“Kathy’s behavior in the limo?” Rupert asked in concern. “What’s he talking about?” Macio told him about Kathy hitting on him and learning that she hadn’t gotten over him like they thought. He told Rupert that they were ending the charade. “It won’t matter now that these pictures are going to get leaked,” Rupert said bluntly. “Everyone will know that she was your beard. She’s going to be hounded in the press something fierce.” He shook his head sadly. “Barry will be heartbroken when his daughter’s name and reputation gets dragged through the mud.”
“Who says they’re going to be leaked? Where’s the threat to go the press?” I challenged.
“It’s obviously a silent threat,” Rupert fired back. His chest puffed out as he labored to breathe during his righteous indignation over the situation. “Macio, you’ve known Kathy for a long time. She’s not the kind of person to do something like this.” He looked at me and raised his voice even more. “That leaves Barry and me. Which one of us are you accusing of trying to ruin his career - the very career that both Barry and I depend on? You’re the only one with nothing to lose.”
“Do you even hear yourself right now, Rupert?” I asked.
Rupert advanced on me with pure hatred in his eyes and I braced myself for his attack. “Listen, you little arrogant…”
“Stop it,” Macio yelled, cutting Rupert off. He stepped between Rupert and me, blocking Rupert from my sight and physical reach. My heart sank when I met Macio’s dark eyes. I saw so many emotions in their depths – sadness, fear, and the one that hurt me the most, regret.
“Macio.” I was ready to plead for him to not give up on us. It just couldn’t be the end.
“Aiden… we need to take this seriously,” Macio said. “What I see is someone, one of those parasite fucking journalists to be exact, found a way to capture photos of us on my private property. Who knows how many photos they have of us?” He sighed, then he turned from me, running his hand down his face. I could tell he was going into full panic mode.
“I’m sure this is just their warning photo, letting us know that they—whoever they are—know about you,” Rupert added, fueling Macio’s paranoia.
“Jesus fucking Christ,” Macio swore as he turned around to face me. “Baby, maybe we need to calm it down a bit.”
“There’s no way in hell this shitty photo is the work of a professional. Look,” I pointed at the poor quality of the pictures, “I’m not even sure people will recognize us.” I turned and addressed Rupert. “Macio lives in a gated community that requires a passcode to get in. How did a paparazzo get in to take these photos?” I could feel my frustration rising as I realized how close I was to losing Macio.
“You’re asking me? How would I know how some scumbag got access to his home? Maybe he bribed the security. Maybe he climbed the gate. Maybe it’s someone inside of the community who saw you two. I mean, how careful were you?” Rupert shot back. “Look, this is what I was worried about, kid. You know what this will do to your career. It’s as good as over if these images get out. Maybe whoever sent them is just warning you. Maybe that’s why there wasn’t a note.”
“We can’t take the chance, Aiden. I can’t lose the belt. This is my livelihood, it’s all I know. It’s what I train for. If those pictures get out, regardless of who sent them, I’m ruined. My career is ruined.”
“Babe, I am taking this seriously, but it’s important that cooler heads prevail here and we don’t panic. You have to acknowledge that there’s something off about the whole situation.”
“I don’t care! I… I just need time to think, damn it!” He looked up at me and his expression softened. “Aiden, I….” His voice cracked and his words broke off. “I need time, Aiden. This is my career, it’s everything to me. I worked my ass off to win that title and even harder to keep it. I can’t lose it.”
My heart plummeted to my feet as I took a step back from him and then another. I suspected that his request for time really meant that we were over. I knew all along that it could happen, that my love wouldn’t be enough to risk his career over. I had hoped that he’d someday learn that he could have it all. Loving me and being a fighter didn’t have to be mutually exclusive. I knew nothing else I had to say would make a difference and could only hope that time and space would make him see that what we had was worth fighting for.
“Okay, Macio.” Tears burned the back of my eyes, but I refused to show my grief in front of Rupert.
I went into the bedroom and quietly packed my bag, hoping that Macio would come into the bedroom and say goodbye to me privately, but it didn’t happen. I walked out of his hotel room with my head held high. If it was going to be the last time he saw me, then I wanted him to see a strong man worthy of his love and devotion.
That strength lasted until I made it to the car where I felt safe enough to let my grief flow. I vowed it was the last time I drove home in the middle of the night with tears streaking down my face from Macio breaking my heart.
“What the fuck did I just do?” I asked myself as I stared at the closed hotel door that I let Aiden walk out of.
Rupert came up behind me, clasping my shoulder. “I know this was hard, kid. I know how much he meant to you. And who knows, once this dies down… you two might be able to get back together.”
I turned from him, shaking my head. “Maybe we weren’t meant to be together. Maybe I was being selfish in thinking we were. He’s out in the open and I’m in the shadows.” Maybe this was best. At least that was what I was trying to convince myself of. I thought we were playing it safe, but then who in the fuck took those pictures?
“I’m just glad they sent the photos to me instead of some tabloid,” Rupert said, and I nodded.
“How did they know that you’d be here?”
“I’m trying to figure that out myself. Although, it’s not like I was in hiding. I’m wondering if it’s some groupie of yours that doesn’t want you with a man,” Rupert speculated, shrugging. “Not all stalkers are professional paparazzi.”
My mind raced with a million thoughts and every last one of them made me want to puke. I felt sick to my stomach and my head was throbbing. I hated seeing the pain in Aiden’s eyes when he looked at me. Oh god, what had I done? My heart felt like it’d been ripped from my chest and stomped on, kicked across the room, then pushed back into my body by the Hulk. I knew Aiden and I were playing a dangerous game, and I think that was part of my excitement. I also felt like I deserved the happiness he brought me and I felt good knowing I brought him happiness.
Jesus, did I just throw all that away?
“Macio, I can see you’re stressing, but you need to stick to your guns on this one,” Rupert said. “You need to let him go before you two get in too deep.”
I plopped down on the sofa. “It’s already too late for that. I love him, Rupert.”
There was a hardness to Rupert’s expression when I said that. Of course, I wasn’t surprised. He’d been against Aiden and me from the beginning, but he always kept it professional and kept our secret.
