Page 44 of Chasing Football Dreams

“Poor Kelly and Brenda having to deal with us,” Eliza muttered.

“What was the punishment when you got caught?” Freddie asked.

Zoey rolled her eyes while Eliza shot him a blank stare. “Who said I got caught?”

“Where do you think Zoey learned to throw such accurate passes and run at the speed of lightning?” Eliza asked, shooting Zoey a knowing smile.

I looked at Zoey who was smiling.

From the first time I saw her, I misjudged her. Blinded to see her love for football and see her rebellious side even though she was expressing it quite vividly. I was lucky to have found my match. A girl as mentally strong as her has suffered through life and yet, she still selflessly shares her love with everyone.

Zoey showed what she found, and I saw the guys battling to stay composed when they saw the terrified little girl in the pictures. It was difficult to grasp the girl in the picture was the same girl sitting next to me.

As much as Zoey wanted to uncover her case, I could see she was tired, and everything was taking a heavy burden on her.

I also know she was avoiding Angela and Shane after they agreed on the blood tests. Shane wasn't pressuring her as he was giving her space as he too was trying to comprehend everything.

Zoey disappeared upstairs to take a shower, but I knew she wanted to be alone and by the looks of it, so did Eliza as she didn’t rush after her.

“What are we going to do? You heard what Zoey said to the officer. She’s not safe,” Eliza said, her eyes gazing up the stairs where Zoey disappeared.

“I would rather want that girl whose parents passed away instead of this side where her life is in danger all the time,” Eliza muttered, wiping away a fallen tear.

I felt powerless knowing someone was hunting her and wanting to take her away from us. Shane and Angela have already battled the truth of their daughter’s death and now they have to hear how she’s in danger all over again.

“I am just going to check up on her,” I said to them before going to look for Zoey.

I pushed the bedroom door open, finding her lying with her back to the door wrapped in only a towel. I shut the door softly behind me, only wanting to check on her but I couldn’t resist lying down next to her.

I lifted my head when I heard her sigh as I wrapped my arm around her waist. “Hey,” I pushed up seeing that she’s been crying.

“Everyone is suffering because of me,”

“No, baby. Everyone including you is suffering because of a selfish man. None of this is your fault,” I said, urging her to roll over and held her tightly against me.

“I have done nothing bad to anyone and yet, they want me dead,” She muttered.

“That’s what selfish people do,”

“What should I do?”

I wanted to tell her to stay put as it would be safer to protect her but that wouldn’t be fair of me to keep her locked up. “You do what you do best,”

“What’s that?”

I smiled at her, finding her lips. “You kick ass,"

Chapter Twenty-Two

Duncan

4years ago,

My sister hasn’t come out of her room since she got back from the hospital. She lets no one in her room except for Mom. She never looks at me when I catch a glimpse of her.

It was difficult to look at her and not feel responsible for her injuries. She's gone through a life changing experience that has taken away her ability to hear which could have been avoided.

I was told she was blaming herself, but I felt like she was blaming me. Monique has gone through this level of manipulation to get to me and putting my sister's life at risk. She was lucky Ivy didn't die or I would have personally made sure she was put in cuffs.

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