Page 8 of Heartless Game

“Don’t care,” Jack said, bending down and scooping Aviva up in his arms like a bride and carrying her down the hall and out of sight.

Leaving Isaac standing there with a glower on his face, holding two signed jerseys with JONES, 37 on them. A jersey I had three of in my closet, because I hadn’t been able to kick that crush, no matter how much I tried.

He started to speak, when a little kid came running down the hallway, tugging a pretty, embarrassed-looking blonde woman behind him. I recognized them; Isaac had talked to them after the game. Beaming, glower gone, Isaac sauntered over to them. He bent down, handing one jersey to the little kid, who immediately and eagerly pulled it over his head. It was so big on him, it practically hit his ankles, and the sleeves hit the floor. Kneeling, Isaac patiently rolled up the sleeves on the jersey until the tips of the kid’s fingers reappeared.

Slowly rising to his feet, he handed the second one to the kid’s mother, who blushed.

“For you,” Isaac said.

“Oh, you really didn’t have to,” she said, tucking a piece of golden hair behind her ear. She looked like a fairy tale princess—unlike me. I doubted that fairy tale princesses had pink hair and big curvy asses. I didn’t have an issue with my appearance, usually, but when Isaac quickly glanced over at me, shook his head, and leaned in to whisper something in her ear, my stomach dropped.

That’s what he liked, right? Petite blondes?

Tovah, stop.I scolded myself.You hate him, remember? Who cares who his next conquest is?

But I couldn’t help but watch as Isaac handed her his phone and she typed on it, probably giving him her number. Then, he bent down one more time to the little kid and gave him a high-five, handshake, and hug, making the kid squeal before he and his mom headed back down the hall.

I shook my head. Isaac Jones might be a good guy charmer, but Isaac Silver had a hidden dark side. If only the rest of the world knew.

I squared my shoulders. I was going to make sure they did.

He approached me.

“Well, little snoop, seems like you’re going to get your way,” he drawled.

My stomach dropped down to my toes. “What do you mean?” I hated that my voice trembled, hated that I was afraid.

“Coach Philip said I have to do the interview. Something about the team needing good press and knowing you’ll treat us with respect.” He snorted. “I don’t believe for a second you’ll give us an ounce of respect, but I’m nothing if not a team player.”

The fear receded, leaving space for almost incredulous triumph. Was I really going to be able to do this? Get time alone with Isaac “Jones”? Reveal that I knew he was Isaac Silver—as well as everything else I knew about him and his team? Blackmail him into giving up his family’s secrets to protect his team and his own personal interests?

Trying to school my face and hide my excitement, I nodded. “Your coach is right. I’m nothing if not respectful…you just refuse to see it.”

“Respectful, huh?” he murmured, setting off violent butterflies in my stomach. A dark, secretive look came to his eyes, but he quickly hid it before I could try to read what it might mean.

Clearing my throat, I offered him what was hopefully a white flag of a smile. I needed to trick him, get him to lower his suspicions so he’d follow through on meeting up with me.

“Tomorrow night at the Stacks? I won’t bite, I promise,” I offered.

He leaned down, whispering in my ear, like he had with the little kid’s mom, his lips so close to my sensitive skin it sent shivers down my spine.

“No, but I might,” he practically growled, shocking me down to my core. “And if I do, I’ll make sure it hurts.”

He straightened. The dark devil was gone and the golden god was back.

“See you tomorrow, Tovah,” he said cheerfully, whistling down the hallway as I tried to calm my pounding heart.

If he meant what I thought he meant, I was going to have to be the smartest, cleverest, and bravest I’d ever been.

Or I was in deep, deep shit.

4

Tovah

Iwas on my way back to my apartment, desperate to take a freezing shower before getting into bed and screaming into my pillow, when my phone buzzed with a text.

Meet me at my apartment. I have the info you need.

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