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"God... I'm so sorry!" Chris said for what had to be the hundredth time in Adam's mind. The two of them were in the trainer's office, where Jericho had brought the taller man after their match.
"Stop apologizing, Chris," Adam muttered through his pain. "It wasn't your fault."
"Like hell it wasn't. I'm the one who-"
"I said cut it out!" the other man snapped. He really *didn't* blame Chris, but damn if his friend wasn't beginning to get on his nerves with all the profuse apologizing. It was maddening.
There was a knock on the door, and the trainer looked up from examining him.
"Come in."
The door opened, and a blur of red rushed inside. In an instant, Amy was by her husband's side, her face filled with concern as she eyed him.
"Oh, my God... What happened?" she demanded. Her hands flew to the tall blond man's face, cupping it. "Adam, are you okay? What happened?"
"I'm in pain..." the Canadian moaned. It hurt so badly, he could hardly muster up the energy to speak.
"I think he may have torn his groin," Steve, the trainer, answered.
Amy's hazel eyes widened in horror. It seemed as though her husband were so prone to injury now.
"Oh, you poor baby!" the pregnant redhead cried. Gently, lovingly, she stroked Adam's cheek with one hand while the other lowered to his shoulder. "We need to get you to the hospital."
"No!" the blond man said. Feeling badly for raising his voice, he met her eyes and spoke as calmly as he could manage. "Honey, I'll be fine. I'm sure it's not as bad as that."
"But Adam," she protested.
"Ames, I'm okay," he said, his arm winding around her. He stroked her lower back with affection and continued. "I'll be okay. You need to eat." He moved his hand around to her front, placing it on her belly. "You're doing everything for two now," he reminded her. "And I know the baby makes you extra hungry." Damn it... He hoped she wouldn't argue, because he was serious. He couldn't think of himself right now, knowing that his words were true. And the last thing he wanted was for her to worry about him right now, even though he knew it was her right - and that she *would* worry regardless.
Amy regarded him with concern for a moment, then sighed with resignation.
"Fine," she said, her hand still caressing his hair, "but if you're still in pain in two hours, I'll drive you to the nearest hospital myself!"
"Deal," he said. He moved so as to get off the trainer's examining table and winced.
"You really shouldn't wait to get checked out," Steve said.
"I agree," Jericho concurred.
Adam shot Chris a murderous look as he got to his feet with an assist from both his wife and the trainer.
"First things first," he insisted. He noticed the look Amy was giving him. Her beautiful face was a mask of concern, and she shook her head. He knew exactly what she was thinking as well - 'What am I going to do with you?' Well, with the way he was currently feeling, he couldn't help but think, 'Nothing - at least not for awhile.'
*
*Three Hours Later*
Torrie took a deep breath as she reached the right hotel room. She held it for a beat, hardly able to stomach knocking on the door. She must have been crazy to have gone along with this.
Finally, the blonde knocked, her breath held in unpleasant anticipation. She heard sounds of the man moving throughout the room, coming closer, closer, and then finally the lock on the door being turned.
"Well, hello."
She raised a hand in dismissal but strode into the room.
"I'm not here for any pleasantries," she said. Her gaze swept over the room, and she felt like vomiting just being in here. She stood in the center of the room, arms crossed over her breasts and stared at the big man. "This is strictly business."
Gene Snitsky grinned as he eyed her lasciviously up and down.
"And wasn't it 'business' last week, too?"
Torrie wrinkled her nose in disgust. She despised this man and hated having to deal with him. She couldn't believe he'd actually been inside of her, gotten pleasure out of doing to her body exactly as he'd wanted to. the memory was enough to make her nearly retch.
"Not *that* kind of business, Snitsky," she snapped. "*That* was a one-time deal only. But I do have another proposition for you, courtesy of Matt."
"And I don't get *you* as payment?" he asked, shrugging and beginning to laugh, as though not getting to fuck her again was a ridiculous concept.
"No... But you *will* get *this*." Torrie reached into her purse and pulled out the clear plastic bag containing an incredible amount of cash. She plucked the bills out, showing him just how much money he would get if he cooperated.
Snitsky's dark eyes lit up with delight.
"Well, that's a pretty good consolation prize," he said with a nod. "Yeah... With that kind of dough, I could pay for a call girl who looks like you."
The platinum blonde scowled at him. Before he could reach for the cash, she pulled away and replaced most of it in the bag and into her purse.
"Not yet..." She handed him a couple of bills. "You'll get the rest of this when you get the job done - and *only* then."
"Copeland got injured tonight," Gene reminded her with a frown as he took the money. "What could you possibly need me to do?"
Smiling, Torrie began to explain.