Chapter 34
CALLUM
Running my fingers through my damp hair as I head out of the locker room, I’m thankful the media didn’t keep me occupied for too long. Novak falls into step with me, nudging me with his elbow.
“Gonna go talk to Alia now?” he asks, wagging his brows like he’s ready for some fresh gossip.
“She’s here. I’ve waited long enough.” I’m more nervous than I care to admit.
“Right. Right. But remember what I said,” Theo nags as we turn the corner. “Don’t let the sergeant come out to play.”
I’m about to respond with an idea of stuffing his own sergeant down his throat when I hear Alia’s distressed voice exclaim, “Rohan, no!”
My head whips up, tension shooting straight across my shoulders when I realize there is a small crowd creating a bottleneck near the exit the players normally use.
Novak and I exchange looks, our pace quickening immediately.
As we get closer, Moore’s red face comes into view as a man in a suit gesticulates at him.
The flash of a purple wristband under the sleeve of the grey suit indicates he’s part of the corporate boxes.
“Listen to her. You won’t get as lucky as the last time,” he drawls.
Urgency shoots through me because that sounded like a threat. No one fucking threatens my friend. I hasten to reach them, ready to throw hands if necessary.
“I don’t fucking care, you asshole. If I see you harassing Alia again—” Moore tries to lunge for the guy, only for Vega, Irsia, and Alia to hold him back.
“Don’t, Moore!” our captain commands, his arms locked across Rohan’s chest. The look they exchange tells me there’s something to this entire confrontation to which I’m not privy.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, taking the chance to interrupt what is possibly devolving into a fistfight. I roll my wrist, subconsciously limbering myself up just in case.
“All good.” The suited asshole smirks, turning to look at me. “Just saying hi to my wife.”
“Ex-wife,“ Alia snaps.
Shit. This is the dumbass ex-husband who messed with Alia’s head? Whatever dislike I have for him increases exponentially.
“I’ve told you to stay away from me before,” she continues. “Don’t make me get a restraining order.”
“Before? This jerk has bothered you before?” Rohan bellows, fury making his skin turn ruddy. He tries to shake Vega off but thankfully, by then, DuPont and Coach have noticed the disturbance and joined us.
With some skill, we shuffle everyone farther down the hall so we’re not overheard by any passers-by.
I pat DuPont on his back and discreetly nod toward Moore, who is refusing to be led away. Rohan, as our AC, absolutely cannot get into a fight with this man. One look at the way his lips are twisted in an ugly smirk tells me Alia’s ex is the petty and vengeful sort.
“Rohan, let’s not make the same mistakes,” Coach warns, and I can see him fighting with himself for control.
“Fine. Alia, let’s go.”
“No,” she replies. “I need to finish this conversation.”
If Rohan’s head had a lid, it would’ve hit the ceiling.
“No fucking way,” he snaps. “You can’t deal with him alone.”
I know he means well, but damn, if that isn’t borderline infantilizing her. Her expression falls, her color climbing high. It’s all I can do not to call him an idiot to his face.
“I’m staying,” she says, quietly, but with conviction. Attagirl!
Before Moore can protest, Theo and I flank her, letting him know in action that we’ll be there with her.
With effort, Vega, DuPont, and Coach drag Moore away from the eye of the storm and out the back door.
Irsia follows them, turning once to check on us.
Whatever she sees when her gaze sweeps from her cousin to me must put her at ease because her chin tips down, as though she’s trusting me with Alia’s safety.
Before I can make any sense of that feeling, the door closes.
“I forgot how much you and your family liked drama.” The jeering voice grates on my nerves, and it takes a lot to remain calm.
I turn just as Alia snarks, “You’re the one who started this, Namik. You get some kind of sick enjoyment from tormenting people.”
“Or maybe you overreacted like you always do. Don’t even get me started on your cousin. Fucking brute.”
“Or you could learn that no means no when I tell you to stay away from me.” She glares at him, refusing to cower, and I’m so proud.
I curl my palm around her elbow when she turns toward me. “Did he touch you?”
“I didn’t touch the bitch and, even if I did, she’s my wife.”
“Ex!” Alia and I snap together just as Novak steps right in his face and barks, “Watch your fucking mouth.”
I tug Novak back, stopping him from throwing the punch he looks ready to deliver, and finally face the man I’ve been dreaming of dismembering.
His gleaming dark hair is swept back in a style that looks like it took time to perfect, his clear skin, and well-groomed beard.
As much as I hate to admit it, he’s attractive—if your type is a stuck-up stockbroker.
But his eyes hold a cruelty I’ve learned to read with time, his lips turned in a sneer I want to wipe out with my fist.
When I step toward him, Alia slaps a hand on my chest. My gaze drops down to her worried face as protectiveness rushes through me.
“Please, Cal,” she whispers. “Let it go. I don’t want any trouble.”
“Just gonna talk, Tots,” I promise, drawing her behind me to safety.
Her ex scoffs at my gesture, eyes narrowing to where my hand rests on hers.
“No fucking way. You two have something going on?”
“None of your business,” I cut in, my tone so cold it should’ve been warning enough to stop talking.
Like the dumbass he is, he continues. “Didn’t realize prudes were your style,” he snorts. “Hey man, good luck getting her on her knees.”
Alia’s gasp echoes as I shove him against the wall, his face twisting when his shoulder blades connect with cold brick. His pained grunt is delightful to me.
“What the hell—?”
“Listen, fuckface,” I hiss, deliberately using my size to intimidate him. I won’t hit him. It wouldn’t be a fair fight and I don’t need a murder charge. But he’s done insulting Alia in front of me.
Maybe he reads the death-threat lurking beneath my barely maintained facade of calm because he gulps, eyes shifting toward the exit down the empty hallway. I hear shuffling feet behind me, but I know I can count on Theo to make sure Alia doesn’t get close to us right now.
Namik’s jaw is tight but, unlike before, he’s holding back from confronting me. I take undue pleasure in stripping the power he thought he had.
“I wondered what kind of a stupid man would cheat on a woman like Alia. Then, I met you and I realized you’ve done her a favor.
” My condescending chuckle makes his skin stain crimson.
“No wonder you couldn’t keep her—you’ve missed the whole goddamn point.
She doesn’t have to be on her knees because I will be on mine. ”
I pat him patronizingly. Anyone watching us would misconstrue it for a friendly gesture, but each solid thump of my hand upon his shoulder makes him flinch.
“Weren’t you supposed to be the nice guy?” he snaps, brushing my hand away angrily.
“The fact that you’re still standing is proof I’m being nice. You won’t get a second chance.”
His eyes widen in alarm, a slight sheen of sweat shining across his forehead when I lean in, my next words audible only to the two of us.
“Thanks for fucking up your marriage. I won’t make the mistakes you did.
Stay far away from Alia, unless you want to learn to live with a puck inside your ass. Are we clear?”