Prologue
Hunter
Stopping in the corridor was the first mistake I made that day. But it wasn’t my last. Not that I have any regrets. It would be like regretting who I am.
The scuffling sound came from the dimly lit cement tunnel to my right. The coaches’ offices were down that way. I was about to move on, until I heard what sounded like a sob. A woman’s strangled voice said stop. The blood froze in my veins. I turned, still not moving.
You’re hurting me.
The words set my frozen brain on fire. Blinded by furious heat, I rushed down the corridor. Urgency dictated my actions. No thinking required. It was all instinct.
That wasn’t my second mistake. There was no way I’d take back what I did next. It was necessary.
In a few long strides, I found them. Coach Nutter had a woman up against the wall. He didn’t notice me. He was busy yanking her skirt up with one hand while he held his other hand over her mouth. He was muttering something close to her ear, but I didn’t much care what he was saying.
I reached in and grabbed Nutter by the collar, yanking him back from the wall, from the woman. Recognition flashed. I knew her, knew who she was anyway. One of the team’s cheerleaders, Danielle.
Even with surprise on my side, that pause cost me.
Nutter turned around quick and took a swing.
The blow struck me partially in the jaw.
But I was quicker, stronger, younger, and I used all my advantages to knock him on his ass with a right-left combination that exploded his nose and put him out cold.
Turning away from Nutter as he fell to the floor, I went to Danielle.
“You okay?”
She collapsed onto me in a heap, tears streaming. She nodded her head with unconvincing violence. I patted her back for a second and she calmed down enough to talk.
“Let’s get out of here.”
Glancing at Nutter on the floor, I noticed him stir. I was glad and disappointed at the same time. Glad I didn’t kill him. Disappointed I hadn’t made the bastard suffer more.
I said, “We need to call an ambulance or get the team doctor or something. For Nutter.”
She backed up from me, fear in her face.
“Are you—crazy? You’d get in trouble. People would find out about . . .” Tears started again. Then she came forward, grabbing a bunch of my shirtfront in her fists.
“He threatened me. Threatened to tell my husband things. To have me thrown off the squad. Ruin me if I said a word. I believe him. You can’t tell anyone. I could lose everything. My promotion deals, the modeling, the television ads—”
“Take it easy. You haven’t done anything wrong, Dani. He shouldn’t get away with this. It’s our word against his and there’s two of us.” I held onto her arms, hoping to infuse reason into her. Judging by the wild, desperate look in her eyes, it was a long shot.
“You can’t tell anyone you found me here.
No one can know.” She’d stopped crying now.
“Not even a hint.” She whispered in a shaky voice, “He called me. Got me down here on a false pretext. He’s been sniffing around for weeks.
People will think I was interested when I was only being polite.
I know how this works.” As she spoke, her voice became calm, reasonable. Convincing.
I nodded, patted her arms, hated what I was hearing.
Heaving a breath, I said, “All right, Dani.” I paused and knew I had no choice, not in my mind. I continued in a confident, determined voice.
“I give you my word. I won’t say anything about you being here. I won’t ever mention your name. No matter what.” I looked back at Nutter. He was trying to prop himself up on his elbow, looking woozy. “I don’t think Nutter will mention you either.”
He looked up at me, pure malice contorting his face.
“You’re done, Hunter Quintanna. You’re off this team. And when I get through with you, there won’t be an NFL team out there who’ll want you.”
My second mistake was not believing him.
He was only an assistant coach, the offensive coordinator.
He didn’t have the juice to undermine me.
Or so I thought. He had the juice and he was a bully and he put me through hell in the next few weeks.
Because he’d heard my promise, knew I wouldn’t defend myself, he launched everything he had at me.
Which meant I was gone. Off the team and praying for another chance.
But I could take the punishment. Far better than Danielle could. I was a tough bastard.