Page 92 of The Penalty

He walked off, leaving me to simmer in my own annoyance while fans screamed my name and reporters hovered with microphones at the ready.

Xavier

Victoria nudged me with her elbow and gestured toward Cade as we walked through one of the chateau lounges. “He looks cozy.”

I followed her gaze and noticed my friend in his element, basking in female attention. He sat on the couch with two of the three young women who’d been fawning over him at the stadium.

I guess the other one didn’t make it.

Oh wait. There’s the third.

She walked over and positioned herself comfortably on his lap. The expression on his face when he caught us looking said it all. The more, the merrier.

I grinned at Cade and gently pulled Victoria through the crowd toward another room. The post-match party was in full swing. Most of my teammates were milling about, along with a good mix of celebrities, models, and influencers. I knew quite a few of them. Some more than others.

In fact, two women eyed me with interest. One was a random hook up I’d had last summer.

The other was Phoebe. Shit. Her demeanor soured when she spotted Victoria.

I steered us clear of encountering a potentially awkward situation.

The last thing Victoria needed was to have her nose rubbed in my previous flings.

We ended up in the butler’s kitchen, which was empty. Victoria hopped up on the counter and pulled me closer. I wedged myself between her legs, wrapping my arms around her waist.

“Do all soccer players rent castles in France to impress select female fans?” she asked, running her fingers through my hair.

“Maybe. But to be fair, those fans did travel to come see us play. It’s the least we can do to thank them.”

My smart ass remark was rewarded with a sharp poke in my side.

“Ow. Not into castles, city princess?”

“I love castles. How many of these parties would you go to after a game?”

“A few.”

“Lies. You went to all of them.” She leaned close and kissed my forehead. “Would you be here right now if I hadn’t flown out to see you?”

“Probably. But I would have found an empty room to call you so I could hear your voice while I stroked myself. I like this better.” I grabbed her hips. “I can fuck you for real.”

Her cheeks flushed but a half-hearted smile tugged at her mouth. Honestly, seeing her like this upset me more than I expected.

“What’s wrong, love?”

She didn’t answer straight away. Her silence hung over us for several long, uncomfortable seconds. All I could think about was her car getting trashed and me not being there to protect her. And probably being the reason why all this happened in the first place.

Her beautiful, delicate features twisted into a frown. Annoyance flashed through her eyes when she finally looked at me.

“Weird stuff has been…” Her lips pressed together. “Maybe I’m paranoid but I think someone might be stalking me.”

Rage.

Atomic levels of rage.

I used every public relations skill I’ve learned to sound calm and even. “Why do you think that?”

Victoria shrugged and pulled me into a tight hug. I held her in a vice-like grip. She’s not one to show so much vulnerability.

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