No. This isn’t happening. I glance down at the papers again. This can’t be what I think it is. How did he pull this off? It has to be a bluff. I square my shoulders at him. “Drop the act and just make your threat, you fucking monster.”
He laughs at me. “I already did. You’re holding it. Maybe one of your teammates will show you a little mercy and help you sound out the letters. Or your sister. You’re putting her through grad school, right?”
I go still, rage coursing through my veins like lava. Not Cassie. How does he fucking know?
“Shame for her to lose everything, too, just because you’re a piece of trash that can’t find himself a woman who isn’t already married,” he jabs.
I taste bile in my throat as I hold back from punching his fucking lights out. How is this possible? He knows about me—my life, my secrets, my family. I don’t know how he knows, but he does. Of course, he does. He’s part fucking demon.
“Troy, what did you do?”
“Ah-ah,” he teases, wagging a finger in the air. “It’s Tess’s husband, remember? And I can’t believe she’s wasting her time with a loser like you. Trust me when I say it won’t last.”
He’s spinning me up, just trying to get a rise out of me. Does he expect me to wail on him right here in the middle of the gala? Is he trying to pick a fight? I can’t fucking think with him up in my face like this.
“You need to leave,” I say again. It’s a demand and a prayer.
Please, God, just make him leave.
But he leans in closer, his dark eyes narrowing. “You think you can offer her a better life than what she has with me?”
“I know I can. I don’t fucking cheat on her. I don’t make her cry or treat her like trash.” My jaw tightens as I add, “And I don’t hurt her.”
“All you are is hockey,” he says, ignoring my accusations. “That’s all you have to offer the world. When that’s gone, you’ll be nothing. One more useless, dumb jock. They wouldn’t even hire you to work a donut counter. You’re fucking pathetic. And my Tess is going to see right through you in the end. Honestly, I’m doing you a favor with this,” he adds, pointing at the documents in my hand. “Consider your relationship over. If you want to keep playing hockey, if you want to keep supporting your family, be the one who walks away first.”
“Troy, what did you do?” I say again.
“Remember, I’ve got my eye on you,” he says, tapping his cheek. “I’ll love nothing more than to turn you over to the police. It’ll be hard to play hockey in a jail cell. Not impossible,” he adds with a grin. “But certainly harder. It’s such a shame, too, because I really liked that billboard.”
He claps me on the shoulder, and I fucking let him. I think I might be in shock.
“Great to meet you, Ryan. You know, your photos don’t do you justice. You’re much more handsome in person.”
This time I know he’s talking about the photos in the box in Tess’s closet. He’s seen them all, and I’m gonna be sick.
“Hey, and good luck against the Wild next week,” he says, dropping his hand away from me. “You know, if they let you start…and if you’re not in jail.”
62
The ocean breeze whips around us. There’s sand and surf, music from the party, distant laughter. It all fades to nothing. All I hear is white noise…and the panicked beating of my heart.
Troy is here.
Nancy’s mouth is still moving. She’s talking at me, glancing from her little notebook back to me. Then she’s reaching out, her fingers brushing down my arm. I don’t even feel it.
“Tess? Honey, are you alright?” Her voice reaches me like she’s speaking from the other end of a long tunnel.
No, I’m not fucking alright. Troy is here. As soon as she said the words, I knew. It’s like I can feel him. Troy is here somewhere, and he’s looking for me.
“Tess?” Nancy’s dark eyes are wide as she steps in closer. “Honey, you’re scaring me a little. Talk to me.”
I blink twice, my brain zapping back into focus. All the sounds of the beach come flooding back to me. A chill runs down my arms, raising the fine hairs. I reach out, taking Nancy’s free hand. “I need you to go find Ilmari and Ryan.”
“Honey—”
“Nancy, I’m fine,” I say, forcing a smile. “Listen to me,” I press. “Ilmari and Ryan. Find them now. Fast as you can. I’ll wait right here.”