Chapter 46
FORTY-SIX
ADDIE
Dammit.
I’m not normally this weak. Fuck, am I irritated. I was too distracted. Too happy. I didn’t even consider that it could be Dirk when I heard a man call my name from the locker room.
I walked in like a complete idiot.
But this room is normally filled with my teammates. My family. I felt comfortable here. Safe.
“It wasn’t bad enough that you took the spot that should have been mine, you greedy bitch, but then you brought the rookie up? Made me the laughingstock of my team.”
Dirk is still whining. His ego is bruised because I’m playing in the NHL and he’s not. He’s been going on about this for a solid five minutes.
At first he was just raging. Not violent. Though he stood between me and the door, trapping me in here.
When I brushed him off, telling him he didn’t deserve to be called up, he lost it. He yanked me by the arm and shoved me against the wall. And now his hand is on my neck.
I glare at him. “Can’t answer your questions. Can’t breathe,” I grit out.
He doesn’t loosen his grip.
In reality, I can breathe. But I’m irritated that I let myself get into this position.
I tried clawing at him, but digging my short nails into his arm didn’t faze him, and he’s standing back a bit too far for me to gouge him in the eye.
Not that I want him any closer. He reeks of alcohol and body odor.
His eyes are bloodshot and he’s unsteady on his feet.
That gives me hope. I can take him. But first I need to get a grip on him.
“All because we fucked once. Couldn’t handle the rejection.”
Bile works its way up my esophagus, and an onslaught of memories hits me. He didn’t touch me, I remind myself. I had myself checked out. He didn’t touch me.
“You bitch. Thought you could ruin my career,” he jeers. He tightens his hold on my neck.
Fear lances through me. Okay, I need to get out of here. I—
“Get your fucking hands off her,” JJ shouts.
One moment I’m pinned against the wall, and the next JJ has Dirk by the hair and Dirk releases me.
Stumbling, I rub the spot, soothing it. “You ruined your career,” I scream at the asshole. “And I didn’t willingly go into that room with you, so fuck you very much.”
“Eh, you were begging for it,” he slurs.
JJ pushes him against the wall, bringing his knee up between the asshole’s legs, rendering him a sputtering mess. “The fuck did you just say?”
“I said,” he groans, “she was begging for it.” He sucks in a breath and spits at me. I jump back, barely getting out of the way in time.
“I wouldn’t beg for anything from you,” I say, my blood pressure skyrocketing.
His chuckle makes the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. “You know how it is,” he says to JJ, like they’re friends. “I didn’t even do anything to her. I could have. Bitch was begging for it like a needy whore. She really wanted the hockey dick, you know what I mean?”
JJ tightens his hold on Dirk’s throat and leans in close. “You know what mobsters do when they want to take their time killing someone?”
Dirk’s eyes widen and his mouth falls open.
“Little breaths. So you can feel everything. So you don’t pass out. So take a deep breath.”
He releases his neck, but Dirk just stares at him.
“I said take a deep breath, motherfucker.”
“You’re insane.” The asshole glowers, but he inhales.
JJ clutches his throat again, squeezing. “I am. Now tell me, what the fuck did Adeline mean when she said she didn’t go into that room with you willingly?”
“JJ—” I say, panic rising inside me.
He shakes his head and turns to me, his eyes going soft. “Baby, you did nothing wrong. I want him to tell me what he did to you.”
But I’m not sure I want to know what he did to me.
And I don’t want JJ to know how weak I was after he broke my heart.
It’s pathetic, but when I showed up in Vegas and found a familiar face, even if it was Dirk, I accepted his apology.
He said he’d been a stupid kid and asked if he could buy me a drink to make it up to me.
I remember that first drink, and maybe another. But I have no memory again until I woke up the next morning naked with him in my room.
“I didn’t do anything. You were begging,” Dirk sneers.
“Don’t look at her; look at me,” JJ warns. When he doesn’t listen, he clutches his cheeks and yanks his head so he’s facing forward. “You don’t get to look at her.” With a growl, he reels back and slams his fist into Dirk’s eye. “There, that’ll fix that. Now keep going.”
Dirk screams in pain. “You’re sick.”
JJ cuffs his neck again. “Yup. Now tell me what you did to Adeline.”
“JJ,” I plead. Things are getting out of hand, and I’m scared he might actually kill the asshole.
Teeth gritted, he shakes his head. “No. He doesn’t get to breathe easy after causing you to live in fear for years. He’s going to tell me exactly what he did to you, and then he’s going to apologize. Isn’t that right?” He pushes harder against Dirk’s windpipe.
Choking, Dirk forces out a “Fine.”
JJ lets up a little, head tilted, waiting for the confession.
“I drugged her and took off her clothes. Made her think we were together. But all I did was take the videos of you two from her phone. Got a bunch of stills made and put them up in the locker room. Stupid whore had it coming,” he taunts, his lip curling.
“Oh,” he adds, looking my way, “and I jacked off while you whined in the bed. Such pretty whimpers for a hockey player.”
I wrap my arms around myself instinctually, feeling dirty all over again. Like I did that day.
JJ slams his fist into Dirk’s stomach.
He grunts, flailing like he’s trying to escape, with no success. “I did what you asked. Told her everything. Why you hitting me?”
“I said don’t look at her.” JJ slams his fist into his other eye.
“Enough,” I scream, body trembling and heart hammering.
“He’s going to apologize,” JJ says, his tone strangely soft. “Then we’ll go home, okay?”
Eyes closed, I take a deep breath. “Fine.”
“Now apologize,” JJ grits out.
Dirk responds by laughing.
Growling, JJ punches him in the gut again.
“Stop, please,” Dirk finally begs.
Dark laughter pours out of the man I love. “You want me to go easy on you? Seriously? Fuck, you’re dumb. You were so focused on her family connections all these years that you never bothered to look into mine. You’ll regret that later.”
“What does that mean?” the asshole asks, his eyes widening.
“Say you’re sorry,” JJ grinds out. He squeezes his windpipe again, then releases it. “Take a breath and apologize.”
Dirk doesn’t bother with a comeback this time. Instead, he inhales quickly and looks at me. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
JJ puts his hand on his throat again, his whole body taut with anger.
Dirk’s eyes widen like he didn’t expect it. I didn’t expect it either.
“JJ,” I cry again, clutching his arm. “You need to let him go.”
He shakes his head, but he won’t look at me. “See, I don’t think I do. I think—”
The door to the locker room swings open and Gavin strolls in, head down.
“Coach,” I shout, maybe in warning or maybe in desperation, hoping my uncle can stop JJ from doing whatever it is he’s going to do.
Gavin snaps up straight, eyes widening when he takes Dirk in.
Both of Dirk’s eyes are swollen, and his head is lolling to the side, his face nearly purple.
“What the hell?” He lunges forward, trying to get between the guys, but JJ keeps a firm grip on Dirk.
“I found him with his hands wrapped around Adeline’s neck.” His tone is perfectly calm. It’s terrifying, really.
My uncle spins, giving me a once-over. “Are you okay?”
I nod quickly. “He just took me by surprise. I’m not normally that weak.”
Shoulders falling, he rushes to me and pulls me into his arms. “You aren’t weak. Being attacked like that doesn’t mean you aren’t the strongest woman I know.” He tightens his grip on me and rubs my back.
At the comforting touch, my walls crumble and my nervous system crashes. My body, already trembling, shakes in earnest now.
He almost killed me. He might have if JJ hadn’t found me. He took advantage of me years ago. Drugged my drink. Stole my private pictures. Plastered them to walls for a whole team of men to see.
I can’t breathe. It’s too much.
“It’s okay. It’s okay,” my uncle murmurs as I suck in deep, shuddering breaths and cry against his chest. “What else did he do to her?” Gavin’s tone is laced with pain and fury.
“He took advantage of her. Four years ago. It’s why she didn’t play in that NHL game. He drugged her and put private photos of her all over the locker room.”
“I need you to take her. Can you do that for me?” Gavin says. “I need you to get her home and take care of her.”
My heart cracks at the desperation in my uncle’s voice.
Stop being weak, Addie. You are strong. You can do this. I take a long breath and step back, forcing my shoulders to straighten. “I’m fine. Sorry, I just needed a minute.”
I swipe the tears from my cheeks, but more pool in my eyes, making the scene before me a blurry mess.
JJ drops Dirk, who falls in a lump onto the floor. Then JJ’s scooping me into his arms, cupping the back of my head. “Oh, Adeline. I’m so sorry.” He hugs me tight and I bury myself in his chest. “I just—”
I shake my head. “If I’d found you the way you found me, I’d have done the same.” I let out a bitter laugh. Because I’m not this weak. I could have protected JJ.
“Of course you would have. You’re the strongest person I know.”
“Can you get her out of here?” Gavin says, staring down at Dirk, who is moaning on the floor.
JJ cups my cheeks, looking at me with so much love in his eyes. “Want me to call the guys so they can create a distraction before we head out?”
I blink, my mind spinning. Considering. It takes a moment to understand why he’s asking. There’s always press around the arena. It may not be a game night, but because it’s the Holiday Skate, a few local stations are here.
“You trying to tell me I look bad or something?” I try to tease.
He gives me a pained smile, swiping the tears from my cheeks. “You look beautiful, like always.”
I drop my forehead to his. “I can do this.”
“Of course you can.”
I straighten again, and he presses a kiss to my lips.
As if he’s imbued me with some of his strength, I nod and take another breath. Then I head toward the door. I don’t look at Dirk. He doesn’t deserve another ounce of my attention.
JJ opens the door and steps to the side. At the threshold, I stop and peer back at him, holding out a hand.
His brows tug together as he studies it. “Adeline.” He swallows. “The press is out there. And our teammates.”
I nod. “Take my hand anyway.”
“Everyone will know.” The words are rough, like he won’t allow himself to hope that I want that.
“Take my hand anyway,” I repeat, meeting his gaze.
“This changes everything,” he says, giving me one more chance for an out.
I smile. It’s bright. It’s filled with hope. Because yeah, I’m ready to shake it all up and change everything.
No more being scared. No more hiding.
I stick my hand out farther. “Take. My. Hand. Anyway.”
With a sharp breath in, he snags my hand and tugs me into his chest, tucking me beneath his arm and pressing a kiss to my forehead. “I love you.”
“I love you too. Let’s go home.”
With a smile on my face and my head held high, I walk through the halls, my hand firmly locked in JJ’s, past the press and past our teammates.
The secret is out. And I couldn’t be happier.