted his teeth together. He wasn’t having this conversation right now. “Help me with him.” With a few grumbles, Jerry and Thane hoisted Jason’s limp frame to his feet. Thane glanced around; the fire exit was the best option but was too far away. The elevator was the next best choice, on the main floor it would open up near an exit and from there, the parking lot.
With awkward, but hurried movements, Jerry and Thane pulled Jason to the elevator, anxious seconds ticking by as they waited.
Jerry shook his head. “We should leave him, get you out of town.”
Thane growled his refusal. This may not have been how he planned to take Jason Morgan down, but he could improvise. He would never get another chance like this again. Sweat trickled down his forehead, stinging the gash along the side of his head.
No, it had to be now.
The door chimed and slid open and both men moved to the small doorway.
“Federal agent, drop your weapons and get down on the ground. NOW!!” The voice boomed down the hallway, its authoritative snarl stopping both men in their tracks.
Thane’s blood ran cold. He knew that voice all too well. Jason let out a groan as his head lolled from one side to the other. There wasn’t much time.
Thane turned his head and the sight before him nearly made him cry out.
Halfway down the hall stood Jack, horrified eyes as he positioned himself the way every experienced field agent did: poised to take down the suspect at any moment. Gun drawn and trained on the group of three men by the elevator, one of whom happened to be his younger brother.
Jerry yanked Jason into the elevator. “Let’s go!” he demanded, pressing the button for the main floor. Thane blinked once as he and Jack stared at each other before wordlessly he stepped into the elevator.
“Dammit!” Jack shouted as he began to sprint down the hallway. “Don’t do this Thane!”
The doors seemed to close at an achingly slow pace as Jerry and Thane stood grim faced in the elevator, flanking Jason. The doors would close before Jack reached them, that much was clear.
Behind Jack, Thane caught sight of another figure. This time, an agonized cry did escape his lips.
It was Emily.
Donned in a terry cloth hotel robe, hair still wet from her swim, devastating shock etched into her visage as she took in the full effect of her brother, unconscious between Thane and Jerry.
“Emily.” His voice was pained, but it was no match for the look of betrayal in her eyes.
*~*
Sonny had no sooner set the container of ice on the counter of his hotel kitchen when his phone chirped. He glanced at it and rolled his eyes.
Carly.
He let the device ring twice more before regretfully answering.
“Everything okay Carly?”
“I can’t find Jason.”
“He doesn’t answer his phone when he’s working. You know that.”
A huff on the other line told him what she thought of that answer.
“I’ve texted, I’ve left messages and he hasn’t called back. Sonny, that’s not normal!”
Her voice had raised an octave, the shrillness of her tone making him pull the phone from his ear. There was no talking to her when she got this way.
“If I hear from him, I’ll tell him to call you right away.” It was all he could offer to placate her until Jason came back on the grid. Sonny’s assurance was met with a half dozen curses from Carly and with a roll of his eyes, he disconnected, tossing the phone on the nearby couch.
A knock at the door elicited a groan. Couldn’t he just get some friggin’ peace?
He moved to the foyer and took a look through the peephole, expecting Jason or a guard or even an irate Carly waiting on the other side.
It was the last person he expected.
Dara Jensen. Was she lost?
He fumbled with the latch, bringing the door open, his eyes curious but cautious.
“Counsellor,” he said quietly as he took in the sight of her in casual clothing. Simple black yoga pants and a deep red v-neck t-shirt and black flats. Small, silver hoops adorned each ear, a matching watch on her slim left wrist. She looked amazing. She always looked amazing.
She moved past him, ignoring the startled look on his face as she took 6 or 7 steps into his rented hotel room. He turned, hand still holding open the door, a perplexed look on his face.
“We need to talk.” Her voice was firm and tight but regardless, a thrill ran through his veins and he swallowed hard as his eyes roved along her curvy frame.
“Talk?” he finally replied, finally finding his voice.
She turned to face him and nodded, a look of determination set in her eyes.
“Shut the door.”
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