Chapter 7 – Life Threatening

Kira woke up in a cold sweat after yet another nightmare about Jack. A full night's sleep was few and far between lately. Kira wasn't sure why all of a suddenly she was having night terrors about Jack and so many of them, but it was definitely a sign of things to come. Since coming to Florida she had sporadic nightmares, but for the last couple of weeks the nightmares were coming more frequently.

She pulled her fingers through her hair as she pulled herself from the bed and stumbled into the bathroom to shower the night sweat off of her body. She was trying to wake herself up as she stood under the sprays. She finally got herself fully awake as she stepped from the shower and wrapped a towel around her body. She padded barefoot back into her room and went to her closet where the built in drawers held her under clothes and swimsuits.

She'd be at Momma Patty's and Poppa Sika's for the day. They were having a Saturday cook out and pool party and Matt had even shut down the restaurant for the day. Everyone who worked at the restaurant was invited and she already knew Roman and most of his wrestling co-workers would be there.

She pulled on a pair of red boycut crocheted bottoms and a matching crocheted bikini top that tied around the neck and then the bottom straps wrapped around her torso three times before she tied it in front just above her navel. She combed the knots out of her hair and then pulled on jean capris and a white t-shirt. She slipped her flip-flops on; the night before she'd spent a few hours making tons of potato salad. She got it loaded into her car and then took off to Patty and Sika's.

Kira pulled up the same time Matt got there with his wife Mandy and his three kids Koa, Madison and Jordan.

"Kira! Kira!" A small voice shouted.

Kira's head snapped up as she smiled and watched as Koa ran over and threw his arms around her waist. "Hey little man!" Kira greeted as she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed.

"I didn't know you were gonna be here K." Koa stated

"Like I would miss a party with your family?" Kira laughed. Kira squatted down. "C'mon buddy, you can help me get the potato salad into the house."

Matt shook his head as he looked at Jordan and Madison. "Hey you two, don't just stand there go help Kira get that into the house." He chuckled as they ran over and started helping.

Steely grey eyes watched as Kira existed her car. God she was still beautiful. He hadn't seen her since the day he, Seth and Dean had eavesdropped on her phone conversation a few weeks ago. He couldn't believe how good she was with kids and how tightly his nephew Koa clung to her as she gave him a piggy back ride. That kid was no lightweight; not with his Samoan genes running through his body. He watched as Kira laughed at something Koa said in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her neck; her hand came up and patted his gently.

Roman's grey eyes went to his brothers as Matt walked up to him. "Brother…" Roman greeted as he tapped his shoulder with his fist, before his eyes went down to Mandy and smiled softly leaning over to greet her with a hug.

Mandy pushed up on her toes and accepted a bear hug from her brother in law. "It's nice you took time out of your busy wrestling schedule to actually come home and see the rest of us common folk Roman." She laughed when he chuckled at her. "You're niece and nephews miss you."

Roman shook his head. "Man, don't start the guilt tripping woman. I make it back here when I can you guys know that. I can't always make it back for every family gathering, but I do try."

Mandy laughed. "Yea well just remember your family on the road isn't the same as your family at home. Even though you don't have to be blood to be related; we've been there with you longer than they have. No matter what they've done for you when you're on those long trips." Mandy reminded him.

Roman chuckled. "Yes ma'am. I don't forget mine; ever." He watched as Mandy patted his chest and walked into the house before his eyes went back to his older brother. "So I see your girlfriend was invited here; glad to see you flaunting her in your wife's face."

Matt held up his index finger before he wagged it at Roman. "I'm not having this very inappropriate conversation with you Roman. There is nothing going on between me and Kira and I'm warning you to stop pushing the issue little brother. I won't hesitate to put you on your ass if you say it again. This is your last warning." Matt warned in a clipped tone.

Matt walked into the house and greeted his mother with a kiss on the cheek. He was getting tired of his little brother's mouth and disrespect. If he had to put Roman down then he would do it and not even his parents would be able to save their precious baby boy.

Kira smiled as she watched the pool party get way out of hand. She smiled softly as Seth and Dean had come up and both hugged her, but didn't miss the glare from Roman across the back yard as she sipped her Mango smoothie that Matt had made for her, because he knew she wasn't a drinker.

"So is it my imagination or is Roman giving you like the evilest of all stink eyes?" Melissa asked softly from next to Kira.

Kira looked at Melissa before she nodded and looked at the ground. "Yea those looks will become deadly before the night is over; I can already feel it." Kira admitted.

Melissa she looked over and laughed. "Oh my God, what has gotten into Elsa?"

Kira spared a look at her redheaded friend. "What's gotten into her - a lot of alcohol…" Kira laughed as she watched Elsa and Dean trying to keep their grinding to the music at least PG with most of the kids around. Kira shook her head. "I wonder if she rode him like a stallion yet."

Melissa's cheeks flamed red as she hid her laughter behind her hand. "You're terrible! I can't believe you even asked that." Melissa admonished.

"Kira I thought I met all your friends." Seth stated as he approached the laughing women. "Who's the pretty lady?" He asked inquisitively.

Kira smirked; she knew Seth wanted to meet Melissa but the hand full of times he'd been with Roman at the restaurant, she'd been off, but she had wanted to meet him just as bad. Kira took Melissa's hand in her left and Seth's hand in her right. "Seth Rollins, this is Melissa Thompson or Melz. Melza this is my sweet little friend Seth." She placed Melissa's hand in Seth's as she winked up at Seth. She pushed up on her toes and kissed his cheek. "Be gentle she's shy." She whispered in Seth's ear.

The two-tone haired man nodded in full understanding. "Yes ma'am." He lifted Melissa's hand to his mouth and brushed a kiss across her knuckles. "Feel like taking a walk beautiful?" He asked as he stepped up and offered his elbow to her. He watched as her cheeks tinged bright red and couldn't have been more smitten with her.

Melissa blushed furiously as she nodded quietly and watched as Seth put her hand in the crock of his arm and nearly passed out. Jesus Christ his bicep was huge! She couldn't WAIT to feel the other one!

Kira smiled as she stood off to the side and continued to drink her mango smoothie. She watched as Seth literally walked Melissa around the entire perimeter of the back yard as they talked. She smiled as she watched Seth make her friend laugh hard and blush even harder.

Why couldn't Roman be more playful like Seth or even Dean? That was a ridiculous question that she just asked in her head. Roman was nothing like Seth and Dean and that made him different. He wouldn't be his own person if he was exactly like Seth or Dean.

Her eyes traveled over and heard a squeal come from Elsa as she watched Dean lift Elsa over his shoulders in a fireman's carry and twirl her in circles before throwing her in the pool.

Kira couldn't help the chuckle that slipped through her lips as she walked over and sat on one of the wooden benches. She felt the bench move slightly as she was snapped out of her personal thoughts. She looked to her left and frowned as she saw Roman sitting next to her. "If you're just going to insult me or be rude to me please walk away and leave me alone."

Roman shook his head. "I was wondering something." He stated; now being this close to her now he could see the dark circles under her eyes. She was clearly not getting any sleep.

"And what was that Mr. Reigns?" Kira asked curiously but knew she was going to regret being so curious.

"Why is it I hire a Private Investigator to look into who you really are and he can't find anything on you; just a valid Florida Driver's License and a Social Security number and nothing else." Roman inquired. "No taxes filed no work history and no schooling."

Kira shook her head. "What do you want from me Roman? I don't understand you. I don't want anything from your family and I certainly don't want anything from you. But clearly you want something from me. So just stop beating around the bush and tell me."

Roman shook his head. "I never said I wanted anything from you. I'm just trying to find out who you really are. I'm trying to protect my family. I don't care what you did in your life before you came here, but I do however care what you do and who you do it to as long as you're affiliated with my family. I know something is going on with you and Matt I'm not stupid by any means. You may have my mother and father fooled but not me; not for a second."

Kira narrowed her eyes. "You're so sure I'm some kind of criminal. You honestly think me and Mattie are sleeping together? What could I possibly gain from that?"

"You could get very vindictive when he won't leave Mandy for you and you could actually take everything away from him and ruin his marriage. Mandy has been there for him through everything and suddenly an easy lay comes along and he's suddenly spun out on you." Roman admitted verbally.

"You're a disgusting monster. I don't know how your brother or family has put up with you for so long but they have for far longer than I would have." Kira sated honestly.

"Why Kira, because you're a runner? You run from everything? Why did you run Kira if that's even your real name?" Roman accused.

Kira stood up and scowled she was suddenly aware that he'd over heard her conversation with Mike a few weeks ago. She watched as Roman stood up in front of her. "I don't run because I'm a criminal Roman. I run to protect myself. I run to keep myself alive. I run because it's all I've done my entire life when shit got dangerous or life threatening. I run for me because no one has ever stood up for me. No one has ever protected me. I have to look out for myself because no one else will. Frankly why I run is none of your business."

Roman's glare grew. "Life threatening or dangerous?" He question Kira started to walk away when he grabbed her arm and pulled her back to face him. "There's someone or something after you that could be potentially dangerous or life threatening to you and you brought it into my fucking family? They've trusted you with their lives and with the children and with their homes and businesses and now you're standing here telling me you're running from something that could potentially put not just you in danger but my whole fuckin family because they all chose to accept you into my family?"

Matt's head jerked up as he heard his little brother's voice carry over everyone else at the party. He could see he had Kira by the warm and she was struggling to get away. He stalked over as he shoved Roman's hand off of Kira. "Roman, what the hell are you thinking? Don't start something at mom and dads."

Roman shoved Matt back. "It would be just like you to come to defend the honor of your little whore." Roman popped off.

Matt growled. "That's it Roman! I've had enough of your fuckin punk ass mouth!" Matt charged at Roman and shoved him back first into the brick siding of the house. "I told you to stop disrespecting my family and my employees, but you don't know how to keep that big mouth shut." Matt pulled back and shoved his fist forward and into Roman's eye.

Kira felt Patty grab her by the waist and pull her away from her two fighting boys. Everyone was just stunned. The two sons of Sika hadn't gone to blows in some years.

"It's not my fault you're fucking your employee! If you had any respect for your wife I wouldn't have to check your ass at mom and dad's right now." Roman snarled out. "You don't even know who that little bitch is. You don't know who she is or where she comes from. You guys opened your hearts and families up to be slaughtered by whatever is chasing her."

Matt landed a few goo punches to Roman's stomach and rib area, causing Roman to bend at the waist and groan in pain. Roman got a second wind as he exhaled heavily. "You son of a bitch – if you're not fuckin her then why are you defending her?"

Matt shook his head. "Because she's a friend. Because you don't treat friends like that or let your little brother bad mouth your friends. Because if I don't get that bullshit out of your head now; you're going to regret it later."

"I regret nothing big brother: nothing." Roman stated in a deadly tone. He stood up and suddenly charged his brother and speared into his mid-section and took him down to the ground hard in the grassy area by the pool.

"DAD!" A small voice shouted.

Kira looked over and noticed Koa on the diving board. She could see the worry in his eyes and his body language. He went to take a step and slipped on the end of the diving board as his body came down it crashed into the fiberglass board before it flipped up and went motionless into the water.

"Oh my God Koa!" Mandy gasped out.

Kira ran over to the edge of the pool as everyone held their breath as she jumped in. The young boy was lying motionless still at the bottom of the 13 foot deep pool. Kira swam all the way to the bottom as she grabbed the young boy and started towards the surface.

Roman and Matt both breathing heavy from their scuffle as they watched panting as Kira brought the boy to the pools edge.

"Take him to the grass." Kira started as she handed over the unconscious boy to his mother. She started to pull herself from the pool when the hand of Roman's cousin Jey Uso grabbed her and hoisted her up and out of the water. "Thanks. Call 9-1-1 now." She watched as Jey nodded and immediately pulled his cell out.

Kira rushed to Koa's side as she flipped him onto his back and made sure to turn his head to the side as she placed her hands on his sternum and gave soft compressions as she counted off in her head and then plugged his nose and breathed in his mouth.

"C'mon Koa – breathe for me little man." Kira all but begged.