I went out to the club Royal with Sofia after practice, even though my muscles were aching and begging me to stay in bed and rest. I got a ride in Sofia's car service so it was obvious who was pulling up when we arrived.

I was starting to question her motives for always trying to get our picture taken everywhere we went and remembered that she'd recently had a very high profile breakup with a certain singer that the public just couldn't get enough of, but ironically enough the guy looked like a young kid with forgettable features and a voice that was a few octaves too high. If he didn't have hit songs that reeled in the young girls like free designer clothing or makeup, then the appeal definitely would've been gone.

Sofia didn't mention his name the entire time we were together so I just let it roll off, but I was starting to realize that as the paparazzi kept asking questions about this other guy that maybe she was using me as her rebound.

That didn't really bother me as much as it should have, though, because in a way I was using her too.

I didn't really feel anything emotionally towards her, I was just passing the time until the ache in my chest put there by Lydia finally went away...if it ever did, that is.

I checked my surroundings and saw that we were close to my favorite breakfast joint, Daisy's Donuts, and a small Irish pub on the corner. I noticed a couple ducking into the bar just as the screaming reached a fever pitch from the photographers and people in line trying to get their fifteen minutes of fame by jumping in a picture with the two of us.

Before Sofia, I wasn't a household name. The only people who followed me and hounded me were from the ESPN network or NFL reporters who wanted an exclusive with the rookie on his way to his first Super Bowl win in his very first year.

But after being caught out with the Sofia Renault on the cover of almost every magazine in the world and the main topic of conversation on every gossip site on the internet, my name started becoming widely circulated.

I'd only had a few hundred thousand followers on Instagram after being drafted to the Patriots, but in the past forty eight hours, my following had increased by four million people. It was nothing compared to Sofia's one hundred ninety million followers, but still. It was getting ridiculous.

The bouncer didn't hesitate upon letting us inside and we went straight to the table waiting for us, some of the players already in attendance and I relaxed as the music washed over me. There were a few other people at the table that I hadn't met and I noticed one of my players pouring vodka down a few girl's throats and I winced at that image.

It wasn't long before everyone was partying harder than I'd ever seen, including Sofia, and I held myself back. I knew my family tradition with addiction so I just sipped on a small glass of whiskey and coke and declined any of the party drugs being handed to me and Sofia.

I was starting to get worried about the party girl, but I shook my head when I noticed her flash me a megawatt smile, her pupils far too dilated to be normal. I knew she'd done a few lines and threw back a couple shots already but it seemed like this was something that she did every weekend, so who was I to judge.

Your father beat you and your mom because of the very same drugs and alcohol these people around you are consuming, a dead voice reminded me inside my head. Your own mother abandoned you for the same high these people are chasing. How does that make them any better?

I growled at the disembodied voice in my head, realizing that it wasn't just some detached voice but the conscience that I so desperately tried to push away.

It was the same voice that told me to blame Lydia for walking away, even though I knew she needed to do what she was doing, both for her mental and physical health. If she didn't get it out of her system, it would eat her up inside and she'd wither away, it was the same thing I felt towards football. It was my calling, and I couldn't give it up for anything or anyone.

She could've fought for justice through her job, becoming a lawyer, but that would take far longer than the instant gratification that vengeance could give her, though I had no idea how she was going to get it.

Sofia put her nose down to the table discreetly once more and that was when I finally lost it.

"I need some air," I said to no one in particular but before I could leave she grabbed me by my shirt collar and kissed me hard before letting me go, and the fact that the photographers had just reached our table wasn't lost on me.

How they'd crept in past security was beyond me but I pushed my way past them angrily, desperate for something, or someone, to hit. I couldn't wait until our game the next day.

I craved that thrilling adrenaline rush of the crowd screaming for the team, the energy zipping through my veins reminding me that I was still human. It had been so long since I'd felt that...about eight months to be exact.

I finally made my way out of the side door of the club, ignoring the sign that told me it wasn't a proper exit, but I stopped dead in my tracks as I came upon my next sight.

"What the fuck do you think you're doing?"

The man turned when he heard the voice calling him out and I wanted to praise everything that was holy that she was there, I'd finally found her, but she hadn't noticed me yet. There was another guy at her side, and while I instantly wanted to tear him from her side and join her, I kept quiet and watched the scene unfolding before me with keen interest. No one had seen me and I intended to keep it that way.

"You again? You should know when to leave well enough alone, little girl. Now is one of those times."

He had a girl strapped to his side who seemed like she wasn't even conscious. I was so close to him I could hear the man's rapid, wheezing breath. Lydia spoke up again, and the guy at her side was growing increasingly confused and uncomfortable.

"I don't think so. Let the girl go, the cops are already on their way."

"Oh yeah, just like the last time? Can you save this one like you tried with my other girls?"

Lydia's hands curled into fists at her side and I could see the fire within her eyes, matching the red dress that clung to her figure, though it wasn't a party dress, more professional in nature. The guy beside her looked like he was heading into the office, too. So, maybe not a boyfriend, then. Please god, don't let it be a boyfriend.

"Lydia, what is this creep talking about? What last time?"

"Oh she didn't tell you? That's cute. She's been staking out my bar for months trying to catch me again, and the one time I think she's not coming in and I make my move and there she is again. Don't you have better things to do, like that guy beside you? I bet you two have lots of fun together."

"Shut the fuck up. You're going to jail, and you're going to let that girl go, right now."

"Or what? You'll beat me with that stick you bring with you? Or is it time for the gun this time? I see it strapped to your thigh some nights, it's really fucking sexy, or it would be if you weren't planning on pointing it at me."

The guy beside Lydia grew still and his eyes grew three sizes in his head. I could have jumped out and stopped whatever was going on but I was glued to the spot. I had to see how desperate Lydia was, to see if she really would try to hurt herself to save the girl in danger.

My heart thumped hard, desperate to beat out of my chest at the news that Lydia was actively working out in the streets like some vigilante, putting herself in danger wherever she went.

Sirens pierced the chronic silence that had permeated the air and the man's breathing grew quicker, raspier.

"Two choices. Run and get caught, or stay here and get caught. Your choice."

The man looked around frantically and made his choice. He threw the woman's body against the brick wall just as Lydia ran forward, "NO!"

The man at her side held her at his side and she shoved him off easier than I dodged defensive linebackers, her strength almost pushing him off of his feet to the ground.

Lydia wasn't able to catch the girl but thankfully her head hadn't hit the ground or the wall.

"Oh thank god, she's gonna be okay. We just have to wait for the ambulance."

The cop car whizzed past the alley and caught sight of the man fleeing on foot and pursued him immediately, the ambulance not far behind.

I stayed hidden while everything unfolded. First they spoke to paramedics then when a beat cop came to take their statements the story finally became clear.

"We were working the case for the assault that took place here three months ago. We got video footage from the actual perp to exonerate the current suspect, and then we saw him take this girl out and she was clearly not sober enough to give consent."

So she was actively working a case. That was promising, especially since she was with another person. She wasn't putting herself in danger...but then the man's words echoed in my ears. He spoke of her ruining his plans to assault someone once before, and she'd been successful in driving him away. This wasn't her first encounter with this scumbag.

God what I would have done to reach out and touch her, pull her to my chest and let her know that everything was going to be okay again...but she didn't need that, not from me. I wanted to be the one she turned to for comfort, the one she ran to when she needed help, but she pushed me away. She made her decision.

The police had left after a few minutes and at some point I had slid down the wall and waited to see what Lydia and this other guy, whose name I found out was Malcolm, were going to do next.

"Well, do you think Professor Walsh is going to give us extra credit for not only exonerating her client but also catching the real suspect?"

Lydia let out a breathless laugh and walked out of eyesight, but Malcolm was close enough that I could still study his facial expression. This felt invasive, but it wasn't like I could move until they left otherwise they'd have known that I was spying the entire time.

"Here's hoping. I'm just glad he didn't give this one brain damage like he did to the other girl."

"Speaking of...he said he knew you. What was all that about?"

I knew she tensed up even though I couldn't physically see her. She was a private person, and it didn't seem like these two had a close relationship.

"Nothing, I've just seen him around, and I could tell his type. He was preying on women, so I might've followed him out a few times when he left with some women who clearly weren't able to consent to him. Each time I called the cops on him and he ran, tonight was no different, but he kept coming back."

"That's kind of dangerous, don't you think?"

He shrunk back from her slightly and I could tell she'd just given him one of her legendary glares.

"None of these guys in the bars are going to stand up for them. Someone has to."

"We're going to school to put these guys away...or defend them. Even if you don't want to be private counsel, chances are that you're going to have to protect some very bad people."

"I am aware of that Malcolm. Is it such a bad thing to try and stop them before it happens?"

"It is if you get yourself killed, or thrown in jail yourself for assault."

She was quiet for a second and I silently thanked this Malcolm for saying what I didn't have the guts to say to her face.

He took a step forward, and I recognized the look in his eyes. He wanted her, that was obvious, and it made me furious.

"Look, I won't tell anyone about how you spend your weekends...but I don't know if I can let you go out and do it all on your own. Someone needs to be there to protect you."

She snorted in bitter laughter. "Oh yeah, like who?"

"Me. I can help, I'm trained in fighting, I go to the fight club every Tuesday night."

"That's a kind offer, Malcolm, but we hardly know each other. Why would you even want to do that? Like you said yourself, it's a recipe for disaster."

"Maybe disasters are exciting...and attractive."

She sensed where his thoughts were going before he could say anything else.

"Listen, if you're just doing this because you want to get close to me, I have to warn you about something. I'm fucked up. Like, monumentally so. I pushed away someone that I could finally see being...that doesn't matter. Look what I'm trying to say is I could only ever be your friend, nothing more."

I didn't miss the light twitch on his lip that showed his disapproval.

She pushed away something that she could finally see being...what? I was dying to know the words that were going to escape her lips next, but she'd already moved on from what she'd said.

He raised his eyebrow and adopted a joking manner.

"Who said I was into you like that? Maybe I just have a hard on for danger, just like you. I'm good with friends, and competition for the top slot in class."

She was about to reply when her phone rang.

"Sorry, it's my roommate. Come on, we can Uber back to campus."

"So, what'll it be? Can I join your one-woman justice crusade?"

"Don't get in my way."

And then they disappeared around the block and the air whooshed out of my lungs because I knew I'd been holding my breath.

I didn't know what to make of the revelation I'd just had, so I disappeared back into the club and joined the throng of partiers and downed a shot before finding Sofia to take her home.

I had demons to chase away, and I was planning on fucking them out of my head with Sofia's help. It was the least she could do, we were both using each other. I didn't miss the questions lobbied at us about her ex, and something came over me when I spoke to them, something I never did.

"He's out of the picture, clearly." I smirked. "She's with me, now."

My throat burned the entire time I spoke the words, the lies coating my mind as I drowned myself in intoxicating and mind numbing denial.