Total pages in book: 107
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 100873 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 504(@200wpm)___ 403(@250wpm)___ 336(@300wpm)
“This is your call,” his brother said. “But if you don’t report it, it becomes a hidden thing you’re going to worry might come back to bite you. Better to be up front as close to the incident as possible, when all the data is there to back you up—including a respected ED doctor and her colleagues. Also, you’re going to go to therapy.”
Danny’s jaw dropped. Striding to the balcony doors, he opened them and stepped out into the icy chill. “Hell I am!” He never yelled at his big brother—he had too much respect for Gabriel. But this was ridiculous. “It was one night and nothing bad happened!”
Gabriel let him go on for a bit before quietly saying, “You’re angry, little bro. Listen to yourself. Sort it out by talking to a professional before the anger goes toxic inside you.”
Chest heaving, Danny pressed his back against the outside wall. “Shit. I just— I was surrounded by friends, Gabe. The idea that one of them might’ve done it…” There was a strong likelihood that it had been a stranger, but still, the thought haunted him.
“That’s exactly why I want you to talk to someone. Look, Mum shoved me into therapy after my injury. I whined like a baby, but it was the best thing she could’ve done for me. If you don’t listen to anything else I say, listen to this.”
“Yeah, okay, I’ll think about it.” After hanging up, he stared out at the snow for a while until Catie stuck her head outside.
“Hey, I didn’t know you wanted prostheses too.”
“What?”
“I mean, since you’re trying your best to get frostbite and lose your feet.”
“Funny.” But realizing she was right about him freezing off his feet, he walked in and slid the door shut.
His stomach rumbled.
Catie didn’t take the chance to razz him, and together, they dished out the eggs and bacon she’d made along with slices of what looked like fresh bread. When he held it up with a raised eyebrow, she said, “It’s a premade kind that you keep frozen, and when you want a bit, you chuck it in the oven for fifteen minutes. Jacqueline’s private chef stocks it.”
Not for the first time, Danny wondered how Catie had turned out so normal after having Jacqueline Rain for a mother and a womanizing gambler for a father. “Eggs are good,” he mumbled after shoving a huge portion into his starving mouth.
“I know.” Catie took a sip of the coffee she’d refused to give him, citing doctor’s orders. “What did Gabe say?”
He told her. No point keeping secrets from Catie when she was a vault where family was concerned. And to her, the Eseras were family—except for him. He was her chief nemesis and vice versa.
His friends got on his case all the time, asking if he had blue balls by now what with how long the two of them had been flirting. Idiots didn’t get it. He and Catie didn’t flirt. It didn’t matter that she was hot—he had eyes in his head, could see why several of his single teammates tried to hit on her every chance they got.
Only to get shot down. Boom.
His enjoyment of their misfortune might have been assholish behavior if they didn’t spend so much time ragging him on his “unrequited crush.” Hah! The idea was ludicrous. Catie would fall down dead of laughter if she heard it.
He shoved more eggs into his mouth.
4
MR. SIZZLING BACHELOR OF THE YEAR AND THE DRAGON’S DEN
“Gabe’s right.” No laughter in those brown eyes, nothing but the understanding of a fellow athlete. “Secrets just come back to bite you.” She pointed her fork in his direction. “I say put it out there to nip off any rumors of a cover-up down the line. You know how things are—just takes a whisper to threaten to ruin a good career. Then there’s your squeaky-clean sponsorship deal.”
“Shit.” He’d known his brother was right, had still hoped she’d disagree. “I guess I better get myself to the police station.”
Catie glanced at the snow falling beyond the balcony doors, the world outside blurred white. “See if they’ll log the complaint over the phone—they can’t want people out in this weather. Especially when no one’s used to snow in the city. It’s usually limited to the higher elevations.”
Antsy now that he’d made his decision, Danny picked up his phone.
“Wait. How’s your head?” Catie tapped the side of her own temple. “All marbles retrieved?”
Scowling, he checked those marbles. “Heaviness is gone,” he confirmed. “I’m fucking pissed off but not feeling dull and foggy.”
He made the call and—once he got through to a detective in drug crimes—received an unexpected response: “We’re still mobile. I’ll come out to you to take the report.”
Danny stared at his phone for a second before putting it back to his ear. “You sure? I know you have far more serious drug issues on your plate.”