32. Lucas

Ianxiously tap my foot on the carpet in front of my agent's polished wooden desk. "How bad is it?"

Greg frowns as he stares at his laptop screen. "I've gotta be honest. You being romantically linked to the latest bad boy of the NFL isn't great for your image."

My heart leaps into my throat, so high, I could choke on it.

"Have you heard anything from Hoffman about my contract?" I ask in a low voice, like not shouting it out will somehow preserve the shreds of my career.

Greg sits back with a deep sigh and runs a hand over his head. "Not a word. But the association…" He shakes his head. "I just don't know."

"Are my endorsements still intact?" Not like those will matter if I get cut from the Crusaders. Any company would pull the rug out from under me if I'm suddenly a free agent because my character has been called into question.

"This is all such bullshit," I mutter. "Jase didn't do anything wrong."

"He hasn't done a lot right lately, either." Greg gives me a pointed look. "And for what it's worth, I don't give a damn who you sleep with, but he's got black marks all over his name. His season has been crap, he's insolent and defiant, causes problems with other players. You don't want to get dragged down with him. Save yourself and walk away now."

My jaw drops. This meeting was supposed to be a reassurance that I have a future in football. And now Greg is basically telling me that future can't include Jase, or I can kiss football goodbye.

I mean, I did enough on my own to assure Greg that it definitely won't include Jase, but still, his warning makes my heart clench tight.

Maybe it's because there's so much finality in it.

His outburst the day we beat Tampa Bay still stings every time it loops through my mind. But it's not like I haven't thought about him every hour of every day since then.

Not only did he get cut from the team, but he was outed in such a public way, which I think scared him even more than losing his contract.

I want to go to him so badly, to hold him, to convince him that everything will work out.

But he made it clear I'm no longer welcome in his life.

I fall forward, my face in my hands. "He doesn't deserve any of this."

"I agree, and it all sucks, but I'm in your corner, not his. And if you're smart, you'll keep away from his riptide or else you'll get sucked right back under." His frown lines deepen. "If that happens, I can't predict what Hoffman will do next."

I swallow hard. "What if Hoffman does cut me? What are our options?"

"We can't go sniffing around for a new contract unless he does cut you. And since I haven't gotten any notification of him considering that, you're in the clear."

Yeah, but for how long? Ella and Nick are flipping out, panicked that I'll go up in Jase's career inferno because of the news of our little tryst. After seeing the media storm that followed, they were afraid the social worker would be back to take them away from me.

Fuck, I made a deal with myself a long time ago that I'd make whatever sacrifices I needed to for my family. But somewhere along the way I forgot about that promise.

And it was around the time I fell for the guy who I thought might well be the biggest prick on the planet.

I slowly rise up from my chair, gripping the arms to steady my legs. My insides feel like they've been sliced and skewered, my heart suffering most of all.

Because as much as I've tried to erase him from my memory, he's branded himself into it. I can't forget the way he tastes, the fresh, clean scent of his body wash, the way his body pressed against mine makes my pulse rocket, the way his demanding touch makes my cock tingle.

Goddammit, I still love him.

After a terse goodbye, I walk out of Greg's office. I stop on my way out of the office building and collapse against a wall. My eyes droop shut for a second.

One person can fix this.

Trevor.

By some miracle, he didn't leak those videos, even though he must be pissed off at the news of me and Jase. Jealousy was what got Jase fired, I'm sure of it. And even though Jase wants nothing to do with me, I can at least try to make things right for him. Hell, maybe I can negotiate with Trevor to get Jase reinstated. He's got me by the balls with those videos, but that doesn't have to impact Jase.

I'll do whatever the hell Trevor wants, even if it costs me every shred of happiness I could have had with Jase.

I take a gamble and drive to the stadium from Greg's office. I could call Trevor's assistant, or even call him directly, but I don't want him to know I'm on my way. I don't want to give him time to come up with any more ammunition against me. Rage swirls through my insides. I clutch the steering wheel tight.

I can't believe I'm actually letting him blackmail me like this. I feel like all of my self-respect has flown the fuck out the window. But then the saying I've heard all my life blows back on me…

You made your bed, now sleep in it.

I don't have a choice.

I can't lose my family.

I already lost the man I love.

Once I get to the stadium, I drive around to the side where the offices are located. I pull up the collar of my coat so the frigid wind doesn't bite the back of my neck so hard. I walk inside and head for the elevator that leads to the floor where Reed and Trevor have their offices.

My phone rings and I pull it out. Of course, I want more than anything to see Jase's name flash across the screen. But before I can even see who's calling, my toe skids against the polished floor. I stumble and it slips from my fingers before clattering onto the floor near Trevor's closed office door.

I steady myself and then bend to scoop it up when I hear angry voices behind the door. With a quick glance at my screen, I swallow a huff.

Fabulous. Almost broke my damn neck for a fucking spam call.

"What did you do after you brought that whole media circus to the shelter?" Reed asks, fury dripping from his words. "How could you be so stupid? You didn't think one of them would follow you?"

I lean closer, straining to hear Trevor's response.

"Nobody knew where I was going. I was careful."

"So careful that you had to make your digs at Jase Maxwell right before you exposed us."

Okay, I am so damn confused right now…

"I was trying to polish up the team's image, Dad. Just like you told me to do. I went to the shelter to kill two birds with one stone. And you promised if I did what you wanted, you'd give me what I want."

"Yeah, well, you didn't do a great job because they know, Trevor. How the fuck do they know?"

"You're so paranoid. Nobody knows anything."

"I just got a call from… staking out the place… alarm went off… security cameras…"

I creep closer to the door because Reed's voice dropped and I can't make out exactly what he's saying right now.

"Lucas?"

I jump about a mile into the air when I see Marc, the team's publicist, stop right in front of me.

"Marc," I gasp, holding up my hand with the phone clenched in it. "I just dropped my phone and… and…"

He gives me a weird look. "Okay. How's everything going at Project Renewal?"

"Great." I straighten up so fast, it's like someone shoved an iron pole up my ass. "The kids are great. So is Evelyn. Jase got them equipment. I got them new uniforms and cleats. They're really happy with the work we've done."

I can't seem to keep my lips closed and the words just continue to spew until Marc politely backs away with a wave. "Glad to hear everything is going well. I'm off to a meeting."

Then I remember why I'm here in the first place.

"You know, I'm not the only one who's made an impact on those kids. They really respond to Jase. He's made a lot of progress with them."

Marc nods his head quickly. "Well, good that he has the time to spend with them now."

"It's not fair that he's being punished like this."

Marc lifts an eyebrow. "Most others would say better him than me."

I shake my head. "I'm not most others."

"Don't get more involved than you already are, Lucas. He's quicksand."

Before I can respond, he turns on his heel and disappears down the corridor. I let out a shuddering sigh. I've had enough warnings today to know that I should just walk the hell out of here right now.

But I can't.

I won't.

I step back to Trevor's door and listen for a second. His voice is elevated. He's talking to his father.

Silence follows.

And since I can't even begin to dissect the issues between father and son, I rap on the door. I hear footsteps, and then the door slowly opens. A glimmer of relief flickers in his eyes and I recoil slightly.

So fucking strange.

"What do you want, Lucas?" Trevor peers past me into the hallway, an odd expression on his face. Then his eyes drop to his phone. "I don't have time for this today."

"Time for this? Are you serious? You created all of this!" I push into the office. "And we're going to fix it. Right now."

"There's nothing to fix. Maxwell is out and there's not a damn thing you can do or say to change that." His jaw tightens and he holds out a finger. "Just remember, Lucas. You did this. You humiliated me by being caught on camera with Maxwell at the hotel. Did you think I was kidding when I said I'd ruin you?"

"So you did tail me." I fist my hair. "You really are a psycho stalking motherfucker."

"Yeah, well, I needed to clear my path for what comes next between us," he sneers, eyes dropping back to his phone. "I can't have you being distracted by someone else's cock. But make no mistake, if you fuck around and make me look like an ass, you'll pay. I have no limits, Lucas. I won't let you humiliate me like that again, do you understand? You're mine and you'll play that role as long as I want you to."

He steps closer to me, the hairs on my arms and neck jumping to attention. I can't believe I actually thought he was handsome at one point. The way he glares at me now, fury spitting from his eyes… Holy Christ. It's like I'm staring into the cold, soulless face of a demon.

"And as long as you want to keep your family intact. Because all it takes is one phone call and one little email to that social worker, and you're finished, Bentley." He leans closer. "Your life. My hands."