43. Sutton
Chapter forty-three
Sutton
I stifle another yawn as I rub my face and try to focus on the document I’m reading.
Monday mornings are usually hard enough on their own, but add in not sleeping well and being twenty-three weeks pregnant, and that makes them ten times harder.
I rub my stomach as little miss flips around, kicking me in the ribs.
“I don’t want to be working either, but I have to,” I mumble.
“Knock, knock,” Bash says from my open doorway.
I look up, smiling. “Hi.” I wave him into my office, eyes widening when I notice that all the guys, minus Elias, are with him.
“This is for you.” Bash sets a bottle of the lemonade I’ve been obsessed with lately on my desk.
“Thank you.”
He leans over my desk and kisses me before someone, I think Holt, clears his throat. I peer around Bash at the guys crowded in my office.
“To what do I owe the pleasure?” I ask.
“We’ve got the proof,” Wes says, stepping forward and handing me a small stack of papers.
I skim through them, my eyebrows hitting my hairline when I realize they’re from my father addressed to different people. All of them offer a lump sum of money for targeting certain Storm players. It’s the last one that shocks me the most.
To: mike.medows@
From: J.J.admin@j_jhotelsemail.com
Re: Assistance Required
M,
Remember the favor you owe me? Well, I’m calling it in. I need some investigations not to happen. I’ll call you with the details.
JJ
“This was sent to someone on the Player Safety Board,” I say, holding up the email.
“Not just anyone, the guy who decides whether or not a player will appear before them,” Hunter says.
“How exactly did you get these?”
“The PI Elias hooked me up with dug them up,” Bash says.
“How exactly?” My gaze flickers between Bash and the other guys.
“We kind of gave him this, and he went from there.” Wes hands me a couple more pieces of paper, which are emails all from the same sender.
“We didn’t ask too many questions,” Bash says.
“I hope it was legal.” But at the same time, I don’t care if it means my father and everyone involved with him are going to be exposed. “How did you get these emails?”
“We got them last week from one of my old linemates who got them from one of his teammates,” Wes says.
I knew Bash and Wes had coffee with Wes’s old teammate but not that he gave them any proof.
Bash must read the confusion on my face because he says, “We didn’t want to tell you until the PI finished investigating in case he came up with nothing.”
I turn to Wes. “Is your friend willing to name names? Or the guy who gave him the emails willing to explain how he got them?”
“Whittaker said he would. I’m sure the other guy could be convinced, especially if it was behind closed doors,” Wes says.
“I can’t promise that, but I’ll bring these to Alex, and hopefully, it’s enough proof.
” If it isn’t, then I don’t think we could ever bring the league enough proof for them to care because this sure seems like a smoking gun.
And, yeah, there might not be names listed on a few of these emails, but I’m sure someone with the right tech skills could figure it out.
“Thanks, guys.” How did I get so lucky? They’re willing to get involved in what could easily be a messy situation.
I swallow back the emotions. “I really appreciate all of this.”
“Of course. Anything for the wife of one of our best friends”—Wes squeezes Bash’s arm before turning to me—“and the woman who happens to be carrying my newest niece or nephew.”
I duck my head, feeling my face heating up. “It’s a girl.”
“That’s awesome, Sutton. Congratulations,” Holt says.
“Thank you.”
“Congrats,” Hunter says.
“Yes! Another niece.” Wes pumps his fist. “I can’t wait to spoil her.”
I snort. Of course he can’t. But deep down I love it. I love that my daughter will have these guys and their wives as her family.
“We’ll get out of your hair, love,” Bash says, rounding my desk and giving me a quick kiss.
“How’s Elias?” I direct my question at Hunter.
“It’s been rough,” Hunter says, his voice sounding sad.
My heart sinks. This is all my fault. Well, my father’s, but still. Cannot wait to bury that piece of shit.
“I’m sorry. If there’s anything he needs, please let me know.”
“We’ve got it covered, but I will,” Hunter says. “Once he’s up and around, maybe we can plan something with all of us.”
I nod.
“He’s going to stay with Mads and I for a while,” Hunter adds.
Holt snorts. “Have you told him that yet?”
Hunter sighs. “No. Mads volunteered to tell him.”
“Because that’s going to make him more willing to accept the offer,” Wes says.
I shake my head. Good luck to Madison. But I do hope he agrees. I can imagine he’s going to need help, at least for the first few weeks.
“Right. I’ll see you later. Text me when you want me to come get you,” Bash says.
“Probably five-ish. I can always ask Becca for a ride if you’re busy.”
Another thing I need to sort out is a working car. I was hoping to have the money from my grandmother by now so I could buy a new one, but alas, my father had to go and be a conniving asshole, so here we are.
“I’ll be here,” Bash says.
The guys file out of my office with waves thrown over their shoulders. Once they’re gone, I grab the lemonade and take a healthy swig of it, and baby girl kicks. I think she likes it too.
I lean back in my chair, enjoying my drink and letting myself relax for a few minutes, when my eyes land on my phone, and I remember the words Anders said to me the other day, week, however long it’s been, about reaching out if I need anything.
I pull up his number and hit Call.
“This is Anders,” he answers on the second ring.
“Hi, Anders. It’s Sutton, I hope I’m not interrupting anything.”
“No, I was just getting ready to meet my wife for lunch. What’s up?”
I tell him everything that’s been going on, glossing over some of the finer details. “Since you’re hooked into the hotel industry, anything you know that I might be able to use as leverage?”
“Actually, word’s been circulating that your father has been struggling to get approval for his new hotel chain outside of Atlanta. Apparently, there’s been backlash from the residents, and the county isn’t terribly on board with rezoning the land.”
“Interesting.”
He proceeds to rattle off a name and number, and I grab a pen and scribble the information down. “He’s a council member who’ll probably have a lot to say. I’m not saying your father’s been buying favors, but I’m also not not saying it, at least based on what I’ve heard.”
I laugh. “Got it. Thanks.”
“No problem, and if I hear anything else, I’ll let you know.”
“Thanks again. Have a good day,” I tell him before hitting the End button.
I was honestly not sure what to expect when I called him.
It felt like a long shot but clearly it was worth it.
I stare down at the paper with the name and number on it for a few seconds before grabbing my phone and texting the information to Bash so he can pass it along to his PI.
Might be nothing, but might be something.
Alex pokes his head into my office as I’m setting my phone down.
“Hey, Sutton. Do you have a few minutes?” he asks.
“Of course. I was getting ready to swing by your office.”
“Perfect timing then.” He walks in, followed by Coach Weaver, Jake.
Well, that’s a surprise.
“How are you, Sutton? Alex was filling me in on what’s been going on.” Jake runs a hand through his hair. “I’m sorry you’ve had to go through this. I wish I’d known before.”
“It’s fine. I know you’re busy getting ready for the post season.”
He shakes his head, taking the seat next to Alex and looking over at him. “I still don’t like it,” he grumbles. “What are we doing about this? Can we go to the league?”
I blink back tears. My father may be a piece of shit, but I don’t feel lacking in family. Between Becca, Hadley, and the rest of the ladies, the guys, plus the staff, the coaching staff, and everyone else, it really is like I have one big family. I take a few breaths, tamping my emotions down.
“You’re going to want to see this.” I hand the stack of papers from Wes over to Alex.
“I think this is all the proof we need, at least to get the league to open an investigation. If that’s not enough, I have more.
Wes knows a player who’s willing to speak up.
I’m sure there are more if we really dig. ”
Alex mutters under his breath as he reads, handing each sheet to Jake when he’s done.
Jake doesn’t hold back. “What the fuck?”
I chuckle. I can’t help it. He’s not wrong.
“This should do the trick. Thank you,” Alex says. “Are you doing okay? Anything we can do?”
“I’m fine. Well, as fine as I can be, given the situation.”
“If you or Sebastian feel the need to step away, we’d completely understand. Or if you want to work from home,” Alex says. “I don’t—” He pauses, rubbing a hand over his jaw. “I don’t want you to be under any extra pressure.”
“Thank you,” I say slowly. “I might take you up on the working from home, but otherwise, I think I’m good.” I tip my chin toward the papers in his hand. “Especially now we have that.”
“Alright. We’ll get out of your hair. You know where to find me.” He gets to his feet. “I’ll let you know what happens.”
“Yep.”
“If you need anything, anything at all,” Jake says. “You don’t hesitate to ask, call, text, whatever is easiest for you, no matter the time.”
I clear my throat, feeling like there’s a golf ball sized lump lodged in it. “Thank you.”
When they leave, I roll my shoulders and head, trying to relieve the tension that has made itself at home in my body.
I force myself to focus on the tasks I have on my to-do list for the day. I’m so ready for this to be over and done with.
For justice to be served to my father and all the other people involved in this mess.
For my father to finally not get his way.
For shit to hit the fan for him. Maybe he loses a few business deals.
People finally see the narcissistic side of him.
He finally gets what’s coming. For the players involved to be suspended, maybe even barred from the league.
The same goes for the referees, linesmen, and, apparently, people on the Player Safety Board who went along with everything.