AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We continue up the path into the arena but I feel like I'm on autopilot. I’ve been like this all day.
Heath called me this morning to let me know what happened to Evan and that he was in the hospital. Of course I acted surprised andnot guilty. Now I'm here for the next phase of the act, except I don't feel like acting.
Acting feels wrong because I want people to know what I did and why.
Preston is about to say something when someone shouts my name. It's so loud that the plexiglass nearby rattles. I turn to see Jakobe coming up the path toward us. He bounds forward when he gets closer, as if he's going to fight me, but I stand still and get ready in case he does.
When he reaches me he puffs out his chest and raises his fists.
"Was it you, Luc?" he shouts in my face.
"Was what me?" I throw back. Of course, I know the rest of that question but I am going to play dumb.
"Did you put Evan in the hospital?"
"I didn’t." Technically that's a half-truth, half-lie, whichever way you want to take it. I didn'tputhim in the hospital, but I put him in the condition that would send him there.
"Of course, you aren't going to tell me the truth, are you?" He backs away but still maintains his fighting stance. "Was it because I told you to stay away from my daughter? Or was it really because you couldn't stand Evan and wanted to take himout of the game? If I ever find out it was you who attacked him, God help me, I will ruin you.”
“I’d watch my words if I were you, Shawn Jakobe,” Preston cuts in, stepping between us. “If you have no hard evidence to accuse my nephew, you need to leave him alone right now. If you don’t, I assure you, you don't want to deal with me."
This is the side of Preston that no one wants to mess with. He's like it in business, but a hundred times worse when it comes to family.
Jakobe looks him up and down and must realize he can’t go up against Preston. Because he has nothing.
Instead he shakes his head, says nothing more, then walks away. That’s when I see Autumn standing at the end of the corridor.
Jakobe reaches her and ushers her away, leaving me watching.
Always fucking watching. I hate it and I need to change it.
Preston touches my arm but it's Hunter I look at first. I didn’t tell him what I did to Evan but I know he knows the truth. Asher looks worried, but maybe that's because he has the same temperament as me so he probably knows I could have done some serious damage to Evan that put him in the hospital. Finally I meet Preston's worried stare.
"Did you do it?" he asks, keeping his voice low.
"Yes." The confession makes me feel free, like I want to shout it from the rooftops to let the world know I took down the devil who tried to attack my girl.
Preston sighs, looking frustrated. "Why, Luc? What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Evan tried to rape my girl. He's lucky I didn't kill him."
Preston looks taken aback. The frustration in his expression turns to compassion. He glances down the corridor to where Autumn stood, then back at me.
"Would your girl be Autumn Jakobe?" He glances at Hunter, who looks guilty. Preston knows that in the past, if there were any secrets floating around, I would've told Hunter before anyone else.
"Yes," I confess again.
Preston looks back at me. "Luc, be careful who you put yourself at risk for. This is your career we're talking about."
I nod. "I know, Uncle. I know, but she was worth every risk I took."
I look back at the empty spot where Autumn stood, feeling like I'm stuck in limbo again, but a different kind.
Whatever move I make either pushes me away or toward the web of trouble I seem to have created for myself.
How do I get out of it without making things worse for her, and for me?
Chapter 31
