Encore (The Black Eagles Series Book 2) by Kat Green Page A

hand through his hair and sighed loudly. ‘Liss stayed true to you.’
                  ‘Yeah. I’m a lucky guy. But look what he did to her face. He might not have done the act in person but he was the master of the puppet. He nearly raped her when she refused him. Do you have any idea how that feels? Then to top it off he tried to kill her. He’s left his mark on her and I’m still fixing her ’
                  Zac turned to look at him fully for the first time. ‘Shit. I’m sorry. You’re right. You’ve been through a rough time. Listen, you don’t need this. I’ll go.’
                  Luke stopped him from leaving, making him sit down. ‘You’re welcome to stay as long as you like. We’re probably the best people to be around. I share your hatred of the man.’
                  Zac agreed to stay and the two guys talked through the options. Luke gave him some honest opinions on Lyla, mainly letting her explain in full. Zac needed to get the full facts and have all his questions answered, and make a decision from there. The couple had been together since they were thirteen. Lyla had been there through Zac losing his mother to cancer and his dad falling to pieces. She’d been his strength, his best friend. And he was struggling to let that go, but also forgiving her wasn’t an easy option. He was being ripped to shreds inside. Every time he thought of it from her side the image of her willingly taking her clothes off and having sex with another man and the reason for it overshadowed it and the fury came back. He couldn’t forgive her, he just couldn’t.
                  The conversation turned into a drinking session until Zac passed out.
    *****
    The phone had been ringing constantly for an hour and Toby finally gave in and answered it. Megan settled against his chest and switched on the TV. She knew it was Luke by the way Toby had answered the call.
                  ‘Alright, you little shit. What do you want? I‘ve a hot redhead in my bed. We’re busy.’ Megan heard what she thought was a roar of laughter from the other end of line. And she was sure Luke made some comment that sounded like ‘About fucking time.’ It wasn’t a secret about Megan’s virginity and her insecurities and Luke asked in code how it had been. Toby answered using football references to lose Megan completely on the actual conversation, although her attention had been taken by a documentary she’d just found about tigers.
                  ‘No. That player is no longer on the bench. Upfront and the goals are stacking up. Top class that one, mate.’
                  ‘Pleased for you, mate. Sorry to burst your bubble but I could do with your help with Zac. We need to keep his mind off it. Few beers tomorrow and some pep talks? Carry on the training. Call me later.’
                  Toby agreed. ‘As if we need this shit,’ he snapped but told Luke he’d be round to sort the kid out once he was available. Luke threw more jokes at his drummer before hanging up.
                  ‘What did he want?’ Megan asked.
                  ‘Zac needs babysitting or something. And football stuff,’ Toby half lied.
                  ‘Was I OK?’ Megan asked. It wasn’t really what she’d planned on asking but she just wanted to know if she had at least been OK.
                  ‘No. You were not OK,’ Toby replied.
                  Megan flinched. She had known it: she had been a disappointment. ‘Oh,’ was all she said. She felt sick and her stomach turned, and her heart skipped a beat. ‘I knew...’
                  She heard Toby laugh. Suddenly he flipped her over, looming above her, his grin a mile wide. ‘You were not OK. You were amazing. Silly girl.’ 
                  Then she took a swing at him. ‘That was cruel, you