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Sean struggled in the grasp of the police officers. He made certain not to be too forceful, however - not only had he never been in trouble with the law before, he also knew how much bigger and stronger he was than the two men.
The front desk clerk had called 911 instead of simply calling security. O'Haire supposed that, in similar circumstances, he would have done the same. It wasn't every day that a person jumped someone who was a registered guest at a hotel. And he knew he'd acted rashly, but could he really be blamed for that?
"He just attacked me!" Paul Levesque explained with a shout. His face was harsher than usual as he scowled deeply. "I was just asking for a key to the bathroom in my room, and-"
"You fucking piece of shit!" Sean shouted. "He's lying! He wnated a key to that bathroom because a woman he *kidnapped* is hiding in there to get away from him!"
Paul laughed, but there was absolutely no trace of humor or warmth in it. His beady amber eyes glittered as he responded.
"Give me a break... That's preposterous!"
"Officers - if you don't believe me, call this phone number-"
"Oh, give it up, asshole!" Levesque said with another laugh. It seemed pretty obvious the cops weren't buying into it.
"All right - come on," one of the officers said. The two men began ushering O'Haire away.
Paul stood there and watched, shaking his head as the law enforcers walked a handcuffed Sean out of the hotel. There was a small crowd that had gathered upon their scuffle eyeing the scene as well. He turned back to face the front desk clerk, noting the man eyeing him strangely. And he thought, what if this idiot didn't believe him but had believed *O'Haire*? Eh... It was no bother. He tossed the key he held in his right hand up into the air, then caught and pocketed it, offering the little twerp a wink. Then, he turned away and began heading back to his room.
He failed to notice the shaking form of the person passing by several feet away and out of his line of vision. And when she went unnoticed, she hurried out of the hotel, her cell phone clutched desperately in a cold, shaking hand.
*
Stephanie hugged herself as she huddled in the back of the limo.
She couldn't believe all that had happened. She couldn't believe the unfairness of Sean's arrest. She'd dialed him instantly after getting cut off, but the phone rang and rang and he'd never answered. Then, the voicemail had picked up. She knew he'd run into Paul down in that hotel lobby - they'd gotten into a brawl. As the time had gone on and on, she'd chanced making her escape. She'd left the bathroom and the room all together and had rushed down to the lobby. Thankfully, the hotel had been large enough for her to run without being seen by that bastard Levesque. She'd run to a nearby restaurant despite having no appetite - anything to get away. For appearance's sake, she'd simply ordered a cup of coffee, then rushed off to the ladies room, which, thankfully, was a single bathroom. From there, she'd dialed her parents, hoping beyond everything that it would be her mother who would answer. Her prayers were indeed answered when it *was* Linda who picked up.
The brunette had broken down and told her mother everything. She'd even confessed to her about the rape. Linda had been horrified about the abuse her daughter had endured and had promised to have a limosine sent for her.
Now, Stephanie was safe... She was going home. Her mother would protect her - at least until
she got back to Sean. She only hoped she would be able to contact him soon.