Page 73 of Freak Show

“Did you enjoy the game?” he asked as he caught a door before it could close all the way.

“I did,” I said. “Though, I hate to admit this, but I know nothing about football. I tried to apply what I knew about soccer to it…but I failed.”

He snickered at me before throwing his arm around me and saying, “I hate to break it to you, but American football is nothing like European football, also known as soccer here. They’re completely different sports, and the only related thing about the two is the size of the field they play on.”

I sighed, long and loud. “I was afraid you were going to say that. But heck, not even Sweetie knew anything about football.”

“A lot of the wives and girlfriends don’t know much. They’re just there for the good time, or to support their man. I think you’d have better luck sitting down and watching a game with me so I can explain what’s going on,” he suggested.

That actually sounded really exciting. I loved to learn about new things.

I loved even more that he was willing to help me figure it out.

The trip to the hotel was uneventful.

Though it got more and more comical when he started to limp worse and worse.

“Are you going to make it?” I asked.

He grunted out a ‘no’ and kept hobbling.

“Mr. Slone!” the concierge called out as we passed. “Your wife has a delivery!” We both stopped and turned before the concierge all but shoved a box into his hands. “Have a good day now!”

Slone tucked the box under his arm and refused to give it to me as we made our way up to the room.

It was only as he collapsed on the bed that the box slipped free and he asked, “What’s that?”

I moved to read the label and bit back a groan.

I looked up from the package and stepped away.

Hades.

“Well,” I said as I stared it down like there was a bomb inside of it. “If I had to guess, it’s something sexual in manner.”

My admission had Slone grinning from ear to ear.

He didn’t do that often, so when the sight fell upon my eyes, it felt like the sun had come out after forty days of non-stop rain.

Geez, I’d only thought the man’s scowl was beautiful. His smile? Now that was a sight to behold.

“Let’s open it,” he said. “Who’s it from?”

“My sister,” I answered. “Hopefully.”

“Which one?” he asked as he picked the small, innocuous package up and stared at it.

He shook it gently, and it started to vibrate.

CHAPTER 15

I believe in holding grudges. I’ll heal in hell.

-Ari to Slone

SLONE

“What do you mean, ‘you hope?’” I asked as I leaned over to the side of the bed and pulled my knife off the side table.

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