Chapter 42
Conner
Conner had been so preoccupied with the game he didn”t even stop to think he needed to go with Sasha to check her room. He was focused on talking to Coach and then he would make his way to her room.
“Sasha!” he heard Cash yelling in the hallway.
His heart dropped. He had walked her to her room every night. But not tonight. “Fuck!”
“Go.” He barely heard Coach Wagner say as he tore out of the room down to Sasha”s door. Then he heard her cry out and he got the key from his suit jacket as he saw Cash trying to break down the door. By now the doors in the hallway were opening and the rest of the team started poking their heads out.
He was running to the room and slid the card into the door as he heard a loud commotion in the room. The door wouldn”t open. It had been latched from the inside. He pushed at it one more time to no avail. Then he slammed his shoulder into the door. Nothing. His eyes connected with Cash’s and they both slammed their shoulders into the door at the same time. The wood splintered as the door flew open.
When the door opened, he found Sasha on the floor with a strange man on the floor unconscious. He ran to her and pulled her into his arms.
“Conner!” She clung to him, tears streaming down her face.
“Shhh, I”ve got you,” he said as he stroked her hair.
“What the fuck!” Cash exclaimed as he appraised the scene. “Are you okay?”
She just nodded, still clinging to Conner.
“Are you hurt?” he said, pulling her away to look at her. Her cheek was rosy, and he could see a bruise forming along her cheekbone.
“I’m okay.”
“Let”s get you out of here,” he said, helping her off the floor.
”Don”t let him out of your sight,” he said to Cash whose eyes met his with a fierce nod.
He brought her out into the hallway that was full of his team trying to figure out what was going on.
“Call the police,” he said to Taylor who was the first face he came into contact with. He nodded and disappeared behind his door to make the call.
“What”s going on?” Ethan asked, his eyes wide with shock.
“There has been some stalker after her since the gala, it looks like he finally found her,” he growled out.
“Damn,” Ethan said, stunned.
Conner didn”t care about anything else right now. Cash was watching that asshole; the police were on their way and Sasha was in his arms. He pulled her back to look at her, he let his fingers graze over her cheek, and she winced.
“Get me some ice,” he said to Ethan who disappeared to get some ice.
“I’m so sorry baby, I should’ve been with you,” he said as she clung to him, tears silently streaming down her face. “I’m so sorry.”
Ethan brought him a washcloth full of ice and handed it to Conner. He gave it to Sasha to press to her cheek. Within moments security and police started swarming the floor.
“Boys, let”s all go to the conference room,” called Coach Wagner.
“I’m not going anywhere,” he said.
“Of course, do what needs to be done. Let me know what”s happening when you know something,” Coach said to him.
“We”ll be downstairs for any questions,” Coach Wagner said to an officer as the team started making their way downstairs.
Before long the police officers were carrying the attacker away on a stretcher and had the scene under control. Conner still had not let go of Sasha.
“Ma”am, I”m going to need you to come down to the station,” said one of the officers.
“Can”t we just do that here and I have a card with the name of the detective handling this case back in New York,” Conner said, reaching for his wallet.
“There is a history here?” he asked.
Conner nodded. “Are you able to answer some questions?” he asked Sasha.
“Yeah,” she said as he wiped away her tears.
“My room”s a few doors down. We can do it there,” Conner said.
They made their way into his room followed by two officers. Conner sat next to her on the bed while Sasha answered questions. Sitting here listening to her recount the attack made him sick. He had been so good about walking her to her room the previous two nights, but tonight he was distracted and of course tonight was the night her stalker was lying in wait for her. The guilt weighed heavily on him, but he couldn”t deal with that right now. Right now, all he needed to focus on was Sasha and getting her through this.
“I think that”s all we need. Can we have your contact information if we have any more questions?” Sasha gave them her phone number.
“We’re supposed to leave in the morning. Are we still good to fly back to New York?” Conner asked.
“Yeah, I’ll be in touch with the detective handling the case there.”
“Okay, thank you.”
Once the police left Conner sat with Sasha. “Sasha,” he turned her face gently to look into her eyes. “Baby, I”m so sorry. What can I do?”
“Can you just get my stuff from my room? I just want to shower and go to bed.”
“Yeah, I”ll be right back.”
He didn”t want to leave her, but he somehow managed to pull himself away from her long enough to get her things. In the hallway he ran into Cash.
“How”s she holding up?” he asked.
“About as good as can be expected. I can”t believe I didn”t walk her to her room tonight.”
“You can”t think like that, man. You”ll drive yourself crazy. She”s okay and the guy is dealt with,” he said.
“I know...I just can”t help but think about it.”
“Just be there for her. That”s all that can be done now,” said Cash. “I’m going down to the team. Should I tell Coach you”re staying up here with Sasha?”
“Yeah.” Then Cash made his way to his elevator. The police let Conner in to get Sasha”s bag and toiletries. They attempted to put up a fight, but Conner wasn”t in the mood. They eventually relented.
What a day. He had been upset about the loss, but this put the whole night into perspective. He made his way back into his room cursing Florida. Last time the team was here he ended up in the hospital with Wes, this time here with Sasha.
Fuck Florida.