Chapter 41
Chapter
Forty-One
Bodi
Going to the arena feels like a chore today.
I’m probably still benched, my agent hasn’t found anyone who wants me, and when I spoke to Harper Barrowman, she said she could potentially bring me back next season, but there’s just no room on the roster right now.
I didn’t tell her the details because that will just make it look like I’m involved in drama again.
Well, I am involved in drama, but it’s different this time. This time, it’s important. Jayne is important. And I will tell Ms. Barrowman everything if it comes to that. Short-term, I’m wrestling with my pride and my heart, trying to find a way to have the woman I love without giving up my career.
I don’t want to leave hockey and I don’t want to go back to the minors.
It’s not the end of the world but it was hard not having money, and I don’t want that life for Jayne or our future children.
I want to make a good life for her—for them.
I can’t believe I’m already thinking ahead to kids and that white picket fence I never gave much thought to before Jayne, but I love her.
She should have a man who can take care of her the way she deserves, without worrying about the next payday. I know she’s willing to work and do her share but I love her enough to want her to have the freedom not to work when we have kids. The freedom to do anything she wants.
“Hey, man, what’s up?” West walks in with Vik and Felix behind him.
“Nothing good,” I mutter, opening my locker then starting to put away my things.
“No word from your agent?” West asks quietly.
“No one is interested so far.”
“It takes time. It’s early in the season. People are just getting their footing.”
“I know.” I pause. “The Phantoms said I might be able to go back next season, but definitely not now.”
“Okay, that’s something.”
“Yeah.” I rest my forearm against the metal lockers. “But no one is going to want me if I don’t play this season.”
“You will. He can’t keep this up forever.”
“What if he does?”
Our eyes meet. “Have faith. We’ll figure something out.
I’m about to tell him there’s nothing to figure out when Blaze appears out of nowhere, like a fucking ghost or something.
“I need to talk to you guys.”
“Not now,” West says to him, shaking his head.
“I know you don’t like me but—”
“This is all your fault!” I snap, glaring at him. “Everything that’s happening is on you, you little weasel!”
“I know.” He doesn’t look away. “I own it. But right now, you have to do something about Jayne.”
“No shit, sherlock.”
“No, I’m serious. Her dad slapped her, took her phone, and then locked her in her room. I don’t know exactly what happened, but I heard them arguing and—”
“What the fuck did you say?” I step toward him, glowering. “Did you just say he slapped her?”
He nods. “Yeah. And then I overheard him and Lourdes talking.” He pauses, swallowing hard. “And I found out something else you need to know.”
“What?” West asks impatiently. “Fucking spit it out.”
“I think…” He looks around nervously again, his voice dropping even lower. “Coach has been embezzling money from the team.”
West, Vik, Felix, and I freeze, staring at him in confusion.
“What?” Vik asks.
“And I think Jayne may have found out. That’s why they’ve locked her in the house and took her phone. They also changed the Wi-Fi password so she can’t reach out to anyone.”
“I have to go get her,” I growl. “I don’t give a fuck what he’s doing but—”
“Wait. Dammit, Bodi, wait.” West grabs me, and I really can’t fight the strong motherfucker. I need to spend more time in the gym or something.
“We need to come up with—”
“He hit her!” I yell, rage coursing through me with a burst of adrenaline that helps me break free.
“I know but—”
“I recorded the conversation.” Blaze interjects, taking out his phone. “But I can’t play it for you here.”
“Send me whatever it is,” West says.
Blaze types out something on his phone and a few seconds later West’s phone buzzes.
“What’s going on?” Ashton comes around the corner. “Everything okay?”
“No,” I snap. “If he fucking hurt her…” I glare at Blaze. “It’s on you. You understand me? If he hurt her, I will hunt your sorry ass down.”
Blaze nods, dipping his head. “I know. And I deserve it. I’m sorry. That’s why I brought this to you. I’m… worried about her.”
“How could you do something like this?” West demands.
“I was stupid,” he mutters. “I thought… he promised he’d help me in my career. Mold me into a superstar. Make sure I’m always on the first line, get me lots of press. I thought, fuck, I don’t know what I thought. I’m really sorry.”
“Fuck!” I turn to West. “What do we do? Because I’m not waiting to go get her. I’m not leaving her there.”
“Come with me.” He heads for the parking lot and then calls over his shoulder to Blaze and the others. “You guys go get ready for practice. You never saw us.”
“Right.” Blaze hesitates before heading in the opposite direction and Vik and Felix eventually follow, but Ashton jogs along with us.
“What’s going on?” he demands. “Let me help.”
“You close with your brother?” West asks him.
“Very. Our family is tight.” He nods. “What do you need? I can call him now.”
“Give us a minute.” We get out to the parking lot and head over to West’s SUV.
Then he plays the recording Blaze sent him and the words we hear fill me with dread.
“…but what will we do?” It’s Lourdes’s voice. “You know damn well Jayne won’t keep her mouth shut if she heard us talking about it.”
“Let me handle Jayne. You had a good idea. I’m going to send her away to school in Europe.” That’s Coach Morrison’s voice.
“She’s an adult, Hugh. You can’t force her to go anywhere.”
“I can. I will.”
“Well, I’m as entangled in this mess as you are. If the higher-ups on the Thunder figure out that it doesn’t take half a million dollars to buy samples and print business cards and brochures, I’m cooked. And if Jayne heard us the other night...” There’s a moment of silence before he continues.
“She’ll fall in line once I threaten to destroy Bodi. She won’t let me do it. She actually loves that little prick, and that’s our ace in the hole. And my buddy Ray is an accountant. He’s going to dummy up some invoices for us to cover most of the money we took.”
“Are you sure?” Lourdes sounds scared.
“Leave it to me, okay? But maybe you and Lindy should take a few days, go see your mom.”
“She has school.”
“Dammit, Lourdes, just do what I say, okay?”
The tape cuts off there and we all look at each other.
“Send me the recording,” Ashton says quietly. “And I’ll send it to my brother. He’ll know what to do next.”
“You guys do that—I’m going to get Jayne.” I turn toward my SUV.
“Not without me, you’re not.” West motions to Ashton. “I just sent you the file. Do what you need to do, but we have to go get Jayne. Now that it’s turned violent, we can’t afford to wait.”
“Go get her. What do you want me to tell Coach about where you are?”
West chuckles. “He’s going to have way bigger things to worry about than two of us missing practice. I’ll shoot Coach Panzetti a text, though. You just play dumb.”
Ashton salutes. “Yes, sir. I can do that.”
It would have been funny if I wasn’t so scared for Jayne.
That piece of shit put his hands on her and that ends now.
Career be damned—I’m getting her out of there no matter what. I’ll go work as a mechanic or something before I let her father or anyone else hurt her.