Page 14 of Penalty to the Heart

I’d be disappointed with his answer if I hadn’t already expected it.

Still, it pissed me off he would bend to my will so easily.

“Might as well get this over with,” I mutter, aggravated.

As I struggle to get up from the couch, my stomach churns in protest, reminding me that booze and pills make for miserable bedfellows, especially on an empty stomach. I can’t even remember the last time I ate. I make a mental reminder to grab a protein bar before leaving. I then make my way to the bathroom and splash some cold water on my face, trying to shake off the fog still clouding the corners of my mind.

But it’s the sight of my reflection in the mirror that wakes me up, my disgust evident.

It’s going to be a long day of regrets and apologies.

Yep.

Today, I pay the price for last night’s reckless behavior.

I can just hear Trent now.

How he warned me that it would be best to take the rest of the season off. That I wasn’t in the right frame of mind, much less in peak condition to play with a fucked-up arm. He gave me a long list of reasons why coming back was a bad idea.

But I did what I always do—I wore him down until I got my way.

My nostrils flare as I stare at myself through the mirror.

Yep, that’s what I do.

I take, take, and take until there’s nothing more for good people to give.

A leech.

That’s what I am. A leech that sucks every drop of goodness that is offered to him.

“Fuck you,” I curse at myself.

Not caring to see my reflection for another second, I turn on the shower and get inside, letting the cold water wash over me, wishing it could clean me of all my sins just as easily.

But absolution is only granted to those who deserve it.

And that’s not me.

That will never be me.

All I deserve is misery.

Shit.

This is a fucking ambush.

This is the thought running in my head when I walk into Trent Nichols’ office an hour later.

When Trent said he wanted to see me, he forgot to mention that there would be witnesses to our convo.

Everyone is here.

Everyone who is linked to the club and me, in some way or another.

Trent and Rex Jones.

Coach Byrne.

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