Chapter 23
twenty-three
. . .
Sadie
Iwas sure that never in a million years would anyone in the world have guessed that Finn Wilde was a chess player, and a pretty damn good one at that.
Colin said he took it up when he got older because in his words "there wasn't shit to watch on television".
Zander's girlfriend, Nev, taught him how to play, and he learned strategies on YouTube.
I'd met Nev briefly when she brought sandwiches from her shop.
The sandwiches were delicious, and I liked Nev instantly.
I loved that the family shied away entirely from pretense.
They were genuine, honest, blunt and no one took themselves too seriously.
The absolute opposite of my family, where pretense and putting on a good show had overtaken our family like a black plague.
Finn had his forearms resting on his thighs as he leaned forward to study the board.
His jaw and facial features were weathered and hidden under lines and creases, but it was easy to see that he was a very handsome man.
Possibly even more handsome than his sons, which said a lot.
He didn't wear heavy cologne like my dad, and his thick hair was always in disarray.
"I think you got me, sweetums. I can't find a way out of this mess."
"Ya going to tip your king?" I asked.
He shook his head once. "Nope, give an old man a second. I'm usually pretty damn good at getting out of tight situations."
Colin laughed. "You can say that again." He was sitting on the couch, staring at his laptop and researching new teams.
"Taught you all how to do the same, didn't I?" Finn asked in his gruff, hoarse tone.
"One of every child's most cherished life skills. Learning how to get out of a tight situation." Colin blew out an exasperated breath. "That skill isn't helping right now though. I'm not a good match for any team."
Finn straightened. "And what else did I teach you about putting your trust in others?"
Colin looked at me. "I'm about to be humiliated, so please, plug your ears. You said only trust your family. Everyone else will fuck you in the ass before you even bend over."
I pressed my fingers to my mouth to stifle a laugh.
"And he told me that when I was ten and a supposed friend had informed on me about an unfortunate incident with matches in the boys' bathroom."
I raised a brow at Finn.
He shrugged his thick shoulders. "Wanted to get my point across, and of course, I leave pretty girls who slay at chess out of the not-to-be-trusted pool."
"Actually, my admonishing expression was because your son had an unfortunate incident with matches in the bathroom, and you chose to focus on the fact that his friend betrayed him. Which sucked too but I'm not sure if it's up there with possibly burning down a school."
Finn waved his big hand. Everything about the man was oversized, even though he was obviously more withered and weathered than in his youth.
He was still focused on the game board. "The janitor had it out before it spread past the trash can.
Aha, wait a minute." His hand hovered over his king, then he sat back hard on the chair. "Shit."
Colin's phone rang. He glanced at it. "That's the Sycamore Winter Gear team." He got up enthusiastically and answered the phone as he hurried up the stairs.
Finn looked up at me. "You won and winners have to make dinner."
"That seems like a rule you just pulled out of your ass."
He rocked back with laughter. "Kiddo, I couldn't have dreamt up a better match for Colin."
Colin came down the stairs. It was easy to gather from his expression that the call hadn't gone well.
He dropped his phone on the coffee table.
It bounced off and hit the floor. He stepped over it and dropped back down on the couch.
"Think my career's over. No one wants to take a chance on me after the injury.
I need to prove myself again, they said. "
"So prove yourself," Finn said plainly. "Go independent and leave them all with chins in the snow. Then when they come begging, you tell 'em to fuck off until they come up with a stellar offer."
"You make it sound so easy," Colin said.
"Never said the word easy." Finn got up with a few deep groans. "I'm going to lie down. This chess playing is exhausting." He winked at me.
"I'll make dinner when you wake up," I told him.
I got up and sat next to Colin, but I sensed he wasn't up for cuddling or even talking.
We sat silently. Things were great between us, but we each had our own set of problems. I'd reached out to a few contacts to see where I could unload the photo for the most money, and the whole time I was writing the emails, I felt my soul draining out of me.
Could I really do this to those men and their families and their careers?
Seeing Colin's phone on the floor reminded me that I'd decided to stop hiding from the world and charge my very dead phone. I hadn't looked at it yet. "I'm going to run up and get my phone. I'll probably regret turning it on."
"I know I regret turning mine on," he said glumly. Most of his predicament was my fault, and that put a bitter taste on the whole relationship. My fucking brother.
I walked upstairs. Finn's door was shut.
I could hear a light snore already. I went into our room and picked up my phone.
There were at least thirty texts and fifteen missed calls.
Most from numbers I didn't recognize. Some from Mom and some from Dad.
There was even a voicemail from my oldest brother, Brant.
I was sure it would be a long lecture about the trouble I was in, not that any of my family really knew what was going on.
Gigi had called several times, and my boss, Bradford, had left a voicemail that just said "call me now.
" That was two days ago. I saved one text from an unknown number because it was one that might come in handy later.
I ignored most of the other calls and texts but sent one to Gigi.
Hey, I'm fine. Still laying low, and I met someone. Can't wait for you to meet him, but not now. I'll text again soon. Hope everything is good, Gi.
I hated to do it, but I decided to call Bradford back. I was sure he'd just tell me I was fired. I dialed and he picked up on one ring.
"Where the fuck have you been? Is it true?" He was practically salivating into the phone waiting for an answer. But I had no idea what he was asking.
"Is what true?"
He released an exasperated growl. "Rumor has it you snapped some photo at the UFC fight that is a really big deal. What is it? Did you catch a backroom deal? Did they throw the fight on purpose?"
"How did you hear about—" My words drifted off. Lyle and his big mouth. I should have known. Thank goodness I never told him about what was in the photo.
"Ah, so there is a photo. You know that's the property of Sports World. You were working for us at the time."
I rolled my eyes. Typical. "No, I wasn't because as I told you I wasn't on any list, I had no pass and they kicked me out because I wasn't supposed to be there. So as far as I'm concerned, I was just there hanging out with my cameras."
"Well, we'll see what the legal department has to say about that."
I knew I'd regret the call. "Yes, why don't you see about that. And this is probably a good time to hand in my verbal resignation."
"No, wait, you need to hand over the photo. Where is it? I've had like ten calls from J.J. Gregor's lawyers, so it must be damn good."
"Great, so for you he sends lawyers, and for me he sends out his thick-necked militia."
"Seriously? You were attacked?"
"Yes, I was, and no, I won't hand over the picture."
"You'll hear from our lawyers soon," he said sharply.
"Look forward to ignoring their calls like I'm going to do with the rest of yours."
"Wait, Sadie, fuck, don't hang up. Where are you at?"
"Somewhere safe and secure just like the photo. Goodbye."
I tossed my phone aside in disgust, much the same way Colin had done after his disappointing call. I went downstairs. Colin was at the front window looking out. His shoulders were taut, and his whole body looked tense. My muscles tensed in response.
"Colin, what's the matter?"
He didn't pull his gaze from the window, but he lifted his hand to tell me to stop. Something was up outside.
I crept up next to him. "What's going on?" I whispered.
"Don't know. The horses seem agitated. I heard them nickering and moving around in their stalls, so I glanced out. I could swear I saw something moving out there." Colin took my hand to move me away from the window.
"Zander and Nev?" I suggested.
"No, they were at Jameson's tonight. I don't see their cars, so they're still out." Colin put on his shoes as he spoke.
"Wait, you can't go out there. What if those four pigs came back here to finish the job?"
"Probably just some teens or something coming to look at the horses," he said.
"You are lying. You know there's trouble out there. And it's my fault." I started marching toward the door. I'd had enough of these scare tactics.
Colin grabbed me three feet before I reached the door. "Not so fast, sprite. I'll go out there alone." He walked to the kitchen and pulled out a flashlight. The moon was merely a sliver, and the ranch was far enough from town that there was minimal light. "Don't follow me," he said.
I waited for him to walk down the front steps, then I raced out after him. He spun around after a few feet. "Damn it, Sadie."
"Shh, they'll hear you," I said and pointed toward the barn where it was more than obvious that figures were walking around inside. Strangers, obviously, since the horses were still pacing. A few were pawing at their stall walls in agitation.
Colin moved me so I was behind him. I was all right with that. My heart was pounding louder than the horses thumping the ground with anxious hoofs. "Who's there?" Colin said in his deepest, most authoritative tone. He shined the flashlight beam into the darkness.