Page 95 of My Brother's Enemy
“I guess I’ll start with an apology,” she began. She looked around, making eye contact with each guy—or appearing to. “Some of you asked in the beginning if I was related to Daniel and Dane Connors. I lied by omission. I am related, but I was honest when I said I do not know them. I have no relationship with Keith, Daniel, or Dane Connors. I left that house when I turned eighteen, and until Dane’s game against you guys last week, I hadn’t seen any of them in person since. What Daniel said on the video is untrue. We are estranged, but it’s because of them. I kept my last name because of our mother, but that’s it. Keith Connors has never once wanted anything to do with me, and considering he decided that when I was six and my mother died, I have a hard time imagining that I did something to make him decide to turn his back on his only daughter. You all know my brothers. Daniel has always been an asshole. I’ve never done anything to him. I know what that video is saying and how it’s being spun, but I think the only thing I can say to you is that I’m sorry for not coming clean about my relationship with Daniel and Dane Connors from the beginning. I wanted it not to be a factor, not to be part of my life, but it seems that’s not going to be possible. And I’m sorry. If you can’t get over that, please let me know. You need to be able to trust what I say in order for me to continue to do my job.”
“What?” Meester squawked before someone hushed him.
Rain’s eyes found mine and stayed.
There. She was back in her body. I could see her again.
“I would like to remain working with the Grays, but you all need to know about one more thing. Tyler and I are in a relationship.”
My mouth fell open.
She—wow, yeah. She just laid it out there.
A buzz swirled among the guys, but I didn’t dare look at them. If one of them looked at her wrong, said one wrong word about her, I would lose my shit.
Coach Hines straightened abruptly and took a step in my direction.
But Rain wasn’t fucking done. “Now that you know that, I realize there might be an irreparable rift between me and you. I feel it’s only right to ask whether you guys want to continue working with me. The organization should convene and let me know if I should stay or take my leave.” Her eyes flashed with apology, and I felt that all the way through my soul. She was saying goodbye in more than one capacity.
Damn it.
She knew what she was doing.
She was burning all the bridges. Every single one of them.
I was going to lose her.
She was leaving. I could see it in her eyes, in the way she stood. She was saying goodbye to me without the actual words.
But I couldn’t lose her.
Iwould notlose her.
She looked to Coach Hines. “I’ll do whatever you decide is best.”
His eyebrows pulled together, but he didn’t respond. I screamed silently at him to reassure her, to tell her that of course she needed to stay, but he didn’t. They’d have a meeting no matter what, weigh the pros and cons of working with her. But she was one of us. Didn’t they see that?
Dammit. Damn them all.
She was one of us.
She was a part of me.
She was mine.
They couldn’t let her go.
And yet, as she walked out of the locker room, everyone was quiet.
The door closed behind her, and Isnapped. “Are you fucking kidding?” I snarled.
And the world went black for me.
Crash!
Thud.
Blood.
