Page 110 of Sweet Oblivion

None of it stops.

A wall of a man, massive and immovable, steps in front of us, blocking the way. And my pulse pounds as the voices get closer. “Credentials.”

That’s it. That’s all he says, and I want to scream as I hold up the lanyard around my neck and he checks his clipboard.

Hendrix exhales sharply. “Dude, I’m Declan Sinclair’s son, and this is Ryker Beneventi’s wife.”

I blink, swinging my head to him.

Sinclair... Holy shit, how have I never realized Hendrix is the son of the head coach of the Kings? How the hell did I not put that together before?

“Yeah well, my dad’s name is Jim White. But I’m not letting you back there if you’re not on the list.”

Of course we’re not on the list because absolutely nothing can be that easy today.

We should be celebrating Ryker being cleared instead of starring in this shit show.

“Ryker Beneventi is expecting me,” I finally say, my hands shaking as I fumble for my phone. The noise swelling to an impossible pitch. Reporters push deeper into the tunnel around us. Getting closer... and closer.

Delaney

We’re outside the player’s entrance in the tunnel. But they won’t let us back because we’re not on a list.

Ryker

Fuck. Sorry. Be right there, Bambi.

I flip the phone around and shove it in the guy’s face. “He’s coming.”

“That’s great, ma’am. But you’re still not on the list. Looks like you’re waiting here.”

My chest tightens, and my throat closes. It’s too much.

Hendrix shifts again, pressing me between him and the wall, blocking as much of the chaos as he can. But it’s not enough. They’re closing in. I can feel it. It’s like they’re sharks circling after the smell of the first drop of blood.

“Delaney—how does it feel to marry a killer?”

My stomach drops, and I want to scream at these assholes that my husband is the best man I’ve ever met. That Dennings would have raped me and killed me if Ryker hadn’t stepped in.

“Are you scared for your life?”

“Are you kidding me?” I yell, but between Hendrix and Kaleigh, no one can even see me, and I doubt they can hear me.

“Did you lie to the police?”

What the hell?

“Are you in danger? Is he controlling you?”

“I—” My voice disappears. I can’t breathe. I can’t?—

“Delaney...?” His voice cuts through everything. The noise. The chaos. The fear.

I look up and find him walking toward me. Pads on, jersey stretched tight across that muscled chest I love so much, like something out of my imagination. A fantasy I donot have time to be having right now. Even if it would be really easy.

Ryker Beneventi is a football god.

And he’s all mine.