Author's Note: Sorry about the long wait in updates!!! I've been mega-busy lately!! Anyway, please review!
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Dangerous Business
Chapter XLIII
Rob Van Dam sighed to himself, glancing around the plane, allowing himself a brief moment of peace. No crazy fans, no pissed-off wrestlers glaring daggers… The moment didn't last long. He sighed, leaning back in his seat. He was worried. There had been no sign of Liz at the airport or on the plane, and as far as he knew, this was the only flight headed to Salt Lake City out of the airport. 'Of course, she could've used another airport….It's not like there's only one in the entire state of Texas…' he reminded himself, but still couldn't shake the bad feeling that had gripped him.
Something was wrong.
She was brave; stupidly brave, he'd admit. Even if she wasn't ready to go to Raw, she would've come…would've made a big appearance on the flight with the most wrestlers. 'So where is she?'
"Excuse me…can I sit here?" a voice asked politely. Rob turned, raising his eyebrows. He glanced at the man to his right, and did a quick-double take.
"Yeah, you can sit here," he said quickly, frowning silently at the feeling of recognition the man had struck in him. Rob studied the man. He had to be somewhere near his 40s, Rob guessed. His shoulders were broad, and even in the sharp suit he was wearing Rob could see muscle. Sharp, piercing blue eyes stared at the front of the plane. Rob's eyes, however, were drawn to the almost feminine color of the man's short blond hair, spiked at the front. The man's fingers tapped against a black, sleek briefcase.
The man turned to face Rob. "Sorry to bother you," he said, "But I was wondering if you knew a woman named Liz Kings." Rob got the distinct impression that the man wasn't one to be at a loss for words.
"No, I don't know any Liz Kings," Rob said firmly, something about the man unsettling him. He paused, cocking his head. 'Liz Kings… Could he be asking about Liz? But…her last name is Smith…'
As if an answer to his thoughts, the man said, "Are you sure? Liz Kings? Liz Smith? Liz…Austin?"
"Why are you asking me this?" Rob asked carefully.
"Because," the man turned. "You see, I need to find Liz. She's my stepdaughter. We had a really big fight, and I want to try and make it up to her."
Rob froze in his seat for a moment. 'The blond hair…Dominique…' he realized. He closed his eyes for a moment, mentally trying to recall any mention of Liz's stepfather. 'Just vague sentences… Never a flat out truth…' he thought, eyeing the man. 'Mark, she called him,' he recalled. 'And I got the distinct feeling she hated his guts for a damn good reason…' "Yeah, I know Liz," he responded, unwilling to elaborate.
"Do you know where she is?" Mark pressed.
"No," Rob said, surprised to find that his voice had turned almost defensive.
"Hey…aren't you her boyfriend?" Mark asked, the quizzical look on his face not quite reaching his eyes.
"Not really. We're just friends." At the same time, Rob had to wonder…Were they really friends? He hadn't even talked to her since the incident with the Big Show and Brock… Did she still resent him? Hate him for doing what he did? Rob bowed his head in silence, the questions overwhelming him.
"Well, if you see her, let me know, all right?" Mark said, handing over a card.
Rob gave a noncommittal nod, and looked at the top. Mark Kings he read silently, staring at the bold letters for a second. He sighed, remembering the day he'd met Dominique, and how Liz seemed rather pissed off after talking with the girl outside of the club. He'd noticed a purple bruise on Dominique's neck… And Liz had mentioned something about Mark. 'Am I jumping to conclusions here?' Rob thought. 'Or…' Rob stood up, walking to the aisle quickly. "Excuse me," he muttered, walking toward the bathrooms. He had a bad feeling about this guy…
Rob was still gone when a quiet ring emitted from his small carry-on bag. Passengers shot dark looks in the direction of the noise. Mark glanced at the carry-on, and then lifted it into his lap, quickly taking out the cell phone and answering it.
"Hello?"
"Where's Rob?" Liz's voice came through the line. Mark smiled.
"He's…busy," he replied. He heard the slight note of panic in Liz's voice. She was worried about Rob… 'How sweet…'
"I swear to God, if you laid one finger on him, you mother—"
"Oh, it wasn't me lying fingers on him. I haven't done anything to him, in fact. I took the liberty of answering his cell… He's 'busy' with Stacy at the moment. Want me to give him a message?"
"Where are you?" her next words were flat.
"Like I'm going to tell you…"
"You killed Dominique."
"I didn't do the killing." His tone implied that while he didn't kill her, he had something to do with it.
"Who are you?"
"You know who I am."
"Who?"
"Your worst nightmare."
There was a long pause. "Well, that's awfully cliché," Liz said.
Mark smiled again, his face one of cruelty. "I bet you're panicking right now. I mean…what would I do to Rob? He's just a few feet away…I could do anything…"
"You bastard," she interrupted, anger in her voice. "You do and I'll…"
"You'll what? I guess I'll figure out sooner or later, because he's as good as dead." Mark hung up the phone, twisted smiled still in face. He was placing the cell phone back when someone walked up to him.
"Who were you talking to?" the man said, sitting down on the only remaining seat-the one by the aisle. Above them, the seatbelt light flashed and the plane began its descent. Mark turned slowly to face the man.
"My stepdaughter," he replied, looking at the man and sizing him up. The man was average height, with slicked back black hair and revolting features. He, too, was wearing a business suit, along with a cap to cover a bald spot forming on his head.
"Liz. You were threatening her."
"And maybe I was," Mark replied.
The man extended a hand. "Name's Paul Heyman… I think that an alliance between us would be quite favorable."
"You're the one that attacked Liz," Mark said suddenly.
Paul grinned widely. "In a way… I've got some ideas I think would work out…quite nicely."
Mark grasped Paul's hand, matching his grin. "I think we have a deal."
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Author's Note: Kinda odd chapter, but what the heck. Hopefully I'll get something posted soon, but I'm not really sure. Anyway, please review!