Page 112 of Ruthless Game

Asher grabbed my shoulder. “You need to sit down, man. You look like you’re about to pass out.”

“Lawson, my office,” Coach barked, interrupting us.

I shook my head. “I can’t, sir. I’m sorry, and I know it probably means you’ll kick me off the team or bench me for the rest of the season, and the Beasts will pull my spot, but it doesn’t matter. I need to make sure my girl is safe.”

He shook his head. “That sounds a little like catastrophizing to me. You leave this game, you’ll be penalized, but I’ll make sure the rest doesn’t happen.” He put his hands up when I began to speak. “No. I’ve learned with you lot, it’s better not to ask questions when shit hits the fan. Asher, you’re in the goal for the rest of the game.” He nodded at Jack and Isaac. “You’ll go with him, wherever the hell he’s going, so he doesn’t get himself killed. I’m going in my fucking office. You boys drive me to drink.”

When he was gone, Jack turned to me. “He’s right. Isaac and I are with you. But have you tried Emma?”

I was already ahead of them, texting and calling, but her phone immediately went to voicemail.

So I texted Jeffrey.

Lawson: Emma better not fucking be with you, and if she is, she better be safe, or I’ll kill you

He responded immediately.

Jeffrey: Damn, looks like for once, I have something you want

My heart roared in my ears again. Worse this time. It sounded like the ocean in Maine, waves crashing, threatening to pull me under.

Someone slapped the back of my head.

I looked up at Asher.

“Keep your shit together, man,” he said. “Don’t let him get in your head. Your girl needs you.”

He was right.

I texted Jeffrey back.

Lawson: Where are you two?

There was a pause, and once again, I wished I was as psycho as Jack, so I would have put a tracker on Emma. If we got through this—and we would, there was no other option—I was sticking several in her body to make sure she was always safe and I knew where she was.

Jeffrey finally responded.

Jeffrey: took her to your spot

thought it might be nice for her to experience it with someone who really, actually loves her

I forced myself to swallow back the bile that filled my mouth. I didn’t have time to puke my guts out over this fucking incestuous loser. Emma needed me.

Standing, I rushed to pull off my skates and gear and change into street clothes.

“I know where she is,” I told Jack. “But we need to go, now.”

“Got you,” he said. “Lead the way.”

42

Emma

My brother’s betrayal carried me out of the arena, down to the parking lot, and into my car. Each step was a blur. It was freezing tonight, but I barely noticed, already numb.

It couldn’t be true, could it? Jeffrey loved me. He wanted me to be happy. And yeah, he’d never really liked Max, but not liking someone wasn’t the same as literally paying two girls to assault someone. That took things to a whole new level, beyond him possibly not wanting us together.

And he’d brought Max to the party that night.