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The guy took a step back, clearly intimidated by the sudden shift in Walker's demeanor, but he mustered a nervous laugh. "Davis, I was just joking around," he stammered, his bravado faltering under Walker's intense gaze.
Walker's eyes flashed with barely-contained rage, his fists clenched at his sides. "Oh, you think that’s a fucking joke?" he growled, his voice rising to a guttural snarl. "You think you can say that, and I’ll let you get away with it?"
Walker closed the distance between them, dragging me with him even as he towered over the guy. "Let me make one thing clear," he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. "Olivia is mine. If you ever even think about disrespecting something that’s ‘mine’ again…I'll fucking end you."
The guy's eyes widened in fear, his bravado crumbling under the weight of Walker's aggression. He stumbled over his words, trying to backpedal, but Walker wasn't having it.
"I think it’s time for you to leave the party," he suggested in a voice that I was going to label as his “serial killer” voice from now on—because it was that terrifying. “It’s going to be a lot of fun next time I see you on the ice.”
The guy turned and fled the room, like Walker had pulled out a literal knife and waved it at him.
Walker stared after him for a second, like he was waiting for him to reappear.
He finally turned to me, his eyes softening immediately. "Are you okay?" he asked, his voice rough with concern.
“Yeah,” I whispered in a shaky, awe-filled voice. “Thank you. You didn’t need to do that.”
He shook his head at me. “I’ll prove it to you eventually,” he said quietly in response.
“Prove what?”
“That you have a safe place now, Olivia. ThatIamthat safe place.”
He pulled me back into his arms without waiting for a response, and his heartbeat felt like a ticking clock, counting down the moments when the real world returned…and I would see if that was true.
CHAPTER 18
OLIVIA
The dressing room was afamiliarsuffocating chamber of self-doubt and despair. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my hands trembling as I tried to hold back the tears that threatened to spill from my gold-ringed eyes.
Why had I agreed to this?
Walker’s face immediately came to mind.
Not that I’d known he would be a part of this weekend.
The room felt too small, like the walls were closing in around me. My mind raced, and it hit me, that craving.
One pill and I’d be able to go out there and not feel anything.
One pill and I could pretend in front of all those faces that there wasn’t anything wrong with me.
That I was having the time of my life.
One pill.
I squeezed my eyes closed and counted to ten. And then I counted again. Over and over again until it felt like the desperation had diminished.
At least a little bit.
At least enough to say no.
Fuck, I was glad Walker wasn’t in here to see me like this.
The door opened and I didn’t have to look to see who it was. It’s not like anyone else but she and Marco would just barge into the room.
The smugness was emanating off of her like toxic fumes.
