Page 127 of False Play
I’d get my mother and sister’s permission first, of course. But I knew them. They supported me through it all. And we were aware of how long this charade had been going on for. I’d taken the higher road my whole goddamn life, and for what? For him to believe he held some sort of power over me?
His eyes darkened. “Your career will be over if you do that. Half—if not all—of your endorsements will drop you if you go forward with your little sob story. No one will believe you.I will make sure of it.”
“I don’t fucking care,” I shouted. “At least I won’t be the coward hiding behind a fake image anymore.”
“Don’t be stupid,” he snarled, jabbing a finger at my chest. “Everything you have, you havebecause of me.”
I stepped forward until there was barely an inch between us. I remembered in this moment how small he used to make me feel. How part of me always believed I was never going to have the opportunity to stand against the monster that hid behind the shadows.
“No. Everything I have, I built inspiteof you.” My eyes met his, without an ounce of fear or shame. All I felt was bravery. It was cathartic, the way I stood my ground. “I’m donetrying to make this work. Believing that if I kept you around, at least you’d let me live my life. Believing that maybe you’d change one day. But you don’t have one good bone in your body, and you think the world owes you everything, but this is nothow it works. I’m done.”
Speaking my truth was like finally being able to breathe properly for the first time. Like my head had been underwater my whole life, and I’d finally come up for air.
“Break up with her, or her career is fucking over. I will bury her in thegoddamnground. Do you hear me, boy?!”
I should have known better than to believe he wasn’t going to try to have the last word. “And I’m telling you, if you do that, I will ruinyourreputation.”
“It’s my word against yours. Who do you think has more influence?” His laugh was manic. “If you care about her, let her go and focus on making yourself worthy of the Anderson name.”
I couldn’t handle being around him any longer. Without a word, I started walking to get away from him. From everything. I needed time to think. What angered me the most was that hewasright. My father had too much influence. It was a risk to go against him.
Only one question remained… Was that going to stop me from protecting the woman I loved with every fiber of my being?
THIRTY-SIX
KENNEDY
HENRY ANDERSON—ALWAYS THE PROTECTOR.
My feet were killing me,and my throat was sore from how much I had talked, but none of it mattered. The event had been a success.
Everyone had gone home, and I hadn’t seen Henry since we parted ways for me to make my rounds. But when I found out his father was in attendance—a last-minute addition no one told me about—I understood why he was nowhere to be found. I didn’t blame him.
It was a bittersweet moment, standing in the middle of the empty venue. My heart was full, and tears welled in my eyes as I took a deep breath, my gaze landing on the Strikers logo centered on the stage. The venue crew was already tearing it down—packing up lights, folding chairs, peeling back the illusion. With every piece that disappeared, something in my chest cracked a little more.
It felt like the end of something I wasn’t ready to let go of. A symbolic gut punch—my hopes and dreams being dismantled right in front of me. This was all I wanted. Just one more day ofnormalcy. One more day to pretend my career was still going somewhere with this organization. Because tomorrow morning, when I strolled into Anthony’s office and told him everything, I’d be walking straight into the end of it all.
“Kenny.”
I quickly dried my tears and turned around, finding Henry standing a few feet away from me. His bow tie was untied, hanging around his neck. His hair was disheveled, and his eyes were a little bit red. It cracked my heart.
“I’m sorry I disappeared,” he began to apologize, but I shook my head.
“You don’t have to explain yourself. I saw your father. Trust me, I would have done the same.” My laugh was small, wobbly. It took every ounce of energy out of me.
He took a few steps closer. “We need to talk.”
A heavy silence fell between us. Anxiety slithered up my spine and curled around my chest, squeezing until each breath felt like a battle. I didn’t say a word, because part of me knew. This was it. This was the moment I had to come clean.
“What did my father say to you?” His question was barely audible.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” I flinched. It was instinct to be dismissive. Old habits die hard, or whatever.
“Kennedy,” he warned. His eyes met mine in a desperate plea. It gutted me. I didn’t want to be the source of his pain. “Please, don’t lie to me. We’re better than that.”
I took a deep breath, trying to steady the tremble in my voice, trying to will the truth back down my throat. But it clawed its way up anyway, bitter and heavy. “He knew everything about me and tried to pay me off to break up with you. I said no, of course, but then…he saw the contract.” I tilted my head up to keep the tears at bay. “And he put me in an impossible position.” My voice cracked. I was so angry at myself. I was so adamant about having that stupid contract, thinking it was going to keep everything professional between us. As if Henry and I hadn’t already been falling for each other little by little. As if a flimsy piece of paper with some dumb written rules and signatures was going to stop me from falling in love with the man who stood in front of me. The man who saw every part of me.
He stayed quiet, just looking at me, giving me the silent go-ahead to continue.
