Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Honda Center, Anaheim
R obyn
“This is dangerously like trying to lure a wildcat, while on enemy territory.” My heart beats fast in my chest. “Why did we choose the Ducks’ own locker room?”
Anxiety skyrockets through me.
I wipe my sweating palms down the front of my woolen coat.
“Because an ambush is more effective, when the prey thinks that they’re safe. Anyway, I happen to be good at taming wild cats.” D’Angelo snags Shay by his team tie and yanks him closer, while possessively wrapping his arm around me. “A pride of them.”
“Two,” I correct. “And you have the ringmaster’s outfit to prove it.”
“It’s unfair that you haven’t shown me that yet, darlin’.” Shay catches my gaze, and we smile at each other, conspiratorially. “Lions need to be tamed together, you know.”
I shiver at the thought of D’Angelo dressed in his ringmaster outfit, holding his riding crop, while both Shay and I are tamed as his pets.
I’m adding that to our list of role plays.
Both D’Angelo and Shay are dressed in matching navy suits with arctic blue waistcoats.
They look stunning like this: dramatic opposites who fit together.
Eden is seated on a bench at the side of the locker room, focused on his phone. His brow is furrowed with concentration, as he continues to work on the plan for D’Angelo.
Even though it’s within his role as PA, I know that Eden’s really doing this for me.
When was the last time that he slept?
He’s wearing a black suit with a gray waistcoat that matches his eyes. He looks gorgeous but dangerous.
The Honda Center’s locker room is at the end of a long, white corridor, past a state-of-the-art gym. The walls are lined with stalls above orange, padded benches. The players’ equipment is hung up on each stall: pads, helmets, skates, and jerseys.
The walls are emblazoned with motivational words like CONSISTENT and COMPETE .
My nose wrinkles at the chemical scent of rubber mixed with sweat, along with the mildew stench of hockey equipment.
“Is it all set up?” D’Angelo demands.
Eden nods.
I bite my lip.
These could be our last moments alone. I must grab them.
“This is our first road trip.” I glance at each of my men in turn. “Despite everything, it’s been special to me. I won’t let some pathetic man, who can only live in the past, steal that from us.”
“Too right.” Shay grins. “I know that I’ve found some things difficult. But most of this holiday has been bloody brilliant. Hasn’t it, Dee?”
Finally, Eden looks up from his phone and straight at me.
He nods again.
“My brother and I got to see some of America for the first time, as well as having our first experience of traveling in a motorhome.” When Shay happily counts off his first experiences on his fingers, D’Angelo tightens his hold on Shay’s tie like he’s frightened of losing him or wants to be certain that he’s now his. “Camping was fantastic. I’m going to want more of those roasted marshmallows on our next holiday together.”
Our next holiday.
He says it so naturally. He doesn’t appear to have realized what he’s said.
Does that mean he’s starting to accept that D’Angelo and I are in this relationship with his twin and him long term?
D’Angelo smiles, meeting my eye.
He’s thinking the same as I am.
“Done.” D’Angelo moves his hand from Shay’s tie to his shoulder. “But next time, no smearing that gooey muck down my suit.”
“I make no promises.”
“Do you know what else I enjoyed about the trip?” Shay nudges D’Angelo cheekily. “Teasing you over the radio channel. I’ve seen that in the movies but never had the chance to torment anyone that way, since my parents don’t have a car.”
“I’m glad to be of service,” D’Angelo says, dryly.
“My favorite memory was the vibrating cock ring.” I smile, dreamily.
“The hotel that smells of tea,” Eden adds.
“Simply being able to spend time with all of you together.” D’Angelo’s cheeks flush. “Being allowed to spoil you.”
Shay looks at D’Angelo through his eyelashes. “Permission to always spoil us.”
“You can’t take that back now, cucciolo. Remember that.”
“I never knew that being spoiled could be a threat.”
“I’m creative, remember?”
“I just want you to know how proud I am.” I look down. “Dad sent us alone on this trip because he didn’t trust you. But ironically, it’s his past that’s screwed things up.” I glance at Eden. “The itinerary, which I have finally — maybe — read has kept us perfectly on time. You’ve coped with the new and busy social situations. I know that’s been tough. Your efficiency is mind-blowing.”
Eden places down his phone, looking like he doesn’t know how to respond to the praise.
“It’s especially mind-blowing,” D’Angelo agrees, “considering I’m one of the most demanding and micromanaging bosses in existence.”
“You’re not.” Eden crosses his arms. “You’re the best boss.”
D’Angelo’s eyes widen.
I struggle not to laugh, when I see that he’s equally unsure how to respond to praise.
Shay, on the other hand, simply claps his hands together. “A mutual appreciation society. The best boss gets the best PA. And Dee and I should know whether you’re a good boss or not. Do you remember that time at college, when you had a summer cleaning job, and your boss kept making you illegally work double shifts? You were working sixteen hour days without a break for months.”
“I earned more money.” Eden stands up, picking up his phone and pushing it into his pocket. “I could buy you the new stick you needed.”
“Not the point.”
“And that’s why you have a proper contract,” D’Angelo’s voice is tight, “which protects you from working conditions like that. Talk to me, if you need anything. I won’t be like Colton who overworks his staff. But it’s men like Gibbs who truly give bosses a bad name.”
Gibbs.
I wish that I could forget that we’re here because of him.
My pulse races.
Will Gibbs truly show up? And if he does, what will happen?
I touch the glistening hockey jersey pendant at my neck.
Facing the past demons that have haunted my childhood is one of the hardest things that I have done, as frightening as leaving Wilder and starting my life independently again.
Yet I managed that.
I survived.
Now, I have a career that I love. A home. And a new relationship where I’m loved for who I truly am.
I’m seen.
I won’t allow these childhood fears to control me any longer.
I definitely won’t allow it to haunt Cody.
When the locker room door swings open, I jump.
“Why do you need to see me, Eden?” Cody rushes into the room. “Your text, confusing as they often are, sounded urgent. But you pulled me from a staff meeting. Colton will kick my…”
He stops and stares at us in surprise.
Cody’s wearing the Bay Rebels staff uniform and looking unusually smart.
I pull away from D’Angelo to wave weakly at him.
“Why are you having a cuddle, possibly the prelude to an orgy, in the rival team’s locker room?” Cody puts his hands on his hips.
I can’t stop myself. I run to Cody, hugging him tightly.
All the stress and fear that Gibbs has put me through washes over me.
I shudder.
Immediately, Cody hugs me back. “Hey, what’s this all about? Ryn, you’re scaring me. It’s okay. I’m here.”
“I’m sorry.” Eden sounds nervous. “Did I get you in trouble?”
“Pfft, Colton can go shove a stick up his bullying ass.” Cody strokes my hair. “If you guys need me here, then I’m all in.”
“Excellent.” D’Angelo tugs Shay by the hand closer to Cody. “Then here’s the short version: Gibbs has been playing a twisted version of truth or dare with us, since we started on the road. He threatened to tell the world that your dad deliberately attacked him on the ice, if we didn’t play along. He’d tell that truth , if we didn’t take the dares . I did one, then Shay. They hurt us, badly.”
“So, that’s why you sucked in your games,” Cody exclaims.
D’Angelo glares at him.
I pull back from Cody, wiping at my eyes. “Way to go with the diplomacy, Code.”
Cody gives an apologetic shrug. “I mean, why you were distracted .”
Shay squeezes D’Angelo’s hand. “You could say that.”
“Now, Gibbs wants a third dare,” D’Angelo explains. “But I won’t allow him to target Eden or my principessa. So, we have a plan to stop him.”
Cody’s eyes widen, before he pulls me into a hug again. “This is the truth or dare that you were talking about in Merchant’s Inn. Fuck, Ryn, why didn’t you tell me that it had become more serious?”
“I wanted to keep you safe.”
Cody draws back, looking at me searchingly. “You spent your life trying to keep me safe from Dad. It’s not your job. I have to look out for myself sometime.”
“It’s not a job,” I reply, stubbornly. “You’re my younger brother. Looking out for you isn’t something that just ends when you turn eighteen. Plus, you’ve always been just as protective of me.”
“Michael is going to…” Cody tilts his head. “Well, probably give you a patented stern and disappointed look. I’m the one who’ll be in trouble for not stopping this.”
“I didn’t want to involve you but I thought that you deserved to be here this evening. You’ve had to deal with Dad’s shit because of what happened on the ice between Gibbs and Dad.”
Cody looks worried. “Don’t you remember that my husband warned how dangerous these games were?”
“We’ve learned that lesson.” Eden’s expression is stony.
When the door slams open, Cody shoves me behind him.
“It looks like the family are all here,” a deep but smarmy voice says. “ Almost all.”
A tall, handsome man in his late fifties saunters into the locker room. He’s wearing a scarlet suit, which makes his fiery red hair gleam brighter. His eyes are a pale blue.
He has the air of a golf pro who’d sleep with your partner.
Instantly, my skin crawls at his fake smile.
All three of my men prowl to stand next to Cody, blocking his view of me.
Cody’s expression is fierce. “Hey, asshole, why the hell have you been screwing with my family and friends?”
“Because your dad screwed with me, sweetheart,” Gibbs replies.
“You made the decision to turn up. So, you can follow orders, as well as give them,” D’Angelo says, icily.
Gibbs’ fake smile dies. “And you definitely know how to follow them, don’t you? You dance, confess your sins, and sob on cue. Highly entertaining.”
“To a psychopath,” Eden says.
“Or a sadist,” Shay adds.
Gibbs ignores them, leaning against the wall. “It was fascinating seeing how far I could push you for Austin. I never thought that you’d suffer your worst fears for that bastard. My boys wouldn’t suffer a paper cut for me. I don’t mind admitting that those snowflakes couldn’t endure what you have.”
“You won’t mind if we’re not flattered,” D’Angelo drawls.
Gibbs shrugs. “Do you think that I care what you think or feel? It was when I fully read your texts that I knew the real reason you were doing everything. You’re friends with the asshole’s son and in love with his daughter. All of you. You have filthy minds, by the way. The things people text to each other nowadays.”
“Sorry to have shocked you.” D’Angelo takes a step forward. “Can you get to the point?”
Rage flashes across Gibb’s face. “The point is that then I knew you’d do anything to protect her. That’s your pain point. Your weakness.” He gives a bitter laugh. “I understand that drive. When you’re so obsessed that you’d give up anything to keep and own a woman.”
My stomach turns.
I want to hurl.
Eden launches himself at Gibbs, taking him by surprise.
Eden looks coldly deadly like this. His face is impassive, but his eyes are blazing.
“Dee,” Shay calls. “Don’t. It’s what he wants.”
Eden ignores him, however, slamming Gibbs back against the wall. Gibbs lets out a pained sound, scrabbling at Eden’s hand, which is wrapped around his throat.
Eden may have one arm in a sling, but right now, he’s furious enough to still be deadly.
I notice that D’Angelo doesn’t move to stop Eden.
This isn’t part of the plan, right?
Anxiously, I shift from foot to foot. My heart is hammering in my chest. My pulse roars in my ears.
What the hell should I do?
Gibbs chokes.
“Robyn isn’t property.” Eden tightens his hold on Gibbs’ neck. “Nobody owns her. She isn’t a slave .”
“Get in here,” Gibbs wheezes, slamming his palm repeatedly against the wall.
What does he mean?
Cody glances back at me, confused.
The Anaheim Ducks team start to stream into the locker room. They surround us, backing us into a tight group, until we’re forced against the wall.
Cody backs towards me. “Hold onto me.”
I grasp onto his shoulders.
“Nobody had better fucking touch Ms. McKenna,” D’Angelo commands.
Isn’t the captain, Folkes, D’Angelo’s friend? Weren’t they in on this ambush?
Or did they betray us because they’re more afraid of whatever their coach is holding over them?
Shit.
“Get. Him. Off. Me,” Gibbs rasps.
A couple of large hockey players grab Eden by the waist. When he still doesn’t let go, one of them snatches hold of his bad arm and begins to drag it out of his sling.
Eden howls, letting go of Gibbs.
My chest is tight. “Stop it.”
Gibbs takes deep gulps of oxygen, massaging his throat.
Eden is shoved to his knees.
He’s biting his lip hard enough to make it bleed now to stop himself from showing his pain again.
His whole body is tight from it, however, as his arm is twisted behind his back.
They’re going to fuck up his shoulder.
“He’s recovering from a serious injury, which he received on the ice,” Cody yells. “I’m in charge of his medical care. You have to stop twisting that arm. As players, don’t you have any respect? Fucking cowards.”
“Bastards.” Shay wildly punches at the men in front of him who stand a head taller.
They shove him back, but he barrels through them again.
He struggles to get through to his brother like he’s possessed, desperate and shaking at the same time that he fights like he used to on the ice.
Shocked at his savagery, the Ducks allow Shay through to Eden’s side. But then, two of them violently shove Shay to his knees.
Gibbs watches smugly, as Shay’s arms are also yanked behind his back.
“It’s going to be okay.” Shay rests his forehead against his brother’s. “I’m here now, bro.”
Eden meets his brother’s gaze but can’t answer. He’s working too hard on not making any sound from the agony.
“Folkes,” D’Angelo addresses the captain who is standing guard over us with such iciness that I’m amazed he doesn’t freeze him. “If your teammates don’t let go of my friends, I am going to make it my personal mission to destroy you. And that includes no more invites to any type of party. Do you understand?”
What does he mean? Party?
Is that the exclusive kind that D’Angelo told me about, where you need to be vetted and wait for an invitation?
Folkes is a powerfully built player with blond curls and a scar across his bottom lip.
Folkes’ eyes widen.
“Sorry, D’Angelo. No one was meant to be hurt.” Then Folkes orders, “Back off, guys. Now .”
The rival players let go of both brothers.
Shay hisses in relief, swinging his arms forward and rubbing them.
Eden doesn’t move.
Shay looks Eden over, before gently taking hold of his arm.
“Bite my shoulder, if you need to,” he says, quietly.
Eden nods, hiding his face on Shay’s shoulder.
Eden’s scream is muffled, as Shay brings his arm forward and carefully fits it back into the sling.
“He needs pain meds and to ice that shoulder. I should check it.” Cody looks worriedly at Eden.
Eden shakes his head. “I’m fine.”
“Pain scale.”
Eden doesn’t answer.
I know why.
He’s so high on the pain scale that he’s probably off it. But he doesn’t want to lie.
D’Angelo looks as ashen, as I bet I do. “What now?”
Gibbs adjusts his tie, trying to look in control again. “You broke the rules. There was only one dare to go. Why wouldn’t you follow through? I’m giving you one more chance, before the only option is truth. And you won’t like me to tell you every detail of that.”
“Pass.”
Gibbs gestures around at the crowd of men surrounding us. “Not an option. Your only choice is who plays the dare.”
“Me,” Cody says, quickly.
“Obvious. Me.” Eden’s kneeling but he doesn’t look weak.
Gibbs steps away from the twins and weaves through the Ducks to stand in front of D’Angelo.
Then he points behind D’Angelo and Cody at me .
My mouth is dry.
I clutch more tightly to Cody’s waist.
“But she’s the one who you’ve all been standing in front of,” Gibbs says. “So, since you don’t agree on who plays, I’m picking her.”
“Fuck off,” Shay snarls.
“Hot tempered, isn’t he?” And there’s Gibbs’ fake smile again.
“Actually, he’s usually a ray of sunshine,” I reply. “But you bring the thunder out of him. Soon, maybe even the lightning.”
“Sassy, I like that.” The way Gibbs is peering over Cody’s shoulder at me is making me sick. “You’re as pretty as your mom was, sweetheart.”
“Don’t talk about my mom.” I tremble with rage.
“Why not? She’s why we’re here.” Gibbs glances at Cody and me. “So, my pretty as her dead mom, here’s your dare: slap the person in this group of family or friends who you love least .”
I draw in a sharp breath.
Both the twins have become very still.
The asshole.
The cruel asshole .
Gibbs knows how much we love each other.
If I pick just one person, single them out and humiliate them — slap and hurt them in order to do it — then I’ll destroy our poly relationship.
I’ll wreck this new life that I’ve been forging in Freedom.
This is my worse fear.
Eden pushes himself stiffly to his feet. “It’s fine, Robyn. Let’s get it done.”
I stare at Eden in shock.
He’s standing there patiently like he believes it’s a foregone conclusion that I’ll choose him.
Like there could be no other choice for the least lovable.
In his life, he’s always come last.
Not anymore.
“I’m not choosing you.” My eyes smart with tears. “Do you know how important you are to me, my phoenix?”
Eden’s gaze snaps to mine in shock.
“Phoenix?” He repeats, pleased and shocked.
His lips twitch into an almost smile.
“A slap? That’s all?” D’Angelo asks, evenly.
“All?” I let go of Cody. I’m shaking. “I’d never slap any of you. Never.”
“I’m cocky, grumpy, and draw smutty stickmen in the Guide.” D’Angelo turns to face me. His gaze is soft in a way that it rarely is, and I suddenly realize that he’s giving me permission to choose him, which will take away this pressure from me and the others thinking that they may be chosen. D’Angelo knows that he never could be. I hope. “ Green .”
How can D’Angelo turn something that’s meant to be a humiliation into an intimate moment between us?
A show of love, rather than hate?
I work my way around Cody to stand in front of D’Angelo.
“You are cocky, grumpy, and do draw a lot of smut.” I take a deep breath.
Then I slap D’Angelo gently on the cheek.
D’Angelo’s head doesn’t even move, the slap was so light.
His pupils dilate, however, and his gaze dips to my lips like he wishes that he could kiss me.
I’m acutely aware of how many people are watching us.
Fuck, that makes me wet.
By the way that D’Angelo pushes closer to me to hide how hard he is in his pants, he’s as turned on by that fact as I am.
So, face slapping.
Something to add to my kink list.
Gibbs, however, crows with delight. “Poor captain. A lesson to learn there, Folkes, don’t be a cocky loser like D’Angelo or nobody will ever—”
“Thanks for keeping Gibbs here for me, until I could arrive.” Dad strides into the locker room. Then his gaze sweeps across the way that Shay is kneeling on the floor and Eden is cradling his arm. “Although I didn’t say anything about roughing them up.”
“They fought back,” Folkes says, defensively.
Dad looks proud. “Of course they did. I don’t allow anyone soft onto my team.”
Shay stands up, helping his brother to his feet.
Dad is dressed in the same matching game night suit as D’Angelo and Shay are.
Cody stares at Dad, confused. “What are you doing here?”
“Saving your asses by the look of it,” Dad barks.
So, that was what Eden was arranging this morning.
This is the ambush.
D’Angelo nods at Folkes, who gestures at his teammates.
“Come on, guys. Time to practice on the ice,” Folkes calls.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Gibbs scrambles through the players, who are pushing past him like he doesn’t exist. Fuck, that’s satisfying to see. “Get your useless asses back here. I own you. I know every secret about you. Do you want me to leak to the press…” He points from player to player. “Your illegitimate child? Or your debts? Or how your Mom used to…”
Folkes grabs Gibbs’ finger, bending it back.
Gibbs cringes, rather than fights.
He’s only brave, when he’s threatening other people from a distance.
“Listen here,” Folkes leans over Gibbs, “you’re never going to threaten me or my teammates again. You don’t own shit.”
Then he knees Gibbs so hard in the balls that I think they may pop out of his mouth.
I wince at the same time that inside I’m cheering.
Shay actually does whoop.
Gibbs drops to the ground with a groan.
Folkes steps over him with a wink at D’Angelo, before he leaves and shuts the locker room door.
It’s suddenly quiet in the locker room, apart from Gibbs’ quiet gasps.
Dad glowers at Cody. “You should have told me what was going on. You endangered your sister.”
Cody stiffens.
“He didn’t know, until today,” I rush to explain. “It’s me who kept it quiet.”
“And me, coach. You knew about the original text,” D’Angelo adds, tapping a rhythm of three on his thigh. “But to be fair, we couldn’t tell you what happened after that because it was a provision of the threats that Gibbs here set for us. We couldn’t inform you, or he’d immediately go to the press with the truth about you.”
“The truth…?” Dad marches to Gibbs, dragging him to his feet by the front of his shirt. “And what’s that then, Larry?”
“You tried to kill me.”
Dad’s startled enough to let go of Gibbs’ shirt. “Is that how you see it? You’re wrong. I own that I lost my temper. I screwed up. And you paid for that. But I never meant to injure you like I did.”
“You never even spoke to me after it happened.” Gibbs’ voice is softer.
Caught off guard, I stare at the two men.
What actually went on back then?
What is the truth?
Dad looks awkward. “My lawyers advised me not to. That was a mistake. So, I’ll say it now. I’m sorry.”
“You’re apologizing?” D’Angelo bursts out. “This man has put us through hell.”
“Shut up, D’Angelo,” Dad orders. “That’s now, and I’m talking about the past. Wouldn’t you expect the men who ended Eden’s career to apologize? I’ve spent all the years since, looking for ways to somehow redeem myself. Helping players who need second chances and support through the Bay Rebels is part of that. But that doesn’t mean I’ve forgotten what you’re doing now to my kids and players, Larry.”
Gibbs shrugs. “It caught your attention, didn’t it?”
My eyes widen. “You’re kidding me. That’s what this was about?”
Gibbs runs his hand through his hair. “To start with it was rage, when I saw your team performing well. Then when I read the emails and texts…” To my shock, Gibbs pushes closer into Dad’s space, and Dad lets him. “Do you remember the truth or dare game that we played the first night we three met?”
Truth or dare game?
All of a sudden, my stomach is churning.
I know that I’m not going to want to hear this, but at the same time, that I need to.
Cody moves closer to me. His hand slips into mine.
“Ancient history.” Dad glances at Cody and me, anguished. “If you wanted to beat my ass, then you should have fought me like a man. These games are a kid’s tantrum. We’re not at college anymore.”
“Because if we were,” Gibbs shoves Dad, “you’d remember that was the night you first kissed Beth. But then, I did too.”
Cody and I both gasp at the same time.
Beth.
Our mom’s name.
D’Angelo darts a concerned glance at me.
“And you wouldn’t have forgotten,” Gibbs continues, resolutely, “that she loved us both , refusing to choose between us. That we shared her. It was tough because I loved her so fucking much. I coped, however, because you and I were friends and I’d have done anything for her. Those were my happiest times: Beth watching us play hockey, studying in dorm together, and joining the boxing team because you had. We were a force.”
Eden clenches his hands. “Why didn’t you like us being with Robyn, coach?”
My throat tightens.
Dad accepted my polyamorous relationship but not easily. He’s been on the guys’ backs about it.
Yet he was in a similar relationship at college.
Except, is that the reason? He was in an unhealthy dynamic, or one that went wrong?
“Because I hated being in that type of relationship,” Dad replies. Gibbs makes a wounded sound. “You appear to be wearing rose tinted glasses, Larry. It wasn’t a poly relationship. It was Beth being torn between me and you — an obsessed jerk.”
Gibbs’ expression transforms with rage.
Before he can attack Dad, however, Cody, D’Angelo, and I step to stand at Dad’s shoulder.
Shay and Eden block Gibbs in on the other side.
Gibbs looks around himself. “You’re only saying that because you can’t bear to face that Beth loved me.”
“But she chose me .” Dad’s eyes are hard. “She married me. You never respected her decision.”
Shay is watching D’Angelo and me closely.
Eden stands, until his shoulder is touching his brother’s in support.
What if the twins think that this is what will happen to them? I’ll use them, until I choose D’Angelo to marry?
I never would.
Except, Mom did.
That hurts my heart.
Whatever Dad says now, Mom was in a relationship with Gibbs throughout college.
Gibbs did love her.
Okay, he was also an obsessed jerk who acted like he owned her.
He didn’t deserve Mom’s love.
But still, he had no idea that he’d be cut out.
I understand now what the chirps on the ice must have been about.
How can I prove to my men that what Mom and Dad did in the past won’t be repeated?
In my head, Mom is wrapped in the golden light of grief. She’s an angel, from before everything went to shit in my life.
It’s hard to see that she was human and flawed as well.
Cody looks as shaken as I am.
D’Angelo doesn’t appear as surprised by these revelations as the rest of us are.
He must have suspected it already. He tried to spare me.
Secrets come out eventually, however, and that terrifies me about my own relationship.
Gibbs’ pale blue eyes are watery with tears. “Fuck you, Austin. You both abandoned me. I’m going to play truth now in the press.”
“Go for it.” Dad arches his brow. “Desecrate the memory of the woman who you claim to have loved. See how many people believe you, when you try to say that it was a murder attempt, even though you’ve waited years after the fact. You’ll look crazy. And you know what? Too many people already know what you’re like behind the scenes.”
“What do you mean? I’m a family man. You’re the one who’s a washed up loser with anger issues.”
I’ve never seen two coaches fight like this before.
They’re squaring off like two old stags.
D’Angelo turns to Cody and me, winking.
Then he coughs, before sauntering forward like he’s about to put on his greatest performance.
“Really?” D’Angelo can’t quite keep the satisfaction out of his voice. “I have it on record from scores of past and present players that you’re a bully and a blackmailer, Gibbs. After this game, your team and staff are going to the board to have you removed as coach. I also hear that you’re about to be sued for sexual harassment, while your affairs that are about to be revealed will literally make the journalists orgasm. Now, if anything that you discovered from the information you hacked illegally from my computer is leaked or used against me, then I will sue you for everything that you’ve got.”
Gibbs gapes at him, paling. “You can’t…I mean…this isn’t…”
Joy surges through me.
Confident now, I stride to join D’Angelo. “You’ve just been played.”
Shay laughs, and I love how sunny it sounds.
“This is your last game as a coach, even in the minor leagues.” I look Gibbs straight in the eyes. “I hope you enjoy it because the Bay Rebels are going to kick your fucking ass.”