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“Can I get you a beer Charlie?” Dylan asked.
“No thank you. I have plans with Linc. I just stopped by to pick up something from Vanessa.”
The safe was sitting in the hallway coat closet. I had hauled it in after our meeting.
I realized with Dylan in the kitchen, discussing its contents wasn’t going to be easy.
Charlie was waiting.
There was a small study off the foyer I never used. It might become my home office.
“Dylan, I’ll be right back.”
“Sure. Take your time, darlin’. Good to see you, Charlie.” He winked at her.
Charlie shook her head. “You too, James.”
She followed me to the coat closet. I lugged it out from under my spring jackets and wheeled it into the study.
“You two look awfully serious,” she commented.
I didn’t know how to answer her. “It’s good,” I replied.
The glass door was the only thing between Dylan and us. I wanted to keep this as confidential as possible. The secrets were mounting around me. What if the guys found out about the safe? They already hated my grandfather. Realizing he kept dirt on them would only make that hatred grow.
“How you got Dylan James to agree to this, I don’t know. I’ve convinced a lot of athletes to do things they didn’t want to over the years, but it was for the sake of their careers. I was their last chance for redemption. How did Steve get him to sign on for this? Blackmail?”
“Oh God no.” I glared at her. “He wouldn’t do that.”
“Really?” She cocked her head to the side.
“Dylan wanted to do it. He volunteered.”
Charlie laughed. “Come on. I know these guys. He’s a playboy. A notorious partier. He’s doing an excellent job of playing fiancé, I’ll give him that. I wouldn’t have known that was possible, he’s convincing. But, really? Why did he give up that up for this arrangement? What did you and Steve promise him? I need to know what the pay off was so I can prepare for it if that comes out somehow.”
I shook my head. “I don’t think all those details matter.”
“Before I open that safe and start learning about every dirty filthy thing those guys have done, I have to know what someone has collected on you. Because somewhere someone is doing the same thing your grandfather is. Only instead of at the top of the tab it says Vanessa McCade.”
My mouth dropped in horror. “No. Why would that happen?”
“Vanessa, I get it. This wasn’t your world. But it is now. The sooner you realize people are nothing but corrupt sons of bitches who want to take what’s yours, the quicker you’ll start covering your ass.”
I wanted to run out of the study. I wanted to find Dylan’s arms. I wanted Isaac to shield me from the ugliness of her words.
“What were the stakes for Dylan? Did Steve have something on him?”
“No.” I shook my head. “He won me.”
“Excuse me?”
I couldn’t look her in the eye. Charlie was powerful confident woman. The kind that bulldozed the toughest athletes. I must have looked weak and pathetic to her.
“Steve thought it would be fun to have an auction for a chance to be engaged to me for the season. The single guys bid on me. I had no idea. I never would have allowed it. But…”
“Fuck,” she whispered. “Who knows?”
“He made them sign an NDA. I don’t know how many players exactly. Single guys.”
