Chapter 8 #2
“I’m sorry, coach.” He looks down, but not before I notice the way his gaze darts to me just for a moment. “I didn’t mean to break my promise. I won’t do it again.”
Dad raps the desk, impatiently. “What did Talon say?”
Shay sets his jaw, stubbornly. “I’d prefer not to say, coach.”
“And I’d prefer that you did.”
“He said no,” D’Angelo says, firmly. “Don’t ask him again.”
Dad’s gaze shoots to D’Angelo in shock.
D’Angelo shoves his hands in his pockets to hide that they’re shaking.
“Good news.” Cody gently helps Shay to put his sweater back on. “Your shoulder is bruised to hell but nothing more serious.”
I give a relieved smile. “Hear that? No amputation.”
Shay smiles. “We don’t know about my leg yet, love.”
“Hey, no humor that is darker than mine.”
Cody sends us both a censorious glance. “How about no humor in the middle of the night, and I just take my patient outside to check this hip.”
When Cody stands, however, Dad slams his palm on the top of the table.
I hate that Cody flinches, barely stopping himself from taking a step back.
Just like he’s expecting to be hit.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?
” Dad demands. “This is the type of challenging behavior that I have had to warn you about. You’re not my son when we’re at work.
You storm into this meeting, demanding to check on players like you’re a doctor and not only a physio.
You issue orders rather than obeying them.
Do you think that you should receive special treatment?
Just one more warning, and you’ll be fired.
What will happen to your career then, huh? ”
Chills run down my spine.
This is how Dad used to talk to Cody.
He would call him challenging, disobedient, and bad.
Yet Cody was never any of that.
I was away from Freedom, however, living with Wilder for years.
Did Dad in fact never stop talking to my brother like this?
Cody is frozen. He’s become ashen.
“Don’t threaten your own fucking son,” I hiss.
Instantly, Shay stands next to Cody. Their shoulders are touching.
D’Angelo walks to tower over me. His presence gives me strength, even though I am shaking.
Despite the other men’s power, it strikes me that Dad is the king in this room.
He could destroy the careers of every single one of us…our entire lives.
We must win this season.
It’s the only way that we’ll be able to turn the tables on Dad and escape his toxic hold.
My heart is breaking because he’s still my dad. I hoped that he’d realize how amazing his son is and accept Cody. But how many chances can Cody give him?
How many opportunities must he give Dad to hurt him?
I know that Cody hasn’t told me everything Dad did when he was only a kid, and that kills me inside, but I won’t stand by now that he is an adult.
Slowly, Dad looks around at us. “What is this?”
No one speaks.
I fight to keep my expression blank.
Dad isn’t used to us standing up against him. In fact, he hasn’t been in the position for anyone to be able to stand up to him for a long time.
Anyone having too much money, influence, or power is a bad fucking thing.
Dad huffs out a bitter laugh. “Are you all kidding me right now? I’m your dad.
Your coach. Your boss. You fuck up, then you act out, trying to turn things on me…
? Take the beating. Accept the punishment.
After that shit performance on the ice, you deserve it.
And my son knows that he should act professional at work.
He’s been warned before. I’m only expecting the same that I would from anyone else.
Robyn, I’m disappointed in you.” I try not to show how much those words hurt, only they do.
D’Angelo’s eyes gleam with rage. “Who is meant to be managing the press? You or me? Don’t project your bullshit failures onto me. ”
I redden, thinking of the disastrous press and social media, not to mention the death threats, since our polyamorous relationship went public.
Is he right?
“Don’t talk to her like—" Cody starts hotly, but I cut him off before he can land himself in more trouble.
“I’m turning it around,” I insist. “I did this big interview today, which should have gone live by now. Here.”
I scramble to pull my phone out of the pocket of my coat.
All I want is to show Dad one good piece of news, then escape with Cody, D’Angelo, and Shay from this oppressive office.
Hopefully, Shay’s hip won’t be injured worse than bruises, which need me to massage in arnica cream (I may have fun teasing it over his cock as punishment for him starting the fight), then we can finally catch some sleep.
I bet that Eden is still waiting up for us anxiously, despite having been sent home to rest.
I type in my password. Then I scroll through my phone, searching through my notifications for press references.
Impatient, Dad leans across the desk and plucks the phone out of my hand.
“Hey,” I protest.
“Is it the one that’s just posted?” Dad’s brow furrows.
“Uh-huh,” I smirk. “Time to eat your words. Read it out then.”
Dad arches his brow at me. “Double Trouble: The Hidden Pain in the Pro Hockey Twins’ Past. Revealed for the first time with exclusive source interviews with the Prince twins’ long-lost biological parents, the secret troubled past of the rising star who has soared to success with the Bay Rebels…”
Dad trails off.
He drops the phone with a clatter onto the top of the desk.
My eyes widen in horror. My breath stutters.
What the fuck?
I turn to Shay, who has become as white as a ghost. He sways like his knees are about to buckle.
“Shit.” Cody steadies Shay.
But Shay hardly notices.
He looks fucking devastated.
Also, terrified.