The trio arrived at pdx, Portland’s international airport early the next morning. They made there way to baggage claim without a problem, and in silence. Imara was still upset that Shane had left her. She hardly knew these two strangers, what was she going to do? She shrugged it off as Shawn hailed a cab and they all climbed in. She sat in the middle of the two men, staring straight ahead. Not really paying attention to anything.
Hunter noticed her ice appearance. He wanted to melt her cold exterior but he was going to have to earn her trust first. He devised a plan. He smiled, sliding his arm around the back of the seat. They arrived at the hotel, checked in and found their room, again still in silence. There were only two beds this time both in the same room. Hunter gave a Shawn a knowing look.
“Don’t worry one of us will sleep on the couch.” Shawn attempted to comfort her.
“Oh, it’s fine. I don’t mind really. I’m not much of a sleeper anyway.” She sat down on the furthest bed and stared out the window at the Oregon rain. She pulled out her MP3 player and listened to the healing melodic sound as the rain continued its down pour. She liked it here. This place cried for her.
Hunter and Shawn snuck out into the hall way.
“Look, Shawn, I have an idea to get her to trust me but I need to do it alone. Do you think you could disappear for a few minutes? I know this is an awful thing to ask but she’s gotta trust one of us and since her and I already started to bond a little bit…” Hunter pleaded.
“Say no more. I was going to go get some food anyway. I will be back in an hour though. It can’t be too obvious, she knows games better than we do, dude.”
“I know man. Hey thank you I appreciate it a lot.” He shook hands in that ‘we’re too cool for school…and hugging…’ kind of way with his partner and watched him make his way down to the hotel restaurant.
Hunter walked back into the room and watched her for a moment, staring out the window. He walked up to her, careful not to startle her. He gently placed his hand on her shoulder but he ended up making the poor girl jump a clean foot in the air.
“Hunter! Didn’t your mom tell you not to sneak up on people like that?” She tried to catch her breath. She took out her ear phones and looked at him. “What’s up?”
“Well, I wanted to try and make you feel better because I know this is hard for you. I have an idea.” He went to his bag and got out a mystery bottle of creamy goo.
“Hunter…what is THAT?” she asked in absolute disgust.
“It’s a secret. It helps heal bruises and things faster. I’m not sure how and it’s probably just a mind over matter thing but hey, it works.”
“Oh, Hunter, I don’t need that. I’m fine. I am so clumsy it’s nice to remind myself to be careful and if you take those reminders away, well,” she tried convincing herself, to no avail. “Imara, stop it. We both know that I’m not stupid. Please let me in at least a little. I want to help.” He took a few steps toward her.
She stood there, just looking at him. Her eyes lost their sparkle and her timid smile faded into sadness. She tensed up as he approached. “Hunter…” she whispered.
He warmed some of the lotion up between his hands. He was now centimeters away from her. He teased the bottom hem of her long shirt, never breaking eye contact. He slowly lifted the cotton garment up, revealing her bruises. Imara, too embarrassed to acknowledge what was happening, looked away and closed her eyes tightly. Hunter took her chin in his hands and pulled her gaze back up. “Imara, open your eyes, and look at me.” He demanded, softly. “Trust me.”She looked up at him through wet eyes fighting with all she had the tears threatening to empty down her cheak.
Hunter began to rub the lotion on her damaged skin with the softest touch he could manage. He knew that this was all a hoax, and he was sure she did too, but that was not the point. He wanted her to trust him and see that he would do anything to make her feel safe.
Imara couldn’t take it anymore. The stress of all of this was too much. She broke down and let out a colossal sob falling face first into Hunter. He was more than willing to catch her and hold her until she got it out. He guided her sobbing body to the bed. He sat down with her and just held her in his arms. They sat in silence, with the exception of the sound of Imara crying. Hunter stroked her hair and rubbed her back. He waited their, patiently and affectionately for her to let it all go. Her sobs began to subside and soon she just lay there in his arms.
After a while of silence and safety in his arms, Imara pushed herself up and looked at Hunter. Her eyes were a swollen mess and mascara traced tear lines down her flushed face. As long as she couldn’t see it, she did not care.
Hunter looked at her, and never in his life had he seen a woman look so stunning, especially after crying her heart out, purging her soul. He could not contain himself. What came over him, he didn’t know.
Hunter leaned in towards Imara.
Imara took hold of Hunters face in between her fragile hands.
The both locked their mouths onto each other. It felt like a lifetime in the blink of an eye. As quickly as it happened, it was over and both retreated from the kiss.
“I am so sorry. I don’t know what came over me. That was inappropriate. Imara I hope you know that I had no intention of allowing that to happen when I started to help you…” Hunter stood up, in shock, and mumbling.
Imara thought about too. That was an awful thing to do. He as at least twice your age and might as well be a complete stranger for all you know about him.
Then she wised up. Who cared? This was the first time in her whole life someone actually cared about her and stuck around, who was not her brother. She stood up and pulled Hunter by his shirt. He collided into her and was met with a strong, passionate kiss.
The strength of this tiny, frail girl surprised him. He knew this could go one of two ways and one of the options was not pretty. I should not be doing this, he thought. Not like this. If being close was what she wanted, then they could talk about it. Besides, what if Shawn walked in right now…no that is not a good idea. Hunter pulled away, again.
Imara hung her head. “Hunter I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that, it was wrong.” She whispered.
“No, Imara. Sit down, we should talk about this.” Hunter softly spoke, sitting down. Imara followed. “Look. This is not a good idea.”
“I am sorry.”“Imara-”
“Hunter, all that crying really tired me out. Will you just lay with me for a while?” She asked through a yawn. She fell back onto the bed resting her tired head on the pillow.
Hunter obliged and rested up against the head board. He stroked her back gently as she drifted off to sleep. He whispered to her when he was sure she was asleep.
“I promise you, as God as my witness, I will make sure that you are safe. Nothing bad will ever happen to you again. No matter what.” He leaned down and kissed her sleeping forehead. He continued to rub her back until Shawn came back in.
He came in quietly, not sure what he was going to find. He saw Hunter on the bed with Imara. “Is she sleeping?” He mouthed.
Hunter nodded and motioned for the hall way. Both men congregated in the vacant space out side the hotel room door.
“She lost it man. Imara cried into my chest, and cried hard.” Hunter informed, shaking his head.
“That poor girl. We’ve gotta do something. What are we gonna do though? We can’t keep running her from hotel room to hotel room? What did Shane have in mind for the long term?”
“Man I don’t know. I don’t think he thought we could pull it off and get this far. We have to somehow get her off the road and into some sort of stable housing.”
“Hunter, don’t you have some leave coming to you?”
“Yeah, Vince won’t sign that now though. He wants both of our asses.”
“Well Shane still has some power; I bet he could swing it.”
“Yeah. We should get back inside, I hate to leave her alone.”
-----------
Vince was seething with anger when he arrived at Portland International Airport. This was not okay. Imara belonged to him and damn it he was going to get back what was his. He tracked down a cab and made his way to the Hilton. That’s where he assumed the Musketeer’s had gone off to, that is where the Raw superstars had rooms reserved. When he asked the front desk for room information for the rouge wrestlers, he was disappointed to say the least when the young woman refused to offer up any information.
“Don’t you know who I am? I am Vincent Kennedy McMahon, DAMN IT. Tell me where my wrestlers are!”
“I am sure you are sir, but I don’t care if you are the president of the United States, I can not give out that information. Now sir, if you do not calm down I will have to ask security to remove you from the premises.Mr. McMahon was in shock as to the way he was being treated. No one treats him like that. NO ONE. While he stormed away from the desk he decided he would meet them at the arena posting lookouts all over. He would know where they were at all times. This was going to end, and it was going to end tonight
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