Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Two

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Lissa moaned softly as Kevin�s arms tightened around her and he rolled her over onto her back, his body completely covered hers. She curled her fingers through his hair as he gazed down into her eyes for a moment before he dropped his head and gently kissed her lips, being careful not to hurt her jaw, which was still sore.

Pulling back from the kiss, Kevin�s lips brushed down the side of her neck until he found the spot at the base that he knew drove her crazy. He nuzzled it until she squirming around beneath him and nearly begging for mercy.

Lissa arched her back as he moved down further and gasped when he captured her sensitive nipple in his mouth. She ran her hands up his chest, the feel of his muscles jumping beneath her touch and the deep groan that came from him further heightening the sensations that were racing through her body.

Lifting his head, Kevin moved to claim her lips again, but stopped when Lissa�s cell phone ringing abruptly interrupted him. "Ignore it." Kevin whispered gruffly against her lips when Lissa moved to get the phone. "It�s probably just Brett anyway." He said as he traced his lips down the line of her neck and suggestively ground his hips against hers in an effort to further take her attention away from the still ringing phone. It worked�until the phone stopped ringing, but immediately started up again an instant later.

Kevin groaned in frustration as he glanced at the phone, knowing that unless it was really important, whoever was on the other end of the phone wouldn�t be trying so hard to get a hold of them.

"We have to get going anyway." Lissa told him as she looked over at the clock and saw that they needed to get to the airport and meet Brett and IreLyn for their flight that left in an hour and a half.

Kevin grabbed the phone and growled a �hello� into it after bringing it up to his ear. Lissa watched as he listened to the caller on the other end, not missing the anger that entered his blue eyes. After talking for a few moments longer, he ended the call.

"That was Brett." Kevin told Lissa as he got up and began pulling his clothes back on. "Apparently Logan and Jean-Claude," Kevin paused when he saw the shudder that passed through Lissa�s body at hearing their names. He had to take in a deep breath and slowly let it out to get a grip on his anger. He prayed that for their sake, he never came face to face with those two.

"I don�t know if you�re familiar with the crash that happened to Dale and was blamed on Brett." Kevin continued when she nodded that she was. "Well, those two bastards are the ones responsible with some help from Dale�s brother Kerry. While Dale has forgiven Kerry for the part he played, they had decided to keep this quiet for many reasons. But it�s now public information thanks to them."

"How awful." Lissa whispered, shocked at how low Logan and Jean-Claude would stoop to make life hell for their enemies...people who were completely innocent.

"Dale has no idea how this will impact the upcoming Nascar season. He could be fined, suspended, or even fired. And even worse, this is a huge blow to his family."

"I can�t imagine what they�re going through. I�ll make sure to call Dakota tonight and make sure that everything is all right." Lissa said as she too got up and began dressing.

"That�s a good idea. I�m sure they�d appreciate it." Kevin said as he pulled her close for a moment. Then he moved back and smiled down at her. "We better get going." He said, starting to get very excited for the first show of their new tour, which was only a few hours away.

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Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Three

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�Are you nervous?� IreLyn asked as she sat down next to Brett, backstage at the arena in Dallas Texas, where their three-month tour was kicking off. Brett grinned as he shook his head.

�Not really. More anxious and excited.� He loved performing and had always felt right at home on stage. Now was no different.

IreLyn glanced down at her watch. �Well, you�ve got about five more minutes.�

�Have you talked to Kody or Dale?� Brett asked, his mind still on his friends, no matter how excited he was for the show.

IreLyn shook her head. �No, not since this morning. I�ll call Kody when we get back to hotel if I haven�t heard from her before then.� They both looked up when Carl poked his head in the room.

�Sorry to interrupt, but its time man.� He grinned, nearly jumping up and down with excitement.

IreLyn turned back to Brett. �Good luck out there.� She whispered as she leaned forward and gently brushed her lips against his.

She met up with Lissa back stage as they both took their places where they would be able to catch the entire concert without being in the crowd, or being seen. Together they waited impatiently for the band�s introduction.

***

Dakota immediately jumped up off the couch when Dale walked through the front door. She was relieved to see that some of the stress and tension was gone from his face.

�How did things go?� she asked as she put her arms around him, just wanting to be near him. Dale held her close, resting his forehead against hers.

�Better than I expected. Took a while to calm Kerry down, then Teresa showed up, and although she�s still every upset, we all sat down and talked about it. Things aren�t by any means straight, and it�s going to take a hell of a long time, but I think eventually it will be okay.� He replied, his voice sounding as tired as he felt.

Dakota pulled back a little to look up at him. �What a about with NASCAR?�

He grimaced a little. �I have a meeting tomorrow morning with Mike Helton.� He groaned, referring to the NASCAR President. He was not looking forward to that meeting, to say the least.

�Has anyone called?� he asked, changing the topic slightly. Dakota groaned as she rolled her eyes and walked back over to the couch, sitting down.

�Only a few�like everyone who knows you, and then some who don�t.� she grumbled. �I haven�t answered any, but there are like 38 messages. There�s one from Marshall that I found rather humorous, and don�t tell him this, but I�m really glad I didn�t answer that one.� She giggled.

�Pissed huh?� Dale laughed as he sat down next to her.

�Just a little. I don�t think one word during the entire message wasn�t cussing someone. He also went into full detail as to what he would do if he ever got his hands on either Jean-Claude or Logan.� If she knew for certain he wouldn�t go to jail, she almost wished he would find them.

�He�d have to wait in line.� Dale mumbled, his hand clenching into a fist. He was about to say something else when something on the TV, which Dakota had been watching before he came in. Both he and Dakota sat in stunned silence as they listened in.

Dakota immediately turned off the TV and jumped to her feet, searching frantically for the phone only to find Dale had beaten her to it. She stood by him as he waited for either Brett or IreLyn to pick up the phone.

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Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Four

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IreLyn eyed her cell phone when it began ringing. She had a pounding headache and didn�t really feel like answering it, but she knew that it was probably Dakota and she knew that talking to Dakota was exactly what she needed right at that moment.

She glanced at Brett, who was sitting across the room with his head cradled in his hands. At least he has stopped pacing angrily back and forth, but seeing him either way was almost more than she could bear. She knew full well the guilt that he felt at that moment for the fans that had been injured and had been taken to the hospital to be treated. Whether they hated him or not, he cared about them.

She felt the same guilt�times ten�For what had happened to the fans�and for the fan�s reaction to Brett. Not only had they harassed him by calling him all kinds of foul names and throwing anything that they could get their hands on at him, but also not even half of the tickets had been sold for the show. Fuel�s shows were always sold out�before this.

She knew that this all came back to her and her involvement with Logan.

Turning her attention back to her ringing phone, IreLyn pulled it out of her pocket and answered it finally.

*****

�What the fuck!� Kristin heard Marshall exclaim from the other room where he was watching TV while she showered quickly. When she heard a string of mostly unintelligible curses follow, she quickly finished dressing and wrapped a towel around her wet hair before she rushed out to see what Marshall was upset about.

�What�s going on?� Kristin asked, easily seeing how upset Marshall was.

Marshall ran his hand over his closely cropped hair as he turned to look at Kristin and gestured for her to come and sit with him. �They just said on the news that a huge riot broke out at the Fuel concert tonight..� He told her, watching as the shock registered in her eyes.

�What�What happened? Is everyone okay?� She asked, her eyes flying to the TV to see if the story was still on.

�Apparently some of the fans didn�t take to kindly to Brett after all that shit with Dale�s car and with IreLyn�s assault. They started cussing him and throwing shit at him. The fans that were willing to stand behind him didn�t take to kindly to that kind of behavior and the riot started. Brett, and the others got out of there safely, but some of the other fans were injured and had to be taken to the hospital.�

Kristin opened her mouth to say something, but no words would come out. She�d always heard of things like this happening, but never dreamed that it would happen at a Fuel concert�to people she knew.

�I should try to get a hold of Brett.� Marshall commented at as he reached for his cell phone. He wasn't surprised at the busy signal that he got, but it still pissed him off.

�Damn it!� Marshall swore furiously as he tossed his phone down. �This shit has got to stop!�

Kristin sighed deeply. She totally agreed. Things were going too far and needed to stop. The problem was, they had no idea what they could do to help.

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Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Five

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�I don�t know what to do anymore. Things are steadily getting worse for all of them, and there�s not a damn thing I can do!� Lissa raged on, pacing as she held the phone to her ear.

Kristin sighed on the other end. �Unfortunately there isn�t anything any of us can do.�

�It�s just so damn frustrating. They�ve ended up postponing the tour indefinitely, and record sales are down so low�� she trailed off as she wiped a tear from her eye.

It had been two months since Fuel�s first concert fiasco. Since then things had steadily gotten worse for everyone involved in or around Fuel. Brett was in a state of depression that not even IreLyn could get him out of, which was affecting her as well. She was constantly feeling guilty, and Brett had given up long ago trying to assure her that it wasn�t her fault. In fact, the way he looked at her sometimes had them all wondering if maybe he really did blame her.

When Brett would actually talk to her, it usually ended up in a huge argument. And there didn�t seem to be any kind of end in sight. As for Lissa and Kevin, the stress of everything going on had also put somewhat of a strain on their own relationship. Not only was Kevin dealing with the destruction of Fuel itself, but also with Brett, and even though he didn�t mean to do it, he was pushing Lissa farther and farther away.

Dale and Dakota were doing a little better. He had not been fined, suspended or worse from NASCAR. Kerry had been suspended for most of the year, but eventually after seeing how Dale was willing to stand by his brother, NASCAR and its fans soon let the entire incident go. It was forgiven�but not forgotten.

Things had not gone as smoothly with the Earnhardt family, or Dale�s Budweiser team, however. They all felt betrayed by Dale and Kerry both. They were all constantly walking on eggshells around each other. The season was underway, and the tension in the garage was showing on the track. Pit stops were horrible, arguments were constantly breaking out over the radio and in the garage areas. The only good thing was that somehow Dale had managed top fives and top tens and was in the top five in points, although no one was quite sure how.

Through it all, Dakota had stood firmly and proudly by Dale�s side, ready to defend him to anyone, whether it was his family, media, friends or fans. She refused to allow people to bring him down, and kept his spirits up.

With their schedules so hectic, Dale, Dakota, Brett and IreLyn had no time to spend together. Their communications had dwindled down to a call every now and then. Although they all wanted to be there for each other, they all had their own problems to worry about.

Kristin and Lissa had tried to be there as much as possible, but their jobs and other responsibilities had kept them away more than what they wanted. Lissa had been able to spend more time with IreLyn than Kristin, since she was there with Kevin. But even her time with him had slacked off greatly.

Things between Kristin and Marshall were still going well, although they hardly ever got to see each other. With her being in New York, hardly able to ever get away, and him on tour, their time together was very limited. And when they were together, they were constantly worrying about their friends and couldn�t relax and be comfortable around each other.

�Are Brett and Lyn doing any better?� Kristin asked softly, worried about her sister. Every time they spoke, Kristin could hear the despair getting to her sister more and more.

Lissa laughed a little at that. �Not hardly. Anymore when ever they are around each other we all cringe, just waiting for the explosion.� She sighed. �I honestly don�t know how much more either one can take.�

�Damn it.� Kristin hissed, silently cursing Logan and Jean-Claude, something that she had done every day since they started this shit.

�Have you talked to Kody lately?� Lissa asked, thinking of her other friend.

Kristin nodded, then remembered Lissa couldn�t see her. �Yeah, I spoke to her last night. Things are going a lot better than with Lyn and Brett it sounds like. Dale�s still having a lot of problems with his family and team, but other than that things are okay. At least none of his fans have turned on him the way they have with Brett.� She sighed.

�Alright, I gotta get back to work. Lunch was over ten minutes ago.� Kristin mumbled, wishing she were with her friends and not stuck in New York.

�Oh, sorry. Didn�t mean to hold you up.� Lissa apologized, not even realizing how long they had been on the phone.

�No, no, you're fine. I�ll give you a call later tonight after I talk to my sister.� Kristin promised.

�Alright, talk to you then. Take care, miss you.� Lissa said.

�Miss you too, hang in there. Bye.� Kristin hung up, then rested her chin on her hand as she stared off into space. Things weren�t good at all�and she had this sinking feeling that things were going to get worse, a hell of a lot worse, before they started getting better.

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Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Six

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Jean-Claude eyed the phone on his desk when it began ringing. He reached for it, but pulled his hand back at the last second. He knew that it was Logan. He wasn�t sure�no he knew that he didn�t want to talk to Logan. He was tired of Logan.

Throughout this whole ordeal, he�d often disagreed with things that Logan did and felt uncertain about the whole situation. Truth be told, they were both damn lucky that they weren�t in jail yet.

Over the last few months that he�d been committing crime after crime with Logan in a vain effort to make the woman of his dream his own, he�d gradually figured a few things out. The most significant was that no matter what he did and how hard he tried, Dakota would never be his. That realization had hit him hard at first, but he�d slowly been able to accept it. He wished that Logan could be as accepting�not only of the fact that he wanted nothing to do with him anymore, but also the fact that IreLyn would never be his again either, the that the things that they had and still were doing to these people were ridiculous and horrible.

Jean-Claude sat in his chair, listening to the message that Logan left on his machine after it had gone off after a few rings. His fists clenched tightly as he listened to Logan�s threatening words. This was the fifth call from Logan that he�d ignored and it was quite clear that Logan was not happy about that.

�Fuck him.� Jean-Claude muttered as he got up and walked across the room to where his computer was. After connecting to the Internet and finding the site of his travel agent, he had a flight booked to North Carolina. There was only one thing that he could do, and that was exactly what he was going to do.

*****

Brett stood in the doorway watching IreLyn as she slept in their bed. He glanced at the nightstand, seeing the pill bottle sitting there and knew that she�d taken them again to help her sleep. She was using them more and more often and she would sometimes sleep for 14-16 hours at a stretch. The time she was awake she wandered around the house in a permanent daze.

He didn�t mind though. At least he didn�t have to bother with her then.

Things had become very bad for them. Not only with Fuel, but within their marriage as well. At first he denied that he didn�t fault her for what was happening, but eventually he had come to fully blame her for everything. It wasn�t hard when she was constantly blaming herself. But she was right. If she would have handled things with Logan much differently, it could have spared a lot of pain. Not only had her actions affected him, but also his band and friends as well.

Brett was startled out of his thoughts when he heard her voice. �Are you coming to bed tonight?� She asked again. He looked into her eyes and saw the hope shining there. He knew that he could make things better between them if he�d go to her, but instead he turned his back on her and walked out of the room.

IreLyn buried her head in her pillow to muffle the heart-wrenching sob that escaped her after watching her husband walk away from her once again.

*****

Victoria impatiently tapped long, manicured fingernails on the counter as she waited. She smiled malevolently when he finally answered his phone.

�Is this Logan?� She asked after he�d said hello.

�Well, now that depends on who wants to know.� Logan replied, not recognizing the female voice. �You tell me first who this is.�

�My name is Victoria, but you don�t know me.� Victoria began with the speech that she�d gone over and over in her mind before calling him. �I think that we have a common goal though and can help each other achieve that goal.�

�And what�s that?� Logan questioned, immediately intrigued by the mysterious caller.

�Meet me at Shoney�s in a half-hour and we�ll talk about it.� Victoria said and then ended the call.

Logan sat there staring at his phone for a moment. A smile curved his lips as he had a feeling that business was about to pick up.

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Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Seven

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�It�s getting worse. He can�t even stand to be in the same room with me anymore.� IreLyn cried, tears of hurt, regret and guilt streaming down her face as she paced in the living room. She was once again alone in the house, something that was becoming a regular thing anymore.

Dakota sighed on her end of the phone. �Have you two talked about what�s going on?� she asked, leaning back in her chair at her desk. Every time she talked to IreLyn, she was sounding more and more depressed and it was really starting to worry Dakota. What bothered her even more, was when she mentioned what was going on to Dale, he had tried to call Brett, who had yet to return his call.

�We don�t talk�period.� IreLyn sniffled.

Dakota clenched her hand into a fist, ready to let Brett have it. She understood that he was going through hell, they all were. But the way he was handling it and taking it out on IreLyn was beyond wrong, and she was really getting pissed off at him.

�Why don�t you come for a visit?� Dakota offered, knowing her friend needed a break�away from Brett.

IreLyn smiled a little. �That sounds wonderful!� she exclaimed. She didn�t want to tell Dakota over the phone that she was thinking about leaving�permanently. She truly didn�t want to give up on Brett and her marriage, but what they had right then was anything but a marriage. She couldn�t take anymore. More than ever, she was wishing she were back home in Colorado.

Dakota was getting ready to respond when there was a knock on her office door. She groaned irritably as she turned her attention back to the phone. �I�ve gotta go, someone is knocking. I�ll call you back in a few okay?�

�Alright.� IreLyn responded then hung up and hugged herself, rubbing her arms to ward off the sudden chill. Could she really go through with it? Could she really leave the man she loved more than life it�s self? Yet, could she really stay when her presence wasn�t wanted, and they were just destroying each other.

Making up her mind, she walked up the stairs to their bedroom and pulled out her suitcase.

***

�Come in.� Dakota called when she hung up, smiling at her assistant Michelle when she walked in.

�Sorry to bother you, but you have a visitor.� Michelle informed her boss. Dakota lifted an eyebrow.

�Well, who is it?� she asked.

�He wouldn�t give me his name, just said he was an old friend, and that he wanted to surprise you.� Michelle grinned. �Rather handsome friend you have!� she giggled, having been charmed from him the minute he came through the door.

Dakota rubbed her temples, trying to think of a way to get rid of the person outside. She just wasn�t in the mood to deal with anyone new at the moment. �Fine,� she sighed. �But only for a few minutes. Do me a favor and call Dale down at the garage and ask him to come up. He�s just waiting for me, so once he gets here I�ll have my excuse I need to leave.� She grinned.

Michelle nodded and walked back out to send the visitor in. Dakota turned around to shut down her computer and clean up her office so she could leave for the day.

�Hello, Dakota.� A voice came from behind her. Dakota gasped and spun around, coming to her feet all in one fluid motion. Her eyes were wide with fear, hate and loathing when she saw the man standing before her. She hastily back up some, although there was plenty of distance between them. Jean-Claude held up his hands in a peaceful gesture, to let her see he meant her no harm. �I need to talk to you.�

Dakota�s eyes narrowed. �You�ve got a hell of a lot of nerve coming here!� she spat at him. �Get out!�

Jean-Claude shook his head as he stepped into the room, halting when she picked up the phone on her desk. �Get security in here now!� she demanded before slamming the phone down.

�I really wish you hadn�t done that.� He said sadly as he closed the door behind him and locked it, knowing it wouldn�t buy him a lot of time, but maybe enough to get her to listen.

Although he�d already known it, he could truly see that there was no way in hell that he could ever make Dakota his.

�I don�t really give a flying fuck what you wish!� she yelled at him. �Stay the hell away from me!�

Jean-Claude sighed. �I�m not here to hurt you, or scare you. Actually I�m here to help.� He said softly.

�Excuse me for not believing a word you say.� She snapped. �Why the hell would you want to help me? You�ve done nothing but cause pure hell for me, Dale, IreLyn and Brett, so I find it a little hard to believe that you suddenly want to �help�.�

�I�m so sorry about that.� Jean-Claude said in a rush, knowing that security would be there shortly and he wouldn�t have a lot of time to talk. �I can never express how sorry I am, and I don�t expect you to forgive me.�

He cut her off when he saw she was about to answer. �I�m through with helping Logan. He�s deranged! He�s taken this thing a hell of a lot farther than I ever thought he would. I can�t be a part of it anymore.�

He jumped when there was pounding on the door. Dakota saw his distraction and used it to her advantage. She bolted for the door, but Jean-Claude caught her before she was able to make it. She turned on him, lashing out at him anyway she could, trying to fight him off her.

�Stop it!� he ordered, trying to catch her hands as she swung at him without hurting her.

�Get off me!� she screamed, fighting harder against him. She heard her name yelled through the door and nearly sagged with relief.

�Dale!� she yelled, trying desperately to get away from Jean-Claude�s grasp and to the only person who could truly make her feel safe.

Seconds later the office door burst open and before Dakota could blind, Jean-Claude was yanked away from her and basically thrown across the room. Being released so suddenly, Dakota stumbled back and would have fallen if one of the guys from security hadn�t been there to catch her.

After she got her bearings, she looked across the room to find her husband on top of Jean-Claude, beating with such severity, that under any other circumstances would have scared her. Security rushed forward and pulled Dale off of the now bloody man, who was struggling to stay conscious.

�We�ve got it, Mr. Earnhardt. We�ll take it from here.� The head of security told Dale, stopping him when he tried to get back at Jean-Claude. �Your wife needs you right now.� He said in a low voice, finally getting through to Dale.

Dale stopped struggling and turned to look at his wife, who hadn�t moved from her spot across the room. He could tell she was trembling, her face pale, her wide eyes never leaving Jean-Claude. The fear he saw there nearly ripped his heart out. It took everything he had not to go back after Jean-Claude, but he knew Dakota needed him more.

He took a step towards her, at the same time they started to lift Jean-Claude off the floor. With a small whimper Dakota turned and fled the office. With a low curse, Dale took off after her.

He caught up with her just down the hall and pulled her into Teresa�s office, knowing his step mother wasn�t there, since she was out of town until the next day.

�Baby, are you okay?� he demanded, trying to see if the bastard had harmed her physically. She shook her head, wrapping her arms around him, pressing close to him, unable to stop her trembling.

Dale closed his eyes as he held her, trying to calm himself down as well. �What happened?� he asked, his voice shaking with emotions.

�He just�showed up.� Dakota shuddered. �Michelle came in and said I had a visitor and next thing I knew, he was standing in the doorway.� She pulled back.

�He said he was sorry.� She whispered, the lifted tear filled eyes to meet Dale�s. �And was I just supposed to forget everything he�s done?� Before Dale could answer she continued.

�The instant he walked in the room, I was back in Colorado the day I went to confront Logan and found Jean-Claude at his apartment. He wouldn�t let me leave�I-I panicked.� She confessed.

�I don�t actually think he was there to hurt me. I mean, he had to know that he would be arrested on the spot. He said he was there to help, that he wasn�t helping Logan any longer. But none of that mattered�I honestly couldn�t be near him.� A single tear slipped down her cheek.

Dale fought against the strong urge to go back there and rip the man apart with his own hands, but instead he reached out and pulled his wife back into his warm embrace.

�It�s okay, honey. I promise, it�s all going to be okay.� He swore as she huddled against him, seeking his strength and love.

***

IreLyn paused in pulling on her jacket when there was a knock on her front door. She glanced over at her two suitcases sitting nearby then at the clock, seeing she still had plenty of time until Brett was due home.

She walked over to the door and pulled it open, her mouth falling open in shock then a genuine smile touching her lips for the first time in as long as she could remember.

�Kristin!� she exclaimed, jumping forward to hug her sister tightly. �What the hell are you doing here?�

�Gee, what a greeting.� Kristin teased as she hugged her sister back then pulled back, concerned by just how, well, bad her sister looked. Obviously she hadn�t been mistaken in what she had heard over the phone and was right in making the trip.

�You know I�m happy to see you. Just shocked!� IreLyn smiled as she pulled her sister in the house and closed the door.

�Well, I could tell that you needed someone, so I hopped on the first plane out of New York, and here I am!�

IreLyn�s eyes filled with tears. �You know you�re the best sister ever, right?� she whispered. Kristin nodded proudly.

�That�s what I�ve been telling you forever.� She teased, her smile fading slightly when she saw the suitcases. �Uh, you going on a trip?� she asked, turning back to IreLyn, seeing the emotions playing on her face.

�You could say that.� IreLyn put her head down, her hair coming down to hide her face. �I�m going back to Colorado.� She confessed.

Kristin tilted her head and crossed her arms over her chest. �For a couple days, right? I can understand that. Everyone needs a little time away.�

IreLyn shook her head and lifted her head, tears streaming unnoticed down her cheeks. �No. For good I�m leaving Brett.�

Kristin honestly felt like someone could knock her over with a feather. She knew things were bad, but this bad, she never could have imagined. �But�how�why�huh?� she stammered.

IreLyn leaned back against the door, suddenly feeling very weary. �It�s not gonna work. Brett and I no longer get along, and he�s lost all faith in me.� She held up her hand when she saw her sister about to protest. �I can see it in his eyes more than anything else. The blame that is there is tearing me apart, and I can�t do this anymore. Being here is hurting him more than my leaving. I can�t hurt him anymore.� She whispered.

�What about you?� Kristin asked softly, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

IreLyn gave a watery smile. �I�ll survive�like I�ve always done.�

Seeing the determination in her eyes, Kristin knew it was useless to argue. �Okay, then looks like my ass it getting back on a plane and we�re going home! But, uh, are you going to leave a note for Brett at least?� She asked. She had to believe that Brett would be worried to come home and fine IreLyn gone, no matter what was going on.

IreLyn nodded. �I did. It�s upstairs on the bed. I just said I was sorry and goodbye.� She wiped away the tears that were falling. �Come on, I need to get out of here�or I won�t have the strength to leave.�

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Eight

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�I think I�m going to fly back to Colorado for the weekend.� Dakota told Dale over dinner. �Lyn is back there and I think she really needs all the support that she can get right now.�

�I totally understand.� Dale said, sympathetic to what IreLyn was going through, and now with Jean-Claude in jail, he didn�t have to worry about him being in Colorado with Dakota. And he didn�t think that Logan would bother with her. Not that that would have stopped her from going back when her friend needed her. But it was nice knowing that he didn�t have to worry about Jean-Claude.

�Have you heard from Brett yet?� Dakota asked, knowing that Dale had been trying to get a hold of him over the last week or so. It was pretty clear that Brett didn�t want to hear what Dale had to say.

�Nope. I know for sure that Marshall hasn�t either.� Dale sighed. He could understand that Brett was going through some hard times at the moment, but that in no way excused his behavior. Especially the way he�d been treating IreLyn�although he hadn�t seen it first hand, he knew it was bad. He was almost sorry that he had a race that weekend as he was tempted to hunt Brett down himself and shake some much needed sense into him himself.

�Sounds like he�s being an ass all around.� Dakota mumbled as she picked her napkin up off of her lap and tossed it on the table, her appetite gone. "Let's go home." She said, not feeling at all being around people after the ordeal with Jean-Claude and the depressing phone calls with IreLyn earlier that day. She just wanted to get home and make her flight arrangements and spend the rest of the night in Dale's arms.

*****

Brett arrived home, not at all surprised to find the house quiet and dark as that was how it usually was. He had no doubt that IreLyn had fallen asleep with Prince Valium again and he most likely wouldn't see her until well into the next day...if he wasn't already gone by time she managed to crawl out of bed.

Brett smirked at IreLyn's method of coping as he walked into the kitchen for a beer and to grab another pack of cigarettes from the carton in the cupboard. To him, she was weak and not taking proper responsibility for her actions. He really didn�t know how much longer he could put up with her.

After sitting watching TV and drinking beer for several hours, Brett went upstairs to shower before going to bed. As he did every night, he walked past their bedroom. He glanced into it from the corner of his eye and kept walking, but stopped suddenly when he realized that something was different.

Stepping back, Brett went inside the room and switched on the light. His heart leapt into his throat as his eyes fell on the empty, neatly made bed and the note lying upon it. He ran his fingers through his hair as he read the note that simply said �I�m sorry�goodbye��

Brett sank down to the floor as he read the note once more. He was sure that he�d read incorrectly, but he hadn�t and it didn�t take him long to realize the impact that her leaving would have on him. All of the love that he had for IreLyn came back to him in a rush that made his head spin. He could have cried as it hit him how foolish and selfish he�d been to put her through such hell that she�d seen no other way out but to leave him and their marriage.

Slowly rising to his feet, Brett sat down on the edge of the bed as he tried to sort through everything that had gone on�that was going on. He never imagined that his life would be such a mess. Now he only had one option�and that was to do what he should have done a long time ago before any of this had a chance to happen.

He had to fix the mess.

*****

"You okay?" Kristin asked her sister as they rode in a taxicab from the airport to Lissa's house, where they'd be staying for the weekend. She was worried about her sister; she looked awful. She was quiet and so very pale that Kristin was certain that she was going to just pass out on her at any second.

IreLyn looked over at Kristin and gave her a small apologetic smile. "I'm sorry. This is all just very... strange... Like it's a dream that I'm having and I'm watching it happen... or something." She tried to explain to Kristin how it was, but she honestly didn't have the right words to describe how it was.

"I'm so sorry this is happening, Lyn. This is honestly the last thing that I ever imagined would happen to you and Brett." Kristin felt horrible for her sister and she honestly didn't know how IreLyn was able to cope. "I just want you to know that if you need anything...ever...just let me know, okay."

"Thanks." IreLyn responded, her eyes taking on a distant expression. "The only thing I need right now is to know how to fix my broken marriage." She finished quietly as she turned back to the window and stared out it the rest of the way to Lissa's house.

*****

�So you see, � Victoria said to Logan as they talked in a secluded corner of the bar. At first she had been a little bit apprehensive about meeting with him, knowing what he�d done to Lissa, but her desire to get Lissa away from Kevin quickly overshadowed that. Even more so when she found out that if she was on Logan�s side, everything would be smooth between them. �Once he sees these photos, we�ll both get what we want. You�ll get IreLyn away from him for good and in turn I�ll get my sister away from that perverted old man.�

Logan looked at Victoria in confusion. He was quite able to understand how the pictures would get Brett away from IreLyn, but he didn�t get the rest of Victoria�s thinking. Not that it really mattered anyway. Anything that was sure to get Brett gone from IreLyn�s lie, he was all for.

�How will this get your sister away from�what did you call him? A dirty old man?� Logan had to ask out of curiosity.

Victoria sighed with slight exasperation. �Because he is Brett�s friend and he will automatically side with Brett. And Lissa will take IreLyn�s side.� She stated matter of factly.

�Lissa is your sister?� Logan asked in surprise. Finally he was beginning to completely understand what she was thinking.

When Victoria said nothing, just stared at him waiting for him to say if he was in with her or not, Logan nodded his head as a slight sneer curved his lips. �Alright, I�m game.�

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy Nine

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

�I take it you�ve heard.� Lissa said softly when Kevin walked through the door looking just as gloomy as she felt. He nodded and sighed deeply as he walked over to her and pulled her into a tight hug, suddenly feeling a lot better.

�I can�t believe she left him.� He murmured into her hair. Lissa pulled back slightly to look up at him, her eyes showing the first signs of anger.

�I can�t say that I blame her, Kevin. Brett has been treating her like shit lately. If it were me, I�d been gone a long time ago.� She said matter of factly. Kevin sighed again and nodded.

�I wish I could argue with you, but I can�t. None of us could get through to Brett. But I think this could be the wake up call he desperately needed.� Kevin silently prayed that he was right.

Lissa tipped her head as she looked up at him, a hopeful look on her face. �What do you mean?�

�What I mean is, he�s on his way to Colorado right now�determined to fix his marriage.� Kevin grinned when Lissa let out a happy squeal and threw her arms around him.

***

IreLyn woke up the next morning feeling as if she hadn�t slept at all. Without even looking in the mirror she knew her eyes were puffy, swollen and red. She had cried herself to sleep, only to wake up nearly every hour only to proceed to cry herself back to sleep.

The only thing that made her get up to face the day was the fact that Dakota would be there in a few hours. She wished Lissa could be there as well, but she completely understood, knowing Lissa�s time with Kevin was limited, and didn�t want to intrude on that. Besides, if Kristin and Dakota couldn�t cheer her up together, then no one could.

She looked down at her left hand, at the sparkling diamond and plain gold band on her ring finger. She bit her lip as she wondered what Brett was doing at that moment. Was he worried about her, did he miss her, or had her worst fears come true? Was he glad that she was gone?

Sniffling and wiping her eyes, she got out of bed and glanced down at her cell phone on the bedside table. She knew it was impossible to have missed the call she so desperately wanted, but had to check anyway. Her heart sank when she saw there were no missed calls, nor any new voice mail messages.

***

�How is IreLyn holding up?� Marshall asked. Kristin flopped back on her bed, still holding her phone to her ear.

�She�s trying to be strong, but I heard her all last night and this morning. This is tearing her apart. And the bastard hasn�t even called!� Kristin hissed, her anger intensifying towards Brett.

�Hey now, be nice.� Marshall tried to calm her down, sensing her anger, not that he could blame him. But on the other hand Brett was his friend, and he couldn�t just turn his back on him�no matter how much of an ass he was being.

�Nice? NICE?� Kristin ground out through clenched teeth, sitting up abruptly. �This is me being nice, Marshall!�

Before Marshall could say anything, she continued her rant as she stood up and started pacing. �This is as nice as I�m going to be to the man whose ripped my sisters heart out and stomped on it, all because he�s being selfish and childish!�

�Okay, I know you�re pissed and you hate seeing your sister go through this, but Brett is going through hell right now too.� He defended his friend.

�Not yet he isn�t, but when I get my hands on him he will be.� She mumbled to herself. To Marshall she said, �He wouldn�t be going through as much hell if he hadn�t shut IreLyn completely out.�

Marshall opened his mouth to comment, but closed it when he couldn�t dispute that. Yet again he felt the urge to defend his friend, although in a few seconds he would be asking himself why. �Yeah, but��

Kristin immediately cut him off, her tone sharp. �I�m not going to listen to this. Now is definitely NOT the time to be defending that bastard to me. In fact, now isn�t the time to be talking to me. Good bye.� She quickly ended the call, then turned her cell phone off, knowing full well he would call back, after he got over his initial shock that she hung up on him. And knowing him, he wouldn�t be too happy about it, and their tempers clashing at the moment was not what anyone needed.

She took a couple deep breaths to calm herself down, knowing she had let her anger get the best of her, and that she would owe Marshall a huge apology.

�Later,� she said to herself as she threw her cell phone on the bed and started out of her bedroom. She jumped when she nearly collided with her sister.

�Morning.� She hid her wince at how bad her sister looked this morning. Obviously what little rest IreLyn had been able to get had been anything but peaceful.

IreLyn eyed her sister, having heard her angry voice a few minutes before. She knew full well her sister had been defending her to Marshall, and although she didn�t want her sister fighting with anyone, it was a welcome distraction.

�Guess Marshall�s now got a glimpse of your temper huh?� she tried to joke, but failed miserably. Her eyes began to tear up. �Please don�t let what�s happening between me and Brett come between you and Marshall.� She pleaded.

Kristin simply waved off her worry. �Not gonna happen, so get that out of your mind. I just didn�t particularly feel like listening to him defend that bast---uh, Brett.� She quickly changed what she was going to say at the look her sister shot her. No matter what was going on, IreLyn wouldn�t stand for someone talking bad about Brett to her face.

Shaking her head at her sister�s obvious slip IreLyn turned and started towards the stairs. �I�m surprised he took you hanging up on him so well.� She commented.

Kristin grinned, and IreLyn groaned. �Let me guess, he�s probably burning up the phone lines right now, but your cell is off.�

�Would I do something like that?� Kristin asked, her eyes wide and innocent�too damn innocent.

IreLyn simply snorted as they walked into the kitchen. They both turned when the phone rang and IreLyn gave her sister a knowing look. �Looks like he got ya.� She smirked, a shadow of a smile playing across her lips.

Their mother walked in the room holding the cordless phone. �Honey, you have a call.� She looked at her youngest daughter.

IreLyn snickered, but Kristin wasn�t phased. She shrugged as she opened the refrigerator door and pulled out the orange juice. �Tell him I died.� She threw over her shoulder.

IreLyn rolled her eyes, having a feeling that if Marshall were able to get his hands on her sister, it wouldn�t be a lie. Their mother looked stricken as she quickly covered the mouth piece.

�Kristin!� she scolded.

�All right all right, tell him I�m in the shower.�

Mrs. Hunter jumped when Marshall yelled loud enough for all of them to hear clearly, �GET YOUR DAMN ASS ON THE PHONE NOW!�

For the first time Kristin looked a little hesitant as she glanced over at her sister. �He really sounds pissed, doesn�t he?� she asked, some of her bravery slipping away.

�Told ya.�

Kristin was quiet for a few moments, IreLyn and their mother could almost see the wheels turning in her head. Suddenly that old familiar mischievous gleam was back.

�Oh all right,� she said as she reached out to take the phone. But instead of putting it to her ear, she simply hit the off button. She grinned when she found her mother and sister staring at her open mouthed.

�What? If he�s gonna be pissed off at me, I might as well really give him something to be pissed about, right?� she grinned. She wasn�t all that worried, she knew once she did get up the courage to talk to Marshall after lots of harsh language and yelling, things would be fine. He might even find it a little amusing�not at first, but in a few years.

�I can not believe you did that!� IreLyn laughed as Kristin and her mother shared warm smiles. It was good to hear IreLyn laugh again, even if it didn�t last long.

Kristin jumped and pushed the phone in her mother�s hands when it started ringing. �I�m not here.� She said hastily. �Better yet, don�t answer it!� she pleaded.

�You think I want the wrath of Eminem? No, no, you�re a big girl, you got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out.� Her mother quickly passed the phone back.

�But Mom!!!� Kristin whined.

�Don�t �Mom� me, young lady.� She turned and walked out of the room quickly to avoid the pathetic look her daughter was giving her.

�Are you gonna answer it?� IreLyn asked, nodding towards the still ringing phone, and maybe it was just her imagination, but every ring sounded angrier than the one before.

Just then the doorbell rang, and to Kristin it sounded like the sweet sound of escape. �Here, you get the phone, I�ll get the door!� she exclaimed that tossed the phone to IreLyn, and before IreLyn could comprehend everything, Kristin was out of the room.

�Coward.� IreLyn giggled as she lifted the phone to her ear.

***

Kristin�s smile faded the instant she opened the front door. Her anger came back full force, but something about the expression on his face halted her lashing out at him.

�Is she here?� Brett asked, his voice sounding strange. Kristin could tell he was shaking and it was then she noticed the large brown manila envelop he had clutched tightly in his hand.

Deciding it was best to keep her mouth shut and stay out of this one, she nodded and stepped back allowing him into the house. �Wait here.� She said as she turned and hurried back to the kitchen. Something was wrong�she could feel it.

IreLyn gave her sister a dirty look when she came rushing into the kitchen as she listened to Marshall�s angry voice on the other end. Kristin took the phone out of her sister�s hand.

�Marshall, I know your pissed but right now really is not a good time. I�ll call you back, promise.� Kristin told him. Marshall�s own anger disappeared when he heard her tone.

�What�s going on?�

�Stay close to your phone, I�ll call you right back.� she said, then hung up.

IreLyn stared at her sister shocked. �How in the hell did you do that? I�ve been trying to calm him down, and one sound of your voice does it? Geez!�

�Brett�s here.� Kristin said, not beating around the bush. IreLyn�s eyes immediately lit up as she started towards the door. Kristin grabbed her arm and stopped her before she could get too far.

�Listen, something is�off with him. If you need me, I�ll be right in here�probably getting my own ear chewed off.�

IreLyn looked confused but nodded. �Okay.� The not wanting to be apart from him a moment longer, she hurried into the living room to be with her husband, feeling like everything would be okay.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

IreLyn walked into the living room, stopping when she saw Brett standing there with his back to her, staring out the window. She noticed the envelope in his hand and the way he seemed to be trembling slightly. She also sensed a wave of coldness radiating off of him, but she dismissed all of it, telling herself that it was his nervousness that she was picking up on and not anything else.

�Brett.� IreLyn said softly to gain his attention. She felt a chill rush through her as she watched his entire being stiffened at hearing her voice. She took a half step back when he turned around and she saw the expression on his face�the barely contained rage. He looked like he was ready to explode.

Without saying a word, Brett stalked over to the door and pulled it open. He walked out and gestured for her to follow.

IreLyn stood there for a moment and took a deep breath and slowly let it out. She was trying not to loose hope, but it was quickly becoming apparent that Brett was not there to make amends with her. Pushing back her apprehensive feelings, IreLyn stepped outside to join Brett.

The instant she closed the door behind her, Brett turned on her and IreLyn knew braced herself against the explosion that she knew was coming.

�What the fuck is this, Lyn?� Brett roared as he roughly tossed the envelope in her direction. IreLyn barely ducked out of the way in time to avoid it hitting her in the face. �How do you explain that?� He demanded as he gestured pointedly at the pictures that had spilled out of the envelope and were now lying on the ground.

IreLyn stared at him in disbelief for a moment before she kneeled down and looked at them. �Where did you get these?� IreLyn asked as she straightened and looked at him. She would have laughed and thought it was a joke if Brett hadn�t looked so completely serious at the moment.

�They were delivered right to the front door just as I was leaving.� Brett replied, his voice tight. He left out the fact that he�d been on the way out the door to the airport where he was coming to Colorado to make things right between them. He was thankful that he hadn�t been leaving any earlier or he�d not have known how IreLyn truly was.

�Why did you even marry me if you�re just going cheat on me?� Brett questioned.

IreLyn gasped, finally fully realizing what his anger was directed at. She couldn�t believe this was happening. �Brett, these pictures were taken like 5 years ago. Long before I met you. I haven�t seen him in almost just as long. There�s been no one else since you, Brett. It�s pretty clear to me that this is a set up by Logan�

That thought had crossed Brett�s mind. But his hopes were quickly c rushed when he saw the date that was printed on the back of the pictures. It was the current year, just three months ago.

�Cut the shit, Lyn! Look at the date on the back!� Brett yelled, his temper near gone.

IreLyn turned over the picture that she held in her hand and looked at the back. She was surprised, yet at the same time she wasn�t at what she saw. Raising her eyes, she met Brett�s again.

�Brett, I know how this looks to you, but you have to believe me!� She literally pleaded, knowing that if she wasn�t able to make him see the truth, it was over. �You are the one that I love. Only you. Please believe me.�

Brett angrily raked his fingers through his hair. He looked away as he fought to keep his temper under control. He knew that he should just turn and walk away, but he couldn�t.

�Believe? You want me to believe you?� Brett roared as he stepped forward until his face was just inches from hers. �I have a few things that you better believe!� He paused, seeing her flinch back at each of his words. But he didn�t care how deep his words cut.

�You better believe that I regret the day that I ever met you, IreLyn. You can also believe that I wish that I�d followed my initial instincts about you. I knew in the beginning that you were bad news and I should have never let you back into my life, which you have managed to completely ruin in just a few short months. And most important of all, you better believe that this marriage is over and I will begin divorce proceedings once I get back home. You make me sick, IreLyn. I never, ever want to see you again.� With that said, Brett turned and walked to his car. He got in and drove away without once looking back.

IreLyn stood there, too stunned to be capable of saying or doing anything.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty One

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dakota frowned when she pulled into the driveway and saw IreLyn standing on the front porch, staring off into space. Normally it wouldn�t surprise her but the way IreLyn�s face was completely drained of any color, and the way she was trembling wasn�t normal.

Dakota got out of the car and walked up to the steps, her concern growing when IreLyn never moved. �Lyn?� she said softly as she stepped up to her friend.

IreLyn blinked and slowly turned her gaze to Dakota, who took a shocked step back at the dead look in her eyes. �Honey, are you okay?� She felt like kicking her self, seeing full well IreLyn was anything but okay.

She reached out and touched her arm. �My god, you�re freezing! How long have you been out here?� she demanded, pulling IreLyn towards the front door.

�Doesn�t matter.� Her tone was just as dead as her eyes.

Dakota managed to get her in the house and shut the door behind them, sending Kristin a questioning look when she saw her enter the room. Kristin took one look at her sister and immediately rushed over.

�What happened? Lyn, are you okay?� she demanded. She hadn�t realized her sister was still outside, or that Brett had left, having had a rather heated conversation with Marshall.

�What�s that?� Dakota asked, pointing to the pictures in IreLyn�s hands. IreLyn held them out to her, and Dakota took them looking them over and then looked even more confused as she handed them to Kristin.

�Okay, now I�m thoroughly confused. What would looking at pictures of an old ex have to do with anything?� Dakota asked.

�Logan sent these to Brett.� Was the answer they got.

Kristin and Dakota shared a look. �So. Talk about grasping at straws. That was like, so long ago, why would he send them now? What on earth could Logan hope to accomplish with this?� Kristin asked.

�Look at the back.�

Dakota and Kristin both looked at the same time. �Oooh, that�s low.� Kristin rolled her eyes, then started calling Logan all the names in the book. Dakota however was watching IreLyn.

�Has Brett seen these?� she asked.

�Hey, where is Brett?� Kristin suddenly realized he wasn�t there, then her eyes widened as dread set in.

IreLyn suddenly started laughing. The laugh had a crazed sound to it that sent chills through both women standing there with her. �Seen it? Oh yeah, he�s seen them.�

�Please tell me he doesn�t believe this shit!� Kristin ground out through clenched teeth, Dakota's own eyes hardening.

�Not only am I cheating on him, but I am the worst thing that ever happened to him, I�ve completely ruined his life, and he regrets having ever met me. Oh, and he�s filing for divorce.� IreLyn laughed again, but the laugh quickly turned into a heart wrenching sob, as she sank down to the floor, allowing the numbness to wear off as she dissolved into tears.

***

Brett sat alone in the dark, absently petting Brown Sugar as he drained his bottle of Jack Daniel�s. B.S. suddenly got up and trotted over to the door, and Brett groaned, knowing full well that someone was outside. He didn�t want to see or talk to anyone�all he wanted was to drown his sorrows. He�d even taken his phone off the hook to block everyone out.

With a savage curse, he got unsteadily to his feet when the pounding started on his front door. Someone was going to pay.

He yanked the door opened, rolled his eyes and turned away. �I should have known.� He grumbled, his words slightly slurred. �Shouldn�t you be at a race?�

Dale followed him in. �Should be.� Was all he said.

�Well don�t let me stop you from going back. Thanks for the visit, now good bye!� Brett said over his shoulder.

Dale silently counted to ten, as he told himself Brett was going through hell and he was also obviously on his way to being plastered and beating the shit out of him wouldn�t help anything�except for making himself feel a little better.

�I never though you were as stupid as you look.� Dale said, causing Brett to spin around to face him.

�Don�t. Now is not the time to fuck with me.� Brett warned, his eyes flashing dangerously.

�What you wanna fight me?� Dale demanded stepping closer. �Am I the enemy now?�

�I�m warning you.�

�No, I�m warning you. You better get you fucking head out of your ass before you loose everything you hold dear.� Dale yelled. He�d been shocked after talking to Dakota, and had been on the first flight. He hadn�t seen the pictures�hadn�t needed too. He believed IreLyn, and the fact that her own husband hadn�t, sickened him.

Brett threw his head back and laughed. �Look around you, Junior! I already have lost everything!�

�And without a fight.� Dale sneered. �IreLyn is the best damn thing that ever happened to you, and you�re just walking away�again.�

�Shut the hell up! Don�t even mention her name.� Brett shouted, shaking with anger.

�You�ve got to be fucking kidding me!� Dale threw his hands up. �You�re letting Logan win!�

�This has absolutely nothing to do with Logan!� Brett snapped. �He only opened my eyes to the cheating slut she really is.�

Before Brett could move, Dale had him up against the wall. �You�ll be wise to watch how you talk about her, or I might forget how good of a friend I�m supposed to be. You know full well that IreLyn is anything but a slut. She loves you more than life itself and you are destroying her!�

Brett shook his head, pushing Dale off him. �I can�t believe you�re going to take her side on this. No wait, then again it really doesn�t surprise me too much. Not with Dakota�s influence over you and all.�

�Leave her out of this. I make my own decision, and I�ve decided you�re a total ass. One you calm down enough to realize how fucked up you are right now, you�re going to regret this. This is the second time you�ve tossed IreLyn aside. She came back to you after the first time, you might not be so lucky this time.�

�Come back to me? No way in hell.� Brett ground out. �I�ve already spoken to my lawyer and the papers are being drawn up for an annulment. Fuck the divorce�I don�t even want her having the label of my ex-wife.�

Dale stared at him stunned and Brett took that opportunity to shove him away. �Now, get out.�

Dale was barely able to control his anger, and turned to leave, not because he was told too, but because he knew if he stayed things were going to get very ugly. He paused at the door.

�Maybe the annulment is for the best, because with the way you�ve treated her, you don�t deserve IreLyn�and it won�t be long before she realizes that herself.� With that last parting shot, he walked out, slamming the door behind him, leaving Brett to think over his words.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty Two

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lissa sighed softly as she felt Kevin�s arms close around her from behind. She closed her eyes and leaned back against him as she rested her head against his bare chest, reveling in the warm comfort that his body supplied.

�Is everything okay?� He asked, knowing that she�d just gotten off the phone with Kristin and it hadn�t seemed like a very happy call.

�No, not really.� Lissa answered after a moment.

�What�s going on?� Kevin questioned when Lissa didn�t elaborate any further.

Lissa sighed again as she pulled out of his arms and walked over to the window. She stared out it for a moment before she turned around to face him again. She hated the sinking feeling that she had in her stomach.

�Logan sent Brett some pictures of Lyn and an ex-boyfriend that were taken like five years ago but he somehow got the date changed on them so that it looks like IreLyn has been with this person recently.�

Kevin cursed as he raked his fingers through his hair. �Damn, that bastard needs to be brought down!� He said, speaking of Logan�a man he�d never met, yet despised more than anyone he knew.

�That�s not the worst of it.�

�How could it possibly be any worse?� Kevin wondered out loud. He couldn�t even begin imagine.

"Brett ended up confronting Lyn in Colorado about the pictures. She tried to explain to him, but he wouldn't listen." Lissa told Kevin. She felt horrible for what her friend was going through.

"Well, can you blame him? After all that's gone on?" Kevin asked her.

Lissa's eyes narrowed as she stared at Kevin in disbelief. She couldn't believe what she'd just heard him say. "So you're saying that the hell that Brett has put IreLyn through is justified because he has been through so much?"

Kevin looked away as he tried desperately to find the right words for what he wanted to say. "No, but..." Was all he got out before Lissa cut him off.

"But what?" She demanded and then stopped abruptly. She sank down into the chair with a weary sigh. "I don't want to argue with you, Kevin." She said tiredly as she rested her head in her hands. She closed her eyes, trying to blink back the tears that were threatening.

"That's good," Kevin began as he walked over and kneeled down in front of her. He took her hands into his and kissed them softly before speaking again. "Because there really is nothing to argue about."

"You're right." Lissa replied. She smiled slightly, already feeling better.

Kevin looked into her eyes and returned her smile. "I'm glad we agree. Because after everything that Brett has been through, I can completely understand his actions."

Lissa again stared at Kevin, shocked at what he'd said. "I'm sorry, but I really can't say that I agree with that. Regardless of what Brett has been through the last few months, his treatment of IreLyn is inexcusable! He's not the only one that's been through hell ya know!" Lissa fairly yelled as she jumped to her feet and began pacing the room.

"I know that Brett is your friend and all, but for you to sit there and say that you can understand why Brett has done and said the things that he has makes me wonder what kind of morals you have." Lissa told him, before she was able to stop herself. She immediately saw the fury enter Kevin's eyes and braced herself for the backlash that she knew was coming.

*****

"Have all the men that we knew completely lost their minds?" Lissa asked Kristin when she talked to her later on the phone. She was at the airport waiting for her flight back to Colorado. She and Kevin had gotten into a huge argument and she knew that she had to get out of there and cool down. Most of all she wanted to get back home to be able to offer IreLyn the support that she was going to need.

Kristin sighed deeply, knowing exactly what Lissa was talking about even though Lissa had not yet told her about the fight between Kevin and herself. Marshall had seemed to have completely lost all sense when it came to the situation with IreLyn and Brett. How he could sit there and defend all that that bastard had done was beyond her and it quite frankly pissed her off. She had a feeling that things were going about the same for Lissa and Kevin.

"All except Dale. He seems to be the only male thinking straight around here." Kristin said to Lissa and began telling her about Dale being completely irate with Brett and the way he'd treated IreLyn. She knew from Dakota that Dale had gone to confront Brett, but they were yet to hear back from him to find out how things had gone.

"Well, I'm glad there is at least one man who doesn't have his head shoved completely up his ass." Lissa replied. She was still fuming about Kevin being fully behind Brett. She could understand him being Brett's friend, but to actually condone what Brett had done...she really didn't understand it.

"How's Lyn doing?" Lissa questioned, although she was pretty sure what the answer would be.

"Not good." Kristin said, not bothering to sugar coat it. There was no sense in it and Lissa would see that as soon as she got back home.

"Damn it!" Lissa swore under her breath. She paused as she listened to the flight announcements that came over the loud speaker. "I have to run, Kris. My flight is being called. I'll be home soon." She said. They talked a few second longer and then ended the call.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty Three

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

�An annulment? My god, Dale I can�t tell IreLyn this!� Dakota said miserably into the phone later that night after finding a quiet spot to take his call. Lissa, Kristin and IreLyn all knew who it was when her phone rang, but neither said anything. Now to have to go back and tell them this? She didn�t know if she could to that to IreLyn. She was barely keeping it together as it was.

�He�s completely unreasonable at this point.� Dale sighed angrily, his flight to New Hampshire not doing a damn thing to calm him down. If anything, the time to think only made him madder.

�How is Lyn?� He asked after a moment, not sure if he really wanted to hear Dakota�s answer.

�Better than this morning, but not good at all.� She said truthfully, rubbing her tired eyes. �She�s not crying, not yelling, basically she�s showing no emotion.�

�But�isn�t that better?� he asked a little confused. He�d never understand women and their emotions�never!

�No, honey, that�s not good. She�s keeping everything inside and that�s dangerous. Sure, women will keep a lot of their emotions away from men, but when they are with their closest friends, they let it out. That�s not the case right now. I think maybe she�s still numb and in shock, but eventually that�s going to wear off and then�� she trailed off not wanting to think about it.

�And telling her that Brett is filing for an annulment just could be the thing to push her over the edge!� she cried.

�So don�t tell her.� He decided. He wasn�t one to keep secrets, and strongly believed everyone deserved the truth in every situation, but this time he was willing to make an exception. He knew he�d never forgive himself if something happened to IreLyn because of this news.

�I can�t keep it from her forever.� Dakota sighed wearily. �I don�t know, maybe I can go to Tennessee and talk to Brett myself.� She pondered out loud.

�I don�t think that would be such a good idea.� Dale countered.

�But--� Dale cut her off.

�He�s not going to listed to a word you have to say. Hell, I barely made it into the house myself. Knowing him and the frame of mind he�s in right now, he�ll lash out at you, then nothing will stop me from kicking his ass, and we don�t need that. Hopefully Kevin or Marshall will be able to bring him around.�

Dakota bit her lip. �Uh, I wouldn�t count on that happening.�

�Why? Or do I even want to know?� Dale closed his eyes, wondering how in the hell this was going to get fixed.

�Well, it seems both Kevin and Marshall are siding with Brett on this one. Lissa is back here in Colorado, her and Kevin had it out. Marshall won�t answer Kristin�s calls�or it may be vice versa, I�m not sure.�

�I�m gonna kill him. I�m gonna fucking kill him!� Dale growled.

Dakota winced. �Um, I know you�re pissed off at Brett right now, so am I believe me. But killing him won�t help a thing. Although he�s acting like a total ass, he is going through hell as well.� Even after everything, she couldn�t help but feel bad for Brett. This all wasn�t his fault. He was just a pawn in Logan�s sick and twisted game.

�I wasn�t talking about Brett. I was talking about Logan.�

�Oh. Well, in that case, go for it.� Dakota teased, trying to lighten things up, even if just a little. Suddenly serious again, she asked. �What are we going to do? This seems like a lose-lose situation.�

Dale sighed, agreeing with her. He didn�t want to say this looked hopeless, but that�s how it seemed. �I honestly don�t know.�

***

Logan opened the door then took a step back, allowing Victoria to walk into his new apartment. �What are you doing here?� he demanded wanting to know the reason for this unscheduled visit.

Victoria turned to look at him, a victorious smile on her face. �It worked.� She announced. �The plan worked perfectly!�

Logan was silent for a moment, digesting her news. �How do you know?�

Victoria shrugged off her jacket. �My sister called me to let me know she was back in Colorado. It seems IreLyn and Brett are headed towards a divorce because someone sent Brett some very incriminating pictures. Brett came to Colorado to confront IreLyn, not listening to a word she had to say and left, saying he was filing for divorce. Now, Kevin has decided to back Brett on this, which is unacceptable to my sister. She has left the old bastard and is back home. So, you see, Logan? Everything is falling perfectly into place.�

Logan sank down on his leather couch. �I can�t believe it. No plan has ever come together this well�or this quickly.�

Victoria smiled smugly and sat down next to him. �That�s because you�ve never had me on your side before. Stick with me Logan, and all our plans will continue to fall into place.�

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty Four

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dakota sighed deeply and rubbed her temples in an effort to ward of the headache that was rapidly building. She knew that there was really no �if� when it came to telling IreLyn about the annulment. She had to tell her before she was shocked by receiving the papers�or even worse�she heard about it through the media first.

The only question was how? And when? �Everything okay?�

Dakota was startled out of her thoughts when she heard IreLyn�s voice behind her. She turned around and looked at her friend as she took in a deep breath and slowly let it out, knowing that she had to tell Lyn now�before she found out some other way.

�Actually, there�s something that I need to tell you, Lyn.�

�Okay.� IreLyn replied as she walked over and sat down beside Dakota on the grass in the backyard. She was ready to hear what Dakota had to tell her. She couldn�t really imagine how whatever it was could make things any worse than they already were.

�Well, as you know Dale went to talk to Brett.� Dakota began and then continued when IreLyn nodded her head. �Brett told Dale that he�s skipping the divorce,� She paused when she saw the light that entered IreLyn�s eyes. She hated Brett for making her crush IreLyn like this.

�Lyn, he�s going straight for an annulment instead.� Dakota told her as gently as she could. She watched as what little color IreLyn had drained completely from her face and for a few minutes, IreLyn just sat there, too stunned to say anything.

�Okay.� IreLyn said finally, her voice barely a whisper. She fell silent again after that, the news that she�d just been told too much for her to bear.

*****

It would be easy to just end it all.

Was what IreLyn had thought to herself every minute of every day for the past four months and this day was no different. As she sat in her truck that she had parked at a scenic overlook high in the mountains, she imagined how easily she could end it. All she�d have to do was put the truck in drive and give the accelerator a little gas and it would be enough to break through the flimsy barricades that were meant to keep vehicles from crashing through.

She felt like she would really do it this time.

She was completely miserable and she knew that she was making things for everyone around her miserable as well. Kristin and Marshal, and Kevin and Lissa had fought almost constantly for the first 2 months and in the past 2 months, they had not spoken or seen each other at all. So not only had she ruined Brett�s life, but theirs as well.

She felt worthless and there was nothing left inside her. She was completely broken and empty.

Things would be better�.for everyone�if she wasn�t around anymore.

Without a second thought, IreLyn turned the keys in the ignition to start her truck. She had her hand on the shift stick and was about to pull it down into drive when her door was suddenly yanked open. Before IreLyn could even comprehend what was happening, Logan had shoved her into the passenger seat and had slid himself into the driver�s seat.

Logan turned and looked at IreLyn as he pulled a gun from the waist of his jeans and shoved it in her face. He smiled evilly as he spoke, �Hang on tight, we�re going for a little drive.�

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty Five

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Logan glanced at IreLyn out of the corner of his eye, a little surprised that she really hadn�t reacted to him forcing himself in her car and holding a gun to her. She seemed a shell of her former self. That spark that he loved so much was gone.

�I guess you�re wondering where we�re going.� His deep voice broke the silence. IreLyn didn�t even blink.

�Doesn�t matter.� She said in a dead voice. Nothing mattered to her anymore. Nothing at all.

�I heard in the news Brett was filing for an annulment.� Logan sneered, trying anything to get some sort of reaction from her. Yet, there was still nothing. �Damn it, Lyn!� he roared, taking his eyes off the road to glare at her. She didn�t even jump at his sudden outburst. Instead a slight smile curved her lips as she kept her eyes straight ahead.

�Thank you.� She whispered then closed her eyes. Before Logan could ask her what the hell she meant, the blare of a horn captured his attention. He whipped his head around, his eyes widening when he saw they had crossed the center line and were directly in the path of the tractor trailer.

Acting completely on instinct, Logan jerked the wheel to the right. Somehow they managed to miss the cab of the tractor trailer, but he was unable to regain control of the truck to stop it from going off the road.

His stomach dropped as the truck went air born. Before everything went black, he looked at IreLyn, who continued to have her eyes closed as she anticipated the end to the pain�and end to the horror her life had become.

***

�Lyn? You here?� Kristin called out as she walked into the apartment she, IreLyn and Lissa had rented together. She started toward her sister�s bedroom, but stopped when she noticed something on the table in front of the sofa. She frowned as she walked over and picked up the brown envelope addressed to her sister.

She threw it back down on the table, not wanting to invade her sister�s privacy, but stilled when a single sheet of loose leaf paper slid out. She bent and picked it up when she saw her name, along with her parents, Dakota, Dale and Lissa�s. Her heart began to pound when she read the simple note.

�I�m sorry I couldn�t have been stronger. It�s better this way. Remember, I love you all.

IreLyn'

Not worrying about privacy, Kristin pulled out the papers in the envelope, her hands trembling when she saw it was the annulment papers. She covered her mouth to stifle the gasp when she saw her sister had already signed the papers. Attached to the front was another little note to Brett.

�I don�t expect you to ever forgive me for ruining your life, because I don�t forgive myself. Just know that I�m sorry�for everything.�

Kristin dropped the paper and looked around the room wildly, not knowing what in the hell to do. She shook her head, trying to calm her fears. �No, she wouldn't do that.� She kept telling herself. She looked back down at the two letters and tears immediately began to fall.

She grabbed her cell phone and started towards the door, not knowing the first place to look for her sister, and also not knowing when IreLyn had left, but all she knew was the urgency to find her sister, before it was too late. If it wasn't already�

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Chapter One Hundred and Eighty Six

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Brett slammed on the brakes in his car and reached for the knob on the radio to increase the volume when a special news report interrupted the song that was playing and he heard a familiar name. Hearing the horns of the cars behind him, he pulled over to the side of the road to let them by as he listened.

IreLyn Scallions, the estranged wife of rock superstar Brett Scallions, was killed this afternoon as the result of a single vehicle automobile accident. According to eye witness reports, the truck that she�d been driving first swerved over the center line and then drastically to the right where it left the road and became airborne. It landed in a steep ditch, rolling four times before coming to a complete rest.

One passenger, whose identity has not been released was taken to a nearby hospital and is listed in serious condition.

We will keep you posted on this tragic story as more details become available�

Brett sat there staring at the radio completely stunned by whet he�d just heard. He quickly switched the station, certain that he must have heard wrong. But he heard the same on that and two other stations.

Brett laid his head back on his seat as a deep aching sorrow like he�d never before experienced raced through his entire being. He closed his eyes as he felt tears burning them. He couldn�t believe�he didn�t want to believe that she was gone

The guilt that he felt was overwhelming, knowing things could have been different between IreLyn and himself. He knew that the pictures were fake. Dale had forced him to see that almost a month ago when he had taken Brett and the pictures to a professional who confirmed that the pictures were reprints. That still didn�t prove the actual date that the original were taken, but Brett knew deep in his heart that IreLyn had been telling him the truth.

Over the last few weeks, he�d fully realized how wrong he�d been about not only the pictures, but everything.

He felt horrible for the way that he treated her; the things he�d said to her and that was one of the biggest reasons he hadn�t crawled back to her and begged her to forgive him. He was embarrassed and that along with his pride had kept him back. Now he would give or do anything to take that back.

Brett lifted his head and wiped his eyes when his cell phone suddenly began ringing. He looked at the caller I.D. and recognized Marshall�s number.

�Yeah.� Brett answered the call, his voice hoarse and filled with emotion.

�You hear?� Marshall asked, not really knowing what else to say.

�Yeah.� Brett replied quietly, incapable of saying anything else at the moment.

Marshall was silent for a moment. He had been in a state of disbelief, but knowing that Brett had heard the same pretty much confirmed it. The shock seemed to leave his body in a rush and was replaced with a huge sense of sadness. He couldn�t even begin to imagine what Kristin and her family had to be going through at the moment, but he knew that he had to be there.

�You make flight arrangements yet?� Marshall asked, automatically knowing that Brett would be getting to Colorado as soon as he could.

�No�I need to do that yet.� Brett said, his voice cracking as he teetered precariously on the edge of losing it.

�Alright man, I�ll let you go so you can get that done.� Marshall told Brett, feeling bad for his friend. Things hadn�t been easy for Brett�Hell, for any of them. He wondered what the lasting effects of this tragedy would be. �And Brett�I�m sorry as hell.� Marshall said sincerely.

�No, I�m the one who is sorry.� Brett responded sadly. He and Marshall talked a few moments longer before ending their call.

Book Thirteen of Once Upon a Dream
2002/2003 K&K Productions

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