Xavier’s asleep on my shoulder while I work. The domesticity of the whole thing, while alien, isn’t unwelcome. There’s something nice about having him here with me and not having to try to take care of him from afar. I’m ignoring the niggling feeling that I shouldn’t want him here, that I’m supposed to be sworn off men, distractions, and focused solely on destroying my father and this takeover. But when Xavier lets out a long sigh, it’s hard to think of anything other than how adorable he looks.
My phone rings. I hit cancel and send Apollo to voicemail.
Pollo: Pick up.
Artemis: Xavier’s asleep on my shoulder.
Pollo: 9-1-1
Fuck. My lungs collapse around the breath I’m struggling to take.
My stomach free-falls as any number of worst-case scenarios ricochet through my brain. Is it Abuela? Mamá? Fuck. Athena?
I extricate myself from under Xavier, propping him up on the pillow and placing a quick kiss on his forehead. I dial Apollo’s number and leave the room, pulling the door closed quietly behind me.
“Guessing you haven’t seen the article?” Apollo spares me ‘hello’ and gets straight to the meat of the issue.
Ice floods my veins. “What article?” I’m already swiping the call off my screen to look for whatever it is he’s seen but he’s dropped a link in our chat.
Trash Can Tattle With Tabitha
Hey, Trash Panda fans! Tabitha Tucker here, resident sports-blogger-salacious-newsletter-author extraordinaire. Sit down and get ready to sink your teeth into some seriously sweet tea.
Rumor has it that the ice isn’t the only thing cracking under pressure this season.
We all know that Casa De la Peña never stays quiet. While former Raccoon’s captain, Apollo, resigned from his father's company (because Papá is a "cheating cabrón,") it seems his twin, wasn't so fast to leave the boardroom.
Multiple sources (none of whom will admit to talking to me, the cowards) confirm that Artemis de la Peña—yes,thatArtemis, captain of Cedar Rapid’s Raccoons and your favorite brick wall enforcer—has been quietly orchestrating ahostile takeover of his father’s aeronautics empire.
A little digging has confirmed that last year, Artemis successfully executed the purchase of one of Alonso's leading competitors. And word on the street is thatthis year, there’s a "hostile takeover" in motion—a fearless move that will undoubtedly have Papá Bear pissed!
No bluster or stalling tactics here, friends; Artemis's paperwork is airtight.
It seems that vengeance on Daddy Dearest for having scorned Artemis’s Mamá is high on the list of to dos while he’s beast-moding out on the ice.
Who saw the game a couple nights ago where he almost threw down against his own defender over a hit on one of the visiting team’s roster?
Well, because the universe has a sense of humor, guess what landed in my inbox this morning?
A grainy-but-definitely-them photo ofArtemis and Wisconsin’s golden boy, Xavier Martinez,tucked into a shadowy corner table at Guac ’n Roll, lookingmuchfriendlier than two rivals should.
Could this be another reason for Artemis's recent power play in the aeronautics world?
We love a hero who fights for his legacy, but to be honest… I could do without the subject of his affections wearing a wolf on his chest.
Sources swear it was “just business.” But unless business now involves leaning in close, sharing chips and salsa, and eye-fucking each other across the table, I’m calling bullshit.
If this takeover goes nuclear, I’m predicting collateral damage… and maybe a forbidden romance hotter than queso left under a heat lamp.
I blink. Read it again.
My stomach bottoms out so fast I think I might actually be sick. Apollo’s voice murmurs in my ear, but I can’t hear him through the red mist descending on me.
Tabitha’s articles have been toeing the line between being a pain in the ass and being entertaining for a while. And none of us have forgotten how she outed our former captain, Justin Ashe, as being everyone’s favorite author.
But this… this takes the cake.
My hand clenches, fist tightening as I struggle to get my breathing under control. “I’m going to destroy whoever is behind this fucking article.”
