Chapter 35
Nik
Dante told me to test her. In the end, she tested me, and I lost. I couldn’t control myself when I walked back in that room. And honestly? I didn't want to. I still don’t, and I’m not going to from here on out.
I watched the games and was on the phone with Dante while the bets were coming in. He said Rhett had come back down to the club, which was why I had to leave the room. Noelle couldn’t know he was there again, asking questions about her. And the timing of it is too much.
But after being with her in the hotel, and our travels home, my mind seemed to settle.
Noelle and I talked talked, went through what we know, and tried to make sense of it all.
Sure, there’s a loose end right now, but I grew bold in my thinking that there is no way anyone can tie me to throwing that game.
The school buried it; it’s been three years.
They can’t take anything from me now. It’s my word versus someone else’s.
And who is that someone else - Trevor? Rhett?
If either of them wanted to unmask the whole thing, they would have done it already.
I don’t know what articles she could have found, but if anything was talked about now, whoever buried it then would just do it again, right?
Coach Gage won’t want any talk coming to light.
I bet he’d get his wife to handle shit in an instant.
After Sunday’s game, I’m too good to jeopardize.
I know it, and they know it. So let whoever wants to scare me, try.
It’s not the first time it’s happened, and it won’t be the last. Just like Dante said, someone is always looking to take something from you.
We’ll just step on this one and wait for the next one.
We’re sitting in the upstairs office, overlooking both sides of the club, while security brings up Rhett.
I knew he’d be here, it’s like he can’t help but tell on himself.
So now, Dante and I are going to press him hard to see what information he’ll give up.
He enters and, with a swagger that makes me want to punch his lights out, sits across from us.
“Rhett, I heard you’ve been busy. Sure you’re not the reporter here?”
He gives a smug grin. “Just doing due diligence, ya know? I find it very interesting that you’re still friendly with Dante after all these years, and are always at the club.
Seems to me you’d be busy at the stadium, ya know, playing the game you get paid millions for.
” He turns his head. “But I bet that doesn’t even come close to what you’ve made here, right? ”
The fact that he thinks he knows something and that he’s right, makes me want to end his life right here. But it just proves my point: he’s trying to take something that isn't his, and if he had viable information that would out me, he would have done it already.
“A guy's allowed to have friends.” My eyes narrow on him. “None of this will track back to me, Rhett, so I don't know what you're pushing for.”
“You think your girl hasn’t found anything?”
“She’s been digging and found nothing, so there’s no article to write. It sounds like your ‘ghost’ hunt is a bust.”
“Oh, Nik, the webs we weave. Your lies to your friends, the school, the world,” he pauses, “and your girl.” The way he says it has the hair raising on my neck. “Wine and dine her, fuck her right, and she’ll keep your secrets, too? Is that how it works?”
His arrogant tone has me jumping from my seat, but Dante is quick to hold me back.
I stand in front of Rhett, hands in fists, trying to calm myself with deep breaths while he just keeps on talking.
“She may not have found everything, but Ghost knows she got something. He’s alerted every time there is a request for info. ”
I shake my head as Dante gets me to sit. “Okay,” Dante says, “We’re gonna bargain here. You tell Ghost to leave her alone. If he’s looking for a cut or wants dibs on a game, he can talk to me. We’re done with the girl, Rhett. You know we don’t play games like that—”
“I wanna know how Ghost is involved,” I cut in. “If it's the guy we made a deal with, he got his money. It’s dead and gone.” I swallow hard, and think, and probably so is Dad. “What more is he looking for?”
“I just do what I’m told.” Rhett adjusts in his seat.
“But what I do know about him is he doesn’t like his ghosts to be disturbed.
He does a job, and it ends… for good. So if it is the guy from sophomore year, then your girl digging around is disturbing his peace.
And there's only one way to get that peace back.”
“I don't do well with threats, Rhett.”
He laughs and puts his hands up. “No threats, man. But she turned him on, and now he wants her.”
I begin to grow madder, the cockiness leaving me, and in its place, rage. “You sat here and told me you forgot every job you do. That you don’t ever run your mouth. Seems to me, you’re a snitch. And you know what happens to them.”
“Oh, don’t get it twisted. I haven’t said a word to Ghost. Like I said, I'm following orders. But he’s getting antsy. And he’s not going to keep waiting around. He’ll come for her himself.”
I scoff. “You’re so full of shit. He wants to hide; he won’t show himself.”
Rhett shrugs. “That’s a chance you take, I guess.” Rhett stands. “It comes down to more than just writing an article or getting too close. Ghosts' words feel personal.”
Security opens the door and follows Rhett out, but his stench lingers. “Jesus, Rhett, cut back on the cigarettes. Don’t you know they’ll kill ya?”
He gives a smug grin and a wink. “Worried about me, Warrior?”
The way he says Warrior sets me on edge, and the hair on the back of my neck stands up. He’s never used that moniker before—Saint, but not that. My heart races in my chest as my mind puts the last few pieces of the puzzle together, even though my heart is screaming don’t believe it.
And right now I know I need Noelle, and I need her in a way that could break us before we even have a real chance.
I watch Rhett walk out the door and lock eyes with Dante. “Remember that leverage you spoke about?” He nods once. “We’re going to use it.”