Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163209 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 816(@200wpm)___ 653(@250wpm)___ 544(@300wpm)
“Maybe,” Jeremy said. “A former Raven, but she shouldn’t be in South Carolina.”
Right on cue, the reporter tilted his microphone toward Muldani and said, “The most unexpected development of the weekend might be your presence here at Palmetto State University. Care to explain what you’re doing here?”
“I do not need your permission to travel.”
Kevin flicked her a disapproving look, but Thea stared him down until Kevin huffed with displeasure and looked away.
“It’s just curious,” the reporter said, unflappable in the face of her rudeness. “This soon after the Ravens and Foxes went toe-to-toe, how else can we interpret your visit but as a show of solidarity?”
“With this joke of a team?” Muldani asked. “I would rather slit my throat.”
Kevin waved her off. “They’ve gotten—idiot.”
The camera spun to see what had caught Kevin’s eye. A Maserati had pulled up to the curb nearby. Jeremy understood Kevin’s anger when he saw Andrew in the driver’s seat, except the man who climbed out on the passenger side was also Andrew. The second had one arm in a sling, which at least cleared up the who’s-who of the Minyard twins. One of the back doors opened moments later to reveal Neil. He tested the doorframe as he weighed the best way to get out, then grimaced in pain as he went for it.
Kevin stalked toward them with a curt, “Excuse me.”
The camera followed him while the reporter gave a quick, “As you know,” rundown of the Foxes’ injuries and the estimated timeline for their return. Jeremy was more interested in whatever Kevin was saying, but the Queen knew to keep his voice down. That didn’t keep the impatience off his face or out of his sharp gestures as he tried to exile his injured teammates from the stadium.
Kevin turned on Andrew next, who ignored him in favor of raising a pack of cigarettes to his mouth. It was easy work to tip a stick between his lips, but Andrew didn’t light it. He bobbed it this way and that for a few moments, then broke it into pieces and cast it aside. Irritation tugged hard at the corner of his mouth, and the deadly look he turned on Kevin was enough to kill the argument. Kevin was obviously still angry with them, but he stepped back so Neil could finally close the car door behind him.
“Context?” Spader asked, taking advantage of the lull.
Jeremy only managed a, “Did you watch—” before Neil hobbled past Kevin and said too-loudly, “Oh, Thea. Welcome back.”
The implication she’d been there before had the camera swinging back toward her with dizzying speed, but Muldani only stared Neil down with obvious contempt. She batted away the microphone when it tipped toward her: a grave mistake in retrospect, as it meant the reporter turned his full attention on Neil instead. Neil didn’t acknowledge the camera, but he obediently stopped when the reporter said his name.
“Not her first visit to the Foxhole Court,” the reporter guessed.
“The court? Unknown.” Neil gave a careless shrug he immediately and obviously regretted. He pressed a hand to his injured side and sucked in a slow breath through clenched teeth. “She stopped by last spring. When was that?” Neil asked Andrew, but didn’t wait before adding, “April? Jean came down in March, so it had to be after that. I know she visited them both while she was here.”
Neil didn’t give the reporter room to speak but glanced at Kevin and pointed toward the court. “Coach here? Okay, then we’re heading in.”
He and Andrew set off. Kevin waited until they disappeared through the door before turning back on the camera and trying his best to salvage the conversation. “Thea is here because I invited her. I wanted to talk about the Ravens’ latest developments with someone who would understand.”
“What Ravens?” Muldani demanded, expression dark. It was enough to startle a quiet “Oh,” from Jeremy, but Muldani wasn’t finished. “A Raven who cannot play is no Raven. These disgraceful creatures do not deserve the uniforms they wear.
“Victory,” she stressed, heavy with rage and indignation, and she finally turned on the camera like she could stare through it to her former team. “Supremacy on the court above all else. That is our calling and our purpose, but you have irrevocably destroyed it. You’ve ruined everything he gave you and stained his legacy beyond repair. He will never forgive you for embarrassing him like this.”
Our calling, as if she hadn’t graduated years ago. Jeremy took a step back from the TV.
Muldani spat to one side to emphasize the point, then motioned to Kevin. “I have nothing more to say about these cowards. Let’s go.”
Kevin said nothing for a moment, as if considering what else he could add. All he came up with was a pleasant, “Thank you for checking on us. We appreciate your support and concern.”