Page 143 of Lock Up the Darkness

“He… what?”

“You’re partnered with a trophy piece every six months, yet he was adamant about bringing that about earlier this time. Unfortunately, instead of using the opportunity to assuage his suspicions and kill them, you reinforced them.” His gaze drilled into mine. “Because of Aurora.”

“Not just because of her.”

“She’s the straw that broke the camel’s back for you. The way you feel about her has made the burden of the façade you must keep intact too heavy now.”

A chill rolled through me. “You’re going to take her from me, aren’t you?”

“No.”

I frowned. “No?”

“I’ll handle the situation. Go about your business as usual. Focus on the game in the next couple of days. You need to be on point.”

“Okay, are you—”

“Get some sleep,” he said, reaching for his phone beside him on the couch. “I need to secure this Hollis situation.”

I nodded, almost absently, then turned to go.

“When Aurora comes home, leave her be. She had a rough night. Let her process it and sleep it off. Alone, Killian.”

My body tensed and I was about to turn back around, when he added, “Just for tonight.”

Okay? What was happening?

Why was he being, not only lenient, but understanding?

I decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth, and nodded again, then went on my way.

He was right about needing to focus on the upcoming game.

I couldn’t fuck it up.

Hell, I couldn’t fuck up again, period.

30

~Asher~

I watched from the sidelines as the Hexwood Devils huddled up, Killian doing his thing and running his next play by his teammates.

I’d been monitoring the reactions of the two scouts his overly invasive father had brought in, and they’d been more than favorable. As they should be. Killian was a superb player. Not only was he technically proficient, the aggression that he was able to unleash during a game fueled him in a positive way, enabling him to reach a whole other level.

Despite the tough competition that the Torvin Generals were posing on the field, the Devils were absolutely trouncing them on our home turf.

They were in the second half now and the score was already 21-10.

I watched Killian execute his play.

He took position behind the center, and the second the ball was snapped, Killian snagged it, and then the crowd was roaring as he executed a quarterback sneak, weaving and dodging through the wall of defenders, then finally leaping over one who thought they could block his path. He went with the momentum as he landed, rolling, then coming up to slam the ball down onto the turf, achieving one hell of a touchdown.

I smiled to myself. Showy bastard.

As his teammates slapped his back and jumped all over him, one of the linebackers from the Generals shoved his shoulder into him. I saw Killian’s eyes flash, but he let it go. His gaze met mine and I gave him a chin lift, making him smile. Good boy.

I looked out into the stands, locating Aurora who was sitting with Jonah, his arm draped possessively over her shoulders. She was in a ruffled state, her mascara running down her cheeks and giving her a haunted and well-used look that I’d helped her perfect earlier before we’d left for the game. She was clad in a leather skirt that barely covered her ass and a plunging neckline of a scarlet halter top ramping up the scantily-clad look. Her hair was mussed and matted. She looked the part for our whore.

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