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And I stand on that. But ...
What am I doing? Yeah, I’ve only known Adina for weeks. But in that time, I’ve lost focus. Got caught up maybe—just maybe—believing this could be what I stressed to her from the beginning that it wasn’t ... permanent. Nate has his own motives and agenda, but he’s not wrong.
Shit has changed. It’s spun out of control.
Since Adina came into my life, I am on the blogs more. But it isn’t her fault.It’s mine.She’s been exposedbecause of me. It’s affected her because of her associationwith me. I’ve convinced myself it doesn’t bother me, but shouldn’t it? And not just for her but for Khalil? I’m his father first; it’s my job to shield him whenever and wherever I can. And by involving him in this ... thing with Adina, I’m giving him unfounded hope and thoughts that she’s not temporary, when that was our agreement. That’s what we both said we wanted.
I briefly close my eyes, and a vision of my boy’s fear and uncertainty when he lost his mother wavers across my mind. I couldn’t prevent a car accident. But Adina courts danger every damn time that alarm rings, and the risk of losing her, of putting Khalil right back in the position of losing another person he loves ...
I can’t do it.
Not for the bullshit reasons Nate and Caroline are throwing at me, but because I’m a father first. I must protect him.
And Adina too.
She didn’t ask for this shit. And not just the unexpected and unwanted exposure. Bringing her further into a relationship with people who won’t accept her, who actively resent her ... how in the hell is that fair?
It’s not. Not to any of us.
Nate walks back behind his desk and plants his fist on the top, leaning forward.
“I’ve said it before, and I’ll repeat myself one last time. This is a distraction you and the team don’t need. When people should be talking about our thirteen-game winning streak, they’re focused on this ... sex tape. You’re my son-in-law, the father of my grandson. But this is business. And I can’t allow you to mess with business. Fix this or there will be consequences.”
“Are you threatening to bench me?” I growl.
“If that’s what you heard. I don’t want to take any action, but if you force my hand ...”
I stare at Nate, and his eyes meet mine.
The fuck? He’s threatening my career?
This is a power move, plain and simple, to try to force my hand. Let’s be honest. If this had happened to Ciaran or Ares, Nate would’ve let Coach handle it, and they for damn sure wouldn’t be benched behind this bullshit.
Anger eats at me, and yeah, I need to get the hell up out of here before I say something I can’t take back.
Giving him a short nod—and he can thank my mother for that, because she would beat my ass if I disrespected an elder by simply walking out—I pivot on my heel and stalk out of the office.
My day is fucked.
And so am I.
Chapter Sixteen
ADINA
The Range Rover I’m currently sitting in the rear of pulls to a stop in the parking lot behind the firehouse. I close my eyes, and mental images of the throng of reporters and cameramen swarming the sidewalk across from the station assault me. The only reason they aren’t crowding the front of the house is because of the barriers set in place. And if some brave soul decided to crawl over or under it, they’d have to face the four firemen standing out there to make sure they keep their distance. My brother front and center among them.
I’ve brought this chaos to my station. That goddamn video.
I bow my head, tears stinging my eyes.
“Fuck.”
“Dina, this isn’t your fault,” Noni says, voice soft with concern.
Ever since that video of me and Solomon surfaced, she’s been over at my house or on my phone, talking me down off a ledge. Noni’s the only one I’ve allowed in my house, to see me. There’s one other person I wanted to be there, to comfort me. But in the last two days, I’ve discovered I’m on my own.
Except for Graham. Again.
