THIS CHAPTER, ALONG WITH THE NEXT FEW ARE DARK... and I mean DARK! ***strong violence***
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Even though Mr. Mazzara's security was right outside, Ricky stayed the night on the couch. Nini and the twins were sound asleep. He flipped through the TV channels absently, not really paying attention. He had kept his cool, but on the inside, he was furious. Beyond furious. He wanted to punch EJ. He wanted to kick EJ. He wanted to kill EJ.
His cell buzzed on the coffee table. 'Red' blinked on the screen.
"Hey Red." he answered quietly, "What's up?"
"The sky." his best friend responded seriously, "How are you doing man?"
Ricky smiled. He and Red had been friends since preschool and they could read each other like a book.
"I don't know, Red. I am so mad, I could kill him." he responded.
"Well, don't do that. You'll go to jail." Red said.
Ricky laughed.
"I'm not gonna kill him Red. I just-"
"You were sad seeing Nini hurt." Red finished.
"Yeah." Ricky sighed.
"I was too. She's like my sister." Red said.
"She is?" Ricky asked.
"Well yeah, you're like my brother and you two are practically married, so yeah, she's like my sister."
Ricky chuckled. Sometimes his friend made sense.
"Thanks buddy. Goodnight." he said.
"Night Ricky."
Ricky ended the call. He took a look through a few more channels before deciding on one of the Bourne movies, he didn't really care which one. He was starting to doze off when a small voice woke him.
"Ricky?"
Ricky blinked awake to see Charlotte standing in front of him in her little pajamas that had little pianos all over them.
"Hey Char-Char." he said, opening his arms.
Charlotte jumped on the couch next to him and cuddled to his side.
"What are you doing up Princess?" he asked, kissing the top of her head.
"Why did daddy hurt mommy?" Charlotte asked.
Ricky was shocked.
"How-how do you know about your daddy?" he asked.
She looked up at him with her mother's eyes.
"Auntie Kourtney talks loud." she said by way of explanation.
Ricky let out a laugh. That was true.
"I think this is something your mom should talk to you about Princess, I'm sorry." he answered.
Charlotte nodded solemnly.
"You won't let him hurt her again will you Ricky?" she asked.
"No. I will never let him hurt her again." he said firmly, "Never again."
Charlotte let out a cute little yawn and closed her eyes
"I love you Ricky."
"I love you too Charlotte."
They drifted off to sleep together. Don't think for one minute Nini passed up the opportunity to snap a picture before they woke up in the morning.
LINE BREAK
It had been a week and still no sign of EJ. Nini was pretty sure his family had hid him away. She was really hoping the detectives would find him soon because Mr. Mazzara's security detail was starting to bug her. But Ricky was pissing her off. He was everywhere. It was sweet at first, but now... She knew he was just trying to keep her safe, but really. She needed some space.
"Get out!" she shouted at her boyfriend, finally snapping when he followed her to the practice room.
"What?" he said, blinking in surprise.
"Get out! I love you, but get out!" she said, "Give me some space."
Nini sighed when the kicked puppy look appeared on his face. She gave him a chaste kiss.
"I know you're trying to protect me, but I'm just fine with the security detail. I'd like to just be by myself."
"Alright." he resigned, "I don't like this."
"I know." she said, "But please. I'll see you later."
She watched to make sure he actually left the store. She waited a moment because she knew-
"Out Ricky!" she cried when he tried to step back in the store.
He sheepishly smiled and waved. She gave him a 'shoo' gesture. She changed her gesture to something not so nice at Taylor, who still hated her guts. But she was a good employee and Nini wasn't the type to go crying to David just because she didn't like the girl.
Nini returned to her piano and let out a cleansing breath. She opened her book up on the ledge of the piano. She needed to write a song. But what? She began tinkering with some keys. She wrote a few words and then erased them.
"Undo it." she said as she erased them.
Her hand froze.
"Undo it." she whispered again.
And suddenly it was there.
I should have known by the way you passed me by
There was something in your eyes and it wasn't right
I should have walked, but I never had the chance
Everything got out of hand, and I let it slide
Now I only have myself to blame
For falling for your stupid games
I wish my life could be the way it was before I saw your face
You stole my happy
You made my cry
Took the lonely and took me for a ride
And I wanna Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh undo it
You had my heart, now I want it back
I'm starting to see everything you lack
Boy, you blew it
You put me through it
I wanna Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh undo it
Now your photos don't have a picture frame
And I never say your name, and I never will
And all your things, well I threw 'em in the trash
And I'm not even sad
Now you only have yourself to blame
For playing all those stupid games
You're always gonna be the same
Oh no, you'll never change
You stole my happy
You made my cry
Took the lonely and took me for a ride
And I wanna Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh undo it
You had my heart, now I want it back
I'm starting to see everything you lack
Boy, you blew it
You put me through it
I wanna Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh undo it
You want my future
You can't have it
I'm still trying to erase you from my past
I need you gone so fast
You stole my happy
You made my cry
Took the lonely and took me for a ride
And I wanna Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh undo it
You had my heart, now I want it back
I'm starting to see everything you lack
Boy, you blew it
You put me through it
I wanna Uh-uh-uh-uh-uh undo it
She tried it out on the piano and loved it. Maybe Ricky would let her record this song as well. She was feeling more confident in her voice. She still didn't think she could ever stand up on a stage, but maybe she was getting there.
Her cell rang. She let out a strangled groan.
"What Ricky?" she snapped.
"Trouble in paradise?" said a voice she knew all too well.
"EJ." she said, her voice dripping with disdain, "What do you want? Do you want to turn yourself in?"
EJ let out a chilling laugh.
"I got what I wanted all along." he said.
Nini felt her stomach drop forty floors when she heard a familiar voice in the background.
"Connor." she whispered.
"And Charlotte." EJ said almost gleefully.
What had happened to their security? Nini thought fleetingly.
"Let them go EJ, they are just kids."
"You should have told me where Brookelynn was, Nini." EJ clicked his tongue.
"Don't hurt them." she pleaded, rushing out of the practice room to David's office.
"Why would I hurt them?" he asked.
She frantically gestured for her David to call the police.
"They are innocent EJ! Where are you?
"Like I'm going to tell you. I'm just giving you the chance to say goodbye before we get on with our new lives. Now isn't that kind of me?"
"EJ!" she shouted.
"M-mommy?" Charlotte's voice came on the line.
"Charlotte." Nini said desperately, "I'm coming, I'll find you.
"M-mommy, Mr. EJ-" Connor started.
"Daddy! I'm your daddy." EJ yelled.
"Call him daddy, Con." Nini begged her little boy, her heart breaking, "Just for now, mommy's coming."
"You had your chance." EJ said.
The line went dead.
Nini screamed.
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On a brighter note, I'm working on a Christmas one shot that I'm gonna try to get out tonight. It sucks but oh well!