Page 158 of Beautiful Storm

Jake shakes his head as he steps around me, his expression manic.

“He came at me. He attacked a crew member of the show when all I did was ask him a few questions.” He leans in close to me and adds, “This is the stuff awards are made of.” He chuckles quietly until my GM speaks up.

“I’m here to protect my player. And you should be made aware that these rooms have security cameras.”

“What the hell does that mean?” Jake asks, his voice strained all of a sudden.

“It means the security team was already on their way here. They saw you threatening Amelia.”

Jake’s deep growl bellows in the air, drawing my attention as he steps toward Amelia, his shoulders stiff as he stares her down, threatening her with his stance. “You,” he shouts, sending me into a rage.

“Eyes on me, asshole.Stay the fuck away from her.”

Jake glares my way for the briefest of seconds, and his smirk sends me over the edge.

“You’re a dead man.” I launch toward him but he backs away just as Amelia calls out, stepping into his path with her hands raised in the air.

The world stills and everything moves in slow motion. I watch helplessly as Jake hits the edge of the desk, stumbling toward Amelia and sending her crashing toward the ground. I take off in a run as she grabs her stomach and spins to change the direction of her fall, slamming her head into the metal cabinet.

The room falls silent while I cry out, “Amelia,” catching her seconds before she hits the concrete floor.

But it’s too late.

CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN

Luke

My ears ring as I pace the halls of the ER, waiting for someone to come and talk to me. All I know is that Amelia is conscious and breathing on her own, but I’ve never been more grateful for that little certificate that says I’m her husband. I don’t know what I’d do if they refused to give me any information. Actually, I do…and it would involve some not so nice language and threats.

Being kept in the dark and these moments of unknown are killing me.

The minutes pass as I try to distract myself, imagining Coach’s face when Thomas told him I wasn’t going to play. The disappointment in his eyes. I should have spoken to him, but since I’d already forgone traveling with Amelia in the ambulance to talk to Thomas, I’d done enough. I’ve always thought my greatest achievement in life would be winning the Super Bowl, but that’s not true. I have two great achievements. One is finally getting the girl I didn’t know I needed and the second will be my daughter.

I’m exactly where I need to be.

Lainey rounds the corner when I’m almost at my breaking point and throws herself into my arms, squeezing me so tightly I can’t breathe.

“Where is she?” she asks frantically.

“They’ve taken her for some tests but I don’t know anything else.”

“Okay, that’s good. How are you holding up?”

“I’m fine. I’m not the one—”

“No, but—”

“I’m fine, Lainey. Shouldn’t you be at the game? Thomas would be expecting you—”

“Thomas would expect me to be here. Since he can’t be.”

The tightness in my chest intensifies and tears prick my eyes. It’s one thing to panic on my own, but to see the fear reflected back at me from someone else makes it all the more terrifying, and I hadn’t realized how much I needed Lainey here. “Thank you.”

Lainey nods before her eyes bounce around the room, her gaze full of concern until she notices me staring and replaces the concern with a smile. I’m about to tell her I’m fine, again, when Amelia’s mother arrives and I have to bite back a groan.

As though she dressed up for the occasion, Alice is wearing a satin blouse and a pearl necklace, while her expression screams “I need attention; my daughter is sick.”

The second we lock eyes, hers widen before she schools her features and walks over, her shocked expression making way for a fake sympathetic grin.

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