by Marian Tee
Grant swallowed. “Fred, I don’t think—”
“Relax, Grant. We’ve got this all under control.” Alfred’s gaze swung back at Lace. “Remember that time, bitch? You think your video’s the only thing you have to worry about, don’t you? Well…it’s not. Remember that time you left your laptop in his room? My boy, he’s got all your stuff saved in a USB. You didn’t know that, did you?”
The flushed look in Grant’s face told her every word was true.
“He gave it to me, told me none of it meant shit because he went through it, too. But I know a few tricks, and I got to hack not just into your account. Got to hack your friend’s account, too. The cute redhead. Katerina Chariot.”
Dread immobilized Lace the moment she heard KC’s name.
“Thanks to you, I got myself more stuff to jerk off to.” He laughed. “I can see you don’t know a thing. She’s kinky, that one. Your friend’s got this video, doing all sorts of things. And she’s got another guy’s video. More kinky shit.” His voice dropped an octave. “Wanna be the reason all those videos come out in the open?”
Her throat convulsed. The thought that this disgusting man saw something of KC he wasn’t suppose to see was repulsive, more so because she knew it was all her fault.
Lace whispered, “N-no.” One word, and they both knew he owned her.
He owned her.
Until she could prove he was bluffing…until she could prove he really didn’t have those videos…until she could be completely sure her friend wouldn’t pay the price for Lace’s stupidity…
This man owned her.
“Then we have an understanding, don’t we, Lacey baby?”
Slowly, he took his hand off. “You won’t scream now, will you?”
“No.” She choked the word out even though she wanted so badly to kill him.
“That’s my girl.” He chuckled, and then he grinned at Grant. “Sorry, I meant, that’s your girl.”
Grant returned the smile, but it was clear he was uneasy. Lace willed him to look at her, but he didn’t even turn her way, and she had a feeling Grant was now just as scared as she was of Alfred.
“My boy and I, we’ve got plans that will make us rich. Real nice plans,” Alfred was boasting. “Lucky for you, it’s gonna be a breeze to do. You just have to live happy-ever-after with him in front of the camera. You see the appeal of it, don’t you? Grant as the next Kobe Bryant, then you and your coaching shit.”
Crazily enough, she did, and that was what scared Lace. His idea of a show featuring her and Grant could work, and because it could, she also knew Alfred Cohen would stop at nothing to make it happen.
“The first episode, it’s going to be about tomorrow’s game. You could imagine my fucking surprise when we found out Northwest was going against you. Too perfect timing, and I kept thinking, well, Alfred Cohen, that’s your sign. This is your time to shine. The three of us…” He pointed at Grant and her. “We’re going to be so famous. And we’re gonna make that happen starting tomorrow.”
Alfred smiled at her. “Ask me how it’s going to happen.”
She made herself repeat the words, knowing that refusing would be pointless.
“I was thinking, you’re a really smart girl when it comes to this sport, so I figured tomorrow you could figure out a way to make your team lose. Make it all dramatic, but make sure CU goes down. And after that, Grant here comes to your rescue and says he wants you back. You do what you’re good at, play hard to get a little, ham it up for the camera – be sure to look at my camera. I’m gonna be right behind Northwest’s bench – but in the end, you agree and the end.”
The end, Lace echoed in her mind, but not for her. She didn’t know what she could do to prevent it from happening. What she did know was that she wouldn’t stop until she found a way to prevent them from ever causing her friend harm.
“You’re going to do it, right?”
When Lace didn’t answer, he grabbed her chin again, forcing her head to move up and down. “Say it,” he hissed. “Say you’re going to do it or I swear to fucking God I’m going to break your ribs.”
He shouldn’t have bothered with the warning, Lace thought dully, not when he was already doing it. This time, the pain was nothing like she had ever experienced and somehow, she felt herself falling, falling, falling—
Before she could answer, someone knocked on her door. “Wyndham?”
Her eyes flew to the door in horror.
Silver.
Just thinking about him made Lace feel like she was falling faster and harder. But this time she fought it, knowing she had something important to do. It was bad enough her stupidity had caused KC to be involved. She would never forgive herself if she got Silver involved, too.
In her mind, she could hear everyone protesting, everyone telling her to ask for help, and again she ignored all of them.
But this time, it wasn’t out of pride.
This time, it was out of love.
This time, she could admit it to herself.
She loved Silver so, so much.
Loved him so much she would do everything not to have him involved with the likes of Alfred Cohen.
Part III: SILVER & LACE
Bad Words…Aren’t Always Spoken
Silver was tired. In the past thirty-six hours, he had flown halfway around the world and back, and his punishing schedule was beginning to take a toll on his body. Even so, nothing would have stopped him from coming here.
To Lace.
As he waited for her to open the door, several scenarios played in his mind. Various beginnings, same ending, and that was him inside of her while she cried out her love for him. He would do whatever it take to make that happen.
When the door opened, he started to smile at the sight of his little lamb.
But a second later, his blood turned cold, his smile wiped away by the sight of another man coming out of her room behind Lace. Both their clothes were rumpled, their hair mussed, and her lips looked ravaged.
Silver didn’t even think.
In an instant, he had the younger guy against the wall, his feet dangling in the air.
“Make him stop, Lace—”
“Don’t you fucking say her name!” Silver raised his fist, and he would have beaten the shit out of the guy if not for Lace crying out.
“Silver, no!”
He pulled his fist back, a chill running over his body, but this time it was for another reason entirely.
Lace’s fists beat his back. “Let go of him. Please.” Her voice was ragged, and he could feel her crying silently without the tears behind him.
Silver let go, and as the other guy hit the floor, he turned to Lace.
Around them, doors began to open, other students poking their heads out at the commotion and then stepping out of their rooms completely when they realized who was involved.
“I want you to go.” When he didn’t say anything, Lace’s tone sharpened. “Didn’t you hear me? I want you to go.”
For a moment, he believed her.
For one moment, his world came crashing down around him, and it was everything Silver had expected. The pain. The emptiness. The despair. He had fucked so many girls over, and now he was paying the price.
“You heard her.” The other guy was back on his feet. Standing next to Lace, he put a proprietary arm around Lace’s stiff shoulders. “We don’t need you anymore.” He turned to her. “Right, Lacey baby?”
And then she was being kissed.
Right in front of Silver.
He had the greatest urge to haul the guy off Lace and throw him out of the nearest window. He probably would have if Silver hadn’t noticed the way Lace’s fists were clenched against her sides. So fucking tightly her knuckles had become white, so fucking tightly it was as if she was doing her best not to get the guy off her as well.
When the guy pulled away, he appeared surprised Silver was still there. “You’re still here? Are you a masochist or something?”
Silv
er didn’t even bother looking at the other guy, his gaze on Lace completely. He needed to hear her speak, needed to see her eyes to be sure. “Wyndham.”
But she didn’t look at him, didn’t say a thing.
“I won’t leave until you tell it to my face that you want me to go one last—”
Her head whipped towards him, her voice shrill. “I want you to go. Is that clear enough for you?”
Slowly, he nodded.
It was.
The whole time she had been speaking, she had been crying in her heart. The whole time she had been speaking, her eyes had said a different thing.
Help me.
Help me.
Help me.
Silver’s face hardened.
In front of him, a cry escaped Lace, and he knew she thought he believed every damn lie she had uttered.
Seeing her in so much pain nearly sent him in a rage, but he sought for control, knowing that he had to think things through. Lace was not a weak person, and if she was being made to do something against her will, it had to be something extremely bad.
Looking at Lace again, he said quietly, “I get it now.”
He hoped she would understand, but when he turned around and slowly walked away, he knew she hadn’t, knew with the way she cried and started screaming after him.
“Go! You think I care? Go and never come back!”
That was what she was screaming, but Silver’s love for her made him hear something completely different.
Don’t leave me. Please. Come back. Please.
Even so, Silver forced himself to continue walking, and it was the hardest thing he had done in his life.
When he reached the dorm’s lobby, he almost staggered to a stop, Silver needing to lean against the wall as his body nearly gave up on him. Even now, he could hear Lace crying inside his mind, and he knew it wasn’t his imagination.
Stupid little lamb.
Brave little lamb.
Taking a deep breath, he made a call to Derek Christopoulos, the son of the university’s founder and chairman. When the other man answered, Silver didn’t mince words, knowing he had no time. “I have a favor to ask.”
****
“Is he gone?” Alfred asked curtly the moment the door closed behind Lace and Grant.
“Yeah. Probably went somewhere to lick his wounds after Lacey baby broke his heart into tiny pieces.” Grant laughed and even looked at Lace, as if wanting her to share in his happiness.
Alfred smirked. “Guess that makes you an even better actress than I thought.”
Lace worked hard to keep her face expressionless, knowing it was better they didn’t find out how much she wanted to kill them. Her fury was the only thing that kept her moving, thinking. Everything else was dead, everything losing its meaning the moment she had seen Silver’s face harden.
Lace bit her lip hard enough to taste blood. It was the only way to keep herself from crying.
Even now, she didn’t have to close her eyes to remember Silver’s face when he saw Grant coming out of her room.
Of course he’d believe she was playing around, she thought painfully. After what Drew had told her, she could see why it would be so damn easy for him to think that way.
Alfred checked his watch. “You should probably go now. You’ve got a big game tomorrow. I’ll stay here and make sure your girl keeps her mouth shut.”
Grant hesitated. “I could probably stay here…”
Alfred laughed. “Relax. I promise I won’t do a thing to your girl. She’s all yours, my boy.”
Grant’s gaze slid to Lace.
Bitterness rose inside Lace, but she knew whatever she said wouldn’t make Grant suddenly change his mind about the whole thing. Grant wasn’t just sick and obssessed. The worst thing about him was his cowardice, his weakness allowing someone like Alfred to take over his life completely.
She said flatly, “If he touches me, one of us will end up dead.”
Grant flinched.
Alfred only laughed. “See, Grant? The little bitch’s gonna try to kill me if I make a move.”
Grant stepped towards Lace. “Just don’t make him angry, okay? It’s going to be all right as long as…” He tried stroking her hair, but she jerked her head away, not wanting him to touch her.
His hand stilled, his face whitening at the look of betrayal on her face. Suddenly, he remembered the times he and Lace had been happy. The times she had looked at him like he could save the whole world…and more.
“Lace…” His voice faltered. Guilt tore into Grant as she continued looking at him silently. She didn’t need to say a word for Grant to know exactly what she thought of him.
Doubt and regret filled his mind, but he also knew that it was too late. He was in too deep now, and he muttered before heading to the door, “Things will be better tomorrow.”
Looking over his shoulder at the other guy, he said quietly, “Don’t hurt her, Fred.”
“I won’t.” When the door closed behind the younger guy, Alfred sneered, “But that doesn’t mean I can’t rough you up.”
It was funny, Lace thought, how she had been so crazy with fear earlier but now…afte seeing Silver’s face, after seeing him walk away from her…
She couldn’t even make herself feel the slightest bit nervous.
“I really want to fuck you up right now,” Alfred whispered as he closed the distance between them. Both of them were standing next to the windows now, and a part of her wondered if she should take the risk, just shove him out, and never mind if she ended up falling with him.
At least then it would be all over.
“I wanna see how far your pride will last…”
Lace willed herself to stay in control, to not let any of his words get to her.
“If you keep looking at me like that, you’re gonna force me to remind you again who’s the boss here. You want that to happen? Want me to force you to be on your knees and crying that you’re dying to blow me?”
They stared at each other.
A second later, the fire alarm went off, and everything became a blur. The sprinklers over them had gone off, releasing a powerful blast of water. Another moment, and the power had shut down completely. Shrieks of surprise were heard all over the floor as the entire dorm seemed to have been plunged in darkness.
“What the hell?” Alfred shouted.
Lace didn’t bother answering, heading straight to the door. When he tried to stop her, Lace shoved him away, snapping, “Can’t you see we have to go?” She threw the door open, and it was complete chaos outside. Everyone was rushing towards the stairs, some of them holding lit-up screens of their phones to light the way.
Alfred’s grip tightened around her wrist. “Don’t do anything crazy.”
There wasn’t any time to think as they made their way to the stairs. Everyone was panicking, and hysteria began to bubble inside of her. She and Lady Luck were never the best of friends, but wasn’t this too much?
Her position as coach in danger, Silver being taken away from her, and now she had to battle for her life?
A laugh escaped her, causing Alfred to look at her like she was crazy.
As she reached the first floor, something grabbed her from the darkness, wrenching her away from Alfred—
Silver.
His hand over her mouth, he pressed a finger over his lips, signalling her to be quiet.
Alfred was shouting her name from the main lobby, but the sound was fading, and she knew he would leave with the rest of the students. He might need her, but he didn’t need her so much that he would risk his life for her.
When Silver lifted his hand off her mouth, she whispered, “The fire?”
He nodded. “A ploy to get you separated.”
“How did you know?”
“I had a feeling your former team captain wasn’t the type to do something like this alone.” His jaw clenched. “So I made myself wait and when I saw another silhouette by your bedroom window, I made a move.” When she star
ted to speak again, he shook his head. “We don’t have much time. I just wanted you to stop worrying. Whatever he wants you to do, do it.”
Lace’s mind was spinning, and a part of her still couldn’t believe that Silver was really here and that he wasn’t mad at her.
Silver’s gaze narrowed. “Lace.” He cupped her face.
His touch broke her.
Silver.
Silver.
Silver.
He was really here, really touching her, and he didn’t hate her.
Tears stinging her gaze, she pulled him down and kissed him desperately. Inside her mind, Drew’s words echoed, and she kissed him as deeply as she could, wanting Silver to know, to feel how much she loved him.
When Silver wrenched himself away from her, she wanted to die.
“Wyndham…” His face was harder now, his lips set in a thin line. “We don’t have much time, I told you.” His voice became tight. “Can you promise me one thing?”
Slowly, she nodded.
“When you go out there, I don’t want you to be afraid. I’ve got everything under control.” Silver breathed hard. “Can you promise me that?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Before she could say anything else, Silver was already leading her back to the furor.
Lace panicked when she realized they were going to be parted again. “No, I don’t want to—”
Silver’s voice touched her ear. “I love you, Wyndham. Remember that.”
And then she was being swept away by the tide heading towards the main doors.
When she looked over her shoulder, there was no sign of Silver.
Outside the dorm, there was even more chaos, sirens ringing as more ambulances drove close. Looking up, she saw no signs of fire, not even a hint of smoke.
“Ma’am?”
Lace suddenly found herself surrounded by paramedics.
“We need to take you to the hospital.”