Book One: The Viper's Bite

Sixteen

Hours later I followed Randy down to the hotel lobby, dragging not only my bag but myself through the darkened halls. His steady paces covered the sound of my groggy stumbling, but his hand wrapped around my upper arm made it so I wouldn't get left behind.

"Remind me," I mumbled, "why we're leaving at two in the morning again?"

The soft sound of his chuckle broke through the cobwebs. "No one's supposed to know where you are, and I couldn't leave you behind since we're going to Boston this week. Plus, earlier we were... Busy."

The tone of his voice let me know he was smirking and a giggle escaped me.

As we came to the lobby the concierges turned to us with curious looks on their faces. I plopped down in a winged chair and let Randy figure out the checking out. When I sighed, it wasn't just exhaustion that had me slumping forward.

The decision to step back from my career for almost a year had been a hard one to make, but after getting over my initial indignation, it became obvious that it was the best choice. I was going to be out for three months on recuperation anyway, and beyond that...

I hadn't told anyone how terrified I was, had been since the night when I'd been attacked at the hotel. Not Cody, not Mickie or AJ...

Not even Randy.

I'd had nightmares, and found myself looking over my shoulder. They said they had him, but I always felt like he was there, and the never being sure kept me awake at night.

As the distraction of my thoughts faded back into a haze, I noticed a glint of light out of the corner of my eye. I turned, but only saw my reflection in the dark glass of the lobby. If I squinted, the outlines of highway lights became visible, and the cars on the bridge racing past.

Except for a single van, dark, parked on the shoulder. I stood, leaned forward as a light glinted again and -

"Ready?" I jumped, slapping a palm to my chest when I felt hands settle on my shoulders. Randy spun me around and focused his gaze on mine, and his expression shifted from vague amusement to worry within a second. "What's wrong?"

My tongue stuck in my mouth for a moment before I blinked and shook my head. "Nothing, I'm really tired." He didn't looked convinced and I pressed my palms to his chest, rubbing up and down slowly over the soft material of his T-shirt. "Seriously, don't worry about it."

His hands clamped on my shoulders briefly before he turned around and picked up our cases, heading towards the door. I leaned down and pulled my satchel off the chair, ignoring the urge to look through the window again as I followed him outside.

*********************

"Coraline. Coraline, get up."

I ignored the voice in my ear and drew my knees closer to my chest. There was a sigh before my sweater was grabbed and yanked, and before I could even squeal, I was thrown over a shoulder, staring at a sidewalk as Randy made his way to the back of the car and began pulling out suitcases with his free arm.

"No one would know how bony you were until they had your shoulder jammed in their uterus," I grumbled, digging my fingers into the back of his shirt. He laughed and slammed the trunk, turning towards what I now saw was the airport.

"Look who decided to wake up. Here," he grunted, jerking his arm up and grabbing my butt to lower me to the ground. I clung to his collar as he let go, then just pressed my forehead to his chest.

I felt sick, my stomach churning as I watched the concrete I stood on swirl and dip, then finally shut my eyes as a wave of nausea made my knees buckle. "Whoa," he muttered, grasping me under my arms. "When's the last time you ate?"