Page 99 of Who's Saving You
“Did you hurt him?”
She waves her hand. “Oh, come on now, I’d never hurt a fly, Nik.” Her eyes flash. “A snitch, maybe, but not a fly.”
I shake my head, tears sting my eyes as I look between her and Noelle. I have no idea how to end this without anyone getting hurt.
Her heels tip tap on the floor as she walks toward me. “We did well, building your brand on being perfect.” She grins. “But eventually, perfection snaps. So, how much is it worth to you to keep this perfect little life of yours?”
“What are you talking about?”
“You’re on the road to the Super Bowl, Nik. Imagine those headlines. Your little girlfriend could write them for you.” She slashes her hand through the air. “Star Rookiealmostgets a ring. Star Rookie chokes just like in college. Can’t you already see it? Then, next season, you get a do-over. Rewrite that narrative, Nik. Become the star, save your team.”
I stutter. “You’re insane. You want me to throw aprofessionalgame now?”
She shrugs nonchalantly. “I mean, you’re a rookie. It’s expected that you’ll get nervous and drop passes. I’ve seen it before.” She gives me a smug grin, and it makes my blood boil.
Noelle makes another sound behind the gag, desperate, and the sight of her struggling in that chair rips the hesitation from me. Eva’s still gloating as she watches me watch Noelle.
She’s my sister. Part of me wants to shake her until she remembers who we used to be. Summers spent at the pool, fall Sundays spent at the field, lazy Saturdays watching cartoons, even though she was too old for the crap I used to watch. She still sat with me, the ten years between us not meaning a damn thing. We were just sister and brother.
Another part wants to agree to anything she says before she hurts anyone else. She’s wrapped up in something she can’t get out of. Money has made her into someone I no longer recognize.
Dad’s face flashes in my mind—his pride, his guilt—and my heart breaks in my chest, notknowing how anything played out. Noelle’s muffled cry cuts through it, sharper than anything. She’s the one who matters right now, saving her matters.
“So, what’s it going to be, brother? Ready to make a deal?”
“Let Noelle go. She’s got nothing to do with this; she hasn’t written the article. She served your purpose of getting me here; now let her go.”
Eva laughs. “Oh, Nik, always saving someone else. But who’s saving you?”
I stand frozen, unsure of which way to move, uncertain of which answer to give.
“Eva!” Rhett barks out. “Company!”
There’s commotion behind me, and I look, seeing Dante walk in with two of his other security guards from the club. Eva begins to laugh. “Can’t ever travel alone, can you?” But when I see a fourth man enter and walk around the three of them, my blood runs cold. I almost can’t believe my eyes as they track the man who has been only a memory to me for the last three years.
“Dad?”
I hear Eva gasp, but she doesn’t say anything. And I’m too busy to care as I watch my dad, the man who disappeared on us, the man I thought failed our family, failed me, walk to the middle of the room and stand between my sister and me.
He looks so much older, even though it’s only been three years. His hair is grey, and there are wrinkles around his eyes. He looks tired and defeated.
“Yia sou, gie mou.”Hi, son.It’s something I never thought I’d hear again.His voice gives me the chills. I can’t take my eyes off of him, afraid that if I do, he’ll disappear again.
“I-wha-what are you doing here?” I stutter, not able to piece anything together.
“What the fuck is this, Eva?” Rhett angrily throws his hands toward my dad and around the room. “I didn’t sign up for this. You wanted me to bring her here. I didn’t know it was going to be a fucking family reunion.” He points at her. “I’m out. I don’t want anything to d–”
My sister reacts so fast that no one sees it coming. In two steps, she pulls something from behind her back and hits Rhett in the face with it. Blood shoots from his mouth, and he immediately falls to the ground, cradling his face. Noelle screeches as he knocks her chair over, and she hits the ground hard.
In a second, Eva has turned, pointing the gun she just hit Rhett with and aiming at us. Behind me, I hear the unmistakable sound of a series of sharpclacksthat signal Dante and his guards are armed and ready.
“You don’t want to do that, sweetheart.” My dad's undeniable voice is calm and collected as he speaks to my sister. “No one’s getting hurt today.”
“Why are you here?” Eva lashes out.
“Because it’s time I stop running.”
My sister sneers and walks closer. “You’re playing a dangerous game here, old man.”
