Chapters 56 & 57

 

 

Chapter 56 Start Of A Beautiful Friendship

 

An hour later cops, firefighters, and an ambulance are at what used to
be the warehouse. The cops question Cassidy and Lucky while an EMT
stitches up Evan's hand.

Emily watches as the EMT works. "I can't believe I didn't notice the
blood. You should have said something."

He smiles at her nagging. "I'm fine, and we were busy. I still want to
pay a visit to the hotel."

"I agree. The manager knows more than he was letting on." She says as
she watches Cassidy approach. "They finished questioning you already?"

Cassidy smiles brightly. "Yeah, and they want to talk to you now. Have a
blast."

Emily groans as she walks away. "I'm sure."

The EMT finishes bandaging Evan's hand and he walks toward the rental
car, with Cassidy by his side. Once there, he begins to explain the
Hotel
Manager's behavior to her. "So, after using force, he finally told us
where to find you. He mentioned something about a Reyes being unhappy
with us meddling in your abduction."

Her eyes flicker at the name. "Reyes? Ramiro Reyes, right hand man to
the Smith crime family. Well, what used to be the Smith crime family. I
know the Spencers have a history with the Smiths, but this was a
Cassadine abduction."

Evan smiles as he watches the mental wheels turn. "Well, the Spencers
and Cassadines are one family now right? Could the baby's kidnapping be
related to him being part Spencer not because he was a Cassadine?"

Cassidy shakes her head. "Laura married Luke Spencer, Richard is part
Webber and part Cassadine. We never considered that it could be someone
wanting to hurt Laura. Cassadine children are always potential targets.
The family has too many enemies. Not to mention they're a wealthy
family. We always expected a ransom note for Richard, but when it never
came..." Her voice trails off and Evan places a hand on her shoulder.

"I'm sorry; it's a horrible thing to lose a child. I think we should
head back to that manager's office and question him until he spills
about Reyes' connection to this."

She laughs gently. "You sound like one of those old cop movies. You and
Lucky could play bad cop and worse cop."

Evan laughs. "Speaking of Lucky."

Lucky approaches them keeping his eyes on Evan the entire time. His
looks at Evan's hand on her shoulder and stifles feelings of jealousy.
How many women did this guy plan to put his hooks into?

Cassidy glances from Lucky to Evan and then hides a smile. "I'm going to
check on Emily's progress with the cops. Later."

Lucky watches her leave and sighs. He scowls as Evan chuckles at him.
"What's so funny?"

Evan holds up a hand to him. "Nothing man, you just have it bad for
her."

He lights a cigar and offers one to Evan, who accepts. "You aren't
sharing the same thoughts are you?"

Evan lights his cigar and shakes his head as he exhales. "I only have
eyes for Em."

Leaning against the car beside Evan, he replies. "Good, cause if you
break her heart, I'll break your neck."

Evan scoffs at him. "You're telling me not to hurt Emily? From what I
understand you've already beat me to the punch."

Lucky faces him angrily. "What the hell do you know about me and Em?
Nuthin'-- you don't know nuthing about our relationship or how much she
means to me. So, before you start flapping your gums, you'd better get
your information straight."

Evan speaks just as angrily. "Before you threaten me about how to treat
Em, you better take the time to know me. There isn't anything I wouldn't
do for her, including traveling to Mexico to bail out your ass."

Stung by his last remark, Lucky returns to his spot by the car. "You're
right. You didn't have to save my butt. I didn't thank you yet, so
thanks."

He shrugs his shoulders and smiles at him. "You nearly broke your neck
on that bridge trying to save mine, I'd say we're even. You know, I'm a
little jealous of you and Em. I see how close you guys are, and I'm
still working to build our relationship. You're a good guy, and you care
about Emily. How can I fight with that?" He extends his hand to him.

Lucky shakes his hand firmly. "Well, I can be an ass to Em's boyfriends,
but you seem okay. You jumped on a plane to save her friends, without
really knowing if we were even in danger. Just stay off the bridges,
man, and we'll be all right."

Evan throws his head back and laughs. "Okay, and you stay out of
warehouses. So, did you get a decent look at who knocked you out?"

He shakes his head angrily. "No, but Em said you roughed up the hotel
manager. How much did he know?"

"Quite a bit. We didn't stay around to beat it out of him. The tone of
his voice suggested you guys were already dead." He blows the smoke out
and motions to the police. "What did you tell them?"

Lucky grins. "That my wife and I were supposed to meet a friend here,
but instead were ambushed."

Evan looks at his watch. "They should be done with the girls soon. You
didn't mention Richard then?"

He crosses his arms and looks at Evan with a pained expression. "They'll
only get in the way. I know we were set up, but the people who did it
either kidnapped my brother, or know the person who did. I'm not willing
to let the local policia interfere in what could be our only chance to
returning him home."

Taking another puff of his cigar, Evan smiles at him. "Don't worry, you
now have two more sets of hands to help you out. If your brother's here,
we'll bring him back."

Emily groans as the Police officer walks away. She turns to Cassidy who
is softly giggling. "You enjoyed that."

Cassidy bats her eyes innocently. "Who me? Hey, you should have seen the
questions they asked me. You got lucky."

Emily looks over at the boys smoking cigars and talking. "Speaking of
Lucky; what do you think they're talking about?"

She watches them for a moment and then laughs. "I'd guess they already
had their measuring contest regarding your honor, so they're probably
discussing the next step in finding Richard."

Emily blushes. "Lucky and I are in the past. He's my best friend, but
nothing romantic."

Cassidy touches her arm lightly. "I see the way you look at Evan; it was
pretty obvious."

She teases Cassidy. "I saw the looks you and Lucky were shooting each
other. Should I give you the 'if you hurt him I'll claw your eyes out'
speech, or does it go without saying?"

Cassidy giggles at Emily's failed attempt to keep a stern face. "It goes
without saying. You and Lucky have such a great friendship. I'm envious.
Most of my life it was just Dad and I."

Emily hugs her tightly. "You got a friend now! Talking to Lucky can get
tiresome, the fact you're a nice girl rates high in my book."

Cocking an eyebrow at Em, Cassidy asks curiously. "A nice girl? Who does
Lucky usually hang out with?"

Emily winks at her. "Girls like me! Let's go join them before they
pollute the air further."

 

 

Chapter 57 Don't Give Up

 

Lucky eyes are full of hatred as he shakes the man in front of him.
"WHERE IS MY BROTHER DAMMIT?!"

The man laughs at him. "You are a fool, Spencer. Don't you know when
you've been set up? Ricardo was never here. He is safely living his life
with another family. You and your family will never find him, and he'll
never know you."

The words pierce Lucky's heart as he begins to punch the tall Puerto
Rican man that Evan is holding in front of him. "Let him go! I want to
kill him fairly."

Emily screams out to him. "LUCKY! NO! EVAN PUT A STOP TO THIS!"

The hotel manager, badly bruised, picks up his phone. It had taken a
severe beating from Lucky before the man called Reyes over for
questioning. Obviously Lucky's threat to slit his throat scared him more
than the thought of ratting out his employer. "I am calling the policia,
you American's are loco."

Cassidy stops Lucky's fist and pulls him away. Holding his shoulders
firmly, she looks at him with concern. "Stop this, Lucky! If you kill
him; he won't be able to lead us to Richard! Get a hold of yourself!"

Lucky fumes as his body shakes with rage. Evan tightens his hold on the
cursing Reyes. He looks into Reyes' eyes, and sees him laughing at him,
enjoying jerking him around. He lunges toward him again, but Cassidy
keeps her grip on his shoulder. "Lucky! Think about your family! You'll
go to prison, and they'll lose the chance of seeing not only Richard but
you too."

Her words do the trick, as he snaps out of his rage. His eyes well with
tears of frustration and pain; he whispers to her. "Get me out of here
before I kill him."

She takes him by the arm and leads him to the rental car. They sit in
the back seat, with Cassidy holding his hand as he stares out the
window, saying nothing.

Inside, Evan pins Reyes to the wall. Emily watches the Manager rise from
his chair. "I wouldn't do that. I won't stop him from killing you."
She's satisfied that he buys her bluff as he falls back in the chair.
The police enter the hotel office and shake their head at seeing Emily
and Evan again.

Sgt. Ramirez approaches Emily. "You're a beautiful woman, but why am I
seeing you again today?"

She smiles at his flirting. "These are the men who set up my friends."

He looks at the hotel manager and then at Reyes. "Ramiro, amigo, so long
since your last stay at my jail. It is good to see you again." He turns
to Emily. "We'll take care of this. Perhaps you and your friends should
find a nice hotel and rest. You've had a very busy day."

Evan walks over to her and wraps his arm around her. "He's right. I
think we should go to the hotel. Lucky and Cassidy need the rest."

Emily looks up at Evan and is immediately concerned. His eyes are filled
with pain, and his voice seems shaky. "Are you okay?"

He kisses the top of her head gently. "Let's go to the hotel. We can
talk there."

They go to the car, and take their seats. Evan starts the engine and
without a word takes off to the hotel. Emily turns around to face Lucky
and Cassidy. She watches Cassidy stroke Lucky's hand tenderly as he
stares out the window, his face expressionless. Em turns back around and
gazes at Evan, her heart full of concern at his sudden mood change. He'd
been almost jovial when going back to the other hotel. Something had
gotten under his skin. Evan pulls into the luxury hotel and turns off
the car. He hands a key to Cassidy. "You're in the room across from us."

Cassidy takes the key and they leave the car. "Thanks for booking us in
a better hotel. I think we could all use a good night's sleep."

Inside their room, Cassidy emerges from the bathroom, draped in the
luxury bathrobe. She is concerned when she doesn't see Lucky, but looks
out at the terrace and finds him standing by the balcony. She walks onto
the terrace and places a hand on his shoulder. "Thanks for saving some
hot water for me. I still think you rigged that coin toss for the
shower." She feels him tense up and asks with her voice full of concern.
"You want to talk?'

He turns to her, his face damp with tears and shakes his head. She pulls
him to her and hugs him tightly. "I'm sorry, Lucky. I want to help."

He holds on to her tightly breathing in the scent of her freshly
shampooed hair. His desire for her increasing by the minute as he tries
to control the pain that consumes his heart. "How can I tell them I
failed? I thought we would bring Richard ho...."

His voice cracks and she tightens her hold on him. "You did your best!
Someone is toying with us! We will find that person through Reyes, and
we will get Richard back."

He pulls away slightly and takes a long look at her. Cupping her chin
gently he raises her face to his. She stands on her tiptoes to reach his
lips, and together they kiss each other gently, slowly, passionately.

Evan sits on the bed, his head in his hands as he speaks. "I was young,
and so devastated. I didn't want to leave him. I never meant to be away
for so long. I-I-.." His voice trails off as he is overwhelmed by sobs.

Emily rubs his back as she looks at the picture in her hand. The smiling
little boy, with curly brown hair and eyes that seemed to dance even in
a picture.

Evan takes a breath and looks at Emily, tears streaming down his cheeks.
"I love my son; I hope you realize I wasn't trying to hide him from you.
I was afraid if you or my father knew I left him, that you would judge
me. Why shouldn't you? What kind of man just leaves his little boy?"

Emily wraps her arms around him and looks at him squarely in the eye.
"You were seventeen years old, you'd lost his mother and her parents
didn't give you much choice."

He shakes his head. "They aren't bad people, Em. They had lost their
daughter, and I was a trainwreck with no end in sight. I didn't take
care of Ian, Mother and Michelle's parents did. I wouldn't come out of
my room for over a week-- not even to feed my son. My mother even
thought that Ian would be better off with Michelle's parents. I could
see him at anytime. I spend time with him, Em. Not as much as I should,
but when I see him, I see Michelle. I don't know, maybe it's the therapy
with Dr. Harmon, or not finding Richard, or both, but I'm missing my
son. If you can't forgive me for not telling you, I'll understand."

She takes his hands in hers and smiles at him lovingly. "I am surprised,
not angry. Evan, the fact that you did what was best for Ian says more
about your character than you'll ever realize. I would like to meet him.
If that would be okay? Mac will be so happy. He missed watching you grow
up, but I know he'd love to meet his grandson."

He looks at her with amazed eyes. "What did I ever do to deserve you?
You have handled so many of my secrets and you're still here."

She kisses him gently. "I'll always be here. You have to stop worrying
about my leaving. I love you, Evan. I love you."

Lucky kisses Cassidy's neck and then moves back to her lips. "I want you
so much that it hurts. I need you."

She places her finger to his lip and unbuttons his shirt slowly. "Shhh,
you have me." She leads him by the hand back to the bedroom.

He flips on the radio and Peter Gabriel's voice fills the room as Lucky
eases her onto the bed.

in this proud land we grew up strong
we were wanted all along
I was taught to fight, taught to win
I never thought I could fail...

She pulls him to her and kisses him passionately as he unties her
bathrobe.

Across the room, Emily turns on the radio as she kisses Evan gently.
Gabriel's song fills their room.

no fight left or so it seems
I am a man whose dreams have all deserted
I've changed my face, I've changed my name
but no one wants you when you lose

Evan feels his pants fall as he steps out of them and moves to the
chair. Emily straddles him and he unties her ponytail, her brown hair
falling over her shoulders. He kisses her neck, her cheeks, moving to
her lips. She looks into his brown eyes with pure love, and runs her
fingers through his curly dark hair.

don't give up
'cos you have friends
don't give up
you're not beaten yet
don't give up
I know you can make it good

Cassidy lets out a sigh as Lucky places his hands over hers and kisses
her deeply. She breathes in the smell of his cologne and is moved as she
feels a single tear from his face land on her cheek. She kisses his
cheek gently.

though I saw it all around
never thought that I could be affected
thought that we'd be last to go
it is so strange the way things turn

Evan unbuttons Emily's blouse as she works on his shirt buttons. They
giggle when their hands become intertwined. He reaches over and tickles
her causing her to almost fall off the chair. He catches her and pulls
her closely to him. "I won't let you fall, Em."

She whispers in his ear. "I won't let you either, honey."

drove the night toward my home
the place where I was born, on the lakeside
as daylight broke, I saw the earth
the trees had burned down to the ground

Lucky watches Cassidy remove her robe and his breath is taken away at
her beauty. Her hazel eyes dance, as she reaches out to him. Her fingers
trace his chest lingeringly as she takes in the vision of him. His brown
hair falling lazily across his forehead, the anger and hurt, tempered
with want and desire, the perfect combination of lost little boy and
eager handsome lover.

don't give up
you still have us
don't give up
we don't need much of anything
don't give up
'cause somewhere there's a place
where we belong

Emily places her hands against Evan's and they lock them together. She
brings her lips to his as they begin to kiss each other passionately,
their emotions merging as one.

rest your head
you worry too much
it's going to be alright
when times get rough
you can fall back on us
don't give up
please don't give up

Cassidy strokes his hair gently as he begins to trail kisses over her
body. He smiles at her lovingly as they begin to join together as one.

'got to walk out of here
I can't take anymore
going to stand on that bridge
keep my eyes down below
whatever may come
and whatever may go
that river's flowing
that river's flowing

moved on to another town
tried hard to settle down
for every job, so many men
so many men no-one needs

don't give up
'cause you have friends
don't give up
you're not the only one
don't give up
no reason to be ashamed
don't give up
you still have us
don't give up now
we're proud of who you are
don't give up
you know it's never been easy
don't give up
'cause I believe there's a place
there's a place where we belong
Hold on my heart
just hold on to that feeling
we both know we've been here before
we both know what can happen

NEXT

 

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