Dare To Tempt (Dare Nation 2)
Damon cleared his throat. “I’m going to be honest with you. I don’t think an alarm is enough of a solution, because I don’t trust that bastard John at all.” He paused before continuing. “But I do trust you. And you’re right. I can’t keep you locked away in my house for the rest of your life.”
She swallowed hard, not knowing what to say. Because in his house was exactly where she wanted to be. But trusting him not to change his mind later and hurt her wasn’t easy.
“I’m exhausted,” she said, bed calling her. After the long day she’d had, she needed to crash and deal with all her conflicting emotions in the morning.
* * *
Damon answered his door in the morning to find Ian Dare and Gregory Emerson on the other side. “Well, this is a surprise.”
“Sorry to just show up, but I figured you were going to want to hear what we have to say,” Ian said. “Mind if we come in?”
Beside him, Emerson appeared subdued and silent.
“Of course.” Damon gestured for them to step inside, shut the door behind him, and led them to the family room.
He’d have called for Evie to join them, but she was showering upstairs.
“Coffee? Water? Anything to drink?” he offered the men.
“Nothing for me,” Ian said, taking a seat on the sofa.
“Emerson?”
The other man shook his head. “No, thanks. I’d rather get this over with.” He lowered himself on the far end of the couch.
Damon narrowed his gaze but he couldn’t bring himself to sit. “Okay then. I assume this is about you setting me up?” He clenched and unclenched his fists. This was something he hadn’t let himself deal with emotionally, because without proof, he had no way of getting those four games back. And that’s what he wanted, along with his reputation.
“When Evie called me and brought to light the connection between Greg’s father and Doc, the hairs on the back of my neck stood up. I knew something was off but I never thought Emerson was behind it.”
Damon’s head began to throb. “So, what happened exactly?”
Emerson lifted his gaze. “My old man happened. He did some digging and discovered Dr. Jonas owed the IRS a lot of money. He went to see him and Doc admitted to having gambling issues. My dad, who wants me to succeed any way he can, offered to pay Doc’s debt to the IRS—”
“If he dosed me so I’d test positive…” Damon shook his head but he actually felt sorry for the guy. Like he told Evie, he knew exactly what it was like to have a domineering asshole father. “How’d he know they’d test me? Those are random.”
Ian groaned. “This kid’s father has connections like you wouldn’t believe.”
“So this goes higher up?” Damon asked in disbelief.
“What can I say? It’s easy to find dirt on people, and my father has enough money to do it.” Emerson rose to his feet, hands in his sweatpants pockets. He looked beaten down. “I’ve already gone to the commissioner. He’s calling the cops. And I’m sure you’ll be reinstated soon.”
Although Damon knew he ought to be happy at the news and pissed at the situation in the first place, all he could feel was pity for Emerson, who’d had to turn his own father in.
A knock sounded and Damon turned toward the entrance to the family room, where Evie stood. Her gorgeous hair fell over her shoulders and her makeup-free face made him grin. She was dressed like Evie the PI, the real woman who made him burn. He was head over heels, that was for damned sure.
“Sorry. Am I interrupting?” she asked.
Ian, the only one left sitting, rose from his seat. “Come on in, Evie. If it weren’t for you, we wouldn’t have made the connection.” He went on to explain to her how Damon had ended up testing positive for PEDs. “Congratulations. You cracked the case.” Ian extended his hand, and she bounced over to accept his shake before turning to Emerson.
“I’m sorry,” she said.
“Not your fault. I’m glad Captain was cleared. I understand if you want me out,” he said to Ian.
The team owner walked over and put a fatherly arm around Emerson’s shoulders. “Since when are we responsible for the mistakes of our parents? If that were the case, I’d be shit out of luck in life.”
Ian’s father, Robert Dare, had been a son of a bitch and probably would have gotten along well with Jesse Prescott. In Robert’s case, he’d had one legitimate family with a woman he’d married, Ian’s mom. Without anyone knowing, he’d had a mistress with kids on the side. After a lot of drama, the kids were all close now and estranged from their father.
“Apparently we can all understand asshole parents,” Damon muttered. “Emerson, I don’t blame you for what your father did.” He strode over and put a hand on the dejected man’s back.