16 years ago.

​

Fernando’s feet stomped across the bedroom floor. Neomi hurried after, her steps thumping quietly on the polished floors. She didn’t know what had happened to her husband, why or where he’s going. He looked upset, more upset then she has ever seen him before. After a quick stop at the dresser, her heart pounded as Fernando started piling clothes into the big suitcase. He shuffled his feet, looking like he wanted to be anywhere but there.

“You did a good thing; you saved us from him, why are we running away again?”

“Mi Amore, it’s not the point, if he’s after me, he’s after all of you. We have to go,” he said once the heavy dresser doors slid shut.

 

He tried to speak but only managed a groan. Forcing his gritty eyes open, he lifted his head, which felt as heavy as a bowling ball. Shadows surrounded him, and he couldn’t make out what was happening, couldn’t tell for sure if they were safe. Nausea rose, and his head pounded so hard, every word she spoke lanced through his brain like a spear. He dropped his head, chin to chest. She gently moved his neck back and smiled, placing a soft hand on his shoulder, finding his eyes again, “This is our home. This is our son’s home.”

His green eyes didn't waver as he palmed her cheeks, “We are our home. I told you who I was and why your father wanted me the first night I met you. I trusted you then even though I knew who you are; I need you to trust me now. We can’t stay here anymore Mi Amore, he has found us, we can’t stay here anymore.”

 

Pressing her lips against his mouth, she kissed him as a sign of approval.

“I’ll get Leonardo.”

​

Marching out of the room, she quickly ran down the hall, the boy’s bedroom was empty, only a line of soldiers figurines covered the wooden floor. ”Sweetheart?….” turning on her heels she yelled, “Amore, he’s not in his room, and I don't see him out back.

“Leo!”

They arrived on the first floor, and she stepped out before him. His footfalls landed with more attitude than usual. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something about the situation rubbed him the wrong way—besides the whole we-don’t-know-where-our-son-is aspect. Something about him rubbed her the wrong way. They ran turned the corner and headed down another line of trees. Up ahead, a circular formation with John and his child in the middle.  

 

It was almost nighttime; long shadows covered the ground. Swallowing, he got closer, slowly, not to alert the armed men “Leonardo, are you alright?”

“He is alright.”

“So leave him alone.”

“We will G. I just want to talk…. oh..” his eyes squinted as he made sense of the silhouettes in front of him, “is that your wife, man? The famous Neomi DIMera...look at that…”

“Leave her out of this!” Fernando’s eyes roamed the men’s clothes, he knew their uniform all too well, but something was missing, this was not an ordinary task, "Why are you not wearing your badges?

“It’s not an official assignment. Some tourists said they saw someone who matches your descriptions up in the heel.” John’s voice was as solid as the rocks around them. His hand still on the little boy’s shoulder.

“Drop your weapon, Black, I just want to leave in peace, I left, I was the better man John, and I left, and I want to believe Stefano doesn't want to harm his daughter, his grandson.”

“No one really believes you. Stefano wants his daughter safe with him. He doesn't like you.”

“But you know me; we were friends. I’m Fernando Giovani; we used to workout together, we fought side by side, we used to eat supper, every night” taking a step closer he saw how John’s men moved with unease.

“I know” John started, “and you lied this whole time about your true intentions, the boss doesn't see it kindly.”

“Take me. Please, just leave my son alone.”

 

Releasing his grasp of the boy, Fernando watched how his son came closer, ”go with your mother, bambino.”

 

John turned Frendnao to cuff him, his eyes never leaving the sight of the frightened mother and child, their big eyes pleaded when he saw the boy crying, “please!! Don't leave me, Papa! I won't let you take him!”

“Leo...Leonardo..stay with your mother.”

“I won't let you take him! I won't let you!”

 

Grabbing John’s gun, Fernando turned, trying to push the man to the ground as the gunfire split the night's air. “Leonardo..Neomi..no please...please...”

​



 

The present

 

“We have to get out of here,” she said, “before something happens to one of us.”

“I’m going to come up with a plan. I just need to talk to that guy a little more, Doc, and find out what he knows. Don’t worry; I’ll get us out of this.” But she did worry. “I trust you.” she needed to get her mind off of it before it made her even crazier, taking the photo John showed her earlier in her hand she studied it.

“I don’t get it.”

“What?”

“How can I not remember this? I can’t believe Stefano had rubbed more years of my life…”

He looked up at the window. There wasn’t any sunlight coming through anymore. The only light was the overhead bulb that buzzed and sometimes flickered. “Doc, stop looking at this picture, c’mon, it’s time to get ready, he’ll be here soon. We'll talk to him and-”

“What we need is our life back! Look at this picture; look at me! I worked for Stefano; only God knows what I did at that time.”

“Sweetheart, I’m going to get you out of here,” he said. “I told you not to worry, so don’t.”

“How do you know that?”

“I’ve been in enough situations to know.”

 

“But what if—” He was so fast that she barely felt herself move. She only felt the landing, which had her back against the wall, his arms fully wrapped around her.

“John,” she gasped. She couldn’t move her gaze from his. She was frozen.

“You were starting to panic again. I needed to stop you.” What a strange thing it was to be looking at his face again, a face she’d known for years. But, now, it had hard lines and small imperfections, the evidence of age on both of them. The eyes that stared back weren’t scared. They were the eyes of a hunter.

“You did,” she finally said. He glanced down, and she felt her skin flush, her nipples slowly hardening and poking through the thin fabric. He noticed and gradually looked up at her face. His erection was pressing into her stomach, her mouth opening from the size of it.

 

Holding her arms, he turned her to face the wall, she heard his voice in her ear, “I want you...I want to keep you safe...I will not let anything bad happen to you again.”

“John—” he sucked her earlobe, and she arched with a whimper, her feet digging into the wooden floor and lifting her up, knowing what he wanted. He pulled her hips abruptly to him, making the arch in her back wider, with his teeth he lightly bit the soft skin of her back through her dress, lowering himself onto the cabin's floor.

 

Raising her dress above her ass, he released her hands, knowing she was his now, helpless to fight him.

A rough sound left her, his tongue leaving circles on her left ass cheek. Wrapping his lips around her clit, he sucked her, licked her. Felt her tensing up.

“Oh God,” she breathed, writhing. “Your mouth …” Spreading her wide with his palms, he tongued her, driving her to come. Her fingernails scratched at the oak walls, tugging painfully at her own palms, until she climaxed with a startled cry.

 

He licked inside her, fucking her, feeling her quiver around his tongue. She grew slicker, hotter. He rubbed against her clit and slid two fingers inside her, grinding his teeth into her flash at the feel of her tight plushness. His cock ached to sink into that snug heat, knowing how amazing it felt, craving the constriction.

 

“Please,” Marlena begged, grinding into the thrust of his fingers, needing the slide of his cock to fill her. He wanted to fuck. To come. Not because he needed sex, but because he needed her.

 

"Oh, fuck...John..."Her body twisted and tensed with another orgasm, her neck arching as she cried out. Wiping his wet mouth on her round ass, he rose to his feet. She heard the sound of jeans hitting the floor. He placed one hand on the small of her back and used the other to hold her shoulder. He thrust hard, putting the weight of his body behind her, surging through the tight clasp with a groan.

“John.”

 

“Fuck.” he rubbed his wet-slick forehead against her nape, wanting to bit her smooth skin. Her nails were in the walls, digging in. He wanted them on his back, to mark him, scar him. Cupping her ass, he squeezed harder than before, she was on a brick of a scream, digging his nails into her perfect creamy skin.

He needed to push all the way in. Marlena gasped and churned her hips, working to fit him.

“Take me,” she hissed through clenched teeth, John was fighting the need to come before she took all of him in.

“Oh God, take me...” Her center rippled, sucking at him. He pinned her wrists on the wall above her head, to hold her still and thrust harder. She gave in, letting him have her. The feel of her clutching the entire length of his cock was all he needed. Wrapping himself around her, he held her against him, holding her chin, he turned her head to the side, kissing her roughly, coming with a violence that left him trembling on her back.

 

Exhausted, he helped her to bed, raising his jeans while studying her movements, she fixed her clothes.

“If you need a minute, Doc, take it,” he said, getting closer again. “gather your things.”

“I…” His gaze was so intense; it felt like it was stroking her the same way his fingers were. The light flickered, and the room went dark.

“John…”

“Don’t move, I’ll check the power, the generator must be out” starting to stand up, he was stopped by her fingers, they wrapped around his wrist, “Fernando” she stated, the fright in her voice was evident. Taking his cell phone out of his back pocket, he sat on the bed next to her, his eyes getting used to the dark room and the bright screen, “that’s odd.”

“What is?”

“He’s not here...he’s going back to the mainland...I guess he looked for the cabin, but under cover of darkness he couldn’t find it..if we want to get some answers, we must follow him.”

Standing up, Marlena took the photo back in her hand, “ he is finally gone. We are about to risk our lives for what? For answers? I’m okay with staying in the dark, John, I really am. Look at me, look at that photo” raising her hand the light bulb flicked again, turning on its faint light once more.

“I don’t care what happened back then, all I care about is our family and us, I just want to go back home. Let the police handle that from now on, please.”

Her voice was so soft and low; it took a few seconds for those words to penetrate. Strength fled her body, and she sank into the bed. A lump formed in his throat, preventing him from speaking. Something foreign burned behind his eyes. Tears. Grief. He never used to cry. John dropped his head, one hand on the dresser.

He exhaled, his past, all of it, was out there, buried in Fernando’s mind. The thought of letting that go, of losing that part of him was hard to bare. Breathing hard, he opened his eyes to find a puzzled look on her face; she was quiet, too quiet.

“Doc? Is everything alright?”

“...Have you have seen these numbers at the back?” Taking a seat on the bed, he rotated the photo in her hand. It was wrinkled, but the numbers at the back were quite clear, “Yeah, these were the years we were under his control I guess….  4/5/86 6:66:7 - 10/8/83/ 3:33.”

“Three years… he stole another three years of my life...I can’t believe it...I can’t believe I didn’t know..”  standing, she paced the floor, her fingers creating small trails in her hair.

“He’s the master of deceit, Doc..” Now John was doing the same. He dropped his head into his hands, then dragged his fingers through his hair. When he looked up, stress etched across her features, tightening her mouth and jaw.

 

“That’s odd...look at the numbers” getting closer she literally shoved the paper in his face, “don't you find it peculiar he stated the hours we were there?”

“You know Stefano; he’s very precise..now come on, let’s get moving.”

“He wrote the dates and hours we were there, but not where? Where were we?” Her mind raced with unanswered questions. Answers she thought she didn’t even care of getting.

“I wish I knew sweetheart… he was always very mysterious when it comes to his secret hideouts.”

Standing up, he came closer, stopping right in front of her, wanting to touch her face but not moving, her expression changed, and he knew her mind was someplace else.

“I remember...when I was locked up by him in that..horrible golden cage...he never gave away where we were, he was always cautious not to give away our location... when he spoke to Paul or his staff members… he was very discreet״

Her eyes met his as she spoke the last word; he looked tired. She tried to remember the last time they were together, without a care in the world. Seems like a lifetime ago.

 

“Discreet…”

Leaving her where she stood, he paced the floor, she followed him with curious eyes.

“What? John, what is it, what are you thinking about?”

“Doc, you’re a genius!”  

“What-what-what?”

“These numbers, they’re not just any numbers..if you remove the punctuation marks, these are not just number anymore! these are coordinates!”

“Oh, my word! To where?”

“Hold on.”  Taking a seat, he pulled his laptop out of his black leather briefcase. The shiny metal shimmered in the dim light, blinding her eyes for a split second, closing them, she had a fraction of memory, not something she was able to hold on too and it went by as it came.

 

His face looked serious as he stared at the bright screen, “Doc, it’s in Italy, a place called Nago.”

“Nago… it doesn't ring a bell..” her eyes were wild.

“What are you thinking, Marlena? Please tell me.” she shook her head, at a loss. She wasn’t even sure she was ready for the whole story. Though, was it possible they were in Italy?  

“Marlena?”

“I don’t know. It’s a lot to process.”

John moved closer toward her but didn’t try to touch her, “Talk to me... We can process it together.”

“There’s nothing to talk about...” Then why she looked so unsettled?

“Marlena—”

“John, I just need some time to let it settle...I don’t remember anything... Please.” His jaw set.

“Okay, Doc, we gotta get there; if there are any answers will get them there. I'll get our things from the bathroom, and we’re out of here.” Placing the device in place he stood, striding to the small bathroom

“We have to call Chelsea on the way.”

 

Turning to fix John’s bag, she heard the door behind her, someone moved right behind her and gripped her waist. She shivered. “You’re so cold,” She breathed. The tingling was now back in her chest. “Why are you so cold?” Her voice filled with concern. “John....”

He was holding her so tightly. She didn’t mind. She should have, they were on the move, and it was not a good time for shenanigans. She should be pushing her way out of his hold and returning to the task in hand, leaving. But she didn’t. It had been so long since he had really held her. She missed the feeling of a pair of strong hands. Hands like John’s. She missed him.

“Didn’t you say we have to leave?” She asked, ignoring his hold. He took more of her weight, making her body feel even lighter. The thumping, the tingling, the wetness—She wished she could give him some of that because it was becoming unbearable again.

“John?” His hands moved up her sides, over her shoulders, and cupped her throat. It was already hard to breathe. This made it worse. But the hold he had on her was so sexy. It was like a punishment for what she had done in her past.

“Buonasera* Principessa, where is your boyfriend?” he whispered sharply over her ear as his palm closed at her mouth. She tried to push him off.

"Shhhhh...you thought you were so smart...you thought you could trick me...think again...Doc" he breathed.

​

(*Good evening- Italian)

 

​

******

 

(You want it darker- Leonard Cohen)
 

​

A grating sound cut through his ears as he woke up, not sure what was going on. His vision was foggy, probably a side effect of a drug or some sort. Trying to rub his eyes, he noticed his hands were tied.

 

Perfect.

 

His body was so cold. His skin felt wet, and his hair clung to the back of his neck. He didn’t understand why his bones ached so badly. His eyelids were heavy, as though someone had taped them shut. When he finally opened them, it felt as if they were still closed. Darkness surrounded him. Not a dark gray. It was pitch-black. The light hit him hard as a fabric had lifted off his face.

 

What was happening? Where was Marlena? Was she hurt? He blinked, waiting for his eyes to adjust. One, two, three, four seconds passed.

 

Then he saw her.

 

Raising his gaze, he almost jumped out of his skin when he looked at her. She was bound, just as he was to a chair, her mouth was gagged, but the panic in her eyes could not be missed.

 

“The codes where are they?” he said, cocking the gun and swerving it toward Marlena.

“Marlena” Her name was the only word he could force past his sandpaper tongue. “She’s safe, for now, and she’ll stay that way as long as you do what you’re told. Understand?” No. He didn’t understand anything, except that he’d been drugged. Another fist connected with his face, and he didn’t have the ability to fight him. “I asked you a question. Her life depends on your cooperation. Do you understand?” he nodded, though his head drooped more than bobbed. “Yeah.”

Little by little, consciousness settled into his bones, though he still felt weighed down as if ten wet blankets covered him.

“What are you doing here?...you-you left... What’d you give us?”

“You don’t ask questions. You shut your mouth and follow orders, got it?” When he didn’t answer, two hands banded around his neck, fingers pressing hard on his carotid arteries. Spots danced in his vision, and he tried lifted his bound arms to ward off the assault, but he couldn’t. Fernando pulled away before he lost consciousness.

“I'm getting tired of this game, John. The codes where are they?” he asked again.

“Codes? Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about-” If he was untied, he could fight him. He might even hold him off for a few minutes, but what if he shot her?

“John. Where are the codes?” Fernando’s bitter laugh made him sick to his stomach.

“Where? Wait? We found something, behind a picture, is that what you're looking for? What you gave me in
Luga -” he told him, hating how his voice quaked.

 

“I'm going to count to ten .You're going to tell me where are the codes or she dies.”

He gestured at Marlena with the gun, putting it against her temple, she cringed, tears poured down her cheeks as she sobbed.

 

“Marlena, It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay. Do you understand?” he said, his voice strain, void of emotion, catching her eyes, she nodded quickly, whimpering slither through the dirty cloth.

 

“One”

“You listen to me. I got what you asked for. Did you want something else? Because if it's a misunderstanding, I will fix it I will get it. Whatever you want-” Marlena… he swallowed hard. If he fought him, he’d hurt her…or worse. The idea sickened him, made him want to lash out and pound into him. His mind was fully alert now, demanding he does something, but his tied body wouldn’t…couldn’t fight. Sweat slicked down his back, though he trembled from the chill of the late night breeze.

“Two”

“Listen, talk to me, we can talk like gentlemans-”

“Three”

“Don’t do this.” Another blow to the face shut him up. His chest squeezed, and he tried to brand his mind with every detail his beautiful lady. The fuckers were going to kill him.

“Why are you doing this?” A fist shot out and struck him in the kidney. He grunted, back arching, and held his breath.

“Shut the fuck up!” he shouted.

John clenched his jaw, and his hands fisted within the restraint of the rope. She caught his gaze, and he noticed her fingers curling around the chair handles, knuckles turning ash-white. Fernando licked his lips, eyes glazed over with anger. There was no talking, and he held back any sounds of pain, or God forbid, fear.

John’s breathing coming fast and hard, “All right, All right, all right, I know where are the codes I can help you.”

“The way you helped me sixteen years ago? That way?”

“You put the gun down; I'm not talking to you like this.”

“That's your choice. Four.”

John blinked, horrified by what he saw. He’d survived a lot and had never cried, but the thought of watching her like that gutted him. “Don’t do this. I can get you whatever you want.” he risked looking up and met the dark gaze of someone who struck a cord of recognition in him, though he couldn’t place where he’d seen him before that week.

“What do you want?” he asked. “I want you to suffer, and I want some fucking answers.” He opened his mouth, about to ask him what he wanted with him when his fist slammed into his nose.

 

She wailed up against the restraints, sobbing she gasped for air, coughing uncontrollably through the fabric, and trying not to hyperventilate.

 

Staring at her, John looked back at the second hunter in the room, “The codes are in Italy. You want to know where in Italy? Then let her go because you will not-”

“I don’t believe you. Five.”

A sob escaped her mouth as she recognized the truth in his words. Even though he was angry, a gun evened the playing field. He was much too close, and it wouldn’t take a straight shot to hurt or even kill.

“You’re not touching her. You want to shoot me, do it, but you’re not laying a hand on her.”

“Don’t test me, Black!” Fernando roared, raising the gun a few inches to her head.

“I can get it for you, but you kill... her you do this-”

“Six”

“Are you listening to me? The only way you're going to get what you want is for you-”

 

He fired a shot over his head, making her squeal with fear, “You think I'm playing?” he shouted, steadying the gun at her head, his finger on the trigger again.

 

“NO! son of a bitch!”

“You think I’m playing? You don’t think I’ll do it? Where are they?”

“Sweetheart, look at me,” Fernando was going insane, and seeing her eyes, remembering how absolute her fear was earlier. Fear, the kind that made your heart beat so fast, your mind tricked you into believing you were seconds from death. He had to put an end to this.

 

“Where the hell are they, Black?”

“Stay with me, Doc.”

“Seven”

“G! I will kill you I swear to god I’m gonna kill you!”

“Eight!”

“Please” his fists banged the chair, he closed them so tightly, he started losing blood flow in his arms. Her whimpers tore through him as he stared at her, heart pounding so fucking hard, he thought it would rip from his chest and tumble to the floor. Taking a long breath in, he tried again, his voice calmer, making sure Fernando can hear the words and understand their meaning.

“Please, don’t do this, just let her go...I promise you, I promise you, I can figure out how to get whatever you want-”

​

“Nine.” sticking the gun harder to her temple.

​

“Listen to me, I want to help you get whatever you want, but you gotta do what’s right.”

Her sobs tore the night air, her eyes flattered quickly, clearing the tears from her sight

“You know what’s right…. Please... No…. No.”

​

“Ten.”

 

Then a gunshot, it sounded so loud that he was absolutely sure that his heart was going to gallop out of his chest. He stopped breathing all at once as he watched the blood streaming down her angelic face.

​

“MARLENA! NO!!!!!!”