Page 19 of The Player

“You got it,” I say as I rotate my neck to pop it. I’ve never wanted to kill someone before, but the man I’ve idolized for half my life sitting here, disrespecting my Sugar Plum, has me up in arms.

“Good. Now, you are benched.”

That gets my attention. “What!” I stand up from the chair, my breathing frantic as I stare down at him.

“While you did manage to make it through the last half of practice strong, you are still a handicap to me with how distracted you are. Take this one game, get your priorities straight, and come back. Show me the fucking star you are.”

I’m trembling at his words. The rage is about to win, but I feel my phone vibrate in my back pocket.

“One game,” I grit out.

He arches an eyebrow at me, but he nods. “One. Don’t make it more.”

Coach waves his hand toward the door, letting me know I’ve been dismissed. Most players would make a scene for being benched or rally the other guys to get him back in play. Not me. Not when I know he is right.

Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I turn on the camera application that controls every device I’ve set up to monitor Julie. My vision turns blurry as I watch her professor take her into his office.

Quickly, I put in my earbuds to listen to the conversation. “Julie, I’m glad you decided to come. Please sit down.”

Moving the camera angle with a tap on the screen, I look at Julie. She’s scared. There’s a slight tremor in her hands, and she has her head down. Fuck. I knew this guy was trouble.

“You know, I’m happy you decided to take what I said last night seriously.” He has that “cat ate the milk” look on his face, and I clench my teeth.

“There…” Her voice trembles and my heart aches. “There wasn’t much of a choice.”

Mr. Lawerence moves around the desk and stands directly in front of where my girl is seated. When his hand comes out and touches her cheek, my vision isn’t red anymore. No. It’s hazy with the need to kill. Son of a mother fucking bitch.

The only thing keeping me sane at the moment is that Julie pulls away. He grabs her neck and she yelps. “You do not move away from me. Do you understand me?”

He spits at her and she nods. “I’m sorry.” Tears fall down her cheeks, and I know exactly what I’m going to do.

“You wanted to be a little whore the night of the ball, so I’m going to let you be a slut. On my dick, of course. Starting tonight.”

Mr. Lawerence picks up a sheet of paper and hands it to Julie. “Be at this location at seven. If you are late, there will be consequences.”

“Please. I…I don’t want to do this. Can’t…”

When he squeezes her neck and pulls her out of the chair, I clench my phone so tight the screen starts to crack. “Don’t worry, Julie. I’ll take very good care of you. And in return, you will please me.”

The bastard will pay for uttering those words. Oh, will he ever. But most of all, he’ll understand that it’s inappropriate to touch what isn’t his.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Waking up knowing that you are going to your doom is a hard pill to swallow. I do it anyway. The professor may think he has the upper hand, but I believe he’s the one behind the pictures. I refuse to back down.

Getting into the lab, it’s eerily quiet. So quiet I can hear my heart beating and my mind racing.

“Mr. Lawerence?” I call out, making my way to the office that’s in the back of the lab.

Knocking on the door, I don’t hear anyone answer, but I push the door open. An ugly gasp leaves me as I stare at my professor, naked and tied to the desk.

His head is gone, and along the walls, the word “pedophile” is written in blood. I tremble as I try to get my phone out of my back pocket. This…this cannot be happening. Backing out of the office, I bump into school security.

“He… I…”

My words leave me as I faint.

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