“ROBERT? WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” I blink rapidly because surely this is some sort of wicked dream. I don’t want him here, not after what he did to me the last time I saw him.
“Surprise!” Without an invitation, he moves in for a hug, and on instinct, I pull back and smack him across the face.
His head whips to one side, and his mouth drops open from the shock of what I’ve done. Honestly, I’m shocked too. It’s like my hand took over without permission and delivered what he should’ve received at the airport.
“Okay. Damn.” Robert adjusts the glasses on his face while he turns back to face me with a hot red mark on his cheek. He doesn’t even look angry after I hit him, more shocked than anything. “I deserved that.”
“Damn right you did, and if you try to touch me again, I’ll give you another.” I glare at him. “How dare you just show up here and hug me like things are fine? Things are not fucking fine, Robert, and I don’t want to see you.”
He works his jaw back and forth, still trying to work out the sting in his face. “I understand why you’re upset with me. I fucked up big time with you, and I realize that now. I’m here to fix it, and if you would’ve answered my texts, perhaps you wouldn’t have been so shocked or angry with me just now. I’ve apologized a million times and told you I was coming here to get you.”
He’s got a lot of nerve to think he can come down because he’s decided he wants me back.
“You can’t just waltz down here and fix things because you decide you made a mistake. You broke my heart.” I clutch the fabric of my shirt that lays against my chest in my hands.
A frown tugs at the corners of his mouth. “I know, and I’m sorry for that. I’m a jackass, and I get why you’re pissed. Sending you down here to live with a complete stranger put you in danger, and I own up to everything you’ve been through down here as being my fault. I’m here to take you back home.”
My eyebrows draw inward. “Danger? Home? What in the hell are you talking about?”
Robert reaches into his back pocket and pulls out his phone. Angry voices sound through the tiny speaker of the phone before Robert flips the screen around, and what I see causes my eyes to widen. A video of Taber and Zayn in the parking lot plays, showing me looking on in horror as the two men fight.
Fuck, this isn’t good. If Robert knows about this, who else does?
“Where did you get this?” I whisper as my eyes glue to the tiny screen of his phone as he holds it up for me to watch.
“It’s all over the internet. Even ESPN mentioned it the other day. This video has over two million views already, and it keeps climbing.” Robert’s face twists as he tucks the phone back into his pocket. “Why didn’t you call me the moment you felt unsafe? I would’ve come and taken you back.”
“I’ve never felt unsafe here, and besides, why would I call you? We were broken up, and honestly, I don’t see how any of this even concerns you.”
“It concerns me because I sent you here to live with an obvious psychopath. Did you see how he attacked the guy in the video? If I’d known Zayn was so out of control, I would’ve never sent you here to live with him. Father told me his brother was a complete barbaric animal, and I should’ve listened to him.”
“Watch your tone when you speak about me,” Zayn’s deep voice growls from behind me. “You may be family, but I will throw your ass out of here if you push me.”
Robert’s brown eyes dart over my shoulder to where I can feel Zayn’s presence behind me. “I know this is your house, and you feel you have to right to insert yourself into our conversation here, but I assure you, I don’t need any input from the likes of you when talking to my girlfriend.”
I don’t even need to see Zayn to know that little tantrum of Robert’s has ruffled his feathers. Though I’ve only known Zayn for a short period, I know he’s not one to take being pushed lightly. Robert better tread carefully.
“I’m not your girlfriend,” I remind Robert, trying to defuse the situation and spell things out for him.
Confusion drags his brow together. “Since when? I don’t consider what happened with us at the airport a breakup. You were mad, and I was giving you space, but we did not break up.”
“We did,” I say firmly. “The minute I said to lose my number was the minute we were done. You don’t love me and never did. All you care about is money, and you made it crystal clear to me it’s your one true love, not me when you didn’t get on that plane with me.”
“Come on, Vivi. You can’t be serious about things being over between us. You’re mad, and I get it, but now I’m here, and we can work on us. I’m here to make things right.”
“There is no us!” I roar and then squeeze my eyes shut and repeat it again with an even tone. “There is no us.”
“Vivi—”
“You need to leave, Robert,” I tell him. “I don’t want to see you.”
“Vivi…please. Let’s talk. I know we can work this out,” Robert tries again and reaches for my face.
Zayn snatches Robert’s wrist in his large hand before he can touch me. “Don’t fucking touch her.”
My mouth drops open as I witness Robert’s face contort in pain. Zayn shoves him back a bit before releasing him. “She asked you nicely to leave, and while I still have some patience, I think you’d better do as she asks before I lose my shit on you. You treated the girl like shit, and if she no longer wants anything to do with your ass, accept it. Move on and allow her to do the same.”
Robert’s eyes widen. “Fucking lunatic. Vivi, come with me before he puts his hands on you too.”
Everything happens so fast. Robert attempts to reach for my hand to pull me outside with him, and Zayn snaps. Zayn’s fingers find Robert’s throat, and he lifts Robert off the ground a few inches. Robert’s hands wrap around Zayn’s wrist, trying to claw his way free of Zayn’s hold as he gasps for air.
“I said not to fucking touch her. She isn’t going anywhere with you,” Zayn growls, and my stomach knots.
While I’m not Robert’s biggest fan right now, I don’t want Zayn to murder him either. “Zayn,” I use a stern but calm voice. “Let him go. He gets the point.”
The muscle in Zayn’s jaw works beneath his skin as he takes in my plea. After a long pause, he opens his hand, and Robert lands back on his feet, grabbing at his neck while sucking in huge gulps of air. “Jesus Christ. What the hell?”
Robert’s confusion is understandable because I’m sure he wasn’t expecting his uncle to attack him, but I will not give Robert the reasons Zayn is so defensive when it comes to me. This situation is already heated enough, and I don’t need to add any more gas to an already scorching fire.
“I think we all just need to calm down.” I turn to Robert. “You need to leave.”
Robert’s back straightens. He’s never been a tough guy, so it doesn’t surprise me when he takes a step back and nods, not daring to challenge Zayn anymore after what had just happened.
“You need time.” Robert fixes his gaze on me. “I’m staying in a hotel in the city. As long as it takes for you to forgive me, I’ll be in Jacksonville. When you’re ready, call me, and we’ll talk.”
Robert turns and heads for what I assume is a rental parked in Zayn’s driveway. Zayn stands next to me with his shoulders tense, and we watch in silence as the car backs out and heads down the street.
I step back, and Zayn shuts the front door. “I’m sorry about him.”
“Why are you sorry?” Zayn asks as his brows tug together. “You didn’t know he was coming here, and in fact, I’m surprised it took him as long as it did to realize he fucked up and come for you. I would’ve chased you the moment you left.”
My lips pull into a tight line. “I have no doubt you would have.” My thoughts drift back to the video that spurred Robert’s sudden interest in coming here to Florida to save me. “Is that video going to cause you more trouble?”
Zayn pulls me into his arms, and I place my hands on his muscled chest. “It might, but it’s not like I wasn’t expecting news of the fight with Taber to go public. They already warned me Taber will try to sue me because he’s broke. I’ve already spoken to my lawyer, and while it doesn’t look great for my public image to be back into tabloid drama about my personal life so soon again, I was defending myself. Taber threw the first punch after all, and he was being aggressive to you before I arrived. I don’t think any real legal trouble can come of this.”
There’s no mention of problems with his job, and I’m still curious about what went down when he met with the owner and coach. “What about with the Devils?”
Zayn’s full lips pull into a tight line. “They were not happy about the fight taking place in their parking lot because they caught it on camera, and there was talk about the league trying to suspend me for a game or two.”
“If you don’t think there will be any issue with the law getting involved, why would the league try to suspend you?”
“Image. The league is their own governing body and may suspend any player they feel violates their rules or codes of conduct. I hope it doesn’t come down to that, but if it does, I’m ready to fight it legally.” Zayn’s shoulders sag. “I just hate the public believing I’m a bad person when they don’t know the entire story. The press only reports the shady shit that will draw in the readers—always guilty in the court of public opinion until proven innocent as they say.”
I frown as I take in his deflated expression. “I hate all of this for you. I wish the world could see you as I do—for the warm and caring man I know.” I close the distance between us and wrap my arms around his middle. “I’ll do anything I can to help. Even if I have to go to the press myself to tell them how you protected me against Taber.”
Zayn shakes his head. “No. I don’t want you dragged into the middle of this shit show. Stay as far out of the public eye as you can. Nothing good comes from getting tangled up with the press. Trust me.”
He wraps his arms around me, and we stand there in the foyer holding one another, both worrying about what’s going to happen next.
