#Player

by Cambria Hebert

  “Romeo. You can’t be serious. You just plan to hand over half a million dollars to a bunch of murdering extortionists?” Then I paused. “Do you have half a million dollars?”

  He laughed. “Sure you want to know?”

  I shook my head instantly. “I really don’t care how much money you have.”

  “I know, baby.” His eyes warmed on my face like the sun just burst through a dark cloud. He took a second to kiss me quickly. When he pulled back, he said, “I never said I was handing over any money.”

  “I think hitting my head has confused me.” I groaned. He was talking in circles, and I really just didn’t have the energy for that right now.

  His eyes sharpened on my face. “You hit your head?” Romeo delved his fingers into my scalp and started moving around as he searched for a lump. “Do you feel dizzy? Disoriented?”

  All trace of our conversation was gone. His sole focus was me.

  I grabbed his wrist. “I didn’t hit it that hard. Just bumped it when I fell off the bed.”

  He searched my eyes, making sure I was telling the truth.

  “That was just a poor attempt at a joke.”

  “You’re bleeding again,” he said and started dabbing at my neck once more. When he was finished, he announced he’d searched through all the stuff hotels leave for guest use and found a small box with two bandages inside.

  After one was applied, he lifted me off the counter.

  “So you aren’t going to pay them?”

  “Hell no. If I pay them, it wouldn’t be the end. If they didn’t kill us to tie off loose ends, we would become their favorite plaything. They’d never stop trying to get money out of me, and if I keep playing in the NFL, my salary is only going to go up.”

  “But you don’t want to call the police?”

  “An underground gambling ring? A loan shark with enough money and power to have his guys find you all the way up in Maryland, then follow us back here? These aren’t smalltime criminals, Rim. These guys probably have half the police force in their pocket. It’s probably why they’re still able to operate.”

  I gasped. “Do you think that’s why they let my mother’s death to go unresolved, because the cops on the force looked the other way?”

  “I don’t know. But frankly, after everything, I wouldn’t rule it out.”

  “Romeo?” I asked and moved to sit on the side of the bed. All the covers were on the floor from when I tried to hang on to them as I was being pulled off.

  “Hmm?” he said, clearly deep in thought.

  “Do you think the men that were here tonight are the same men who killed my mother?”

  “No,” he answered definitively. “The men who killed your mother would be older. Those guys didn’t look old enough. They would have been too young all those years ago.”

  “Do you think the guy my dad owes money is the same guy from all those years ago?”

  A disgusted look crossed Romeo’s face, and it made me feel ashamed. I knew he told me I shouldn’t be embarrassed by the things my father did and it had nothing to do with who I was.

  But I was.

  Deeply ashamed.

  Romeo dropped down in front of me and placed his hands on my bare knees. “I really don’t think so. Gambling is an addiction, so I guess I can understand why he went back to it after all these years, even if it was the reason your mom died. But to then borrow money from the man that killed her? No one could be that sick.”

  “I think I need to see him,” I announced. I needed more than a drunken encounter and more truth from his lips.

  “We’ll go as soon as the sun comes up.” Romeo promised.

  I nodded and touched his face. He didn’t have a mark on him, but I knew he’d taken some punches. “Are you okay? Did they hurt you? How’s your arm?”

  “I’m fine,” he assured me. “I take harder hits on the field.”

  “But your arm.”

  He shrugged. “I probably shouldn’t have used it to throw some punches, but there was no helping or stopping that.”

  “Do you think you reinjured it?” I chewed my lower lip.

  “I really don’t, baby. It feels fine.”

  “Maybe you should wear the sling today. Minimize movement.”

  He rolled his eyes and I saw the denial on his lips when he glanced back at me.

  But then he sighed. And gave in. “If it’ll make you feel better.”

  I smiled.

  He shook his head and stood. “Just so we’re clear, this doesn’t mean I’m whipped.”

  I smiled. “Maybe you should hand over your man card.” I held out my hand. “I’m gonna need to tell Braeden about this.”

  He groaned. “Woman, don’t make me come over there.”

  I laughed, and he pulled the sling on and positioned it in place.

  “I might like it if you came over here.” It surprised me that I was able to joke at all. It gave me hope that everything was going to be just fine.

  “Baby, you know I would. But I can’t. I got some calls to make. Shit to do.”

  Calls to make? What kind of calls?

  When he didn’t elaborate, I began to worry. “Romeo?”

  He came across the room, grabbed his cell off the nightstand, and kissed me on the top of my head. “I’ll pick up the mess out there.”

  “What are you going to do?” I asked.

  “Take care of this.”

  That was not an answer.

  That was just downright scary.

  “What are you going to do?” I repeated.

  He pretended like he didn’t hear and walked out of the room.

  He wasn’t calling the cops; he said so. And he wasn’t calling the bank; he said that too. So what was he doing?

  Chapter Forty-Two

  Romeo

  I made some calls.

  Then a couple more.

  I was aware of Rimmel watching and wondering. I didn’t want her involved. Maybe it was macho. Maybe it was controlling. Maybe it was me being an asshole.

  Or maybe it was all of the above.

  But I loved her.

  That was the bottom line. I was going to do whatever it took to keep her safe and out of harm’s way. Someone had to.

  Good Lord, this girl was like a walking disaster. And I thought her clumsiness was the worst hazard to her health. Until I met her family.

  Even Dr. Phil couldn’t fix that shit.

  I wasn’t even going to try to fix her family. Those relationships would fall where they may. I would leave that up to Rimmel. She could decide how much of them she saw and let them into our life. I would support her no matter what.

  But I would also keep her safe.

  I felt her trying to listen in on my calls. I felt her watchful eyes. Finally, I told her I was going down to the lobby to snag us some breakfast from the spread they set out every morning. She wanted to come. Of course she did. So I said yes. She was surprised, but really, it worked to my benefit.

  I didn’t want to leave her alone in the room. So we went downstairs together and into the dining area. I left her there and walked over to a vacant spot in the lobby and finished what I was putting together. I could still see her, but she couldn’t eavesdrop.

  When she saw where I’d gone, she frowned and then sat down and turned her attention to her phone.

  I was calling in a Hail Mary.

  A play that was a little desperate, a little crazy, but if I pulled it off, it would end all this once and for all.

  Everyone I’d spoken to was on board so far, and my father was also helping set things up. I probably wouldn’t have been able to do it without him. He knew a lot of people that were able to help.

  I waited for a call back from him to let me know it was all a go.

  While I waited, I dialed the last person I needed to call.

  Ron Gamble.

  Calling him was the biggest risk of all. The truth was what I was about to ask of him could get me tossed out of the NFL forever. It could
end my career. I meant it when I told Rimmel I would give up my career for her. I hoped it wouldn’t end that way, but if it did, I would accept my fate.

  Ron was a big piece in this plan, but I’d waited to call him last because I wanted it to be a decent hour.

  His secretary answered after a few rings, and I asked for him. The woman reminded me of a bulldog and almost refused to put him on the line. Frankly, I would have been impressed if it didn’t piss me off.

  “Look. I get it. Assholes call for him all time. This is Roman Anderson. His new quarterback. I need to speak with him. It’s an emergency.”

  The bulldog in her went back to its cage. “Hold, please.”

  A few seconds later, Ron came on the line. “Anderson?”

  “Yes, Mr. Gamble. I’m very sorry to disturb you so early.”

  “I’m always available for my players. Bonnie said it was an emergency.”

  Bonnie was a very nice name for a bulldog.

  “Yes, I’m afraid it is. And unfortunately, this is going to sound very unprofessional and frankly, a little crazy, but I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t absolutely necessary.”

  “Unprofessional and crazy you say?” he intoned.

  “Yes. And yes, I’m aware if I piss you off, my career will be over before it starts.”

  “A career ender,” he mused. “Then whatever this is must be important.”

  I glanced at Rimmel picking over her plate of food. “You have no idea.”

  “Let’s hear it.”

  I didn’t waste his time or beat around the bush. I laid it all out on the line. Everything I needed, crazy and all.

  He was so silent sometimes I worried he’d hung up on me.

  When I was finished, I fell quiet.

  Ron whistled between his teeth. “I liked that girlfriend of yours. She was a breath of fresh air. Can’t say I’m too thrilled to hear about someone threatening her like that.”

  I didn’t say anything.

  “And I know the season hasn’t started, but you’re a Knight. The ink on the contract is dry. I plan on getting a lot of years out of you on the field.”

  “I sure as hell hope so,” I muttered.

  “I don’t take too kindly to two-bit criminals threatening my players and trying to extort money out of ‘em.”

  Hope rose up inside me.

  “I’ll do it.”

  I pumped my fist in the air in triumph. “Just let me know if there’s anything I can do in return.”

  “Oh, there is something I want,” he said.

  The feeling of victory vanished, and I was left with a pit in my stomach, wondering what he was going to say.

  And then he told me.

  I smiled.

  Chapter Forty-Three

  Rimmel

  YOU’VE BEEN GONE FOREVER!

  The text from Ivy made me laugh.

  IT’S BARELY BEEN TWO DAYS

  YOU GONNA TELL ME WHY U LEFT IN SUCH A HURRY?

  I wasn’t sure how much I wanted to tell Ivy. Not because I didn’t trust her, but because this was so crazy and I was still mortified. It seemed like I could barely wrap my head around it. How would she be able to?

  Plus, I wanted to enjoy spring break. I didn’t want the reason we were all here to begin with to ruin it.

  WHEN U GET HERE.

  It wasn’t a lie.

  Per se.

  I could just tell her I needed to see my father, that he was sick. He was. Not necessarily physically, but he sure was mentally. I just didn’t have to elaborate on that fact.

  I ALREADY BOUGHT A NEW BIKINI

  I giggled.

  Romeo glanced at me from the driver’s seat. “Ivy?”

  I nodded, and he shook his head. “That girl is high maintenance.”

  “Hey, she’s my friend,” I said in her defense.

  “I know.” He reached across the seat and patted my leg. “She’s grown on me. I like her too.”

  “Really?” I pressed.

  “Yeah, really. Seems like she wants to make some changes in her life.”

  “I think what happened with Zach really shook her up. I mean, getting so drunk and not really knowing what she was doing? And with him? It was a wakeup call.”

  I DON’T EVEN HAVE A BATHING SUIT, I typed back to her.

  OMG!

  It wasn’t like Ivy was an alcoholic or anything. She did like to party, and drinking was definitely part of that. And it did seem for a while, she’d been searching for something. I wasn’t sure what that could be until she told me she was going to get a man, but not trying to get a man.

  It made me think maybe she was a little lonely. Maybe that was why she partied so much. To fill a void.

  But then Zach happened. Getting so drunk and sleeping with him, letting him into our room where he violated my stuff… it was too much.

  I was proud of her new resolve.

  MISSY EXCITED? I asked.

  I THINK SO. THINK IT WILL BE WEIRD WITH B AROUND?

  ROMEO INVITED TRENT TOO

  OOOH. INTERESTING.

  Romeo pulled up to the curb at my dad’s house. I really, really hoped he wasn’t drunk again. I shot off a quick TTYL and then shoved my phone into my bag.

  “This time next week, we’re gonna be lying on a beach,” Romeo murmured and wrapped his palm around the back of my neck to knead the knotted muscles.

  “I’ve never had a vacation like that before. And definitely not with friends.” I purred as the knots seemed to loosen.

  “This is just the beginning,” he said soft.

  But I had to get through this first. I let go of the dreamy beach thoughts and focused on the house. I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to say to my dad. But I had to say something.

  “Rim?” Romeo said, pulling the keys out of the ignition. “Would you mind if I ran a couple errands while you’re with your dad?”

  “What kind of errands?” I asked suspiciously. Romeo was being so secretive about whatever he was planning. He told me he didn’t want me to be involved, and he told me why.

  But I just thought his reasons were stupid.

  Well, okay, him wanting me safe wasn’t stupid. But sidelining me was.

  “I won’t be gone long. I’ll get you a latte while I’m out.”

  I tilted my head and studied him. “Make it a Frappuccino and we got a deal.”

  He held out his fist for me to pound it out.

  I did it, but then I held out my pinky.

  “Your finger got a cramp, Smalls?”

  I laughed. “Boys pound it out. Girls pinky swear.”

  He looked at my finger like it was a baby alien from Mars. “I’m not a girl.”

  “I’m not a guy.”

  He ran a hand over his head and then chuckled. His pinky was like twice the size of mine. When he wrapped it around mine, I shook them. He seemed amused, but he didn’t say anything else.

  “Don’t be gone too long, okay? I’m not sure how this will go.”

  “You think I’m going to dump you at the curb like a cab driver?” He shook his head.

  “You aren’t?”

  He muttered something beneath his breath and got out of the car. I followed suit (without the mumbling), and he took my hand when we both stepped into the grass and walked forward.

  “I’m coming in to make sure he’s not in the same frame of mind as yesterday. If he is, I’m staying.”

  “I called to tell him I was coming. He didn’t sound drunk when he answered the phone.” I didn’t add that I was surprised he answered at all. I chose to believe it was a good sign.

  I knocked this time instead of walking right in. I felt this invisible line, this barrier between us that I never used to feel when I came home. But I guessed I should stop thinking of it as home because it wasn’t anymore. Maybe that’s why I felt the need to knock.

  The first thing he said when he answered the door was, “You didn’t have to knock.”

  He was dressed in clothes that weren’t wrinkled or needed w
ashing, a pair of jeans and a dark T-shirt. His eyes were still bloodshot and he still looked incredibly tired, but at least his expression wasn’t glassy. At least he appeared sober.

  “Hey, Dad. I just didn’t want to intrude if you were busy.”

  He gave me a sad look and motioned for us to come in. Romeo followed me, so I figured he still wasn’t satisfied he could leave.

  Lord, I felt like I was suddenly being watched by an overprotective nanny.

  My dad cleared his throat and looked at Romeo. A hint of embarrassment flushed his cheeks. “I regret we had to meet like that yesterday. As far as first impressions go, I would say mine was an epic failure.”

  Romeo smiled to soften the blow of his honesty. “We all have bad days.”

  Dad held out his left hand, and Romeo shook it. “What happened to your arm?” he asked.

  “Broke it.”

  Dad lifted his eyebrows, and I knew he was going to start asking a million questions.

  “You have the blinds open,” I said in a lame attempt at interrupting.

  “Yes, and I made coffee,” Dad said, going ahead into the kitchen. “Would you both like some?”

  “Actually, I’m going to go. Give you two a little bit of one-on-one,” Romeo replied.

  Dad stopped in his tracks and turned to meet Romeo’s stare. “Checking me out before you leave her here, huh?”

  “Yes,” Romeo said without apology.

  “I like that,” he said, sizing Romeo up.

  “I don’t like the fact that I have to worry about leaving her with her own father.”

  Dad’s face paled, and I gave Romeo a WTF look.

  He ignored it and stepped forward to kiss my head. “I’ll be back in an hour. Call if you need me.” He let himself out.

  I avoided looking at Dad until I couldn’t. He was staring at me with an amused expression on his face.

  “What?” I demanded.

  “I like him.”

  “You like him,” I echoed.

  “Coffee?” he said and moved to lift the pot.

  I followed behind him as he poured two mugs and got out a bottle of creamer that hadn’t even been opened yet.

  He probably went out and bought it this morning. He probably didn’t even have any food in this house yesterday.

  Sorrow swept over me. And so did guilt. I’d gone away to college only to return between semesters and on long breaks. The rest of the time, he’d been here, alone with nothing but his guilt and his pain.