Chapter 27
Blake
The front door slams open, and Tinsley races into the living room, tears streaking down her cheeks as she throws herself into Juliet’s arms, shaking like a leaf.
“What’s going on?” I demand as I wrap a protective hand around the two of them. My stomach sinks as I take in the furious look on Everett’s face.
“We need to call the lawyer,” he grits out.
“What happened?” Juliet asks, wrapping a protective arm around me and my daughter.
“I’m sorry, Mama,” Tinsley whimpers. “I’m really sorry.”
“Shh,” she soothes, rubbing her back. “It’s okay, princess.”
Everett paces the room, his hand rubbing the back of his neck. “Dad knows about the two of you.”
“I’m sorry Mama,” Tinsley cries again. “I didn’t know it was supposed to be a secret.”
“It’s not,” Juliet assures her. “It’s okay, sweetie. You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Daddy was so angry.”
“Did he hurt her?” I demand, the tension in my body only dissipating when Everett shakes his head.
“He’s not stupid. His end game is getting custody of Tinsley. He won’t do anything to stuff that up.”
Knowing this isn’t a conversation we should be having around her, we try to coax Tinsley upstairs to play, but she refuses, clinging to her mum.
“Why don’t we put a movie on for you to watch?” Juliet suggests, sitting on the couch with her. “I’ll just be in the kitchen talking to Blake and Everett, okay?”
Tinsley shakes her head, but Juliet slowly extricates herself from her daughter, wrapping a throw blanket around her snugly. Kissing the top of her head, she follows us through to the open-plan kitchen where we can still keep an eye on her.
“He wants to petition the courts for a change in the custody agreement,” Everett says quietly.
“Surely he’s got no leg to stand on with his history of violence,” I hiss. “It’s just empty threats.”
Everett shrugs. “I don’t know how his past will play into it, but he’s threatened to get an investigator to look into you.”
My face drops as realisation hits.
Juliet wraps her arms around my waist and looks up at me. “You were never convicted, so there’ll be no public record of what happened to your dad.”
“Maybe not,” I say, untangling myself from her and taking a step back.
“But my record isn’t exactly clean. Nothing major that would put Tinsley in harm,” I rush to reassure her.
“Just a few fights at school, some underage drinking, and some stupid vandalism shit. But if he talks to any of the guys I got into trouble with back in Sydney, they might reveal my past, and then we’re screwed. ”
Everett mutters a curse.
Juliet places a hand on her forehead, a pained expression etched on her face. All the happiness I’ve felt this past week flies out the window. At this point, I honestly believe I’m cursed.
“There’s nothing we can do until we speak to the lawyer on Monday,” she says. “I’m taking Tinsley home and making sure she’s okay. I’ll call you later.”
She pulls me in for a kiss, and I sink into it despite the knot in my stomach.
“We’ll figure this out,” I promise her, though I don’t know how.
Once she and Tinsley leave, I slump against the bench. “This is fucked.”
Everett doesn’t say anything, which only makes me feel worse.
“Do you think she could lose custody?” The thought of it makes me feel physically ill.
He shoves a hand through his hair. “I don’t know.”
I mutter a curse.
“This isn’t your fault. Dad’s been planning this for a while. He even asked me to spy on her for him.” Scoffing, he adds, “As if I’d help that bastard with anything.”
“I can’t be the reason he gets access to Tinsley.” My voice cracks.
“You won’t. We’ll talk to the lawyer on Monday and figure it out.”
“What’s the likelihood of him following through on his threat?”
“Pretty high. He’s pissed Juliet left him, and he’ll do anything to get back at her.”
“It’s been eighteen months.”
“He doesn’t care. She made a fool of him when she left him and took his kid. Now they’re moving on with their life, and the miserable bastard’s not going to let that slide. It’s all about control for him, and right now his only bargaining chip is Tinsley.”
I lift my heavy gaze to meet his. “I’m sorry.”
He shakes his head. “If it wasn’t you, it would’ve been someone else.”
That thought twists like a knife in the gut, but her someone else probably wouldn’t have skeletons as dark as mine.
Edward’s got money, and in this situation, that’s dangerous.
Money can buy you information, especially in the crowds I used to hang around in.
If he finds out I murdered my dad, the fact I was never convicted because of my age and the circumstances won’t matter.
His lawyers will find a way to prove I’m a danger to Tinsley, and Juliet will lose custody.
There’s only one thing I can do. Walk away and hope it’s not too late.
My phone buzzes and I slide it from my pocket, my chest tightening when I read the text.
Pixie: We’ll find a way to shut this down. This is forever, striker. I love you.
I drop my head in my hands. She’s not going to make it easy for me to do the right thing.
My head’s a mess as I change into my playing kit the next morning. I didn’t get any sleep, and from the dark circles under his eyes, neither did Everett. I catch a few concerned looks from our teammates, but no one is game to make comment. Except our captain.
“All good, guys?” he asks, taking a seat between us as we slide our shin pads beneath our socks.
Everett answers with a clipped, “Yep,” at the same time I grunt, “Fine.”
He sighs, obviously thinking it’s some kind of beef between the two of us when he asks, “Is it something we can leave in the change rooms?”
Everett’s jaw tightens. “Yeah.”
I nod, even though my mind is a swirling vortex.
“Are you sure we’re not going to have a problem out there?”
“We’re good,” I assure him, even though we’re anything but. We’re both worried about Juliet and Tinsley. “No drama here. Promise.”
Except for our world imploding.
Noah studies us for a second longer, then claps his hands once against his thighs and stands. He hesitates a moment before dropping his voice low. “Whatever’s going on, just remember you have the team behind you. If you need anything, all you’ve got to do is ask.”
Everett and I exchange a glance. Noah’s had his own battles with his father, but there’s nothing anyone can do to help our situation.
“Thanks,” I grit out. “But we just want to focus on the game.”
If only it were that simple.
We both play like shit, but where I’m able to keep my head, Everett’s lashing out at anyone who crosses his path.
He’s finally done halfway through the second half when a late slide tackle sees him earn a yellow card.
When he moves to shirtfront the ref, I hurry over to intervene, pulling him away before he gets evicted from the game.
A red-faced Coach Johnson subs him off, and I wince as I watch my best friend get reamed out on the sidelines.
I catch Noah’s eye, and he raises a brow, but I just shake my head and try focus back on the game.
It’s futile, though, and we end up losing to Westhope five-one, thanks to a lucky break away from Jasper.
We trudge into the change rooms after the game feeling our season slipping away from us.
Sitting sixth on the ladder at this late stage, we have no chance at contending for the championship this year.
We all slump on the wooden benches around the room as Coach Johnson paces in front of us. He hasn’t said a word, and frustration radiates from him. Coach Raynor wears a frown as he leans against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest.
The only sounds are heavy breathing, the occasional throat clearing, and our coach’s heavy tread.
Finally, he stops pacing, his heavy gaze landing on each of us one-by-one.
“That,” he says flatly, “was not good enough.”
No one argues.
“There was no communication out there. You switched off after the first goal. It was like watching a bunch of bloody witches hats out there for them to run their training drills.” His eyes land on Everett and me for a fraction longer than the rest. “When you pull on this uniform and step out on that pitch, our pitch, you play disciplined. I won’t have my players throwing the game into disrepute, and in front of our home crowd at that. ”
Shame settles deep in my gut, and when I cast a quick glance at my housemate, I see it reflected in his expression as well.
Coach Raynor pushes off the wall. “The season’s not over. We have six games, but if you want to salvage your pride, it starts with accountability.”
Silence settles again. He’s not going to get any arguments from us.
Coach Johnson exhales through his nose. “Shower up. We’ll see you in the gym tomorrow afternoon, ready to work.”
He walks out without another word, his assistant following him.
Around me, the boys move slowly, the scrape of boots on concrete echoing in the quiet. There’s no murmuring, no banter or jokes to try and lift the mood. It’s our worst loss since I joined the team.
Everett stares at the ground for a long moment before dragging a hand over his face.
“Do you want to shower at home?” I ask him, needing to get out of here myself.
He nods, and we gather our stuff before heading out the door.
If I thought our day couldn’t get worse, I was dead wrong.
When we push through the door, we come face to face with none other than the bastard himself, Edward Mathers.
“What the fuck are you doing here, Dad?” Everett growls. “I’ve got nothing to say to you.”
His old man opens his mouth to speak, but then his eyes flick to mine and recognition flashes in them.
“I know you,” he says, his brow furrowing.
I remain silent, staring at him with contempt and loathing. My fists clench, but I force myself to remain where I am. I won’t give this arsehole anymore ammunition to use against Juliet.
His gaze darts between me and his son as if he’s trying to puzzle something out.
“Stay the fuck away from us,” Everett seethes.
“I’ll be calling the lawyer first thing tomorrow, and we’ll be fighting you every step of the way.
I don’t care if it costs me my entire inheritance.
You won’t be having anything to do with Tinsley or me by the time I’m finished with you.
As far as I’m concerned, you don’t have any kids.
” He nods at me. “Come on, Blake. Let’s get out of here. ”
“Blake,” Edward says slowly, awareness dawning in his tone. A cruel smirk twists his lips. “You’re the one fucking my ex-wife?”
Tension coils in my body as I fight the urge to punch the motherfucker in the face. My jaw aches from clenching it so hard.
“Let’s go,” Everett urges, trying to push me away from his father.
Edward laughs. “Oh, this just gets even better. My lawyers will have a field day when they hear she’s preying on a child.”
“I’m no fucking child,” I hiss, taking a step towards the arsehole.
He doesn’t even flinch, his grin widening as Everett places a hand on my chest to stop me from doing anything reckless.
“The uniform begs to differ, son,” he taunts.
“You don’t have a son,” Everett spits, trying and failing to push me towards the car park.
“Stay away from Juliet and Tinsley,” I warn. “They’re too good for a parasite like you.”
He laughs again. “What are you going to do about it, boy?”
My anger flares and I move in closer so that only he can hear me. “For starters, I wonder how the family court will feel about the drug use and prostitutes?”
His laughter falters, his expression hardening. “You can’t say anything. There are laws protecting that information. You wouldn’t be stupid enough to risk your career.”
I step back so he can see the truth in my eyes. “I’d risk everything for Juliet and Tinsley. Especially if it keeps them away from the likes of you.”
“He’s not worth it.” Everett doubles down on his efforts to move me away from his father, and this time I let him.
We’ve only taken a few steps before Edward calls after us.
“What do you want?”
I share a look with Everett before we turn back to face him.
“Drop your plans for custody,” Everett says coldly. “We all know you don’t really want to raise Tinsley. It’s just your sick way of controlling Juliet.”
I place a hand on my housemate’s shoulder in warning. We don’t want to piss him off.
“You back off and leave them alone,” I say, keeping my tone measured. “If you want to keep your visits with your daughter, fine, but no games and no threats.”
Edward sneers at me. “Where do you come into this? Playing happy families with that bitch and my kid?”
My jaw tightens, but I keep my cool. “I’ll continue seeing Juliet as long as she wants me around, and you’ll do nothing about it.”
His eyes flick between us, calculating.
“Why should I believe you’ll tell the courts? The only person who’ll suffer is you.”
I cross my arms and arch a brow. “You sure about that? Like I said, I don’t care about what happens to me, but I’m not sure your investors would be happy if they find out who they’re investing in. What do you think, Everett?”
He smirks, mirroring my pose. “They wouldn’t be happy at all.”
Edward stares at us, the wheels visibly turning as he searches for a loophole, but we’ve got him securely backed into a corner.
“One last thing,” I say, a thought popping into my mind. “If Juliet ever asks you for anything that benefits Tinsley, you do it. No arguments, no delays.”
His eyes narrow. “Such as?”
“A passport,” I say evenly. “If she wants to take Tinsley to France to meet her family, you sign the papers. You’ve got no leverage over her anymore.”
Silence stretches between us.
“It’s a good deal, Dad. Take it.”
My chest tightens. For a moment, I worry we’ve pushed him too far and it’s going to turn ugly.
Instead, he exhales through his nose.
“You’re both very confident,” he says.
“We’re done playing your games,” Everett replies, not backing down.
Another long silence stretches as father and son stare at each other. Then Edward gives a small, dismissive shrug.
“I won’t go through with the application,” he says flatly. “If Juliet wants the passport papers signed, have her send them through to my lawyer.”
It’s all business for him.
Everett goes still beside me. “No conditions?”
Edward’s eyes harden. “Don’t test me.”
It’s not an answer, but it’s as close to a concession as a man like him gives.
I nod once. “That’s all we wanted.”
Without another word, we turn and walk away.