Page 178 of Forever Relentless

“You get your captains back on your side, and you get to focus on the next season where we’ll win the championship again.”

“Coach and player?”

“The way it’s supposed to be.”

We sat in silence while he digested it.

“And you can control them, can you?” he asked doubtfully. “Spence, Slater, their women? Your woman?”

I had no idea if I could or not. “I’ll do my best.” I held up my hand to stop him from interrupting me. “You don’t need to sign anything until I am sure that I can.”

His eyes gleamed. “I like that better than blind faith,” he said with a chuckle.

“I thought you would,” I reasoned.

“They won’t like this,” he told me almost conversationally. “They’ll think you turned against them.”

I nodded. I knew that. I knew it the moment I stayed in his office and started talking terms.

“I’m willing to make that sacrifice.”

He looked at me in approval, and I wanted to punch him so many times. I didn’t want his approval. I wanted nothing to do with him at all.

“You have this evening to work it out.”

I didn’t expect anything else. I made to stand.

“Social media stops now. The girl resigns. You get your boys in line. You get them to remember who the fuck they play for, and I’ll give you a story and an assurance that the Sterling girl can leave as quietly as she came in.”

I swallowed. What had I missed? Was that all? I didn’t know.

“I’ll talk to you tomorrow.” I reached for the door.

“And Matthews?”

I turned.

He pointed to the chair.

“That there, what you’ve just done, that’s what leaders do. You didn’t win, and you didn’t lose.” He gave me a nod. “Remember why you’re here. To play ball and get drafted. Everything else is a distraction.”

“A distraction?” I huffed out a laugh. “I call it morality. You should look it up — maybe shock us both, and try it sometime.”

I walked out of his office and kept walking until the evening air filled up my lungs. I held it together all the way to the dorm room. How the fuck did I tell them what had just been agreed?

They’d never accept it. I had to make them accept it.

For Briar.

For Mason.

Jesus, for Tiffany Preacher, who was still a victim in this. I don’t give a damn that he said it didn’t happen in his house, but it sure as hell happened somewhere.

I know from experience, suicide doesn’t stem from nothing.

I took a few deep breaths before I entered the building.

I had done this for them. That’s what mattered.