Page 97 of Mine to Gain

“I need you. You saved my life. You’re a hero, you know. You and Ramsey. The news channels can’t stop talking about you. They all want an interview as soon as you’re feeling up to it. Madison’s been fielding all the press for us.”

“Ramsey, is he okay?”

“He’s… going to be okay. He… uh…”

“Just tell me. I know I look like I’m about to break, but I’m good. You’re here, and I’m good.” I take a breath and try to fix my face, calm my outward appearance to match the way my anxiety is starting to slowly recede.

“In the process of trying to stop James, he… James is dead.”

“He killed him?” My heart slams against my chest again, forgetting all the worries I have.

She presses her lips together and gives a half nod as her eyes drift downward.

“Holy fuck. Is he… the police? What’s happening?” I stumble over my words.

“He’s out on bail this morning. He has a lawyer. The team has already issued a statement saying the two of you were heroes who saved lives. Madison and I are going to do everything we can. You know her, she’s already got a plan.”

“Fuck me.” I let my head fall back against the pillows, staring at the ceiling for the second time in less than an hour, wondering how the fuck we got here.

“It’ll be okay. It was self-defense. He was saving my life. Your life. Like I said, the news can’t stop talking about what heroes you both are. He has the best lawyer money can buy, and they’ve already said your jerseys sold out overnight after the news broke.”

“Jerseys won’t save him in court.”

“I know but—”

“Nah, Trix. You don’t understand. He’s… got a colorful family. A background that’ll come up when they go to prosecute him. They’ll obliterate him in court and outside of it.” I don’t know how to tell her his family runs a criminal enterprise that goes so deep it’s caused him one tragedy after another in his life.

“Then our job is to make the PR campaign so strong they don’t have a choice but to decline prosecution.” She shakes her head. “Trust me when I say Madison and I are going to do everything we can. I’ll be on every single channel and news outlet I can find saying how you both saved my life. Plus, my father has wide-reaching connections, and he’s incredibly grateful for everything the two of you did for me. I promise you don’t need to worry. You had my back all summer. I’ve got you and Ramsey right now.”

“I love you.” I don’t have any other words. Just those.

“I love you,” she echoes and leans over to kiss me.

45

Beatrix

Two Months Later

“I hope we’ve done enough.” I stare at the TV screen in Madison’s and my office. It’s muted with the captions on as a group of talking heads discuss Ramsey’s fate on the nightly news.

Thanks to investments from Cooper, Quentin, Ramsey, and a few other team players, Madison and I have not only been able to start our own PR firm separate from the Chaos, but we’ve also been able to get our own office space downtown and hire our own administrative assistant to help us run the place. The three of us have been glued to the television as they’ve geared up to start Ramsey’s trial.

“Well, they’ve declined to prosecute on the manslaughter charge. That’s huge right there. The mandatory minimums for that meant he’d never play again.” Madison sighs as she stares at the TV.

“Not to mention what it would mean for the rest of his life.” I lean back against my desk.

The prosecution had declined the manslaughter charge, claiming that it was justified in the wake of the attempted kidnapping and murder. I’d given a witness testimony along with other players and family members who’d seen the aftermath to support Ramsey’s character and chances at staying out of prison.

However, the brutal beating Ramsey had given James, even once he broke his neck, had been filmed by one of the staff on-site, and having reviewed it, the prosecution did proceed with assault charges.

I’ve been sick with worry ever since. So has Cooper. We were all nervously waiting to see if our friend’s good deed would go unpunished or if he’d have to suffer more than the suspension from the league that he’s serving now.

“I think they have to let him off, don’t they?” Penny, our administrative assistant, is much less jaded than Madison and I are.

“We can hope,” I say, shrugging. I glance down at the time on the screen. “Shit! I’ve got to go. I have to pick up Lizzy from her after-school coding thing.”

“Cooper still not up to driving?” Madison asks.

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