Chapter 33
Chapter Thirty-Three
Scout
Istare at the invitation on the kitchen counter, my stomach twisting into familiar knots. The Seattle Havoc Annual Sponsorship Gala. Black tie. Plus-ones encouraged.
Enzo Moretti Sports Management is listed right there among the platinum sponsors.
"You've been staring at that for ten minutes." Silas appears behind me, hands settling warm on my hips. "What's wrong?"
I lean back into his chest, drawing strength from his solid presence. "Enzo's going to be there tonight."
His entire body goes rigid. "Then we're not going."
"We have to go. It's your job." I turn in his arms, meeting those blue-gray eyes.
"Besides, some days his voice still gets in my head.
I hear him telling me I'm too much, that I'm hovering, that everything I do is wrong. I hate that he still has that power. I want… I want to show him he doesn’t faze me. "
Silas's jaw tightens, but he stays quiet. His eyes are flashing, though.
"I don't want to see him," I admit. "But I'll be with you. So we're going."
He cups my face, thumbs stroking my cheekbones. "If he says one word to you..."
"Then I'll handle it." My voice comes out stronger than I feel. "I need to face him, Si. I need to prove to myself that I'm not afraid anymore."
Hours later, I'm smoothing down the deep green silk dress that makes Silas's eyes go dark with want. The fabric hugs my slender frame, falling to just above my knees. My honey blonde hair is styled in loose waves that cascade over my shoulders. I feel pretty.
In the car, Silas keeps glancing at me like he's waiting for me to change my mind.
He looks incredible in his black suit, his dirty blond hair pulled back in a low bun, jaw sharp and clean-shaven.
Those blue-gray eyes keep finding mine, protective and concerned.
His hand finds mine, fingers lacing together.
"We can leave anytime," he says. "You say the word and we're gone."
"I know." That knowledge settles something in my chest. "That's why I can do this."
The gala is everything I expected. Crystal chandeliers throwing rainbow light across marble floors, champagne flutes catching gold reflections, people in expensive clothes pretending net worth determines human value.
Silas keeps me close, his hand never leaving the small of my back as we navigate through clusters of sponsors and players.
I see Enzo before he sees us.
He's holding court near the bar, surrounded by younger players who don't know any better yet.
Same sharp suit, same practiced charm, same smile that never quite reaches his eyes.
My stomach clenches with old muscle memory, the instinct to make myself smaller, to smooth things over before conflict can start.
But I'm not that person anymore.
"There," I murmur to Silas, nodding toward the bar.
Silas follows my gaze. His hand tightens on my waist, protective but not controlling. "Say the word."
"Not yet."
We make it almost an hour without talking to him. I'm talking with Juliet about the overwhelming success of Mobility Mondays when I see him approaching. That old familiar dread, the way my body learned to sense his moods before he even opened his mouth.
"Silas." Enzo's voice is smooth oil, all practiced charm. "And Scout. How domestic."
I turn slowly, deliberately and meet his eyes without flinching, even though my heart is hammering. "Enzo."
Silas goes rigid beside me, but he stays silent. He’s letting me take the lead.
"Walk away," I say. My voice shakes slightly, but it's steady enough.
"I can't do that. Business, you understand." Enzo slides a leather folder onto the nearest cocktail table, tapping it with one manicured finger. "I've got something Silas is going to want to see."
"He's not interested."
"He will be." Enzo's smile sharpens into something predatory.
"New contracts. International sponsors. Endorsement deals that would set him up for life.
Triple what he's making now, maybe more.
" His eyes flick to me, dismissive. "All he has to do is sign with me again.
Drop the distractions. Let me handle his career the way it should be handled. "
The word distractions hits like a slap. All those years of Enzo telling me I was too much, too emotional, too clingy. I was holding him back, making everything harder, ruining his focus.
Something snaps inside me.
"You need to leave," I say, but the shakiness is gone now. "You’re a terrible human being and probably a shitty agent too. Players should avoid you like the IR list."
"This doesn't concern you, honey." Enzo's tone is patronizing, like he's explaining something obvious to a child. "This is business. Men's business. Why don't you go get us some drinks while Silas and I have a real conversation?"
The dismissal in his voice unlocks something I've been holding back for years. Silas growls and moves toward him, but I cling to his hand, holding him back.
"You were a horrible husband," I tell Enzo.
The words come out clear and sharp, cutting through the ambient noise of the gala.
People nearby start to turn their heads and listen.
"You cheated on me multiple times. You made me feel crazy for accusing you.
Then when I finally found proof, you acted like I was being dramatic! "
Enzo's face pales. "Scout, this isn't the place..."
"You’re nothing but a snake oil salesman, Enzo.
And you made me feel small." My voice gets louder, stronger.
"I worked so hard to build you up and to support your career.
I tried to be everything you said you needed.
I organized your schedule, managed your clients, handled every detail of your life so you could focus on work.
Then you turned around and called me clingy. "
Enzo’s eyes flash. "You're being emotional, Scout."
"The truth is that you never deserved me.
" The truth of it rings through my chest, settling into my bones.
"If I hadn't been so young when we met, I probably would have seen right through your love bombing bullshit.
But I was 20 and you were 32, and you knew exactly how to make me think I was lucky you chose me. "
Enzo's jaw tightens, fury flashing across his features. "You have no idea what you're talking about."
"I know exactly what I'm talking about." My hands are shaking but I don't care.
"You wanted someone who would worship you, who would make your life easier.
Someone who would never challenge you or ask for too much.
Then the second I needed anything from you, I stopped being useful.
And off you went, looking for someone new to suck down to the marrow. "
“Scout.” Enzo licks his lips, noticing that everyone is listening. "That's not how it happened. Marriage isn’t for everyone."
"You're a liar and a manipulator, Enzo. I wasted three years of my life trying to be small enough for you to love. But the problem was never me. It was always you."
Silas hasn't said a word, but I can feel the tension radiating off him in waves. His hand stays on my waist, solid and grounding, letting me have this moment.
Enzo's face twists into something ugly. "You ungrateful little..."
"Watch your mouth." Silas's voice cuts through the air like a blade, deadly quiet.
"Come on." Enzo's tone shifts, trying for camaraderie. "We both know she's baggage. Nice girl, sure, but she's going to drag you down eventually. Just like Juliet almost ruined Hunter's career. Don't make the same mistake your brother did. You're smarter than that."
The red haze that crosses Silas's face would be terrifying if it wasn't directed at Enzo.
"What did you just call her?" Silas's voice is low and dangerous.
"I'm just being realistic. She's a distraction you can't afford. Drop her, sign with me, and I'll have you set for life."
I don’t even notice him moving at first. Silas's fist connects with Enzo's jaw before I can blink.
The sound is sickening. Bone on bone, the sharp crack echoing through the suddenly silent ballroom. Enzo staggers backward, hand flying to his face, blood already blooming on his lip.
Gasps ripple through the crowd. Phones come up, flashes popping. But I can't look away from Silas, from the fury radiating off him like heat.
Enzo roars, lunges forward with all the grace of someone who's never actually been in a real fight.
His fist catches Silas in the ribs, sloppy and wild.
Silas barely flinches, just grabs Enzo by the lapels and slams him back against the cocktail table.
Champagne glasses topple, liquid spraying across white linen and expensive shoes.
"She isn't baggage." Silas's voice is a growl, low and feral. "She's the best thing that's ever happened to me. And you..." He draws his fist back again.
"Enough!" Hunter's voice cuts through the chaos like a blade. His hand clamps on Silas's shoulder, iron grip, hauling him back. Beck appears on Enzo's other side, captain authority radiating off him in waves.
"Off him," Hunter orders. "Now."
Silas releases Enzo, chest heaving. Every muscle in his body is coiled tight, ready to spring again.
Enzo straightens, trying to salvage his dignity while blood drips from his split lip. "You can't just assault me in front of witnesses, you idiot."
"You're fired." Hunter's voice is cold as January ice. "As of right now, you don't represent anyone on this team."
"You can't fire me. I've got signed contracts."
"Watch me." Hunter pulls out his phone, already typing. "Connor Li just dropped you. Shane Villarreal too. Check your phone in 15 minutes."
Silas steps closer, voice pitched low enough that only Enzo and I can hear. "The only useful thing you ever did was fuck up your marriage. Because you set Scout free. Now she's mine. And I'm not dumb enough to let her go. I'm not weak enough to throw her away the way you did."
The words land like body checks. I watch Enzo flinch, watch fury and humiliation twist his features into something ugly.
"Get out," Beck says flatly. "Trust me when I say that it would be a pleasure to have you removed."
Enzo’s eyes dart to me one last time. I see the exact moment he realizes I'm not afraid of him anymore. I give him a small smile.
"You'll regret this, Huxley," he says, but his voice shakes.
"The only thing I regret is not punching you sooner," Silas replies. “I should have kicked your ass when I fired you.”
“You’ll see. You’ll all see.” Enzo chuckles, wiping blood from his nose, and disappears into the night. The room stays silent for one long, suspended beat.
Then Juliet starts a slow clap from across the ballroom and gradually others join in. My hand finds Silas's, his knuckles already bruising and swelling.
"Oh, baby. You didn't have to do that."
"Yeah, I did." He turns to face me fully, not caring about the audience or the cameras still recording. "Nobody talks to you like that. Not him. Not anyone."
Tears prick at my eyes, but they're not sad tears. "You punched him for me."
"I'd happily kill him if you asked me to." He cups my face, thumbs stroking my cheekbones. "You make the world go ‘round."
I pull him down for a kiss that earns whistles and cheers from the remaining crowd. When we break apart, I'm crying and laughing at the same time.
Because this is what Enzo never understood. This is the difference between a man who uses you and a man who chooses you. Between someone who makes you carry all the weight and someone who stands beside you, ready to fight.
“Now that?” Hunter approaches, grinning like a fool. "That was the most reckless thing I've ever seen you do. I'm so fucking proud."
“Really impressive work, little Huxley.” We all stare at Juliet and she flushes. “What? I’m workshopping names.”
Connor Li materializes beside us, phone in hand. "I just wanted you to know, I dropped Enzo the second Hunter gave the signal. The guy was always a snake. He tried to make me badmouth the other rookies to sponsors last month."
Shane nods agreement. "He tried to pit us against each other last year during contract negotiations. Good riddance."
One by one, other players drift over. Most are confirming they've terminated their contracts with Enzo and sharing stories of his manipulation and schemes. By the time they're done, it's clear Enzo won't work in Seattle again. His reputation is destroyed. His client list is decimated.
Thorne appears, massive and imposing in a suit that barely contains his bulky shoulders. "I heard you threw hands. Sorry I missed it."
"It was beautiful," Hunter says. "Silas went full caveman. Very romantic."
"It was assault," Juliet corrects, but there's approval in her voice. "Justified assault, but assault nonetheless."
I laugh, the sound bright and genuine. Somehow, everything feels lighter.
Later, back at the condo, I watch Silas ice his knuckles at the kitchen sink. His hand is swollen, definitely bruised, maybe worse. I fuss over him, overwhelmed at what he did for me.
"You're going to get fined," I say. "Or suspended. Cross is going to kill you."
"I don't care."
"Silas."
"I don't care." He moves to sit beside me on the couch. "You're more important than any fine, any suspension, any career consequence. You hear me? Plus, the guy is oily as fuck. He deserved it. I did the world a service tonight."
I nod, my throat too tight to speak.
Then he moves to kiss me deeply, his hands fisting in my hair, claiming my mouth the way he claimed me in front of that whole ballroom.
When we finally come up for air, I'm flushed and breathless. "Bed?"
"Bed."
He carries me down the hall, into the bedroom, where he lays me down with a reverence that makes my breath catch. We fuck, then after we slow it down and make love. I come so many times that I'm pretty sure there’s not a drop of dopamine left in my brain.
Later, wrapped around each other in the dark, I trace idle patterns on his chest.
"Thank you," I murmur.
“For the sex?” He smiles slyly. "Or for punching your ex-husband?"
I kiss him gently. "For defending me."
"I'm choosing you," he says firmly. "Every time. Forever."
I kiss him over his heart. "Forever sounds perfect."
We fall asleep tangled together, and my last thought before sleep takes me is that I'm not afraid anymore. Not of Enzo, not of being too much, not of wanting things.
Because I stood up to my abuser and lived through it. Because Silas sees all of me and chooses me anyway. Because I finally understand that the problem was never me.
It was always him.
And now he's gone. In his place is a quiet, serious man who treats me like the Queen of Sheba. He loves me. I love him. And that’s all she wrote.