Page 6 of The Penalty

I nodded, getting into my car.

The drive to Bennet’s was pleasant enough. Cade often drove like he was trying out for the next Formula One race. I lost him pretty quick on the motorway. Fine by me. I wasn’t in a rush to get there. Part of me considered calling to let him know I wasn’t coming.

But then Bennet would moan and complain and tell me if he could take time out of his busy schedule, so could I.

Bennet’s father dropped more responsibility on him for this season. Next year, Royal City Athletic would be fully under his control.

Not bad for the posh-looking teen who’d taken Cade and I under his wing when we were sixteen.

The day he’d come up to us on the pitch would forever be seared into my memory.

We’d just lost a match. Rare, since I’ve excelled at my position forever. But he extended an invitation for both of us to join the development league for the club. I signed on as their goalkeeper, Cade as their striker. Two years later, we had contracts.

Life-changing isn’t a proper way to describe the opportunity. I’d felt it in my bones. It licked, sparked, and pinched my lust for being noticed, being seen, being watched.

All those eyes fixated on me. Waiting to see what I’d do next.

You’re nothing.

I squeezed the steering wheel and turned down the long private road.

Logan Estate was massive. Not Buckingham Palace massive but close enough. The size and scope didn’t intimidate me one bit. Quite the opposite. It comforted me. Let me know this was exactly where I belonged. Meant for something bigger, something bolder.

Cade leaned against his car when I pulled up. Without warning, a powerful sense of deja vu razored its way into my reality.

Footsteps.

My body twisted from a violent shove. I managed to regain my footing but…

Pain. Blunt and crushing against my jaw. I staggered and fell to my knees.

“That him?” an unfamiliar voice asked.

Silence.

The jangling of keys.

More pain. Bright and searing, above my left eye. A fist grabbed me by the hair, banging my head so hard against the car I saw stars. Something warm and sticky ran down my face.

Another sharp pull on my hair.

“If you try something like that again,” the unfamiliar voice threatened, “I’ll take your fucking eye out.”

My head snapped back and hit the car again.

More footsteps. Two car doors slammed shut and an engine roared.

Rapid knocking on the window jolted me from the memory. I turned sharply to see Cade.

“We going in or what, mate?”

I nodded, getting out in a daze. I didn’t let that particular memory consume me very often, if at all.

Gravel crunched beneath our feet as we walked to the door. A couple other cars were parked closer to the house. One belonged to Bennet’s assistant. I didn’t recognize the other.

Muffled voices wafted through the hall as we approached the library. One of the French doors was closed, which seemed odd. Bennet always kept these doors open.

Cade walked in first. I nearly crashed into him when he stopped short.

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