Page 8 of Silent Girl

The sound of my phone startles me. Pulling it out of my pocket, I stare at the name “Mom” flashing on the screen.

“You need to get that?” Aliyah asks.

“Nope.” I turn off the phone, rejecting the call. This can be added to the other hundreds of calls I’ve refused to answer over the years. I follow Aliyah into the house. “You live here alone?” I ask. But then I hear the sound of male voices the farther we go.

“Nope,” she parrots while popping the P.

We end up in a living room that looks like it’s straight out ofBachelor’s Paradise Magazine, if that were an actual thing. The room is decked out with a black leather sectional, a pinball machine stands in the corner, and a billiard table takes up half of the floor space. A flat screen television larger than a jumbotron hangs on the wall.

Everyone in the room stops what they’re doing, some putting down game controllers, others holding cue sticks in their hands. All now unapologetically glaring at me.

ChapterFive

It’s not until every occupant in my brother’s living room is sending silent death threats in Liam’s direction that I think maybe this wasn’t the best idea. But no way in hell was I taking him to my actual place. At least if he’s here, I can put him up in one of my brother’s guest rooms… and leave.

Honestly, I think I need to talk to my father, tell him that I really am not the right person for this job. How on earth am I meant to spend a whole season shadowing this man when every time I look at him, I get that funny feeling in my stomach—not to mention how often I’ve had to clench my thighs together to ward off the need deep within my core. I can’t even look at the guy and not see him naked. Dripping with water. Not remember the feel of that hard, naked body pressed up against mine as he caught me, stopping me from falling flat on my ass when the coffee table broke.

I know without a doubt if I told my dad I had the hots for Liam King, he’d find a replacement babysitter in a heartbeat. He’d also ban me from entering or going anywhere near The Castle, AKA the home of the Vancouver Knights. In fact, I wouldn’t put it past him to find a chastity belt and lock me in a tower.

“Lia, you good?” my brother asks, using the shortened name he gave me when I was a baby.Lie-ah.

“Just dandy. Gray, this is Liam King, the Vancouver Knights’ latest recruit.” I wave a hand up and down, motioning to Liam’s body.

“I know who he is, Lia, but what I don’t know is why he’s standing in my house?” Grayson raises an eyebrow in question.

I force my eyes not to roll into the back of my head. My brother is the team’s enforcer, but he’s also a different type ofenforcerfor my father. Something not many actually know. I would never willingly bring a guy to his house, not one I liked anyway.

Not that IlikeLiam King. If anything, I despise the bastard. I like his body, a whole freaking lot. But the actual man? Not so much. If only personality transplants were a thing…

“He needs a place to crash. His apartment is being fumigated,” I tell Grayson.

“And this is my problem, how, exactly?” My brother raises a questioning brow.

I look around the room. There are two other Vancouver Knights players here watching this whole interaction, and I know that they’re going to follow Grayson’s lead, how ever he decides to handle this. Meaning if he makes a statement to not like the new guy, the whole team will follow suit. If you assumed professional sports players grew out of that high school jock phase, you’re wrong. They didn’t, probably never will. People think middle-aged housewives like to gossip. Yeah, I’d put money on it that these guys talk shit more than any bored housewife or mom at school pickup.

There are also a few of my brother’s other friends, AKA soldiers, loitering about. They look casual, playing pool and drinking beer, but I know without a doubt they’re strapped up and ready to fight at a moment’s notice.

“You know what? You’re right. It’s not your problem. It’s mine.” I make a point of turning and touching Liam on his forearm. His very toned and tanned forearm. “You can just come and stay at my place, Liam. I only have a one-bedroom apartment but I’m sure we can make it work.” I bat my eyelashes up at him.

Within two seconds, Grayson is marching over. Four seconds, and he’s practically ripping my hand off Liam and holding out a palm. “I’m Gray, your enforcer. Welcome to the team. Follow me. I’ll show you where you can crash for the night, then I’ll bring you back and you can get acquainted with these morons.” Grayson gestures a thumb over his shoulder to the rest of the room.

I smile, because I knew that would get my brother to change his tune real quick, and the overprotective brute played right into my hand. “Okay, well, now that you guys are developing a deep and meaningful bromance, I’m out of here. I have other things to do with my life,” I tell them.

Liam smirks at me while Grayson grunts, “This is my sister. Just in case you missed the memo, she’s very fucking off-limits to you.”

“Sister, got it.” Liam holds up his hands in surrender.

“Good, you’d be best to not forget it either. Men have taken a blade to the face for less,” Grayson huffs. He then proceeds to clap Liam on the shoulder. “Come on, if I don’t hurry up and get back in there, they’ll drink all the good stuff.”

“All right, catch you later. Don’t forget: you need to be out on the ice first thing tomorrow morning,” I tell Liam before walking away. I turn as I reach the foyer. “Oh and, Gray, no girls,” I remind him.

“What?” My brother’s head practically pivots off his neck.

“He cannot be seen with any girls. Don’t invite any over,” I warn.

“You can’t be serious, Lia. That’s a stupid rule no man should have to endure,” Grayson argues with his arms crossed over his chest like a properly scolded child.

“I agree,” Liam pipes in with a grin and a nod.

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