25. Damage Control

DAMAGE CONTROL

T he laptop screen lit up with Jake's incoming call, and my heart did that stupid flutter thing it always did when he’s nearby.

But the moment his face appeared, everything inside me went cold. Bruises painted his jaw dark purple, angry red scrapes telling stories of violence I hadn't been there to prevent. White bandage wrapped his shoulder like an accusation.

"What the fuck happened?" My voice came out harder than intended, fear making me sharp.

"It's nothing." That calm sheriff voice that usually steadied me now just pissed me off. "Had a situation with Ramirez. It's handled."

"Handled?" Leaned closer to the screen like I could somehow reach through and touch him. "You look like you went ten rounds with a brick wall."

His laugh came rough, pained. "Should see the other guy."

"Not funny." But my chest loosened slightly seeing that familiar half-smile. "Tell me."

So he did. Each word making my hands clench tighter. Ramirez at the hospital. Jimmy almost dying. The fight that ended with Jake bleeding but victorious.

"Fuck." The city lights behind me felt wrong suddenly, too bright, too far from where I needed to be. "Should've been there."

"And done what?" His eyes went soft even through the pixelated screen. "You've got your own battles right now. Speaking of which, how'd it go with Vanessa?"

Right. My turn for confessions.

"Found Anderson there." The words tasted bitter. "Playing house with my family like he belonged."

Jake's expression darkened. "Tell me you didn't"

"He swung first." Defensive now, remembering the rage that had filled me. "Standing there all smug, trying to act like Tommy's new dad. What was I supposed to do?"

"Maybe not get into a fistfight before your custody hearing?" But there was understanding in his voice, maybe even a hint of pride. "Though I wouldn't have done any different."

That got a real laugh from me. "Yeah? The upstanding Sheriff Thompson throwing hands?"

"For family?" His voice went serious. "In a heartbeat."

Family. The word hit like a punch to the gut.

"The hearing's in three days." Had to say it, had to know. "I know with Ramirez and everything"

"I'll be there." No hesitation, no qualifiers. Just certainty. "Wild horses couldn't keep me away."

"Even with the media circus it'll be?" Had to give him the out. "They'll be all over this, Jake. The small town sheriff and the gay racing champion. Headlines write themselves."

"Fuck the headlines." Simple, sure. "I'm not letting you face this alone."

My throat went tight. Because this man - this incredible, steady man - kept choosing us. Kept putting himself out there despite the cost.

"I hit him pretty hard." The confession came quiet. "Anderson. Might have broken his nose."

"Good." Jake's fierce approval made me smile. "Though maybe don't lead with that in court."

"No promises." But the knot in my chest had loosened. "Miss you. Miss home."

"Soon." His eyes said everything his voice couldn't. "We'll get through this hearing, deal with whatever fallout comes, and then"

"And then?"

"And then we build something real. Together."

Together. Such a simple word for something that felt anything but simple.

"Jake?"

"Yeah?"

"Those bruises" Had to ask, had to know. "You're really okay?"

His smile went gentle. "Better now. Seeing you, hearing your voice. Makes everything manageable somehow."

"Soft." But my own smile probably gave me away.

"Only for you." He shifted, wincing slightly. "And maybe Tommy."

"He asked about you yesterday." Jake's voice pulled me back. "Wanted to know if you were coming home soon."

"What'd you tell him?"

"That his dad's fighting for him. That sometimes the most important races aren't on a track."

Trust Jake to know exactly what to say, exactly how to steady me even through a screen.

"Think we'll win?" The question came small, vulnerable.

"Think you've got something Vanessa doesn't." His certainty wrapped around me like armor. "A real home. A community that gives a damn. And a sheriff who'll move heaven and earth to keep your family together."

The city lights seemed dimmer now, less important. Because everything that mattered was on that screen. Everything worth fighting for.

I found Cassidy and Sarah on the other side of the door, their faces carrying that look I'd learned to dread. The one that said shit was about to hit every available fan.

"Move." Cassidy pushed past me, all business and barely contained fury. Sarah followed, already pulling out her phone like the weapon it was.

"What's wrong?" But I knew. Had that sick feeling in my gut, the same one I used to get before a bad crash.

"Turn on channel six." Cassidy grabbed the remote, not waiting for me to respond. "Now."

The TV flickered to life and there she was. Vanessa. Perfect makeup, perfect posture, perfect fucking performance. Some morning show couch making her look small, vulnerable. Exactly how she wanted to appear.

"Fuck." The word came out like a prayer. "Jake needs to see this."

My hands shook dialing his number. He answered fast, probably still worried about me after our call.

"El? What's"

"Channel six. Now."

"I've tried so hard to protect Tommy from all this." Vanessa's voice wavered just right, practiced grief making the interviewer lean in closer. "The erratic behavior, the sudden moves. One day he's a champion, the next he's abandoning everything we built."

"That must be incredibly difficult," the interviewer prompted, right on cue. "How is Tommy handling these changes?"

"He's confused." A perfect tear rolled down her cheek. "How do you explain to an eight-year-old that his father's having some kind of breakdown? Moving to strange towns, making impulsive decisions"

"Breakdown?" The rage rose hot and fast. "She's the one"

"Shh." Sarah held up her hand, eyes locked on the screen.

"There have been rumors," the interviewer pressed, "about Mr. Blue's personal life. Recent changes"

"I don't want to speak ill of Elliot." Vanessa's mask slipped just enough to show calculated pain. "He's Tommy's father. But the man living in that small town now? I don't recognize him anymore."

"Son of a bitch." Jake's voice carried low through the phone. "She's really going for blood."

"And now there are reports of an altercation?" The interviewer's excitement barely concealed. "With your new partner?"

There it was. The trap she'd laid.

"It was frightening." Vanessa's hand fluttered to her throat. "Elliot just showed up, so angry. Jason tried to calm him down but"

"He threw the first punch." The words burst out before I could stop them. "That fucker was in my house, with my kid"

"We know." Cassidy's voice cut sharp. "But she's spinning it. Making you look unstable."

"Sources say Mr. Blue has been seen with a local law enforcement officer." The interviewer went for the kill. "Any comment on his apparent lifestyle changes?"

Vanessa's pause was perfect. Calculated. "I just want what's best for our son. All these changes, this new life he's chosen. It's not the stability Tommy needs."

"Mute it." Sarah ordered, already typing furiously on her phone. "We need to get ahead of this."

"How?" My voice came out raw. "She's already painting me as some unstable fuck having a midlife crisis."

"By telling the truth." Cassidy started pacing. "Not her version. Not the tabloid version. Just facts."

"What facts?" Bitter laugh escaped me. "That I hit my ex-wife's boyfriend? That I fell for a small-town sheriff? That I'm fighting for my kid while she puts on this perfect victim act?"

"Yes." Jake's voice steadied me. "All of it. The truth, El. It's stronger than her performance."

"Riley's ready." Sarah looked up from her phone. "We give him the exclusive, let him tell your side. No spin, no drama. Just reality."

"And Anderson's nose?" Had to ask.

"Self-defense during an emotionally charged encounter." Cassidy's smile turned sharp. "Sometimes these things happen when someone threatens your family."

Family. The word hit different now. Because that's what Jake had become. What we were building. Something real against Vanessa's perfect facade.

"What do you need from me?" Jake asked, solid and sure even through digital static.

"Just you." The truth came easy. "In court. By my side. Let them see what actually matters."

"Always."

Unmuted the TV just in time to catch Vanessa's final performance.

"I'll always love Elliot." Her voice broke perfectly. "But right now, I have to protect our son. From all of this."

"Turn it off." Couldn't watch anymore. Couldn't see her twist everything into weapons.

"We do this right." Sarah's voice went hard. "One interview. Your truth. Nothing more."

"And then?"

"And then we let the court see who's really putting Tommy first." Cassidy gathered her papers. "The parent using him for publicity, or the one fighting to give him a real life."

The city lights seemed dimmer now, less important. Because whatever Vanessa threw at us, however she tried to spin this, we had something she didn't.

Sarah's phone hit the table like a starting gun. "Plan B. Now." Her fingers flew across the screen, already three steps ahead like always. "Mike needs to know first. Your crew's about to get swarmed."

I called Delaney on speaker, his gruff voice filling the hotel room. "Already seen it, kid. Got reporters sniffing around the garage."

"Tell them nothing." Sarah cut in, all business. "Not a word about Elliot's personal life, his move, nothing. Redirect everything to his racing record."

"Done." Mike's certainty steadied something in my chest. "Boys know the drill. Family protects family."

Family. The word hit different now. Because yeah, my crew was family. Had been through a hundred races. But so was Jake. So was Tommy. So were all the people Vanessa was trying to paint as part of my "breakdown."

"The Anderson situation" Sarah started, but Mike cut her off.

"Self-defense when some asshole got aggressive. That's all anyone needs to know."

Cassidy watched me while they talked strategy, her eyes too knowing. Waited until Sarah stepped out to make more calls before moving closer.

"You're not okay." Not a question. "Talk to me, Elliot."

"What if she wins?" The words came raw, unplanned. "What if the court sees this interview and decides she's right? That I'm too unstable, too"

"Stop." Her hand landed warm on my shoulder. "Look at me. Really look."

Met her eyes, found steel there. Not the cold kind Vanessa wielded, but something stronger. Something real.

"You're fighting for your son." Simple words carrying weight. "Not for cameras, not for image. For Tommy. That matters more than any performance Vanessa can give."

"But"

"No buts. You've got people in your corner. Real people, not paid PR teams. Jake, your crew, this whole stupid town that's adopted you." Her smile went soft. "That's what the court will see. Someone building a life, not having a breakdown."

My phone buzzed - Jake checking in. Always knowing somehow when I needed him.

"You good?" His voice carried worry even through speaker.

"Getting there." Meant it more than I expected. "Sarah's mobilizing the troops."

"Good." A pause, heavy with everything we couldn't say. "Tommy called. Asked about you."

My heart stopped. "What'd he say?"

"That he misses you. That he knows you're fighting for him." Jake's voice went gentle. "That's what matters, El. Not Vanessa's interview, not Anderson's nose. Just that."

Fuck. Had to sit down, legs suddenly weak. Because yeah, that was what mattered. Tommy knowing the truth.

"Need to call Riley." The decision formed as I spoke. "Get our side out there. Not some PR spin, just reality."

"You sure?" But Jake's tone said he already knew my answer.

"Yeah." Standing straighter now, certainty filling me. "Time to stop letting Vanessa control the narrative."

Riley answered fast, like he'd been waiting. Maybe he had been.

"Saw the interview." No preamble needed. "Ready when you are."

"Tonight?" Had to be fast, had to counter Vanessa's poison before it spread.

"Give me an hour to get to your hotel." Professional Riley now, not small-town Riley. "We'll do this right."

Ended the call feeling lighter somehow. Because yeah, Vanessa had thrown the first punch in this media war. But we were ready.

"You know this changes everything." Sarah was back, watching me with careful eyes. "Once we do this interview, there's no going back."

"Good." Meant it with everything in me. "Done hiding. Done letting her twist everything into weapons."

"Okay then." Her smile turned fierce. "Let's give them something real to talk about."

Cassidy started gathering papers, legal mind already working. "I'll draft talking points. Keep it focused on Tommy, on stability."

"And Jake?" Had to ask. Had to know how much to share.

"The truth." Simple answer from both women. "All of it."