Chapter 67
Nate
Fuck my dick hurts. I pull myself up from the bathroom floor and check down the front of my joggers. It looks intact but from the way Riley kicked me, I'm sure I’ll be pissing blood for a week.
Stupid little bitch. She should be thanking me. I practically fucking saved her. She has no idea the hold Lockhart has. If it weren't for my family, she probably would have met him a hell of a lot sooner. She should be worshiping the ground I walk on. I gave up my freedom for her.
My phone buzzes in my pocket. Speak of the devil. I ignore Lockhart’s call and pocket my phone again, rushing out of the bathroom. I see Riley and her meddling friend run past the windows outside and I head towards the entrance. I can’t let them see me but I'll follow them and hope I can get Riley alone again. My phone buzzes again so I answer and slow my pace a bit while still keeping an eye on Riley running ahead.
“Nate,” comes Lockhart's voice through the phone.
I grunt in response.
“You know the deal Nate.”
“She is supposed to be mine,” I seethe into the phone.
“I am owed a debt Nate, you were just a placeholder. Didn't daddy dearest explain it to you? I'm quite sure he warned you not to get too attached to your toys,” Lockhart responds.
My mind races back to high school.
It's my junior year and I've just gotten back from my football game. We won 21-7 and I couldn't wait to tell my dad. He couldn't make it as usual due to business. I race through the door towards his office and am about to barge through when I hear another voice.
“He owes me now Daniel.”
“Fuck, I told him not to get involved in this. Why didn't he listen to me? She’s too young Ethan. You can't take her yet. People will ask questions.” My dad responds.
My eyes narrow as I listen through the door. I know that name. I don't like him. He gives me the creeps. He's always staring at me whenever I'm at any of my dads business functions.
“Don't forget, you owe me too, Daniel. Would you prefer I take the same payment from you?” Lockhart asks.
“I'll take care of it Ethan” my dad says.
I hear the scraping of a chair and start to turn around but I lose my balance and fall against the wall. The office door swings open and Lockhart's eyes connect with mine.
“Your son is becoming quite a handsome young man Daniel,” Lockhart runs his tongue across his lip “Best you keep a close eye on him so he doesnt get into any trouble.'' Without another word he walks through the foyer and I hear the front door close.
My father stands there glaring at me. “Were you eavesdropping boy?” he says
“No Dad, I was just coming to tell you about the game we won, what was that about?”
Suddenly my dad grabs me by my letterman. “Don't go calling and hanging around anymore girls, you understand? You're to marry Riley after graduation.”
My face falls. I had been dating Riley since freshman year but I planned on breaking it off with her. Our families knew each other forever but she is just too innocent for me. I don't want to be tied down anymore. Now that I'm Varsity, I am getting the kind of attention I have always wanted. Girls are falling all over me left and right.
“I don't want to be tied down,” I say, matter of fact.
I don't even see the blow coming but I feel it when his fist connects with my face so hard I hit our wall.
“You will do as you’re told boy and not another fucking word.”
His desk phone rings and he moves to answer it, not bothering to glance back in my direction .
“Christopher, Nathan was just telling me the big news! I'm disappointed I couldn't be there to see that win,” he speaks into the phone, gesturing for me to close his office door. I do so, and walk away.
Lockhart’s voice is once again in my head, this time through my cell. “Nate, are you listening? You better bring me the girl, unless you want to take her place? I'm sure your daddy would blow a fuse if his little heir gave himself up in the name of love.” He starts laughing.
I'm suddenly knocked off balance and a punch lands in my gut, making me double over.
My phone falls to the ground and I'm grabbed from behind. Another guy reaches for my phone but I stomp on it, shattering it before he can grab it. He looks at me, clearly annoyed before punching me in the stomach again.
“You have been causing quite the problem Nate,” another man says, stepping into my line of sight. “I'm making a pretty penny off you.”
“Let me go or I promise you will regret this,” I grumble. “My boss doesn't like it when he doesn't get his way.”
The man chuckles “Oh I'm not worried about your boss Nate. Lockhart and I have a long overdue meeting.”
What the fuck? I don't have time to process what he says before I'm hit in the head and everything goes black.