Chapter 22

Chapter

Twenty-Two

GRACE

I have come to the conclusion that I'm pretty sure I'm spoiled. My gaze flicks around the room. And I realize I'm not just a little spoiled. I'm a lot spoiled. Because this motel room is icky. I've turned my phone off, unable to handle another text from Otto. I just cannot see his questions because I want to answer him, and I want to do that by running back to him.

But I've scraped my cash together, I've packed my car, and I'm heading out of town. My father has also asked me if I could come to the first game of the season. He wants to talk to me.

Really, the only reason my father has invited me is that he wants to show me his team, his job, and how successful he is. He's going to remind me that I need to leave Otto so he can concentrate on playing.

What my father doesn't know is that I've already left. And I'm not going to placate him in any way whatsoever. I'm going to do what I have no doubt he wants me to do, what he's always wanted me to do—I'm going to quietly vanish from his life.

I should have done that when he made it clear he wasn't interested in being a father. When hockey became his only focus, he would just send me money to shut me up. I took it, too, trying to forge my own way with college and failed miserably.

It's time that I just go away and attempt to figure out life on my own.

As terrifying as that is.

A knock causes my spine to straighten. Spinning around, I rush toward the door. It's Otto. It has to be, and I know that I shouldn't answer it, but I want to see him—I need to see him. Wrapping my fingers around the knob, I twist it and tug the door open.

Except the sight that greets me is not the welcome one of Otto.

Gasping, I stumble backward.

This is the last person I thought I would see.

But is it? He's made it clear that he was watching me, that he knew where I was. I was living in a dreamworld to think that this moment wasn't possible. He was waiting until I was alone, weak, and vulnerable.

The same way he did when we were in college.

This is who he is. Weak. Pathetic. Desperate.

It's not the weak and pathetic part that scares me. It's the desperate one. Because last time he was that way, he lied and cheated, which is how I got expelled from school. But this isn't something so innocent.

Although, maybe innocent isn't the right word. I don't think innocence gets someone expelled from college. But at least I wasn't physically in danger. Right now, I'm feeling very scared.

"Hayze?" I whisper. "What are you doing here?"

His lips curve into a grin, and he moves into the room, slamming the door behind him. The walls shake with the movement, which means that the people on either side of us could hear me if I screamed, except my car is the only one in the parking lot, so I'm not sure anyone else is staying here.

"I've been texting you. Don't tell me you're that fucking stupid that you didn't think I'd take my chance."

I hate him.

I don't know why I ever thought he was anything special. He was just an asshole who saw someone with low self-esteem, shitty parents and took advantage of me. He knew exactly what he was doing when he saw me as a brand-new freshman, lost, alone, and painfully shy.

"I want you to leave. Haven't you done enough?" I ask.

Silence greets my question. I suck in a breath, holding it as I try to think of a way out of this. He's standing in front of the door. I haven't even been inside the bathroom yet, so I have no idea if there's a window in there. I'm stuck and frozen all at the same time.

"Never," he grinds out. "You are mine, and I'm not letting you go."

I can't help but burst out laughing, which only enrages him. But I can't take him seriously when he talks like that. Hayze is the exact opposite of an alpha male. When Otto says those things, my entire body feels like it's being set on fire. Hayze is not Otto.

He doesn't make me feel the way Otto does. He never did. I was just too stupid or ignorant. Whatever the case, I didn't understand how a man was supposed to make a woman feel when I was with Hayze.

I get it now, and I'll probably die alone because I don't think anyone could ever make me feel like Otto does… or did.

I open my mouth to respond to his words, although I know whatever I say is just going to anger him even more. I can already see the vein in his forehead pulsing with anger. But the words don't come because the door flies open again.

Standing in the doorway, the light shining in behind him, is Otto.

OTTO

I race through the streets of Willow Creek. The motel is seedy, at the edge of town, and I'm pretty sure they rent it by the hour. It's nowhere a single woman needs to be, especially mine.

Pulling into the parking lot on two wheels, I park beside Grace's car. But there is another on the other side, which I find odd because this parking lot is usually empty during the day, choosing the night to be in full use.

I find her room. And as I approach, I try to think of something to say to her. Although, I don't know what it will be. Because the only thing I can think to say is come home . And I don't think that will be enough.

When I lift my hand to knock, I hear voices, one of them Grace's, the other distinctly a man's. Instead of knocking, I do what my instincts demand me to do. I wrap my fingers around the knob, twist it, then push the door open with all my strength.

It bounces off the wall, but I step through the doorway as the man standing in front of Grace spins around. I don't have to even ask him his name. I know who he is. His eyes widen at the sight of me.

I'm a good six inches taller and about fifty pounds of pure muscle bulkier than him. This must be that little asshole who lied, cheated, and fucked over Grace. Flicking my gaze to hers, I can see with just a moment's glance that she's petrified.

"It's you," he hisses. Then his gaze shifts to my cheek before it slides back to meet my own. "You got fucked up, didn't you?"

My lips curve up into a smirk. I can't quite smile. I haven't taken any pain meds in a while, and everything hurts, but I'll never show it. Not to this asshole who is standing in front of me wearing a smile like he's really going to get away with something.

"Injury on the job. It happens," I say with a shrug.

I'm trying to ignore the throbbing, even though right now, all I want to do is take something and crawl into bed. Driving here, my adrenaline, it's all too much, and I know once it crashes, I'll be crashing, too. I am just hoping it will be with Grace by my side.

"You haven't answered me," I say.

He shrugs a shoulder. "I'm here to take my girl back home where she belongs. It's obvious she doesn't want to be here with you any longer."

Grace opens her mouth, then snaps her lips closed and presses them together. She frowns. I'm sure she has something on her mind, but she's biting her tongue, no doubt realizing that this guy is unhinged.

"What will it take for you to disappear?" I ask.

I'm trying a different approach. I can't get into a fistfight with him. My face is wrecked right now, and if he hit me in the cheek, I'd probably suffer some irreparable damage. I still have to think of hockey.

I'm already going to have to take more time off than I ever imagined possible. I can't take my chances. I need this to end without violence. But judging by the pussy standing in front of me, I don't think that will be a problem.

"Five grand," he grinds out.

I almost laugh.

I have to bite the inside of my cheek to keep from bursting out into rolling laughter and busting my stitches.

"That all you want?" I ask.

"Otto," Grace whispers.

There is silence, but Hayze lifts his hand to keep Grace quiet. I don't look at her. My focus stays on him because I want this done.

"And your car," he adds.

I love that car—I love it with everything I have. But I do not love that car more than I love Grace. I can buy another car. I cannot buy another Grace. Clearing my throat, I dip my chin in a single nod.

"Five grand and the car. They're yours. Come to my place in an hour."

Holding out my hand, I wait for Grace. But he holds out his arm to keep her from passing. "Grace stays with me until both are delivered. Right here."

Grace's eyes flash. But there is no way in fuck I'm leaving her here alone with this asshole. I can't call Brooklynn or any of the girls either. It's afternoon, so I know that all the guys have lessons right now. But there is one person I can call who I know likely isn't incredibly busy this afternoon.

"Let me make one call. Grace won't be here alone with you."

He jerks his chin, and I call the one person Grace wouldn't want me to call but the only one who I know will ensure nothing happens to her. For all his angered words, I know he cares for her, at least for her safety.

"Coach, can you come down to the motel at the edge of Willow Creek?"