Page 28 of Hard Pass

My phone buzzes beside me. I ignore it.

It buzzes again.

And again.

I let out a groan and reach for it. Marcus. Of course.

MARCUS: Couldn’t get him to talk so you leaked to the public to add pressure?

The humor drains instantly.

DUBLIN: What are you talking about?

But I’m already moving, laptop open, fingers flying across the keys as I pull up sports sites.

MARCUS: It’s public knowledge. Check your email. Or anywhere really.

Oh hell.

Trial by social media is never a good thing.

Because once it’s out there, I can’t control the narrative anymore.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Cole

Fuck.

I pace.

Need to move.

Need to think.

Need this all to go the hell away.

And of course, now this.

The same stretch of flooring in my living room will be worn down to nothing if I don’t stop. But stopping means thinking and right now thinking is the last thing I need to be doing.

“Fucking media,” I mutter and drag a hand through my hair. “Fucking . . . everything.”

I grab my phone, stare at the endless texts and screenshots like they’ll somehow magically change.

They don’t.

Same screenshots of headlines over and over. Some from friends, some from teammates, others from reporters all asking the same question: is it true?

REBELS QB LINKED TO BETTING IRREGULARITIES

LEAGUE INVESTIGATES COLE VALOR

RISKING IT ALL – VALOR’S POOR PERFORMANCE LINKED TO BETTING SCANDAL

“Un-fucking-believable,” I snap, tossing the phone back down before dragging a hand over my face.

This is the last thing I need. Not now.