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Jeff felt numb as he sat in the Copelands' hotel room. Adam, Amy and Trish had all gone over the story, each in their own slightly varied version. Adam had explained how Amy had taken Mandy to Trish to watch her while he was busy preparing for his match and she needed to run out for something.
The redhead's story was identical except for the part about how she'd instantly suspected Matt had come to the arena to take the child. Trish obviously blamed herself as she recalled the story, complete with Stacy Keibler's ankle turning, and how she'd rushed out to help the tall blonde. She'd told Mandy to stay put in the locker room, but when she returned, the little girl was gone.
The young man's head spun with shock over the situation, plus the phone call he'd received from his brother later. In his heart of hearts, and no matter how badly he wished there was a logical explanation, he knew... He knew that Matt had indeed kidnapped the little girl.
"We have police out and searching for him," Adam told Jeff. "He might as well just give himself up." His gaze grew harder and sharper as he spoke the next words. "I know he's your brother, but like I said earlier, if he does *anything* to hurt my daughter..."
The younger man put up his hands in a placating manner. He didn't have to hear the rest of what the Canadian was saying because he knew what those last words would be.
"Easy, man... He won't hurt her."
the tall blond man's green eyes glittered with fury. He cocked his head at Jeff.
"No? And you know this *how*?"
"He's my brother," came the response. "I know he's an asshole at times, but there's no way he'd hurt a child - especially Mandy."
Amy knew that Jeff was right, but she didn't speak a word.
"Yeah?" Adam challenged. "Well, let me ask you this - did you ever think your dear, beloved brother to be capable of kidnapping?"
Jeff looked embarrassed and even ashamed by the question. Ducking his head slightly, he swallowed hard as he answered the irate blond man.
"No."
"That's what I thought." Adam nearly growled as he turned his attention to his cell phone. He just about attacked it as he began pressing buttons.
"What are you doing?" Amy asked, her lovely face frantic with worry.
"I'm calling Jeff's asshole brother," the tall Canadian snapped. He hated the wince he saw cross his wife's face. Damn it, he hadn't meant to get snippy with *her*, of all people.
Amy and Trish quickly exchanged glances, and Jay, who was the fifth person present in the hotel room, shook his head.
"Do you really think that's wise, Adam?"
"Jay's right, Adam," the redhead said. "If anyone should talk to Matt, it should be me or Jeff." She reached a hand out toward him, her gaze traveling from her husband's eyes to the cell phone and back again. With those hazel eyes, she beseeched to him.
The tall blond man seemed to be deciding, uncertain as he looked into her beautiful but pale, worried face. His thumb was poised just over the call button. He so wanted to be the one to talk to Hardy and tell him off... threaten him. He knew Amy wouldn't do that if she were to be the one to make the call. She was being far more rational than he during this entire ordeal.
Sighing resignedly, he handed her the phone.
The redhead held her breath as she gratefully accepted the instrument, her hands shaking slightly as she fumbled with the cell phone and pressed the call button. Then, as everyone else eyed her in anticipation, she held the phone up to her ear and waited as it rang on the other end.
*
Matt's eyes widened in vast shock at the number on the display of his cell phone. It was that bastard Adam. Years of friendship had kept his memory fresh, as he knew the other man's cell number by heart in spite of deleting it from his own phone's memory. And on the other hand, maybe it wasn't such a huge surprise that the Canadian would call him.
"What the hell do *you* want?!" he barked, not bothering to say hello as he answered the call.
"Matt..."
The dark-haired man was taken aback by the voice - it was Amy, not Copeland.
"... Matt, listen," the redhead went on, "we know you have Mandy. Please give her back."
The elder Hardy brother let out a stern laugh.
"What the hell makes you think I have your daughter, Amy? Huh?" He laughed again. "Oh, *you* don't have her, do you? Well, looks like that shows what kind of a responsible parent you are," he snapped. He glared over at Mandy, who was sitting on a nearby chair, as she began to wail again.
"Damn it, Matt!" Amy cried. "You had no right to-" She abruptly stopped speaking as she realized he'd hung up.
*
Tears were beginning to run down the redhead's cheeks as she moved the cell phone from her ear to stare blankly at the display.
"Ames?" Adam said gently. His heart was breaking at the expression on her face.
"He has her, all right," the pregnant woman said, her voice beginning to break. "I heard her crying
in the background."