Page 14 of Renegade Ruin

I consider his words. It would be easy to say I’m motivated by our past—and there is a part of me that absolutely is—but it’s more than that. Working with the kids at Renegade Hearts has taught me that sometimes all a person needs is to believe there is someone in their corner. And what are adults if not grownchildren? Somewhere along the line we just forget how to believe in each other. I believe in this team, and that includes Bishop.

Now I just need to convince Graham that’s all it is.

“It’s what my father would do. He always said the team comes first, the money comes second.”

My uncle cracks a smile. “Ah, it makes sense then.”

“What’s that?”

Graham chuckles. “Why he left you the team and not Vaughn.”

“You knew.”

His lips pull together in a grim line as he nods, and I know he’s remembering his best friend. It’s the same expression I wear when I’m alone most days.

“Wills, he was so damn proud of you.”

My eyes fall to the desk as I choke past the knot in my throat, once again fighting against the tears and heartache that so often threaten to overtake me. If there’s anyone I should be able to fall apart with, it’s Graham, but I just can’t bring myself to do it. Some have called me callous or coldhearted, but if I let myself come undone, I’m not sure I’ll be able to put myself back together.

My fingers fist the pen in my hand, desperate to hold on to his sentiment.“I don’t want to fail him.”

“You couldn’t if you tried.”

I wonder if he’d feel the same if he knew about my feelings for Bishop. Would he still believe in me?

“Thank you,” I mutter, hoping he doesn’t register the guilt dripping from my voice.

“Always, munchkin.”

I roll my eyes. “Now none of that. I’m still your boss.”

“And I’ll follow where you lead.” Graham gets up, rounds the desk, and presses a kiss to my forehead. “But you’ve got to get Bishop’s head out of his ass.”

“I’m working on it.”

“Good. I’ll see you down at training then?”

“Yup.”

Graham heads for the door, and I shuffle the papers on my desk, trying to make myself look busy. Like I’m not going to sink into my chair the minute he leaves and contemplate every decision I’ve made over the last twenty-four hours.

“And, Wills?”

I look up to see Graham leaning against the doorjamb. “Yeah?”

“Don’t work so hard.”

“I’ll try,” I say, giving him a halfhearted smile.

Once he's gone, I slide back into the giant chair that made sense for my father but dwarfs my five-foot three frame, a mess of warring emotions.

It’s been a fucking day—one I would sooner forget—but on the bright side, I officially have my team. The men who are going to take the field in black and orange and play a game that brings so many people together.

It’s both exciting and terrifying, and I’m not sure if I want to spin in circles or throw up. Mostly I don’t know how I’m going to do this—preserve my father’s legacy, rebuild a team and babysit my ex situationship so he doesn’t throw away the career he loves.

No pressure.

CHAPTER FIVE

---