Page 54 of The Stallion
There had to be something psychologically wrong with me if I was more than amenable to murder some random fucking stranger just to keep a man that I barely even knew, and yet, fucked me like we’d been doing it for years.
The worst part was that the fear of dying at his hand for refusing or failing wasn’t what terrified me the most—it was losing the ability to be with him.
I really was fucked in the head…
I needed to clear my mind and get into a better mental state to consider this logically.
Time away from him and with Asher would help and, hopefully, give me all the answers and clarity I needed before I inevitably returned to Vegas—back to Dallas.
When I finally pulled up to the old apartment that I had once shared with Asher, I couldn’t help but sigh longingly—the days that had passed felt more like months, with so much happening to me in such a short period of time.
Had it really only been a week?
I stared up at the three-story building, every brick discolored from the storms it had endured over time, before glancing down at my phone to see if Dallas had even attempted to contact me.
Nothing.
Not a single text.
Dallas was giving me my requested space, and all I wanted at that very moment was for him to give me a reason to turn around and come home.
Home.
Why was I already calling it that?
Why was I starting to feel like Phoenix was no longer where I belonged?
“There she is! The woman who disappears for a week and then shows up with abrand new fucking car—Holy shit, girl!” Asher ran down the front steps as I exited my car and rushed in to hug me with a tight embrace. “I know you said the job was too good to pass up but, damn woman—look at you!” She gaped in awe at my new SUV before stealing my suitcase from my hand and dragging me toward the building with the other, not letting me get a single word in. “Alright, let’s get your ass inside. I needallthe juicy little details before you leave me all over again.”
I love Asher, and sadly, a part of me knew that this weekend would be difficult for the both of us.
Chapter 21
Bria
Thefirstnightwaslong, filled with a lot of wine, gossip about the team, and all the ‘I miss yous’ I could handle, until I finally passed out.
Asher and I had been inseparable for as long as I could remember, and now I felt as if I was being pulled in an entirely different direction—my world tilting on its axis from the moment Dallas had entered it.
After a full day of exhausting practice, Asher and I went out for dinner with Mick and Natalie, savoring cocktails and carbs as if there was no tomorrow—until they had to leave, and it was just the two of us once again.
“Look, I’ve been waiting to bring this up because I know it’s a sensitive topic for you, but we need to discusshimbefore this weekend is over.” Asher sighed, placing a gentle hand on mine from across the table.
I curled my fingers into a fist under hers, bracing myself for who she was about to mention, not fully ready to discuss anything withhisname attached to it.
“Ash, do we really need to ruin what limited time we have left together by talking about…Connor?” I groaned my disapproval, sucking on my front teeth as Asher continued to look at me with pressing, pleading eyes.
There was no escaping her request for conversation, and I was only delaying the inevitable in my feeble attempts to do so.
I’m sure his parents had updated her frequently with whatever information they’d gathered over this past week. I didn’t know how much they knew about our relationship or what had occurred behind closed doors between us—but I guess I was soon to find out.
“Look, his parents are opening a full police investigation into his disappearance... They don’t believe that he just up and left without so much as saying goodbye—not when he had his whole life ahead of him and his expanding career.”His fucking football career. The one thing that mattered more to him than his long-term girlfriend.“Bria…” Asher breathed, tightening her grip on my already tensed fist and chewing her lip with a look of worry. “They’re suspecting foul play—”
My heart stopped. The rest of what she said was nothing more than a subtle hum past the last two words that had entered my mind—foul play. Connor’s parents believe that he was murdered—his leaving without a trace being overtly out of character.Fuck.
“Bria, did you hearwhat I just said? They believe that he’s dead… say something—anything.”
I lifted my clouded gaze from the table to meet hers, and no matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t find the words to speak—my jaw hanging open in complete shock at the news.
