The party had died down and the house was empty except for Adam and Randy in the study and the guards standing at the doorway.
"You guys can go home now, we're fine." Claudia said as she walked down the stairs.
"I know that Mrs. O, but we're under strict orders tonight." Ted said. Ted DiBiase, he'd been with them for years, he was as loyal as they come. He was sweet in nature, but could throw down with the best of them.
"What do you mean, strict orders?" Claudia asked.
"We'd rather not say…" Cody, the other guard said. Claudia often found herself annoyed with the new kid, she felt he was only there as a favor to his father, who'd helped Randy out years ago.
"Well then, I'll just go see for myself." Claudia rolled her eyes at him.
"Irvine knows about the shipment coming in on Friday." Randy said. The Canadian rival he spoke of moved to New York and had been trying to move in on his territory for months.
"What? How'd he find out?" Adam asked.
"Who knows, but it doesn't matter." Randy pushed off his desk and got closer to
Adam. "I need you to take care of him." He said a little quieter.
"Done deal."
"This might get messy. We could be looking at an all out war here." Randy said. He knew Chris Irvine had a number of connections, and he understood that knocking him off could very well upset some of those connections.
"I understand."
"In the meantime, I want someone on Claudia at all times, and guards at the house around the clock, we clear?" Randy asked.
"Crystal."
"What's going on, guys?" Claudia asked.
"Nothing for you to worry about, sweetie." Randy said. She'd heard that line before, and usually before someone ended up dead.
"I was just getting' ready to leave. Walk me out?" Adam asked.
"Ok." She said.
"I'll call you." Randy nodded as Adam walked to the doorway. Claudia put a hand on his shoulder and turned back to look at Randy before closing the door behind them.
"See ya boys." Adam looked at Ted and Cody.
"Later Adam." Ted opened the door for the two and smiled.
"So…" Claudia started.
"So what?"
"Adam!"
"You know I won't tell you." He said. "You trust me, right?"
"Above anyone else." Claudia said.
"Ok then, goodnight." He patted her cheek.
" 'Night." She folded her arms and watched him take off in his car.
Claudia lay on her side trying to doze off; Randy rolled over and wrapped an arm around her middle.
"I know I haven't spent a lot of time with you lately, but I'm gonna make it right." He said.
"What do you mean?" Claudia opened her eyes and let wander around in the darkness.
"What do you say we go out tomorrow night, just you and me: no business, no interruptions, I'll even leave my phone." Randy said.
"Really?"
"Really." He said.
"That'd be…great." Claudia said. He was trying, he really was, the least she could do is meet him half-way.
As she was getting dressed, Claudia realized how much she was looking forward to the night with Randy. He was pulling out all the stops; he had a dozen roses and her favorite chocolate shipped to the house. She caught him talking business on the phone a couple times, but she otherwise had his undivided attention. She was putting on her makeup when she heard voices in the foyer.
"How did this happen?" Randy asked in a low voice.
"I don't know-"
"Adam, I didn't know you were coming over. Everything ok?" Claudia asked as she walked down the stairs.
"Babe, you look beautiful." Randy said, staring at the little black dress she was wearing.
"Thanks. Well…is everything cool?" She asked again. Adam and Randy looked at each other, determining which one was gonna break the news to her.
"Listen sweetheart, something came up. I have to fly to Jersey." Randy said.
"Tonight?"
"I'm sorry, you know how much I wanted this night to happen-"
"But it isn't." Claudia spat. "Oh and I suppose you're going too?" Claudia turned to Adam.
"No, I'm gonna stay and hold down the fort." Adam said.
"Whatever." Claudia turned to go back up the stairs.
"Claudia, I don't wanna leave like this." Randy said.
"Then don't."
"It's not my choice."
"Fine, just go." Claudia gave. Randy sighed, knowing he had no time to fight.
"I should be back by tomorrow night. I'll make it up to you, I promise."
"Don't bother." She walked over and sat on the stairs and crossed her arms. Randy ran a hand over his face and looked at her.
"Look after her."
"Of course." Adam said. Randy looked one last time at Claudia before he walked out.
"You might as well leave too." She said, fidgeting her fingers.
"Yeah, that'll happen." Adam sat down next to her.
"He was being so nice to me…" She said before wiping a tear from under her eye. Adam pressed her head to his shoulder.
"Come on, let's go to Joey's, it'll be just like old times." He said.
"Well I can't go wearing this." Claudia felt silly going to a mom and pop joint wearing a five-star restaurant dress.
"Sure you can, let's go."
"God I haven't eaten like this in years…" Adam threw his head back in satisfaction.
"I'm gonna get fat and Randy's gonna divorce me." Claudia laughed as she went to sip her milkshake. She couldn't remember the last time she had such a good time. Joey's held a lot of her best memories, it was where she met Adam when she was in college. They spent many nights there goofing off and living normal lives; she would give anything to have that back. For that hour they were back in there, she didn't care that Randy was gone, she didn't even want to know why he left, she just wanted to keep this feeling for as long as she could.
"Come on, let's get you home." Adam put a few bills on the table and followed Claudia out.
"We're gonna have to do that every week." Claudia said.
"Not a chance…" Adam laughed. He stopped when he noticed a car a little ways off was coming their way kind of fast.
"What is it?" Claudia asked.
"Get down!" Adam tackled her just as a rupture of gunfire brushed past their car. Adam grabbed his gun from his pants and shot off a round at the fleeing car.
"Damn it!" He was almost positive he didn't hit them. "You ok?" He helped Claudia off the ground and brushed her off.
"I'm fine…I'm fine." She said. The look on her face however said she was anything but. Adam took her in his arms and squeezed.
"It's ok." He rested his chin on her head and looked off in the distance.