Felix’s cough was no longer disguising his laughter, and Mickey’s lips had turned up into a full-on grin while Joey was bent over, trying to hide his face.
“You think it’s funny, don’t you?”
“Yes, Rhys,” Hardy said, laughing. “It is pretty funny.”
“How funny will it be when you’re running from one end of the field to another?”
That had them all groaning.
“Come on, Rhys,” Tommy said, lifting his hands. “It was just a bit of fun.”
“Let me guess, Tommy,” he said. “This was your idea?”
“It was,” he admitted. “And if there’s blame to be had, I’ll take it.”
“No, no,” Rhys said, shaking his finger back and forth. “You were all in on this. Come on. Five times. From one end of the field to the other. Then we’ll run the play again. Hope you remember what I actually told you.”
Tommy let out a sigh as they began, and Jonny caught his eye.
“Sorry,” Tommy muttered to the group, but Jonny shook his head.
“Completely worth it, Tommy,” he said. “Every moment.”
They were nearly spent by the time they had finished, but they were all focused as they ran the play — until Tommy noticed the man standing on the sideline again, watching, his eyes on Tommy.
Tommy wasn’t surprised that Rhys picked up on it as well. After they ran the correct play, when the rest of them walked off the field, damp with sweat, Rhys made his way toward Tommy.
“Your friend is back.”
“I see that.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Follow through on our plan,” Tommy said as Colin and Jonny joined them. “I’m going to talk to him. Try to get more information.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea?” Colin asked, but Tommy shrugged.
“What other choice do we have? I have the ledgers, and we have enough to provide some information to the police, but I would feel better if we had more evidence. Perhaps I can get something from him.”
“Just be careful,” Rhys warned, and Tommy nodded as he went to speak with the mysterious figure, while the rest of the team filed into the bathhouse.
The man’s expression was wary, but then, so was Tommy’s.
“Can I help you?” Tommy asked as he approached, careful not to come too close.
“Just here to remind you of what’s at stake,” he said.
Tommy's eyes narrowed. "And what exactly do you mean by that?”
The man smirked. "Your pretty little wife and her safety, for one. Wouldn't want anything to happen to her, now, would you?"
A cold fist of fear clenched in Tommy's gut, but he kept his expression neutral. "Leave my wife out of this. If you've got a problem, you take it up with me."
The man chuckled darkly. "Oh, but sheisthe problem, isn't she? Draper promised her to my employer. He doesn't take kindly to broken deals. Interesting how this has all come together.”
Tommy stepped closer, his hands balling into fists at his sides. "Minnie is not a piece of property to be bartered. She's my wife, and I'll protect her with my life if I have to."
"Brave words," the man sneered. "But can you protect her from everything? From everyone?" He leaned in, his rancid breath hot on Tommy's face. "Maybe I'll pay her a little visit while you're off playing your silly games. Show her what a real man can do."
