Page 101 of To Bring You Back
“Out?” Matt scoffed. “Over this? That girl was drinking all on her own, and she lied about her age.”
“You think her cop dad’s going to see it that way? I can’t be responsible for this anymore.”
“You can’t fire me.” Matt stepped closer, his hand drawing into a fist. “You need me.”
If Matt would just throw the first punch, Gannon would be justified in returning one.
He crossed his arms to keep from doing something he’d regret. “Where’s Harper?”
Matt snorted with laughter. “Security wouldn’t let her in with us. Sent her away in her rental, just her and all her luggage.”
They’d done as Gannon had asked. Except if she’d been drinking, someone was supposed to drive her. Would the team have overlooked that part of his instructions?
Had he been right to kick her out that way to begin with?
“Lover boy looks so sad,” Matt crowed.
Gannon splayed his hand, then clenched it in front of his forehead before he could reach out to strangle him. The rec room door clattered open, and Tim stepped through in sweatpants and a T-shirt. “What’s going on?”
Gannon stepped away from Matt before his temper could get the better of him. No sense earning himself an assault charge. “Matt decided to throw a party with a minor.”
Matt rolled his eyes. “I was nowhere near her, and I had no way to know.”
“Her name is Olivia Cullen. She’s with Adeline now. Get her a safe ride home.”
“Sure. We can do that.” Tim’s line of sight bounced from Matt to Gannon, as if he knew there was more.
“He’s out.”
“You need me.” Desperation fluttered in Matt’s voice, but Gannon didn’t pivot to see it on his face.
“Will you go to rehab?”
“You can’t bring in just anyone to replace me. Besides, without me, who’re you going to blame for everything that goes wrong? You’re going to have to take the blame yourself, and your ego can’t take that.”
That would be a hard no on the rehab.
Gannon’s chest burned with retorts. He kept his focus on Tim. “I don’t want to see him again.”
Tim lifted his hands. “Calm down. We can work this out. Awestruck can’t crumble right now. Keep it together.”
“This isn’t crumbling. This is standing up to an offense that’s gone on too long. Call whoever you have to call, do whatever you have to do, but he’s out.”
Matt sputtered. “You can’t—”
“John and I have already discussed it. You’re done.” He had to get out of here before he lost it. He moved toward the door.
“Gannon.”
The serious note in Tim’s voice made him turn.
The manager swallowed visibly. “A minute before I heard from you, Harper’s people called. You had her sent away?”
He nodded once.
“Her assistant and that Karina lady, the shrink or whatever, are flying here as fast as they can. She posted a quote from one of her movies. The last thing one of her characters said before committing suicide. They think it’s a threat.”
Dread poured into his veins. He’d thought he had healed after Fitz. Thought he’d gotten right with God and could move forward. But if they lost Harper the same way, he wouldn’t get past it. Adeline wouldn’t, either.
