CHAPTER SEVEN
All Matt could do was watch as Detective Cole set up shop in Jeff and Fallon's house. He had moved out to live with his ex-girlfriend Amy and even after they split, never moved back in. Though he did stay from time to time, his old bedroom exactly the way he had left it after all these years.
Jalyssa had taken over Fallon's private office, using the computer and writing tools without hesitation. She had even began using the phones and fax machine, contantly talking to someone or another, paperwork coming in at all hours of the night.
Matt had asked Steve about her, getting the impression she was a bitch, especially when she would taunt Steve about cold feet. He had decided she wasn't so big a bitch when Steve reluctantly confessed he had left the fiery red head at the alter.
Sighing, he walked away from the office, sidestepping as Gavin and Dante came flying in, turning to watch them.
"Mrs. Cole?"
"Oh no sugar, it's just Miss." She corrected, glancing up from the keyboard to smile at Gavin. She had to admit, he was an adorable looking boy. With those green eyes, he was going to grow up to be a heartbreaker. "What can I do for you?"
"Are you goin' to find my momma?"
"Course I am, don't you worry, honey. I'll find her for you." Jalyssa assured him.
Matt arched an eyebrow, watching as she pulled Gavin to her for a hug.
***
He couldn't ignore the real world. As much as 'Taker would have liked too, it was beginning to knock on his door. If he didn't get Fallon out and make an appearance, he'd probably wind up on the nightly news for kidnapping. That brought a smirk to his lips, especially considering he had done this all before. Vince McMahon had been all to eager to cover it up though.
Vince would probably be eager to avoid a scandel now, in fact. Chuckling darkly, he made a call to his boss.
***
"What do you mean she's goin' back to work?" Jeff demanded, staring at Chris like he had lost his mind. "How the Hell is she supposed to be workin' when that psychotic has-" He growled, shutting up when Chris held up a hand.
"She's going back as his valet." Chris said softly, trying not to cringe as he seen Jeff begin to physically shake from anger. "Jeff, the point is, she will be BACK. He can't keep her if she's surrounded by people, even he's not that-"
"YES, HE IS!" Jeff exploded, not even aware of Shadow quickly ushering the boys from the room. "THIS IS THE MAN WHO BEAT AND RAPED HER! HE FUCKING MARRIED HER FOR CHRISSAKES, DON'T TELL ME HE'S NOT CAPABLE OF SHIT!"
Jalyssa leaned against the wall, listening to all this with wide eyes. Well, on the bright side, this meant she could go back home.
Steve cleared his throat, glancing at her. "Let's just… all hit the road and meet the Fed on the circuit. Lyss can go with us, she'd be a credible witness to everythin' that happens."
"IF something' happens." She said crossly. "Look, if the guy is taking her back to work, all you people have to do is snatch her away. End of story."
"He won't ever stop." Kane spoke up, clearing his throat. "He can't."
"Well why the fuck not?"
"He loves her."
Jeff inhaled sharply, glancing back at his brother who had placed a warning hand on his shoulder.
"Then we make him stop." Jalyssa snapped angrily, not even believing Steve had the nerve to drag her into this shit. "If this is his way of lovin', then she's gonna wind up dead."
"We've been telling you that for some time now." Chris sighed, rubbing his eyes.
***
Fallon inhaled the familiar, comforting smells of the arena. Greasepaint, sweat, a little blood… she never thought she would miss it. She stiffened when 'Taker wrapped his arm around her waist, trying to push him away as he pulled her into his side. "Damn it, let me go."
"Never." He murmured, leaning down to kiss the top of her head.
"You know the minute they can, my family is going to kill you, right?"
The smile that crossed his face was a combination of both amusement and danger. "I'm counting on it, Fallon."
"Mark, where the hell have you been? Why haven't you returned my-" Michelle trailed off, seeing Fallon trying to pull herself away from Michelle's boyfriend. "What is going on?" She demanded, trying to keep her tone of voice calm.
"Nothing, absolutely nothing." Fallon hastened to say, still squirming to free herself. "Let me go, damn it!"
"Be still."
Michelle folded her arms over her chest, eye narrowed. "Well?"
"I honestly have to tell you we're done?" He snorted. "You really are a dumb blond, aren't you, pet?"
"Don't you DARE talk to me-" Michelle gasped mid-sentence as his hand wrapped around her throat, eyes widening as her feet dangled a foot off the ground. "Mark!"
"We are done." He enunciated slowly, talking to her like she was a child.
Feeling horrible for Michelle -somewhat-, Fallon took the chance to shove 'Taker off balance, sprinting off the down the hall without a backwards glance.
Snarling, he dropped Michelle to the floor, stepping over her hunched body to follow Fallon.
***
"KANE!"
Kane had been pacing the hallway when he heard that. Spinning around, he caught Fallon as she practically leapt into his arms. He perfomed a cursory once over on her, taking note of fresh bruises covering the right side of her face and on her throat, growling softly. He barely had time to acknowledge her restored vision before having to set her down and shove her behind his back when his brother came storming up.
"Fallon, come here, now." 'Taker ordered, his venomous eyes glinting dangerously.
"Fuck you." She whispered, refusing to step out from behind her human shield.
Kane's entire body tensed, preparing himself for a fight. "Leave her alone."
"Brother, this does not concern you."
"MOM!"
"Gavin, no!" Fallon screamed, seeing her son running full speed at her from behind the Undertaker.
'Taker whirled around, catching Gavin by the arm. "Hello, son."
"I'm NOT your son!" Gavin screamed, kicking and hitting the nut job who had kidnapped his mother. "MOM!"
"Mark, let him go!" She launched herself at him, shrieking when she was tossed aside, crashing into the cement wall with a groan of pain.
By now the hallway was filling up with people. Jeff broke through the crowd, rushing to his fiancee's side. "Thank god." He whispered, gently pulling her against him. Then he seen Gavin. "Let go of my son." Jeff said slowly, getting to his feet, Fallon standing alongside of him, their hands clapsed firmly together.
"My son, you mean." 'Taker said, a vise grip on Gavin's arm, holding the boy before him, reaching down to ruffle the light red-blond hair. "
"Mom, Dad…" Gavin whimpered, shrugging away from the unwanted contact.
"He is NOT your son!" Fallon screamed, glancing at Jeff when he restrained her. "Let him go, Mark, he's not yours!"
"Prove it!" He snarled.
From behind Kane, Matt and Chris exchanged looks.
Jalyssa stood with Shadow, peering around the men to study Fallon. She instantly pulled out her digital camera when she seen the heavy bruises, zooming in and snapping pictures. Then she snapped several of this man -the Undertaker- holding Gavin, a scowl forming on her lips. Who the hell did this creep think he was?
Steve cleared his throat, now stepping into the circle that had formed around 'Taker and Gavin. "Callaway, c'mon man, listen to reason. That boy ain't yer son."
'Taker's gaze turned to stone, staring at Austin coldly. "This is none of your concern." He said, his voice dropping an octave.
"How bout we settle this in the ring?"
"Steve, you're knee!" Jalyssa interrupted, unable to help herself. She blushed three shades of red when he glanced back her, the cheeky bastard even winked. "Forget I said anythin'."
"Gavin isn't your son, 'Taker." Jeff said softly, refusing to cower when those demonic eyes pierced him, feeling like his soul was being sucked right out of him. Rallying himself, he shook his head and stared right back. "He's mine, those green of his, mine. His hair? Mine and Fallon's, it eventually go dark brown. He is not your son."
"Yet you still offer me no proof."
"You want a DNA test?" Fallon demanded, hope flaring when he nodded. "Fine, we'll have one done. Please, let him go."
"He will remain with me until the results are in."
"Mommy…" Gavin couldn't help himself, he began to cry. After everything he had seen and been through lately, this was just an overload. "Mommy, I want to go home."
"I know baby." She whispered, tears in her own eyes. "So do I."
Jeff blinked, realizing she could see when she looked up at him, reaching out to hold the side of her face in his palm. "Fallie…" He whispered, already knowing what she was going to do. "He could kill you."
"Gavin." Was all she said, it was enough.
Groaning in anguish, he bent down to kiss her, pressing a kiss to her split lower lip, then her eyelids. "I love you." He murmured, blinking back his own tears. This wasn't fair! Why the hell couldn't Mark move on already? "Come back to me."
"I always will."
Jalyssa could not believe her eyes. She watched with an open mouth as Fallon squared her shoulders and walked directly to her kidnapper. "You're fuckin' kiddin' me!"
Fallon looked over at the woman she didn't know, arching an eyebrow.
"You are fuckin' kiddin' me! After all the shit these people went through over YOUR DUMB ASS, you're gonna walk right back into this SADISTIC FUCK'S ARMS?"
"Lyssa…"
"No, Steve. Get the hell offa me! This is bullshit! Why the fuck doesn't someone arrest his ass already? LOOK AT HER!" Jalyssa spun in a slow circle, glaring at the on lookers. "What the hell is wrong with you people? THIS MAN BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF HER! And you're all just watchin' her GO BACK TO HIM!"
"Jalyssa, you don't understand…"
"I understand! You all are afraid of him! Afraid of what this will do to your precious company's reputation when the world finds out ya'all have been letting a fucking psycho BEAT AND RAPE A WOMAN!"
The Undertaker was more than amused, enjoying this bitch's outburst. But… while she was providing an ample distraction, he was pulling Gavin away, watching with narrowed eyes as a resigned Fallon followed him. He would have to thank Jalyssa later on. Her loud mouth had served him well.
***
Shadow watched as Jalyssa shoved her things back into her briefcase. "It's not really that people are afraid of the company's reputation." She said finally, handing a legal pad filled with scribblings to the other woman. "You were right about them being afraid of the Undertaker though."
Jalyssa snorted. "Not my problem. If you… people… want to cater to his power trip, go right ahead. I'm not playing in your three ring, fucked up, circus anymore." She tossed her hair over her shoulder, whirling around to glare at Shadow. "Why didn't any of you go to the fucking cops about this? Seriously?"
"We did. Everyone did, but Vince bought off the police the first time this happened, anyone who could have destroyed his company, he silenced with money, claming it was all for the sake of a storyline. Wrestlers got bonuses and new contracts, nobody was willing to say anything. That and for awhile, 'Taker and Fallon were getting along. They had separated and were doing their own thing until Fallon's ex-boyfriend showed up. They seemed to be getting back together after that then…"
"Then what?" Jalyssa asked, curious in spite of herself.
"Then Jeff." Shadow said simply. "Jeff, Matt and Fal grew up together. She and Jeff were childhood sweethearts."
"She love him?"
"Unconditionally." Shadow said firmly, well aware Jalyssa had theorized that Fallon could very well be in love with 'Taker. "She doesn't love Mark, she never did. She cared for him at one point, but that was all. Anything they might have had, died when she lost their baby."
"Is that why he's obsessed with Gavin?"
Shadow hesitated.
Jalyssa didn't miss it, arching an eyebrow. "Is Gavin his?" She asked in a whisper.
"No. He is JEFF'S son."
Somehow, Jalyssa didn't buy that at all.
***
'Taker stared down at the sleeping Gavin, hesitantly reaching out to wipe away a tear that clung to the boy's long lashes. How could Fallon keep denying what he knew? Jeff and himself looked nothing alike in facial features. Jeff had a delicate bone structure, a face that could be termed 'pretty'. He on the other hand… well, he knew he wasn't 'pretty' but he definitely had a masculine look. 'Taker could see Fallon in Gavin's face, but he could also see himself. He felt betrayed that she had denied him his son all these years, refusing to acknowledge that it was his own fault.
Fallon…
He groaned, backing away from his son, fists clenching desperately.
After everything that had happened between them… she hated him. He irrationally hated her for hating him. Knowing it was his own doing, but… he shoved those thoughts aside. He had chosen his path a long time ago and there was no changing it now.
He would have his family.