Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 80943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 80943 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
He hadn’t wanted a permanent break, hadn’t intended to end the relationship. He’d just wanted the investigation to be done with, the scandal to be an unpleasant blip on his memory radar. But Hayden, well, she’d gone and made it permanent. Reverted to her belief that a relationship between them could never have lasted anyway.
But he couldn’t bring himself to agree. She was wrong about them. If she let down her guard and opened her heart, she’d see that the two of them could be fucking amazing together. Not just in bed, but in life. So what if he traveled a lot for work? If his life wasn’t as stable as other men’s? He’d have to retire sooner or later, and when he did, he planned on settling down in one place. Maybe opening a skating rink that didn’t require a membership fee, so that kids from poorer families would have access to the same facilities as those who were better off. He might even coach a kids’ team. It was an idea he’d been tossing around for years now.
But instead of planning a future with Hayden, he’d lost her.
Hell, maybe he’d never really had her to begin with.
“Croft.”
He raised his head, frowning when he spotted Craig Wyatt walking toward him.
Wyatt’s massive frame was squeezed into a tailored black suit, his shiny shoes squeaking against the tiled floor. The team captain’s blond hair was gelled away from his forehead.
“What’s up?” Brody couldn’t stop the twinge of bitterness in his voice.
A muscle twitched in Wyatt’s square jaw. “I saw the article about you and Presley’s daughter. With that said, I hope you know you have no reason to be nervous. We both know you didn’t do anything wrong.”
“You’re right, I didn’t.” He lifted a brow. “Although I’m curious how you’re so sure about that.”
Wyatt nodded to the left and said, “Follow me. We need to have a chat.”
Brody glanced at his watch. He had another twenty minutes before they called him in for his scheduled interview.
He and Wyatt walked silently toward the lobby, then exited through the front doors and stepped into the cool morning air. Cars whizzed by in front of the arena. Pedestrians ambled down the sidewalk without giving the two men a second look. Everyone was going about their day, cheerfully heading to work, while Brody was here, waiting to be questioned about something he wanted no part in.
With a strangled groan, Wyatt ran one hand through his hair, messing up the style he’d obviously taken great care with. “Look, I’m not going to lie. I’ve been seeing Sheila, okay?” His voice shook slightly. “I know it’s wrong. I know I have no business sleeping with a married woman, but goddamn it, I was a goner from the moment I met her. I love her, man.”
“Sheila told you who took the bribes, didn’t she?”
Wyatt averted his eyes. “Yes.”
“Then who was it, damn it? Who the fuck put us in this position, Craig?”
There was a beat of silence. “I don’t think you want to know, man.”
Another pause. Longer this time. Brody could tell that the last thing Wyatt wanted to do was name names.
But he did.
“Nicklaus did. And—” Wyatt took a breath. “I’m sorry, Brody, but…so did Sam Becker.”
Thirty
The ground beneath Brody’s feet swiftly disintegrated. He sagged forward, planting both hands on his thighs to steady himself. He sucked in a series of long breaths. Waited for his pulse to steady.
“Those are the only two Sheila knows about,” Wyatt was saying. “There could be more.”
He glanced up in anger. “You’re lying. Nicklaus maybe, but not Sam. He wouldn’t do that.”
“He did.”
No. Not Becker. Brody pictured Sam’s face, thinking back to the first day they’d met, how Sam Becker had taken Brody’s rookie self under his wing and helped him become the player he was today. Becker was his best friend on the team. He was a stand-up guy. A champion. A legend. Why would he throw his career away for some extra pocket money?
“He’s retiring at the end of the season,” Wyatt said, as if reading Brody’s mind. He shrugged. “Maybe he needed a bigger nest egg.”
Brody closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them, he saw the sympathy on Wyatt’s face.
“I know you two are close,” Craig said quietly.
“You could be wrong about this. Sheila could have lied.” Brody knew he was grasping at straws, but anything was better than accepting that Becker had done this.
“It’s the truth.”
Fuck.
Fucking hell.
They stood there for a moment, neither one speaking, until Wyatt finally cleared his throat and said, “We should go back inside.”
“You go. I’ll be there in a minute.”
After Wyatt left, Brody adjusted his tie, wondering if he’d ever be able to breathe again. His head was still spinning from Craig’s revelation. And yet, he couldn’t bring himself to believe it.