Chapter 25
Ford
“Where is she?” I asked, but not really to anyone in particular.
“Maybe something happened,” Beck said from beside me. “Car trouble.”
“Then why didn’t she call?”
“Phone died?”
“That’s not like her.” I pulled out my phone, checking to ensure I hadn’t missed a message. Of course I hadn’t because I’d done the same thing now fifteen times.
“The plane is going to board any minute,” my father said. “If you want, I can stay behind, son, and see if I can find her.”
My entire family was waiting to board a damn plane. There was a seat for the love of my life, but Georgia was missing. “No, that’s crazy. You’ve waited your entire lives for this moment. Two sons.”
My mother and father glanced back and forth with a knowing look. “Honey, this is your dream and we love and want to support you, but Georgia is your real future. Maybe this is just a bit much for her. The last few weeks have been overwhelming.”
“I don’t know what the hell to do.” Why did she need time to herself?
Why? After Portland, she’d suddenly become very quiet, the last few days as if she was barely there.
I was such an idiot to assume she would go with us to Chicago for the draft announcement, which was late this year due to the new franchise.
An event I never thought I’d be asked to attend. A dream come true. A chance at making a big name for myself. A potential contract with seven figures. I owed every bit of possible success to Georgia. And she wasn’t here.
“I pushed her too hard. I didn’t listen to her.” Her not showing up at the airport, which she’d told me she would, meant she didn’t want to have anything to do with me.
“Delta Flight is ready for boarding at gate A-17.” The announcement came over the speakers, people immediately on their feet. I’d been pacing for a full two hours.
In between making phone calls.
I couldn’t help but think something was going on, but I still couldn’t read her beautiful mind. Damn it.
“You didn’t push her too hard, Ford. I’ll stay here and find out,” Beck offered.
Everyone in the family look at him like he was a nutcase. Including me. “You earned your place in the ceremony, brother,” I told him.
“We’re all going,” Pops told us. “That’s what Georgia would want.” He wasn’t giving us a chance to object, pushing the entire family toward the gateway.
Something in the back of my mind told me this was a huge mistake.
One that I would never forgive myself for.
* * *
The atmosphere was wild, people everywhere. Not only were there people lined up to get inside the highly coveted event, but hundreds if not thousands were lining the sidewalks and streets for a chance to get an autograph from a new favorite player.
“This is wild,” Samantha yelled over the melee.
“This is perfect,” Cole shot back as he strutted his way toward a group of girls.
I checked my phone, noticing Abbott had just stepped out of a limousine.
“What is it with all the posters?” my mother asked. I could hear the growl in her voice as she did.
While there were a huge percentage of supporters, there were an equal number of shifter haters as well.
As usual, the posters were creative.
Shifters Should Be Fed to the Wolves
What in the hell was that supposed to mean? That we eat our own?
No Beasts Allowed on the Ice
That one had a colorful creation of a werewolf with a big O around it with a dagger through the beast’s heart instead of a slash.
Beasts are For Barbecues.
That one made me cringe.
“These bastards drive me crazy,” Beck said as we were pushed by a group of women who squealed when they noticed us.
“Whoa,” Cole barked as the three of us were pawed. Like beasts.
“Get away from them!” Samantha took the bull by the horns, dragging us away.
Just like Georgia would do.
Damn it. I needed her here. With me. By my side.
I was sick inside, unable to enjoy a single moment. To think of all she’d done with having Coach Stryker talk to Abbott, bombarding the man with ideas about the contract. Negotiating as if I was some rock star. She was amazing.
Not only was she my mate, but I loved her with all my heart.
Although I couldn’t let that go to her head.
At least I could smile, although the gesture waned quickly.
Abbott pushed his way through the crowd toward us. Did he have two bodyguards with him? What the hell? Did he think he was some big celebrity? I had to remind myself he was our agent.
Thanks to Georgia.
I scanned the street, maybe hopeful I’d catch sight of her. How ridiculous.
“This way, guys,” Abbott told us.
While the others walked closer, I hung back, pulling my phone into my hand again. If only I’d told her how I really felt about her. This meant nothing to me without having her right by my side.
“What’s wrong?” Abbott asked.
I didn’t want to tell him anything, but he had put himself out there with the contracts. “Georgia. There’s something going on. She’s supposed to be here.”
“This is your time, you know. Your moment.”
He wasn’t being nasty or even pushy. Just a soft reminder of how hard I’d worked over the years. “Yeah, I know. I’ll be right there.”
“Okay.”
I closed my eyes, envisioning her face. My father was right. She’d want this for me. For the family.
But what in the fuck was going on? I’d need to give her a piece of my mind.
As well as a spanking. Yeah, a long, hard spanking. Feeling resigned, I turned around to head into the hotel when my phone rang. Hopeful, I could barely breathe.
Then I noticed the number and laughed. “Coach Stryker. I was just thinking about you. We’re here and this wouldn’t be happening if it weren’t for you.’
“Yeah, well, you might need to rethink your plans, son.”
“Why?”
With the coach’s voice coming close to breaking, I sensed the urgency in what he was telling me. There was no room for error, no time to waste.
“I don’t know how I’ll do it, but I will get there. Do me a favor, Coach.”
“Anything, son.”
“Round up some people in town. Will ya?”
He laughed. “Already done.”
With a slow and steady growl, I scanned the crowd until I located Abbott. He could tell when I was close something was wrong.
“What is it?” he asked.
“I need to head back to Seattle. It’s very important and I need to tell you why.”
To his credit, he listened without interrupting. When I was finished, I couldn’t breathe and I realized I’d likely just tossed my career away.
Again.
But this time, I was doing so for all the right reasons.
My mate.
“Well, then,” he said and I bristled while waiting to hear the crap he was going to toss out. Whatever. Just whatever. “Then you’ll need to take my jet.”
* * *
Georgia
“Don’t look so forlorn, Gigi. Soon, you’ll be back home where you belong.” Hoffman placed a glass of wine in front of me, standing over me like a vulture.
I didn’t bother looking at him. The thought made me sick inside.
“Of course there will be some additional rules. We’ll discuss those when we arrive.”
Did the bastard expect I was going to agree? I was furious, more so than I’d been in my entire life. While going back to Baltimore was the last thing I wanted to do, I felt I had no choice.
Why?
Because his threats had teeth.
“Why are you doing this, Hoffman? It’s obvious I don’t want to be with you.”
He sat down in his seat, looking at me seemingly bored with what I’d said. He was wearing a designer suit as if that would disguise the fact he was a real monster.
“You obviously don’t know what you want, Gigi. After all, I found you wallowing in mud with a goddamn animal. Disgusting. At least I can do something to ensure you aren’t touched by another beast again.”
“You’re the only beast,” I hissed. “If you dare try and do anything to Ford or his family, including destroying his career, I will find a way of dragging you to the wolves.”
He took the time to place his drink on the table, clapping in a slow and steady rhythm. “How cute, Gigi. As long as you’re a good girl, I’ll leave your animal alone.”
“He’s not an animal, you bastard.” I’d fought his advances, ready to tell Ford and his family what was happening when Hoffman had played his final hand in putting invisible chains on me.
He’d shared just how powerful his father and his brother-in-law were and how determined all three men had become in ridding the world of shifters. Including hiring ex-mercenaries as hunters.
The horrors were real and a product of Hoffman’s family.
My only bargaining chip had been to offer my life in exchange for one family.
That didn’t mean I bought that he’d leave them alone. I wasn’t that stupid. However agreeing to come with him and knowing their plans, I could take time in finding a way to expose what they were doing.
Who knew. Maybe one day Ford would forgive me.
“You are,” I added.
The rumble of the plane’s engines meant we would soon be taking off.
Tears formed in my eyes, angry and bitter tears that left me as drained as the last couple of days.
I’d seen how many times Ford had tried to call me.
I’d used every excuse I had to keep him away, knowing that at least he’d be leaving town for the big NHL announcement.
That’s what I’d counted on so he wouldn’t go crazy knowing what Hoffman was doing.
Now I was just sick. So sick including with myself that I couldn’t care less about what happened to me.
But the bastard was not going to hurt my family, including the one who’d treated me like a daughter. Not a chance in hell.
“I suggest you watch your mouth, Gigi, or I’ll need to do something that you won’t like very much.”
“My name is not Gigi.” Without thinking, I tossed the entire glass of wine in his face and jerked to my feet. Before I had a chance to walk away, the bastard grabbed me with one hand, backhanding me with the other. The force broke me free of him and I tumbled over a couple of seats to the floor.
The taste of blood filled my mouth, pain exploding inside my head, but I refused to cry.
“You keep doing that shit, Gigi. You just won’t listen. When are you going to learn?”
He paced the floor while I stared at him, the man upset as if I was the problem.