Page 26 of Dario

"Sweetheart," I say softly. "You did nothing wrong. Finish your story."

Nodding, she glances at Dodge and my two friends before continuing, "Theresa got drunk on our eighteenth birthdays. She was a sad drunk that day and accused me of killing her baby.

"I was shocked that she would say such a thing after all the tears and begging she'd done for me to help her back then. She said," Gemma winces, "more like she yelled at me that she hadn't been raped. The sex was consensual. She didn't want the baby at the time and knew that I would only help her in a drastic situation. I was horrified and heartbroken. I never spoke to her again."

Madden hands her a tissue. I nod in thanks as I rub her back. "I didn't think about it before because I told myself a long time ago that it wasn't my fault. She lied to me. It was on her.”

"What a bitch!" I hiss.

West asks, "Do you know where Theresa is these days?"

"As far as I know, she still lives with her parents." Gemma gives them the address. "She's shorter than me, so I can't imagine it was her who tried to blow up the car."

"It was a big guy," I add. "A little taller than me, and I'm six-two."

"I honestly don't think it's Theresa, but you asked."

I put a hand on the back of Gemma's neck and feel the tension drain from her, which calms me as well.

"We'll check her out. In the meantime, Wyatt Peters has officially hired Ellison Security to protect you."

“He has?" I ask.

"Yes," Dodge answers.

Gemma looks shocked. I slide my hand into hers and intertwine our fingers. I wonder whether she realizes that Wyatt must know about us being together. He isn’t a stupid man. If he’s hired Elli- son, that means he will be the one to get their daily report. I don’t mention anything because Gemma has enough to worry about without her job entering the equation.

After leavingGemma with my two friends as well as Rosie and Dodge, I sit outside Wyatt's office waiting for him to finish a call. I have my words planned. I also have a backup plan that I hope I don't have to use.

"You can go in now," says Louise, Wyatt's executive assistant.

In Wyatt's office he is alone, which I'm relieved about. I'm still annoyed that Dallas talked to Gemma.

"Sit down, Dario,” Wyatt says. "I didn't expect to see you today. How are you doing?"

"I'm fine. About the reason I'm here." I pause. Wyatt raises a brow.

What the hell. "I'm in love with Gemma." There, I've said it. I grin. "I love her. If one of us has to go, it will be me."

His eyes go wide before a slow grin spread across his face. "The fraternization policy is there to make players think twice about their actions. My daughter is married to a former player. You know Ethan and Riley. Other players have married staffers: Camden and Theo, to name two. My only concern is to protect the staff from being taken advantage of by more than flirting, to put it bluntly. Young players come here; they have fans and puck bunnies throwing themselves at them. The peace has to be kept, hence the policy." He gives me a sharp look. "Don't repeat that."

I grin. "Repeat what?"

"Now that no one has to go, tell me how Gemma is doing."

"She's scared. More so after last night. I don't like leaving her alone."

"But she's not alone now?"

"Hell, no." I pause. "Madden, Bradford, Rosie, and Dodge are with her. I just want to keep an eye on her. It makes me jumpy when she's away from me.”

He nods.

"Also," I flinch but force the words out, "I don't appreciate Dallas talking to Gemma about the fraternization policy. You don't employ him. It was out of line."

He frowns. “I didn't know he talked to her. I'll talk to him about it. It was probably bad timing as well.”

"Yeah."

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