Quarterback Keeper (Fall Lake Ballers #1)

Chapter Twenty-Seven

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

AURORA

K ylian is undergoing emergency surgery because of me. Tears streamed down my face as I rushed through the hospital, following the directions from the information desk to the waiting room. My hands shook as I shoved his keys into my pocket. I couldn’t process what was happening.

It’d taken more time than I would have liked to leave the harbor, due to questions from the police taking my statement. I’d made them wait for answers until I’d called Kylian’s mom. I didn’t even remember the hospital drive, but I’d finally made it.

After a few turns, I closed in on the waiting room, desperate to talk to a doctor or nurse to learn if Kylian was out yet and how he was doing. A shadow fell across me, and I jerked to the left in the hallway to avoid colliding with a man. Instead of moving, he blocked me. I lifted my gaze then sucked in a stuttering breath at the man who barred my path—Danbury Wilder. Kylian’s father towered over me, a calculating gleam in his eyes.

“How—”

“My ex-wife called about our son. I happened to be close by.” He cupped my elbow and backed me up then dragged me around a corner leading down another hallway farther from my destination. “Before you go anywhere near my son, we have a few things to discuss, young lady.”

I yanked my arm out of his grasp. “Young lady” was a far cry from what he’d called me before, but it didn’t matter, since he made it sound just as vile. “We have nothing to talk about… unless you’ve heard how Kylian is doing.”

“He’s in surgery. That’s all you need to know.”

“Look”—I took a step back—“I’m?—”

“Spare me the ridiculous sob story about how you care for Kylian,” Mr. Wilder growled, advancing a step closer. “I want you gone from my son’s life.”

I shook my head. I wouldn’t let him bully me into running off.

“If you fail to do as I say, the repercussions will fall squarely on your head.”

“What are you talking about?” I was sick to my stomach. I couldn’t understand how such a horrible man had any relation to someone as incredible as Kylian.

Mr. Wilder’s lips peeled back, and he bared his teeth, his anger palpable. “Here’s what’s going to happen. You’ll leave right now. Evalyn and I will be the only ones to see Kylian after his surgery. You’ll visit him in a few days to tell him you are no longer interested in a relationship. I don’t care how you do it, but you will extricate yourself from his life. And there can’t be any doubt in his mind that you are ending things. Make it convincing.”

My head jerked back as if he’d slapped me. “No. I won’t do that.” I clasped my hands before me, trembling more than I wanted the monster to witness. What could he possibly do?

“I see you need more convincing.” Mr. Wilder’s cold eyes hardened. “If you fail to do as I say, I’ll make sure Evalyn is booted from the treatment program where she’s finally seeing positive results. The cancer will ravage her body again, and her imminent death will be on your conscience.”

He wouldn’t. I wanted to call his bluff because that had to be what was going on. “You’ve already paid for the next few treatments, and Kylian’s going into the NFL. He’ll take over then.”

“Is that what you think?” His brows climbed his forehead. “You’re partially right. My son is an elite athlete and will make it into the NFL, but only if he gets the proper treatment for the injuries you’re responsible for. Make no mistake about it, young lady. You brought this on yourself when you invited your violent and unstable former boyfriend into his life.”

“I didn’t?—”

“You did.” He scoffed. “None of that would have happened to Kylian if not for you.”

Tears flooded my eyes again, and I widened them in a desperate attempt to keep the tears from falling. He’s right. Still, I didn’t want to let him see how much his words slammed into me with the force of a battering ram. “Kylian doesn’t see it the same way.” I hoped he didn’t. He knew I would never intentionally put him in harm’s way, didn’t he?

“I can see the wheels turning. You need to stop. Do whatever it takes to break things off with my son when you see him in a couple of days. If you don’t, you will be responsible for Evalyn’s demise and my son losing his dream of going into the NFL—and you know that’s been his lifelong ambition.”

I had some fight left in me, very little, but what I did possess, I flung his way. “You have no bearing on keeping him from the NFL.”

“Did you know he suffered a torn rotator cuff in his throwing arm?” He saw from my shock that I didn’t. “He’ll need intensive physical therapy, and as an athlete, he’ll want to do anything and everything in his power to heal and get back on that field. That means platelet-rich plasma injections, which are very pricey and not covered by insurance. If you’re gone from his life, I’ll pay for everything. My son will only have the best care money can buy, which will save his career. If not…”

Bile climbed my throat, and I backed away from him. I couldn’t do anything. Not a goddamned thing. Hurting Evalyn and Kylian because I wanted to be in their lives was not worth the hell Kylian’s father would unleash if I stayed. I was almost at the exit before he stopped me.

“Do we have a deal?”

God help me, but yes, we did. I could only nod before I turned and fled.