Page 20

Chapter Seventeen

ASHER

These four are fucking idiots. I shake my head as I watch them argue about what to do with Raelyn. Well, it’s really Drew and Cam fighting it out. Cam is anti-Raelyn. He’s worried this is going to mess with Drew’s game.

And I get that.

But this is Drew. And for as long as I have known him, seen him interact with people, this is who he is.

He’s a protector, a savior. He instinctively will protect people.

I’ve seen him with Phoenix and her husbands.

Even with those three guys around her, he still looks to protect her. It’s just ingrained in his soul.

“She’s getting in your head!” Cam slams his hand down on the counter.

“The hell she is! Dude, she was fucking trafficked. She was kidnapped and sold.” Drew leans over and narrows his eyes.

“And how is that your problem, exactly?” Cam fires back.

“It just is. Because I’m making it my problem. She needs help and support!”

“When did you have time to join the police academy? Jesus fucking Christ! Fucking call John and get her the help she needs. We are not that help. He can find the guy. This is a goddamn law enforcement matter.” Cam throws his hands up in the air in frustration.

“And I will when she’s ready for that. But right now, she isn’t. The best chance she has of her memories coming back is her being relaxed and in a safe environment. Everything up until now has been a shit show for her. She is scared , Cam.” Drew frowns.

“I have to agree with Drew,” I jump in. Cam shoots me a sour look, his eyes glaring at me.

“For now, it’s better to just let her heal with us looking over her.

Once she remembers enough, then we can get her the help she needs.

The facts are that they will interrogate the hell out of her. She could even decide to run.”

“Jesus, all of you are just all about this chick. Not one of you is thinking straight. Fuck. Am I the only one worried about any of this? We have no idea who took her, who did this. And yet, we are just welcoming trouble. I’m the only sane voice in this room,” Cam scoffs.

“What are we going to do tonight? Bring her to the stadium? We have a fucking game. We can’t be watching her. ”

“I already planned to keep her with me. She can be in the training rooms with me and stick close to my side,” I offer.

I’m there in case of an emergency, so as long as nothing catastrophic happens, there isn’t much to do. The trainers tend to make sure all the players are bandaged up prior to the game.

“I am sure Phoenix can show her around, too,” Drew says, and I nod. That’s actually not a bad idea. She’s been through trauma herself and could probably offer more comfort and understanding than any of us on the team.

“That actually would work. I can take her up to Phoenix once I show her around,” I offer.

“Whatever. You all are fucking pussy whipped over a girl you haven’t even fucked yet.” He turns to Tristan, who is his usual quiet self. “You surprise me most. You are always grumpy as fuck, and then you go play hero and rescue her from the bar and get us into this mess.”

“I’m not a heathen,” Tristan grumbles.

“Could ‘a fooled me,” Cam retorts, rolling his eyes.

“Enough, Cam. We will figure this out. No need to be a complete asshole about it. Just go home, don’t be here. Stay away from the girl if she bothers you so much. It’s that simple.” I shrug.

“Except it’s not. We are number fucking one. This is a distraction, and it can cost us our number one spot along with the World Series. It’s a downhill spiral. I need my team with their heads in the game.” He snatches his keys off the counter and stomps out of the kitchen and out of the house.

My eyes meet Drew’s, and he frowns. I can see the worry in his eyes.

He is torn between going after Cam and trying to talk him down from the ledge and staying here and letting his catcher storm off and deal with his bullshit.

He is going to need to make sure he’s focused tonight or else Cam’s thoughts on this Raelyn thing will prove true.

And as if Drew knows what I’m thinking, he nods at me.

“I know, I know.” He turns on his heels, grabs his keys, and heads out to the stadium. And hopefully he’ll give Cam a kick in the ass or work it out with him. I pray it’s the latter. Tristan sighs and trails after Drew.

“Are you bringing her down, or do you want me to?” Kayce asks.

“I can bring her. Go on and get ready, I’ll see you down there.”

Kayce gives my back a quick slap and turns toward the door. I look over at the hall that leads to Raelyn’s room, letting out a sigh and starting my way up the short set of stairs and down the hall.

When I reach her closed door, I knock. “Hey, Raelyn, it’s Asher. Can you open up?”

I hear shuffling behind the door and the turning of the handle. Slowly, the door opens, and I see her poke her head out.

“Hey. How are you doing?” I ask her.

Her lips purse before she answers. “Fine.”

“Good. You ready to come to the game? I was going to show you around and then probably have you hang with me for a bit. Phoenix will be there too if you want to hang out with her.” I shove my hands in my pockets as I watch her.

“Um, okay,” she says softly. “That sounds kinda nice.”

“Phoenix is amazing, and you guys may even be able to head to the box to watch the game,” I offer her.

“Oh, cool.” She looks down at her feet.

“Are you ready to go now, or do you need a moment?”

She shuffles a bit back and forth. “Um, yeah, I-I’m ready.”

“Okay then, let’s head over to the stadium.” I gesture away from us and she cautiously leaves her room, closing her door behind her.

Raelyn has fight in her; she’s made it this far, survived this much. But something holds her back. I’m guessing it’s the unknown. It’s the spotty memory. It’s the fear of whoever took her still being out there.

I can see moments where there’s a spark in her eye and a bite to her words. But most of the time, she is reserved, and she looks like she is pondering the world around her, trying to put the pieces together.

I can see why Drew wants to keep her safe. And a part of me does, too. So I get his need to keep her here. It’s why I am pushing to make sure that happens. I have an instinct to want to watch over her, to shelter her from the bullshit she’s gone through.

And I will do my best to make sure she never suffers again.

We make our way through the stadium until we reach our destination. “This here is the athletic training facility. We are just going to pop in for a moment so I can see how the trainers are holding up,” I announce to Raelyn.

She gives me a nod as I watch her shuffle from foot to foot. As we walk in, the room is busy with trainers and players making sure they are ready for the game. Grunts and laughter can be heard all around us. Rae’s eyes dart all around, trying to take in the scene and the chaos in the training room.

“Hey, Doc.” Taylor pops his head up from his computer. He is one of our athletic trainers.

“Hey, Taylor. How’s it going?” I feel Raelyn move behind me, making herself invisible.

“Good, just getting ready to help Williams and his arm.” He pauses for a moment and squints. “Who’s that behind you?”

“Oh, this here is Raelyn. She is a friend of Drew’s. I’m showing her around the stadium today and then going to take her over to hang with Phoenix.” I turn around and see her eyes widen. Maybe this was a little too much. Her eyes flit to Taylor, and I turn back to him.

“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Raelyn. Feel free to make yourself at home.” His eyes travel up and down her body, taking her in, and I suddenly feel like I want to step in front of her and keep him from seeing her.

But I don’t. Instead, I place my hand on her back. She does a slight flinch, but I don’t move. Suddenly, she steps closer to me.

Having her this close, touching me, is sending an odd sensation through my body. I want to pull her closer, feel her warmth. There’s an odd feeling of wanting to rip Taylor’s eyes out from his sockets and shove them down his throat for him to choke on, for even staring at her.

Fuck, that was dark.

Clearing my throat, I nod to Taylor. “I’m going to go take her to see Phoenix.” At that, Taylor nods and goes back to his work.

“Hey, Dr. Nichols.” My head turns toward Jake, one of the athletic assistants. His eyes lock immediately onto Raelyn. “And who is that pretty little thing?” he quips.

And there is that feeling again. Except this time, I want to cut his tongue out and shove it so far up his ass, he can taste his own shit.

Again, fucking dark. Jesus.

Raelyn stiffens beside me, and I know I need to get her out of here. “First of all, she has a fucking name. She’s not a piece of meat. A little respect goes a long way. Second, none of your business now. Stay away from her,” I growl as I turn, wrapping Raelyn closer to me.

We make our way out of the Training Facility, and I can feel her shaking beside me. The rest of the tour is going to have to wait. My need to get her somewhere safe is taking precedence.

Reaching the top floor of the stadium, we make our way over to Phoenix’s office. I nod to her receptionist, Glenda, and she gives me a small smile and gestures for us to go in.

Opening the door, I quietly enter and see Phoenix sitting behind her desk. She looks up and gives me a smile.

Over the years, being friends with Drew and working here, Phoenix and I have become good friends. Something I’m truly grateful for right now.

“Asher! Hey!” She bounces over to me and gives me a hug. “And you’re Raelyn. I’m Phoenix. Would you like something to drink?” she offers kindly.

Raelyn looks up at me, and I give her an assuring nod, so she clears her throat. “Water, please.”

“Sure thing.” Phoenix heads over to a small refrigerator and pulls out a bottle for her. “Here you go. So, what brings you up here?”

“Do you mind if I talk to you in private for a moment?” I ask Phoenix.

“Absolutely.” She nods.

We both walk to the corner of her office, away from Raelyn who sits down on the couch and stares at the floor.

“Is everything okay?” Her lips turn down as her eyes flit between me and Raelyn.

I run a hand down my face and let out a sigh. “No. Yes. I don’t know.”

“Wow, you sure are a ball of flustered,” Phoenix cracks. “What’s going on?”

“It’s Raelyn. She… uh…”

“She’s the one getting you all flustered.” Phoenix smiles at me.

“Yes… I mean, no!” I can feel my face heat up.

“Yup. That’s what I thought.”

“Look.” I let out a breath as I try to calm myself. “Can you possibly talk to her, keep an eye on her? That’s why I brought her up here. I honestly think she could use a friend. Maybe some girl time.”

She laughs, “Yeah, she can probably use a little less testosterone hanging around her.”

My lips turn up in a smile. “If that wasn’t so accurate, I would be offended.”

“Yeah, I can definitely spend some time and get to know her. Drew said she’s been through some stuff but didn’t elaborate.” She crosses her arms over her chest.

“Thank you.” I bend down and give her a hug, my giant frame engulfing hers. Then I head back toward Raelyn and crouch down in front of her. “Hey, Phoenix here is going to take you to watch the game. You are going to hang here with her for a bit and get some girl time in. Sound good?”

Her knee starts bouncing, and she looks over at Phoenix. “Sure.”

“Good. I will check in when I get a moment. But everything will be fine. She’s best friends with Drew. She is good people. If you need me, just have her give me a call, okay?” She gives me a slight nod.

I turn to Phoenix and thank her as I head out and back toward the training facilities.

And I fight every urge to go back to her and take her back to Drew’s, where she’s safe.

And that’s when I realize how truly fucked I am.