The Nerd Who Stole The Quarterback (Astra and Zayne) novel Chapter 54

Chapter 54

ZANE

“A fucking tie?”

CRASH.

The glass shattered against the wall behind me, whiskey splattering everywhere.

I stood still in the middle of my father’s study, jaw locked, eyes ahead as Landon Ashton paced like a caged animal.

“You let Ryan fucking Sinclair walk all over you?” he snarled, voice dripping with disgust. “The Sinclairs/have been a thorn in this family’s side for years and you hand them a goddamn tie? On their field?”

I didn’t flinch.

“It was a hard game,” I said flatly. “Their defense stepped up but we still dominated most of the…”

SLAP

His hand connected hard with the side of my face.

My head snapped to the side. The metallic taste of blood instantly filled my mouth.

I slowly turned back to look at him.

My glare was pure murder.

Landon actually took one step back, his hand twitching at his side like he realized he’d gone too far. But he quickly recovered, straightening his spine.

“Next time you play them, you bury them,” he growled. “No excuses. This is your senior year, Zane. First semester of Grade 12. You have mid-term exams coming up in three weeks, those grades determine your eligibility for the rest of the season and your fucking future. Fix them. I won’t have my son benched because of academic bullshit.”

I wiped the blood from the corner of my mouth with the back of my hand, eyes never leaving his.

“Get out of my sight,” he snapped.

I turned to leave.

“And send Astra to me.”

1 froze mid-step, back stiffening.

Slowly, I looked over my shoulder.

“What for?”

Landon sat back down in his leather chair like nothing had happened, already reaching for another glass.

“She is my employee,” he said coldly. “You don’t need to know.”

My teeth ground together so hard I thought they might crack.

I wanted to tell him to fuck off. I wanted to say she wasn’t going anywhere near him right now.

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But I knew better.

Not yet.

I left without another word, blood still trickling slowly from my split lip.

I waited at the top of the grand staircase, leaning against the railing in the shadows.

A few minutes later, the front door opened.

Astra stepped inside, looking exhausted but soft in her hoodie, bag slung over her shoulder. She started upthe stairs and froze when she saw me.

Our eyes met.

Her gaze dropped to my mouth.

“You’re bleeding, she whispered, eyes widening.

I blinked.

My fingers brushed my mouth.

Blood.

Right.

I hadn’t even noticed.

Astra looked genuinely concerned.

Which was stupid.

She should’ve kept walking.

Instead she started toward me.

Then seemed to remember who I was and awkwardly stopped herself halfway.

The concern disappeared behind caution.

I hated that.

“My dad wants to see you in his study,” I said, voice low and rough.

Astra stopped on the step below me, turning slowly.

Her eyes searched mine, confused and wary.

“Now?” she asked quietly.

1 stared down at her. jaw tight.

“Yeah. Now

I didn’t move out of her way.

For a second, I considered grabbing her wrist and pulling her into my room instead. Keeping her away from him.

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Chapter 54

But I stepped aside.

She hesitated, then continued up the stairs, brushing past me.

I stayed there, watching her go, blood still on my tongue.

And the only thing running through my head was:

She’s mine.

Not his.

I waited.

The second Astra disappeared into my father’s study and the heavy oak door clicked shut behind her, something ugly twisted in my chest.

I moved silently up the stairs and stopped right outside the door, leaning against the wall, every muscle tight.

I tried to listen.

Nothing.

Just muffled voices I couldn’t make out. The thick wood and my father’s soundproofed study made sure of that.

I stood there like a fucking idiot for almost fifteen minutes, jaw clenched so hard it ached, blood still dried at the corner of my mouth. My mind kept spinning darker and darker.

What the fuck did he want with her?

Was he threatening her?

Was he looking at her the way he looked at everything useful, like a tool?

The longer I stood there, the more violent my thoughts became.

I was two seconds away from kicking the door open when it finally clicked.

Astra stepped out.

Her eyes were wide, cheeks slightly pale. The second she saw me standing there like a shadow, she froze.

Before she could even open her mouth or take another step, I moved.

I grabbed her wrist hard and dragged her down the hallway toward my room.

“Zane…!” she gasped, struggling, trying to pull away. “Let go!”

I didn’t.

I shoved open my bedroom door, yanked her inside, and slammed it shut behind us with a loud bang. Then I spun her around and slammed her back against the door, caging her in with my body.

She gasped sharply.

My hand shot up, grabbing her jaw tightly, forcing her to look at me.

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