Loving Enough (The Enough Series Book 2) (6 page)

Rylee

J and I have talked through all of the crap surrounding my
stalker. We are at a total loss as to the possible identity of the mysterious
pain in the ass. I feel like a complete heel sitting here in my brother’s
hospital room trying to solve my problems when he is barely out of a coma, but
he won't take no for an answer.

“Ry, come on. We have to get a grip on this. We can’t afford
to take this lightly or be unprepared,” he says, breaking me out of my daze.

“I know that, J. Jesus. Don’t you think I know how serious
this has become? I’ve watched you teeter on the edge of death for the last ten
days.”

I didn’t mean for that to come out so bitchy, but I am on
edge. This bullshit is consuming my life. I cannot go anywhere without a
shadow, not that I have left the hospital yet. I am terrified of spending any
time with the man I love. My brother and my best friends are continually
threatened leaving me angry. It is a hard pill to swallow to have your life
dictated by outside forces. I have never been one to relinquish control and now
it feels like all control over my life has been taken from me.

“Look, Ry, I know this is tough for you. At the end of the
day, you know we are in this together. You fight, I fight, and we will all
fight until we win. That is what we do.”

Huffing like a spoiled brat, I respond. “It’s kind of hard
to fight the invisible, J.”

His exasperated look tells me a lot. He is tired of my pity
party. I need to buck up, quit feeling sorry for myself, and find a way to beat
this guy. It is a bit ridiculous that J is the one is forced to rally my
spirits when he’s just woken up from a coma.

“That is why we have to draw him out.”

My eyes go wide as saucers with shock. Draw him out?
And
exactly how are we to do that?
I wonder in silence.

J reads my soundless reaction. “Let me explain. Austin and I
talked about it. As long as we let this guy keep calling the shots, we are all under
his thumb. So we want to talk to Ruzek about trying to expose him.”

It is a logical plan. We can’t keep letting this guy call
the plays, but we can’t afford for another one of us to end up hurt either.

“OK, but how would we safely accomplish something like that?”
I ask, hoping they have given this real thought.

He runs a hand up and down the cast on his leg as if he is
trying to scratch an unreachable itch.

“Well, that is where things get a bit tricky. We’re thinking
that you and Austin should continue as if you are broken up. You have to go to
the draft next week anyway and he is heading to Houston.” He pauses to take a
drink of water.

Austin is going to Houston. I'm not sure why I'm surprised,
as he does have some heavy family issues to deal with. He was there until the
bomb scare happened and he felt the need to come back for me, setting in motion
the near catastrophic event ten days ago. This is just further proof of the
chaos in our lives. I had to hear from my brother that my boyfriend is leaving
town. That is not how things should be.

After clearing his gravelly throat and getting my attention,
he continues. “So with you two separated it should be fairly simple to give the
impression that you left him for good. Now we will have to talk to Ruzek about
all of this, but we think that maybe you could fake a near relationship with
him via text while you are in New York. You know, so we could set him up and have
him come to meet you once you are home and put an end to this.”

I take my time and think through the plan. It isn’t half bad,
except I cannot be sure that the mystery man won’t follow me to New York. I am
also not sure that I could fake a relationship with someone I loathe with every
fiber of my being. But to put an end to this? I guess anything is worth a shot.

“If we were to do this, how do we know he won’t follow me to
New York? If he knows anything about me, and I assume he does, he will know
where I am regardless of whether he follows me.”

J pulls his free arm up to rub his broken clavicle. I watch
him wince in pain as he moves and that does it for me. I am in on any plan. We
have to put an end to this – the guy deserves to pay for what he did to J and
for the death of Detective Rhodes.

“True, but it will help us decode who he is. If he follows
you, we will have to assume some deeper than normal pockets and that will help
narrow the list. I also think that we need to go through your client list. You
don’t cross paths with too many people, Ry, so we have to start with the most
likely and go from there.”

Shit. I had never really considered my clients before. I
have always been good to each of them, but I can see how an unstable individual
could misconstrue my intentions. I always take a new client out to eat or for
drinks and try to convey a sense of family. I want my clients to know I am
there for them. I don’t want to be the agent who only shows up around payday or
in a crisis. I want to be there for the good and the mundane as well.

I start mentally going through my list. All of my clients would
have the resources to do something like this. However, only one person comes to
mind as a possible suspect and he is not my client. In fact, I refused to take
him on a few months ago.

I try to contain my sudden realization because I want to
talk to Ruzek first. I want to see if he can get some information on this guy.
Maybe we can put an end to this before any plan has to be set in motion.

Jeremy’s green eyes bore into me. “Earth to Rylee, did you
hear a word I said?”

I snap my focus back to him. “Yeah, sorry. I was just
thinking through my list. Nobody jumps out at me, but I will talk to Gabe.
Maybe somebody rubbed him the wrong way.”

I lie to protect J for now. I need to talk with Ruzek like
yesterday. I discreetly pull his number up and text him:

Me: Can we meet tonight? I think I
might have an idea who is behind this mess.

J is tiring quickly and, by the way his eyes keep
involuntarily closing, I assume he will be asleep in a few minutes. He
stretches out and lets out a cleansing yawn.

“OK, Ry, but let’s get a move on. I love you, sis. You don’t
deserve this.”

I can see the adoration in his eyes that I have become
accustomed to. My big brother has always been my rock and I love him for it. I
wish I could have prevented this entire mess, but maybe now I can get us on the
right track to ending it all. My phone vibrates in my hand.

Ruzek: Sure tell me
when and I will be there

“Get some sleep, J. We’ll talk to Ruzek in the morning. I
love you, and I am so glad you’re back. I missed you.”

I lean over and kiss his forehead before pulling the sheet
up over his damaged shoulder.

Me: Meet me at the
hospital ASAP

Rylee

I sit anxiously, waiting for Detective Ruzek to arrive and thinking
about what J said.
We need to think through your client list. You don’t
cross paths with too many people.
I don’t know why Micah Jones didn’t pop
on my radar before, but now I am almost positive he is involved.

I met Micah at The University of Alabama shortly after the
NCAA National Championship, when it is permissible for agents to speak to
student athletes who will likely be entering the NFL draft. Alabama turns out
defensive stars like no other program and Micah was the leader of their
championship team. I was one among several agents vying for the opportunity to
represent Micah. He was a sure bet for a top ten pick in the draft.

Micah is a big boy at six foot five inches, and about 290
pounds. What makes Micah special, though, is that he can move. He has the speed
of someone much smaller, as well as cat-like reflexes. He is an outstanding
linebacker with his long arms and incredible athletic ability.

While in Tuscaloosa, I took Micah out and we got to know
each other a little bit. Micah came off as a brat. There is no other way to
describe his personality. Sure, he is a good-looking kid with tons of talent,
but his attitude put me off right away.

I have never been in this business solely for the money. I
love sports and watching athletes reach their highest potential, earning what
they are due. Some say they earn too much, and that is probably true in the
world we live in, but that is out of my control.

Micah was all about the money. He didn’t even really seem to
care about playing at the highest level. That alone is an enormous red flag for
me. I watched J and Ryan go through the trials and tribulations of transitioning
from the college game to the professional level, and it is not easy. It takes
hard work and dedication. Talent alone will not get you by. Micah did not come
across as having the required drive and dedication needed to thrive beyond his
current abilities.

During dinner, Micah ordered two - not one, but two - of the
most expensive entrees on the menu and took maybe two bites of each before
sending them back. He seemed to get off on the power trip, that he could snap
his fingers and everything would be handed to him. He treated the wait staff
like second-class citizens who were solely there to attend to his every whim
and stroke his over-enlarged ego.

My decision was made before the bill came: I had zero
interest in representing Micah. Just before his dessert arrived, he asked if I
would be interested in going on a date with him. I was floored to say the least
and extremely appalled. All I could think was,
this kid will never make it;
life will chew him up before he has the chance.

I politely turned him down, explaining that I do not date
clients or potential clients. Or snotty little brats. This is when the red
flags began whipping in the wind. After I turned him down, he informed me, “Oh
honey it doesn’t matter what you want. I always get what I want. If I decide to
have you, I will.”

After that revealing piece of information, I paid for our
meal and ended our meeting. He asked whether I wanted to represent him as I
waited for my car to be brought around. This is likely where I went wrong the
first time. I told him that I no longer wished to be a part of his success. I
felt that we would not be able to work together productively.

I meant every word I said. However, it is not until now that
I can see the possible double meaning behind my words. I was never rude to
Micah and I remained as professional as possible in the face of his erratic
behavior. I should have told the little brat to grow the hell up and act like a
man before coming to me with his nonsense, but I didn’t. 

Shortly after Micah was drafted, he was arrested for possession
of cocaine and driving while intoxicated. He was suspended for the first six
games of the year, but that proved to be the beginning of his problems. He took
offense to being punished and refused to show up for mandatory workouts. Thus,
he never saw the field in his rookie year.

The team who drafted him eventually released him and he went
on a childish tirade all over social media, becoming a pariah in the league.
After the heat died down and he realized he could no longer act like a child in
the world of grown-ups, he showed up at my office.

His first visit came just after the Super Bowl this year and
he began requesting my services. He said he thought I could help him, since I
was the only agent to walk away from him over a year ago. I considered his
proposal and even talked it though with Jeremy. We ultimately decided it would
not be a good idea to take him on.

After a week, I politely turned Micah down. He continued to
plead with me. He told me I was his only shot at making it back. That is
probably because every other agent in the business blacklisted the kid. I will
say he seemed a bit more grounded and I did feel a bit bad for him. I guess
that is what happens when you realize that you are not the greatest gift the
game ever received, but instead lucky to be playing it at all.

Over the next few weeks, Micah hung around and continued to
beg me to take him on. I saw him at work and even on the beach a time or two. I
chalked it up to his desperation and never thought much about it until now. The
last time I remember seeing him was a day or two before I met Austin. However,
I don't remember seeing him in all the time Austin and I have known each other.
Of course this means nothing really; Micah could have just given up his cause
and gone home for all I know.

I run my hands through my hair, exasperated. I cannot
believe this is only occurring to me now. How could I have been so blind? Well,
I know how I was blinded. One word: Austin.

The door to the waiting room opens with its telltale squeak.
I practically jump out of my chair to meet the incoming person. When I notice
it is Bode returning for his shift at J’s side, my lack of enthusiasm must
show.

He cocks his head towards me with a smug smile and asks,
“What, no love for me today, Ry?”

I smile, still looking over at the door before leaning in
for a friendly hug.

“Sorry Bode. I’m waiting on Ruzek, and I thought you were
him.” I give him my best sad face and he squeezes me tight, indicating I am
forgiven.

“Now why would you be anxiously waiting on the detective
this late at night? What is going on, Ry? Bring me up to speed.”

His quick words and quizzical tone indicate that he knows
something is up. He knows me too well. I should be thankful J was exhausted or
he would have noticed as well.

We take a seat in the far corner of the room so no
interested ears can eavesdrop on our conversation. I explain the talk Austin
and J had, then the talk J and I had, before telling him about my epiphany. He
watches me with curiosity and surprise stretches across his features as I
finish telling him my suspicions.

Bode studies me for a moment with his lips in a tight line.
His reaction is making nervous. I have always been able to count on the truth
from Bode.

“OK, so I am glad you decided to go to Ruzek before doing
anything else. Do you really think Micah Jones could be behind this?”

 I nod.

Bode pulls me into a hug and whispers, “I hope you are
right. I would love to put all this to rest. Have you told J or Austin about
it?”

 I pull back and look him directly in his dreamy blue eyes.
“No, and you won’t either. I want to work through this with Ruzek first. I
think it is safer for them in the dark.”

He nods in agreement and we continue to wait as my phone
buzzes.

Unknown: I told u
nobody touches u but me. Get away from him now or he is next and this time, I
won’t fail