Her face goes expressionless. “I haven’t written anything except my own notes. And I haven’t–” She stops speaking, her face paling, and I know there’s more.
“Tell me.”
“I interviewed Trevor.”
“And what happened?”
She chews on her bottom lip. “He knew I was looking for more answers than he was willing to give and told me to question you.”
“Okay, we’re done here,” I snap out. “You need to stop digging. Whatever you found, you reached someone whodoesn’t want to be reached. For your own good, I’m telling you, leave it alone.”
“Whoareyou?” she whispers.
I turn on her quickly, my blood boiling over with all of this. “I’m your savior! If I wasn’t here tonight, Rhett would have taken you. He would have hurt you and dragged you off to silence you completely.”
She stares at me, and I wonder what’s running through her head. Gone is the Saint she thinks she knows, and in its place is this guy. The one who had to learn to survive a whole different world. The one who likes it way too much still.
“There's something you’re not telling me. You act like you run this place, thistown.You’re just a football player. It doesn’t make sense."
I inhale deep and step closer to her.Tell her, runs through my mind and it makes me question my sanity.“There's a lot I’m not telling you, and it doesn’t have to make sense. You don’t get to ask questions anymore.”
She exhales shakily, then looks at the floor. “I’m not leaving until you tell me the whole truth.”
I shake my head. “No. Youareleaving. And I’d warn you to stop digging.”
She looks up, eyes fierce. “You don’t get to tell me what to do.”
“Yes, I do,” I snap. “When you’ve already opened the door to something you have no idea about, I do get to tell you.”
Dante speaks up, “Nik, he’s not going to stop looking for her. If they're sending Rhett, it’s personal.”
I turn that over in my mind, knowing I have to do something more here. “Why is it coming up now?”
Dante replies, “Either because they found out she’sclose to something and don’t want it getting out, or they’re using it to take you down. You’re at the top now, Nik. Some people don’t care what they have to do to make sure you don’t stay there.”
I turn to her. “You’re in danger. And since I'm a betting man, I'd say it’s because you touched on something you shouldn’t have. They're gonna be salivating over this.”
“So, what does that mean, Nik? That I’m gonna be collateral damage in a game I didn’t even know was being played?”
We stare at each other until Dante says, “Actually, you’re leverage.”
“Bait, you mean.”
Dante speaks matter-of-factly. “No, bait is expendable. Leverage is valuable. Rhett hit the jackpot.” His eyes focus on me. “Rhett knows Nik, and Rhett knows Nik will protect you. That's what's changed now.”
I look at Dante, a silent conversation happening before holding her stare. “You can trust me, or take your chances out there. Choose wisely.”
14
Noelle
The hallway outside the private room feels like it’s closing in on me. The bass from the dancefloor still pounds beneath my feet and is louder out here. Nothing is making sense right now. I continue walking quickly, but I’m not finding a door out of here. There are more security guards, and then I hear another door behind me open, and I know I can’t get away.
My adrenaline is pumping now, my hands shake, and my fight-or-flight is raging inside. I’m not sure if I’m furious or terrified, but it’s probably a bit of both. I stop and check my phone, seeing texts from my sister and best friend.
What the hell have I walked into?
“Goddammit,” I whisper, fingers clenching aroundthe phone.
