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Edge was gripped by a sense of foreboding and suspicion alike as they sat in the hotel bar together. He tried playing it subtle as he was acutely aware of Christian's mood. Clearly, his brother was not at all happy to be here.
The tall blond man eyed Lita, recalling that it had been *she* who'd suggested coming in here for a drink. The tension between the redhead and his brother seemed so thick, it could be sliced cleanly with a knife. And if he didn't know any better, he could swear that Lita was afraid to be alone with her own boyfriend.
The two of them were seated side-by-side, on the same bench at their booth. Most couples tended to sit across from one another. Still, Edge knew some to sit as Christian and Lita were doing, so it wasn't *all* that unusual. But the thing that bothered him was that the diva appeared most uncomfortable.
After the barmaid had come to take their drink orders, Edge made up his mind. He'd been debating with himself for the last few minutes whether or not to test his suspicions. While he was reluctant to leave Lita here alone with Christian, it seemed the only way for him to know for sure.
And what an odd thought *that* was... 'Reluctant' to leave the diva alone with her own boyfriend? *His* own brother? Besides, he and Lita had never liked each other, so when had he suddenly gotten to care about her. Yet, he *did*.
The tall Canadian suddenly rose from the table.
"If you two will excuse me, I have to use the men's room."
Lita stared up at him with baleful hazel eyes as he slid out of the booth. The fear within those glistening orbs was not lost on him in his peripheral vision. He suddenly cursed himself inwardly as he realized he didn't know where the restrooms were in this bar, or if they even had any at all. But he had to get out of here and witness them from slightly afar and behind them.
*
"What the hell are you trying to pull?"
Lita's heart was hammering a million miles a minute at Christian's low, menacing tone. He asked the question the moment Edge had disappeared. On top of that, she winced as her boyfriend grabbed her hand under the table - his grasp was vise-like and strong enough to hurt so that she saw stars.
"Ow!" she exclaimed in a loud whisper. His grip hurt enough so that she wondered if he'd actually crushed some bones in her hand. She could just feel tears beginning to well up in her eyes, the pain was so great. She spoke again, shaking her head. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."
Christian gave her hand a swift little jerk. He glared openly at her, and she cowered slightly at the cold hatred clearly visible in his blue eyes.
"Don't you hand me that line of shit, you bitch..." he muttered. "... I *know* you, Lita - and I know you're trying to cause some trouble here tonight."
The redhead gasped at the pain shooting up her hand and wrist, inwardly praying the consequences wouldn't be too severe for her.
*
Edge's features hardened as he watched them. He hadn't actually gone to the restroom, but he'd wandered all the way to the end of the bar, certain neither of them could see him.
While he definitely couldn't make out any words spoken between them, he knew something was not right. He could see their profiles at times, and when he got a look at Lita's, it appeared to him that the redhead seemed to be in pain. Even if that was not the case, she was still clearely unhappy and upset.
The tall blond man swallowed hard. What should he do? He could mosey back on over and surprise Christian, catching him in the act of some abuse - but what if he couldn't see it for sure? His brother didn't seem to be definitely physically hurting her, not that he could see at this vantage point. Still, a nagging feeling plagued him.
Stealthily, Edge crept back to where his brother and the redhead still sat. Just as he was right behind them, he could see that they were apparently holding hands. What a relief. He walked around into their view and slipped back into his seat.
"Miss me?" he asked humorously. His grin faded as he realized Lita appeared to be close to tears. Shit... Had he been wrong? The expression on the young woman's face seemed to be answering his joking question with a 'yes.'
He decided he was going to keep an even closer eye on these two.