24. Drake
What is happening?
The weight of Emma”s words lingers in the air as I watch her storm out of the rink, leaving me standing there, floored by the revelations that have just unfolded. I”m torn between chasing after her and giving her the space she clearly needs.
How could she even begin to believe that I’m cheating on her? That I wouldn’t tell her I had a child on the way?
I race out of the rink after her. I stop to see which way she went.
Before I can make a move, Gabby steps in front of me, concern etched on her face. ”Drake, we have a problem.”
“I’m aware.”
Sarah approaches us, a self-satisfied smirk on her face.
”Drake, I hope you enjoyed your time with Emma. I did my part, now it”s time for you to do yours. I”ll be waiting for your call,” she says, brushing past us as if nothing happened.
“Sarah was paid handsomely to lie to Emma.”
My eyes widen in disbelief. ”Paid? By who?”
Gabby looks around cautiously before answering. ”By Loughlin. Who do you think? He”s been pulling the strings behind the scenes, orchestrating all of this to destabilize you and the team. Emma needs to know the truth, and you need to take action.”
Anger surges within me, a fire ignited by the betrayal. ”Loughlin? This goes beyond personal vendettas. He”s trying to destroy everything we”ve built.”
Gabby nods. ”Exactly. You need to go to the league and the police now. Show them the proof, expose Loughlin for what he”s done.”
I clench my fists, the weight of responsibility settling on my shoulders. ”I can”t believe I let this happen. I”ll go, Gabby. I”ll take this to the league, and I”ll make sure Loughlin pays for what he”s done.”
She pats my shoulder, a reassuring gesture. ”Go, Drake. And be careful. Loughlin is a dangerous man.”
***
I have to go into the city to talk to the League about Loughlin. The President has an office close by and she’s there today and tomorrow only. Please believe me when I tell you that Loughlin paid that woman to lie to you. I love you
As I have Brian drive me to the airport, I quickly text Emma and then I focus on organizing the evidence against Loughlin—emails, messages, anything that can prove his involvement in this malicious scheme. When Brian pulls alongside the private jet waiting on the tarmac, I can”t shake the feeling that everything is at stake.
The flight to New York is tense, the gravity of the situation sinking in. I have to expose Loughlin, protect the team, and salvage whatever is left of my relationship with Emma. The league”s headquarters loom ahead, a beacon of authority and justice.
Upon arrival, I”m escorted to the President”s office. She looks up from her desk, surprise evident in her eyes. ”Drake, what brings you here?”
I waste no time, placing the file of evidence on her desk. ”I need to talk to you. It”s about Loughlin and what he”s been doing behind the scenes.”
The President furrows her brows, curiosity piqued. ”Loughlin? What do you mean?”
I launch into the details, revealing the extent of Loughlin”s manipulations, his attempts to undermine the team, and the personal toll it has taken on me. The President listens intently, her expression shifting from curiosity to disbelief and, ultimately, anger.
”He did all of this? That”s despicable,” she says, shaking her head. “I never did care for him. He’s a blowhard.”
I nod. ”I have proof. Emails, messages—everything you need to expose him.”
“Tell me more.”
“I had a private investigator look into some things for me. She has emails and text messages between Loughlin and his grandson. I have a confession from a friend of mine who Loughlin was blackmailing as well. That same person is willing to go on record if necessary. I have photographic proof of Loughlin telling a group of people that he would drive Zane home and then loading him into the truck to drive home.”
“What? How did you get that?”
“The investigator pulled it from the security cameras of the restaurant he was at.”
“Is it a clear shot?”
“Very. You can hear him talk and identify himself. He even pulls up in his car with a clear view of his license plates.”
“That wasn’t smart.”
“I’m not thrilled to admit that I had the team finances looked into as well. It seems he’s been skimming off the top from me.”
“Embezzling?” she sighs.
“Yes, Ma’am.”
She takes a moment to process the information before sighing again. ”Drake, this is a lot to take in. I need to investigate this thoroughly. I can”t believe he”d go to such lengths.”
I clench my jaw, frustration bubbling within me. ”He”s ruthless, and he won”t stop until he gets what he wants. You need to take action now, before he can do any more damage.”
The President nods, determination in her eyes. ”I”ll handle it, Drake. I”ll make sure he faces the consequences of his actions. As for you, as far as I can see, you don”t need to sell the team to anyone. The Battle Hawks are safe.”
Relief washes over me, and I”m grateful for the President”s assurance. ”Thank you. I just want to protect the team, the legacy we”ve built.”
And I need to make things right with Emma.
She offers a sympathetic smile. ”I’ll handle Loughlin, and I”ll make sure justice is served. Thank you for this.”
With a nod of gratitude, I leave the League President’s satellite office, the weight of the world still heavy on my shoulders. The battle against Loughlin is far from over, but at least there’s a glimmer of hope that justice will prevail.
As I board my private plane and head back to Willow Creek, my thoughts are consumed by the urgency of repairing the damage done.
I have to make sure Emma believes me.
***
My plane touches down in Willow Creek, and my mind races with a mix of different thoughts.
What did I ever do to Loughlin to make him pull all of this shit?
I step off the plane and into the cool night air, the glow of the regional airport lights casting shadows on the tarmac. The familiar sights of home should bring comfort, but my thoughts are consumed by the turmoil of recent events. I make my way to my car, where Brian is waiting for me, the engine humming to life as I navigate the empty streets toward Emma”s apartment.
The drive seems to take forever. I try calling Emma but she doesn’t answer.
I pull up to the back of the restaurant and park by the steps to Emma’s apartment, my heart pounding in my chest. I take a deep breath, steeling myself for the confrontation ahead, and make my way to Emma”s door.
With each step, the gravity of the situation becomes more apparent. The echoes of her tearful departure from the rink replay in my mind, it hurts that she accused me of such things. But I know those are her issues, not mine. I reach her door, my hand hovering over the buzzer, uncertainty settling within me. Will she even let me in?
I press the buzzer, the sound echoing through the quiet hallway. Moments later, the door opens, and there she is—Emma. Her eyes are red, tear streaks marking her face. The weight of her pain is palpable, and I feel a lump form in my throat.
”Drake,” she says, her voice a fragile whisper.
I search for words, wanting to express the turmoil within me, the regret that gnaws at my conscience. ”Emma, can we talk? Please.”
She steps back, gesturing for me to enter. The apartment is dimly lit, the atmosphere heavy with emotion. As the door closes behind me, I turn to face her, taking in the raw vulnerability in her eyes.
“Gabby stopped by.”
“She did? I didn’t ask her to do that.”
“I know. She told me she did it on her own. She brought Sarah with her.”
“Fuck. She told you the truth then?”
“Yes, that Loughlin paid her to find me and lie to me.”
I take a step closer. I reach out to touch her arm, but she pulls away. “I have proof—emails, messages, everything. I”ve taken it to the league, and they”re investigating. I want to make sure Loughlin pays for what he”s done, not just to us, but to the team and the town.”
She blows out a breath. “Okay.”
“Are we okay?”
“I don’t know, Drake. I need … I clearly need to work on some more issues that I have. If … If I loved you the way I say I do, then I shouldn’t … I shouldn’t have believed you’d be capable of lying and cheating on me.”
“That’s bullshit. You’re being too hard on yourself. You had a random woman come up to you and tell you a story. I’m not mad that you believed her. I am a little hurt that you reacted and didn’t talk to me about it. I also understand that you’ve been through a lot.”
She shakes her head and stares back at me, more tears roll down her cheeks.
“Will I ever stop being scared of being abandoned, of being made to look like a fool?”
“It comes with time. It comes with trust. It comes with me giving you a safe space to land, to vent, to be in. It’ll happen, I promise.”
I open my arms and she finally walks into me. She rests her head on my chest. I tip her chin up and kiss her softly.
”I love you. I”m not going anywhere. You”re safe.”
She closes her eyes and inhales. I kiss her again before pulling back and holding her tightly.
”I love you, too. Thank you for ... always giving me space.”
I brush a strand of hair away from her face, my eyes tracing the contours of her features. The soft glow of the moon bathes the room, casting a gentle light upon us, as if nature itself is serenading this intimate moment.
”It”s okay,” I whisper, my voice a gentle caress against her ear. ”You don”t need to thank me. It”s what love does—it allows room for growth, for healing. And it”s in that space that we find comfort.”
She exhales deeply, as if releasing all the worries and anxieties that silently plague her mind. And I know that in that moment, she truly feels safe in my arms. I watch as the tension melts from her body, her muscles relaxing against me.