{Chapter 14}
Kennedy laid in the backseat listening as Cena and Isabella chattered away. He couldn’t help smiling when he heard his sister laughing at Cena’s antics. The man had a knack for making people laugh Kennedy would give him that. He soon drifted off to sleep listening to the two, a smile curling his lips.
“Yo, Ken,” Cena hollered a couple of hours later. Kennedy felt someone shaking his foot. Opening one eye he peered at Cena. “Morning, Sunshine,” he said cheerfully. “Actually early evening. Whatever. We’re at the hotel. Come on. We need to drop off our shit and head to the arena.”
“Great,” Kennedy groaned sitting up and climbing out of the backseat.
“Jeff’s here,” Isabella said frowning when she saw Randy’s car pull into the parking lot. She was in no mood to see Randy.
“Izzy,” Jeff exclaimed grabbing his bag and rushing over to her. He dropped the bag and hugged her. “I missed you!”
“Jeff,” she chuckled shaking her head. “It’s only been a couple of hours since you last saw me.”
Jeff groaned and shook his head, seeing Randy headed their way. “He’s SOOO boring!”
“Wasn’t my idea for you to ride with me,” Randy muttered. He cast a glance at Isabella, but averted his eyes before she could meet his gaze. “I’ll see you guys at the arena,” he said and headed into the hotel.
“He’s in a chipper mood,” Cena commented.
“Oh yeah, I need to talk to you, John,” Jeff said grabbing his bag and then ushering Cena inside the hotel.
Isabella looked at Kennedy shaking her head. “You have some strange friends,” she said. “Has anyone ever told you that?”
He chuckled, opening the trunk and handing her bag to her. “Only everyday since I started working for this company,” he replied. “And Jeff’ll be family if Cindy and I…”
“Ken, are you thinking of proposing,” Isabella asked, smiling.
“I go back and forth on it a lot,” he replied. “Mainly because I’m not sure I really want that in my family.” He pointed toward where Jeff and Cena stood talking animatedly in the hotel lobby.
“Oh stop it,” Isabella said punching his arm playfully. “I see how you look at Cindy. You love her and you’d be willing to put up with anything for her.”
“All right, enough about my personal life,” Kennedy said. “Let’s get checked in.”
~*~
“Jeff, I don’t care,” Cena fumed. His eyes trailing to the glass door where he could see Isabella talking to Kennedy. “Randy doesn’t deserve her. You and I both know it.”
“I’m just saying that maybe he can change for her,” Jeff replied. “You didn’t ride with him. You didn’t see the way he talked about her…when he did talk about her. For the most part he kept quiet. Broody really doesn’t suit him.”
“Jeff, he’s a douche,” Cena said. “Izzy saw him for what he is. End of story.”
“You like her too,” Jeff said realizing why Cena wasn’t willing to listen to what he had to say. “Oh man! This is some soap opera shit!” He slapped his forehead and raked the hand down his face.
“Would you quiet down,” Cena growled. “Yes, I like Izzy. She’s a cool chick to hang out with. That’s all. As for Randy being miserable…serves him right for treating women like trash. I have no sympathy.” With that he headed to the front desk to check in.
“Lie all you want, John, I can see it in your eyes that you like Izzy more than you’re letting on,” Jeff muttered to himself. He sighed and headed to the desk to check him himself.
~*~
“Are you sure you want your hair in braids,” Isabella asked Jeff as she sat in the locker room with him. He sat on the floor in front of her cross legged.
“Yeah, I usually do it myself,” he replied handing her a rubber band for the braid she had just finished. “But I need a little help tonight.” Truth be told he had wanted to speak to her alone to feel out how she felt about Randy and Cena. “So, you and John seem to be getting along well.”
“Yeah, he’s a nice guy,” Isabella said smiling.
“And apparently a hell of a kisser,” Jeff replied. “OW! Izzy, don’t pull my hair,” he whined, rubbing his sore scalp. “You practically gave me a bald patch!”
“Calm down, ya big baby,” she said chuckling. “I didn’t pull your hair that hard.”
“All I was sayin’ was you seemed to enjoy that kiss John laid on you earlier,” Jeff said cringing, waiting for another tug on his hair.
“My, you’re nosy,” Isabella said shaking her head. “Yes, he’s a very good kisser.”
“As good as Randy,” Jeff asked. He winced as she tugged his hair again. “Just a question!”
“What are you up to, Hardy,” she asked, eyeing him suspiciously.
“Just making conversation,” Jeff replied. “So, was John as good as Randy?”
Isabella sighed. “Jeff…”
“You can tell me anything, Izzy,” he said. “I won’t tell Ken or John or even Randy. Everything you say to me is completely confidential. I swear.”
“I know, Jeff,” she replied. “I can’t really compare the two. It’s like comparing apples and oranges.”
“Well, which did you like better,” Jeff asked.
“Let’s just get your hair finished so you can have your match, all right, Jeff,” Isabella said shutting down.
“All right,” Jeff said pouting.
“Trust me, Rainbow, when there’s juicy love life to gossip about you’ll be the first person I confide in,” she said. He smiled and allowed her to continue braiding his hair.
~*~
Isabella was watching Shawn’s match up in a special spot Jeff had shown her. Kennedy would be getting his stitches out over the weekend and he was going to interfere in Shawn’s match that night. She felt her phone vibrating in her pocket as she waited for Ken to make an appearance.
She sighed, not really wanting to miss the finish, but knowing she’d never be able to hear whoever was calling if she stayed where she was. She got to her feet fishing the phone out of her pocket and headed to a quieter spot. With a finger she covered one ear and held the phone to the other one.
“Hello?”
No one answered. She was about to hang up when she heard what sounded like raspy breathing. When no one spoke she grew irritated. She was missing the match for an obscene phone call?
“Hello? I can hear you breathing,” she grumbled into the phone.
“Did you think you could run away, Isabella,” came the voice on the other end.
She paled. “Ja..Jakob,” she gasped. “How did you get this number?”
“Interesting what people will give you if properly motivated,” he replied. She could hear that he was slurring his words. “Ralphie says hi. Poor guy’s got quite the crush on you.”
“Leave me alone,” she said as evenly as she could manage. Despite it only being a phone conversation the man still frightened her. “It’s over, Jakob. We’re over. We have been for five years.” Tears were spilling down her cheeks now. “I’m not your wife anymore. I don’t want you in my life.”
“Is it because of your new wrestling buddies,” Jakob demanded. “The blonde one, and the dark haired ones and the rainbow haired freak? You fucking all of them?”
“Just leave me alone,” she screeched into the phone before ending the call and wrapping her arms around herself, rubbing her upper arms.
She needed to regroup before Kennedy got back and saw her upset. Isabella was halfway down the hall toward the ladies room when the phone rang again. She jumped a mile, yelping. Tentatively she looked at the caller ID and groaned. It was Jakob again and she involuntarily began to shiver.
“Why won’t he just leave me alone,” she moaned, turning off the phone and slipping it back into her pocket. She made a mental note to cancel the account as soon as possible.
Randy was pacing the hall preparing for his match when he saw Isabella. Though her back was to him he could tell something was wrong by the way she was walking. He watched her reaction to the phone call and grew concerned when she began to shiver, wrapping her arms tighter around herself.
“Isabella,” he called closing the distance between them in a few steps. “Are you all right?”
She quickly wiped the tears away and forced a smile as she turned to face him. “Never better,” she replied, though a stray tear slipped down her cheek.
“Then why are you crying,” he asked, catching the tear on his finger as it slid from her cheek. “You’re shaking. What’s wrong?”
“Why do you care,” she asked, her eyes growing cold as ice. “Shouldn't you be trying to fuck one of the Divas?”
Her words stung and he visibly flinched. “Isabella, please. You’re upset. I just want to know if there’s anything I can do to help.”
He reached out to touch her cheek, but she pulled away. “You’ve done enough,” she replied. She saw Cena and Jeff headed her way and thanked her lucky stars.
“Izzy, what’s wrong,” Jeff asked.
“Is he botherin’ you,” Cena asked, his blue eyes boring holes into Randy.
“I was just leaving,” Randy muttered. “I didn’t upset her, John. She was already upset when I found her.” With that he walked away.
Cena turned his attention to Isabella, who was trying hard not to burst into tears again. “Izzy, what happened,” he asked.
“It’s Jakob,” she managed to choke out and pulled her phone out of her pocket. “He called me. He didn’t know my cell number. He said he got it from Ralphie.” She was sobbing now. “He hurt Ralphie. He had to. He wouldn’t just give Jakob my number.”
“Izzy, calm down, honey,” Cena said pulling her into his arms and stroking her back. “What did Jakob say?”
“The same thing he always says,” she replied sniffling. “He accuses me of being a whore. I hung up on him and he…” She realized that he called back and most likely left a message. With great hesitation she turned on the phone and groaned when she heard the voicemail indicator beep.
“Izzy, what is it,” Jeff asked looking at the phone.
“He called back,” she replied, and connected to her voice mail. She punched in her code and put the phone on speaker.
“YOU HUNG UP ON ME, YOU FUCKING CUNT! YOU DON’T FUCKING HANG UP ON ME,” Jakob screamed into the phone. “YOU’LL PAY, YOU BITCH!” He then cleared his throat. “I think I’ll start making you pay by teaching one of your boyfriends a lesson starting with the blonde one. He might just have a little accident sometime soon.” With that the call ended.
Isabella’s eye grew wide as saucers. “Izzy,” Cena said gripping her shoulders tightly. “Stay calm, honey.” She was practically catatonic. “Shit. Jeff, get her back to the locker room. I need to let Stephanie hear this message. Security needs to be beefed up until this psychopath is off the streets.”
Jeff nodded leading Isabella away. Cena turned around came face to face with Randy. “What do you want, Orton,” he demanded not in the mood for whatever he was about to pull.
“Is she all right,” he asked falling into step beside Cena. “She was so upset. What’s going on?”
Cena sighed seeing the concern in Randy’s blue eyes. He hated to admit it, but Jeff might be right. “Her ex called her tonight,” he replied finally. “He threatened her.”
“This the same son of a bitch that bruised her face,” Randy asked, already hating the man. Cena nodded. “John,” he said stopping the older man. “I know I’m the last person she wants to see right now and I’m sure between you, Jeff and Ken she’ll be safe, but if you need any help…”
“We’ll call you, Randy,” Cena said patting him on the shoulder. “I need to talk to Stephanie about beefing up security.” Randy arched a brow at him. “This joker threatened you, me, Ken and Jeff too. Can’t be too careful.” Randy nodded and watched him head into Stephanie’s office.
~*~
By the time Kennedy made it back to his locker room Isabella had calmed down a bit. The tears were still flowing down her cheeks though. When Kennedy entered the locker room she shot from her seat and threw herself in his arms.
“I am so sorry, Ken,” she sobbed.
“Izzy, what’s going on,” He asked, wrapping his arms around her. “Jeff, what happened.” Jeff filled him in on the phone calls and then reluctantly headed out to find Randy for their match.
“Izzy, quiet down now,” he cooed, his voice deceptively calm for the way he felt inside. “Everything will be all right. I promise you. For the rest of the road trip I think it would be best if you stay close to at least one of us.” She nodded wiping the tears away and sniffling. “Why don’t you go wash your face and we’ll head back to the hotel?”
He watched her leave the locker room to wash up and raked a hand through his hair. With a sigh he went to his bag and pulled out his cell phone, calling Cindy to let her know what was going on. She listened as he spoke, knowing he needed to vent a little.
“Just keep her safe, honey,” she said once he had finished. “And I know both of you don’t want Randy around, but…”
“No,” Kennedy replied. “He’s not getting near her again, Cindy.”
“It might not be a bad thing to have him around, Ken,” she replied. Jeff had called her earlier in the day and told her of what he had discovered.
“I gotta go, babe,” he said when Cena entered the locker room.
“I think you should hear this message,” he said handing Isabella’s phone to Kennedy. “I let Stephanie hear it and she’s agreed to add some security to the shows until things die down. I have to get out there to interfere in the match.” He let Kennedy know the code and left.
Kennedy sat down and played the message. Isabella returned in the middle of it. Seeing her face he quickly ended it and handed the phone back to her. He didn't need to hear the rest to know that Jakob was seriously deranged. “He won’t touch you again, Izzy,” he said softly, pulling her into a hug. “I promise you that.”
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