Title: The Road Less Traveled (19/?)
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: In this chapter: Phones, phones, phones! Everybody is calling everybody else. Shannon tells Jeff about Matt's conversation with Rio. Jeff has a cow. Rio gets her Series title shot, but at what price? Jeff chews Matt out for being a jerk.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
--------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have heard the requests! As soon as I clean up the original Rio stories (I think my writing has evolved some over the past year) I will post them in the Original Fiction section and will let you all know that they are there.
--------------------------------------
"Wha's up, Shanny?" Jeff asked Shannon. "Matt okay?"
"Oh, he's fine," Shannon snorted. "I's Rio I'm worried 'bout?"
Shannon heard a rustling sound and figured Jeff was now sitting up in bed, focusing intently on the conversation. He didn't blame Jeff for his concern. In fact, he knew he was about to give his friend even more to worry about.
"She call 'im?"
"Uh huh," Shannon answered. "It wasn' pretty neitha."
"What'd he say t' 'er?" demanded Jeff impatiently.
"Inna nutshell, tha' she's trash an' 'er family probally died t' git away from 'er."
"Shit!"
"She called me afta it was ova," Shannon said slowly. He wasn't sure how Jeff would take this next part. "She tol' me she made Matt a promise."
"Damn it!" Jeff exclaimed, evidently guessing the context of Matt's demands already. "Please tell me I'm wrong, Shanny."
"Sorry, man," he answered quietly. "She said t' tell ya she cain' go back onner word t' im. She also said she's not gonna call Drew anymore neitha."
"Why would she promise tha' though?" Jeff practically yelled into the phone. Shannon didn't bat an eyelash, knowing Jeff was hurting.
"She said she thinks Matt's right 'about 'er."
"Tha's BULLSHIT!"
"Tha's what I tol' 'er," Shannon said reassuringly.
"Ya tol' her that?" Jeff asked surprised.
"Jeff, you were right 'bout 'er. She's vera sad and lonely. I don' hafta see it t' feel it."
"Thanks t' Matt she's all alone now."
"No' quite."
There was a moment of silence while Jeff pondered that statement. "What d'ya mean, li'l bro?"
"Don' be mad a' me," Shannon said slowly. "I had ta do somethin' t' keep 'er connected t' us somehow."
"I'm not mad," Jeff said in a measured tone, not completely convincing Shannon at all. "What didja do?"
"I pushed 'er inta agreein' t' call me now."
"What?!?" Jeff exploded. "So, she cain' talk ta me, but ya gotter talkin' ta YOU? An' why'dja do tha' Shannon? Ya said ya were mad atter!"
"No' anymo'! Look, man, I was inna position ta guilt 'er inta it on a'count 'a th' way she didn' warn me 'bout those two bastahds who were afta me. She was NOT gonna CALL any o' us AGAIN."
Jeff grunted loudly into the phone and Shannon was trying to think fast to calm him down because he knew if he didn't, Jeff was going to call Matt and blow up all over him. If that happened, the two brothers may not speak for a long time, and they were both very good friends of his. He did not want to see that happen. He also suspected that if Rio got wind of it, she'd remove herself entirely from any contact and he knew that would be disastrous in her current frame of mind.
"Imma kill m' brotha," Jeff fumed.
"Jeff, calm th' hell down, man! If ya do tha', we'll lose 'er fo'eva!"
This apparently got Jeff's attention because he suddenly stopped muttering threats. Shannon studied the contents of the vending machines while he waited for his friend to collect himself. After some more silence, Jeff asked, "I 'ssume yo' gonna tell me what tha' meant."
Shannon grinned inwardly, glad he knew his best friend so well. "She'd neva talk t' eitha o' us 'gain if she knew ya'll were fightin' ova 'er."
Jeff sighed, saying nothing in response.
"'Sides," Shannon went on. "Now I can keep ya updated onner and vice versa."
"Ya think tha' makes up fo' it?"
"No, big bro," Shannon replied. "But i's all I got fo' ya. Ya didn' hear how sad she soun'ed onna phone. What else could I do?"
"What mo' did she say t' ya?"
"She said she was filthy an' I tol' 'er tha' was wrong. I gotter t' agree t' call me once a week."
"How ya gonna keep it from Matt?"
"I'll leave th' room when I talk t' 'er. He's not gonna stop me," Shannon said resolutely. "I can tell she's alone in th' world, man. I'm not gonna hurt 'er."
"Ya betta not," Jeff said darkly. "I love ya lika brotha, Shanny, bu' I love Matt, too an' I still wanna kill 'im."
"I'm not tryin' t' take yo' place wit' 'er, Jeff. I jus' don' think she should 'ave no one t' talk to. Trus' me, I won' hurt 'er. I jus' wanna help 'er."
"I do trus' ya, Shanny, I do," Jeff sighed. "I jus wanna talk t' 'er 'gain."
"Want me t' giver a message?"
"Yeah, tell 'er Matt said nuthin' 'bout email an' I 'xpect 'er t' keep in touch."
Shannon smiled, knowingly. "Between th' two o' us, she'll be okay."
"Tell that t' Drew," Jeff groused. "I guess I hafta tell 'im tomorra."
"I betta git back 'fo' Matt gits suspicious."
"Yeah. Hey, thanks, Shanny."
"Any time, big bro," Shannon replied before clicking off his cell phone. He turned back to the machines and made a selection just in case Matt was still up.
--------------------------------------
Henry sat calmly at his desk, going over the events of past couple of weeks in his head. Rio was no longer merely a minor inconvenience to his business but a full-blown threat. She'd already taken out three of his favorites and now she'd eliminated two lower level potentials who were helping him accomplish his goal of gaining wider recognition for the Warrior Series by challenging WWE performers.
A knock at the door garnered his attention as he considered a new plan of action to get rid of her. He waited a moment before answering so that the person outside didn't get the impression that Henry's time wasn't valuable.
"Come in," he said finally.
The door opened and Goliath limped slowly into the room. He glanced at Henry before plopping down into the visitor's chair in front of the small desk.
"She's more of a problem than we expected, huh, Boss?"
Henry nodded silently, returning to his earlier thoughts. Rio wanted a championship challenge more than anything. He had never given her one because he felt a weak little woman shouldn't be in this sport. While she was certainly little, she'd since proven herself to be anything but weak and Henry could not ignore the larger revenue he was earning since she'd joined the Series. Still, it had always gone against his grain to give her the match. Until now. He looked back at Goliath and contemplated how the fighter, as well as all of the others in the club, would feel about it.
"I think I should acquiesce to Rio's desire for a champ match."
"By 'ackweeass' I hope you mean say 'no' again," Goliath muttered.
He gave the large fighter a calculating smile while he mentally worked out the details. This plan would be perfect and he didn't know why he hadn't thought of it before.
"We both know that she won't go away until she has the match," Henry reasoned. "And we want her to go away."
"I still say we should take care of it outside the ring," Goliath argued.
"Outright murder wouldn't be helpful for business," Henry chided. "Besides, if she has the match and loses, we'll be done with her."
"In a fair match? Trust ME, Boss, that silver bitch will make it!" Goliath rubbed his still-bandaged legs. "The newer guys you've been preparing won't like this, particularly Phantom. That one's pretty mean."
"They'll be okay with it if I tell them to," Henry answered. "She might not win, anyway. And if she does, well, we both know that Warrior Series champions don't have very long life lines."
Goliath looked puzzled for a second then smiled in understanding. "You mean no matter what happens, we'll eventually get rid of her."
"It's not like any of the former champs are around to warn her," Henry chuckled.
"I thought you didn't believe in eliminating women."
"No woman's ever presented me with such a challenge," Henry replied with hardening eyes. "I don't like the idea of people thinking she's smarter than me. She has to be dealt with this time."
--------------------------------------
Rio woke the next morning after a fitful sleep. She'd been dreaming of Ben again, with Matt's words echoing over the scenes as a narrative. She was tired and worn out at the same time and inside she felt empty, like she had when she'd first come to live with Sven and Justin after they'd saved her life for the second time.
Deciding she should get out of bed and start her day already, Rio went into the bathroom and took a shower. After she was done and dressed, she picked up her cell phone and called Jack to see when her next match would be and where.
"Yeah," the older man grunted when he answered.
"It is Rio checking in," she said.
"Ah, Rio," Jack sneered. "Henry's looking for you. Hold on."
Well this was perplexing, Rio thought as she waited for Henry to get on the line. He never deigned to talk with the fighters when they called in, leaving that job to those beneath him. The only time she spoke to him on the phone was when she'd called to schedule an interview before she joined the Series. She could tell at the time that he was hesitant but curious about what kind of woman would be interested in the sport. It was the only reason he'd ever agreed to see her in the first place.
"Quick Silver," Henry's smooth voice greeted, breaking her train of thought. "How goes it?"
"Fine," Rio answered warily. "And you?"
"Great," he said enthusiastically. "Just great! I have wonderful news for you!"
"Do you now?"
"Yes! I've decided to give you a title match!"
Rio was stunned silent. A title match? Suddenly she had a title match when he'd been so unreasonable for such a long time? Maybe she was right about doing something drastic to get his attention after all.
"You still there, babe?"
Babe? Now she knew something was amiss.
"I am here, Henry, just surprised."
"I know I've been pig-headed about this, but I've seen the light."
"The light?"
"Yes. The way you surprised Grendel and Sinbad last Saturday impressed me a great deal," Henry gushed. "I didn't expect you to break with your usual routine of going through the ranks. You've really shown me something."
"Uh huh," Rio replied, not buying this charade for one second. "Well, I am thrilled to have finally earned my title shot."
"You think you'll be ready for it a week from next Saturday?" Henry asked, his voice tinged just slightly with false concern for her welfare.
"I am ready now," she said coolly.
"Yes, well, I have to give Hellhound the shot I promised him before I heard about you."
"Not a problem."
"Well, I think under the circumstances you should take the next two shows off to prepare."
"That is not necessary."
"No really," Henry insisted. "It is."
Rio sighed quietly, knowing Henry would not change his mind about her taking time off. Something was definitely fishy about this. She would have look into it further.
"Thank you, Henry," she said graciously. "I appreciate it."
"My pleasure, Quick Silver. See you a week from Saturday."
"Good bye," she said and heard the click of the phone. She pressed the 'off' button and mulled over this turn of events.
--------------------------------------
Jeff dialed Matt's number without enthusiasm. He hadn't spoken to his brother since he'd last seen Rio and wasn't sure if he could talk to him now without exploding. But he knew Shannon was right about how Rio would respond to knowing he and Matt fought over her and he didn't want to risk losing contact altogether.
"Yeah," Matt answered on the first ring.
"'Xpectin' someone t' call?" Jeff growled.
"Jeff?" Matt asked hesitantly. "Tha' you?"
"Oh so now ya fo'get 'ow I sound?"
"No, i's jus' tha' ya 'aven' called me in a while."
"Backatcha."
"I though' ya needed time t' git ova bein' pissed at me."
"In tha' case we'da neva spoke again."
"She called ya, didn' she?"
"No, Shanny did."
Matt swore softly into the phone. "I tol' 'im it was non o' his business."
"'E knew it was MY business, Matt!"
"Jeff," Matt started, "I cain' sit 'ere an' watch ya chase 'er. She's dangerous."
"No' t' me."
"Yes, she is!"
"So tha' why ya tol' 'er tha' 'er family died t' git away from 'er?"
Matt seemed to be ashamed of that. He grunted softly muttering unintelligibly to himself. Jeff took this as a positive sign that his brother wasn't completely unmoved by what he'd done.
"Shan heard that, huh?"
"'E heard it all."
"I though 'e an' I agreed 'bout 'er."
"No' anymore."
"Long as she keeps 'er word this time."
"Don' worry," Jeff ground out bitterly. "She always keeps 'er word. I's like th' only sure thin' she has in 'er life. Whydya think she called ya?"
"Didn' think 'bout it."
"So it doesn' matta how ya made 'er feel?"
"I don' care 'bout 'er feelin's."
"I do."
"I's fo' yo' own good."
"I'm notta kid anymo', Matt. An' if ya eva do somethin' like this again, Imma sho' ya how I'm grown."
Matt stayed silent, apparently sensing Jeff's conviction. Jeff, for his part, was barely keeping himself in check. He didn't know how long it would take for things to get right between them again, but Matt was his brother and he didn't want to close himself off from him.
"Un'erstood," Matt said finally. "She'll probally call ya again sometime."
"No she won', Matt. She doesn' go back onner word. An' now she really is all alone."
"She's got Drew."
"Ya don' git it, do ya? She already hated what she was t' begin wit' an' doesn' want t' 'xpose any o' us t' th' 'infection' anymo'. She's gone, jus' like ya wan'ed."
"I's fo' th' best."
"I cain' talk t' ya right now, bro," Jeff sighed. "I jus' wan'ed t' tell ya I knew whatcha did. Bye."
He hung up before Matt had a chance to answer.
--------------------------------------
Rio picked up her vibrating phone and answered knowing full well who it was.
"Yes, Justin?"
"You never know if it is really me," Justin snorted.
"It is either you or Sven. I figured the odds were greater in your favor."
"What is wrong, small one?"
Rio was not surprised at Justin's perception. He and Sven were always easily able to calculate her moods even if she weren't physically with them. She thought it would not be good to rehash her conversation with Matt, though, as they have in the past proven themselves to be less than forgiving with those who've wronged her.
"Henry threw me off earlier. That is all."
"You mean with the title shot."
"How did you know about it already?"
"You forget we have our ways."
"I should have remembered that," she replied, feeling herself smile for the first time in two days.
"Watch out for him, small one," Justin warned. "I feel he is up to no good."
"When is he ever up to good?"
"I will call you when I know more."
"Okay," she said. "Good bye, Justin."
"I will speak to you soon."
Author: Esquirella
Rating: R (for violence in some chapters.)
Disclaimer: I own the Rio character and have written other stories with her. I own all non WWE characters. But I do not own the wrestlers. (Unfortunately. They are so cute!)
Synopsis: In this chapter: Phones, phones, phones! Everybody is calling everybody else. Shannon tells Jeff about Matt's conversation with Rio. Jeff has a cow. Rio gets her Series title shot, but at what price? Jeff chews Matt out for being a jerk.
Distribution: Just in case anyone's interested in it, please ask me first. More than likely, I will agree.
--------------------------------------
AUTHOR'S NOTE: I have heard the requests! As soon as I clean up the original Rio stories (I think my writing has evolved some over the past year) I will post them in the Original Fiction section and will let you all know that they are there.
--------------------------------------
"Wha's up, Shanny?" Jeff asked Shannon. "Matt okay?"
"Oh, he's fine," Shannon snorted. "I's Rio I'm worried 'bout?"
Shannon heard a rustling sound and figured Jeff was now sitting up in bed, focusing intently on the conversation. He didn't blame Jeff for his concern. In fact, he knew he was about to give his friend even more to worry about.
"She call 'im?"
"Uh huh," Shannon answered. "It wasn' pretty neitha."
"What'd he say t' 'er?" demanded Jeff impatiently.
"Inna nutshell, tha' she's trash an' 'er family probally died t' git away from 'er."
"Shit!"
"She called me afta it was ova," Shannon said slowly. He wasn't sure how Jeff would take this next part. "She tol' me she made Matt a promise."
"Damn it!" Jeff exclaimed, evidently guessing the context of Matt's demands already. "Please tell me I'm wrong, Shanny."
"Sorry, man," he answered quietly. "She said t' tell ya she cain' go back onner word t' im. She also said she's not gonna call Drew anymore neitha."
"Why would she promise tha' though?" Jeff practically yelled into the phone. Shannon didn't bat an eyelash, knowing Jeff was hurting.
"She said she thinks Matt's right 'about 'er."
"Tha's BULLSHIT!"
"Tha's what I tol' 'er," Shannon said reassuringly.
"Ya tol' her that?" Jeff asked surprised.
"Jeff, you were right 'bout 'er. She's vera sad and lonely. I don' hafta see it t' feel it."
"Thanks t' Matt she's all alone now."
"No' quite."
There was a moment of silence while Jeff pondered that statement. "What d'ya mean, li'l bro?"
"Don' be mad a' me," Shannon said slowly. "I had ta do somethin' t' keep 'er connected t' us somehow."
"I'm not mad," Jeff said in a measured tone, not completely convincing Shannon at all. "What didja do?"
"I pushed 'er inta agreein' t' call me now."
"What?!?" Jeff exploded. "So, she cain' talk ta me, but ya gotter talkin' ta YOU? An' why'dja do tha' Shannon? Ya said ya were mad atter!"
"No' anymo'! Look, man, I was inna position ta guilt 'er inta it on a'count 'a th' way she didn' warn me 'bout those two bastahds who were afta me. She was NOT gonna CALL any o' us AGAIN."
Jeff grunted loudly into the phone and Shannon was trying to think fast to calm him down because he knew if he didn't, Jeff was going to call Matt and blow up all over him. If that happened, the two brothers may not speak for a long time, and they were both very good friends of his. He did not want to see that happen. He also suspected that if Rio got wind of it, she'd remove herself entirely from any contact and he knew that would be disastrous in her current frame of mind.
"Imma kill m' brotha," Jeff fumed.
"Jeff, calm th' hell down, man! If ya do tha', we'll lose 'er fo'eva!"
This apparently got Jeff's attention because he suddenly stopped muttering threats. Shannon studied the contents of the vending machines while he waited for his friend to collect himself. After some more silence, Jeff asked, "I 'ssume yo' gonna tell me what tha' meant."
Shannon grinned inwardly, glad he knew his best friend so well. "She'd neva talk t' eitha o' us 'gain if she knew ya'll were fightin' ova 'er."
Jeff sighed, saying nothing in response.
"'Sides," Shannon went on. "Now I can keep ya updated onner and vice versa."
"Ya think tha' makes up fo' it?"
"No, big bro," Shannon replied. "But i's all I got fo' ya. Ya didn' hear how sad she soun'ed onna phone. What else could I do?"
"What mo' did she say t' ya?"
"She said she was filthy an' I tol' 'er tha' was wrong. I gotter t' agree t' call me once a week."
"How ya gonna keep it from Matt?"
"I'll leave th' room when I talk t' 'er. He's not gonna stop me," Shannon said resolutely. "I can tell she's alone in th' world, man. I'm not gonna hurt 'er."
"Ya betta not," Jeff said darkly. "I love ya lika brotha, Shanny, bu' I love Matt, too an' I still wanna kill 'im."
"I'm not tryin' t' take yo' place wit' 'er, Jeff. I jus' don' think she should 'ave no one t' talk to. Trus' me, I won' hurt 'er. I jus' wanna help 'er."
"I do trus' ya, Shanny, I do," Jeff sighed. "I jus wanna talk t' 'er 'gain."
"Want me t' giver a message?"
"Yeah, tell 'er Matt said nuthin' 'bout email an' I 'xpect 'er t' keep in touch."
Shannon smiled, knowingly. "Between th' two o' us, she'll be okay."
"Tell that t' Drew," Jeff groused. "I guess I hafta tell 'im tomorra."
"I betta git back 'fo' Matt gits suspicious."
"Yeah. Hey, thanks, Shanny."
"Any time, big bro," Shannon replied before clicking off his cell phone. He turned back to the machines and made a selection just in case Matt was still up.
--------------------------------------
Henry sat calmly at his desk, going over the events of past couple of weeks in his head. Rio was no longer merely a minor inconvenience to his business but a full-blown threat. She'd already taken out three of his favorites and now she'd eliminated two lower level potentials who were helping him accomplish his goal of gaining wider recognition for the Warrior Series by challenging WWE performers.
A knock at the door garnered his attention as he considered a new plan of action to get rid of her. He waited a moment before answering so that the person outside didn't get the impression that Henry's time wasn't valuable.
"Come in," he said finally.
The door opened and Goliath limped slowly into the room. He glanced at Henry before plopping down into the visitor's chair in front of the small desk.
"She's more of a problem than we expected, huh, Boss?"
Henry nodded silently, returning to his earlier thoughts. Rio wanted a championship challenge more than anything. He had never given her one because he felt a weak little woman shouldn't be in this sport. While she was certainly little, she'd since proven herself to be anything but weak and Henry could not ignore the larger revenue he was earning since she'd joined the Series. Still, it had always gone against his grain to give her the match. Until now. He looked back at Goliath and contemplated how the fighter, as well as all of the others in the club, would feel about it.
"I think I should acquiesce to Rio's desire for a champ match."
"By 'ackweeass' I hope you mean say 'no' again," Goliath muttered.
He gave the large fighter a calculating smile while he mentally worked out the details. This plan would be perfect and he didn't know why he hadn't thought of it before.
"We both know that she won't go away until she has the match," Henry reasoned. "And we want her to go away."
"I still say we should take care of it outside the ring," Goliath argued.
"Outright murder wouldn't be helpful for business," Henry chided. "Besides, if she has the match and loses, we'll be done with her."
"In a fair match? Trust ME, Boss, that silver bitch will make it!" Goliath rubbed his still-bandaged legs. "The newer guys you've been preparing won't like this, particularly Phantom. That one's pretty mean."
"They'll be okay with it if I tell them to," Henry answered. "She might not win, anyway. And if she does, well, we both know that Warrior Series champions don't have very long life lines."
Goliath looked puzzled for a second then smiled in understanding. "You mean no matter what happens, we'll eventually get rid of her."
"It's not like any of the former champs are around to warn her," Henry chuckled.
"I thought you didn't believe in eliminating women."
"No woman's ever presented me with such a challenge," Henry replied with hardening eyes. "I don't like the idea of people thinking she's smarter than me. She has to be dealt with this time."
--------------------------------------
Rio woke the next morning after a fitful sleep. She'd been dreaming of Ben again, with Matt's words echoing over the scenes as a narrative. She was tired and worn out at the same time and inside she felt empty, like she had when she'd first come to live with Sven and Justin after they'd saved her life for the second time.
Deciding she should get out of bed and start her day already, Rio went into the bathroom and took a shower. After she was done and dressed, she picked up her cell phone and called Jack to see when her next match would be and where.
"Yeah," the older man grunted when he answered.
"It is Rio checking in," she said.
"Ah, Rio," Jack sneered. "Henry's looking for you. Hold on."
Well this was perplexing, Rio thought as she waited for Henry to get on the line. He never deigned to talk with the fighters when they called in, leaving that job to those beneath him. The only time she spoke to him on the phone was when she'd called to schedule an interview before she joined the Series. She could tell at the time that he was hesitant but curious about what kind of woman would be interested in the sport. It was the only reason he'd ever agreed to see her in the first place.
"Quick Silver," Henry's smooth voice greeted, breaking her train of thought. "How goes it?"
"Fine," Rio answered warily. "And you?"
"Great," he said enthusiastically. "Just great! I have wonderful news for you!"
"Do you now?"
"Yes! I've decided to give you a title match!"
Rio was stunned silent. A title match? Suddenly she had a title match when he'd been so unreasonable for such a long time? Maybe she was right about doing something drastic to get his attention after all.
"You still there, babe?"
Babe? Now she knew something was amiss.
"I am here, Henry, just surprised."
"I know I've been pig-headed about this, but I've seen the light."
"The light?"
"Yes. The way you surprised Grendel and Sinbad last Saturday impressed me a great deal," Henry gushed. "I didn't expect you to break with your usual routine of going through the ranks. You've really shown me something."
"Uh huh," Rio replied, not buying this charade for one second. "Well, I am thrilled to have finally earned my title shot."
"You think you'll be ready for it a week from next Saturday?" Henry asked, his voice tinged just slightly with false concern for her welfare.
"I am ready now," she said coolly.
"Yes, well, I have to give Hellhound the shot I promised him before I heard about you."
"Not a problem."
"Well, I think under the circumstances you should take the next two shows off to prepare."
"That is not necessary."
"No really," Henry insisted. "It is."
Rio sighed quietly, knowing Henry would not change his mind about her taking time off. Something was definitely fishy about this. She would have look into it further.
"Thank you, Henry," she said graciously. "I appreciate it."
"My pleasure, Quick Silver. See you a week from Saturday."
"Good bye," she said and heard the click of the phone. She pressed the 'off' button and mulled over this turn of events.
--------------------------------------
Jeff dialed Matt's number without enthusiasm. He hadn't spoken to his brother since he'd last seen Rio and wasn't sure if he could talk to him now without exploding. But he knew Shannon was right about how Rio would respond to knowing he and Matt fought over her and he didn't want to risk losing contact altogether.
"Yeah," Matt answered on the first ring.
"'Xpectin' someone t' call?" Jeff growled.
"Jeff?" Matt asked hesitantly. "Tha' you?"
"Oh so now ya fo'get 'ow I sound?"
"No, i's jus' tha' ya 'aven' called me in a while."
"Backatcha."
"I though' ya needed time t' git ova bein' pissed at me."
"In tha' case we'da neva spoke again."
"She called ya, didn' she?"
"No, Shanny did."
Matt swore softly into the phone. "I tol' 'im it was non o' his business."
"'E knew it was MY business, Matt!"
"Jeff," Matt started, "I cain' sit 'ere an' watch ya chase 'er. She's dangerous."
"No' t' me."
"Yes, she is!"
"So tha' why ya tol' 'er tha' 'er family died t' git away from 'er?"
Matt seemed to be ashamed of that. He grunted softly muttering unintelligibly to himself. Jeff took this as a positive sign that his brother wasn't completely unmoved by what he'd done.
"Shan heard that, huh?"
"'E heard it all."
"I though 'e an' I agreed 'bout 'er."
"No' anymore."
"Long as she keeps 'er word this time."
"Don' worry," Jeff ground out bitterly. "She always keeps 'er word. I's like th' only sure thin' she has in 'er life. Whydya think she called ya?"
"Didn' think 'bout it."
"So it doesn' matta how ya made 'er feel?"
"I don' care 'bout 'er feelin's."
"I do."
"I's fo' yo' own good."
"I'm notta kid anymo', Matt. An' if ya eva do somethin' like this again, Imma sho' ya how I'm grown."
Matt stayed silent, apparently sensing Jeff's conviction. Jeff, for his part, was barely keeping himself in check. He didn't know how long it would take for things to get right between them again, but Matt was his brother and he didn't want to close himself off from him.
"Un'erstood," Matt said finally. "She'll probally call ya again sometime."
"No she won', Matt. She doesn' go back onner word. An' now she really is all alone."
"She's got Drew."
"Ya don' git it, do ya? She already hated what she was t' begin wit' an' doesn' want t' 'xpose any o' us t' th' 'infection' anymo'. She's gone, jus' like ya wan'ed."
"I's fo' th' best."
"I cain' talk t' ya right now, bro," Jeff sighed. "I jus' wan'ed t' tell ya I knew whatcha did. Bye."
He hung up before Matt had a chance to answer.
--------------------------------------
Rio picked up her vibrating phone and answered knowing full well who it was.
"Yes, Justin?"
"You never know if it is really me," Justin snorted.
"It is either you or Sven. I figured the odds were greater in your favor."
"What is wrong, small one?"
Rio was not surprised at Justin's perception. He and Sven were always easily able to calculate her moods even if she weren't physically with them. She thought it would not be good to rehash her conversation with Matt, though, as they have in the past proven themselves to be less than forgiving with those who've wronged her.
"Henry threw me off earlier. That is all."
"You mean with the title shot."
"How did you know about it already?"
"You forget we have our ways."
"I should have remembered that," she replied, feeling herself smile for the first time in two days.
"Watch out for him, small one," Justin warned. "I feel he is up to no good."
"When is he ever up to good?"
"I will call you when I know more."
"Okay," she said. "Good bye, Justin."
"I will speak to you soon."