JJ cuffs his neck again. “Yup. Now tell me what you did to Adeline.”
“JJ,” I plead. Things are getting out of hand, and I’m scared he might actually kill the asshole.
Teeth gritted, he shakes his head. “No. He doesn’t get to breathe easy after causing you to live in fear for years. He’s going to tell me exactly what he did to you, and then he’s going to apologize. Isn’t that right?” He pushes harder against Dirk’s windpipe.
Choking, Dirk forces out a “Fine.”
JJ lets up a little, head tilted, waiting for the confession.
“I drugged her and took off her clothes. Made her think we weretogether. But all I did was take the videos of you two from her phone. Got a bunch of stills made and put them up in the locker room. Stupid whore had it coming,” he taunts, his lip curling. “Oh,” he adds, looking my way, “and I jacked off while you whined in the bed. Such pretty whimpers for a hockey player.”
I wrap my arms around myself instinctually, feeling dirty all over again. Like I did that day.
JJ slams his fist into Dirk’s stomach.
He grunts, flailing like he’s trying to escape, with no success. “I did what you asked. Told her everything. Why you hitting me?”
“I said don’t look at her.”JJ slams his fist into his other eye.
“Enough,” I scream, body trembling and heart hammering.
“He’s going to apologize,” JJ says, his tone strangely soft. “Then we’ll go home, okay?”
Eyes closed, I take a deep breath. “Fine.”
“Now apologize,” JJ grits out.
Dirk responds by laughing.
Growling, JJ punches him in the gut again.
“Stop, please,” Dirk finally begs.
Dark laughter pours out of the man I love. “You want me to go easy on you? Seriously? Fuck, you’re dumb. You were so focused on her family connections all these years that you never bothered to look into mine. You’ll regret that later.”
“What does that mean?” the asshole asks, his eyes widening.
“Say you’re sorry,” JJ grinds out. He squeezes his windpipe again, then releases it. “Take a breath and apologize.”
Dirk doesn’t bother with a comeback this time. Instead, he inhales quickly and looks at me. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
JJ puts his hand on his throat again, his whole body taut with anger.
Dirk’s eyes widen like he didn’t expect it. I didn’t expect it either.
“JJ,” I cry again, clutching his arm. “You need to let him go.”
He shakes his head, but he won’t look at me. “See, I don’t think I do. I think?—”
The door to the locker room swings open and Gavin strolls in, head down.
“Coach,” I shout, maybe in warning or maybe in desperation, hoping my uncle can stop JJ from doing whatever it is he’s going to do.
Gavin snaps up straight, eyes widening when he takes Dirk in.
Both of Dirk’s eyes are swollen, and his head is lolling to the side, his face nearly purple.
“What the hell?” He lunges forward, trying to get between the guys, but JJ keeps a firm grip on Dirk.
