Page 32 of Cursed Fox

"Oh thank God. Tell Lex, the next time he whisks you away because you're in danger, at least make sure you have your phone."

I rolled my eyes at how dramatic my son was acting. "I'll be sure to let him know."

"Do that or let me talk to him. I'll set him straight."

There was no way I was putting Lex on the phone with my son right now. It was too early in our relationship for that. "Or I could tell you why I'm calling."

Jimmy sighed. "I have a feeling I'm not going to like this."

Not in the least. But instead of saying that, I injected happiness into my voice. "I want you to ask the Pioneers to make a statement about your injury. I know Fred has been holding them off, but I think it's time."

My son didn't say anything for a while. Long enough that I had to check the phone to make sure the call wasn't disconnected.

"So let me get this straight. You want the team to announce that I'm coming back after my injury so that whoever is threatening me can try tokill you?" Jimmy enunciated the last few words.

Well, when he put it like that.

"I don't plan on letting anyone kill me."

"No one ever plans on it, Mom."

Oh the dramatics of the men in my life. "I promise to be safe, but I should warn you … I got my own letter in the mail."

"What?!"

My son shouted that single word so loudly, I had to pull the phone away from my ear. I considered yelling at him for that, but I understood his concern, so I let it slide.

Just this one time.

"What did it say, Mom?"

There was no way I was telling him that. "Nothing important."

"Are you kidding me right now? You forced me to show you the last letter I got and now you want to be secretive about this one. Tell me what it said."

"I'm your mother. That's different."

"Seriously? You're going to play that card."

I would absolutely play whatever card I needed to if it meant protecting my son from knowing what was said about him. Only once in my life had I ever heard anyone say anything similar.

Then it hit me. Suddenly, everything fell into place. I couldn't believe I didn't see it before this. "Jimmy, I have to go." I hung up on him and turned to Wes and Lex.

"It's Thomas."

"Who?" Lex said at the same time Wes growled, "Your ex-husband, Thomas?"

"Yes, my ex-husband. He's the one who's been sending the letters to Jimmy. I need to see the others to be sure, but if they’re anything like the last two, it all makes sense."

"What makes sense?" Maverick joined in on the conversation. "Why would your ex-husband be sending your son threats about quitting the NFL and harming you if he doesn't."

"Because Thomas never wanted kids. He hated Jimmy and Jessie. Would constantly remind me that they never should've been born. But it was what he said to me before he left that makes me think it's him."

"What did he say?" I could practically see the anger pouring off Lex in waves.

"That if he could, he would leave us with nothing. Because he never wanted any of us to succeed."

CHAPTER NINETEEN

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