IT’S BEEN a tough couple of weeks emotionally for both Vivi and myself, but as far as any contact from Annabelle, we haven’t heard a peep. I’ve tried to return to my normal routine, but leaving Vivi alone at home while I go to my team meetings and workouts has been difficult. If it weren’t for Beckett coming over to stay with her while I was gone, I’m not so sure I could leave Vivi’s side even for a moment.
Nightmares have plagued me, and I’ve woken up gasping at the thought of Vivi dying and me being powerless to stop it. I’ve awakened her a few times, but I haven’t been honest with her about my dreams. They say your dreams reflect subconscious thoughts, but this is a genuine fear. Seeing what was in that fucking box and knowing the horror Annabelle is truly capable of scares the shit out of me.
Vivi reaches over, then squeezes my hand. “You ready to go inside?”
We’ve been sitting outside the church in the parking lot for the past twenty minutes. I can’t help but feel a little responsibile.
“We should get in there. We don’t want to be late,” Vivi says.
She’s right. I’ve got to overcome my fears and put on a brave face to get in there. “Let’s go.”
After I help Vivi out of the Jeep, I take her hand and lead her toward the entrance. Bella stands there waiting for us, and the moment we’re close, Bella wraps her arms around Vivi and pulls her in for a hug. “How are you holding up?”
Vivi pulls back and shrugs. “I don’t really know how to feel, and I’m scared to death this crazy woman will get close to Zayn or me.”
I wrap my arm around Vivi’s waist and tuck her against my side. “Nothing will ever happen to you. I won’t allow it.”
Vivi’s lips pull into a tight line, and she nods. But I know I haven’t eased her fears, and that kills me. Annabelle needs to be stopped, and she needs to fucking pay for what she’s done to Gia.
“Brenda texted me yesterday and informed me they’ve narrowed it down to two candidates to take over the hosting position on the show. It’s going to be tough restarting the filming, but I think it will be good for all of us to finish the project we started,” Bella says. “We need to move forward the best we can.”
“I think that would be great for me, actually. All I’ve been doing is sitting around and worrying about the fucked-up shit going on around me. It would be nice to focus on something else.”
Vivi’s words hit me hard. I hate I can’t take this anxiety and fear away from her. It makes me sick I can’t do more, but even worse, she wouldn’t even be in this situation if it weren’t for me.
A large group of people passes us on the steps leading into the church, and Bella glances at the door before turning back to us. “Let’s get inside.”
Bella grabs Vivi’s hand and starts for the door.
The church is packed, so Bella slides into the last pew, and we follow her. People continue to pour into the building, leaving many people to stand. I take time and scrutinize every female face I can, checking each one to see if Annebelle Rogers has wormed her way in here, trying to get close to Vivi or me. My eyes lock on the detective who was at my house the day Beckett found the box. It’s clear Detective Kendal is still on the hunt for my stalker, so he must not have located her yet to question her or compare her DNA or fingerprints from the box. Knowing this puts me further on edge.
Now I’m glad Beckett decided not to attend the funeral since he didn’t know Gia personally and monitor the high-dollar security system he had placed in my house. My place is damn near like a military fort at this point.
A priest with salt-and-pepper hair, wearing a white robe trimmed in gold, takes his place behind the pulpit and directs his attention to the sea of faces before him. Below the man sits an open silver casket, putting Gia on display one last time.
The priest clutches the sides of the podium and speaks with a clear, baritone voice, “Today, we are all gathered to celebrate the life of Gia Bayne, also known to many as Gia Whitt—a life taken from us much too soon. Often when a tragedy such as this occurs, it makes us wonder why God would allow such a beautiful, caring person’s life to end. Sometimes, it causes a great deal of anger because we selfishly want that individual to remain here with us on earth when the pain of losing them is unbearable. That is a natural human emotion, but one we must come to terms with and find comfort in the knowledge our loved one is now in the Kingdom of Heaven, living next to our Father with eternal life.”
The finality of the holy man’s words sinks into my brain and causes my heart to race, worried the individual who did this to Gia wants to do the same thing to Vivi. I don’t know what I would do, or even if I could make it in a world where Vivi doesn’t exist.
This whole situation is fucked up, and I don’t understand why someone I’ve had brief interaction with feels strongly enough about me to kill someone.
“At this time, I’m going to ask Gia’s loved ones who have prepared something to come up one at a time. Mr. Bayne, if you’d like to start?” The priest directs his attention to the Devil’s owner, who stands, adjusts his black suit jacket, and then takes his place behind the microphone.
“Gia always loved a grand party. Especially one that centered on her, so she would’ve loved seeing you all here today. It’s no secret I doted on Gia. I gave in to pretty much anything she desired, doing my best to make whatever dream she had come true. I thought I was doing right by her, but as it turns out, Gia’s path to stardom took her down a dark and deadly path.”
I sit up a little straighter in my seat because his words touch a nerve within me. It feels like he’s implying my complicity in her death, even though it wasn’t my idea to take her on those dates and involve her in my life. If we look at the big picture in this situation, Bruce should harbor just as much guilt as me for encouraging Gia’s idea. Bruce knew my history and knew I had an issue with a stalker doing crazy things in order to gain my attention. If I were Bruce, I would have put as much distance between my granddaughter and me as possible, pointing her in different avenues to gain popularity. But men like Bruce rarely, if ever, accept responsibility for any mistakes made and love to point the blame on others. In this situation, I am the one who he will perceive as being the only one at fault other than the actual killer.
I’ve called the Devil’s corporate office several times attempting to set up a time to meet with Bruce, but his assistant refuses to schedule one, stating he is unsure when Mr. Bayne will return to the office.
It definitely feels like I’m being blown off, but I know I own the man an apology even though his granddaughter didn’t die by my hands.
“Gia was a light in my life. She was my firstborn grandchild, and I loved her more than I ever knew it was possible. I even told my son that I loved his kid more than I did him, and he said that was okay. I was glad he took the news well that he was no longer my favorite.” A small laugh comes from the audience as Bruce smiles down at his family. “The whole reason I bought the Devils in the first place was because of Gia. I was holding her in my arms when she was a baby while I was watching a game, and she called me pap pap for the first time. I took it as a sign of good luck and made the deal to take over the team.” Bruce wipes away a tear as if replaying the memory in his head, causing him to be overcome with emotion. “My angel is gone, and she’s taken the light out of my world with her. Her death…” His voice shakes. “Her death isn’t something I ever thought I would have to face. I’m the old man. I was supposed to die first, and this isn’t fair. When the police told me her death looked suspicious—that it looked like a staged suicide—I vowed from that point forward I would turn this world upside down until I saw the person responsible punished. No one will hurt my family and get away with it. I’ll make damn sure of that.”
The microphone echoes the rustling noise of Bruce taking a step back from the pulpit around the speakers in the room. The room is in complete silence when he steps onto the main floor and then stops at Gia and rests his hand on her and says, “I’ll get them, baby girl. I promise you.”
Bruce doesn’t make threats he cannot carry out. I know he’ll have his own task force assigned to track down Gia’s killer, which should make Annabelle very nervous because she may hide from the police, but I doubt she’ll be able to hide from team Bruce will put together. He has billions of dollars and all the resources to go along with it.
Several more family members get up to speak, Gia’s little sister, her father, and some friends. Their words helped me to realize maybe there was more to Gia than the side I got to know—that she wasn’t a complete bitch all the time, and I truly am sorry for their loss. I can’t even imagine the pain they are going through.
Once all of that is complete, the priest once again returns to the stand and addresses the congregation. “We ask you all to pay your final respects and if you would like to follow out to the gravesite, please allow the funeral director know on the way out so your vehicle can be properly marked.”
The second row stands, and a line forms as people pass by the family first and then the casket, taking their time to extend their condolences. Gia’s mother, who looks like an older version of her, clings to Bruce’s son while wearing an all-black dress. Her sobs sound throughout the church and the closer it gets to being my row’s turn, the more apprehensive I get.
“Maybe we should just slip out the doors we came in through,” I whisper to Vivi.
She turns and sets her green eyes on me and then shakes her head. “We can’t do that. It’s going to be okay.”
I take a deep breath as the last row stands, and I follow everyone, being the last one in the line. Everyone else other than the police presence, people from the church, funeral home, Bella, Vivi, myself and the family have left the sanctuary, making this big room feel even bigger.
I swallow deeply as Bella shakes the family member’s hands one by one, and Vivi follows suit. I’ve never met these people before, but when Gia’s father’s eyes land on me, they widen and when I risk a quick glance over to Bruce, his eyes are narrowed at me.
I shake Gia’s father’s hand first. “I’m very sorry for your loss.”
He says nothing, only gives me a quick nod and then releases my hand.
I move over to stand in front of Bruce, who has to stare up at me because I’m taller than him. “I’m really sorry about Gia.”
“Don’t you dare even say her name,” Bruce growls at me. “She would still be here if it weren’t for you.”
My hands are in surrender. “I cannot control what a person who is out of their mind does. I did not know she was still focused on me, and I’m sure you didn’t either or else you would have never pushed me to take her out. I never wanted this to happen, and had I known Gia was in any type of danger, I would’ve alerted the police immediately. You can’t put her death on me because if me taking her on the dates got her killed, you’re just as at fault as me.”
Bruce doesn’t like the truth I’m spouting, and instead of my words calming him down, they make him angrier. “Get out of here. I don’t want to see your face.”
The police, seeing the tension brewing, step up next to us, and Detective Kendal says, “Mr. North, come with me, please.”
Not wanting to disrupt Gia’s funeral any more than I already have, I follow the detective out of the church with no protest. Bruce is angry, and he wants people to blame. I get it, but I did not kill his granddaughter.
Now, I have the distinct feeling as far as football and my team goes, I’m fucked.
Once we’re outside, Detective Kendal leads the three of us to the far corner of the parking lot to a shaded spot under some trees. He turns to face me. “I’ve already had a conversation with Mr. Bayne and he informed me of dates he set up between you and his granddaughter. I’ve done what I could to help the man understand we are searching for Annabelle Rogers to question her about the box left at your residence, but we could not locate her. Mr. Bayne, for some reason, wants to hold you personally responsible as well, but I’ve informed him the evidence we have does not implicate you in the homicide. The man is angry, and I suggest keeping your distance from him as best as you can, which I know is complicated, given he owns the team you play for.”
I nod. “I understand.”
“Good. Also, I need to inform you I’ll be pulling the police presence from in front of your home. After two weeks with no disturbances, I cannot keep them on the detail. I’ve spoken with Beckett, and he’s told me you now have a top-notch security system in place. If anything is caught on those cameras, please inform me right away.”
I glance at Vivi and then back to the detective. “Do you think it’s safe pulling the police from my house if Annabelle is still lingering around? And why haven’t you been able to track her down?”
His lips pull into a tight line. “We can’t find her because Annabelle Rogers doesn’t exist. After some deep digging, we discovered Ms. Rogers stole an identity and has been using it for the past two years while living here in Florida. Her last known address is vacant, and her last known phone number has been disconnected. Right now, we’re doing our best to track her down, but that’s been difficult because it seems the woman doesn’t want to be found.” He sighs. “Until we find her, all of you still need to be on alert. If you hear from her at all, we need to know. I wish I could leave the detail on your place, but unfortunately, budgets won’t allow it.”
He reaches out and offers one of his cards to Bella. “You need to watch out as well. Right now, we can’t rule out the possibility of Annabelle hurting anyone she deems is close to Zayn.”
The detective walks away, leaving the three of us alone.
This isn’t great news. I figured once we found the box, and they tested it for DNA or whatever, they wouldn’t have any problem building a case against Annabelle and locking her up. With her still running around, it means Vivi is still in danger.
Bella flicks the card twice between her fingers. “Well, fuck. Now, I’m worried. Should I be worried? Is this woman going to come after me, too?”
I shrug. “I don’t think so, because it seems the only woman who I’ve been with on what seems to be a romantic level is who she comes after. I think you’re safe, but like the police just said, you need to be on high alert for anything out of the ordinary. Don’t give her a chance to get close to you. Make sure all your windows and doors are locked.”
Bella’s eyes widen, and I know I’ve furthered scared her, but she needs to know the danger is real.
Vivi wraps Bella into a hug. “Be careful and call us if you need anything. I’m sure Zayn would be cool with you staying at his place if you feel unsafe in your apartment. I know there’s no way of putting up cameras or anything there to help protect yourself.” Vivi glances back at me.
“Absolutely. You can stay. Matter or fact, I would feel better if you did,” I tell her, causing Vivi to smile.
Bella’s brown eyes flick between Vivi and me. “Well, I guess I can, but only if the two of you are sure and I won’t be imposing on your…private time.”
Vivi laughs. “As long as you don’t plan on sleeping in bed with us at night, I think we’ll be fine. Zayn’s house is pretty large, and the room I stayed in when I first came to Florida is clear on the opposite end of the house.”
“All right. I’ll pack a few things and head over this evening,” Bella says.
I take Vivi’s hand and lead her back to the Jeep. The way she cares about Bella and her safety only makes me love her more. She’s looking out for her friend a lot, like the way I look out of Beckett. Friends sometimes are family you choose and mean just as much to you as someone who is related by blood. I don’t want to see anyone else hurt by this woman, and we all need to stick close together and watch each other’s back to make sure we stay safe until she’s caught.
