Page 67 of Raise 'Em Up

“And not to add anymore onto our plate, but I wouldn’t be okay trusting someone else to catch me. At least not right away,” Rylee says, a bit of a guilty look on her face.

“I don’t blame you, babe. It’s not going to come to that because we’re going to get Lennox back on the team.”

“You know what I think we need to do,” Rylee says, her eyes focused on where her fingers are playing with Lennox’s. “We need to search this damn house, maybe even the whole campus, to see who the hell has voodoo dolls of us. Wouldn’t surprise me if it was Missi. Bitch is a witch. She probably put a curse on our asses too.”

That makes me snort. “I’m getting sick of this shit bad luck, and I just wish we could catch a break, but luck doesn’t seem to be on our side.”

“I have an idea,” Mateo says, and we all turn to him.

Lennox seems to read his boyfriend’s face and frowns. “Mateo. No. You don’t have to do this.”

Mateo slides out from behind him and grabs his phone from his back pocket. “For you, I really do.”

Fuck. This isn’t gonna be good.

“Teo, you don't need to do this!” Len tries to stop me once again from making this call, but doesn't he know by now that I would do anything for him, Rylee, Colton, Donny, and hell, even Trevor.

We are a family, and I will not allow someone to come in and bully us.

Mr. Crane went too far getting Len kicked from the team and put on academic suspension. I know this is his retaliation, but I won't allow him to abuse his son any longer.

Taking a deep breath, I hit dial. It doesn't take him long to answer.

“Well, this is a surprise,” my uncle coos. “Haven't seen you or your family around lately.”

Yeah, I don't have time to deal with him trying to catch up, and catch me out in the process, so I end up telling him where my mom is.

“Yeah, I need your help. Lennox Crane Sr. needs a wake up call and an attitude adjustment. He got his son kicked off the team and we need him back.”

I don't ramble, I get right to the point and wait for him to make the next move. I already know what he's going to say, and I'm prepared to do it.

“I'll handle it, but remember, boy, you called me. I own you now. Be at the warehouse, 10pm on Thursday. And Teo, you better not disappoint me. I'd hate to have to introduce myself to that pretty little redhead you have hanging around.”

The line goes dead and my blood chills. Fuck. I knew I would have to fight again, but I'm not happy that he knows about Rylee.

Len is pacing, and I don't want to make him worry more. I give him a grin and nod.

“Oh, fuck, really?” he asks.

Moving closer to me, he kisses me hard before pulling away and looking me dead in the eye.

“What's this costing you?” I wave my hand dismissively and then cross my arms.

“A fight, but it'll be fine. Let's go tell the others,” I say as we leave the room.

I would do anything to protect my man, even if it means going back into the snake pit.

I may need to call my cousin, Lincoln, for backup if shit goes south. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

“Being back on the team isn't worth anything if the man I love is killed.” I sigh and Donny moves closer to me, taking my hand.

Rylee is over by Colton, and I can tell this is upsetting her too.

“Teo is strong. He's got this, Len,” Donny says, trying to reassure me, but something isn't right.

The moment we arrived, his cousin, Angelo, took him to the back and wouldn't let us join.

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