Page 129 of Offside Angel

No one would even hear me scream.

That doesn’t stop me from trying.

“Let go of me!” I try to twist away from Carson, but his grip is crushing. My bones grind together, and a whimper forces its way out of my mouth.

“You’ve been in the spotlight all night,” he slurs. “Don’t get shy now.”

He twists my arm between us, never loosening his hold, and pins me against the wall. His breath is toxic. Every exhale stings my nose and makes my eyes water.

“You’re drunk, Carson. Don’t do this.”

I’m not sure what his plan is, but it can’t be good. Not if he’s bringing me out here. Not when his eyes are bloodshot and there’s a level of crazy in them I’ve never seen before.

He towers over me, all six-plus feet of him looming overhead and blocking out the light. “I didn’t do anything. You. You are the one who fucked all of this up.”

“Me? What did I do?” My heart is racing, but I try to stay calm. I focus on breathing in and out the way Dr. Navarro taught me. I place myself here and now instead of in my childhood home, curled against the floorboards.

I’m not that little girl anymore.

“You turned that piece of shit addict into someone people want to root for,” he sneers.

I stretch onto my toes, getting as close to eye level with him as I can. “Zane has always been someone to root for. Long before I showed up.”

He barks out a cruel laugh. “How much is he paying you to say that? Is this marriage between you two even real?” He’s still pinning my wrist against my chest, but with his other hand, he curls a finger over my bare shoulder. “What are your rates? I might want to pay to play.”

I wrench against his hold again, but he shoves me even tighter against the wall. My chest is tight, and I can barely breathe, but I drum up enough air to spit, “I’m not a prostitute; I’m his wife.”

A lazy smile curls the edges of his mouth. “Maybe that is true, but I don’t give a fuck. Because he will never be my captain.”

Carson lunges for me like he’s going to bite me, and he might as well. His lips smash against mine so hard I taste blood.

I kick and scream—and then Carson is gone.

It takes me a second to understand why. To realize that there is another hulking shape in the hallway with us, and he’s yanking Carson back by the scruff of his neck.

“Get off me,” Carson grumbles, stumbling.

But before he can catch his balance, Zane rears back and punches him in the jaw.

I swear it happens in slow motion. Carson’s head snaps to the side, spit flies, and his eyes roll back in his head. He’s unconscious before he hits the ground.

Then Zane is in front of me.

“Tell me where he hurt you. What did he do?” He ghosts his hands over me like he’ll be able to feel where I’m hurting. “Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. I’m okay.” Adrenaline is thrumming through me so hard I’m starting to shake, but… “I’m fine. He didn’t hurt me.”

Zane’s thumb slips across my lower lip. “You’re bleeding.”

“He tried to kiss me, but he didn’t?—”

Zane spins around and kicks Carson. Hard.

I grab his shoulders to stop him from doing more. “He didn’t hurt me. I’m?—”

“He touched you. That’s bad enough.”

There’s a welt forming around my wrist from where he held me. I loop my hands around Zane’s neck and pull him close, pressing my forehead to his. “I’m okay. I swear.”

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