"Do No Harm"

10. Nothing Good Happens After 2 A.M.

A/N: Hooray, an update! I'm going to be honest here, I'm not even sure this chapter flows or makes sense cause I'm just getting back into the writing game after a long break but…oh well. There's hot dude action so…enjoy!

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He was in love with her. How the hell couldn't she have realized that sooner? She'd selfishly been wrapped up in all her own problems and completely overlooked that look in his eyes. She'd realized it on the deck of the ship, right after he'd left to refill his drink. Montel was after Melony, and Autumn knew without a doubt he'd do anything to have her.

Including breaking up her engagement to the man she truly loved.

Autumn marched into the casino, stopping in the entrance and surveying the room before her. Mel and Kennedy were talking in the corner, but Carlito was nowhere to be found. He could've easily been in the bathroom, but knowing Tavious, Carly was with him, and chances were the outlook wouldn't be good. Shaking her head, Autumn dodged a crowd of people and ducked between a row of slot machines as a short-cut, only to literally bump into Jericho, who was seated at a nickel slot machine. She raised an eyebrow at the sight before her, "What are you doing?"

"Gamblin'!" Jericho shouted happily as he pulled the lever, then turned to her and shrugged, "Or something like it, anyway. Now I why all the old people like it. It's actually fun!"

Autumn had to laugh. She hadn't even noticed that the entire line of slot machines was taken up by senior citizens, save for Chris. She remembered there were more important matters than Jericho's likeness to old women and grabbed him by the arm, "Sorry Chris but you've gotta help. There's serious trouble, and of course, Tavious is in the middle."

Jericho raised an eyebrow as he stood from his seat and took hold of her by the arms, "What are you talking about? Is everybody ok?"

"Yeah, for now. Look, you have to forgive me for being so damn over-dramatic, but I think Mel and Carly are in trouble."

Jericho frowned, and Autumn sighed deeply. "Tavious is after Mel, ok? He's in love with her. I'd suspected that a long time ago when they were still on Smackdown together, but I'm sure of it now, and he's picked a hell of a time to try and win her heart. Come on, we've gotta go tell Mel." She tugged on his arm but he snatched away from her and scoffed. "Tell her what? That you're butting into her private life cause you think Montel is in love with her?" He shook his head and turned back to the slot machine. Autumn glared at the back of his head before slapping it, "You're a jerk, Chris. I'm not butting into her private life--I'm trying to save her relationship. I know what Tavious is up to, and if you cared as much about Mel and Carly as you've claimed in the past, you'd help me stop him and warn Mel." She turned to walk away, but Chris grabbed her roughly by the arm and pulled her towards him, staring down into her eyes so fiercely it scared her. "Let go of me, Chris."

His grip tightened, and she bit her lip so she wouldn't scream. He pulled her even closer and growled, "You don't talk to me like that, and you sure as hell don't hit me, you understand?"

She tried to pull away from him, "Let go of me or I swear to God, I'll scream and have your ass hauled off to jail."

"Oh, is that how you want to play now?" He asked in a mocking tone, "I'm just trying to make you understand, babe. You have to respect the people you love. Including their privacy. Just stay here with me, and leave Mel and Carly alone, ok? They'll work everything out." He smiled at her and she felt disgusted. "I said, let go!"

---

"Ken, any luck?"

Kennedy shook his head as he met up with Mel in a quiet corner of the casino, "No dice, no pun intended. I even tried both their phones, and not only is this 'boat' scary as hell but it has horrible cell phone reception."

Melony rolled her eyes and bit her bottom lip nervously. Kennedy had called her to warn her that Carlito and Tavious alone with alcohol and to find them fast and before Tavious could start trouble, but she hadn't been able to. Now, the man she loved and the man that was obsessed with loving her were both alone somewhere on a ship full of alcohol. "Do you really think Tavious is capable of this?" Melony asked Ken with wide eyes, "I mean, would he go behind my back and try to convince Carlito of something that didn't happen?"

Ken sighed and raked his fingers through his hair, "I have no idea. I mean, Montel is manipulative, but he isn't evil..."

"But he won't back off, either."

"Good point." Ken glanced down at the time on his cell phone before sticking it back in his pocket. It was a little after one-thirty, and Kennedy had a motto that nothing good ever happened after two-a.m. He was ready to find Carlito and get the hell back to his and Mel's house, and frankly, he wasn't ready to watch Montel rip Carlito and Melony apart just because of his selfish interests in Mel. Not to mention how crazy it was driving her. He secretly wondered if there was something she wasn't admitting, that maybe something had happened between her and Tavious that she'd prefer not to bring to light. No way, that was crazy, he realized. Melony would never hurt Carlito that way, Kennedy knew for a fact. But he made it a habit not to pry, and it really wasn't his business what happened in the past. However, it was his business whether or not Carlito and Melony left this cursed Aquasino a couple tonight, and he really didn't feel like lacing up his ass-kicking boots for a certain valuable player.

"I said let go!"

Kennedy glanced at Melony worriedly, "Did that sound as familiar as I think it did?"

Melony as she headed towards the commotion, Kennedy following close behind. Needless to say, neither of them were surprised to find Autumn and Jericho as the source. "What the hell, you two?" Melony yelled angrily, "You're getting worse than kids! I can't take you anywhere."

Kennedy, noticing the tight grip Jericho had on Autumn's arm, stepped forward and placed a hand on Chris' shoulder, "Hey man, why don't you calm down and back off, ok? Here, I'll lend you some nickels..."

"You back off, man!" Jericho shrugged Kennedy's hand away and glared at all of them one by one, "I swear to God. I'm not butting into your fucking relationships, so leave me and my girl the hell alone."

Kennedy frowned, "Look Chris, just let her go, ok? We'll go home and..."

"I said leave us the fuck alone!!" Chris turned around and shoved Kennedy backwards, he knocking Melony back and reeling into a slot machine behind her, "We'll leave when get good and damn ready, alright?"

"Mel!" Autumn yelled, and glared at Chris, "You bastard!" She reared back and slapped him across the face as hard as she could, his head snapping sharply to the left, "If you seriously think you and I are still together, then obviously you are as stupid as you look!" She pushed past him to get to her sister and leave the hellhole, but Chris grabbed her again and didn't say a word as he held her still and slapped her so hard she was sent reeling to the floor. "Didn't I just teach you a lesson about respect?" He spat.

Out of nowhere, Kennedy came running and tackled Chris to the ground. Chris tried to shield himself and fight back at the same time, but Kennedy was relentless in his attack as he pummeled Chris' face and ribs. "Fucking son of a bitch!" Kennedy screamed at him, "You ever lay another fucking hand on her again and I swear to God, I'll kill you!"

"Stop it!" Mel and Autumn both yelled simultaneously, each grabbing hold of one of Ken's arms. "Ken, stop!" Autumn yelled at him, a bruise already forming on her face, ""Let's just get out of here and leave his sorry ass!"

Ken snatched his arm away and gave Chris one last good punch before standing up and backing away from him. He turned to face the two sisters, "You two ok?"

They both nodded, and Kennedy stared down at his bruised and beaten so-called best friend, then turned back to face them, "Let's get outta here, huh?"

Melony nodded, her arm tightly around her sisters' shoulders, "Listen, you two drive back in Autumn's car, ok? I'll keep looking for Carlito and we'll meet you back at the house."

Kennedy nodded and, ignoring the strange looks the entire group was getting from the rest of the room, walked over and slipped his arm around Autumn's shoulders, leading her away from the gruesome scene. He snuck a glance at his watch and saw the time was two-fifteen. Definitely a motto to live by. He thought.

Jericho sat up, coughing and grimacing in pain. Melony shook her head and resisted the urge to punch him herself, "Your shit will be on the sidewalk tomorrow morning. You're no longer in welcome in my home, and you sure aren't welcome anywhere near my sister."

---

Carlito and Tavious had gotten their drinks and went up to the deck to talk and hang out, but Carlito had been wary since the get-go. Tavious was a great friend, but sometimes he acted a little suspicious, and tonight was definitely one of those times.

Montel wouldn't stop talking about Melony. And Carlito wasn't a dumb guy--as much as he didn't want to believe it, he was starting to catch on to what Montel really wanted, and why he'd suddenly shown up on Raw and had somehow managed to obtain a contract to stay on the brand--and he really wasn't liking where his thoughts were leading him.

But something Montel said made Carlito's blood run cold.

"Mel opened up about a lot of stuff, ya know? Back when we were on Smackdown together. You know, there was a point where all she talked about was wondering whether you two were gonna make it. She was really vulnerable and lonely during that time, so I'm really, truly glad the two of you finally worked things out. You two can make a man believe in happy endings." Montel laughed smugly and finished the rest of his Michelob, before glancing at his watch and turning to Carlito, "You know, it's getting late. Maybe we should go find the others and get outta here."

Eyebrows furrowed, Carlito nodded, "You're right, man. I should probably try to call...uh, one of those fools. It'll be hell trying to find them on this thing." Following Tavious, Carly pulled out his cell phone and flipped it open, but there was no need as he looked up to see Melony running towards him. Worry engulfed him as he saw the look on her face and he rushed forward to take her in his arms, "Baby, what's going on? Is something wrong?"

Melony nodded, "Carly, I've been looking for you all night! Where have you been?" She shook her head, "Never mind, ok? Chris has flipped his fucking mind and hit Autumn..."

"What?!"

"Yeah. Ken is driving her home now. Jerko's sorry ass is bleeding all over the casino floor after Ken kicked his ass, and as far as I'm concerned, he can stay there. Let's head home, ok?"

Carlito nodded and, his arm tightly around Mel's waist and holding her close, turned to Tavious, "We'll see you later, ok?"

Tavious nodded, "Yeah, yeah. I'll drop by tomorrow and make sure everything's alright. Bye, ya'll."

Montel watched Mel and Carly walk away, before he turned around and walked to the railing, angrily tossing his empty beer bottle overboard. Would the woman of his dreams ever be his?