Chapter 69

Chapter 69
Alicia

I woke up to the sound of someone pacing, heavy and impatient, like the floorboards had personally offended him. It took me a second to remember where I was. Evan’s apartment. A space that still smelled faintly of engine oil and his terrible instant coffee.

Sunlight was sliding through the blinds in narrow stripes, and the air felt too still for morning. I pushed myself up, rubbed my face, and listened again.

Yep. That was definitely Evan pacing. I rolled off the couch and padded into the living room. Evan was by the door, arms folded tight, jaw locked, eyes sharp in that way he used to look at trouble on the street before it became trouble.

“You’re finally awake,” he said. “Good. We need to talk.”

I sighed. “Please don’t start.”

“Alicia, this isn’t a joke.” He pointed at the deadbolt. “You’re not stepping outside today.”

My head snapped up. “Excuse me?”

“You heard me,” he said. “You stay here until Damon or I decide it’s safe.”

I stared at him, completely thrown. “Evan, you can’t just lock me in your apartment.”

“I can and I will.”

“No. No, you won’t.” I crossed my arms, mirroring him. “You can’t treat me like I’m five.”

“Five-year-olds listen better than you,” he shot back.

I blinked. “Wow. So we’re doing this.”

He dragged a hand down his face, pacing again. “You don’t understand how serious this is.”

“I do,” I said quietly. “You think I don’t? Damon showed up to the game bleeding. He collapsed in the tunnel. I watched the man I love nearly lose consciousness in my arms.” My throat tightened. “And now I’m getting messages from a psycho who apparently likes sending postcards from hell.”

Evan stopped pacing. His eyes softened, but only a fraction. “Which is exactly why you’re not leaving.”

I shook my head. “I can’t live like that. Hiding in your apartment like some… hostage.”

He scoffed. “Hostage? I’m protecting you.”

“By locking me away?” I asked. “By making decisions for me?”

“Yes,” he said bluntly. “Because someone has to.”

That hit harder than he knew. I looked away, rubbing my arms. The room felt heavier. “Evan… I know you’re scared.”

He raised a brow. “You don’t know anything.”

“Yes, I do.” I stepped toward him. “You’re scared because you weren’t here when it all started. Because Damon was the one protecting me. Not you.”

His jaw tightened. That stung him.

“Don’t twist this,” he muttered.

“I’m not,” I said softly. “You’re my brother. You want to feel like you can fix this. But you can’t fix it by locking me inside.”

Silence. Thick, stretched silence.

Then he said, “Damon told me the kind of games Nathan plays. You have no idea how far this guy will go.”

My stomach twisted at the mention of Damon’s name. “What did Damon tell you?”

“That Nathan doesn’t stop,” Evan said. “That he’s smart. That he’ll get close, even when you think you’re safe.”

I swallowed hard. “And you think locking me in here is the answer?”

“It’s a start.”

“No. A start is communication,” I said. “A start is me knowing what’s going on, not being treated like luggage that needs storing.”

Evan exhaled through his nose like he was trying to calm himself. “If something happens to you, I’ll never forgive myself.”

I reached for his arm. “Nothing will happen to me.”

“You don’t know that.”

“But I know I’m not safer locked up.” I squeezed his arm. “Let me breathe, Evan. Please.”

He looked at me for a long moment, something cracking beneath his stubbornness. Then he turned away and muttered, “Fine.”

I blinked. “Fine?”

He pointed a stern finger at me without turning fully around. “You don’t go outside alone. You don’t answer unknown numbers. And you stay near the windows as little as possible.”

I nodded. “Deal.”

“You think I’m kidding.”

“I think you’re dramatic,” I said, but gently.

He turned back, glared, and then the sharpness faded. “Alicia… he could have been watching you last night.”

The words hit me like cold air. I knew it already, but hearing Evan say it made it real in a way messages on my phone couldn’t.

I sank onto the couch. “Evan… do you think he followed me?”

“I don’t know,” he said. “I don’t know what he wants. But he’s in the league now. Which means he has access to places you and Damon are connected to.”

A chill ran through me. “You mean the stadium.”

“I mean everything,” he said. “Hospitals. Training centers. Public places. Nathan is not predictable.”

I hugged a pillow to my chest. “Damon knows, right?”

“He’s not stupid,” Evan replied. “He’s tightening security. Sabrina is helping him. The team’s on alert.”

I stared at my hands. “But what about him? What about Damon?”

Evan sat beside me, surprisingly gentle. “He’ll be fine.”

“How do you know?”

“Because he has something to fight for now.”

My heart twisted painfully.

“Evan…” I whispered. “I don’t want him getting hurt again. I don’t want him playing through fear.”

“He won’t,” Evan said. “He’s a pro.”

I laughed weakly. “Pro or not, he scares easily when it comes to me.”

“Then don’t make it worse by doing something reckless,” Evan said. “Stay put for a bit. Trust him. Trust me.”

I nodded slowly. “Okay.”

He stood up, stretched like he was gearing up for another round of pacing, but instead he grabbed his keys.

“Where are you going?” I asked.

“To get breakfast,” he said. “Don’t move.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, boss.”

He shot me a look that would’ve made any other person apologize, then left the apartment. The door shut, and for the first time since waking up… the silence scared me.

I sat still, staring at the wall, fighting the uneasy feeling creeping up my spine. Something didn’t feel right. Not in the apartment. Not in the city. Not in the air. My phone buzzed. I froze. Unknown number. Not again.

My breath hitched as the screen lit up with a text.

Hi Alicia. No threats. No warnings. Just a greeting. My heart dropped.

He wasn’t done. He was just starting.