Walking away Tony left Carla unconscious on the floor, after all out cold she was no threat and there was no risk of her finding out what he was up to. He looked back in on her one last time before he left the room to head out and purchase something so luxurious for Carla she would be overwhelmed. He sauntered down the stairs and then headed over to the young girl who was still on reception. She looked surprised to see him and became all flustered under his charm as he requested a member of the valet fetch his car.
A friend of the managers had a shop that would supply Tony with this luscious gift he had organised for Carla and had agreed to meet Tony out of hours to arrange this. He was so pleased, Carla would be ecstatic and his plan would go without a hitch. He sat in the lobby waiting for the valet to appear, the whole time not taking his eyes off the receptionist and flashing his charming smile every time she glanced over, which made her blush.
The valet arrived and escorted Tony to his car, politely holding open the driver side door he waited for Tony to make himself comfortable before closing it. Tony smiled and nodded politely as he put the car into drive and pulled away slowly. The wheels crunched on the gravel as he drove slowly round the central fountain and then began to speed away down the dark driveway of the hotel.
Maria had just been given the all clear by the doctor and told she could make her way home but that she must take it easy. Michelle was quick to offer to stay with her as she gave Steve a look to say 'don't even argue' which he took instant heed of. Maria gave her sister-in-law a smile and a silent mouthed thank you. Michelle took her hand and smiled sweetly back as she helped her slide off of the gurney. It was obvious to her that Maria was still in a bit of pain and she had to fight back her tears as Maria winced with every tiny movement. As soon as she was on her feet and dressed Steve and Michelle helped her hobble out to the cab so they could take her home.
Liam's car lay still on the gravel driveway, the engine still humming away and the headlights shining brightly forward. Leanne's trickle of blood from her hairline had developed into a stream of thick, dark blood that trickled and pooled upon the cracked glass window. Tiny splinters of the broken glass had dug in and nipped at her cheek leaving her with small cuts all over. Liam was slumped across the wheel of his car when his eyes began to blink open. His surroundings were blurry as were his memories, he stared forward and gasped for breath as he came to terms with the situation. He lifted his head and looked round to the passenger side of the car where Leanne lay.
He was slow moving as he leant across and touched her arm, it was freezing cold, and giving her a little shake he tried to wake her. It failed to work and set Liam panicking, was she dead he questioned worryingly in his head. He prayed not and knew he needed to find help but he couldn't leave her. His whole body ached as he searched his pockets for his phone but it wasn't there. He tried to think desperately where he could have left it and then remembered. He'd slammed it down on Carla's desk and then Leanne had pulled him so quickly from the office that he'd forgotten to retrieve it. He could see it lying there and it annoyed him greatly, they needed a miracle now, it was the only way.
Tony sped along the gravel driveway at a top speed until he found himself blinded by a bright stationary light ahead. He assumed someone had got lost and stopped momentarily, slowing a little he decided he might stop and be of assistance if he could. As he approached he saw that the car was on it's side and he stopped instantly when he recognised it. This was too good to be true, it was Liam. Tony couldn't have wished for better and he hoped the young man was either dead or seriously injured, that would definitely keep him away from Carla.
Turning his car off he opened the door and stepped out, reaching in his pocket he grabbed his mobile and called the hotel to alert them that an ambulance would be needed. At least if the outcome of the accident was fatal it wouldn't be on Tony's conscious and he could sleep peacefully. Finishing his call he gingerly stepped towards the still running vehicle and peered inside.
Liam sensed a presence behind him and slowly turned his head whilst gritting his teeth trying to suppress the pain he was feeling. His eyes widened fearfully and his breathing hitched slightly when he saw it was Tony. Tony gave one of his trademark evil grins and was about to do something unthinkable when he noticed Liam was not alone. A lump formed in his throat as he looked at Leanne, blood all over her face, her eyes closed as if she were peacefully asleep and her skin looking pale and blue. He re-thought his actions and stared passed Liam.
Liam stared at Tony as he toyed with the thought of begging him to help. He didn't have much choice Tony was likely to be the only person they came across tonight and this wasn't for his benefit, it was for Leanne's. He would have to swallow his pride and be the bigger man for her sake, Simon needed his mother and Peter needed his wife, so who was he to decide her fate. Funnily enough Tony was thinking the same as he looked at her vulnerable state.
Liam's big teary eyes blinked up at Tony, "Please…Please help" he begged in an upset tone.
Tony turned and looked down on Liam's feeble state. His stare was so harsh and cold it worried Liam and gave him chills.
"P…p…p…please Tony" he begged again with chattering teeth as he began to feel the cold late evening air eating away at his skin.
"I've called for help" was Tony's cold reply as he turned and walked away to get back in his car. Liam heard the engine of Tony's car turn over and then roar to life as he pressed hard on the accelerator, his wheels spinning in the gravel and sending it flying all around as the car moved. Liam and Leanne were alone again and he only had Tony's word help was on its way. Tony's word stood for nothing, he drew in a deep breath and closed his eyes as his body shivered.
Carla shivered violently as she came round and lifted her head from the floor. Her body ached all over and felt stiff as she pushed herself up into a sitting position. Her vision was still blurred slightly and she felt dizzy as she looked around for Tony. When she realised he wasn't there she glanced down at her naked body and tried desperately to remember what had happened. Shakily she climbed up onto her feet carefully using the furniture to help her move round and into the bathroom.
At the toilet she fell instantly back to her knees with a thud and hung her head over the bowl. She could feel the bile rising in her throat and taste the vomit right at the back of her throat. With two fingers she pushed to the back of her throat and her gag reflex until the vomit spewed from her lips. She was shaking and cold feeling as if she had been poisoned. She continued to be sick until the remains of what she was throwing up had to be her stomach lining and it burnt her throat.
She felt terrible as she reached up and flushed the toilet. Crawling on all fours she slowly made her way across the tiled bathroom floor and into the bedroom. She headed over to where her clothes lay heaped in a pile at the end of the bed and grabbed them. Sitting on the floor she pulled them on and thought about how she could get out of there. If Tony was gone she had every chance of a successful escape but then she remembered earlier and hesitated. What if he was lurking around corner's waiting to catch her out? She had to be smart about this, play him at his own game. Undressing again she headed into the bathroom to take a refreshing shower, then she'd go to bed and await his return. If she was patient she would eventually figure out what he was up to and be able to out smart him.