“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.”
“So Dylan got caught up in a cock war over who was going to claim you for the season?” She shook her head. “That sounds more like him.”
“He’s not really like that. I mean, he was. I know he was, but he’s been nothing but great.”
“You’re sleeping with him. You don’t qualify as unbiased.”
“How did you know?” My eyes flashed to hers. Were all my secrets written on my forehead?
“The paint for one.” She huffed. “But it’s Dylan James. He wanted you. He got you. It’s a simple equation.”
I closed my eyes. She made it sound so dirty. As if I didn’t matter to him. I knew that wasn’t true. We had shared something together that defied traditional boxes and labels.
“This fake engagement works for us, ok?” I tried to muster some sort of defense. “I need your help, Charlie. Please don’t judge what mistakes I may have made before now. I’ve done the best I could.” I straightened my shoulders.
She sighed. “You’re right. What’s done is done. But before I even go anywhere near these files, I need to lock down this auction story. I’m going to need the names of every player who was there. If it gets out there that your engagement isn’t real and that the Warriors participated in auctioning a woman? Can you imagine? Every woman who has ever worked for the organization is going to start suing for sexual harassment. You’ll never escape the image of being a piece of property. And damn it, you own that team, Vanessa.” She slammed her palm on the writing desk.
I nodded. “I think Dylan can help you with that. He was there.”
“Good. And I will see Steve first thing in the morning. He is such an asshole for this. A fucking auction?” She rolled her eyes.
“I don’t know what to say.”
“You don’t have to say any more. I’ve got this now. I’m going to talk to Dylan. I’ll take the safe with me.”
I nodded. “Please.”
I sat at the desk while Charlie strolled confidently to find Dylan. I watched through the glass door as she talked to him about the auction. He nodded from time to time. It was like watching something unfold on TV. But it was in my kitchen. This was my life now.
Thirty-One
Dylan
I loved the first game of the season. Understatement. I was fucking obsessed with it. There was a kind of energy that buzzed in the locker room that we didn’t feel the rest of the season. It was the promise that anything could happen.
We could win our division. Set records. Make the fans erupt. Everything was possible. The Super Bowl. Complete victory. The ultimate championship. It was all in our reach.
Right here in this moment, all of it was only a game away. Nothing was set in stone. The Warriors had just as much chance as the Wranglers to break free from the pack. We were all gunning for the same thing. A winning season. A glorious road to our dreams coming true.