Hard & Deep: A Football Romance

James started. "Mr. Hayes, I think you can agree with us that this is a delicate situation."

Mr. Hayes nodded slowly.

"Jenna won't tell us why she wanted you dead, or if anyone put her up to it. If she won't tell her father, she won't tell the police either," James continued.

"Go on," Mr. Hayes said. His stance was easy and confident, but Tracy could see the tension growing in his jaw.

James took a deep breath. "We all think it would be best if you let Jenna go with her father. He would ensure that she never steps foot in this city again, and that she would be accompanied by two men at all times."

Mr. Hayes sneered. "The benefit of being rich, I suppose. I can trust you to place your own daughter under arrest, rather than leave her to the mercy of the justice system."

John looked solemn as he held out his hands, palms up in a gesture of openness. "You can trust me. You always can."

Tracy was incredulous. The woman had basically confessed to murder, yet they were talking about just letting go. "There's no way we can let her go. She…"

Mr. Hayes cut her off and continued. "You've always been like a father to me, John. I owe you so much. I would like it if our relationship weren't impacted by this incident," he said. He paused, his eyes narrowing for a moment as a thought occurred to him. "I have a question, though. Did James suggest that I go to this ball with Jenna?"

John nodded, his eyes wide. "How did you know?"

"James told me that you insisted that she be my date tonight.” Something dangerous flashed in Mr. Hayes' eyes as he put the connection together. “James, I don't know if you're a part of this conspiracy or not, but I can't have you in my org

anization any more."

James' eyes bugged out of his head. "Conspiracy? What!? But…"

"But nothing. You've never wanted me to be with Tracy. It was you who let Jenna know that we were going to the salsa club, wasn't it?" Mr. Hayes took a step toward the man. He wasn't much taller than James, yet James shrank before him.

James sputtered. "Yes, b-but I never meant for her to hurt you. Either of you! I knew that you wanted to be with her anyway! I was looking out for your best interests! Jenna was a better match!"

Tracy felt sick to her stomach. She knew that James didn't like her and felt that she was beneath Mr. Hayes. She could forgive him for wanting someone more aristocratic for his employer. Except, the woman he selected turned out to be a murderess. If Tracy hadn't been here, Mr. Hayes would be dead and it would be because James handed him to his killer.

Mr. Hayes turned to Greg. "This man is no longer a member of this organization. I'd like him escorted out immediately.”

James sputtered, but Mr. Hayes held up a hand to silence him. It was obvious this decision was final. James crossed his arms, but kept his mouth shut. There was no convincing Mr. Hayes of anything else, especially right now. At least James was smart enough to realize that.

“Send two of your men up to cut Jenna loose and escort her out as well," Mr. Hayes added. His eyes glazed past the young woman tied to a chair as if she no longer existed. As far as he was concerned, Jenna was dead to him.

"Yes, sir," Greg replied smartly, taking James' arm in his hands to guide him away.

Greg and James left, and Mr. Hayes turned back to John. The older man stared at his daughter as if he were trying to see something else.

"I'll meet with you on Monday at one PM to discuss the terms of my not going to the police,” Mr. Hayes said softly. His voice was kind, but firm. “I'm going to insist that one of the men on Jenna's detail be on my payroll."

John looked up from his daughter, furious at the request. "Son! You don't trust me?"

Mr. Hayes took a quick glance at Tracy, then replied. "It's not a matter of trust. When I give up control, things don't work out quite the way I intended. I refuse to completely give up control of my attempted murderer to her father."

John opened his mouth, as if to try to bargain.

"This is non-negotiable," Mr. Hayes added, a mirror of the negotiation on the salsa floor the night before.

“We're like family,” John reminded him. “You don't have to do this.”

“Yes, I do,” Mr. Hayes replied. Two men appeared from downstairs and cut Jenna loose. She rubbed at her wrists but kept a haughty expression aimed at Mr. Hayes.

“This isn't the end,” she said softly, the soft curve of her lips wicked with the words. There was no remorse in her eyes. The person staring at Mr. Hayes with cold eyes was such a different woman than the one Tracy remembered from the other night. It was difficult to believe they were the same person.

"These two men will stay with Jenna until Monday,” Mr. Hayes said, looking away from her. “She is to stay in town until then, and they'll be relieved by a full-time guard after our meeting. You can fly her wherever you wish after that."