Page 38 of Twisted Ruck

"I don't—" Storm started.

"I'll drive with you," Jay said with a frustrated exhale. "If it’ll make you feel better." He looked like a lamb who just offered to be placed on a spit and rotated over a fire for several hours.

Storm looked reluctant, but nodded. "Fine. If either of you try to screw us over…"

"Same to you," Atlas told him. "You haven't given me reason to trust you either."

"We're all going out on a limb," Dallas said. "If we're going to make this work, then we need to." He looked over to me.

"Dallas is right." I wanted answers as much as the rest of them, but I needed to trust all of them. I wanted to, I really did. I cared about everyone in this room right now, even when they were at each other's throats.

"Finish training, then we meet in the car park," Storm said. He nodded like the matter was settled.

"I still need to look at Atlas' nose," I said. "To make sure it's healing well."

Storm, Frost and Dallas all looked at me and Atlas. Clearly uncertain as to whether they could leave me alone with him.

I had to make a decision, right now. Did I trust Atlas, or didn't I?

"I'll be fine," I said finally. "It'll only take a moment." I stepped over to open the door. Gave them all a meaningful look, which they responded to with reluctance.

Jay was the first to step towards the door, followed by Dallas, then Frost.

"You too," I said to Storm, who looked as though he had no intention of going anywhere.

"I don't care if he stays." Atlas gave him a long look before stepping into the treatment room. Something of a warning to keep his distance, and not try anything in the absence of the other guys. They reminded me of a pair of dogs circling around a bone, or the carcass of some other animal. Each wanting to take a bite, but being held back by the presence of the other.

"Then I will," Storm said. He waved to the others out the door before leaning against the door frame and watching.

"He's a stubborn prick," Atlas remarked.

"I'd say you have that in common," I told him.

He grinned. "Guilty. But only on that count."

I looked searchingly into his brown-gold eyes.

He lowered his voice. "I promise, I'll tell you everything. Just not—" He stopped the moment Otis Skinner walked through the doorway into the infirmary. The other doctor gave Storm a glance, but walked past him, into his own office.

"Not here?" I finished for him. What did Skinner's presence have to do with anything? There was clearly something to it. Something more than them knowing each other from the Sydney Devils. Atlas was wary of Skinner. Was vice versa also the case?

Right then, I had more questions than answers. Including, what would my brother do? Knowing him, he'd have all the answers by now. By torture, or some other method. Either way, people opened up to him. I didn't have his charm, not that I knew of. If I did, I didn't know how to use it quite as well.

"Definitely not here," he agreed. "Be careful what you do here. And who you do it with."

"I never liked cryptic clues." I stood in front of him and ran the tips of my fingers up and down his nose.

He stood still, eyes focused on the side of my head. "I never liked giving them. But I like you alive. And I like myself alive. I am also aware the team's performance is better with Storm around. For now. He's a reasonably good fullback."

"Did you just admit you like him?" I teased.

Atlas’ gaze swivelled towards the door and he smirked. "Nope. I appreciate his skills as a footballer, not as a… I'd say human being, but I'm not sure if that definition fits." He smirked at the other player.

"Fuck off, Underwood," Storm said. "I'm as human as you are. More so."

"Are you always going to try to push each other's buttons?" I asked with a sigh.

"I'm not trying to push anything," Storm argued. "Just stating a fact. And defending myself after he tried to attack my humanity."

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