Page 4 of Hot Receiver

He leans closer. “By the way, have you seen the new owner? He’s been quietly making the rounds tonight. I think he came as a favor to Vince Castro. They run in the samefinance circles, from what I hear. And not only the finance ones.”

A chill races through me and my head jerks up just in time to meet Zak’s death glare from across the bar.

Shit, how’d he end up all the way over here?

Sweat prickles over my skin. His stare latches onto mine, and it’s pretty obvious he wants to kill me with his mind. But more disturbing is my cock’s reaction. Not even a naked Anna can get him going that quickly.

“He’s a real asshole, though,” Sean continues. “The only guys he’s even acknowledged are the gay ones. It’s like he doesn’t give a damn about his own players, other than Lucas and Gabe.”

I take a long gulp of the amber-colored liquid. “Maybe he’s just not a people-person.”

“Or a football fan.” Sean rolls his eyes. “I just don’t get why he didn’t sell the team to the next biggest shareholder after his dad died months ago. Zak is a business guy and obviously doesn’t give a damn about the game. Maybe he’s in negotiations to sell and is waiting to announce it when the season starts.”

Zak cared more about the game than anyone until the players turned their backs on him.

A pang assaults my chest.

He could have made it, could have been the superstar he dreamed of being.

Instead, I stole the dream right out from under him.

My phone vibrates against my leg, and I grab it from my pocket. Peering at the screen, my chest tightens.

Dad.

Since he only calls for one reason, I grit my teeth and stuff it back into my pocket.

I down the rest of the bourbon and put the glass on the bar. “I think I see Manning trying to cop a feel. Imma go set him straight.”

“Good luck. Manning is a linebacker. He’ll pummel your little kicker ass.”

I half-hear him. My phone buzzes again. Anger rises in my chest. I take a quick right away from the crowd gathered around Anna and duck down a somewhat quiet hallway.

Another fucking job lost?

Another fucking bill unpaid?

Another fucking car repossessed?

What the hell is it this time?

I swallow past the knot of expletives lodged in the back of my throat. Five seasons means my contract is up for renewal…or not. I learned a long time ago that nothing in life is guaranteed. So, I keep my personal business buried down deep, like Earth’s core deep.

For my whole life, I had to make sure that I could take care of myself because nobody was gonna do it for me.

And every phone call drags me back to the days where my family didn’t have two nickels to rub together.

I depend on me.

But so does the rest of my family.

I pull out the phone, my hand shaking slightly.

Things worked out for Jase, Lucas, and Gabe, but I have too much riding on this gig, all because my father turned out to be the biggest fucking deadbeat on the planet with no regard for his family, only his bookie.

As it is, the new owner hates my guts.

Zak Kacey has the power to release me.

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