Page 28 of Leave It On The Field (Grand Slam 3)
ChapterNine
SOPHIE
October 29, 2022
Even though Butch identified himself when he knocked, Raine still looks through the peephole of our hotel room door. Her extra caution is starting to freak me out a little bit. When she opens the door, Mason and Butch are standing outside.
Mason pushes past Raine. He looks mad. “Sophie, I would like to ask you again not to go to this party. Your arrival at the hotel this afternoon was a disaster. We underestimated the number of people that want to be near you.”
“What? It was fine—”
“It wasn’t fine,” he says, hulking above me. “And this kind of party setting tonight is extremely dangerous—too many people in close quarters.”
“I’m going to the party.” I try to hold his stare, but quickly look down as his face somehow gets scarier. “I’m going. I want to see Seb. And anyway, I know most of these people. I’m around them all the time.”
“It doesn’t matter if you know them. That latest tweet was too personal. Not many people know you moved to the hotel.” Mason walks over to the balcony, pushes the French doors closed, and locks them. “Raine, are you any closer to figuring out who owns that account?”
“No, the user’s more sophisticated than I thought. I’m working on it. I’ll figure it out.”
Mason nods. “Until then, everyone’s a suspect.”
“Why is he so mad?” I whisper to Raine. “Did I do something wrong this afternoon?”
“You didn’t do anything wrong. This afternoon was just surprising. Everyone wanted to be close to you. We don’t like surprises.”
“No more surprises,” Mason snarls. “We’re instigating a new system.”
“A system? Do we really need that? I guarantee miamibballbabe won’t be at the party tonight. She’s not an insider. Did you see how many fans were outside the hotel when we arrived? They all saw me walk in. Any of them could have posted that tweet. It’s not a big deal.”
“It is a big deal,” Butch says. “If we’re protecting you, we need to be sure everyone approaching you is safe. Anyone could have a weapon. I mean, I just checked the venue. There are knives on the buffet table for fuck’s sake.”
“What? No one’s going to stab me—”
“Sophie.” Raine grabs me and pushes me into a chair. She gets down in my face. “Focus. This is an easy system that won’t interrupt your fun but will keep you safe. I know you think this is all too much, but it’s happening. Quit protesting.”
She releases me after I nod. Mason stands over me.
“One, three, five,” he says, showing me the numbers on his hand. His face looks a little more relaxed. “That’s all you need to remember. When a person’s approaching you, declare a number to us. One means: I know this person and he or she is of no threat to me. Three is: I don’t know this person so I have no idea what his or her threat level is to me. Five is: I know this person and he or she is seconds away from attacking me. Are we clear?”
“Uh,” I say, looking up at his unblinking eyes, “I guess.”
Mason’s face is back to terrifying. “No guessing. Do you need me to review the numbers with you again?”
“Kind of, but I’m really scared to say yes.”
“Soph.” Raine pushes Mason away from me and sits on the edge of my chair. “This is threat level only. One is no threat. Three is you don’t know. Five is an immediate threat. You’ll get the hang of it. It’s just important to declare a number immediately when you’re approached.”
“What happens if I don’t declare a number?” I look back at Mason.
“Then we,” he says, pointing between himself and Butch, “make the call. You don’t want us to make the call. Learn your numbers and react quickly. Are you clear?”
I nod. “I’m clear, but I want to go on the record again that I think you and Seb are elevating this way beyond where it needs to be.”
“Soph, that doesn’t matter. This is where we are now,” Raine says. “Who’s got first shift? We should probably let Sophie get to the party if she’s going.”
Butch,” Mason says, growling.
“On it,” Butch says. “Just do your thing, Sophie. I’m on your back. You won’t even notice me unless you need me.”
