The Handoff (Big Play #3) (20 page)

#33:

Fight Back

Layla

My boots smack against the uneven earth as I race through the trees. I don’t want to run. Everything in me is telling me to go back and help Finn, but fear is driving me forward, making me whimper. If I had a phone I’d call Mack, but I left my bag at Finn’s place. Dammit!

Tears collect on my lashes, and it’s hard to see through the watery sheen. The trees are blurring, and the brown, undulating ground is becoming that much harder to negotiate.

Whipping my head around to look over my shoulder, I can hear the sound of someone crashing through the forest after me. I worry that it’s Derek. The dark look in his eye as he threatened me was nearly paralyzing. He slapped me twice on Friday night, lashing out at me as rage got the better of him. I had no idea he had more in mind. The thought is terrifying and makes me pump my arms a little harder.

“Ah!” I cry out as a root snags my toe and I lurch forward. My knee hits the ground, sending a shock of pain vibrating up my thigh. “Shit.” I scramble up on shaking legs. My pants are torn and dark red blood is oozing into the denim, blending with the mud stains. My palms are stinging, making my fingers quiver. It won’t stop me running…

But…

“I don’t frickin’ want to,” I spit out the words, slashing at my tears as I’m reminded of all the times I’ve run in the last month.

It’s my first instinct and yeah, it may have saved me, but it never put an end to what Derek was doing. In fact, the only thing to hinder his ugly plans was me standing my ground and exposing his lies. It was really hard, but it wasn’t impossible.

I stare into the forest and picture myself running back to the parking lot.

“Finn,” I whisper his name, fear for his safety roiling my stomach. I grit my teeth, my fingers curling into fists as I imagine what they’re doing to him right now.

“I can’t.” I shake my head. “I can’t run anymore.”

I may be a pathetic weakling, afraid of everything, but I love that guy and the thought of him getting punished or hurt because of me is too much.

Stumbling back the way I came, I ignore my throbbing heart as the pounding feet grow closer. I spot the top of Quaid’s head and duck behind a tree, pressing my back against the trunk and biting my lips against my whimper. Scanning the ground around me, I look for anything I can use as a weapon. Nothing jumps out at me and I’m forced to make a split-second decision. As Quaid dashes past my hiding spot, I jump on his back, digging my nails into the side of his neck and going completely Catwoman on his ass.

He lets out a sharp cry as I claw him but manages to throw me off his shoulder. I hit the ground with a thud, pain rocketing down my spine, and somehow manage to roll away when he lunges at me.

Scrambling to my knees, I brace for his attack, bunching my fists and feeling like a total novice as he looms over me. Grabbing my shirt, he drags me through the dirt until my cheek smacks against the fly of his jeans.

He snickers, but I cut off his derogatory comment the only way I can…by thrusting my fist into his balls. He jolts, letting out this high-pitched kind of yelp before letting me go and dropping to his knees. I take advantage of my lucky shot and snap tall, placing my hands on his face, and with all the force I can muster I shove him into a tree trunk. His head hits the wood and he flops backwards.

“Shit, it worked,” I whisper, dropping down beside him to check if he’s still alive.

There’s a small welt on his forehead, but he’s not bleeding. He lets out this groggy moan and squeezes his eyes shut while reaching for his forehead.

“You psycho bitch,” he mutters.

I shuffle back from him, then change my mind as an idea hits me. He tries to bash my hands away as I dig into his jeans pockets, but I flick him off and yank out his phone. I’m just opening the screen when his fingers snap around my wrist and start digging in until pain radiates up my arm.

“Let me go,” I snarl.

His upper lip curls into an ugly line and he pulls me to the ground. So, I do the only psycho bitch thing I can think of. Lurching forward, I sink my teeth into the fingers locked around my wrist.

“Ow!” he screams. Releasing me in a flash, he nurses his hand against his chest and stares at me like I’m some creature he’s never seen before. There’s a dazed confusion lurking on his face as he mutters, “You’ve never fought like this before.”

I don’t know what he means by that and I don’t really have time to stop and find out. I start dialing for home as I run back to Finn.

Mack answers after four rings. “Hello.” His voice is flat and uninterested.

“Mack, it’s Lay! Finn’s in trouble! Derek and his assholes are beating the living shit out of him.”

After a micro-pause, Mack’s tone completely changes and he barks at me, “Where are you guys?”

“The lake,” I yell, jumping over a tree root. “It’s the private entrance you guys found last summer or something. I don’t know exactly where it is. Can you call the police and describe it to them?”

“Yeah, yeah, of course. Just hang tight, I’m coming.”

The line goes dead as Mack hangs up on me. Knowing he’s on his way helps settle me some, but it’s not enough to quell the storm surging inside of me. Shoving Quaid’s phone into my back pocket, I race along the path and don’t slow my approach until I can hear the grunts and crunch of knuckles on flesh. My insides spasm as I see Derek drive his fist into Finn’s stomach.

My boyfriend folds in half with a pitiful groan, but he can’t hit the ground because the two other mammoths are holding him up by his arms, keeping him upright so Derek can use him as a punching bag.

I cover my quivering lips with the back of my hand and creep forward. I don’t know how I’m supposed to help him, but I have to think of something before they do any permanent damage.

Derek’s mouth curves with a malicious smile as he bunches his fist and gets ready to smash it into Finn’s face. Before he can make his move, I dash into the parking lot and scream, “Stop!”

#34:

Beautiful Vampire Girl

Finn

Layla!

Fear spikes through my aching body, pumping a fresh wave of adrenaline through me. Flexing my arms with a warrior-like growl, I start writhing against the two guys holding me. My ferocious movements throw the left guy enough for me to shove him off me. I kick out with my leg, clipping his knee. He buckles to the ground with a grunt while I turn my fist on the other guy.

I know Layla’s behind me somewhere, but I can’t see her. I need to take these guys down fast so I can get to her side. Raising my arm, I fend off a power punch. It knocks me back a little and I’m only just finding my feet when I’m jumped from behind.

With a loud cry, I spin and throw the guy over my shoulder.

Layla screams to my left. I jerk tall and turn to find her on the ground beneath Derek. He’s straddling her waist and fighting her flailing arms. She’s kicking back and thrusting, trying to buck him off her.

My eyes round as I watch him crunch his knuckles into her cheek, dazing her enough to pin her hands above her head so he can slap her again.

“You think showing those photos to Mommy’s going to save you?” he yells. “You clueless bitch!”

My growl is freaking feral as I run towards him. Dropping my shoulder, I aim it straight at his head. We drop to the ground together, Layla caught beneath my legs as I get ready to pummel the guy. I’ve never been so enraged in my life. Seeing him hit Layla and yell at her like that? The guy has to suffer some. It’s only right.

I raise my fist, about to drive it into his stark white face when I’m grabbed from behind. They pull at my clothes and neck, making my eyes sting as they haul me off Derek. I wrestle and thrash, but I’m not strong enough to fight off two guys at once, not after the pounding I’ve just endured. An iron fist catches me in the side and I drop with a grunt.

“Let him go! You—” Layla’s screaming is cut off by Derek as he jumps up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and lifting her off the ground. She fights and kicks, clipping him in the shin and scratching his bare forearms with her nails. I’ve never seen her so feisty.

“No!” she yells as he carries her off into the woods.

I struggle against the guys holding me, feebly yelling out her name. “Layla!”

A fist drives into my face, shutting me up. It’s hard to see through the daze and I blink to clear my vision.

“Get off me!” Layla shrieks.

I can’t see her anymore and it’s a new kind of torture. I’d take physical pain any day over this helpless feeling. Layla screams again and my heart twists so tight I think it might stop working.

But then Derek lets out a high-pitched squeal. “Ahh! Get back here!”

Layla races into view. Her shirt is torn and sagging over her shoulder, exposing her blue cotton bra. My gut clenches when I notice her swollen lips, smeared red with blood. Her eyes are wild when they connect with mine, but there’s a strength inside them I’ve never seen before.

“Let him go.” Her voice is low and husky, making the guys around me snicker.

She bunches her fists, ready to charge as Derek stumbles into view, blood dripping down his chin from a very swollen, angry lower lip.

I want to laugh, but my aching body can’t manage more than a breathy snicker.

The blood has obviously unnerved the guys holding me because their arms go a little slack as they gape at my beautiful vampire girl.

“Freaking psycho,” the guy behind us murmurs. I hear a scuffling of feet. “Screw this.”

I swear the coward’s about to ditch them all when the sound of a racing engine quickly approaches. Mack’s blue and orange Camaro roars into the lot, followed by Colt’s truck. The doors snap open and my friends appear with thunderous looks on their faces. All three of them are ready to brawl, their fierce faces enough to scare off mountain lions.

Mack takes one look at Layla’s torn shirt and blood-smeared face and then starts towards Derek. “You’re a dead man.”

The Raiders all jump into action, lunging after the Bears. It should have turned into a full-blown fight, and I was just finding my second wind when the sound of wailing sirens jerks us all apart.

Panicked swear words ring out in the air as the Bears players scramble for their car. Quaid appears from the forest, staggering into the clearing and urged on by the shouts of his friends. He stumbles across to the car while Derek yanks the driver’s door open.

But not in time.

Two police cars jerk to a stop across the only exit. Relief floods through me when I gaze at those red and blue flashing lights. Crumpling to the dirt with a soft hiss, I palm my aching side.

“Finn.” Layla drops to her knees beside me, cradling my head against her chest. “Are you okay, baby?”

I skim my fingers down her arm. “I’m gonna be fine,” I whisper.

She kisses the top of my head then presses her cheek against it. I can feel her tears soaking into my short hair. For once, they don’t hurt so bad.

It’s over.

Layla’s safe. I’ll live, and Derek can’t touch us again. He can try, but my girl’s found her fight and he’s not getting away with shit anymore.

“You alright, man?” Colt crouches down in front of us, concern crinkling his expression.

I nod, giving him a thumbs-up.

Tyler snickers, lightly kicking my shoe. “We don’t call you Tank for nothing, dude. Now let’s get your ass to the hospital.”

I groan as Layla moves beneath me. She’s trying to stand and help me up at the same time, but I’m going to need more than her trembling pigeon arms. A strong hand catches my back, hauling me to my feet and then draping my arm over his shoulders. I lean against our quarterback and murmur, “Thanks, man.”

He gives me an earnest look that we’ll no doubt chat about later, but for now, it’s enough.

I’m forgiven, and Mack’s grateful I was willing to take a beating for his lil’ sis.

#35:

Finn’s Not Stupid

Layla

The hospital is noisy and chaotic.

Tyler, Colt, and Mack are acting like presidential bodyguards as they follow Finn and me into the emergency room. An ambulance drove us, and an EMT notified our parents along the way. I can’t think about them showing up right now; I just need to focus on getting Finn some medical attention. The paramedics are already talking to nursing staff while Finn puts on a brave face, but I can tell by his silent wincing that he’s in pain.

I look at his stoic face while he gingerly takes a seat in the hard, plastic waiting room chair. He cradles his ribs again, his face bunching tight.

Derek and his frickin’ goons treated him like a punching bag while I was running away. I hate them for it, and the urge to smash more heads and bite more lips surges through me. Pinching my arms, I take a seat next to Finn, my leg bobbing erratically.

This is all my fault.

Derek was after me, and Finn just happened to get in the way of that. All I’ve got to show for it are a few scratches, a grazed knee, and a bruised-up face. The way Finn’s moving, he’s most likely got cracked ribs.

I lift my torn shirt, trying to cover my shoulder, when Derek and Quaid are walked in. Their ambulance was escorted by a police car while the other two Bears players are still stuck at the lake answering questions with the remaining officers.

Thankfully, Derek doesn’t even look at me as he’s marched across the linoleum floor and taken into a side room so his lip can be attended to.

When he pressed me against that tree and tried to shove his tongue down my throat, I fought like a wild cat. I’m pretty sure he was just trying to rattle me. I have no idea how far he would have taken things, but I wasn’t about to let him. He tore my shirt trying to hold me in place, and I screamed at him to get off me. He just gave me that wicked grin of his before coming toward my mouth again. I acted on pure instinct.

I’m going to have to freaking sterilize my teeth when I get home. Will a whole tube of toothpaste be enough to scrub Derek’s blood out of my system?

Brushing the back of my hand over my tender lips, I close my eyes to ward off the sickening memory. I should be proud of myself for putting up such a good fight, but I still feel queasy.

Finn’s hand trails down my back, his long fingers spreading so wide they stretch from one side to the other. I glance at him and try to smile at the comfort he’s trying to offer, but it doesn’t really help. He’s a wreck, and it’s because of me.

I catch a bustling movement out of the corner of my eye and quickly shift out of the way as Mr. and Mrs. Jones hurry over to their son.

“Oh my…” Mrs. Jones covers her mouth as she takes in her beat-up son. I’ve never seen her rattled before, and I imagine this will be one of the only times I will. Her husband rubs her shoulders then takes my place beside Finn.

I shuffle to the side as they fuss over him. Mack and Tyler are answering questions with a police officer and Colt’s on the phone, no doubt with Tori.

Leaning against the wall, I watch Finn try to assure his parents that he’s fine.

“Miss Mahoney?” A soft voice catches my attention. “Come with me, please.” I follow the nurse’s gentle command without question and am ushered into a side room. She makes me take a seat on the bed then starts asking me a bunch of questions.

I answer them as best I can, going into detail about everything that happened.

The nurse’s wide mouth curves just a little when I tell her how I dealt with Derek. Pulling open a side cupboard, she grabs a white gown with pale green checkers on it. I grimace as she holds it out to me.

“Sorry, but we won’t be able to patch you up properly through those filthy clothes. I can help you get into it if you like.”

I’m too tired to do anything but nod. The nurse puts on some gloves and helps me out of my rags, eyeing my wounds as we go. A few minutes later, I’m back on the plastic-covered bed with my legs dangling over the side.

A female doctor walks in and introduces herself to me. “I’m Doctor Winslow. Let’s have a look at you, shall we?”

She does a quick exam then decides the nurse can patch me up.

“All of these are quite minor. There are no signs of internal bleeding or injury, and you don’t need any stitches. I’ll get Meg to patch you up and you’ll be out of here in no time.”

“What about Finn? Have you seen him yet?”

The doctor gives me a kind smile. “Is he your boyfriend?”

“Yes,” I whisper.

“He’s going to be fine. I’ve just sent him down for X-rays.”

“Can I see him when he gets back?”

“I’ll make sure of it.” She winks, then walks out of the room.

The nurse gets to work on patching me up, and Mom shows up about halfway through the process. She rushes in, tears flooding her eyes the second she sees me.

“Oh, my Layla.” Pulling in a shuddering breath, she leans against the bed while the nurse cleans my wounds.

I find it hard to look at Mom. I don’t know why; I guess I’m still ashamed by what I let Derek do to me. Or maybe I’m still hurting that she’s spent the last three years standing up for him and not me. Whatever it is, Mom and I have some mending to do and I’m not quite ready to start repairs.

It takes about twenty minutes of stinging sterilizing, but I’m soon looking like a patched-up pair of jeans with white, square bandages on my knee and forearms. I also smell like a medicine cabinet. The stuff she put on my throbbing cheekbone is freaking potent.

“Is there anything we need to do at home?” Mom asks the nurse.

“Just keep the wounds clean and watch for infection.” The nurse packs away her equipment, throwing gauze wrappers into the trash.

“How can we tell if it’s infected?” Mom gives me a worried look before turning back to the nurse, who launches into a detailed description of what to look for.

Mom watches her intently, nodding and hmm-ing where appropriate.

I grip the bottom of the bed, my legs swinging.

“…So, Layla’s free to go now. Do you have a change of clothes for her?”

“No.” Mom frowns. “As soon as I got the call, I dropped everything and came straight over. Layla, sweetie, do you want me to run home and grab you something? Or I could send Mack. Let me go and talk to him.” She rushes out of the room before I can reply.

The nurse gives me a sweet smile, rubbing my arm. “You can stick around here until your clothes arrive.”

“Thank you.”

She slips out of the room and I’m left alone with my dangling feet. Worry for Finn is making me nauseated. I rub my stomach and battle through the memories, the fear, and the foreboding sense of dread. I have no idea if all this shit will be enough to stop Derek. What if he keeps going after vengeance? Can I really put Finn in that position? He’s having X-rays thanks to me.

I close my eyes and dip my head. My hair falls off my shoulder, creating a curtain around me. I learned to fight for myself today. For the first time ever, I didn’t take the easy out. For once, I wasn’t little Lay-lay, the girl who constantly needs pulling out of whatever trouble she’s gotten herself into.

Before today, I’ve always had someone to hide behind—my dad, then Mack…then Finn. But I didn’t hide today, and I survived. So, maybe I shouldn’t be putting Finn in the line of fire anymore.

My eyes burn with tears as I suck in a ragged breath.

Maybe I should do him a favor and back the hell off so he doesn’t get hurt again.

I hate that idea more than anything, but my dad always told me that if you love someone, you put their needs above your own.

Tears glide down my cheeks as I sit there contemplating what I should do.

A knock on the door makes me jerk. I slash at my tears and flick my hair over my shoulders. Shoving on my neutral mask, I stare at the door as it slowly opens.

Mrs. Jones’s round face appears in the gap. Her brown eyes scan me from the top of my head to the tips of my bare toes.

“How you feeling?” She eases into the room, closing the door with her butt.

I shrug, not sure I can speak.

Her smile softens and I watch her wide hips as they sway towards me. “According to my boy, you fought tough today.”

“I tried.” I sniff, then bob my head.

“He’s gonna be just fine. They thought he might have a couple of fractured ribs, but the X-rays show it’s just a fair whack of bruising. He’ll need to take it easy, but he’s a tank, that boy. He’ll recover quickly.”

I wince. “I’m so sorry.”

“Why?”

“Derek.” I shake my head. “He never would have gone after Finn if it wasn’t for me. I’m such a mess and Finn is so good. He’s good, you know?” I implore her with my tear-stained face. “He deserves better. I’m not… I’m not good.”

Mrs. Jones tips her head, her eyes deep with conviction as she reaches for my face and gently holds my chin. “Let me tell you something. What you think about yourself is wrong. My boy is not stupid. He has never had himself a girlfriend because he has been waiting for the right one—a girl worth fighting for. Now whether you like it or not, that girl is you, and you will not be ditching my son out of some crazy delusion that you aren’t good enough.” She takes another step forward, crowding me out. “I’ve seen the way you look at each other. I’ve noticed the way Finn’s been acting since carrying you into our home. You’ve awakened the strength within him…just like he’s awakened yours. That’s not something you walk away from.”

Dipping her chin, she gives me a pointed look until I finally give in with a small nod.

“That’s better. Now, stop feeling sorry for yourself and take your behind two doors down. Finn needs a cuddle, and he only wants one from you.”

I catch a fleeting glimpse of
mother losing son
, but she quickly hides it behind a wink and a smile.

“Go on, now.”

Her head flick forces me off the bed. Wrapping my arms around my waist, I hold the flimsy gown in place and shuffle after Mrs. Jones. She leads me a short way down the corridor and opens the door. Finn’s sitting on the bed, his toes scraping the floor as his long legs dangle over the side.

He’s been forced into a hospital gown of his own, and I can’t help thinking how unfair it is that he can look so damn gorgeous in one of those things. His thick biceps curve beneath the fabric, showing off his unfathomable strength. Even injured, he could probably take on an army. And he would…for me.

I hesitate in the open doorway.

He’s talking quietly with his dad. Neither of them has seen me, and they don’t look up until some loud throat-clearing over my right shoulder grabs their attention.

Finn’s father gives me a kind smile. “How you doin’, sweetie?”

“I’ll live,” I rasp.

“You sure will.” He winks, then catches whatever look his wife is throwing him behind my back. It must be a good one because he does a little hop-skip towards the door and Finn and I are suddenly alone.

“You okay?” I creep towards him, the tiles cold beneath my bare feet.

His nod is slow, his eyes too busy drinking me in. “I am now.”

I give him a nervous smile, pausing before I reach him.

Holding out his hand, he beckons me with a flick of his fingers. “C’mere.”

“I don’t want to hurt you.”

“I just need your arms around me,
Sundar
, please.”

Melt my heart. The way he’s looking at me right now, the gentle huskiness of his voice as he whispered those words. How can I possibly resist that?

With a quivery smile, I close the space between us, gliding my arms around him and lightly squeezing. He bows his head and presses his lips against my shoulder. Leaning my cheek against the side of his head, I close my eyes and breathe him in. His strong thighs press lightly into my hips while his arms encase me. It seriously is the best feeling ever, and I can’t imagine being able to give it up.

I don’t know if it’s selfish or not, but my resolve to walk away from Finn for his own protection turns to dust. I need him in my life, and I’m going to do everything in my power to be the best girlfriend a guy can have.