Page 3

Two

A s the sun starts setting, I’m dying to get home just to be away from the guys. I’m even more exhausted than I usually am at the end of a long workday. The three monsters from my past sap the strength right out of me, leaving me feeling even weaker.

I don’t know how they do it, how they have this effect on me, but I’m sure they have everything planned out and at least a few backup options.

I stride to the entrance of my apartment building that isn’t too far away from the football stadium, aching to slip my shoes off, change my clothes, and take my mind off today and the hell that probably awaits me in the days to come.

Who knows what’s going to happen next? What else do they have in mind for me?

They’ve already found their places among the team. The coaches like them, and I just hope they’re out having drinks or dinner with their other teammates. Maybe they’ll make some close friends and leave me alone.

Wishful thinking.

When I head through the lobby of the tall, modern apartment building, I come to an abrupt stop at the sight of Dimitri talking to one of the front desk workers. He’s in another room, but the wall is made of glass, so I can see him perfectly clearly.

And that means he can see me too.

Dimitri looks to the side and smirks at me, his eyebrow cocking up.

What the hell is he doing here?

With my heart pounding, I do a quick glance around the office. There are a few other people lingering around or talking to the workers, but I don’t see Jaxon and Knox. There’s no telling where they are, but I’m not going to stick around long enough for them to find me.

Keeping my head down, I hurry to the elevator just straight ahead, praying that I’m able to make it to my apartment before Dimitri gets to me .

A man walks in front of me to get to the recreation room attached to the office, making me stop in my tracks.

“Excuse me,” I say, an awkward, apologetic smile forming on my face as I quickly side-step him.

The man pitches me a strange look, probably wondering why it looks like I’m running for my life.

In a way, I am.

When I reach the elevator, I press the up button what feels like a hundred times. “Come on. Hurry up.”

I lift my eyes, watching the red digital number slowly go down toward the lobby. My skin grows warm and clammy, and I swear I’m on the verge of a panic attack as the elevator gets closer and closer.

“Where are you running off to so fast?”

My blood runs ice cold as I whirl around and face Dimitri, my heart threatening to pound out of my chest. He’s wearing a black bomber jacket, a white T-shirt underneath, and black pants. Dark just like his short hair.

“I’m going home. What are you doing here? Are you stalking me?” I bite out as I try to take a step back from him.

Dimitri laughs, the sound chilling me to my core. “No, me and the guys live here. I was getting an extra pool key.”

I can’t stop my jaw from dropping. “Wait, what? You live here? Why?”

Dimitri gestures around us. “This is a nice place, and it’s close to the stadium.”

Those things are true, but there are other nice apartments. Ones that are better, and more importantly, away from me. How can I deal with them at work and as neighbors?

When the elevator dings and the doors slide open, I step inside, turning around just as he steps on. Our bodies almost collide, and his eyes only leave mine to hit the button for the third floor.

“What floor?”

I keep my mouth shut, not wanting him to know where I live. He knows the building, but he doesn’t know the floor or unit number. I’d like for things to stay that way.

When the doors slide shut, Dimitri suddenly surges forward and grips the lapel of my army green jacket, pulling me forward. “Do you really think we won’t be able to find you? Do you think you’re smart enough to dodge us?”

I stare up at him with wide eyes, my breath getting trapped in my lungs. I grab his arm to keep myself from falling, my heart pounding heavily. “Let me go!”

Dimitri pulls me even closer until our bodies press together. The warmth of his body seeps into mine as his ridged muscles box me in. “We finally found our little plaything. We’ll never let you go.”

I can’t stop the shaky scoff that breaks from me. “Plaything? I’m not your puppet to control! You can’t just storm back into my life and ruin things!”

Dimitri laughs in my face as he tightens his grip on my jacket. “We didn’t come here to ruin things. We came here to claim back what’s ours. ”

My blood runs hot now, a twisting sensation filling my stomach. The problem with them is that they don’t just talk the talk. They act on their promises. “Where are the others?”

Dimitri smirks. “What? Just one isn’t enough for you?” He scoffs. “It never was.”

His words are like a punch to the stomach, knocking the breath right out of my lungs.

The elevator doors sliding open saves me, and he finally lets go of my jacket. I catch my breath, my hands slightly shaking.

“We always get what we want.” Dimitri pats my cheek, making me grimace. “See you around, sweetheart.”

More churning in my stomach. I turn and watch him walk out of the elevator, waiting for the doors to close before mashing the button for the fourth floor over and over.

When the elevator finally reaches the fourth floor, I rush down the hallway to my unit, throwing myself inside and locking the door behind me.

I press my back against the front door, listening to the sound of my heavy, rapid heartbeat. I can barely wrap my head around today.

I overheard some of the other players talking today in the gym, and they already like the guys. They think they’ll be good teammates and cool guys off the field. The three of them trick and manipulate others so easily, but they let me see their true, twisted sides.

Even years later, I still don’t understand why I’m the exception.

After taking a minute, I push off my front door and head straight to the kitchen, flicking on the light. Hues of light green and white meet my eyes, and my familiar apartment color scheme slightly comforts me. As long as they don’t find this place, I’m safe here.

I can hide here. My own sanctuary.

But when I leave, I know what I have to face.

I stare at the bottle of whiskey I have hidden in the back of the cupboard. My chest moves with every breath and slowly, my heart rate drops.

I shouldn’t go back. I shouldn’t become the same person my father was and drink away the pain.

Tears cloud my sight and I close the cabinet, knowing it will make me feel better for just a little bit, but then control slips through my fingers and one drink becomes another.

I have to stay strong because the guys aren’t just going to leave.

They’ve been offered positions on an NFL team, and they have the added bonus of having me as their physical therapist. That’s constant contact. Constant torment.

But I’m going to fight my way through this. I have to be strong.