Chapter 42
Chapter
Forty-Two
Jayne
I’m in trouble.
My relationship with my father—and subsequently with Lourdes—has always been tricky but I never could have imagined the situation I’m in now.
Locked in the house with Lourdes basically holding me hostage.
No access to my phone or the internet.
But I’m not going to just sit here and let them ship me off somewhere.
Fuck that. I’ll walk to a neighbor’s house, use their phone to call Kelly at the library, and have her come get me, and then call Bodi.
I feel like an idiot that I don’t know anyone’s phone number by heart—that’s going to change immediately—but I can’t just sit here and wait to see what happens.
I don’t trust Lourdes as far as I can throw her and I don’t even know who my father is at this point.
My cheek still stings a little from where he slapped me and tears prick my eyelids as I get out my suitcase and start to pack.
Clothes. Shoes. Toiletries. My journals.
My head is spinning after what happened.
In some ways, it feels like it’s happening to someone else.
I don’t recognize my father and even though I never liked Lourdes, I wouldn’t have thought her as evil as she actually is.
More than that, I’m worried about Lindy.
Once I leave, there will be no one to protect her, but I can’t protect her if they ship me off somewhere either.
If I’m honest, I’m scared.
I never thought my dad would hurt me physically, but I now know that he’s capable of almost anything.
I don’t know what money he and Lourdes stole—I have to assume it’s from the Thunder—but they’re obviously worried because they think I know more than I do.
I’m making myself crazy envisioning a dozen different—and terrifying—scenarios, but I’m scared. Really, truly frightened.
The one ray of hope in this whole mess is Blaze.
As crazy as that is considering most of this is his fault, he was pissed when my father hit me.
I left the room before I could hear what else was said, but he stood up to my dad, something I’ve never seen him do before, so I’m hoping he’s going to tell Bodi what happened once he gets to practice.
Then he’ll come get me.
Even if there was a blonde on his lap last night.
But whether he comes or not, I’m sneaking out the first chance I get. I’d prefer not to leave behind everything I own, which is why I’m packing, but I will if I have to.
I’m looking around, trying to decide what else I can fit into my suitcases when I hear noise coming from downstairs.
My dad is at the arena, so I can’t imagine who’s shouting at Lourdes. And she sounds furious.
“Jayne! Babe, where are you?”
Bodi?
I have to be imagining his voice.
“Jayne!”
Nope, not my imagination—it’s really him.
I run to the door and throw it open just as he comes around the corner.
“Thank fuck, you’re okay.” His eyes meet mine, and I’m momentarily too shocked to move.
Then I’m in his arms, and he’s holding me tightly, whispering against my hair.
I don’t know what’s going on or why he’s here but I’m so glad he is.
“We have a lot to talk about,” he says finally, “but we have to get you out of here first. Just take the most important stuff—we can buy anything else.”
“I don’t…” I’m suddenly confused.
I guess it doesn’t matter if he loves me or if he just feels bad because Blaze told him what happened.
The reasons are irrelevant as long as he gets me as far away from my father as possible.
I’ll figure out the rest because I know I can stay with Kelly until I get on my feet. It’s not ideal, but it’s doable.
“I’m already mostly packed,” I say. I whirl and close my big suitcase before heading into the bathroom to put the last of my toiletries in the smaller one.
I toss everything in haphazardly and Bodi grabs both suitcases.
“What else?” he asks. “I don’t know how much time we have. Lourdes is threatening to call the cops.”
“Let me just put my laptop and books in my backpack,” I reply, grabbing everything.
“Hurry,” he calls over his shoulder, heading for the stairs with both my suitcases.
I follow behind him without hesitation.
A twinge of regret hits me as I pass Lindy’s room but I’m no good to her if I’m a prisoner here, so I’ll figure out something once I’m safe.
Down in the living room, Lourdes and West are in a heated argument.
“Well, the choice is yours,” he says. “Either you get the fuck out of the way and let her go or I call the team owner and suggest they hire a forensic accountant to figure out how much money you and your husband stole from the team.”
Her face goes white. “You wouldn’t dare.”
He smiles grimly. “Try me.”
She turns to me, her lips a thin line of displeasure. “You stupid little bitch. Why do you have to ruin everything?”
“I didn’t do anything,” I reply calmly, following Bodi out the front door. “You have no one but yourself to blame.”
It feels really good to say that out loud.
Two minutes later we’re in Bodi’s SUV, heading down the street, but no one says anything. I’m in front next to Bodi and West is in the back.
“How did you guys know to come get me?” I ask after a while.
“Blaze told us what was going on,” West says. “You really have him to thank.”
“I’ll make sure of it.”
“We’re going to take you to a hotel short-term,” Bodi says.
“Just in case your dad shows up at our place or calls the cops or does some other unhinged thing. Ashton’s brother, Remy, who owns the Lauderdale Knights, made a reservation for you in his name.
So even if your dad thinks to call around, he won’t be able to find you. ”
“Jesus.” I lean back against the seats. “This feels like a bad dream—or a horror movie.”
“It’s going to be okay, babe,” Bodi says quietly, reaching across the center console for my hand. “Your dad won’t have a choice but to leave you alone because he’s about to be in a world of trouble.”
“So, my dad really embezzled from the team?” I murmur, more to myself than to them, but West answers anyway.
“Ashton reached out to his brother and Remy has already put in a call to the owner of the Thunder,” West says.
“That’s why we wanted to make sure you were safe before shit hit the fan,” Bodi adds. “Your dad is going to be pissed.”
“Well, I’m really thankful. I was scared. And I’m still scared for Lindy. I don’t know what they’ll do with her if they take the money and run or something.”
Neither West nor Bodi say anything.
“I don’t know what we can do,” West says finally. “You’re not her legal guardian. As far as we know, there are no signs of abuse.”
“What if they take her far away and I never see her again?” I whisper.
“We’ll do our best to figure something out,” Bodi says, glancing at me. “But my priority was you.”
I don’t know how to respond to that since I still don’t know where we stand as a couple. At least I know he cares about my well-being, and that counts for something.
Well, it counts for a lot.
In fact, I’m feeling a lot of confusing emotions at the moment, and I don’t know what to say or do.
Twenty minutes later I’m checked into a suite at a nearby Hilton.
“What happens now?” I ask, looking from one to the other.
“I’m going back to the arena,” West says. “Bodi’s going to stay here with you until we know what’s what.”
“Here.” Bodi hands him the keys. “Take my SUV.”
“I’ll call or text, let you know what’s going on.”
And then West is gone and it’s just Bodi and me.
“I need to know about the blonde in the picture,” I say, opting to get it over with.
“The what?” He looks genuinely confused.
“My Dad showed me a picture of you and West and some of the guys out the other night. You had a blonde on your lap.”
“I didn’t.” He shakes his head. “I don’t know what you saw, but that didn’t happen.”
I stare at him and he stares back.
“Did you cheat on me the day after we decided to lie low?” I ask bluntly.
“Not in a million years,” he responds automatically. “How could you think that? I love you, Jayne.”