Page 30 of His Fractured Girl

“I can’t even believe that last score you made. You were so amazing out there.”

It was the game of my life. Like an alignment of divine timing. Every decision I made on the field was the right one. And my teammates were right there with me. Never leaving me hanging, always getting open for me. We really did earn the win. It wasn’t luck, it was skill.

“I love you, too, angel. It was pretty incredible.”

“Now, it’s time for you to face the media.” She looks around at all the flashing cameras that are capturing our moment. “Everyone wants to interview you. Are you ready?” She knows this is my least favorite part of my job. I’d love nothing more than to carry my girl off into the locker room and ride this high out on her body, but duty calls.

“Yeah. I guess I should get it over with, so I can get you home.” I lean into her ear so the cameras can’t capture the words forming on my lips. “I’m dying to get my tongue between your legs, babe.”

She lets out a little moan, nuzzling in closer. I definitely need to get my interviews done so I can tend to my girl’s needs. God, I bet she’s soaking wet. I’d slip my fingers down her pants but I know one of the cameras will catch me and then I’ll be dealing with the aftermath of the media. Extra questions that I don’t have time for.

I give her one more kiss then reluctantly place her back on her feet. It’s time to get her back to our friends where I know she’s safe. I spot Kyler and the rest of the crew off to the side, so I lead my girl through the crowd, making sure everyone keeps their distance from her.

“Good game, man.” Brennon’s friends all cheer as we approach, giving me high fives. “You kicked some serious ass tonight.”

“Thanks!” I nod. “And did you see that play your boy made? If it weren’t for Brennon, we wouldn’t have won.” He’s definitely going to go pro one day. And from what Bren has told me, hisfriends are all just as talented. Who knows? Maybe I’ll be playing on the same team as one of them one day.

The reporters are starting to crowd in, which means it’s time for me to go. I lean down to give Sophie one more kiss but freeze when I see the look on her face. Her eyes are locked on something across the field. Her body is like an ice sculpture. Frozen cold, shivering in her stance.

I turn, wondering what could upset her, and when I see one of the players from the other team staring right at my girl, my body tenses. The look in his eyes is unnerving. And if he doesn’t turn away and leave my girl alone, he’ll be asking for trouble.

“Maddock.”

Her whisper punches me right in the gut.It’s him. The blood in my veins turns to rage. I see red in the place of his cocky smirk. I’m going to kill him. He’s going to pay for what he did to my girl. I step forward, ready to charge him, but Sophie steps in front of me, blocking my path.

“No, Travis. He’s mine. This is my war.”

I crack my jaw, my teeth feeling like they may break under the pressure of my hatred. I know this is her fight and that she deserves her vengeance, but I seriously want to kill him. I’m her protector now. She’s no longer alone in this fight. She deserves to be sheltered from all the assholes.

“Please,” she whispers.

That one word is her biggest weapon against my defenses. If I don’t let her do this, she may resent me for it. But I’ll say this: once she’s done with him, he’s mine. I will make sure he suffers for every little thing he did to her. I’m going to be his biggest nightmare. Make him wake up every night terrified of what I’ll do to him. From this moment until he takes his last breath, he will regret ever laying one finger on her.

“Fine. But I’m going with you.”

She tips her chin then turns, striding smoothly across the field. When a smirk forms on his face, an evil sneer meant to intimidate, it takes every atom in my cells to keep myself from punching it off his face.

“Well, well, if it isn’t Sophie Adams.” His eyes cast down her body, ignoring the fact that I’m standing right behind her. God, he really is a punk. “You look exactly the same.” I swear I’m going to kill him, but the cameras that are zooming in are watching my every move, and I’m not losing my life or my spot on the team over this fucker.

“What do you want, huh?” He glances up at me then back down. “Did you come over here to beg me to fuck you again?” My fists clench at my sides, and I feel a hand grip my shoulder. Our friends have joined us, thankfully easing the blind rage so I can see rationally.

“Actually,” my girl says, with a cool confidence that I didn’t know she had in her, “I just came over to tell you that I forgive you for bullying me back in school. And for what you did the night of the party. I know you were only acting out because you have a tiny dick and were dealing with your own insecurities. It had to be rough living in your shoes. But I will say…” She cocks her head. “There’s really no excuse for how you acted. Coming after me at school. All the attacks and the verbal abuse makes you scum. Getting everyone to gang up on me and vandalizing my house and my car. Those are all criminal offenses. I’m actually shocked that the team would want you to play for them. They stand by honor and honesty, yet you’re the biggest liar I’ve ever known. But that’s right…” She nods. “You lied to the cops, denying you had any part in it.”

The cameramen are no longer even respecting our personal boundaries, they’re trying to capture my girl’s every word. I hope they have.

“Doesn’t it eat away at you?” She continues on. Her voice so full of strength. God, she’s incredible. “Knowing that you could be so cruel to an innocent girl who was just trying to survive high school.”

He shakes his head like she’s a joke, and I’m about five seconds away from making it to where he can never laugh again. “Actually, it was funny watching you cry like a little baby. Your fat ass running down the hall, trying to hide in the library. You were so pathetic. I shouldn’t have even bothered with you at the party. I should’ve asked Sarah to fuck me instead. She wouldn’t have been so tough to convince. I thought for sure your desperate ass would be hungry for it, but you were too afraid of the pain. Haven’t you ever heard the motto,no pain no gain?”

A faint gasp from behind my back has me glancing over my shoulder. Presley’s listening to every word. Not that she didn’t already know the truth, but he just spelled it right out for her. I look up at Kyler and he looks like he’s about to commit murder too. They all do. But unlike Maddock, we’re smart. Our attacks will come when the cameras aren’t rolling. But given that they’ve captured his every word, he just murdered his reputation himself. His football career is done. And once they air his little confession on tonight’s news, the entire world will hate him. He’ll be lucky if he can even find a job. Companies don’t like drawing bad press, and after this, he’ll be a magnet for it.

“Wow, Maddock. You actually sound proud of your actions. You don’t regret a single thing?” Sophie’s trying to give him a chance, though I think she knows exactly what she’s doing. She’s destroying him, just like she always wanted.

He smiles broadly. “Not a single one. Bet that kills you, doesn’t it? By the way, saw that your parents moved. Too bad. I was looking forward to leaving you a message for the holidays.”

Oh my fucking God. I want to pulverize his smug face. Bring him to within an inch of his life and pray that he stays breathingso he can live to see his demise. Two strong arms brace my shoulders, locking me in place. They can read my mind.

“It doesn’t kill me, Maddock. Nothing you do or say bothers me anymore. But I have to say, it does shock me that you would admit all that on national TV.” She looks around, seeing all the cameras recording every detail of their conversation. “You never were a smart one, were you? You had to pay people to do your homework, which is the only reason you got yourself onto the team. Had you done it on your own merit, you never would’ve made it.” And another truth is revealed. God, she’s tearing his future to shreds, uncovering lie after lie. “I actually feel sorry for you, Maddock. Because someone so cruel and calculating must really be living a miserable life. I wish you the best. And I hope you’re happy with whatever hell you find yourself in.”

---