I didn’t know how to talk my way out of this. From the smell of his breath and the sound of his voice, I knew he was drunk. I was afraid anything I said would make him mad.
“Say you’re sorry,” he said in my ear. “You fucking ruined everything, Dell.”
“I’m sorry.” Tears spilled onto my cheeks. “I’m so sorry, John. You’re really scaring me.”
“That’s good. You should be scared. Don’t you dare fucking move or I’ll kill you.”
“Okay. I won’t move.”
Instinct told me to placate him. My heart pounded in my chest as I wondered whether I’d seen Kyler for the last time. He knew I loved him, but we still had so many milestones and adventures in front of us.
John was mumbling something I couldn’t decipher when I heard another voice.
“Oh, shit. Dell!”
From the young sound of the voice, I thought it was Bryce, one of the assistant equipment managers.
“Go get Price and Hudson,” John said tersely. “I want them to watch her die.”
Footsteps pounded out of the room.
“Please don’t, John,” I pleaded. “We have a beautiful son together.”
“Lot of good that did me. I never get to see him.”
I wasn’t about to argue that it was his fault. I’d never denied him time with Kyler.
“John!” My father’s voice burst into the locker room. “Put the knife down! You don’t want to do this.”
“It’s all I have left,” he said flatly. “It’s the only way for me to hurt you like you hurt me.”
“Please don’t.” Dad’s voice was thick with emotion. “I never meant to hurt you, John.”
“Dell.” The fear in Luke’s tone sent a shiver through my body. John turned me to face the two of them.
“Anything to say to her before I cut her throat?” he asked.
“No,” Luke said, his face twisting with anguish. My dad – the toughest man I’d ever known – was crying uncontrollably.
“Tell Kyler I love him,” I said. “Tell him the day he was born was the best day of my life. Dad, I want you and Mom to raise him, but let Sadie—”
“Shut the fuck up,” John said, and I felt a trickle of warmth on my skin as he tightened his hold on my neck. “I’m raising him. He’s my son.”
“Of course you are,” Luke said. “Listen, John, this is all my fault. If I hadn’t started shit with you that night, none of this would’ve happened. If you’ll trade Dell for me, Kyler can still have both of his parents.”
“How sweet,” John said sarcastically. “Trading your life for hers. But this is the way I need to go. Offing you wouldn’t mean shit to Coach. He’d probably appreciate it.”
The door opened and someone in a uniform started to come in.
“Out!” my father roared. “Out of this room!”
“No one has to die,” Luke said in a level tone. “Everyone makes mistakes. Don’t make one that will cost you everything.”
“It’s too late.” John’s voice was flat and hopeless.
“It’s never too late,” my father said desperately. “I’ll put you back on the team. Please let her go, John. Please.”
I felt the vibration of John’s shaking chest against my back. He was crying. Would he make a split-second decision, fueled by emotion, that would be the end of me?
Luke edged closer, holding his hands out in front of him. “Let’s settle this like men. You’re above hurting a woman, I know that about you.”
His shaking started to subside. “I wish we could,” he said.
“We can,” Luke’s tone was imploring. “It’s just you and me, man. Ditch the knife and let’s go.”
The blade against my throat loosened a little, allowing me to take a full breath.
“I’m sorry,” John whispered. He shoved me into Luke and moved to slice his own throat. Luke moved me aside with one arm and grabbed John’s forearm with his other hand, slamming him back against the wall.
John just stared at him, stunned.
“Get the knife,” Luke grunted, using all his strength to keep John pinned to the wall. My dad advanced and pulled the knife away, his eyes pooling with relief as he looked at me.
Everything moved fast then. Dad called in the police, who restrained John and arrested him. He was going into a psychiatric hold and would get an evaluation.
Luke wrapped me in his arms and refused to let go. He rested his forehead against mine and our chests rose in and out together.
“I love you,” I said softly. “I may have helped you rehab, but you helped me, too. I never believed in love before you.”