I discovered that Dad attacked the man, Gibbs, because he was in an unhealthy polyamorous relationship with Mom. Gibbs felt that he’d been rejected and abandoned by Dad and Mom when they married.
I hope that my men don’t think that I’d do that to them.
Dad was ruthless to Gibbs. He’s been equally hard on D’Angelo. He’s been hard on Cody his entire life.
In fact, after Mom’s death from cancer, Dad retreated into himself and started treating Cody like the bad kid who needed tough love to straighten him out.
I tried to protect my younger brother.
It wrecks me that every time Cody was dragged into the study for punishment, I failed.
Dad isn’t someone who you want to cross.
If Colton thinks that Dad is going to hide away from this challenge to his authority, then he isn’t going to only have his balls busted.
He’s going to lose them.
“So, we’re standing here in order to…?” I ask.
“Intimidate the traitor.” Dad’s gaze is dark.
I study Colton, who is yelling at Shay to skate another lap.
“Ehm, he doesn’t really look intimidated,” I venture.
D’Angelo appears ready to explode. He opens his mouth like he’s going to refuse to allow Shay to skate anymore, but I catch his eye and shake my head.
Colton wants to break D’Angelo in front of the VIPs.
We can’t let him.
Frustrated, D’Angelo skates forward, grabbing Shay’s arm to steady him, as Shay wobbles. Then he determinedly starts to skate the lap alongside him.
To my surprise, without being ordered to by Colton, Atlas shoots D’Angelo a cocky grin, then joins them as well.
Slowly, each member of the team starts to skate laps in solidarity.
My eyes burn with tears.
Colton gapes at the players, opening and closing his mouth like he doesn’t know whether he should be praising them or shouting insults.
Fuck you, Colton.
From the opposite side of the rink, Bronwyn slow claps.
“See?” Dad taps the files against the glass. “D’Angelo has the team’s loyalty. This is the strength we need because those vultures will jump on any weakness. Do you understand, Robyn?We can’t afford a single negative PR story or scandal over the next week.”
“Got it.”
I hope.
Around these PR nightmares, it’s like fighting fires every day.
I clench my jaw, determined.
I’ll be D’Angelo and Shay’s PR shield. I can do this for them.
I’m protecting these men, Dad, and the entire Bay Rebels team.