Page 280 of Wrong Pucking Player

“Let him make a move, Oscar,” he cuts me off. “The moment he does, that’s all I need to take him down.” He looks over his shoulder, those dark eyes meeting mine. “Let him try to take your precious kitten, and we’ll see how far he gets before death is knocking on his door.”

He leaves, and I’m finally able to breathe.

“You’re fucking insane,” Oliver groans but walks into the office and closes the door behind him. “Fucking insane.”

“I need to go see Kenzie,” I growl, but he stops me from getting close to the door. “Oliver!”

“I need you to breathe properly before you have a fucking heart attack with how your heart has been beating,” he counters and shows me his phone that displays my very heartbeat.

From my pacemaker.

“I can’t fucking calm down, knowing Kenzie is behind bars.”

“She’ll be outside of bars faster if you shut the fuck up, breathe like a good boy, and calm down so we can get to her,” Oliver counters and slaps my head.

“Ow.”

“Meow!” Mittens hisses at him.

“You know your owner is being a stupid douche.”

“Fucker,” I huff, but suddenly I’m leaning over.

“Shit.” Oliver has me before we’re both on the floor. “Oscar, breathe.”

I do exactly that because I can’t pass out right now. I take timely breaths, inhale and exhale, while I endure the pain in my chest that always ignites when my heart is beating crazily against my chest. I haven’t felt like this in a long ass time, but of course, it would happen now when I need to be elsewhere.

Oliver rubs my back and calms me down until I can actually breathe, and the world isn’t completely spinning.

This was probably the hardest thing to hide from the world. It was thanks to good doctors and all these tattoos that allowed many to be unaware of what was hidden deep beneath my flesh.

“Oscar?”

“I’m good,” I breathe, but I need a few more seconds. “Fuck, man.”

I hate this.

I hate this so fucking much.

“You get why he always told you to let go of Winchester?” Oliver whispers.

His words trigger a sob from me, making my brother sigh as he holds me tighter.

“Took your girl to finally make you realize you deserve so much better in our fucked-up world,” he whispers as he strokes my head and holds me tight. “He won’t end the future you’ve gathered the courage to protect. You proved that to Dad, and I know he’ll pull the strings you need to be free from the allegations. We’ll have to reach the Androsovs and let them know we found Sofiya. I’ll handle as much as I can. You just focus on Kenzie, Wyatt, and your team, okay?”

I nod and fight off more sobs that threaten to escape.

“Meow!”

“And you too, Mittens,” Oliver grunts, but I know he’s not angry at the kitten. “C’mon. Let those tears fall, then let’s go see how your woman’s doing.”

I take his advice and cry my eyes out while my heart aches from the past sacrifices made to protect those I love.

No matter how many years pass, I realize that nothing will change.

In this world, sacrifices have to be made.

Or you’ll be forced to face what your resistance to change has waiting for you.

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