Page 121 of The Penalty

Calm silence greeted me when I walked into my condo. I went straight to the bathroom and filled the tub with warm water. A bubble bath sounded like heaven even though it was late.

Killian and Max were living it up at some swanky event. They’d been texting me most of the night, giving me updates on who’s there, who they’ve met, and who looks dreadful. I’m hoping to get through this bath without being bombarded with more. Unless Killian met his favorite actor, who also happened to be at the same event. I was warned to expect not just texts, but photos and videos as well.

I’d just settled into the tub when my phone chimed.

Of course.

Unknown: Hi Victoria

I didn’t recognize the number but the area code was local. A reporter maybe? What could they possibly want now? My jaw tensed in annoyance. They knew better than to text me on my personal phone after hours.

Unknown: Remember this?

A blurry photo accompanied the message. It looked like a still shot from a video. My brows pulled together as I tried to see what it could—

Panic curdled in my stomach.

I nearly dropped the phone in the bath water.

That was me. The photo was cropped to make it appear like I was the main target. My face wasn’t visible but I’d recognize that sparkly red dress anywhere.

Bile rose in my throat.

My face wasn’t visible because I was on my knees in front of someone. Someone who had their hands on my head while I—

Someone who was not Xavier.

Someone, judging by what little else I could see in the picture, I’d met at a party.

Remember this?

A party. Red sparkly dress.

I got out of the tub so fast water surged over the edge and soaked the floor. Grabbing a towel, I ran to my laptop and searched through my photos.

Draft parties. Championship parties. Ring presentations. Charity events.

Nothing.

So it wasn’t a football or work related event. That means it could be from just about anything else. All I heard in the back of my head was Killian’s voice.

I seem to remember one New Year’s Eve when you and whoever the flavor of the month was at the time were going at it in the corner of my living room at the party. You have no shame.

I scrolled through more photos, pausing any time I saw flashes of red. I’d worn this red dress to a few parties but my hair was always pulled up. It was down in this random photo.

My phone chimed again. An eerie sensation crawled up the back of my neck.

Unknown: Looks like someone is enjoying themselves tonight

Another photo was attached. I gasped, staring at the image of a blonde woman sitting much too close to Xavier, and clearly flirting. I didn’t like the seductive smile tilting her lips or the way she looked at him. I clenched my jaw, studying the picture.

I couldn’t see his face, but I could see her hand resting on his leg. I looked closer. Actually, that was his upper thigh.

No you fucking don’t.

Annoyance clouded my vision.

A surprised yelp passed my lips when my phone rang. It took me a second to calm the erratic beating of my heart before answering.

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