What the hell was he doing in Chicago, or better yet, in the same hotel as me?
Jax followed my gaze. “Oh, hell no.”
Brian caught me looking. He lifted his glass and gave me a smug smile that I had once mistook for competence.
“Wonder what the fuck he’s doing here,” Ryder muttered next to me.
“I heard he’s trying to rep Mosey,” Jax said, turning his back to him.
Mosey was a defensive back for Chicago. He recently got himself tangled up in some legal trouble. Last I heard, he lost a few endorsements after his DWI arrest. The guy had a reputation for making bad decisions. He and Brian deserved each other.
“Just pretend he’s not here.” Jax shook his head and stared down at his drink.
“Too late,” I said when I spotted him coming our way.
I didn’t want to do this. Not tonight. Not here. The thing with Brian, though, was that he loved attention. Loved power and got off on making people uncomfortable.
“There he is,” Brian said as he reached us. “It’s my favorite former client.”
“I got nothing to say to you.”
He smiled, happy that he got a reaction out of me. “Can’t a guy just say hello?”
“No.” My voice was tight as I held his stare.
God, I hated the guy.
He sipped his whiskey. “Heard the season is going well. How’s the shoulder feeling?”
My body locked up tight. He knew how to poke.
“I didn’t realize you were so concerned about me.”
His mouth curved. Smug bastard. “Just checking in to see how your career is going without me.”
My jaw flexed. “Never better.”
“Good for you.” He sipped his drink. “I’d hate for unnecessary problems to start affecting your focus.” He held my stare a little bit too long. “Enjoy your night, gentlemen.”
Then he walked off.
“What an ass.” Ryder scoffed.
“Is he still giving you trouble?” Jax asked, grabbing a wing from the basket.
I rubbed a hand over my jaw. “Yeah.”
No point in lying. They knew pieces of it, just not the whole story. They assumed he had just been up my ass since I fired him, acting as if I owed him something. Cutting ties with Brian was supposed to bring me freedom, but since then, he’s been holding shit over my head. Things no one knew about, and I’d never felt more trapped in my life.
“Un-fucking real.” Ryder shook his head. “The asshole has been riding your coattails for years. Now he’s trying to screw you over, acting as if you owe him something.”
I blew out a breath. “Even if I do end up having to pay him, it will be worth it.”
Peace of mind had to count for something, right? Because I was done letting people get close and use me for their own personal gain. Brian had been in my life since I signed my first contract. I trusted him because I was supposed to. I thought loyalty meant something. As it turned out, it only meant something when money was to be made.
“He’s just pissed because you cut him loose after his sister screwed you over.”
“Yeah,” I said, staring down at my water. “Doesn’t stop him from trying to milk me dry.”
