Page 90 of Voices

I rush to hide behind a big bush as another limo drives by.

This is fucking stupid. Why am I hiding from my boyfriend’s dad? So what if he’s got more money than necessary and likes to flaunt it every chance he gets? That doesn’t mean I have to do what he says. He’s not my coach. He’s creepy as fuck with the way he looked at me.

Fuck all that mess!

I peek over the side of the bush and see two more limos waiting. I adjust my squat and take out my phone. Turning it on,I’m a little disappointed when I don’t see anything from Charlie. I was hoping he’d let me know why he didn’t come tonight.

I hit call on his name and wait for him to answer. It rings for a long time and just when I think it’s about to go to voicemail, he answers.

“Hi,” he whispers softly.

“Hey, baby. Are you feeling ok? I was worried when I didn’t see you next to Lily. But then I saw that you weren’t feeling well. Can I pick you up something from Walgreens? Or stop anywhere for you?”

He’s quiet on the other end.

“Charlie?” A sniffle comes through then another. “Baby, tell me what you need. I’ll get you anything.”

I can’t tell if his nose is running from crying or if he did come down with something. He takes a few short breaths before a garbled, “You,” comes out.

“I’ll be there as soon as I can.” I look over the bush again and see that both limos are gone. “I’m leaving the stadium now. I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”

I stand and hoist my bag over my shoulder as I take off toward the townhouses. My phone is still to my ear so I can hear his soft sniffles as I jog across the damp grass. I get to the row of townhouses and as I’m about to run up the steps, the same black Rolls-Royce from earlier pulls up onto the sidewalk, blocking my path. I stop and back up a step, breathing hard.

“I’ll be there in a minute, baby.”

He doesn’t say anything before hanging up. I pocket my phone and glare at the asshole in the car.

“What the fuck?” I slam my fist on the hood as the driver’s side door opens and the big guy from the elevator steps out.

He’s about my height with slicked-back black hair with gray on the sides and a pudgy stomach hanging over the waistband of his pants. He leaves the door open as he steps around it andwalks up to me. I can smell the nasty cigarettes from here. I drop my bag as he gets closer. I’ve never fought anyone but I’m sure as hell not about to let this fucker hit me.

He stops about a foot away and scrutinizes me from head to toe and back up again. He makes a tisk sound and shakes his head.

“Didn’t think Charles had it in him. For how much he denied liking dick, he sure did pick a nice piece of ass.” He licks his lips as he tilts his head.

“What did you just say?” I growl.

I don’t know who this guy is or how he knows Charlie, but Ido notlike the way he’s looking at me.

“Don’t worry pretty boy, Mr. Alexander has a deal for you.”

“I’m not making any fucking deals with him so you can get back in your car and get out of my way.” I bend down to pick up my bag but when I stand back up his hand wraps around my throat and I’m pushed against the rough bricks.

Because we’re the same height, he has his arm lifted, making me stand on my toes to keep from choking. He gets so close to my face that I feel the spit leave his mouth as he talks.

“Oh, I think you’re going to want to hear this deal, pretty. You see, that degenerate upstairs has cost his family a place among the elite with his dramatic acts. He’s been caught looking at boys by the CEO of a company Franklin Alexander is in the middle of making a deal with. And one thing there’s absolutely no room for in the Alexander legacy is afaggot!” He squeezes my neck tighter as he moves in even closer, running his nose along my jaw. “You will stop seeing Charles. Cut off all communication. He deserves to rot away for the embarrassment he has brought his father.”

“Why should I,” I grit out through clenched teeth.

“Because if you don’t, I will make sure every NHL scout knows about the doping scandal that took place on your hockeyteam in high school. Now I don’t know much about sports but last time I checked, steroids weren’t allowed.”

My nostrils flare as I jerk my knee up and nail him in the balls. He drops me and covers himself while cursing me out. I cough and quickly get my bearings as I step up to him and Spartan kick him so hard in the chest he lands on his back. I put my foot on his neck and press down until he’s looking up at me with wide eyes.

“You can try and scare me away, but it won’t work. One thing I’m not is easily intimidated. So, you can return to your boss with this message: that steroid scandal, as you called it, was found to be a rumor. Nobody on my Juniors team or in my high school on any sports team tested positive for illegal substances. So good luck using that against me.” I push down harder. “And my skillset alone is what will get me into the NHL. Something I’m sure Franklin knows nothing about.” He swallows under my foot before I push off his neck and turn away from the piece of shit.

He grabs my ankle in a weak attempt to keep me there. I kick out of his grip, grab my bag, and step around the front of his car. I enter the code to get into the building and as I open the door, I hear him wheeze. I look over my shoulder and see him standing by the car door.

“You’ll regret being with him. He’s like the plague. He infects everyone around him and slowly drags them down with him. You’ll see.” He gets in his car and pulls away so quickly he leaves tire marks on the asphalt.

---