Page 167 of The Keeper

“Yes ma’am,” Jordan replied, affecting his fake southern accent again. “This lovely woman was just giving me directions.”

“Right,” Hannah said, glaring at him and then looking at me. “Let’s go.”

I followed her back to the waiting car without glancing back.

Victoria

My condo is pretty big. Spacious. Lots of windows and light and high ceilings.

Right now, it felt like the tiniest prison cell buried deep underground.

Hannah stood in my kitchen talking to Bennet on the phone. She kept sneaking worried glances in my direction.

“He wants to talk to you.” She held out the phone.

Yay.

A conversation with Bennet. Just what I’ve been dreaming of these last three weeks.

I took her phone. “Hi,” I said, not even trying to hide my exhaustion.

“I’m sorry.” Bennet’s voice sounded small, almost defeated.

“For what?”

“Putting you through this. Convincing Maddox this was the safest option. I thought we could—”

“You thought you could what, Bennet? Control the situation by playing chess with an unhinged asshole? Jordan was always going to find me.” My tone sharpened. “It’s not like I live in a small town in the middle of nowhere. I’m in fucking Manhattan. I’m an executive at the most successful football team in the nation. Jesus Christ, my name is listed on the stadium website. I’m not hidden. What exactly were you trying to prevent?”

A heavy sigh. The lack of response pissed me off even more.

“I know you mean well. I know you and Xavier did what you thought was best. But it’s done now.” I paused, fighting back tears. “I miss him. He won’t talk to me because he thinks he’s doing the right thing and it’s killing me.”

Another heavy sigh.

“I swear to God, Bennet, if you keep sighing I’m getting on the next flight to London to handcuff you to a fire hydrant.”

He laughed. A genuine, relaxed laugh. “Wow. You sound like your boyfriend.”

“I want to talk to him,” I demanded. “You’re all at the same hotel, right? Please go knock on his door so I can hear his voice.”

“No,” he replied. “If he finds out what happened just now, he’ll lose his mind.”

“Please, Bennet,” I begged, playing with Xavier’s ring. “If you don’t, I’ll just call him myself.”

“Victoria.” His stern tone gave me pause. “This is going to sound harsh and shallow and I apologize because you’re upset but right now, his focus has to be on tomorrow’s match. I think you would understand that more than anyone else.”

Fuck. “I don’t want to be a distraction,” I muttered.

“You’re not,” he assured me. “We both know how impulsive he is and I don’t doubt for a minute if you were to call him right now and tell him everything, he’d be on the next flight to see you.”

Double fuck. “You’re making too much sense,” I complained.

“Well, yes. I am the club’s president so I’m sort of invested in wanting the best goalkeeper in the league to help us win the final game of the season.”

“And the logic continues.”

Silence. And then, “I know I’m not the one you want to be talking to. I know I’m not the one who can say the right things or help you understand. He’s trying to keep you safe. I’m trying to keep him out of trouble. We’re all protecting one another as best we can.”

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