Page 9 of Cursed Fox

"Maybe. But hell will freeze over before I let you throw away your dream like that. I know you better than that, which means something else is going on for you to even think something so stupid." I had to work hard to keep myself from shouting.

My blood was boiling, and if I thought for even a second that Jimmy felt that way because he truly didn't want to play anymore, I wouldn't fight so hard. But I knew him, and all he’d talked about during college was getting into the NFL. It wasn't just a dream to him, it was something he’d worked his ass off for. There was no way he would just give that up.

"There's nothing else going on."

I really looked at my son, but despite how hard he was trying, he couldn't look me in the eye.

"Bullshit. You've always been a terrible liar. Since you were a boy, if you couldn't look me in the eye, I knew you were lying. So stop with the nonsense and tell me the truth."

Lex shifted from where he stood on the other side of the room, and I had almost forgotten he was there. For a moment, I felt embarrassed that he was witnessing my family drama. Then I remembered why he was there to begin with.

The threats. They had to be the reason Jimmy wanted to quit. I just needed to get him to admit it so we could help him.

"Have you received another threat recently?" I pushed.

My son shifted his eyes away from me.

Bingo.

"Show me," I demanded, but Jimmy shook his head. "Why not? You've read me every one before this. What makes this one so different?"

Then a light bulb went off in my head and it hit me. There was only one thing more important to my son than football.

His family.

"Did they threaten me or your sister?" I didn't have to see Jimmy's face to know I was getting closer. I could tell by the way his body stiffened. "Show me, please." I used my take-no-shit voice with him.

Finally, Jimmy sighed as he walked over to the kitchen and pulled a piece of paper from one of the drawers. He walked back over to me and practically slapped the paper into my hands.

I unfolded the letter and began to read.

You pathetic overpaid bastard. You should never have been born, let alone drafted to the NFL. You're worthless and can't play football for shit. This is your last warning. Leave the Pioneers or your mother dies.

By the end of the note, I was ready to murder whomever wrote those nasty, vile things to my little boy. I didn't care how old he got or how much taller than me he was, I still saw the little boy he was when he first put on a football helmet.

"You're not quitting." My voice vibrated with the anger I felt rushing through my body.

"You read the letter," Jimmy argued. "If I don't, he's going to kill you."

"Let me read that." Lex was across the room and snatching the piece of paper out of my hand before he finished the statement. I didn't bother to comment on his rude behavior. I had a more important argument to have with my son.

"No one is going to kill me. I work in the most secure building with a bunch of guys who would gladly kill someone to protect me."

"You live alone, Mom."

Like I needed the reminder that I was an empty nester. People weren't kidding when they said it was lonely. Especially as a single mother.

"And I can protect myself. Wes made sure of it."

"I'll protect her."

My head shot over to where Lex was still reading the letter. He didn't even pick his head up when he spoke.

"I don't need protection," I argued. I didn't need Lex to think I was some damsel in distress who needed saving. And Icertainly didn't need to be spending any extra time with him. He was here for Jimmy, not me.

"Isn't that why Wes contacted me?"

He finally decided to grace me with his eyes, and damn I wished he hadn't. His stare was too intense. I felt like he could see right through me and straight down to my soul.

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