Chapter 28
Again I apologize for this chapter taking so long to get up. As I explained earlier I am working overtime so that take away writing time. With all that is going on in the world its hard to find motivation or get my thoughts right. I just hope everyone reading this is doing well and is staying safe. Once more I want to thank everyone this story is now in my all time top ten views. Getting views, being put on alerts lists and getting reviews they push me to keep working on this story and doing more with Riley. Hell out of my top ten four are Riley Morgan stories and it won't shock me if Love During War is in the top five soon enough.
WWE Performance Center
Sonya was in the middle of lifting and was struggling to finish her last set. Finally she got the weight up and was able to put the dumb bell down. She needed a second to recover and sat on the bench. Whipping her face with a towel she heard someone approach her. "Oh hi Sonya," Seth says coldly before moving on. It didn't shock her nor did she care. Word was all over the locker room. Seth wasn't happy with her for wanting out of his faction after his comments about Mandy. Sonya grabbed her stuff and headed for the women's locker room. She checked her texts which she had been ignoring while working out. One was from Mandy. "We still on for lunch?" Sonya quickly typed her reply. "Sure are. Just let me get cleaned up." Sonya showed and changed. As she was leaving she caught a glimpse of Seth who was in the ring actually helping some of the new guys on the roster. But she could swear for just a second he gave her a death stare.
Restaurant
"So what is the blow off going to be? Some match where you rip a tooth out of Baker's mouth with pliers?" Sonya asks. "I think TNT would object. Kenny said something about a street fright. What about you? Any idea what is next?" Mandy asks. "Well seems like they want to move me back to Smackdown. Which would be great," Sonya says. "What about Raw? Maybe they could pair you up with Liv or Ruby," Mandy says. "The issue would be Seth is on Raw. And I want less Seth Rollins in my life," Sonya says. "Can't say I blame you," Mandy says recalling how pissed off she was recently. She knew Riley still wanted to go after him and there times she was tempted to let him. "Plus I think the Raw title picture is pretty locked with Becky," Sonya says.
"Any idea who you will be working with?" Mandy asks. "They said something about me and Ziggler. I'm not really sure. Could be interesting I mean Dolph is on weekly. He's a great worker this could be fun," Sonya says. "That feud he's doing with Otis?" Mandy asks. "I guess so. Have you seen the stuff they are doing with the hacker? I guess they want me to be involved in that as well," Sonya adds. "Who is that going to be? Ali?" Mandy asks. "I don't know so far they haven't told anyone. But let's not just talk about work," Sonya says. "Fine by me. What do you want to talk about?" Sonya mentions she has finally decided to buy a house of her own. Mandy gives her some tips. Things she and Riley had wished they had known. .
Back at Performance Center
Seth was done with his workout and had cleaned up. Today was a rare day. Vince was rarely in Orlando, but this gave Seth a chance to pitch his big idea right to the boss. Vince sat behind his desk finish. "This will be the thing that pushes Morgan over the top," Seth ends his pitch with. Vince took a second before replying. "I am not in favor of using his father. I can just see legal having a meltdown over the potential of a lawsuit over slander," Vince says. "Its not slander. There are articles in newspapers and its on file that a lawsuit was settled," Seth points out even handing some papers he had printed off. "Seth it would be one thing if his father had been in the business. He's a doctor and it seems like some old man who spends his days treating people with a cold or the flu," Vince declares. Seth couldn't believe what he was hearing just a few days ago Vince had been pushing for more.
"Vince this is gold. We can tear down Morgan in front of the world," Seth claims. "Yes but its not the right Morgan. We are the good guys here Seth. But our target needs to be on those that are trying to drag the business back to the dark ages. We can find something else. Maybe target Mandy again," Vince suggested. Seth just nods. "Just be ready for your busy week. Raw, than a return to backstage, and finally NXT. I think this will be the tide turner for the ratings battle. I'm sorry but I have some other meetings," Vince says. Seth gets up and walks to his car. "I am not about to let this go," Seth thinks as he starts the engine.
Marty's House
"I can't believe you are canceling on poker," Marty says. Riley moves out from under the sink he is working on and give Marty an annoyed look. "I can't believe I am over her doing you a favor and you want to complain," Riley says. "Three man poker is bollocks," Marty says. "Marty I got to much to worry about. Besides last time we played poker freaking Seth Rollins showed up at Cole's place," Riley rants trying to loosen a pipe. "Well its Roddy's turn to host," Marty reminded him. "I am willing to bet if he wants Rollins will show up at Roderick's as well. Besides Rollins is still on his war path I don't want to bring anymore heat on those guys. And I got to worry about my match with Moxley," Riley says finally getting the pipe lose and finding the seal has gone bad. "What are the odds he shows up again?" Marty asks.
"Having you been paying attention lately? Guy has turned into my own personal stalker. I'm worried when I walk out your door he will be waiting," Riley says still working. "Now that I think of it can't say I blame you mate," Marty says. "Remember when Mandy I were dealing Reigns and I felt like there was no way to avoid some kind of fight. Well now I feel like something a lot worse is coming," Riley says getting back out from under the sink. "Is that why you are ignoring him?" Marty asks. "Yeah maybe. I just hope he moves on. And again I need to focus on the match with Moxley," Riley says. "How is you chest doing?" Marty asks. "Healing pretty good.. Hey hand me that wrench the big one," Riley says his thoughts changing. "That bad?" Marty asks worrying about his plumbing. "Oh no just an idea for a spot," Riley says. "You are nuts," Marty says.
Later
Riley had finished up at Marty's and was on his way home. Mandy was still with Sonya. There bag were already packed and ready to fly out for the next taping of Dynamite. He had just gotten off the phone with his sister. So far who ever had contacted Scott hadn't reached out to her. Who ever it was was yet to reach out to Riley's father or mother although the Morgan kids worried about anyone stirring up those bad feelings. They knew it took a long time for there parent's marriage. Riley reached his home and pulled in the garage. Checking his watch it was late enough in the day the mail should have come by now, so he headed to the box. "Hey Riley," Chad the guy that lived across the street yells out as he walks towards him.
"What's up?" Riley asks. "I just wanted to let you know there was some car parked outside of your house for a while," Chad says. "What do you mean?" Riley asks. "There was this car I had never seen before. It was parked outside your place for a while. Engine was running the whole time. Kind of thought he was scouting the place to rob," Chad says. "Did you get a look at the driver or the plate number?" Riley asks getting worried. "Sorry I didn't. I mentioned it to Barney and approached the car but who ever it was drove off," Chad explains. This got Riley worried. Over the years Mandy had gotten some attention from some pretty sick people. It was possible one of them had found where they live. Or maybe it was the reporters or what ever having found the house.
Riley asks a few more questions. Chad saw it was clearly a car not a truck or SUV. It was black some kind of sports car. "Do me a favor watch the house the next few days while Mandy and I are away," Riley says. "Of course I'll let the neighborhood watch," Chad promises. Riley thanks him and gets his mail. He scans the area around the house. He doesn't see anything. As he walked to the house the breeze picked up a tossed some dust or pollen or something into Riley's eye. "Damn it," Riley says rubbing his eye to clear it. And than Riley sees it. On the lawn a bag with a paper in it and a rock in it for weight. Riley picks the bag up and heads into the house. He sits the mail aside and opens the bag. What was in there made his blood boil. He needed to do something and he needed to do it now.
That night
Mandy walked into the house and was about to call out for Riley when she heard the intense pounding on a heavy bag coming from basement. Heading down she is stunned to see Riley covered in sweat hitting the bag harder and more intensely than she had ever seen him. "Wow what motivated this?" Mandy asks concerned. He is lost in another world and doesn't hear her. "Riley!" She yells finally getting his attention. "What?" He snaps. That scares her and she jumps back. "Calm down," She says. He takes a few breaths. "I'm sorry I just needed to hit something figured the bag was the safest option. I am just so pissed off," He says before kicking the bag. Again Mandy jumps back a bit.
"About what?" Mandy asks. Riley pulls off his gloves and goes over to a table and gets the piece of paper. "This," he tells her handing the paper to her. Mandy takes a second to look at the paper and read it. "Where did you get this?" Mandy asks. Riley quickly explains. "You think this guy in the car left this?" She asks. "Yeah I do and I think I have a good idea who left it," Riley says starting to get mad again. "Well why do you think that?" Mandy asks thinking he could be right. They have been through crazier things. "Chad told me it was a black sports car. Well check this out," Riley says handing her his phone. "You know Rollins has been tagging me lately with little pot shots," Riley adds.
Mandy sees its a post on Twitter of Seth showing off a new black Chevy Camaro. "That is pretty thin Riley," Mandy tells him. "I know it is. But he's been trying to get to me. And he's been here before. And well he went after you, someone is going after my dad, now this," Riley says. Mandy looks over the paper again. Its like an old news letter. It reads like like father like son. Its has a picture of Riley and his father Robert. It shows a picture of a woman in a nurse uniform Mandy had to assume was the women Robert supposedly had an affair with. There were also two old photos of Riley. One with his Laura an ex-girlfriend who had a very troubled history. Another with Barbi Hayden another ex of his that had a very dark chapter. At the bottom there was an address for a website. "Is this site up?" Mandy asks.
"Not yet. I feel like this was a warning shot," Riley says as he sits down on the steps. Mandy sits next to him. "Anyone who knows you will know you aren't some cheater," Mandy assures him. "Look as long you know I'm not I could care less. But this humiliated my mom once already. And this stuff with my dad its family business. I don't want this out there. You and live a public life the rest of the family doesn't," Riley says. Mandy hugs him. The sound of the door bell ringing draws there attention. Riley pulls up the camera on his phone. "Riley keep calm," Mandy begs as he stands up and storms up the steeps. She follows up but can't catch him in time to stop him from throwing open the door. Seth Rollins stands there with a smug look on his face and holding up his phone clearly recording.
"Easy Morgan I just came to talk," Rollins claims. Riley has a millions half things he wants to say but stays silent. Instead his eyes bore into Seth. "Seth you aren't welcome here," Mandy says. "I just came to talk," Seth claims again. "Yeah well when you talk you spew a lot of trash. You owe her an apology at the very least for what you said about her," Riley yells. "Look you are right," Seth says surprising both of them. However he keeps the phone up still filming. "Well go a head apologize," Riley finally commands. "Mandy I'm sorry. Look can I come in?" Riley looks at Mandy and she is just as confused as he is. "What do you want Seth?" Riley asks. "To just come in," He claims. "Put the phone down," Mandy says. "This needs to be recorded," Seth says. "Shut the door Riley," Mandy orders.
"Wait wait wait, hold on a second," Seth says. Riley stops himself from slamming the door. "Rollins I don't feel like playing games. And you are the last guy I want to do with. You claim you want to talk, you seemed annoyed you actually had to apologize. You are filming us. I can't tell if you are trying some elaborate work, a rib or if you have totally lost your fucking mind," Riley rants. "Well I just wanted want to know if you got my flier?" Seth asks. Mandy's convinced Riley is about to attack Rollins but than he looks back at her before turning back to Seth who is still filming. "Here it comes," Mandy thinks as Riley balls up his fist. Riley hands flies up and but at the last second he changes and knocks the phone out of Seth's hand and than stomps on it. "Come on man that was brand new," Seth complains.
"Enough games Rollins what do you want? Because AEW isn't going anywhere. I am not going to stab my friends and co-workers in the back and show up on NXT or e Raw. And man my family has nothing to do with this. My mother was humiliated once by this crap. Barbi last I head is doing well… and Laura… leave her out of this man. She's… she's not…" Riley just stops he's getting upset. "See Mandy this what you need to worry about. One way or another he's going to hurt you," Seth claims. That is it Riley grabs Seth by the collar before Seth head butts him and knocking Riley back. "Don't put you damn hands me!" Seth yells. Riley's eye is already starting to swell. Mandy goes to check on him. "Let's make something clear Morgan you don't put your hands on me. The only reason you manged get one on Roman is because he let you," Seth rants.
Headlights from another car draw there attention as an SUV pulls into the drive way. Becky and Roman jump out of the car. "Seth what the hell are you doing here?" Becky yells. "Nothing," Seth claims. "Look Seth brother we need to get out of here. This doesn't end well for you," Roman pleads. "Get him out of here," Mandy says. "No let him stay. He wants to push things time to pay the piper," Riley says coming at Seth. "Riley no," Mandy says jumping in front of him. His mind flashes back to that time she got hurt when he wound up in a fight with Roman and Nakamura and that gets him to stop. "Come on Morgan," Seth taunts as Roman and Becky try to drag him to the car. Riley steps back and closes the door. Both she and Riley and shaking.