Page 96 of Undeniable
“Let’s hope your father shapes up after this,” he said evenly without any dissension or hatred in his voice. It was as though Coach had done a similar favor for another of his players in the past.
Voices resonated, and when I identified one of them, my hands automatically fisted. But I couldn’t believe Josh had come until he swaggered into the house like he owned the place, Stetson tipped low, smirk in place.
“Wide receiver,” Josh said. “Did you need to bring your coach to protect you?”
All bets to be civil were off.
Coach was a force to be reckoned with. Whereas Josh had height, Coach had muscle, and I wouldn’t want to fight Coach.
Following on Josh’s heels was a wiry man with dark circles beneath his hollow brown eyes. “You must be the son of the derelict man I bunked with in prison.”
Ryker resumed his former position, keeping watch like a guard at a military post.
“So you’re Shane?” I asked, mostly for confirmation.
“One and the same. I took care of your father in prison. Weak man. His gambling will be the death of him.” He eyed the bag on the counter. “I take it that’s my four grand.”
My blood ran cold. But I shouldn’t be surprised he was trying to get more money. Kurtis had owed him three grand before Shane tacked on an additional grand as interest.
“Kurtis already paid you one thousand,” I said through clenched teeth. “Therefore, there’s three thousand in that bag. Take it or leave it.”
Shane assessed me. “My guys enjoyed putting you down. Want a repeat?”
That night during the storm, Shane’s goons had caught me off guard. But the only muscle he had with him today was Josh. The two men could be carrying weapons, but I didn’t think so. Ryker had followed them into the kitchen and would’ve noticed if they had guns tucked at their backs.
My muscles tensed. “I said take the money and leave.”
Shane scratched his chin, considering what to do.
I swung my gaze to Josh. “You really want to break bones over a grand?” I got the feeling that Josh was all talk when it came to his threats. I might be wrong, but considering he’d warned me to watch my back, I had to believe he didn’t want trouble with the law. Maybe he’d get into a fight here and there, but I thought that was the extent of it.
Josh’s eyes were wandering around the kitchen as if he knew Kristoff was here. Or maybe he thought Mazzie was close by or upstairs. I was grateful she wasn’t.
“What’s it going to be?” Coach asked.
Ryker was steady and ready.
“Shane, take the money,” Josh said. “This place is giving me the creeps. Something isn’t right.”
Smart man.
Shane finally reached for the bag.
“Taking that money means that Kurtis’s debt is paid in full,” I piped in. “Which means you don’t come near my family ever again.”
Shane belted out a laugh. “Tell that to Kurtis.” He grabbed the bag. “Don’t let your old man rub off on you.”
That would never happen, but he didn’t need to know that.
Shane brushed past Josh, who didn’t move. Ryker was on Shane’s heels.
I wasn’t ready to celebrate just yet that this was over.
I pushed a hand through my hair. “Mazzie’s not here, if that’s what you’re about to ask. This deal”—I moved my finger back and forth between him and me—“includes staying away from her. She’s my family too. I want to be clear about that.”
Josh eyed Coach then me. “Message received. But there’s one thing you should know. I knew about your father’s deal with Shane that night in the casino. I was only trying to protect her.”
“Then why didn’t you come out and tell her that my father was trouble and, by proxy, I was too?”
