Page 52 of Penn

Jillian is silent and I wonder if we’ve been disconnected. But then she responds in almost in a hushed whisper of awe. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

“Not kidding,” he says, cool and calm. “I’m willing to grant you an exclusive interview about my role in this.”

“When?” she exclaims. “I can do it right now.”

“We’ll get to a time and place,” he says, shooting me a wry smile. “But first… I need you to agree to something.”

Dead silence on her end for a second. “I’m listening.”

“You have to print what I tell you, word for word.”

“Of course I’d do that.” She sounds indignant. “I don’t fluff my pieces.”

“I’m not saying you do, but more than just giving you the facts of what happened, I’m going to issue a challenge to the people who are threatening Mila. And you have to be okay with that going in print.”

“A challenge?” she asks, sounding slightly confused, but then she immediately gets it. “It’s no longer about getting them to back off but luring them into the open.”

“Exactly. I’ve got security on Mila so she’s safe, but this needs to end. So, are you in?”

“I—wow,” Jillian breathes. “This is huge, but I’m in.”

“You’ll need to get on a flight tonight,” Penn says without hesitation. “I want the article out immediately. We’ll meet in person tomorrow morning before our team’s skate.”

“You’re serious.”

“Very.”

“I can make that happen,” she says quickly. “Where should I meet you?”

Penn rattles off a hotel name and address. “I’ll reserve a room for you.”

“You won’t regret this,” she promises. “This story—it’s going to shake things up. And I’ll make sure it’s told the right way.”

Penn ends the call without any fanfare. “We’ll see,” he mutters, sliding the phone back over to me.

I haven’t been able to shake my worry over this plan though. I tried to talk him out of it, but that conversation was short-lived. “Are you sure this is the right choice? Maybe we should just let Jameson do their thing.”

“I have every confidence they’ll work hard to resolve this, but in case you don’t remember, I’m an offensive player. I’m taking this fight to them and I’m not waiting. I want this shit over so I can get on with my life.”

He sounds so angry yet determined, and part of my heart sinks because that sounds like he wants everything to do withthe hazing incident to go away. But then he amends, “I want us to be able to get on with our lives.”

Now my heart melts and I reach a hand out to him, but Malik steps into the kitchen, brushing drywall dust off his jacket sleeve. “We’re done. Cameras are online with a direct feed to our server where someone will monitor twenty-four seven. Security codes are updated and on an encrypted app that you’ll both have access to and will change every thirty seconds. All exterior corners now have motion sensors as well as perimeter cameras. We’ve got eyes on every angle.”

“Wow,” I murmur, not just feeling comfort but a little empowerment.

“We’ll have an agent patrolling at all times. You won’t see them, but they’ll see you.”

“And for the away games next week?” Penn asks.

“I haven’t decided who will accompany you yet, but you’ll have someone within eyesight of Mila at all times. Did you get permission to have us accompany you on the team plane?”

My head whips toward Penn. “You want me on the team plane?”

He’d suggested I travel with him to the away games until this is over, even though I pointed out that I will be plenty safe here at his house. But he wouldn’t hear any of it. His theory is that because he’s a public figure, whoever is threatening me isn’t going to make a move when I am with him. I’m not so sure about that, but I didn’t argue. My work is mobile and I can easily travel with him.

“I talked to Callum and Brienne a bit ago. They’re both in agreement that you and security should travel with the team. In Callum’s words, it will cut down on my worry with you being out of my sight while traveling commercially. Translation: A stress-free player is a good player.”

“Stressing you out is the last thing I want,” I assure him.

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