Page 77 of Keep Me

He’s giving me an eerie feeling, the same one I felt that night in my hometown.

I glance up at the mirror and see his eyes glued to my ass as I throw my water bottle in my bag. It raises alarm bells in my head, my heartbeat ratcheting up as I quickly stand and walk away from him.

“Where are you going?” he calls after me, jogging to keep up as he walks with me out into the hallway toward the change rooms.

I ignore him, hoping he’ll get the hint.

He doesn’t.

Travis grips my bicep, holding me still. “Not so fast. We need to talk.”

“About what?” I attempt to pull my arm free and fail. “Let go of me, now.” I seethe, my voice firm and strong, much to my surprise since I’m scared as hell right now.

Travis clucks his tongue, a menacing laugh leaving his lips as he removes his hand. “I mean no harm. That is, unless you fail to give me what I want.” He steps into my space, trailing a finger down my cheek.

I move my face out of his reach as adrenaline courses through me. Does he know my secret? “What do you want?” I hold my composure steady, despite wanting to crumble apart.

“What I want is simple. It’s you, Camille.” He smirks, holding up a finger. “Now, before you protest, I want you to watch this.”

Travis pulls out his phone, tapping a few times before turning it toward me.

My stomach hollows once I see it, knowing exactly what this is. It’s a video of Ryker and me in the locker room showers, a video of us having sex.

“Where did you get this?” My voice is tight with unshed tears.

I want to throw up, but I push it down as he shoves his phone back in his pocket.

“I happened to forget my necklace in my locker after the game, so I went back to get it, when I heard odd sounds coming from the shower. And you know how the rest goes.

“To top it off,” he continues. “I have a secret about your boyfriend, and I’ll expose that along with this video if you don’t cooperate.”

“What are you talking about?”

A secret? I briefly wonder if he’s bluffing, but then again how would I know? If it truly is a secret Ryker hasn’t shared with me, then I have no idea whether he’s telling the truth or not.

“Ryker was arrested for assault. He broke my friend’s arm and ruined his baseball career. If you don’t believe me, ask him. Or maybe he won’t tell you, considering it doesn’t look good on him if his little secret gets exposed just in time for the draft.” He smirks, loving every minute of this power he currently holds.

Too bad he doesn’t realize the power I have, and the connections I possess. While knowing he watched us makes me sick to my stomach and pissed the hell off, I can salvage this situation.

I’ll have my brother’s guy wipe Travis’s entire phone and computer clean, eliminating any evidence he has of that video. As for Ryker’s secret, that’s something I don’t know if I can protect.

I roll my eyes, attempting to walk away from him. “I don’t do blackmail.”

He grips my arm again, harder this time as he pulls me back, right to his chest.

“A sex tape won’t bode well for his career, nor yours, sweetheart. I’d think twice about this.” He swallows. “All you have to do is leave with me right now, or hell, we can do this right in the change room. I don’t care. I’ll fuck you better than he can, believe me.”

That’s it. I’ve had enough.

Using the adrenaline to my advantage, along with my training in self-defense, I shove my knee up hard, right into his groin. Travis keels over like I knew he would, so I use the angle to jab him right in the throat while giving him another swift kick in the groin.

He falls to the ground, crying out in pain, and I run away. I hear him call me names, but I don’t stop until I’m outside, where I crouch over with my hands on my knees as I try to catch my breath.

It only takes a few seconds for the PI to be by my side. Despite not having seen him at all, I know it’s him. “Camille, what happened? Are you okay?” the man asks, his voice deep and familiar.

I take him in before I respond, noticing the scar running through his eyebrow. I know exactly who he is.

Idris.

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