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He shoves his way inside my room quickly while flipping the do not disturb sign over onto the door knob.
Lawless has me trapped in my own hotel room.
My whole body is on high alert.
“How did you know what room I was in?” I decide to go with normal conversation because he’s wearing a slightly crazed expression. It reminds me of a cat that’s overstimulated on catnip and you don’t know what it’s going to do next.
He rumbles a low chuckle. “That was a bit too easy. Turns out your assistant coach gives up all kinds of information when his female boss isn’t around. Although, I didn’t have to actually ask. He put it out there, and I grabbed on to that little nugget. Makes my life a lot easier.”
Figures Michael would offer that up without any assistance.
“In fact, he offered up a whole lot of info to me, Sam. So much, in fact, that I think you and I need to have a little coming to Jesus chat.”
A knock at the door sounds, but as I’m about to yell out for help, Jason quickly grabs me, covering my mouth, Leaning close to my ear, he whispers, his beer-soaked breath making me queasy, “Tell them to go away or I will hurt you. It wasn’t part of my plan, but as you know, I change my mind a lot.”
“Room service!”
“Can you leave it outside, please?”
“Yes, ma’am, enjoy.”
Jason slaps his hand back over my mouth again while we wait to make sure the delivery boy has left. He still remains between me and the door.
“Good girl for listening. Although you were always good at doing what I wanted you to do. In fact, I had no idea you would actually throw that game, Sam. Got to admit, it was a gamble on my part, but you came through, and I love you for it.” He aims a maniacal grin my way. It twists his once handsome face into something that resembles the Joker.
“What do you want, Jason?” I manage to keep my voice level and my chin high while I stare him down. I can do this. I can send him packing and handle this.
“You aren’t going to ask me why I needed you to throw that game? I’m disappointed, Sammy. You always liked to know everything I was up to and cater to my every whim. It made you a great girlfriend on the sex side of things.” He gives me a salacious grin, running his fingers down my arm. “Wouldn’t mind a romp for old times sake.”
“Fuck you!” I spit at him. “Tell me what the fuck you want so you can leave.”
“Did you know I asked you to throw that game because there was money on the line?”
I jerk back, shocked at his admission. I didn’t know that.
He chuckles a humorless laugh again. “I got myself into a bit of a gambling problem then. Borrowed from the wrong crowd kind of thing. They told me to find a way to fix the game so they could win their bets, and we would be even. I could walk away still breathing. They were those kinds of people, if you know what I mean. Really, you saved my life, Sam. But I never got to thank you. You disappeared on me. But then as luck would have it, I found you again. So, I’m really only here to thank you and maybe see if you could find it in your heart to forgive me?” He steps even closer to me and has both his hands on my arms, his grip firm and sure.
My mind is reeling. I’m trying to process all the information he has thrown at me. “You ruined my officiating career over a gambling debt? Why didn’t you ask me for money instead of going along with such an idea?”
“Would you have given me $500,000, Sam?” he retorts.
“Jesus, Jason! How did that even happen? So, the game ended like these people wanted, and they got their money, and what? You just go about your merry way? What have you been doing all this time?”
“Isn’t it obvious? Trying to find you to save me again.”
“What have you done now?” A feeling of dread sweeps over me.
He still hasn’t eased his grip on my arms, if anything, his hold is getting tighter, and it’s starting to hurt. I’m also getting extremely concerned about how I’m going to get out of this situation. He’s fucking delusional, and there’s no way he’s here for a simple apology.
“Turns out, walking away from gambling isn’t that easy. Did you know it’s an addiction, Sam? I can’t stop. I’m in trouble again, and since you helped me out last time, I figured you would again. This time, though, maybe we could go away together and put all this nonsense behind us. I’ve missed you.”
He pulls my body closer to his, and I can feel his erection pressing into me. I feel like I might vomit. The actual danger that he could try to rape me comes barreling, unwelcome, into my head, and I know I need to get out of this.
“Jason, if gambling is your problem, there are places that can help you beat it. If I help you out now, would you promise to go for help to treat the addiction?”
He sighs in relief. “I would totally do that for you, Sam. I’d get help.”
His tone doesn’t ring true. I know he’s lying, but I’m going to play along. I reach for my phone. “I can wire money from my bank. How much do you need?” I start moving my fingers and clicking to open the banking app before he grabs my phone, throwing it onto the bed.
