Chapter 15

"Please stop fighting!" Martina cried, standing between Cody and Ted, who looked ready to kill each other, tearful eyes pleading with them not to do this. "Teddy, what you said about Cody is wrong. He does care or else he wouldn't be here. So stop antagonizing him." She then turned to Cody, sighing heavily. "Just ignore him. He means well, he just doesn't know how to put it into words without being the antagonist. Now let's listen to what Randy has to say. He's right, if we leave now, we're only giving Roger what he wants and panicking isn't an option." Not to mention their lives were on the line, that much Martina was certain.

Ted just stared at her, looking ready to continue on with the fight, before deflating, nodding his head. She was right; he was an antagonist, whether he meant to be or not. Silently, he dropped down onto a metal folding chair, giving Randy his attention.

"Well, boss?"

How the hell did he wind up in these positions?

"If he traced the cell phone, most likely he'll wind up in St. Louis, unless he can track the GPS in my cell."

"He probably can."

"How? He had to either bug her mom's phone or put a tap on it. The trace would probably read his mother's phone but pick up any calls."

This was all her fault that Randy's house was probably going to be destroyed. Martina sank down on the bed with a heaving sigh, raking a hand through her hair. "He knows we're in Phoenix, if he's tapped my mother's phone, which he has." She wasn't even going to doubt it because that's how Roger worked. "We need to get out of Phoenix as quickly as possible. He'll send people here after me." She lowered her head in shame, sniffling and wiped more tears away, already having made her mind up. She was running away from these three as soon as she found an opportunity to do so. "I will do whatever you want, Randy, I trust your judgment."

"Well if that's the case, then he probably has people watching the freeways, all ways out of town are probably being scouted." Randy said after a moment before grinning. "How long's it been since you two clowns have traveled the old fashioned way?"

"What do you mean?"

"Tour bus."

"Like, since...whoa, are you serious?"

"A tour bus?" That was brilliant! That would be a sure fire way to get them out of there without being traced or found! Martina wanted to kiss Randy, but refrained for several reasons. She had gotten them into this mess and he'd somehow found a way out for them. "I'll go grab my things." She walked out of the room and into her own, beginning to gather her belongings. Randy was a saint; he didn't hate her even though she'd made a foolish mistake by using his cell phone, without his consent, to make sure her mother was fine. 'I have to get away from them before they wind up hurt or worse.' She thought sadly, hating Roger, and cursing him for putting her through this hell.

"I have to call Jim and let him know we'll be joining the rookies." Randy said, glancing down at his phone. "Uh..."

"Use mine." Ted handed over his cell. "We'll get our things, and yours."

Nodding, he and Cody went to handle that. Cody debated on letting Beth know he would be taking the bus, but decided against it. She might tell someone.

Within a half an hour, Martina walked out of the hotel with the guys, Randy holding her hand, an apprehensive look on her face. Try as she might, she couldn't wipe it away as they headed for the tour bus. Martina stepped on the bus, knowing already this wouldn't be comfortable, but...it was the only way

'I'm sorry, Randy.' She thought as they walked down the aisle, finally finding four seats, two on each side and slid inside first, Randy allowing her the window seat. Martina knew she couldn't cry, but damn it, she couldn't help it, praying her mother remained safe and sound.

Randy groaned, knowing already this was going to flat out suck, especially when he spotted Carlito in the back with his brother. "Man...if he-"

"Apples!"

"Oranges!"

"SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU TWITS!"

Martina blinked and wrapped her arms around herself, feeling the guilt eating away at her slowly; knowing if it wasn't for her, the guys wouldn't be on this tour bus being miserable. Martina pressed her forehead against the window, hoping they arrived at the next destination sooner rather than later. At least they would get out of Phoenix unscathed.

"I swear to god..."

"I'm going to-"

"Apples are better, man when are you going to realize that?"

"Oranges have a better texture and taste though?"

Ted put his MP3 player on and blasted it.

Cody didn't have an MP3 player and had to suffer, along with Randy, who was turning redder and redder with each passing sentence. When they started discussing the taste, he stood up. "FUCK YOU BOTH; PEARS ARE BETTER THAN BOTH, SO SHUT THE HELL UP!"

"Man, what's his problem?"

"I don't know, maybe Beth isn't being such a peach anymore."

Carlito burst out laughing.

Even Randy found that amusing.

What was it about fruits that intrigued these men so much? Martina felt the bus begin to move and kept quiet, not looking at Randy once. She was already plotting her escape from them, though it would be heart breaking, it also had to be done. Randy, Cody and Ted were in danger because of her.

She was going to rectify that.

They were on a bus full of wrestlers, she would easily escape through the crowd and never be seen or heard from again. If she couldn't make her escape now, Martina had a feeling she wouldn't have another chance. With that thought in mind, Martina closed her eyes, willing the tears to stay in.

Randy reached over to take her hand, squeezing gently. "You'll be fine, everything will be alright, I promise." He bent down to whisper in her ear. "I'll take care of you, Marti. Just have a little faith in me." He tenderly kissed right behind her ear.

Martina swallowed hard when she heard and felt that, slowly pulling back to stare into his blue eyes, wishing she could believe him. He was just one man, celebrity or not, and would end up hurt unless she vacated. He could go back to his regular every day life without having to worry about her or himself for that matter, including his friends.

She would miss them terribly, especially Randy, and had to look away as more tears fell from her eyes. She could cry later damn it! Right now she had to be strong and keep the plan in mind, bag by her side. Of course she'd have to leave it behind, but that was the least of Martina's worries at the moment.

'I have no choice.' She thought and continued staring out the window.

Randy desperately wished he could read her mind, especially when she turned her head from him, making it so he couldn't read her face or eyes, frowning. He didn't let go of her hand, just closed his eyes and laid back. He wondered what he'd be doing if their paths hadn't been tossed together, knowing it was fate that they had. This was where he was meant to be…with her.

Martina didn't sleep, though the rest of the guys did, not that she blamed them. Randy had a tight, yet gentle hold on her hand, almost as if he was afraid she'd disappear, frowning. How the hell was she supposed to extract it long enough to get off of the bus? Slowly, Martina pulled it out of his grasp, knowing Randy was a deep sleeper, and sighed with relief when he just made a growling type noise in his throat.

Carefully, Martina tiptoed over their legs until she was in the walkway and slid the diamond ring off of her finger, placing it in Randy's jacket pocket, and went toward the front. Seeing the hotel up ahead where they would be dropped off, Martina took a deep breath. Glancing one last time back at Randy, tears fell from her eyes as the bus stopped, the doors opened and Martina was the first one off, before pounding pavement as hard and fast as she could.

"Hey Randy, your wife just took off!" Carlito shouted, from where he was quietly playing Crazy 8's with his brother, grunting when a shoe came flying his way.

Randy shot upright, looking around, the shoe having been thrown by a half asleep Cody. "She WHAT?"

"TOOK OFF!"

"Oh no..."

Ted was already up on his feet, running down the aisle and shoved the doors open, before the driver could even do it, not believing how foolish Martina had been. "DAMN IT!"

"What the hell did she do that for?" Cody demanded angrily, stepping off beside Ted, next followed by a very pissed off Randy. "Where the hell did she go?"

"I don't know, but she's on foot. She left her bag with us so she has no money and nowhere to go."

"What are we gonna do, go look for her?"

"Cody, shut up if you can't ask intelligent questions."

"Well think about it, she could be anywhere by now. Well, not anywhere, but…do you know how many people are in this city? We're never going to find her unless-" He stopped abruptly, thanks to Randy's fist plowing into his mouth, stumbling back with a yelp of pain, cupping his now bleeding mouth.

"Which way did she run?"

"That way."

Randy took off running.

Martina ran until she was completely out of breath, slowing to a walk, with her arms wrapped around herself. She heard footsteps pounding toward her and immediately ducked in a dark alleyway, glad it was night outside or this wouldn't have worked. His scent, she could practically taste it, and covered her mouth with her hand to prevent anyone from hearing her breathe.

Pressing her back against the building, Martina did not move an inch, and watched with a broken heart as Randy ran right past her. Slowly making her way down the alley, when he didn't stop, Martina tried keeping as silent as possible. She couldn't put him in anymore danger; why couldn't he just let her go and get on with his life? She was no longer his concern.

"MARTINA!" Screw using Jessica, he wasn't looking for Jessica. He was looking for the woman he had been falling in love with. He still had Ted's cell phone on him, answering it when it rang; knowing Cody and Ted had probably gone off looking together. "I lost her, man!" He spun in a circle on the sidewalk, shaking his head, blue eyes wide. "I fucking lost her!"

The faint scent of strawberries lingered in the air as a wind picked up, drifting to Randy.

"Goddamn it!" Ted was pissed; this time at Martina for being stupid, not thinking clearly. First she called her mother, which he understood; she had to make sure she was safe, but to do this was...he didn't even have a word for it. "What are we gonna do?" He was panicky now, already on his way toward Randy, while jogging with Cody behind him.

Cody was thinking about saying cutting ties and getting on with their lives, but at the same time, he'd grown attached to the fool-hearted woman.

Martina managed to arrive on the other side of the alley and continued on walking, having heard Randy screaming her name, sniffling as her heart shattered over and over again. "Goodbye Randy." She whispered, wondering what she was going to do now.

She had no money, no transportation; absolutely nothing.

Randy remained where he was until his friends got there, the wind taunting him by throwing her scent at him, growling and groaning alternately. "Why'd she run?" He demanded, staring at Ted as if he would have the answers.

"I don't know, maybe she thinks we're in danger? That we'll be better off without her?"

"HOW? How will I be better off without her? With me I knew she was safe, now I don't have a clue and I'm going to go out of my mind!"

Cody figured Randy had a pretty good start on that already.

"Look, she's around here somewhere. We'll just split up and search high and low. She couldn't have gotten far, she..." Ted raised an eyebrow and held his hand up, walking over to the alleyway, scent of strawberries becoming stronger. He bent down and picked something up, fingering it in his hand. It was a charm of some kind that was in the shape of a damn strawberry that looked like it'd been dropped. "Come on!" He was already making a beeline down the alleyway, eyes narrowed thoughtfully. They were going to find Martina and, when they did, Ted was going to beat her ass for running off like this.

Cody and Randy followed, knowing Randy had strong feelings for Martina, and hoped this turned out alright without any of them getting hurt.

Martina fished in her pocket, frowning when she realized her strawberry charm was missing, more tears falling. Great. That had been the only thing she had to remind her of her mother. It went with a silver bracelet, though Roger had all of her belongings. Martina was truly alone in the world, but somehow, she knew she was doing the right thing by running away from Randy.

Roger had traced that damn cell phone to an arena. After asking the right people and dropping the right amount of cash, he had found out this Randy Orton was a wrestler. He'd immediately sent scouts ahead to the man's house, wondering if by chance that little whore Martina was shacking up with this muscle head. Then he'd gotten some more information, such as where the next show was being held, and proceeded to go to the next city.

She was here, somewhere.

A hand shot out and Martina was suddenly grabbed, managing to let out a small scream and began struggling against the individual. No! She couldn't let this happen again and knew it was one of Roger's henchmen that'd found her.

"Not so fast, little girl, the boss has been looking all over for you."

Stomping as hard as she could on the man's foot, Martina managed to break free and bolted from behind the dark building, running as fast as she could down the sidewalk, heart pounding furiously in her chest. Oh god, Roger knew where she was. She quickly ducked into another alleyway and hid behind a dumpster, feeling déjà vu overtake her; though this time she wasn't injured yet.

"Did you hear that?" Ted demanded, having heard a scream nearby and looked at both Cody and Randy, who were thinking the same thing. "I'm going to paddle her ass when we find her for doing this shit. We have to hurry."

"Yeah, do that and watch how fast Randy drops your ass."

Ted ignored him, hoping and praying Martina was safe.