29. Cope

29

COPE

Coach Kenner blew his whistle, and the tiny monsters flew into action on the ice rink. Some of them had real skill, but others were a comedy of errors. All in all, they were having the time of their lives, and that’s what mattered.

Kenner shot a glance in my direction. “They’re getting better.”

“They are,” I agreed but winced as one of the kids took a header into the boards.

Kenner chuckled. “Sometimes.” He was quiet for a moment as the scrimmage continued. “I heard Sutton and Luca are staying with you.”

Something about the statement had me stiffening. It shouldn’t have surprised me, given how gossip moved in Sparrow Falls, but I didn’t want people whispering about Sutton.

“Yeah. They are.” I wasn’t giving him more than that. If he wanted to know something, he could grow some balls and ask.

Kenner studied me for a moment before turning back to the ice. “That’s nice of you. I know she’s good friends with your sister.”

Annoyance flickered through me. I knew the play he was making. “ I don’t love my sister that much,” I muttered. That was a lie. I’d do anything for Rhodes or any of my siblings, but Kenner was pissing me off.

His focus snapped back to me, and I didn’t miss the flare of heat in his dark gaze. “There something between you two?”

I felt that telltale flutter in the muscle along my jaw. Sutton and I hadn’t exactly had a chance to discuss what was going on between us. We’d gotten home to Arden last night and then crashed. Hard. And Sutton was up before the sun this morning. She and I would have words later about her leaving without a goodbye.

I knew she was probably processing everything and what it could mean, but I wasn’t about to give second thoughts a chance to set in. Just like I wasn’t about to let Kenner fuck this up.

Turning to face him, I kept my arms crossed over my chest. “Yeah. There is.”

I expected my fellow coach to bluster or make some alpha statement. Instead, he sighed and shook his head. “Damn you. I knew I should’ve asked her out when I had the chance.”

A chuckle escaped me. “I gotta say, I’m not sorry you didn’t.”

“At least I know you’re a halfway decent guy,” Kenner muttered.

“Careful, those sweet nothings could go to my head.”

Kenner laughed. “I think your ego is big enough.”

“You’ve got a point there.” I caught movement out of the corner of my eye. Anson and Shep were crossing the building’s foyer and heading for the rink. My stomach dropped, worry setting in. “Be right back,” I muttered, but I was already moving before Kenner could answer.

I crossed the space in a matter of seconds. “What’s wrong? Is Sutton okay? Is?—?”

Shep clamped a hand on my shoulder. “She’s fine.”

Relief swept through me, but my pulse still thrummed in my neck. “Maybe don’t show without warning, man. That’s a dick move. Worse than a can we talk text.”

“Told you,” Anson said.

Shep sent him a scowl. “He would’ve told me not to come. ”

“Hey, you two bickering lovebirds want to tell me what’s going on?” I snapped.

All hints of amusement on Anson’s face slipped away. “Dex found the motherload on Sutton’s landlord.”

My blood turned to ice. “That’s your hacker friend?”

Anson jerked his head in a nod. “Rick Anderson is a sleazeball of epic proportions. Dex found that he has been systematically raising rents across all his properties, falsifying repair records that he charges tenants for, and even shutting off water when people can’t pay.”

“That’s illegal. Why has no one reported him?” I asked, my temper stewing.

“He’s preying on those less knowledgeable about their rights,” Shep said, a muscle in his jaw tensing.

“There’s more,” Anson added. “He’s got some shady investment stuff. Dex sent me the records. He’s cost a lot of people their life savings with bullshit building renos.”

My anger shifted to fury. This asshole likely planned to take Sutton for all she had. But I wasn’t about to let that happen. “Get a file together,” I ground out. “I’m going to the bastard today, and he’s going to sell me everything he has.”

Shep shifted in place. “I had a feeling you were going to say that.”

“Like you’d do anything differently if this was Thea,” I snapped.

Shep’s brows flew up. “Is that what this is?”

Hell.

The last thing I wanted was my family involved in my relationship with Sutton, but after last night, I knew my days of them staying out of my business were limited. “I care about her.”

That wasn’t even remotely close enough to the truth. It was so much more than care. But saying that out loud was ridiculous. I’d only known the woman for a month. Yet she was turning my world upside down in the best ways imaginable. And I’d do whatever it took to protect her.

Anson held out a hand to Shep. “I’ll take that twenty now.”

I looked between the two of them. “Did you bet on me? ”

Shep gripped the back of his neck. “Just a friendly wager on whether you were sunk or not.”

I glared at my brother. “You know, I covered for you when you came home wasted from that field party your junior year. How do you think Mom would feel if she knew the reason her fiddle leaf fig bit the dust was because you used the pot as a urinal?”

Shep’s eyes narrowed on me. “You wouldn’t.”

I arched a brow. “Wouldn’t I?”

Anson chuckled. “Sometimes, I love your family.”

“Jesus,” Shep muttered. “It still weirds me out when you smile like that.”

Anson grinned like some creepy clown, making me shudder.

“Get me the file,” I clipped.

“Cope,” Shep began. “I think we should take this to Trace. Dex can send it to him as an anonymous tip.”

I met my brother’s stare. “Is it enough to fry Rick’s ass? I’m talking jail time and him forced to turn over the buildings.”

Shep and Anson shared a look.

“I’m taking that as a no. So, this is what we’re going to do. We’ll get him to sell, and then Dex can drop the files to Trace. But he needs to sell first . Because I’m not risking Sutton’s livelihood.” She’d worked too hard and put everything she had into that bakery.

“This could come back to bite you. You’ll basically be blackmailing him,” Shep warned. “Do you really think it’s worth it when you’re already on thin ice with your team?”

“Yes,” I snarled. Because Sutton would always be worth it. No matter the risk.