Page 13 of Fierce Storm
“Always. So… are you going to continue to lie to me?” I pointedly raise an eyebrow before continuing on. “Or…”
“Okay. Jesus. I’m tired, stressed, and going crazy because I feel like I’m missing something, or that I’m going to say or do something to fuck this all up for him.”
“Like what?”
“I don’t even know.” She throws her hands in the air, and I reach forward to grab them, giving her fingers a squeeze.
“He’s going to be okay,” I say as the server walks over. “One way or another, I’m going to make sure of that.”
We order our drinks, me a whiskey and Keeley a red wine, and sit in silence until the server walks away.
When he’s gone, Keeley stares at me for a beat before raising her brow just like I did. “You’re going to make sure? Like you did for Paige?”
“What did I do for Paige?” My shoulder lifts in an innocent shrug, and Keeley’s beautiful laughter echoes through the quiet bar. Her way of calling my bullshit.
When Paige was blackmailed by her ex-boyfriend’s family last year, I may have gone to great lengths to protect her. Not even Keeley knows the full story of my confrontation with the Mikklesons. Let’s just say, I would have done almost anything to ensure her safety.
I will always protect my family, and while Paige is my flesh and blood, my team—theplayers—are my extended family too. I’d never do anything that put Paige or Isaac at risk, but I’d do pretty much anything else. Especially for Zane. I don’t know what it is about him. I got the sense early on that he didn’t have anyone in his corner. He’s been through so much, he deserves a break.
“I’ll do whatever I have to do, Keels.”
“He’s lucky to have you.”
“And you. He needs all of us tomorrow.”
Our drinks arrive and we change the topic as we drink, talking about Isaac to keep our minds off the following day.
Keeley yawns after taking her last sip of wine and my chest tightens. “You should get some sleep.”
She laughs, rolling her eyes. “What’s that saying? You can’t take the dad out of the man.”
“I don’t think that’s a saying at all. If you’re trying to say that I care too much or that I’m overprotective, guilty as charged.”
Keeley’s strawberry-colored lips curl into a soft smile, and it draws my gaze, my heart pounding as her tongue swipes out to lick the gloss. “You’re a good man, Sal. I’ll see you in the morning.”
She stands, the movement pulling my attention as I stand with her. “You will.”
I walk her to the elevator and wait while it arrives, holding the door open until Keeley’s inside.
“Good night, Keeley.”
“Night, Sal.”
Just like she instinctively knew I’d be down here, she also seems to know I’m not ready to go back up. Not yet. I couldn’t sleep if you hit me over the head with a brick. I may have argued that there’s nothing we can do, but it doesn’t mean I’m a hundred percent convinced. There has to be something. I just have to figure out what it is.
I’m exhausted after my sleepless night—my whirring mind keeping me awake—and when I meet the others at the restaurant for breakfast, their weary faces suggest we’re all in the same boat.
“I’m guessing you all got about as much sleep as I did?”
Reed scoffs as though my question is absurd. “If you mean none, then yes.”
Silence falls as the server takes our order, and as we’re waiting for our food, we keep the conversation on football rather than the reason we’re here. It’s not until we finish eating that Hayley addresses the elephant in the room, attempting to perk us up.
“By the end of today, Zane’s going to be free, we’re going to be able to put this behind us, and give him shit for stealing so much attention. He’ll love it.”
“Hayley’s right, mostly.” I smile. “Zane’s going to be cleared. On both counts. We have to stay positive.”
“For everyone’s sake.”
