I DO NOT OWN ANYONE OR ANYTHING IN THIS STORY BESIDES THE OC'S.

A/N: THANK YOU TO MY NEW BETA (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE) FOR HELPING ME!

Kevin's Point of View-
I got into mine and drove the distance to my tattoo shop, I went around unlocking my business, going through the process of turning things on and getting things set up for the night when the other artist I had in the shop arrived for the night. I figured I could run the register and front desk to get a few papers signed and started for Melanie for her to have some work to actually do come when she walks through the door. Corey came out to join me as he leaned forward against the glass counter where the employee's only door was to get through the counter to the office area of the front area. I heard the door open, I didn't even look up and figured Corey will take care of the customer.

"Hi, welcome how may I help you?" Corey asked as I glanced up to see who it was when I recognized Alex.
"Get the fuck out, how many times do I have to tell you that you aren't welcome here?" I asked as I stood up dropping the pen that was in my hand.
"You know him?" Corey asked as Alex let out this laugh.
"Who are you? The third stooge in this shop?" Alex asked as Corey gave him this weird look.
"What?!" Corey asked.
"Corey, it's no one…you need to leave, and now." I said as I reached for the usual weapon to threaten him with.
"What, you going for your usual weapon? What if I said I brought my own?" Alex asked as he pulled out a blade causing Corey to back up some.
"Can someone tell me what is going on?" Corey asked.
"Corey, you know how you asked about Melanie's ex earlier?" I asked as Corey looked to me then to him.
"You're him?" Corey asked.
"Guilty, since you brought her up, where is my bitch?" Alex asked, "Is she in the back? Or is she at home?" Alex asked.
"He knows where you live? That isn't fucking safe." Corey said as I glared at him.
"Right now isn't the time Corey." I said as I picked up my weapon of choice, yeah a bat probably couldn't compete with his blade but it was sure a lot longer than his weapon.
"I can't tell you that Alex, you know…police are on their way right now, they can arrest you for violating your parole and your restraining order for this…what strike is this again?" I asked as I stepped forward as he laughed again.
"It doesn't matter, I keep coming back to get what is mine and that is Melanie, so hand her over." He said and before I can even go along with the plan that I was thinking of in my mind, Corey out of nowhere spears Alex to the ground and somehow gets the blade to fly from his grip. I jumped over the counter picking up the blade tossing it out of Alex's and all of our reach, I just stood there as I watched Corey punch and punch at Alex before I had to pull him off of him.
"Walk it off…." I said pushing Corey towards the door, he tried to go back to add in a couple more punches or kicks but I had stopped him. I turned around facing Alex and squatted down, "If I was you, I would leave before he returns because next time I won't stop him…" I said as Alex nodded as he slowly got up leaving on his own free will, he looked like shit. I ran a hand through my hair as I paced, Corey now had a very good inkling of what kind of bitch Melanie's ex was and to top it off Corey just beat the shit out of him. I walked over to the phone calling the house, luckily Anita picked up the phone and I told her to head to her parent's house for the night, she listened without questioning. Corey came back in as I set the receiver of the phone back onto the spot.
"I'm leaving, I need to go check on Melanie, not with that bitch walking around and knowing where you live." Corey said as he began putting his jacket back on.
"She's fine…I just called my house, Anita is taking her and Jack to her parent's house." I said as he nodded as I could tell he was still fuming or still on a high.
"How bad was he?" Corey asked as he couldn't even look at me in the eye, his fists still clenched.
"Let's go outside and talk about this, I can go for a cigarette." I said as Corey nodded as I am sure he could too, he was more of a social smoker than anything and think tonight he kind of deserved it. I sat down on the cement thing at the front of the empty parking spot that was in front of the business next to mine and Corey sat on the opposing end. "He was pretty bad to her…what ended it was her being in the hospital for three days, she lost a lot of blood and had a severe concussion with memory loss which she has regained over time…that opened her eyes. She then jumped at my offer and I have been protecting her the best I can here…but I can't do much if he doesn't fucking listen." I explained as I shrugged exhaling some of the smoke as Corey did the same.
"She have scars and stuff?" Corey asked as he looked to me and I nodded.
"Yep, on her legs, all over her back…some on her arms…a couple of the ones on her arms she did herself, self-inflicted…she was in a dark spot when she was with him. She wanted to die before she found my family and I…" I said as I looked up at the sky, I thanked the Heaven's a lot at that time.
"How did she find you guys anyway?"
"She found herself wandering into my shop when he was at work, the only time she was able to leave the house and at first it was just to get away and her only attempts to run away but she was always too scared to stay late, she HAD to be home before he got home and never understood why…she occasionally came in with bruises and such, never thought about it until I put two and two together but didn't want to impose or intrude on her life, tried my best going elsewhere to get help for her but the police, and her parents were lost causes…I asked her if she wanted to work for me to pay of the tattoos she wanted, man was she beaten the fuck up the next day after that first tattoo…a broken arm all the way up to her shoulder...I finally approached her about it, told her she couldn't live like that, Anita talked to her and everyone tried to put some sense into her head then when she got put into that hospital, it clicked…" I said explaining everything to him, I hated telling him for her but what was I supposed to do? Ignore that Alex even showed up tonight, I could tell Corey was taking it rough and he shouldn't. "Look, why don't you head out? Me and Joseph can handle rest of the night, go see Melanie and make sure she is okay." I said as he looked to me as he looked back straight ahead exhaling the smoke.
"Thanks…how often does he come by?"
"Uh…I've lost count, no one really knows…"
"You think she wants to move? Get out of here…away from here?"
"She might, thinking of taking her to Florida?" I asked, I mean I am sure she would jump at the chance because it is a fresh start and without Alex roaming around.
"Yeah, I really like her Kevin…I think her and I were meant for each other…tonight, I just…I couldn't stop myself from wanting to beat the shit out of him for what he did to her…" He explained as I smiled, I could tell he really liked Melanie and I was beyond happy for her.
"But Corey, knowing this…you really need to be careful on how you tell her about wrestling." I stated as he nodded.
"I know…but right now isn't good…I'll tell her, I'll find a way…" Corey said as I nodded, I hoped he would before she ends up at one of his shows and finding out the hard way. "I'm out…" He said as I nodded as I watched him go to his car knowing that he would probably speed back to my place trying to get there before the rest of my family leaves to my in-law's for the night, I just hoped that he did make it there in time so he could see her and think that seeing her will definitely relax him, that threat must have really gotten to him, he probably is in his protector stage where he wants to protect her with all his might, like any man wants to do for his woman. I would be beyond surprised if he doesn't try to convince her to come stay at his place tonight, and I kind of wish that she doesn't go but whatever.

Melanie's Point of View-

I sat on the porch, with my knees brought up to my chest and hugging them close to me as Jack and Anita were still in their house grabbing things for the last minute trip to Anita's parents place. I always hated going there because I was the third wheel, I wasn't family and far from it and I am like the stray cat that someone dragged in and they are only there because of this this stray cat. I knew to always have my bag ready for these kinds of nights, but I guess they didn't know about this could happen and it has happened quite a few times. I was also beyond upset and angry right now knowing that Corey was there, he could quite possibly know everything now. He was NOT supposed to find out this way, I was supposed to tell him when the time was right and I could only imagine how mad he is at me for this, this isn't some normal secret that you keep from somebody. I pushed my hand through my hair, mostly to get it out of my face, when I heard a car coming down the street getting my attention. I looked up making sure it wasn't Alex's car but in fact it was Corey's car and he pulled into the driveway taking the spot that would normally be Kevin's. I stood up walking towards the car confused as to what he was doing here but I continued to walk closer when I saw the heavily tattooed man that I was dating climbing out of the car, a look of relief coming over his face and before I could even say anything he had wrapped me into the biggest hug I had ever gotten from him.

"I am so glad you are here and okay…I had to see you after that…" He said as the hug still hadn't broke and I swallowed a ball of nerves about this.

"I guess now is the best time to talk to you about this, huh? Unless if Kevin already spilt the beans." I said as I stepped back making the hug break myself as I glanced up at him, the look on his face told me that Kevin already told him majority of it.

"Kevin told me, at least most of it or from what he knows…" Corey said as I nodded.

"Well, there isn't much more to tell and I don't want to go more into what you don't know or what he doesn't know because all you need to know was that Alex was a fuck tool who abused the hell out of me." I said truthfully as I ran a hand through my hair.

"The scars, how many are there?" He asked as I sighed.

"I'll show you one day, but not now…" I said as he nodded and he seemed to understand as he hugged me again.

"Why don't you come stay at my house tonight? I can protect you." He said as I let out a sigh, I wished that I could honestly but I knew that I couldn't.

"I wish that I can Corey, but I know that I can't." I said as he nodded.

"It's your decision but wish that I can protect you from him, he doesn't know where I live or who I am or anything…you will be safer than here." He said looking to Kevin's house as I looked over at it, I knew he was right and I looked back at him.

"I will, but not tonight…we'll discuss it more." I said as he nodded as he leant down giving me a kiss, I hated this confrontation but I loved the way he was accepting of it, understanding of the circumstances and wanting to protect me. Corey was beyond right, Alex didn't know Corey much less knew where he lived or that I was associated with him and what not.

"I had to come to make sure you were okay, where is Anita and Jack? Why were you sitting outside?" He asked as he began walking with me inside the house.

"They are still gathering their things, and I had to clear my head." I said as Corey nodded as he wrapped his arms around me again, he kept holding me close to him and he stayed with me until Anita and Jack were ready to go then saw us off making sure we were safe and everything was locked up.

"Text me when you get to their house." Corey said as I nodded as I gave him one last hug and a kiss before I got into Anita's car. I looked at him through the window as she pulled out driving to her parent's house. I just thought the whole way of how much Corey was being so down to earth about this, I don't know what I had expected his reaction to this type of stuff, but he seemed okay. He was more of a protective type guy that didn't want me to get further hurt. What else would he want? I don't think anybody wants to see someone to continue to get hurt. We arrived at her parents place taking up camp in the normal rooms that we were given each and every time. I laid in the bed staring at the ceiling exchanging texts with Corey until I heard a knock on the door unsure of who it would be at this time of night.

"It's open." I said as I looked over at the door seeing the door pushing open and seeing Kevin's head popping through the crack.

"Hey, so did Corey come see you?" He asked as I nodded.

"Yeah, right as we were getting ready to leave…" I said as I sat up and moved so he could sit down with me.

"You know that I didn't want to tell him all of your business but it just had to be told, it couldn't really wait." Kevin said, I kind of understood that and it probably was easier for Kevin to explain it to him than me because I don't think I would have been able to put to words what happened much less without crying. "Did he say anything about his second job?"

"No, was he supposed too? I don't think right then was the best time to really bring it up." I said as Kevin let out a sigh.

"Well, I don't want to do this but think you need to know…" Kevin said as he pulled out his phone, nut sure what he was going to do with that as I sat there waiting as he turned his phone so I could watch the video that was playing on his phone.

"What's this?" I asked.

"It's called NXT wrestling."

"Wrestling? He like fights? With other people?" I asked as I glanced to Kevin and he nodded, I looked back to the screen hoping that this wasn't true but here comes Corey not even a few seconds later, now real tears coming to my eyes. "Get out!" I said as Kevin got up not even staying to explain anything. How could I be dating a guy that is as violent as that? Corey fucking wrestles for a living, I don't want more violence in my life right about now. Corey really was and will be going to be the next Alex, I was beyond pissed at him and everything. I was beyond vulnerable right now and pissed, I just cuddled and curled up into a ball trying to fall asleep but I couldn't fall asleep for what seemed like the longest time.