Page 94 of Forever Relentless

“Go get an IV, both of you. Back in fifteen.”

“Yes, Coach,” we said in unison.

I noted that none of my teammates were offered the rejuvenating IV, and so did Dustin. We said nothing as we headed to the PT room.

Diana was in the small kitchenette making coffee and talking quietly to Coach Hembry.

“Hey,” I interrupted them. “Coach Sutherland told us to get IVs.”

She looked us both over, her amusement clear. “On a school night?” she teased.

“Eight hours of sleep is preferred,” Hembry grumbled.

“I prefer eight, too,” Dustin sassed him, following Diana to a treatment room. “But we played pool, and somehow it became a whole thing of honor and sacrifice.”

I snorted, dipping my head so Hembry didn’t see my laugh. He got on well with Dante — he was the QB coach after all, but I didn’t know him well.

Diana patted two beds in one of the treatment rooms. “Sit. I’ll be right back.”

Hembry closed the door behind her. I watched him warily as he turned back to the two of us.

“You two know what you’re doing?” he asked flatly.

“Coach, we—”

“Don’t bullshit me, Slater.” TJ Hembry gave us both an appraising look. “She told me what’s going on, and how it somehow now involves you both.”

Dustin and I exchanged a look.

“What do you hope to achieve?” he asked quietly, stepping closer. He looked over his shoulder. “I know why she’s doing it, but guys, do you really think they haven’t already contacted the NCAA?”

I spoke first. “What do you mean?”

“She’s already reported this program to the NCAA. Twice. Her and Mason.”

Mason? I’d read Mason as a man who’d accepted defeat. I’d been wrong.

“What happened?” Dustin was more alert than I was because he wanted to know the results of the calls, which hadn’t been my first thought.

“Nothing.” Hembry looked between us. “I told Dante what I’m telling you. Keep out of it.”

“And if we can’t?” I asked him. “The NCAA protects the players, no? The students?”

Hembry scoffed. “Unless they have reason to believe you were complicit in the violations.”

“We have nothing to do with them. You know that.” Dustin looked pissed.

“Yeah, tell your girlfriend and whoever else is digging.” He folded his arms over his chest. “Every athlete on the program is always carefully . . . monitored.”

I didn’t hide my shock. “They’re watching us?”

“Of course they’re watching, are you really that naïve?”

My transfer. My eligibility. My contacts. All of it. I swallowed down the bile. “Why are you telling us?”

“Yeah, aren’t you part of ‘they’?” Dust asked him quietly.

“No. And don’t fucking insult me, Slater. You know better.”