Page 143 of Forever Offsides

He drags his hands through his hair as he paces the room. It’s like he’s lost touch, and it’s terrifying to watch. “I lost three deals in Dallas after that nightclub thing I was involved in that went viral. Except that when I lost that money, it ruined everything. I was in so much debt from betting on games and losing that I had to take out a loan from a guy, and now he’s trying to collect.”

I blink at him, my jaw unhinged and my eyes wide. “Russel⁠—”

“Now this reporter, the one you used to fuck”—he points at me—“has been sniffing around. She’s onto me. She has to be. But dating Quinn is like a juicy bone to her, and it’s been good for my image. I’ve gotten deals back. I needed Quinn to keep my image up so I could pay this all off and make it go away.”

Jesus Christ. Jesus fucking Christ.

He’s been betting on games. Is he still? Is that why he had his phone with him at halftime? Betting is illegal as hell and will not only get him kicked off the team but could also get him kicked out of the league.

What does he expect me to do with that?

Sit on it and not say anything because I’ve been having an affair with his ex-girlfriend?

Or is he so past the point of rational thought, locked in a tumbling panic now that his plan has fallen apart, that he’s not thinking rationally right now?

“If you were in financial trouble, why didn’t you come to me?”

I have billions. More money than anyone can spend.

“Because you’d rather give all your money to your charity than to me,” he bites out. “I don’t even have a trust fund.”

No, he doesn’t. Because he’s never needed one. I gave him money constantly when he was a kid, and when he got to the pros, he signed a big contract and didn’t need my money—or so I thought. Then again, I’m not sure I would have paid his gambling debt. But I would have gotten him the help he needed, and we would have worked something out.

“Now you’ve fucked all that up! You and your stupid little whore. Ugly fucking bitch,” he spits out at her.

“Hey!” I shout, grabbing him by the collar and pressing him into the wall. I’m done with this. I push my weight on him and get right up in his face. “You do not speak to her that way. Not ever. She’s the woman I’m in love with, and you will not disrespect her. You’re the one fucking up. Betting on games is illegal⁠—”

“What in the hell is happening here?”

Asher’s voice tumbles into the room, but I hold my son for another moment, staring into his eyes. I’m so disappointed in him, it breaks me in two.

“I love you,” I tell him. “That will never change. But you’re a man and not a boy anymore. You’re going to have to suffer the consequences of your actions.”

I release him and step back before I suck in a breath and turn around to face my boss, his wife, and two of my players. I have no clue how much they overheard, but it’s obvious it was a lot.

Without another word, Russel storms off, practically plowing his way through the door and making Crew and Mason jump out of the way.

That didn’t go well, but it was worse than I was expecting.

“Quinn? Are you okay?” Wynter comes straight over to her daughter’s side and crouches down beside the chair. “Did anyone hurt you?”

“Just the car.”

Mason curses under his breath and if I had an ounce of humor in me, that would have cracked a smile on my lips.

“You’re up and out of bed.” Relief paints her tone, but there’s still a strong note of uneasiness about her. “No one told us you were awake, let alone up. I would have liked to be here for that.”

Asher gives me a long, hard look before he moves over to Quinn and takes her other side. “How are you feeling?”

“Like I hit my head and had my spleen removed.”

Crew rolls his eyes but sits on the bed in front of her and places his hands on his knees. Mason hasn’t moved. It’s almost as if he doesn’t know what to do with himself.

“You’re okay?” Crew presses.

“I’m okay,” she assures him. “Tired and weak and definitely in some pain, but I’m okay.”

She glances up at me, and I stare down at her, my heart in my throat and my gut lined with lead. I should leave them to have time with her, but I don’t want to run from this either.