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“What’s wrong?”
“You know, Conrad, you’ve been my agent since before the draft. I’ve put my entire career in your hands, fuck, my entire life in your hands. I’ve never questioned you. Not once. Not about what’s best for me, not anything.”
“Briggs, what is going on? You and I, we’-”
“Shut the fuck up, Conrad,” I spit.
The other end of the phone goes so silent I’d worry he hung up if I didn’t see the call still connected.
“You tried to pay off the mother of my fucking child. You forged my fucking signature on documents that I would never in this goddamn lifetime sign.”
I’m so consumed by rage; I can hardly see past the black dots dancing in my vision. I’ve never in my life been so goddamn angry. So fucking disgusted.
Not even walking in on my brother having sex with my fiancée in our bed.
That doesn’t even touch the rage that I’m feeling right now.
“Wait, listen to me, okay, just-”
“I told you to shut the fuck up. There is nothing that you could say right now that will make this better. You knew how Beau betrayed me, and what you did? Unfuckingforgiveable. Effective immediately, you are no longer my agent. You do not represent me. You do not speak for me. If I hear my fucking name muttered from your piece of shit lips, I will end you. Do you understand?”
“Briggs, you can’t possibly drop me. We have a contract, that is not how this works. I was simply working in your best interest! T-the paperwork isn’t even v-valid for fucks sake,” he stutters, trying to cover his ass and doing nothing but digging himself an even deeper hole.
“Contract? You wanna talk about a fucking contract, Conrad? I will ruin you. Every fucking player in the NHL will know how fucking dirty you are. Keep trying me and you’ll lose every goddamn client you have. And if I hear you’ve breathed a word of my daughter being born to anyone, I will have you on blast all over ESPN within the hour. Not to mention, forging my goddamn signature is illegal as hell, and if you want to go there, I’ll sue you for everything you’re worth. Do not fuck with me. If you ever contact me, my family, or anyone on my team again, you can reap the consequences. I have nothing left to say to you.”
He sighs heavily, realizing the battle is already lost. “I thought I was doing the right thing.”
“Well, you were so far left it’s unfucking real. I’m done. Don’t contact me again.”
I end the call before the asshole can breathe another word. There’s nothing else to say. He’s lucky that I don’t show up to his office and beat the shit out of him for what he's done.
I make a vow to myself, and to Olive, that no matter what happens, I will protect her. Love her. Put her first in my life, and the first step in doing that is getting rid of someone that I can’t trust.
Fuck, I thought of Conrad like family, and here I am, yet again, being betrayed by my family.
Just like Beau.
It seems to be the recurring thing in my life: my family fucking me over any chance they get.
Good fucking riddance.
I can imagine the very last thing that Reed, Graham, Hudson or Asher thought when I texted them to come to the hospital as soon as possible, that they’d be coming to meet my brand-new daughter, who’s less than twenty-four hours old.
Hell,Ican’t even believe it.
Actually, I’d bet my entire damn salary that they thought I’d done something to fuck up again, and I don’t blame them. I’ve put them through more shit than they deserve the last couple of years, which is why I’m so excited to have something… good. For a change.
I’m texting because of somethingamazing, not because I got drunk and fought a guy at a bar, or because I was point three under the legal limit on a breathalyzer and behind the wheel of my truck, needing a ride. Of all the shit I fucked up, I’m thankful to be on the other side. To have pulled my head out my ass and realize that life is worth living, even after having your beating heart ripped from your chest.
“The guys and I are going to go to the nursery and see her, if that’s okay?” I ask Maddison, who’s resting. Both her grams and Ty and Kyle visited just now, and she looks even more exhausted than earlier. I’m honestly in awe of her strength.
When you think of strength, most of the time you think of brute force. But today? What I witnessed Maddison do, now,that’sstrength. The kind I’ll never possess, no matter how much I can bench, or how hard I can check someone on the ice. She’s fucking incredible.
“Get some rest and send me a text if you need anything. I’ll be back in a bit, okay?”
She nods, her eyes already drifting shut. I want to reach out and sweep the hair that’s falling on her forehead away, and drop my lips against the soft, blonde of her hair, but I won’t.
No matter how badly I want to.
