Page 36 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

My fear amps up to an all-time high. He’s not listening to Coach.

What if we can’t talk him down? What happens next?

How do I get her away from him without her getting hurt more than she already is?

Chaz’s stare is menacing, which I return with vigor.

“Let’s handle this like men,” I tell him.

My hands are raised in the air, as if to say to him that I don’t mean any harm.

It’s a lie. He knows it. Hell, everyone in this room knows it, but I have to try something.

As soon as he lets her go, I’ll make him pay for what he’s done to her.

Today, and in the past, he’ll never get his hands on her again.

Fuck me, I could kill him right now, and not have an ounce of regret.

Not if it saves her, and gives her a freedom she’s never had with him lurking in the shadows of her life.

I catch movement out of the corner of my eye. I see Knox moving behind Chaz, Foster right beside him. Baker and Reid move closer to me.

“Let her go,” Reid seethes. “Do you really want to be known as the man who beats up on women? Who abuses them sexually, physically, and emotionally?” Reid grits, trying to reason with him, but there’s a haunted look in Chaz’s eyes, and it tells me that nothing we say is going to reach him.

He’s too far gone in his plot to… what? Get her back?

Make her pay for being with me? Whatever it is, he’s lost, and showing no signs of negotiation.

“Put your fucking dick away!” Baker rages. “You’re embarrassing yourself.”

“Fuck you, Sinclair,” Chaz spits, his eyes darting around the room at each of us, trying to calculate his next move, I’m sure.

“Brown, I’m warning you. Your contract is on the line. Your entire fucking career. I’ll see to it that you never work for another team in the league. Let. Her. Go,” Coach grinds out. You can hear the sorrow in his tone as he sees Rowan being treated this way.

“This is why she left you,” I tell him, fighting like hell to remain calm while the fire rages inside me. I need to keep his attention on me, because I know what Knox and Foster are about to do, and I’ll owe them for the rest of my life.

“You don’t know shit!” Chaz roars, yanking Rowan’s hair. She screams, and it cuts through me like a rusted blade to the chest.

Chaz looks down at her with a snarl, and that’s when they strike.

Knox grabs his free arm and twists, while Foster captures the other and squeezes so hard, Chaz has no choice but to let her go.

His hand falls from her hair as he fights them.

I rush toward Rowan, catching her as she crumples to the floor, crying in pain and fear.

Dropping to my knees, I pull her into my arms. “It’s me, baby.

It’s me. You’re safe.” I try to soothe her, but I’m not sure she can hear me over her sobs and the commotion that’s going on next to us.

I block it all out. I know my boys and Coach have him handled.

With everything inside me, I’d love nothing more than to smash his head into the wall, or my fist, whichever, but Rowan needs me.

I just need to take care of her. Of my Rowan.

“Call security!” someone yells. I think it’s Coach.

“Baby, can you stand up for me?” I ask her. She clings to me, shaking her head. “I want to get you out of here,” I explain.

She keeps her head buried in my chest and refuses to move.

So, we don’t move. I grip her to my chest as if she might disappear.

“I’m so sorry,” I whisper against her ear.

I don’t know if she can hear me or even comprehend what I’m saying with how upset she is, rightfully so, but I keep whispering the words over and over again anyway.

Finally, after what feels like hours, the cops show up and usher him away. A female cop comes to crouch next to us, where we’re sitting on the shower floor, Rowan still wrapped up in my arms.

“Ms. Mills, I’m Officer Hughes.”

Rowan ignores her.

“Do we have to do this now?” I ask her. “Can’t you see how upset she is?”

“I’m sorry, sir. I know this is difficult, but we need a statement from both of you.”

I give her a stiff nod. I fucking hate it, but it’s what has to happen in order for us to be able to put that piece of shit behind bars where he belongs. Hell, I don’t even know if he’ll get jail time for this. Surely, he will, right?

“Rowan, baby, we need to tell the police what happened. I’m not leaving your side. I promise I’ll be right here. You can do this, Roe. You’re strong as hell, and I know you can do this. Tell them what happened today. Tell them what happened in the past. I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

I rub her back soothingly, wishing like hell I could take this away from her. I don’t know what happened before I got here, and I’m scared to hear it all, even though I need to. I need to know what she went through so that I can help her heal.

“Rowan?”

I look up at the sound of my sister’s voice. Tears stream down her cheeks and a look of sheer determination settles in her eyes. “Core.” My voice cracks.

She kneels next to us and takes Rowan’s hand. “How about we kick everyone out, and I can help you get cleaned up?” she asks softly.

Finally, Rowan lifts her head to look at my sister. “Corie,” she says, her voice breaking.

“We’re here,” Corie tells her. “We’re all here for you. He’s not going to get away with this.”

“We need to take pictures,” Officer Hughes says. There’s regret in her tone. She’s just doing her job, and if pictures are what needs to happen to help nail this bastard, then that’s what needs to happen. I hate it for Rowan, but we need him to suffer the consequences of his actions.

“Do you want to stay with Corie?” I ask her. “All the men, we can step out of the room.”

Rowan clings to me.

“Okay, baby. Okay,” I soothe her. “Can everyone leave us, please?” I ask the room.

Coach nods, as do the guys, as well as the male officers. I wait until the door clicks shut to address Rowan again. “They’re gone, baby. It’s me, you, Corie, and Officer Hughes. Can we see you? I know this is painful, but, baby, this is what needs to happen to put him away for a very long time.”

“Don’t leave me,” she whispers, her voice breaking.

“Never,” I assure her. “I’ll be right here the entire time. In fact, I’ll stand by the door to make sure no one comes in. Is that okay?”

She nods and lifts her head. Her eyes are red, tear stains track her cheeks, her shirt is torn, and for the first time, I notice bruises on her neck. That motherfucker is going to pay for hurting her.

“Come on.” Corie stands and offers Rowan her hand.

I watch as she places her trembling hand in my sister’s and allows Corie to help her stand. I scramble to my feet and rush to the door like a guard dog. I don’t know what else to do to help her, and if this makes her feel safe, that’s where I’ll be.

Officer Hughes speaks calmly and quietly as she takes Rowan’s statement.

Hearing her tell the officer what happened here today makes me sick.

I never should have left the locker room without her.

I know I can be a lot—I hover over her because I crave being next to her.

I was trying to keep our work and personal relationship separate.

I know how much her job means to her, and how important it is for her to be working and supporting herself.

I was just trying to do right by her, and instead, I left her vulnerable.

Outside of a few jabs here and there, Chaz has been quiet. I’ve been lax, thinking that he was giving up. I should have known better. Only a fool would let a woman as amazing as my Rowan go without a fight.

An hour later, Rowan has given her statement, and pictures have been taken.

There are fingertip bruises on her throat, her breasts, and up and down both arms. Officer Hughes meets me at the door and asks me to recall what I walked into.

I give her my statement, and she promises me that she’ll be in touch and that Chaz Brown will get what’s coming to him.

I don’t know if that’s a promise that she can make, but it helps ease my anger just a fraction.

“I’m going to help her get changed and cleaned up,” Corie tells me.

“Is that okay, Roe? Can Corie help you?”

Rowan nods. I want her to ask for me, but I’m a man, and although she clung to me, I don’t know that she’s going to welcome my touch—even a soothing and loving one—anytime soon. That’s okay. I’m here, and we’ll get through this.

“I’ll step out,” I tell her.

“No.” She raises her head to look at me. “Can you just—turn around?” she asks meekly.

“Whatever you need, beautiful,” I tell her, and she tries to offer me a smile, but it falls flat. Walking back to the door, I give my sister and the love of my life my back and allow them the space they need.

“I was on the bus and saw Landry rush away. I had this feeling something was wrong. I texted Knox, and he and the guys grabbed Coach and came in. I’m so sorry,” Corie says, her voice wavering.

“You didn’t do this,” Rowan tells her.

“I know, but you’re my friend, and I love you. I hate that he hurt you.”

They’re both quiet, so when Rowan finally speaks, it’s as if she’s screaming when, in fact, her voice is nothing but a whisper. “I love you too.”

Something about her whispered confession and the sobs coming from the two most important women in my life reaching my ears has me choked up.

“She’s all set,” Corie says.

Slowly, I turn to face them. Rowan stands with her hands clasped in front of her. She looks scared, and I hate it.

“Roe,” I say softly. “Can I take you out of here? We’ll get a room and stay tonight.”

“I want to go home.”

I nod. “Okay. I’ll rent a car, and we’ll drive together. Is that okay?”

She nods again. This time, she raises her eyes to look at Corie. “Will you come too?”

My sister's lip wobbles. “Anything you need, Rowan.”

Rowan turns her eyes back to me. “Can we do that? I mean, will you get into trouble with the team?”

I can’t take it anymore. I need to be close to her. With slow, measured steps, I make my way to her. “Baby, I don’t give a fuck about the team. You are my priority. You are what matters. If me driving us home is what you want, then that’s what I’ll do.”

“Knox?”

“He’s just outside.” I nod over my shoulder toward the locker room. He didn’t tell me, but I know for certain Knox, Reid, Baker, Foster, and Coach are out there waiting on us.

“He can come too. And the guys. Can we find a car big enough?”

I smile. “Yeah, baby, we’ll rent a van, charter one, whatever we have to do. Is that what you want?”

She nods. “I just want to be around family.”

That crack you just heard was the final piece of my heart shattering and landing at her feet.

Fuck, I’m pissed at myself that I haven’t told her before how much I love her.

I can’t do it here. Not like this. But I wish I had.

Fuck timelines or worrying about scaring her away.

She’s my family. She’s my heart, my entire fucking world.

While I know I’ve told her in so many words, I never said the three most important.

I love you.

“Let’s get you home.” I offer her my hand, and without an ounce of hesitation, she takes it. She moves to snuggle into my chest, and all I can do is stand here, wrap my arms around her, and swallow back the tears that threaten to fall. Corie leaves us with a gentle hand on my shoulder.

I don’t rush Rowan. I’ll stand here for hours if she needs me to. Finally, she pulls away. “Take me home, Landry.”

I nod, and with my arm over her shoulder, we step out of the shower room into the locker room.

“I rented a van,” Foster says, holding up his phone. “They’re delivering it here in about ten minutes.”

“The bus is rolling out. The seven of you are excused from riding back with the team,” Coach explains. “Rowan, I’m so sorry.”

She tries to smile. “It’s okay. He’s been like this for years. This is the first time I’ve had anyone on my side.”

Coach’s jaw clenches. “Would you be willing to speak to me about those past experiences?” he asks her.

“Not today.”

“No. Not today,” he agrees.

“Yes, sir,” Rowan says. Her voice is clear and strong. “I’m not alone anymore.”

“Fuck no, you’re not,” Reid says.

“Drive safe,” Coach says, leaving the room.

“Thank you all for being here… for riding back with us. I—I hate that you’re seeing me like this, but to know that you’re here for me makes my heart feel too big for my chest. I know this is an inconvenience—” she starts, but Baker interrupts her.

“I’ll stop you right there. We’re here because we care about you. You’re family, and you will never be an inconvenience. Now, because I’m the best driver, I’ll take the wheel.”

“I call shotgun!” Reid says. “I’ll be your personal DJ to enhance your travel experience.”

“I’m thinking baby Reynolds should be DJ,” Foster tells him.

“Mrs. Beckett,” Knox corrects. “And my wife will be sitting with me.”

We all chuckle, even Rowan. I bend down and whisper, “Ready?”

She nods. “Yes.”

The seven of us take a back entrance from the stadium, where security is there with our rental. We pile in and head back to Nashville. Rowan and I settle into the back row, and I hold her tightly in my arms for the entire drive. I don’t know how I’m ever going to let her go again.