Page 25 of Hot Receiver

Dizziness assaults me.

Fuck. Am I seriously having a panic attack right now?

I take a deep breath and stagger to my feet. My head feels like it’s being pounded on like a gong. A little more oxygen and I should be okay to get the hell out of here so I can let the façade fall away in the privacy of my truck. I take a few steps, clutching my stomach. It growls like a predator because I haven’t eaten since the event last night.

I walk toward a stairway that leads to the lower level of the stadium, instead. I figured most of the press would park in the main area and as a player, I have parking privileges that allow me a more secure and protected spot.

My phone buzzes in my hand. I glance at the screen to see Summer’s name flash across it.

I stab the Accept button. “Hey, is everything okay, sweetie?”

Her teary voice makes my throat tighten. I wrap the fingers of my free hand into a tight fist, and fuck, I wanna launch it at my father’s face so damn hard that’s it’d shatter his jaw on impact.

“I had a nightmare. I’m so scared those men will take us again. And what happens if you don’t get here in enough time? What if they get me, Missy, and Mom? If they…” A sob explodes from her throat. “Do stuff to us? Or kill us?”

Rage courses through me, ready to spew like molten lava.

“I’m not gonna let that happen. I promise. I’m gonna take care of you. You just keep an eye out and report back to me ifanything looks weird or unsafe.” I scrub my hand down the front of my face. “I’m gonna get you out of there. I won’t leave you ever. You’re my girl, and I love you. Okay?”

Summer sniffles. “Okay. I trust you. And I love you, too.”

“I’ll call you later, okay, babe?” I need to get the fuck out of here and figure this shit out before my father gets into any more trouble.

“Yes. I love you so much, Matt.”

“Love you, babe.” Just as I click to end the call, footsteps behind me make my teeth grit.

Son of a bitch. Somebody found me.

I pick up the pace and head for the exit door. I can almost grab the brass handle when a strong hand clasps my shoulder and pulls me backward.

Dread washes over me. I can’t turn around. I’m a fucking mess, and anyone who looks will see everything I shoved behind that bullshit façade in the conference room.

“What the fuck was that all about? All that bullshit coming out of your mouth? Since when do you give a damn about me?”

My spine stiffens at the anger dripping from Zak’s words. “Leave me alone.”

“No, you don’t get to shut down like that. Not after what you did. Turn the fuck around.”

I slowly twist in his direction. Despite the hellfire raining down on my life, I can’t help being pulled into those dark, chocolatey pools again. They’re so turbulent, like a storm is brewing in the depths. I should pull my gaze away before I get sucked in any further than I already am.

Because that storm has the power to destroy me.

“You think that just because you said all that, it’s going to ease your guilty conscience? That it can redeem you for what you did?”

My fingers twitch. I want to claw at his thick, dark hair, to tug it as his beard scrapes against my face.

“Because it can’t,” he seethes. “Nothing you do will erase what happened. I trusted you, and you used it against me to save your own ass. You ruined me and ran the other way like you never even knew me.” He bares his teeth, closing the space between us. “Like I meant fucking nothing to you. And you think you can ride in on your goddamn white horse to save me from the rest of the world when you didn’t give a flying fuck to stand up to your own teammates. You’re pathetic.”

Pathetic. Backstabber. Liar. Cheater.

There’s no shortage of things to tack onto that list.

“I said that stuff because it was true. Not to ease my conscience. That wasn’t some PR stunt.”

“You’re eight years too late. I don’t need your help.” He backs away, his nostrils flaring. “This was a mistake. I can fix this team and my reputation without you.”

“You need to take your head out of your ass and see what’s right in front of you. One wrong move and you’ll lose the fans. If that happens, you’re fucked. We all are. So, you’re gonna suck it the fuck up and let me do what Marc wants. Otherwise, you can kiss your team goodbye.”

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