Page 88 of Cocky Player

Practice was over, our last practice before the first pre-season game tomorrow night.I would only play a handful of snaps if even that.Physically I was ready.Mentally, I hoped I was benched.It was the first game in my career since my grandfather slipped pads over my shoulder at the age of eight, my first Pop Warner football jamboree that I had ever thought ofnotwanting to play football.But Brenna consumed every waking moment.

How could I have changed that night?Why didn’t she tell me how bad things could get?When did shit go so sideways?

I was lost in all of it, still beating myself up when I stepped out of the locker room and David Kemper was resting against the hall on the other side.

His expression was unreadable.A dangerous sign for me.

He pushed off the wall and gestured with his head.“Come have lunch with me.”

He started walking and I had no choice to follow.It wasn’t a suggestion but a command and he was still my boss.

“Yes, Sir.”

“David, Connor.You haven’t called me sir in five years and you don’t need to start now.”

I wasn’t sure whether to take that as a good sign or not, so I followed, my workout bag flung over my shoulder.He kept walking to the parking garage, beeped the locks on his silver Range Rover and popped the trunk.“Throw your stuff in the back.I’m starving.”

“Okay.”Was it wrong I had a flash of him throwing me in the back as well?Perhaps taking me somewhere to bury me?“How’s Brenna?”

“Lunch first, son.Get in.”

He clicked the button to close the back hatch and I climbed into the passenger seat.His mood was ominous and strained.David wasn’t a man prone to shouting or anger.He encouraged his team like the ultimate cheerleader and he was as invested as any pro owner I knew.The manlovedhis sports and his players and his family and most definitely not in that order.

Scrubbing my hands down my athletic pants, I forced myself to relax.Going to lunch with David meant any number of things and we didn’t speak while he whipped out of the garage, drove through downtown streets and pulled up in front of a brewery.

“Beer?”I asked.

“Been a stressful week.Have what you need, I won’t tell Coach.This isn’t a work-related meal.”

I never knew the man could be so cryptic but at least that meant he wasn’t kicking me off the team before the season started.A small burst of hope ignited in me as I replayed his words.This was about Brenna, and at least someone came to me about it.

“Right,” I muttered and climbed out of the SUV.

We found a table inside, the restaurant surprisingly slow for it being summer and a Friday.Two tables were filled on the outdoor patio where the customers also brought their dogs.The animals were lying at the owner’s feet, tongues lolling out of their mouths.

David ordered a flight of their summer selections while I stuck to a lager.Normally I didn’t drink before games but all things considered, I’d had more than my share this week.

Our beers came and we ordered our food.The whole time, pins and needles pricked at my nerves.David needed to start sharing or I was going to assume the worst.Did she leave again?Go somewhere to hide?

It was quite possibly the worst-case scenario, but I’d find her.I had millions in a bank account accumulating interest and I’d use it all if I had to.

He took a sip of beer, gaze on the row of screens above the bar to our side.“You don’t know what it does to a man to not have any idea where his baby girl is, Connor.”

Shit.We were starting there.“You’re right.I don’t.”

“A full week.We had no clue.Was she alive?Getting raped?I gotta tell ya, the thoughts that ran through my mind while she was taken and even after she returned before she started talking.Worst few months of my life and the evil thoughts I had were something I couldn’t imagine ever thinking.Things I wanted to do to the men who took her, the ones who were going to buy her.All of them deserved a death worse than they got.I would have tortured them if I were able to get my hands on them.My pure anger alone would have let me rip limbs from their bodies.”

He took a drink.I stayed silent.Even now his voice was the same kind tone he always had but edged with a darkness I’d only felt when Brenna told me what happened.

“How is she?”I asked.I’d take his memories and his fears and his anger, but Brenna was all I cared about.

“Sad,” he said and finally turned to me.“And I think I’m once again helpless.Seems to me, there’s nothing I can do to get rid of that for her, only one person can.”He arched a brow and tried a different beer even though he’d only had a few sips of the first.

“Can’t help her if she won’t see me, David.I’ve tried.She ignores every call and text.Kassy won’t let me inside.I’m giving her the space she asked for but I don’t like it.”

He leaned back in his booth and spun the small glass in his hands in a circle on the table.“I’ll be honest with you.I think you’re either brave or stupid for getting involved with my daughter.It’s risky for you.”

I could have apologized for all of it.I wouldn’t.I loved her too much and it was that moment when I thoughtfuck it.If loving Brenna cost me my job with the Rough Riders, I’d risk it.

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