Disclaimer: I absolutely positively own none of the characters used in this story. They belong to Vince McMahon, the WWE, or themselves. No profit is made from this story; it is strictly fictional and strictly for fun!
A/N: First off, I would like to say I'm sorry for the time between updates. Here's hoping the muses stick around a little longer this time. As always, ALL reviews are welcome.
Stephanie and Chris looked at each other, then back at Randy. Neither one of them had had much dealings with the young man and weren't really sure what to think. Chris protectively wrapped his arm around Stephanie's shoulder before speaking.
"Look Junior, if this is your idea of a joke, it is definitely not funny," Chris said with a touch of anger on his face. He couldn't believe what Randy was telling him. Then again, it was Hunter and Vince. Maybe there was something more there.
"I know you don't know me very well and can totally understand why you wouldn't trust me," Randy said with a serious look on his face. He knew he had to make them believe him. Dave's life depended on it and he would be damned if he would let him down now. "However, I have no reason to lie."
"But why would you be helping me?" Stephanie asked. She still wasn't sure whether she believed Randy or not but there was something in his eyes that made her think that maybe he was telling the truth. She didn't know him that well but his eyes were so clear and so imploring that she had to find out more.
"I'll be totally honest here, I've got an ulterior motive. I'm more worried about Dave," Randy said honestly. He figured honesty was the best policy, even now. He knew that Dave didn't really want anybody to know about their ongoing friendship but he had to make them believe him. Dave's very freedom could depend on it and now wasn't the time to worry about who knew about their friendship.
"Dave? What's Dave got to do with it?" Chris asked. Cold chills started going up his spine. It was at that moment that Chris was beginning to believe Randy. He didn't know what it was; maybe it was the look on his face or the urgency in his voice but something was definitely there and he couldn't ignore the warning signals that were going off in his head.
"Dave called me a few days ago. I knew something was wrong by the tone of his voice. He told me that Hunter is planning on kidnapping Stephanie at the next Raw. He also told me that Hunter had your father's approval," Randy said with a sad look on his face.
Stephanie stood there in shock. She really didn't want to believe Randy but looking into his eyes, she couldn't help but believe him. He looked totally sincere and worried. She looked at Chris and then looked back at Randy. "Why? Why would my father do that?"
"Your father is pretty pissed at the way you came back to the company without his help. On top of that, he doesn't like you being involved with Chris," Randy said. He hated watching Stephanie's face change from questioning to undeniable hurt. He hated to be the one to tell her the truth but he didn't really have any other choice.
"Ok, let me see if I have got this straight; Hunter is planning on kidnapping Steph at the next Raw and Vince has agreed to it," Chris said. He knew Vince could be cruel but he never thought that he was that cruel. If the man would do that to his own daughter, then there was no way of knowing what he was truly capable of.
"Yes, I swear. It's all true," Randy said. He could see that they were starting to believe him and felt a glimmer of hope. It was almost as if a weight had been lifted off of his shoulders. He knew that it was far from over; but at least, he and Dave were not alone now.
"Why did Dave come to you? I mean, they kicked you out of Evolution," Stephanie said. Her eyes showed the steely determination of a pissed McMahon. Vince should have remembered that she was her father's daughter. She could be just as ruthless and as cutthroat as her father, maybe it was time to remind him of that.
"Dave and I are best friends. I knew they were kicking me out and knew what they were going to do that night because Dave told me. We've kept our contact to a minimum due to Hunter but this is too much for him. You've got to remember that he was a cop. He may be part of Evolution but he still knows right from wrong," Randy said.
"Why send you? Why didn't Dave tell us himself?" Chris asked.
"Well, who would you believe? Seriously, would you have believed Dave if he had called you and told you this? No, you wouldn't have. Look, I don't know the specifics because Hunter is being tight lipped until Monday. All I know is that he wants Stephanie in the worst kind of way," Randy said.
"Oh my God," Stephanie said closing her eyes. She opened her eyes showing her fear again before the steely determination was back in her eyes. "I never knew he was that insane. I mean, sure I knew he was an ego maniac but I never thought he liked me that much."
"It's not so much you he wants as it is the power that comes with your name," Randy said.
Chris tightened his hold on Stephanie and kissed her softly on her forehead. "Don't worry sweetheart, he'll never get his hands on you. Not while there is a breath in my body."
Stephanie looked up at him and knew he meant every word that he had just said. She trusted Chris with all of her being. While they had had their problems, she knew that he cared about her. She knew coming back to work would be a risk but she never saw this coming. It made her realize just how dangerous her father and Hunter really could be.
Chris turned back to Randy with a serious look on his face. "I don't know why I believe you but I do. But, if I have found out that you are playing games, I'll hurt you. Make no doubt about it, I will hurt you bad."
"I understand," Randy said with a sigh of relief. "I think we need to come up with some sort of a plan."
"I agree with you but we need to find the others first," Chris said with a determined look on his face. If Vince and Hunter wanted war, they had just found it.
"Then it's time to play the game," Stephanie said with a cold look in her eyes. She knew she had the advantage now because she knew what was coming. She also knew that there was no way in hell that they were going to get away with it. It was time to show her father just exactly what she made of.
Benoit and Lilian were sitting on the sand watching the sunset. Benoit had his legs spread and Lilian was between them leaning back on his chest. He had his arms wrapped around her tenderly noting the coolness of the air. "Are you getting cold?"
"No, not at all," Lilian said with a sigh. She turned her head slightly to look in to his eyes. "As a matter of fact, I don't think that I have ever been so warm."
Benoit chuckled a little and kissed her on her cheek. "You know, this was the last thing I would have thought to happen this weekend."
"Me too, but I'm so glad that I came. Besides, don't admit it to Steph and Trish yet, but we may owe them one for this," Lilian said.
"Trust me, I'm definitely not telling those two that we owe them. There is no telling what they would want in return," Benoit said with a grin on his face.
Benoit turned to his left and noticed Chris and Stephanie walked towards them with strange looks on their faces. He then noticed Randy Orton. Suddenly, he felt as though the weekend had just taken a turn for the worst. "Looks like we have company."
"Jay!" Trish hollered for the third time. She didn't understand where he could be. One minute they were lying there laughing and then the next minute, he took off running. By the time she got up from the sand, he was nowhere to be found.
Jay snuck around the pier waiting for Trish. He could barely keep the smile off of his face. He knew that she hated being surprised but he couldn't resist. Besides, he had to get a little bit of payback for her not making out with him. What kind of boyfriend would he be if he let her get by with it?
"Where could he be?" Trish asked herself walking towards the pier. She turned her head looking out towards the ocean when she felt herself being grabbed. She opened her mouth to scream but a hand prevented that from happening. Panic started taking over and she started struggling to get free until she heard his voice.
"Trish, it's me," Jay said in her ear trying to keep from getting hurt. He released her only to have her turn around with lighting speed and pound her fists on his chest.
"You jerk! You scared me to death," Trish said hitting him over and over and over again.
"Wait a second, it was just a joke," Jay said trying to block her fists and failing.
"Do you see me laughing?" Trish asked putting her hands on his chest and pushing him as hard as she could. As he landed on his ass, she felt a moment of satisfaction. "That was so not funny."
"You're telling me," Jay muttered with a sullen look on his face. "Don't worry, I won't do that again."
Trish closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She thought she heard somebody calling her name. She turned around and noticed Lilian waving at her, motioning for her to come. "Looks like the party is over."
"I'll say," Jay said getting up and wiping his butt off. He noticed Lilian and the others. "Let's go see what's up."
Hunter sat in his room with a drink in his hand and an evil smile on his face. It was so easy using people to get what he wanted that he actually considered writing a book about it. Then common sense kicked in. Why share his secrets with the world? Why not keep it all to himself? Besides, he didn't care if anybody else got their way as long as he got his.
He laughed out loud at his thoughts before taking a sip of his drink. Soon, he would have everything that he ever wanted. Dave would be out of Evolution for his crimes and he would rule the wrestling world with the Princess by his side. "It just doesn't get any better than that," he muttered out loud before finishing off his drink.
He stood up and walked over to the window after setting his drink down on the table beside of the chair. A little part of his felt bad about betraying Dave but he quickly shrugged it off. He had always used his friends to get ahead and that would never change. While Dave had been great at the beginning, he couldn't help but feel like his loyalty was questionable.
"Oh well, another one bites the dust," he muttered to himself. Soon he would have everything that he ever wanted. He just had to be patient and bide his time. Soon he would have everything that he ever dreamed of and more.
"What the hell? What do you mean Hunter's going to kidnap Stephanie?" Jay asked with a dumbfounded look on his face. He couldn't believe that Hunter was that stupid as to kidnap the boss's daughter. It didn't make sense.
"Look, all I know is that they are planning on kidnapping her at the next Raw," Randy said with a grim look on his face. He knew that convincing the others would be a challenge but he was more than up to the task. They had to believe him.
"Damn," Jay said wishing he knew what to say. For the first time in his life, he was speechless. He knew that life in the WWE would be exciting but he never imagined that it would be dangerous, especially not for the owner's daughter.
Trish and Lilian were standing next to Stephanie with fear in their eyes. All of a sudden, their weekend seemed to explode right in front of them. Trish put her arm around Stephanie and nodded at Lilian. She then pulled Stephanie away from the guys talking.
"Are you okay sweetie?" Trish asked rubbing her hand on Stephanie's arm. She could feel Stephanie trembling and it scared her. Stephanie had always been the strong one.
"Well, as well as can be expected considering what we've just been told," Stephanie said with a far away look on her face. She shrugged her shoulders. "I think I'm more disappointed than anything else. I mean, I knew my dad could be bad but I never imagined this."
"The guys aren't going to let anything happen to you. You know that, right?" Lilian asked.
"I know but damn, my own father?" Stephanie said looking out at the ocean. She had a flashback to how angry her father was that she was back with the company. She shook her head and that steely look in her eyes appeared. "It doesn't matter because he will get what is coming to him along with Hunter."
Trish pulled Stephanie in for a hug while Lilian stood there feeling helpless. Lilian and Trish made eye contact with understanding in their eyes. Stephanie was their friend and they would do whatever needed to be done in order to help her.
"What do we do?" Benoit asked in a serious tone.
"First off, she's not going to be left alone," Chris said with a determined look on his face. He turned to Randy. "Is there any way to talk to Dave?"
"I can try him on his cell phone but I don't know if he will be able to talk. He may be with Hunter and Ric," Randy said.
"Hellfire and damnation, we've got to try and find out more of their plan," Chris said. He couldn't believe what was happening. One minute everything seemed to be going so well and now, everything had gone to hell in a hand basket. He glanced over at Stephanie noticing how determined she looked. "Damn it to hell, look at her. She doesn't deserve this from her own father. Hell, nobody deserves to be done that way by their father."
Benoit, Jay, and Randy quickly turned to look at Stephanie noticing that she did indeed look determined. The three men turned back to Chris with matching determination in their eyes. There was only one thing on their mind and that was to protect Stephanie at all costs, no matter what the cost.
"I say, we just go in on Monday and kick all of their asses," Benoit said with fire in his eyes. He knew Hunter was a sick bastard but he never imagined him doing this. It made him realized that the man lived in a fantasy world. He thought he was dangerous to some degree but not this dangerous.
"No, we can't do that," Randy said with a panicked look on his face. "If you guys let them know that you know, they are going to figure out that Dave is the one who let the cat out of the bag. We're going to have to play this out carefully."
"We? What's this 'we' stuff?" Chris asked.
"Look, I know you guys don't trust me. I get that. But I'm not going to let my best friend go down this way. If that means protecting Stephanie, then so be it. Besides, Hunter's a predator that needs to be stopped."
"He's right, you know," Benoit said with a gleam in his eyes. Hunter was a shrewd man who knew how to get exactly what he wanted. They were dealing with a highly intelligent man. "Besides, I say we beat him at his own game."
"I like the sound of that," Jay said with a smirk. He lightly punched Chris in the arm to get his attention. "What do you say Chris? Do you want to play the game?"
"Oh hell yeah, I'm going to play the game. And you can bet your ass, that I'm going win," Chris said with a determined look on his face. He then turned his attention back to the girls. "Let's get the girls and head back towards the house."
"Sounds good to me," Jay said with a smile. He then turned to Randy. "You are more than welcome to come with us, if you want."
"Thanks man, I appreciate that. Besides, I think we all need to go over every possible scenario that can happen. You know, cover all of our options. When we get there, I'll call Dave and see if he can talk."