AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Leslie lifts her head slightly, her eyes meeting mine with curiosity and affection. "What’s the promise?”
A faint smile tugs at the corners of my lips as I take a moment to steady my emotions. “Promise me that you won’t hang out with the heartbeats anymore, at least not until after our wedding. All I want to think of over the next few weeks is giving you my last name.”
Her eyebrows arch playfully, but I can see the seriousness in her gaze. “So, I guess that means I won’t be joining their reality TV show.”
I tense at the thought of the Washington Saints’ significant others having their own reality TV show. With the drama, family breakups, and all-around distraction those shows cause sportsmen, this can’t be good for the team’s morale in the future. We just won our first Superbowl. Having our wives, girlfriends, and significant others showing the worst ofour insecurities, vulnerabilities, and faults on national television can’t be how they plan to congratulate us.
I shake my head as if doing so will stop the absurdity of the TV show idea from forming into reality. “They’re starting a TV show? No way.”
Leslie rolls her eyes, showing her irritation with the idea. “Yes, they invited me to join their own version of the Real Housewives of Washington for professional football wives. Monica is the producer behind the show, and she’s asking all the heartbeats to be cast members.”
I run my hand through my closely cropped hair. “This is just what the team needs to have everyone’s business on display.”
“Well, you don’t have to worry about me being a part of it. I would never join their show. After tonight, it’s safe to say I won’t be attending any more of their events either,” Leslie assures.
Even with lingering thoughts of how this show will affect my teammates, I can’t help but feel a mixture of gratitude and pride for the woman in front of me. Her determination to distance herself from a toxic environment reassures me that she’s making the right choices for herself and us as a couple. Knowing this causes a new surge of desire to rise within me.
I gently cup her cheek, my thumb brushing against her skin. “Les, I’m proud of you. It takes strength to recognize what’s not healthy for you and to prioritize your well-being.”
Her gaze softens, and she leans into my touch, her hand covering mine. “Thank you, Wayne. And I promise I’m not interested in being involved with that group, nor do I care what anyone says about us on social media, the news, or anywhere. They can write a billboard talking about me if they want. Regarding our relationship, I don’t care about anything or anyone but you. It’s us against the world.”
A smile spreads across my face as I lean in to press a loving kiss to her lips. In this moment, I’m reminded of the depth of our connection, the strength of our bond, and the promise of a future where we face whatever challenges come our way side by side.
***
The weeks that follow the chaotic party are meant to be a time of healing and renewal for Leslie and me. Between the business of last-minute wedding planning, we return to our everyday routines. We sneak in a few lazy weekend mornings, laughter over dinner, and stolen moments of affection. Our bond grows stronger, a testament to the trials we face and overcome.
Yet, despite the surface calm, an undercurrent of unease begins to weave its way into our lives. It is as if a shadow has settled over our happiness, casting uncertainties in its wake. The first sign is subtle – an unexplained phone call Leslie receives one evening while we enjoy a quiet dinner at home.
She glances at her phone, her brows furrowing in confusion as she picks up the call. Her voice remains calm, but there is a hint of tension in her tone as she engages in the conversation. When she hangs up, her eyes meet mine with concern in her gaze.
“Who was that?” I ask, my curiosity piqued.
Leslie hesitates momentarily before responding, “It is just a wrong number, I think. They asked for someone I don’t know.” I nod, accepting her explanation, but a nagging feeling lingers. That unease grows stronger when we receive an anonymous, cryptic note the next day that reads,Look at the lovebirds living their best life!
The note seems harmless on the surface but carries an underlying sense of menace. After that first note, crypticmessages begin to appear in our DMs and Leslie’s photography business email listed on social media, saying things likeBetrayal is a bitch, everyone gets what they deserve in the end, and I’m second to no one.
One evening, as we’re curled up on the couch, Leslie’s phone buzzes with a new message notification. She opens her email, and her expression shifts from curiosity to concern. She shows me the message – a simple sentence that gives me chills:Your fall will be swift and mighty.
My jaw tightens as I read the words.
Leslie looks at me, her eyes wide with worry. “Wayne, this is starting to get really creepy. I don’t know who’s behind this, but it’s making me uncomfortable.”
I reach for her hand, my grip firm and reassuring. “We’ll figure this out, Les. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
But even as I utter those words, the uncertainty of not knowing who is behind the messages angers me. That anger coils in my gut, creating tension. The thought of being surveilled, of some shadowy figure daring to intrude on our privacy, is more than palpable—it’s infuriating. The urge to shield Leslie from this faceless menace ignites a primal fury within me.
Whoever is behind this has no idea what I am capable of when it comes to protecting what is mine, and they are about to find out the hard way. As our wedding day approaches, the unease only intensifies. I am constantly on guard, my protective instincts in overdrive. The simple routines we once cherished now feel tainted by the ever-present sense of being watched.
Though I strongly feel that Moey Dash is behind the letters, texts, and phone calls, the situation is a puzzle with missing pieces. I am determined to uncover the truth, so I have hired the best private investigator to help find the perpetrator.
Time will prove these acts of intimidation are just the beginning of a much larger and more dangerous game, onebeing played by two people who I never thought would align themselves as one. This alliance and their agenda will test everything I have fought hard to gain.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
WAYNE
Mysterious Alliance Revealed
