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"And I suppose you're gonna stop me?" Coronado said sarcastically, "Not a smart move. Try anything...and you'll be joining your little wife in hell."
Todd stiffens at his words. He locks eyes with his wife, and she can see the barely suppressed rage lurking in him.
"You know what? Changed my mind," he whips around and looks to where Carlotta and the others are standing, "Is there a back room in this place?"
Carlotta shakily nods, pointing to the kitchen.
"Okay," he looks at Téa, grinning lasciviously, "We'll do the fun stuff back there...and we'll come back out for the grand finale."
Téa swallows hard, trying desperately to hide her fear. Coronado nods to the man behind Todd to follow him. He grabs Téa's arm and drags her in the back.
Todd glances behind him, noticing the man who is holding the gun on him is concentrating on Coronado. Quickly and subtly, he picks up a knife off the table where he and Téa had been sitting and tucks it up his sleeve. Suddenly, he feels the gun in his back, urging him to move forward. With all the control he can muster, he follows Coronado and Téa into the kitchen.

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Carlotta, Andrew, and Cris all stared nervously at each other. River hid his head in his father's side, grasping tightly to his hand. Carlotta glanced nervously towards the kitchen, fear escalating inside her. The thought of that monster touching Téa was sickening to her. She only prayed Todd would find some way to stop him. For all of her personal feelings for Todd Manning, one thing had become clear since he had been back...he deeply loved Téa...and he would do anything to protect her.
She is pulled from her thoughts by the ringing of the phone behind the counter. She glances nervously at the man with the gun.
"Ignore it," he mumbles.
"Look," Carlotta says, "we're supposed to be open....the person calling might get suspicious if I don't answer the phone." She looks for a reaction...hoping he'll buy it.
The guy looks around, considering her words. "Okay...but make it short...and," he adds, looking menacingly at her, "don't try anything." To assure this, he grabs Cris and holds the gun to his head. Carlotta's heart sinks. She goes and answers the phone.
"Hello?" she says, desperately trying to keep her voice even.
"Carlotta? Hey it's Del...is my sister around?"
Del! Carlotta takes a deep breath. She has to give him some clue.
"Yes," she says evenly.
Del is a little taken aback. This was unlike Carlotta...her voice sounded...strange...and she's usually pretty chatty.
"Carlotta...is everything okay?"
Carlotta glances at the man with the gun. Then she turns around and looks at the specials board.
"No....I'm sorry...we're all out of that."
Del gets the hint. "Trouble? Teita's in trouble?" he asks nervously.
"Yes. I'm sorry...we're really busy...I have to go."
"I'm on my way," Del says, and hangs up the phone.

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"Keep him right there," Coronado says to the man holding Todd. He backs Téa up against the counter. He moves her hair out of the way and leans in to kiss her neck. Disgusted, Téa snaps her head away...looking at him with fire in her eyes.
"OOHHH....you're a fiesty one," he says, grinning, and then looks at Todd, "How do you handle her?"
Todd glares at him, murder on his face. He would kill this bastard for touching his wife. His hand tightens around the knife...which is still hidden by his sleeve.
"Si...Si...this is going to be fun," Coronado says, running his hand down the side of Téa's face. He moves his hand to her chest, and roughly squeezes her breast, all the while watching the rage on Todd's face.
"This make you mad? Huh? I can't blame you...she's a hot one...but one move...and you're dead."
Todd's mind is racing...trying desperately to control himself. There is no doubt in his mind that if it would save Téa...he would sacrifice himself in a heartbeat. But he knew that even if they did kill him...Téa would still be in danger...she would still be killed. He watches as Téa desperately tries to wriggle away from this maniac. He thinks about the future they haven't lived yet...and Shorty...children of their own....he had to get them out of this.
"Bastard," Téa spits out at him, trying to get away from his touch.
"Easy, chica....you play nice...all I have to do is give him the word...and you're husband is blown to kingdom come...comprende?"
Téa glares at him. She looks at Todd...feeling safe for a second in his gaze. Suddenly, she feels Coronado grab her wrists and pull her down to the floor.
"No!" she yells, fighting him the best she could. Coronado laughs.
Todd watches this and knows he has to make his move. He glances behind him and notices the idiot who is holding him is grinning stupidly as he watches his boss. He moves the knife from his sleeve...and quickly jabs it back.
The man behind Todd yells in shock...and drops the gun. Because of Téa's yelling...Coronado doesn't notice what is going on. Todd whips around and sees the man holding his side, red dripping between his fingers. Todd quickly picks up the gun and whacks the guy over the head, knocking him cold. He turns quickly, pointing the gun at Coronado.
"Get the hell off my wife," he says loudly, but coldly.
Coronado looks up...surprise on his face. What the hell had happened? He looks and sees his henchman laying on the floor out cold. Incompetents, he thinks.
Téa stares at Todd, relief written all over her face.
"Didn't you hear me, you bastard, get off her!" he yells.
"You heard the man, Coronado....get up."
Todd looks up in shock, and sees Del with a couple of policemen standing by the back entrance. Del points to the kitchen door.
"Go take care of the people out there," he says, sending two of them to the front.
Todd walks slowly over to Coronado, who looks defeated. He pulls him up by the shirt and proceeds to punch him square in the face. Del watches.
Todd picks him up off the floor again. He grabs his shirt and pushes him back against the counter.
"You better hope they lock you up for a long time," Todd says icily, "cause if you're free...there isn't a place on this earth where you could hide from me....you'll pay for hurting her."
Del walks over and removes Todd's hands from Coronado. "Okay Manning, I'll take it from here." Del cuffs Coronado. Todd quickly moves to Téa, who is still sitting on the floor. He wraps his arms around her, holding her close. Del starts moving Coronado towards the door, but stops and looks back at Todd and Téa on the floor.
He clears his throat. "Uh...Manning...listen...you did good...thanks."
Todd looks up at Del. "Yeah...you too," he says. Todd and Téa watch as Del takes Coronado away.
He gently pulls his shaking wife closer. "It's okay, Delgado...it's over," he whispers into her hair.
Still in shock, Téa lifts her head to look into her husband's eyes. "Thank you," she whispers, "You saved my life."
He smiles gently down at her. "Just returning the favor, Delgado," he says softly, kissing her forehead.

To be continued....