Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 83059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 83059 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 415(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 277(@300wpm)
“Look who finally decided to show up,” Knox teases.
“I’m only here because I was forced.” That’s not true, and we all know it. Knox keeps us in line, but we have a taste of what it feels like to win the league championship, and we’re gunning for a repeat of that win this season. “Besides, it’s Harry’s fault.”
“Right.” Foster laughs. “You thrive on gossip and junk food. Anyway, what’s Harry got for us today?”
“Did you know about family day?” I ask them.
“Yeah,” they both agree. “They sent an email.”
“I missed it. You need to tell me these things.” I frown. I hate that Harry got one over on me.
“Start paying closer attention to your inbox.”
“Whatever,” I mumble. “Let’s get this over with. I’m starving.”
“Did you not eat breakfast?” Knox asks.
“That was an hour ago,” I tell him, and he just chuckles under his breath, shaking his head.
“Oh, so this is dire hunger then. We better get started,” he says with a laugh, just as Reid and Baker join us.
“Sorry, Natasha had a doctor’s appointment,” Baker says, running his hands through his hair.
“And I didn’t want to get my lazy ass out of bed,” Reid adds with a shrug.
I hop on a treadmill and let my mind drift to this family day. The email said food and family fun. It’s a cool idea and just another reason why I love being a member of this organization. The Rampage cares about its team and staff. Speaking of staff, Rowan will be there. It’s been a while since I’ve seen her. I know she’s been working with some of the guys on strength training to address old injuries. She’s been here, but I haven’t seen her. Maybe I should take a stroll through the training room after our workout and see if she’s there. You know, to say hi and check in on her.
We each do a five-mile run and then move to the weights. We’re all sweating and smelling like ass, I’m sure, but we’re athletes, and we’re used to it. Wiping the sweat off my brow, I toss the towel and pick up the free weights.
“You know, Chaz is probably going to be there,” Reid tells me.
“Be where?” I ask, my mind instantly going to me smashing that fucker’s face in for what he did to Rowan.
“Family day.”
“Fuck, but he’s not supposed to report until training camp two weeks after.”
“In what scenario do you see the head office not making a new player feel welcome?” Reid asks.
“Motherfucker. We need to keep an eye on her.”
“We will,” Foster assures me.
“We’re not going to let him get to her,” Knox adds.
“She’s one of us now,” Baker tells me.
“Yeah, but so is he,” I mumble. The words taste sour as they cross my lips.
“We need a plan,” Reid says. “We can’t have that tool on our team. Not after what we know.”
“It’s too late, and Rowan is right. She lied when she went to the hospital. We have no proof,” I say, fighting the anger in my veins. He’s a coward and a bully beating up a woman. One who needed him when she had no one. He took advantage of her, and for that, he’s going to pay. I just don’t know how.
“So, we watch him,” Baker says. “Guys like him, they think they’re invincible, but he’ll screw up, and we’ll nail him.”
“I think that’s our best bet. We need to keep our mouths shut.”
“I’m not going to be buddy-buddy with him,” I spit the words. The thought of being nice to him disgusts me.
“You don’t have to be his best friend or invite him over, but you’ll need to be civil,” Knox reminds me.
“I fucking hate it. That’s not who we are.” Not us as a team or us as men. We don’t beat on women.
“I know, brother,” Knox says, his eyes telling me he understands that this is more than just a man beating up on his woman. I can’t explain it. Even if I wanted to, I wouldn’t be able to find the words. What I can say is that I feel protective of her.
“It’ll all work out,” Baker says. “Look at me and my situation. We’ll make the best of it, keep our eyes and ears open, and we’ll get something on him. It might take us some time, but we’ll get there.”
“Yeah,” I agree. I just hope he’s right. I hate the thought of that man being anywhere near Rowan or my sister. Hell, any woman, for that matter. He’s a piece of shit, and there is no place for him here.
I’ll just have to do better. Keep an eye on her and, mostly, an eye on him. Because a tiger doesn’t change his stripes, and one day, his shit is going to catch up with him. They do say shit rolls downhill, right?