Randy Orton nodded politely to Stephanie Helmsley who smiled and waved to him even as she continued talking on the phone.
"Sit down," Hunter smiled and gestured towards the table set with a combination of breakfast and lunch foods. "We didn't get back from the Casino until the early hours of the morning so we're doing a brunch." He glanced at his wife and chuckled. "She'll join us in a few minutes. She's finishing up talking with the kids."
"How are they?" Randy asked as he sat down and poured himself some coffee.
"Good." Hunter sat down opposite him and began spreading jam onto his toast. "Someone's grades aren't as good as they should be, though." The two men exchanged a wry smile as Randy selected some fruit.
"And the casino opening?"
"The opening went perfectly as far as I can see," Hunter nodded. "I'll get a full report from Antonio later this afternoon. But he seemed pleased." He grinned at Stephanie who joined them at the table. "Stephanie did pretty well at the blackjack table."
Stephanie chuckled. "I'm much better at cards than with dice or at the roulette wheel." She sat and mixed some fruit into her yogurt.
"So, tell me about Miz." Hunter's voice remained even but the atmosphere at the table became serious.
"Miz and his goonies paid a visit to Rollins' Bookstore around midnight," Orton reported. "Miz actually broke in."
"Oh, for the love of…" Stephanie shook her head. "Why did he do that?"
Randy shrugged. "From my vantage point, I could see a light on in what was probably the back of the bookstore. I presume Miz was going to have a talk with the new owner."
"Was he spotted?" Hunter demanded.
"Not by the cops," Randy answered. "Miz' goonies stayed out front while Miz went inside. This guy came from around the corner. Just walking along like he was minding his own business. An SUV came around the opposite corner." He shook his head. "Those two idiots just stood there yakking away with each other. The guy on the sidewalk slammed Dallas into Miz' car then took him out with some kidney punches. Then a guy rolled out of the SUV and punched Axel down to the pavement." He leaned forward. "That guy was Samoa Joe."
Stephanie glanced at her husband who was muttering under his breath.
"That means Reigns is involved," Hunter finally snarled. "Who was the other man?"
"Took me a while to get that," Randy admitted. "Name's Jon Moxley. He's the guy who was released from prison because it was proven he was framed by a dirty cop."
"Not one of ours, I hope," Stephanie asked.
Randy shook his head. "Nobody knows yet why this cop, Swagger, framed Moxley for murdering some reporter. A Renee Young. And from what I've learned so far, Roman Reigns was instrumental in getting the evidence to prove the frame."
Hunter glanced at his wife. "You remember this Moxley?"
Stephanie slowly nodded. "He was pretty close to Roman as I recall. I think he wound up living with Roman's family. But I don't remember why or even if anybody knew why."
Hunter slowly nodded then turned back to Randy. "What happened to Dallas and Axel?"
"Samoa Joe and this Moxley knocked them out and stuffed them in the trunk of Miz' car." Randy's blue eyes twinkled when Stephanie snorted. "Joe drove the car into the alley while Moxley went into the bookstore. By the time I'd gotten to where I could look down the alley, Miz had just been thrown out the back door and Samoa Joe began slamming him against the wall. I couldn't hear what was being said, but Joe let Miz get into his car and drive away. I ducked out of sight so Miz wouldn't see me. When I looked back down the alley, Joe was getting into the SUV that he'd been driving. Moxley must have been driving at that point."
Hunter frowned as he thought. "Miz must have been there to try and pressure Seth Rollins into signing a purchase agreement," he finally concluded. "The question is why did this Moxley and Samoa Joe get involved?"
Randy didn't answer. He knew Hunter didn't expect him to have the answer.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Roman stood for a couple of minutes, watching Mox carefully dismantling the engine from his motorcycle.
"You gonna help or just stand there watching?"
Roman chuckled at Mox's question. He walked over and sat down next to his brother. "How's it looking?"
Mox shrugged. "I don't think there's much that can be salvaged," he admitted. He pointed to a nearby bucket. "Can you start putting those into soak? I wanna see what the parts look like when they're clean." When Roman reached for one of the parts, he cautioned, "Be careful. You might get your hands dirty."
"Smartass," Roman mock-grumbled. He began carefully picking up the dirty pieces of the engine and carefully putting them into the bucket.
"Guy should have his ass kicked for letting this beauty get into this bad a shape," Mox grumbled.
Roman chuckled.
"How'd that fancy opening go?" Mox asked after a few minutes.
"Champagne was pretty good," Roman answered. "Plenty of hors d'oeuvres although a little heavy on the shrimp. Had to schmooze with a bunch of people. Formally got introduced to Hunter Helmsley. Stephanie hit on me. Right in front of him."
Mox stopped working and slowly stared at Roman for a few seconds. "In front of him?"
Roman nodded, fighting a grin. "Naomi and Cia came over and rescued me."
"The Bitch must still think she's the cutest trick on the block," Mox grunted, returning his attention to dismantling the engine.
"Only more sophisticated," Roman nodded. "Colder too. Probably heartless."
"Brother, she never had a heart," Mox pointed out.
Roman chuckled. "Joe told me about last night."
Mox silently nodded. "I tore up the paperwork Miz wanted Rollins to sign. Told Rollins to burn it. Then told him to get better locks and an alarm system."
"Good idea," Roman nodded. "If he's staying, he'll probably move back upstairs over the bookstore. If he hasn't already."
They worked quietly for several minutes before Roman quietly spoke. "Did Seth remember you?" He saw Mox pause for a split second before the other man shrugged.
"Said he thought he did. From high school." He reached for a wrench on the floor close to him. "No reason he should remember me."
Roman shook his head. "You saved him from being bullied more than once. I think he was scared of Old Man Rollins' reaction if he fought even if it was to defend himself."
When Mox silently shrugged, Roman dropped it. Mox still wasn't a man to be pushed.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Hunter replaced the receiver on the house phone and looked over his shoulder in amused surprise. "That was security. Miz is on his way up."
Stephanie looked surprised for a moment, then ruefully smiled. "This should be interesting. I'll leave the two of you to…discuss matters." She disappeared into the suite's master bedroom and closed the doors.
"Shall I stay?" Randy asked.
Hunter paused then shook his head. "I think I'd rather Miz feel free to speak honestly."
Randy's lips curled in sardonic amusement then he walked into an adjoining room and closed the door.
Hunter stood quietly, staring out the windows, silently evaluating the options that were running through his head. A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, and he turned around. "Come in." He smiled when Miz opened the door and walked in. "Mr. Mizanin, good to see you again. Although I'm surprised to see you so soon. You have an update for me?" He waved Miz towards one of the chairs.
"I do, and unfortunately it's not a good one."
Hunter had to admire Miz' aplomb. He didn't appear to be nervous at all. Unless you looked closely at the somewhat tensed body.
"Really?" Hunter sat down opposite him.
"My contact in Mr. Sandow's office has informed me of a clause in John Rollins' Will," Miz carefully explained. "Apparently, John Rollins specified that if his great-nephew, Seth Rollins, chooses not to stay in Davenport and take over the various business, then Seth Rollins is to give first refusal to buy those businesses to Roman Reigns."
"That is…unfortunate. Sika Reigns and John Rollins were…associates, if not friends," Hunter frowned. "Why weren't we informed earlier?"
"My contact wasn't able to review the entire Will until now," Miz smoothly explained. "Apparently, it's quite extensive with all the stipulations John Rollins included as to the disposition of his estate." When Hunter silently nodded, he continued, "It's well known that John Rollins was in poor health for some time. It could be argued that he planned to make changes to that Will but in his failing health, both physical and mental, he hadn't completed those changes."
Hunter slowly nodded. "We could tie it up in Court for quite a while," he admitted. "Not as good as actually owning that deli, but a possible alternative." He thought for a few seconds. "For now, go over all the zoning and business licensing ordinances. Find out if there's a reason to prevent that deli from opening. Then get back to me with a recommendation."
"Yes, sir." Miz immediately stood.
Hunter walked with him to the door, smiling as he showed him out. When he closed the door behind Miz, he walked to the bar and poured himself a drink. He wasn't surprised when both Stephanie and Randy joined him.
"The man's an idiot," Hunter grumbled. "He's botched this whole operation from the beginning." He tossed back his drink.
"He's been very successful in the past," Stephanie pointed out.
Hunter nodded. "But this is too important for him to screw up. And I've no confidence that he can fix it. By now, Reigns knows we're interested in that place and wondering why. And given his past association with John Rollins, there's no way in hell he'll refuse to buy those businesses if Rollins' great-nephew decides to sell."
"So, there are two problems," Stephanie pointed out. "Mizanin and the businesses." When Hunter didn't say anything, she continued, "Mizanin has a wife. A toddler daughter. And another child on the way."
Hunter slowly nodded. "So he does."
Husband and wife stared at each other for nearly a minute, silently communicating. Then Stephanie smiled and kissed Hunter's lips. "I'll be downstairs in the spa." She nodded to Randy as she passed him.
"Stephanie," Randy quietly spoke as he nodded in return.
Hunter pulled out his cellphone and dialed a number. "Shawn? I need a conference call with you and Ric. As early tomorrow morning as you can make it." He chuckled. "Yeah, I know with Ric that the word 'early' has a different definition from the rest of us. Do the best you can. Thanks."
He ended the call and pocked the cell phone. Then he slowly turned to Randy and nodded once. "Tomorrow."