Chapter 32 Lucas
Lucas
The sun spilled in through the sliding glass doors in the kitchen—warm, bright, and blinding. I’d spent the weekend going back and forth on how I felt about becoming a father. I still couldn’t wrap my mind around having a kid. I wanted to tell my mom, seek her advice, but I knew what she would say.
Son, you can’t support a child at this stage in your life. When I said I wanted grandbabies, I didn’t mean now.
I could practically hear her voice echoing in my head, full of that familiar disappointment and concern she’d perfected over the years. But what did I really want her to say? That everything would be fine. That I was ready for this? Because I wasn’t.
But as Saturday and Sunday came and went, the shock and anger lessened. I couldn’t turn back the clock and put on a condom any more than I could predict a future in which an NFL contract would solve the financial problem.
Yet the one thing that hadn’t changed was the fear. Fear that I wouldn’t be a good dad. Fear that Mazzie would decide not to have the baby. While I was terrified, I was beginning to come to terms with the notion that I might actually want to have this baby, which was all kinds of nuts.
The doorbell rang.
Coach and his security guard friend from the Silver Spur Casino were right on time. Today was D-Day to pay Shane the three grand Kurtis owed him, and I wanted to be done with this mess.
The bag of money that I’d picked up that morning from my mom was sitting on the kitchen island, reminding me of every mistake Kurtis had made.
Ryker escorted Coach and a hefty man in his late thirties, who had a high and tight haircut, into the kitchen.
Coach was dressed in his usual khaki pants and a golf shirt without a logo. His bald head looked shiny as he gave me a nod. “This is Kristoff. He works security at Silver Spur.”
I shook the hand of the buff man, who had tattoos on his arms. He had Semper Fi inked on his left arm, which told me he was a Marine. “Nice to meet you.”
“Likewise,” he said. “Your coach tells me that your father owes Shane money.” Kristoff regarded Coach. “Did you fill him in?”
“You only told me this morning,” Coach replied. “I haven’t had a chance.”
Ryker, who was standing between the stove and island, watched and listened.
I found a spot at the edge of the island with my back to the sliding glass door. “What’s going on?”
“I’m happy you brought your coach in with this problem,” Kristoff said, standing opposite Ryker. “Lucas, I don’t know what prompted you to set up this plan, but I want to thank you. I can’t say more than that.”
I regarded Coach, as did Ryker.
“Just listen to Kristoff,” Coach ordered.
“The Feds have been watching Shane since he was released from prison,” Kristoff said.
“He’s started up his drug ring again. His father has kicked him out of the casino.
But Shane has been lurking around, trying to sell his drugs to gamblers going in and coming out.
I watched the video tapes of the night you two were there.
” He raised his sharp chin at Ryker then me.
“Your father had a run-in with Shane’s buddy Josh Turley. ”
I could feel my eyebrows drawing down. “That’s right. Is Josh involved?”
“I’m not sure.” Kristoff said. “But here’s how I suggest you handle this today. Keep it civil and quick. No egos.”
“They’ll be perfect altar boys,” Coach assured him.
“You sound as though you won’t be here,” Ryker said to Kristoff.
“I’m going to be upstairs unless there’s a room down here where I can make myself scarce. If there’s trouble, then I’ll handle it.”
Ryker and I exchanged questionable looks.
I had to ask. “Are you a Fed?”
Kristoff grinned, showing a crooked bottom tooth. “I’m here as a courtesy to your coach. But yes, I’m DEA.”
This was turning out to be bigger than I expected. I was relieved that my mother wasn’t here. She’d argued that she should be present, but I’d won the argument.
“There’s a large laundry room in the hall.” Ryker pointed to the opening that led to the garage.
Just as Kristoff took his leave, the doorbell rang.
This should be simple, but I was finding in my world, nothing was that easy. I wondered, though, if Josh had accompanied Shane.
“I got it,” Ryker said quickly.
Coach came to stand beside me. “Remember, civil and quick.”
“I can’t thank you enough for helping me with this.”
“Let’s hope your father shapes up after this,” he said evenly without any dissension or hatred in his voice. It was as though Coach had done a similar favor for another of his players in the past.
Voices resonated, and when I identified one of them, my hands automatically fisted. But I couldn’t believe Josh had come until he swaggered into the house like he owned the place, Stetson tipped low, smirk in place.
“Wide receiver,” Josh said. “Did you need to bring your coach to protect you?”
All bets to be civil were off.
Coach was a force to be reckoned with. Whereas Josh had height, Coach had muscle, and I wouldn’t want to fight Coach.
Following on Josh’s heels was a wiry man with dark circles beneath his hollow brown eyes. “You must be the son of the derelict man I bunked with in prison.”
Ryker resumed his former position, keeping watch like a guard at a military post.
“So you’re Shane?” I asked, mostly for confirmation.
“One and the same. I took care of your father in prison. Weak man. His gambling will be the death of him.” He eyed the bag on the counter. “I take it that’s my four grand.”
My blood ran cold. But I shouldn’t be surprised he was trying to get more money. Kurtis had owed him three grand before Shane tacked on an additional grand as interest.
“Kurtis already paid you one thousand,” I said through clenched teeth. “Therefore, there’s three thousand in that bag. Take it or leave it.”
Shane assessed me. “My guys enjoyed putting you down. Want a repeat?”
That night during the storm, Shane’s goons had caught me off guard. But the only muscle he had with him today was Josh. The two men could be carrying weapons, but I didn’t think so. Ryker had followed them into the kitchen and would’ve noticed if they had guns tucked at their backs.
My muscles tensed. “I said take the money and leave.”
Shane scratched his chin, considering what to do.
I swung my gaze to Josh. “You really want to break bones over a grand?” I got the feeling that Josh was all talk when it came to his threats.
I might be wrong, but considering he’d warned me to watch my back, I had to believe he didn’t want trouble with the law.
Maybe he’d get into a fight here and there, but I thought that was the extent of it.
Josh’s eyes were wandering around the kitchen as if he knew Kristoff was here. Or maybe he thought Mazzie was close by or upstairs. I was grateful she wasn’t.
“What’s it going to be?” Coach asked.
Ryker was steady and ready.
“Shane, take the money,” Josh said. “This place is giving me the creeps. Something isn’t right.”
Smart man.
Shane finally reached for the bag.
“Taking that money means that Kurtis’s debt is paid in full,” I piped in. “Which means you don’t come near my family ever again.”
Shane belted out a laugh. “Tell that to Kurtis.” He grabbed the bag. “Don’t let your old man rub off on you.”
That would never happen, but he didn’t need to know that.
Shane brushed past Josh, who didn’t move. Ryker was on Shane’s heels.
I wasn’t ready to celebrate just yet that this was over.
I pushed a hand through my hair. “Mazzie’s not here, if that’s what you’re about to ask. This deal”—I moved my finger back and forth between him and me—“includes staying away from her. She’s my family too. I want to be clear about that.”
Josh eyed Coach then me. “Message received. But there’s one thing you should know. I knew about your father’s deal with Shane that night in the casino. I was only trying to protect her.”
“Then why didn’t you come out and tell her that my father was trouble and, by proxy, I was too?”
“I was about to when your old man came out of the restroom, but then Mazzie kneed me in the balls. And if I were you, I would make sure Kurtis stays away from Shane. The two have a history in prison.”
If Kurtis stuck to the plan, he would be heading up to a rehab facility in South Texas later this week.
The second Josh was gone, I dropped into a chair, blowing out all the nervous energy that had been building during the meeting.
Ryker returned to the kitchen. “They’re gone.”
Kristoff came out of the laundry room. “Well done.”
“Are you close to throwing Shane back in prison?” Ryker asked.
“Maybe,” Kristoff said, looking at his watch. “I need to run. Coach, if you need any more help, you know where to find me. And you two need to stay out of Cedar Ridge. There’s nothing in that town but trouble.”
He didn’t have to tell me twice. “Thanks for supporting us. It was good to know that you were here in case the meeting went sideways.”
“My pleasure,” Kristoff said. “I can see myself out.”
Ryker went with him anyway.
“I need to run.” Coach said. “We have practice this afternoon.”
“I can’t thank you enough for taking care of us, me, the team. I mean on a personal level. You’re the one person I look up to. You’ve taught us how to be professional and to think about the consequences of our actions. Not to mention, you’ve shaped us into responsible men.”
“Lucas, you’ve done that all on your own. Your mother deserves the most credit. In truth, you’ve been the anchor of the team, motivating and uplifting players when they’re down. Okay, you’ve had a rough go this season, but you’ve overcome your demons.”
I shook my head. “I need one more piece of advice. It’s a demon that dug its claws into me.”
He crossed his arms over his chest.
“When Mrs. Chapman had your son Warren, did you know how to be a father?”
He went as white as a ghost. “No, Lucas. Please tell me—”
“Mazzie is pregnant.” That fact didn’t gut me as much as it had when she’d told me.
He sat down on a barstool, scrubbing a hand over his face then his bald head.
“The missus and I weren’t prepared. We learned she was pregnant in our senior year when we were about to graduate and I had already signed with the San Antonio Stallions.
But she had to put her teaching career on hold until after Warren was born.
” He paused to think. “We made it work.”
“Be honest with me then. You think I’ll get drafted. Am I really that good?”
“You’re the best wide receiver I’ve ever coached.
So, yes. You have five games left to give it all you got.
Scouts have known about you since your sophomore year.
” He pushed air out of his nose. “When I learned Mrs. Chapman was pregnant, I never played better. Don’t see this pregnancy as the end of your future. See it as why you fight for one.”
As I thanked him profusely, I knew it wouldn’t be easy. But for the first time, I wasn’t afraid of the fight. I was ready to be the man Mazzie and our baby needed.