Crossing lines (Noah and Aiden) novel Chapter 171

Chapter 171

James tilted his head slightly, his gaze sharp and calculating, much like a wolf sizing up a rival. “On and off the field, huh?” he said, his voice low and edged with a dangerous amusement. “Funny thing is, from where I’m standing, it looks like you’re going a hell of a lot further than any coach I’ve ever run into.” His smile curved into something sharper, almost predatory. “You must think he’s really something special to be putting in all this extra effort. Extra favors, even.”

“Special doesn’t even begin to cover it,” I replied firmly.

He gave a slow nod, as if pretending to accept my words, but his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “Well, that kind of promise doesn’t come cheap, Coach. You know I’ve been the one providing for him his entire life—roof over his head, food on the table, every damn thing. And now that he’s gone, I expect him to start paying me back—with that so-called future you’re betting on. He owes me.”

The way he emphasized “owes me” sent a chill down my spine.

I gripped the bouquet of flowers tighter, the stems creaking under the pressure. “Noah doesn’t owe anyone for being born. He’s earned everything he’s got, fair and square.”

James leaned in closer, lowering his voice to a threatening whisper. “Oh, I taught him everything he knows. If he’s as damn good as you say, then he owes it all to me. Unless this isn’t really about football at all. Unless there’s… another reason you’re here. Another reason for this sudden interest in my boy.” His eyes bore into mine, sharp and probing, searching for some hidden truth he could exploit. “So, which is it, Coach? A star quarterback worth going the extra mile for? Or something else you’re not telling me?”

I offered a thin, tight smile—just enough to make him squint with suspicion. “The only reason I’m here is to protect my player. Take that however you want.”

His gaze lingered, heavy with suspicion and greed, like he was trying to peel back my skin and find proof beneath. Then, with a small, mocking laugh, he tapped the flowers in my hand. “I wouldn’t waste your time on those. She’ll be coming home soon enough. And so will Noah—back where he belongs. Unless he’s as good as you say, in which case, I might just pay you both a visit… very soon.”

“Please, Noah. Please… take me with you.”

Her plea cut through the silence like a blade—so small, so fragile, yet filled with an unbearable weight. The fear beneath her words was palpable, the desperate hope for a rescue he wasn’t ready to give.

I stood quietly at the side, watching them. My boy holding his sister as if she were the only anchor keeping him steady, her begging for salvation he couldn’t yet provide.

And in that moment, I understood—no matter the lines we’d already crossed, no matter the rules we’d broken—there was no turning back now. James Blake wasn’t just a shadow from Noah’s past anymore. He was a looming battle in our future, and he was going to make damn sure we paid for every step forward.