Fake Dating My Ex's Hockey Star Brother (Maya Scott) novel Chapter 114

KATY’S POV

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this.” I stop and turn to face Braydon the moment we step into our hotel room.

He closes the door gently behind us and swings to look at me. “What do you mean?”

I frown. “Your dad…” I trail off, hoping he catches on. But he just tilts his head, looking confused. “He just signed the contract that easily?”

He exhales, shrugging off his jacket and draping it over the chair. “Isn’t that what we wanted?

“Yes,” I say, but I can’t shake it. “Don’t you think it’s weird? Suspicious even? He didn’t put up any fight, didn’t argue at all. He literally said, ‘You won.’ If that’s not the biggest red flag, I don’t know what is.”

He closes the distance and gently lifts my bag from my shoulder, dropping it on the bed. Then he takes my hands, pulling me a little closer.

“I just think this whole thing’s been so stressful,” he says. “And you probably expected it to be worse.”

I shake my head.

“Listen,” he continues, “We got him cornered, baby. He had nowhere to run and he knew he lost.”

“Yeah, but not that easily,” I reply. “He was just… sitting there like a dummy. Something feels off.”

“Is it because of what he said on our way out?” he asks, searching my eyes. “Are you… scared of him?”

“What did he say?” I press, scanning his face. “I didn’t hear a thing.”

“Really?” he raises an eyebrow.

“Yeah.”

He shrugs. “He said he always knew you were bad luck, from the first time he saw you.”

I blink.

“Those,” he adds, tightening his grip slightly, “are the words of a man who knows he’s lost, Peach.”

“No.” I yank my hand away and start pacing, dragging a hand through my hair. Then I stop and turn back to him. “What if he comes after me?”

His eyes narrow. “Comes after you?”

“Yes,” I snap. “Trust me, I know your dad well enough to know he won’t let this go. And we gave them seven days….seven whole days to clear out. Anything can happen in seven days.” My voice tightens. “We could go missing right along with the contract that says Pendant belongs to you.”

He crosses the room again and cups my face, forcing me to look at him. “And you think I’d just let him hurt you?” he asks. “Do you really think that little of me?”

“No, but-”

“Shh.” He smiles, brushing his thumb along my cheek. “I’ll protect you from anything. I promise nothing’s going to happen. Trust me.”

I stare at him for a few seconds, but the tightness in my chest doesn’t ease. I still feel nauseous, anxious.. the same feeling I always get when something feels off. Still, I don’t want to ruin the mood. He’s finally gotten what he’s wanted for so long, and it would be sad to make this a weird night.

So I force a smile. “Sure. I know you’ll always protect me.”

He kisses me softly. “Always.”

I kiss him back, then ruffle his hair.

“We should celebrate,” he says. “After all, we won.”

I chuckle. “Yes, we did.”

Then, with a sudden burst of excitement, he lets out a loud, carefree “Yoohoo!” and starts dancing around, completely offbeat and grinning. “I got him good! We got him!”

I shake my head at him, smiling despite the knot in my stomach that won’t quite fade.

***

“When’s our flight again?” I ask Braydon, wiping my mouth with a napkin.

“10:15,” he answers, lifting an eyebrow. “Think we could…” He stops, and smirks just enough for me to know exactly what he means. “We have two hours.”

“And it takes thirty minutes to shower, and another thirty to get to the airport, plus-”

“Peach, we aren’t fucking for an hour,” he cuts in. “I know I last ridiculously long, but this morning isn’t one of those times.”

I nod, watching him slip out of the room.

I exhale and collapse back onto the bed, picking up my phone. Allie has replied to my messages, buzzing with excitement over our progress. These past couple of weeks have been rough, and I’m sure she also feels good to finally see things paying off.

I text her back, and before I realize it, time slips away between our chats. By the time I look up, it’s almost thirty minutes since Braydon left.

I sit up and start typing a text, asking if he’s coming back soon, when my fingers freeze on the screen. One question pops into my head, and a cold shiver runs down my spine: Did Braydon tell this Fred we’re at the Langham? He didn’t mention anything about this Fred yesterday, did he?

Just then, my phone rings, and I flinch with a gasp. Relief floods me when I see Braydon’s name because my paranoia had almost made me imagine he’d been lured out and kidnapped.

I take the call. “When are you…”

“Miss Evans.” A different voice fills the phone, and I go rigid. My heart wants to leap out of my chest, and I grip the phone tighter.

“W…who is this?” I manage to choke out.

“You know who,” the voice replies. And he’s right, I know this voice. I know how my boyfriend’s narcissistic, ruthless father sounds.

“Why do you have this phone?” I whisper, my lips shaking. “What have you done to him?”

“Braydon is alive and well,” he responds. “For now. How long that lasts depends on how cooperative you are.”

I swallow. “What do you want?”

“The contract,” he replies. “Both the physical documents and the digital copy. I want everything.” There’s a brief pause before he continues. “I’ll send you a location. Be there with what I’ve asked for.”

“Copies of that contract have already been emailed to his lawyer.” I tell him. “You’re too late, Mr. Cooper.”

“I’ll decide when it’s late.” His voice hardens. “And Miss Evans, if you report this to anyone, especially the police, he’ll be gone before they even know where to look. If you try to leave New York, he’ll be dead. Every decision you make determines whether you ever see him again. I have people watching you. I have nothing to lose and everything to gain, so be very careful.”

“I need to know he’s alive,” I cut in quickly, my lip caught between my teeth. “I need confirmation that Braydon is fine before I do anything you ask.”

“You’ll receive a call in ten minutes,” he says, then the line goes dead.