Playing For Keeps - Alley Ciz Page 0,1

I’m capable of harming a single hair on Kay’s colorful head.

Above me, someone clears their throat, but I ignore it. That’s not the point right now. No, that would be who the fuck punched my girl?

“Who?” I bark at Trav, jumping to my feet, itching for a fight. Someone thought they could put hands on what’s mine? Time for that person to learn a lesson—a very painful one.

Trav looks from me to the officer whose hand dropped to his gun belt at the rage radiating off me before swinging back my way. His eyes harden and his chest expands with a deep inhalation before he says, “Liam Parker.”

Fuck me! How could I forget about that douchemonkey and his little posse showing up to start shit?

Everything that got pushed aside in the wake of my worry for Kay comes flooding back.

The insults he slung.

The way he looked at what’s mine like it was his.

I tried to keep Kay carefully behind me, but I remember her stepping in front of me then her arms wrapping around me.

Why didn’t she stay behind me where she was safe?

But…

That doesn’t explain how he was able to hit her.

You know what? None of that shit matters. Only this does.

Liam Parker hit Kay.

He put hands on her, and now she’s unconscious and bleeding on the floor.

He’s dead.

I whip my gaze around the room, searching for him, my hands curling into fists at my sides.

“He’s not here.” I spin around at Trav’s statement; clearly the roaring inside my ears is making it impossible for me to hear him correctly. “He slipped out while everyone reacted to seeing Kay fly across the room.”

The enamel on my teeth is at risk of wearing away from how I grind them. I want to say my best friend is exaggerating about what happened, but based on where Kay’s body is and the blood on the corner of the table, there was definite force behind the hit she received.

“Just like the snake he is,” Em says, pushing through the crowd of onlookers. I thought she went mama bear on me the first time she saw me after the breakup, but now she’s full-on murderous. Get in line, Em. Get. In. Line.

As soon as I know Kay is okay, I’m going hunting.

#Chapter3

UofJ411: I didn’t do it. #ImInnocent

*picture of two cop cars in front of the AK house*

@Oamberwhereartthou: Have the Alphas ever had a party that the cops had to break up? #Untouchable

@Ofbooksandportkeys: Talk about a victory party. #WeKnowHowToParty

UofJ411: Drama at the AK house #PartyFoul #CasanovaWatch

*picture of Kay being loaded into the back of an ambulance*

@Lynnstifle: Oh, shit! Isn’t that @CasaNova87 girl? #SomeoneCall911 #CasanovasGirl

@Madameizzy: Who has the deets? #NeedToKnowWhatHappened #CasanovaWatch #CasanovasGirl

@Cheril2412: Anyone else think someone is about to die for this? #DontMessWithTheFlock #CasanovaWatch #CasanovasGirl

UofJ411: King watching over his queen #CasanovaWatch #Kaysonova

*picture of Mason by Kay’s side inside the ambulance*

@Mimi_reads: Is it wrong to swoon over how he’s not leaving her side? #IfItsWrongIDontWantToBeRight #CasanovaWatch #Kaysonova

@Miss_rae_mcnally: @CasaNova87 looks pissed AF here #IfLooksCouldKill #Kaysonova

#Chapter4

After the arrival of the first responders and the revelation that Liam fucking Parker is the cause of me being stuck in a living nightmare, it feels like someone pushes a button and everything happens in fast forward.

The police officers start questioning those who didn’t scatter.

The EMTs finish their examination of Kay and load her onto a gurney.

I climb into the back of the ambulance, not once giving them the opportunity to deny me, while our friends and most of the party attendants not being questioned filter outside to watch the drama unfold, the former hustling to the parking lot behind the AK house to get into cars and follow us to University General Hospital.

Before the metal doors close, I see Grayson already on the phone calling E, and I shout out to Em to call JT as well. If the situation were reversed, I know Kay would be on the first flight to Kentucky.

The thin cushion on the bench seat does nothing to help absorb the bumps and potholes as we speed over the roads to U Gen.

I reach out and take one of Kay’s small hands between both of mine, smoothing a thumb across her knuckles. She looks so tiny and helpless, her skin a ghostly white to match the gauze now wrapped around her head in place of my polo.

“I love you, baby.” It’s a statement, a declaration, a whole-hearted promise.

U Gen is only minutes from campus since it’s associated with the U of J’s medical school, but each mile feels like