Something is very wrong.
I feel it in my bones.
“I love you.” He presses a fierce kiss to my brow. “I would kill for you. Die for you.” He clasps my face in a firm grip that is borderline painful. “I know I’m not making much sense, but when your mother gets here, we’ll do our best to explain it. Until then, I don’t want you to worry. But I do want you to be aware of your surroundings, and I want you to carry your gun with you at all times.”
“Dad, Jesus,” I whisper, more scared than I’ve ever been in my life. “Just tell me what’s going on.”
“I will, sweetheart. I promise. All in good time.” He bundles me into a huge hug, and I sink into his embrace, hating how badly I’m shivering when I know nothing except Lo’s trainer was right.
It’s clear now Iamin danger.
Only the threat is as unknown as the severity.
ChapterTwenty-Six
Chad
Ihave a couple of hours to kill before I need to leave to visit my mom and my sister, so I decide to go for a run. Sex with my girl cleared most of the cobwebs from my head, but I’ve still got a throbbing pain in my skull, and I figure some fresh air will chase the last of my hangover away. I don’t usually drink so much, but we were celebrating our win, and I was on a high after getting game time.
I grin to myself as I pull on my training shorts and a sleeveless lightweight running top, reliving the highlights of the game in my head. Coach was amped up, and his energy fueled the team, helping us to deliver a stellar performance.
Sending Coach that video delivered the results we’d hoped for. I heard him in the hallway before the game, talking to his lawyer, instructing him to file divorce proceedings against his two-faced, cheating wife. I think we did a good thing. I sure as shit won’t lose any sleep over shattering that douchebag’s dreams. The conceited asshole deserved it.
I’m lacing up my sneakers when the doorbell chimes. Quickly finishing, I bound down the stairs, checking the peephole before I open the door. This is a gated community and as secure as they come, but I still don’t take any chances. Hanging around with The Sainthood has opened my eyes a lot. A place like this would be an obvious target for deviants and criminals, and I don’t ever want to let my guard down.
My eyes widen in surprise when I see Pamela standing outside our door. What is Ash’s mom doing here, and does she even know her mother is back in the country?
The bell chimes again as Pamela’s impatience gets the best of her. I let her stew for another minute or two—I’m not her greatest fan—before I plant a fake smile on my face and open the door. “Pamela. We weren’t expecting you, and Ashley isn’t here. She’s having dinner at Doug and Hera’s.”
“I know where my daughter is,” she says, not waiting for an invitation as she brushes past me into the house.
Make yourself at home, why don’tcha?
“It’s you I came to speak with.”
Okay, I’m intrigued. I close and lock the door before following her into the kitchen.
Reaching into the refrigerator, she pulls out an unopened bottle of wine and sets it down on the counter. “It smells like a brewery in here,” she adds, scrunching her nose in disgust.
I grab a wineglass from the overhead cupboard and hand it to her. “We had people over last night.”
We cleared up all the mess this morning after we finally got out of bed, but the place needs a good cleaning and airing out. Not that I’m explaining it to the woman who doesn’t seem to give a shit about her daughter. Pamela doesn’t get to show up and cast aspersions over how we’re living. If she wanted a say in her daughter’s life, she should have stuck around for her instead of fucking off to Switzerland with her new family.
Selfish bitch.
“What’s this about?” I ask, seriously pissed off now. “I was about to go for a run.”
“I’ll cut to the chase,” she says while pouring a large glass of wine. “Do you love my daughter, Chad?”
“With my whole heart.” I don’t hesitate to reply. I have nothing to hide, and I’m not ashamed to let her know. Ash is aware of how I feel about her.
“Enough to marry her?” she asks before taking a large mouthful of wine.
Her question takes me by surprise. It’s none of her business, but I want to get rid of her, and I’m curious where she’s going with this, so I play along. “Yes. I already know Ash is the one.”
“Great.” She grins at me, and I frown in confusion.
What the hell is she getting at? “Is there a point to this?” I drill her with an impatient look.
