Chapter 32

"What do you mean you have to room with Seth from now on?! Are you kidding me?!" Macaria was on a break and sitting outside with a distraught Nyla, who couldn't stop crying.

"H-He said he wants us to get closer…" Nyla shuddered at the thought of sharing a room with her rapist and traveling with him. "I-I won't be able to talk to Neela that much with him around…"

Frowning, Macaria pulled her friend in a tight embrace and stroked her back, trying to calm her down a little. "I'm sorry, Nyla." She murmured, not sure what else to say.

"You have to be careful." Nyla lowered her voice, pulling back to look into Macaria's perplexed jade eyes. "I mean it. I think you were right about Seth coming after you. I don't know why, but…this is awfully sudden and too coincidental after we JUST made plans to start rooming together."

"I will, but…have you told Roman any of this?" Macaria could tell Nyla was on the verge of having a nervous breakdown and wasn't surprised to see the woman shake her head. "Maybe you should…"

"Why? He's not my knight in shining armor, Macaria. I can't rely on him to get me out of these messes!" Nyla didn't mean to raise her voice, but she didn't know what to do or how to handle this. "This came out of left field. Seth blindsided me with this and I know it's because he wants me to be isolated. He doesn't want me to have any friends to rely on or lean on. He wants me to be completely alone. I know him, he's conniving."

Macaria stared at her friend for a few minutes, knowing the next suggestion would probably get her head chewed off, but Nyla had been backed into a corner. "Tell him no, then. Maybe it's time the truth came out about who Neela's father is, Nyla. That's why they have you right where they want you because of your secret. If you come out with the secret and tell the guy, they can't hold anything over you anymore."

"I can't…" Nyla shook her head emphatically, tears trekking down her cheeks.

"Why not?"

"Because Stephanie told me if I try to do that, she'll go after my family." Nyla wrapped her arms tightly around herself, not caring how cold it was outside as the snow began to fall. "I can't risk it. I have to protect Neela and my parents, no matter what."

Why couldn't Dean be here? He was currently in Canada for a house show since the company decided to split the roster up again for some reason. Macaria had stuck with being friends and they shared some text messages back and forth, but that was about it. She could tell this was hurting Dean a lot more than he'd admit and hated herself for the decision she made. All she wanted was to be in Dean's arms again, to feel his lips against hers and his arms around her body.

Seth was supposed to be on the same house show as Dean, while Roman was here in Sioux Falls, but there'd been a problem with his traveling schedule. So now he was on this house show instead, where his Mommy and Daddy were to keep him protected. It sickened Macaria how coddled the man was and she wondered if he had any kind of say in the matter, already knowing he didn't feel anything towards Nyla and the feeling was mutual.

It seemed as though the only way out of this for Nyla was trusting Roman Reigns.


Hearing a knock on his door, Roman had just finished taping up for his match against Kane that night and called out for whoever it was to enter. He was surprised to find Macaria standing in the doorway and raised a brow, wondering what she wanted. Dean had asked him to keep an eye on her because of the Authority and, more importantly, Seth Rollins. Even though Seth was supposedly with Nyla, he had targeted Macaria and Dean was sure this whole probation stipulation was the scumbag's idea. Roman would not put anything past Seth and wouldn't be surprised if it was true.

"What's up, Macaria?"

"I need to talk to you. Privately." Macaria didn't give the big man a chance to come to the door and stepped inside, closing it behind her. "Nyla's in trouble."

"I'm aware of that." Roman folded his arms in front of his chest. "There's nothing I can do until…"

"NO Roman, I mean she is IN. TROUBLE." Macaria emphasized those words, clasping her hands in front of her together. "Seth has backed her into a very tight corner and she's going to end up falling apart if something isn't done…"

The meeting. Roman's dark eyes narrowed and he could only imagine what the Authority had forced out of her now. "What did that prick do now?" He demanded, already feeling his Samoan temper skyrocketing and clenched his fists tightly.

"She's being forced to room with Seth now. We were going to be roomies, to protect and watch each other's backs, but Seth must've caught onto it. She has to start sharing a room with him…" Macaria blinked at Roman's tanned face turning red and actually backed up for fear of his impending explosion.

THE HELL SHE WAS! Roman growled from low in his throat, taking several deep breaths to keep his temper simmered and cracked his knuckles. "I'll take care of it."

Macaria shivered at the low, deadly tone of his voice and wondered if coming to Roman was the right thing to do. "She doesn't trust you yet and I get that, but…at this point, something has to be done. Please tell me you have a plan to protect her and her family. She's more worried about protecting them than herself and it's tearing her apart."

"I know…and I was gonna wait for her to come to me, but not now. I'll have to do it with her kicking and screaming the whole time." Roman heaved a sigh, tearing a hand through his wet hair and shook his head. "I have some calls to make first. Everything all right with you and the assholes? Has Seth tried anything?"

"No. I'm more worried about Nyla than myself right now, honestly. And tell Deano not to worry about me so much. I'm fine." Macaria knew exactly why Roman asked those questions and smirked at his sheepish smile, winking. "I gotta get back to work, but keep me posted on Nyla."

"Be careful. Watch yourself."

"I will." Macaria left his locker room and headed back to her makeshift office where her setup was. She still had a mountain of photographs to go through before the night ended.

Near the end of the night, Macaria received a text message from Dean and felt another piece of her heart break. Heard what happened to Nyla. Are you okay? If that scumbag touches you, I'll make him eat my fist, Maca.

He was so overprotective of her. I know you will. I'm fine, Deano, you need to stop worrying about me so much. And I think Roman is finally gonna make his move with Nyla to protect her and her family.

Dean had just finished his match against Bray Wyatt in a street fight and currently had ice on his shoulder. He won the match, but naturally, it wasn't on television, so it technically didn't count. There were no monitors blowing up in his face or shenanigans like that. Luckily, his hotel room came with a jacuzzi and he planned on taking a hot dip as soon as he arrived, already packing up his gear.

I miss you, babe.

"Damn it, Dean…" Macaria whispered, shutting her eyes and groaned, dropping her head forward. "I miss you too. So much." This separation would be the death of both of them yet. I miss you too. More than you'll ever know.

"Fuck." Dean scrubbed a hand down his face, freshly showered and dressed in clean clothes, heading out of the arena. Only 5 ½ months to go, almost.

He was keeping track of the time, making her heart flutter all over again. You know, Nyla gave me an idea we could do, if you're interested.

Now Dean was intrigued, lighting up a cigarette and slid behind the wheel, wondering if he should get into this before he was back at the hotel. Before you tell me, let me get my ass back to the hotel. I'll text you in about 20 and we can talk then, if you're not too busy.

The show was ending any minute and Macaria decided she'd done enough work for one night, wanting to get back to the hotel to continue talking to Dean. Sounds good, I'll answer you as soon as I can. I'm on my way out of the arena now.

Drive safe, babe.

You too. Macaria sent back before slipping her phone in the back pocket of her jeans and packed up her belongings, heading out of her office.

Seth Rollins was waiting for her…no Nyla in sight. "Hey, I need to talk to you about an upcoming photoshoot you're doing for me next week."

"Really? I didn't read anything like that on my itinerary." Macaria did not want anything to do with this scumbag, using the reference both Roman and Dean did when it came to Seth in her head. "I think you have the wrong photographer, Seth."

"No, I think I do. Here." Seth had the photographer changed by Hunter and the man had signed off without a care in the world. "You and I are gonna be working closely together for a couple weeks, baby."

"The name is Macaria." She corrected smoothly, walking away with him following and shouldered her bag. "And if we're working together, great. It's strictly professional though. I know what you did to Nyla and I know it was your idea to have Stephanie hire me. I don't know why though. Because unlike Nyla, you DON'T have any blackmail on me and I've been following protocol to a T."

"What makes you think I give a damn if you're hired here or not?"

"Because you obviously cared about me and Nyla rooming together and wanted to put a kibosh on it." Macaria accused, stopping just outside the arena exit and zipped her coat up since it was snowing. "Don't bother trying to deny it, Seth. I don't know what kind of game you think you're playing with me, but I don't like games. I don't play games. I'm not the gaming type, unless it's with a controller. You don't control me." She had no idea about Stephanie's warning when it came to her since she actually was a talent behind a camera lens. "Stephanie made it clear I wasn't to get involved with ANY WWE Superstar intimately and that includes YOU. And even if I WAS allowed to get involved with you, I don't want crabs or any other sexually transmitted disease you're carrying from all the slags you've slept with."

Seth gritted his teeth, not believing the way she was speaking to him and knew hitting her would put a nail in his coffin. For some reason, Stephanie liked Macaria and wanted her in the company. "You're awfully brave to be talking to me like that without your lapdogs around to protect you." He had noticed both Roman and Dean were watching over her, making sure their locker rooms were near her makeshift offices that were set up for the photography to take place. "You're a nobody, Macaria. And you're nothing more than Dean Ambrose's whore."

She smiled serenely, her hand twitching to reach up to slap the taste out of his mouth, her eyes nothing more than acidic pools. "I'd rather be his whore than yours any day and night of the week, Rollins. How does that feel, hmm? To know that a woman on planet earth actually WANTS your ex-business partner instead of you?" Her tone was crisp and clean with a slight edge to it.

That stung a lot more than Seth cared to admit and he could feel his temper rising off the charts. "Just remember, I'm the future of this company and it'd be a lot better for you if you'd just bend over like the bitch you are."

"The only person I'm bending over for, in 5 ½ months, is Dean Ambrose. I want nothing to do with you, Seth. You can pursue me and play all the games you want. You can try to make other people miserable around you, which you've already done since Kane can barely stand you these days. And Nyla, let's not even go there since I know you've raped her repeatedly." That made his dark eyes widen. "It won't work with me. I'm onto you and I know guys like you. Power hungry, manipulative, egotistical, thinking the world revolves around you…sound familiar? You really should look in the mirror sometime at yourself. I bet you can't even hack your own reflection staring back at you."

"SHUT THE FUCK UP!" Seth exploded, raising his hand to backhand her for her smart mouth, when a hand came out to wrap tightly around his wrist. "Let go of me now, Roman!"

"There a problem here?" Roman had overheard the verbal castration Macaria delivered to the golden boy and did everything in his power not to start laughing. She really didn't give a damn who Seth was! "Because it looks you were about to put your hands on a young lady, boy." He shoved Seth away none too gently, watching him stumble back several feet and stood beside Macaria.

"Stupid bitch with your lapdogs." Seth muttered, rubbing his sore wrist and was shocked Roman hadn't snapped it in half. "They can't protect you forever."

"Protect me forever from who? You? I don't NEED protection from you, Rollins." Macaria actually laughed, sounding thoroughly amused and folded her arms in front of her chest. "He really is full of himself, isn't he?"

"He thinks he's untouchable."

"Because I am!"

"Sure you are." Macaria waved him off dismissively, making Roman chuckle and grinned up at him.

"FUCKING BITCH! FUCKING WHORE!" Seth couldn't believe he was being punked out by Macaria and planned on having a long talk with Stephanie about her job offer. It was time to revoke it since she wouldn't play ball with him.

"Again with this? You're a broken record, do you realize that?" Macaria wouldn't waste another second on this piece of crap, though she had one final parting shot to give him. "And just so you know, if you even THINK about raping my friend tonight, I will be calling the police on you. I don't care about the Authority or you or the blackmail you have on her. The threats. You touch her and you will regret it."

"I'll touch MY girlfriend any way I see fit, whore!"

It was Roman's turn to step in, holding his hand up to silence Macaria for the moment. "Actually, no you won't. Because she's not rooming with you tonight, or any night for that matter."

Seth gawked at his former Shield brother, arching a brow. "What the hell do you mean?! She's my woman and she's rooming with me! It's already a signed, sealed deal!"

"Yeah, no it's not. Come on, Macaria, I'll walk you to your car." Roman didn't bother elaborating and guided her away from the scumbag, waiting until she was behind the wheel and driving off before turning his attention back to Seth.

Just then, Nyla walked out of the arena and stopped at the sight of both Seth and Roman, amber eyes wide. "W-What's going on out here?"

"Oh nothing, just had to take care of something. You ready to go?" Roman asked, walking up to her and smirked at the gaping face of Seth, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

"Y-Yeah…" Nyla stammered, hoping, praying this didn't backfire on her and her family remained safe. "Seth?"

All Seth could do was stand there, frozen solid.

"We're over."

Roman beamed proudly, letting her use him for support and steered her toward his Lincoln Navigator, leaving Seth staring after them looking like a regular fish out of water.