Page 17 of Red Zone

I closed the distance for a better look. The lights flickered, casting colorful patterns across the carvings. At first, I thought it was a shadow—a trick of the light. But as I stepped closer, the outline sharpened into something unmistakable—a body lying face down, head turned to the side, its unseeing eyes staring in my direction. My stomach twisted, bile rising. I stumbled back, a scream lodged in my throat until it tore out of me at eardrum-shattering decibels.

Strong arms wrapped around me. “Shit,” Liam muttered. “Skye, look away.”

For a few seconds, my gaze remained locked on the unmoving body until I was physically turned, my head cupped, and my cheek pressed against a warm body. The scent of cinnamon and warm spices penetrated the haze of horror. The world blurred as Liam held me tightly. His warmth was a shield against the icy fingers of panic creeping up my spine. I wanted to disappear into him, to let his strength carry me far from the nightmare unfolding before us.

Footsteps pounded the pavement, sounding like a herd of elephants as the guys I’d been filming returned. Liam’s arms loosened, and I clung tighter. He paused for a second then lifted me and moved farther away. “You’re all right, Skye. I’ve got you.”

His voice was low and soothing, but it only worsened the storm inside me. With a volley of shivers along my spine, I buried my face in his jacket, needing his strength like I’d sworn I never would.

“Holy shit,” Mitch swore. “Is that Jackson?”

Liam tensed, his head whipping up from where he’d rested his chin on me. My arms drifted up from his waist to wrap about his neck. I clung to him, the warmth of his embrace at odds with the cold dread settling in my bones. I didn’t want to face Jackson’s lifeless body or the fragile balance of our world that had cracked wide open. I wanted not to give a fuck about what I’d seen or what would happen. All I wanted was for Liam to hold me, to make me forget everything—and that was more dangerous than what we would soon find out about how Jackson had ended up in the drained fountain.

The police were called, and Liam and I moved away from the action with enough distance that I could pretend none of what I’d seen was real. His arms tightened around me, his warmth a shield against the icy fear clawing up my spine. My breath hitched, and I buried my face in his chest, inhaling the familiar scent of warm spices and something distinctly him.

I tilted my head back to meet his eyes, those green depths searching mine with an intensity that stole the rest of my breath. His hand cupped my cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear I didn’t even realize had fallen.

The world around us faded—the team’s shouts, the horror of what I’d seen—until it was just him and me. His gaze flicked to my lips, and my heart thundered in response.

“Skye…” His voice was barely a whisper, but it hit me like a plea, threatening to undo everything I’d built to keep him out.

I didn’t move away. Maybe I couldn’t. The pull between us was undeniable, a gravitational force stronger than reason. My lips parted as he leaned in, his breath mingling with mine, and for a fleeting, reckless moment, I wanted to close the distance. But then the world came rushing back—the shouts of the players, the reality of the body in the fountain—and I jerked away, my face burning.

“We can’t.” I stepped back, wrapping my arms around myself. “This doesn’t change anything.”

Liam’s hand dropped to his side, his jaw tightening. “Maybe it should.” He didn’t wait for me to respond as he turned to stride toward the group gathered around the fountain.

I stood frozen, feet rooted to the ground, my heart pounding and my chest aching with everything I couldn’t let myself feel. The numbers, the players’ strange behavior, Jackson’s lifeless body—they all pointed to something bigger. And I wasn’t sure I was ready to face it.

A sharp pressure coiled in my chest, winding tighter. “Liam!”

He turned, brows furrowing at the panic that had to be clear in my expression before returning to my side, his hand sliding back into mine. I clung to him, not wanting to be alone.

CHAPTER SEVEN

LIAM

The police arrived quickly, and since a dead body was involved, Fiona, as a detective, showed up too. Skye hadn’t let go of my hand, and I didn’t plan to leave her side. I hated seeing her as rattled as she was, and I was thankful that the person questioning her was my sister. I knew Fio would have a gentle touch, and I was grateful it wasn’t some dickish rookie brushing Skye off or not handling her kindly or telling me to take a hike so he could grill her at her most vulnerable.

A sad smile curved Fio’s lips. “Thanks, Skye. That’s all I need. You’re free to go home, but maybe have someone drive you?”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Coach Becket said from behind us.

Skye still didn’t release her death grip on my hand, and I braced myself for what Coach would say, as he’d obviously seen. “Coach.”

“Cartwright.” Coach slapped me on the back, his expression grim. “I have to notify the president and the dean.” He notched his head in the direction of where Jackson had been found. “Do me a favor and take Skye home.”

“Of course.” I wouldn’t leave her alone, not after the trauma she’d just suffered with finding Jackson.

Coach wrapped Skye in an awkward hug, and she maintained her grip on my hand, returning to my side as soon as he released her.

“Take care of my niece, son.” Coach held my gaze before seeing whatever he needed from me and turning to talk with some of the other coaches and police.

We walked to my truck in silence, her trembling too noticeable for me to ignore, and I pulled her against me, slinging my arm around her shoulder. She went willingly, and that told me everything I needed to know about her mental state.

“I’m sorry you had to see Jackson like that.” I cringed at the visual of my teammate’s unresponsive body, shocked to the core that he was gone.

“It was… awful. And he’s done so well this season. It’s… I don’t know. Do you think he could’ve been taking something that caused his death? The detective said there weren’t any signs of a struggle. I mean, he warmed the bench last year, then bam, he’s making plays and getting mentioned on ESPN for his explosive talent. It’s like it came out of nowhere.”

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