Page 43 of Red Zone

Goddamn, I loved them—they were my family. The three of us had already been through more than most would in a lifetime, and it’d bonded us. I was just so grateful for Ares and Kylian.

It was just past nine at night, but I couldn’t wait any longer, now that I’d decided. I grabbed my phone from where I’d tossed it on the coffee table next to the game controllers and thumbed off a message asking if we could talk. A few minutes later, Skye texted that she was at my sister’s and I could meet her there.

I didn’t take long to get to Fiona’s and let myself into her townhome. Dad was passed out in the recliner. Good. With my emotions all over the place, things would not go well if I had to deal with him.

I locked onto Skye as she sat across from Fio, hands wrapped around a coffee mug. I caught a little of their conversation before my impatience got the best of me, and I interrupted them. “Hey, sis. I need to talk to Skye for a minute.”

“Ah, no.” Fiona leveled me with her older sister’s death stare. “Skye popped over to share info I need for the case. We’ll be done in five.” She waved me away. “Go. There’s leftover lasagna in the fridge.”

I hesitated, but my stomach won out. I loved Fio’s lasagna. I forced myself to go into the kitchen and reheat food without stomping or slamming things—no need to wake Dad and have him be a part of, well, anything. When the microwave dinged, I took out the plate, leaned a hip against the counter, and dug in while eavesdropping on their discussion.

Professor White’s name was mentioned, and my interest piqued.They had a lead on Jackson’s death?Skye told Fio about his schedule, demeanor, and what she knew he was working on. They were wrapping up when I rinsed my plate and put it in the dishwasher. I wanted to ignore what I’d heard, but I couldn’t. Besides, Skye wasn’t getting out of talking to me.

“Why are you looking into the science department?” Broader questions rather than specific names could help me get an answer from Fio.

With a snap, Fiona shut her laptop and swiveled toward me from her spot at the table. “Just fleshing out the case. Jackson’s blood work showed traces of something that didn’t likely have anything to do with his heart condition.”

“Unless he didn’t know anything was wrong with his heart. Or did Coach say it was documented in the athletic portal?”

“It wasn’t.” Fio frowned. “It’s possible he didn’t want to share a condition that could limit his field time. Anyway”—shoving her chair back, she stood—“thanks for your help, Skye. If I need anything else, I’ll be in touch.”

Yeah, not so fast.I caught Skye’s arm as she rounded the table to leave. “We need to talk first. I’m using your room, Fio.” I didn’t allow my sister to reply before dragging Skye through the family room and down the hallway to Fio’s bedroom. With a firm click, I shut the door after we were inside.

I ignored the lavender bedspread haphazardly pulled up in Fio’s attempt at making her bed or the pile of romance books on the nightstand that looked like they were about to topple over. It was so at odds with her hard-ass demeanor, but this was her inner sanctuary.

Back to the door, I crossed my arms over my chest, willing my voice to remain calm while Skye stared at me with wide, wary eyes.

“We can make it work.” There, I got it out and didn’t sound like I was about to tear her a new one.

“We can make what work?” Skye mimicked me by crossing her arms. “I’ve been doing fine with my aunt and uncle’s help. Lily loves having them in her life. She has a stable and secure home. I don’t want to rock the boat with you complicating things.” She flung her hands out. “Then, when you get into the NFL, what then? You leave and never look back? I won’t put my daughter through that kind of abandonment.”

“Ourdaughter. And that’s your MO, not mine.”

She clamped her lips tight, her eyes briefly closing before she seemed to lose most of the fight. Her shoulders dropped about an inch before she nodded. “Yeah, okay. You’re right. I didn’t handle things well back then. You don’t understand, Liam,” she said, her voice breaking. “I’ve spent every day of the last two years wondering if I made the wrong decision. But I was alone,scared, and had to think about Lily first. I can’t risk turning her world upside down now, not when she’s happy and safe. Can you honestly say you would have welcomed the news that you were about to be a father when you only wanted to focus on your path to the NFL?”

“Yes!” I shouted then took a few seconds, willing my temper to calm the fuck down. “I would never have abandoned either of you had I known. I gave you a stupid fucking answer because I’d had a shitty meeting with my coach about being distracted and messing up, and I panicked. And look at what that cost me.”

Skye shoved her hands through her long brown hair, pulling it away from her face. “We were both young, and I was so scared. I—I should have told you. I’m sorry.” She whirled around and paced the small length of the room to the window and back to where I stood by the door.

“I want to spend time with Lily and get to know my daughter better.”

“Of course. But—” She worried her full bottom lip with her teeth before releasing it. “I don’t think we should tell her you’re her dad yet. You need to get through the season and the combine. If my uncle?—”

“I don’t care about your uncle finding out.”

Skye’s humorless laugh filled the space between us. “You should. He’s going to lose his mind when he finds out one of his star football players knocked me up and didn’t stand by me.”

“You didn’t give me that choice. And I know my sister would want to be involved in Lily’s life too.” Fiona always had my back, even when Dad didn’t. She would want to know Lily to make up for all the things Dad screwed up for us growing up.But would Skye let her in?

“And your dad?” Skye’s brows rose. “I didn’t meet him, but I saw him passed out on the chair when I came in.”

“My dad is better left out of the picture.”

Skye studied me a little too closely before nodding.

My blood pressure eased when I realized she let it go. “I want to tell Lily I’m her dad.”

“Yes.” She nodded slowly, drawing out the word. “But not yet. We’ll spend time together with Lily, but I’m going to stay firm on not telling her until after the combine or when you know for sure you’re getting picked up by a team.”

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