Chapter 1

CHAPTER

ONE

ALEXANDER

My legal team and the public relations consultants we keep on retainer for precisely this kind of nightmare fill the Reaper’s board room. There are way too many people in here for my liking. I hate this shit.

“Jess, I don’t care! It breached his Image Clause, and I refuse to pay out his contract. He’s done. If someone wants to pick him up, that’s fine with me, but he’ll never play ball as a Carolina Reaper again.” Lawyers are a necessary part of my life, but even those working for me get under my skin.

“I understand your stance, Mr. Decker, but until he’s found guilty, he’s still innocent in the eyes of the law. We can put him on administrative paid leave for ninety days, and let it play out in court,” Jessica Whitcomb says, her voice trailing off when she looks at me. She’s a newer front office team member and a prominent labor lawyer, but I can tell she’s nervous standing up to contradict me. It’s probably the look on my face that has her rattled. While most people are used to my normal, resting scowl face, I’m sure my current expression is beyond my usual irritated. I’m pissed. Anger, frustration, and outrage swirl in my gut, creating a whole new level of loathing.

While I respect her opinion, this situation isn’t just about the contract. I fucking hate contracts. They’re binding, and I don’t like to be confined to someone else’s rules. I need people to live by my rules. Show up. Do your job. And don’t be an asshole and assault a fan. Is that too much to ask? Apparently so.

Fucking contracts. They’re my least favorite part of my job, and there are days that’s all I deal with. There’s too much negotiation and interpretation with contracts. And too many people and opinions. Sometimes, I want to do something fast, decisive. Like now. Contracts slow everything down. My irritation is boiling over, and everyone in the room is on heightened alert. My leg is bouncing under the table, and when the pen in my hand snaps in two and skitters across the table, I shut my eyes and count to five but only make it to three. I gather myself and continue with the meeting.

I look toward Jack Manning, head of our legal department and an old friend. We were housemates back in college, and if anyone can get me what I want legally, it’s Jack. He knows me and will get me there, working within the confines of the law, of course.

“What do you think, Jack?” I focus all my attention on him and he doesn’t flinch. He knows me better than most and understands why I’m seething.

“Alexander, I know where you’re coming from. I want the bastard gone, too. I doubt his legal troubles are going to go away easily. Pauly’s agent tried to quiet it with money almost immediately, and this Danny Franklin held firm on principle. Trying to teach a lesson or something, said money can’t fix everything. Either way, I agree with Jess. Let this play out in the legal system. Public opinion won’t be in his favor. Pulling him immediately was the right move. Work with the PR team and keep focusing on family values. We communicate to his agent he’s done. If they can get someone else to take the contract, we let him go. If not, we send him to our Low A team and bury him there if it doesn’t resolve quickly. It’s only been forty-eight hours. Let’s see where it goes.”

I let out an audible sigh and swipe my hand down my face. Patience is not my strong suit. I tried to work out my bad mood in the gym this morning, but even double time on the punching bag didn’t help release my frustrations.

“Fine. Jack, handle it. You know what I want. Keep the details out of the press.” I direct my last comments to the PR team. “That’s all for now. Thank you.”

Everyone quietly leaves the room, with Jack hanging back.

“Hey, great to see you, Ash. By the way, congratulations on your engagement,” Jack says when he gets to the door.

Ashleigh steps from the corner and stands beside me, her hand on my shoulder. “Thanks, Jack. Good seeing you too. Give my love to Lucy and the twins. I might be in town for a while until this blows over. Tell her to call me. Maybe we can do lunch.”

“She’d love that. See you around.” Jack leaves the room, and I spin my chair and look at her with a huge grin on her face.

“How can you smile in the middle of this shit storm?”

“I love watching my big brother command a room. Especially when it’s not directed at me for once.”

Ashleigh is my kid sister and a social media genius. I wanted her to work for the Reapers after college, but she followed her heart, got engaged, and started her own social media company working with star athletes.

She was with me when I got the news about our starting third baseman being charged with assault and drug possession. The Reapers are a family organization, and we rally when the family’s in trouble. Ashleigh came home with me to help ride out the storm. When she offered her services, I accepted. We need all the help we can get.

My family owns the Carolina Reapers, a Major League Baseball team. My father bought the expansion franchise when I was two years old and we’ve run this organization as a family for thirty-two years. Dad’s semiretired now, and although he might come in the office occasionally, he’s handed the reins over to me as the General Manager and President of the organization. We thought my siblings would work for the team alongside me, but they had other plans.

We also have a strait-laced image we want to project. All employees of the Reapers sign a contract: from the players to the front office staff, to the grounds crew. We expect our players to be role models. That includes their appearance, a required number of philanthropic hours, and maintaining an all-American superhero image. Drugs and assault do not fit that image. Fucking Pauly Jackson.

“I appreciate your support, Ash. Cole okay with you staying in enemy territory?”

She throws her head back and laughs. Her bouncy, blonde waves remind me of our mom, and I give her a wistful smile. A smile reserved only for her.

“The Reapers may be the Liberties on-field rival, but us, this team, will never be his enemy. You may not have drafted him, but he’s part of this team nonetheless. I mean, Matt just made his MLB debut last night for you, and his sister threw out the first pitch. The Liberties may pay him, but his heart is a Reaper.” Matt Hartman is Cole’s best friend and my new starting third baseman because of this disaster.

“Yeah, yeah, I know. He’s a good guy, and he makes you happy. That’s the important thing. He back in Nashville?”

“No, they have another week on the road before he comes home. He’ll never miss me.”

“Oh, I think he’ll miss you.” That boy thinks the sun rises and sets by my sister. And it does .

She smiles brightly. “Yeah, he’ll miss me. You know what I mean. Besides, I think you need me more right now.”

I stand up and wrap her in my arms. “Thanks for being here, Ash. Means the world to me.”

“I’ll always be here for you, Xander. You know that. You, Jules, Dad, the Reapers. I’d do anything for you.”

My brother, Julian, is a few years younger than me and struck out on his own too. He’s one of the most successful sports agents in the country. I’ll admit, that role suits him. Julian is more of a free spirit, and the structure of franchise leadership would break him. He’s happiest when he represents one of my players and gets to “make me pay.” Even though it’s probably a considerable conflict of interest, we make it work. The Reapers are honest and pay their players what they’re worth. Maybe more than we should when I think of Pauly Jackson.

“Speaking of Jules, is he still in town?”

“Yeah, we’re staying at Dad’s since he gave his apartment to Matt and Darcy until they get settled. Let’s all do dinner tonight and work on a plan to clean up this mess. Maybe turn it into something positive.”

“I know you’re a miracle worker, but I don’t think that’s possible. What have you got in mind?”

“Well, for starters, one reason the victim won’t take a payoff was because it was in front of his kid. It’s a teachable moment.”

“A kid. Aw fuck.” Family friendly. That’s who the Reapers are, so an assault by one of our players in front of a kid is unforgivable.

“Exactly. I’m going to offer them VIP tickets to the game tomorrow. By the way, can you get me a workspace for the week? It’ll be easier to charm your employees face-to-face when I need something.”

I think about bringing the victim to the game. “Won’t that look like we’re trying to buy his silence?”

“We’ll ensure he knows it’s an apology with no strings attached. We aren’t asking for anything. It’s just our way of letting him know who we are. We aren’t covering up, more like owning up.”

I kiss her on top of her head. “Thanks, Ash. And you can take the office by mine. It was going to be yours, anyway. Welcome home.”