Page 84 of Broken Player

I sipped my coffee carefully, lingering longer than normal to be sure I thought out my answer. I didn't want to lie to him, but I wasn't ready to tell him everything either. Not yet. Not until it was fixed. "I'll check in with Quinn and see if he needs any help, then I thought I'd get in a workout. Maybe boxing," I mused, picturing all the possibilities and ways my fists and feet, knees and elbows could connect with the soft, fleshy places on Yates's body.

Maddox side-eyed me a little suspiciously. "You box?"

Letting out a small breath of relief, I nod. "I do. Among other things."

"Since when?" he asked around a mouthful of food.

"Since college. I started self-defense before that, but I wanted to be a cop, remember? I needed to be at least as strong as the guys I was going up against for a spot. So I started learning how to most effectively defend myself. Around here, there aren't any places to take classes anymore, but I still spar with Quinn all the time."

"That's hot," he noted, letting his eyes wander down my body with newfound appreciation. "You'll have to show me sometime, naked, of course."

"Of course," I agreed, rolling my eyes but laughing to let him know I'd be down to give that a try, even if I seriously doubted he'd ever relinquish enough control in the bedroom to let it happen.

Finishing my breakfast quickly, I left him on the couch and slipped back to the bedroom, taking his phone and scrolling to find the contact I was looking for. Entering the number in my phone, I set his back on the nightstand and slid into my shoes.

I hurried out to the living room, dropped a quick but heated kiss on Maddox's enticing lips, and practically ran out the back door, envelope hidden inside my purse. I couldn't risk him seeing it before I talked to Connor.

I waited until I'd safely snuck past the lingering crowd of photographers at the front of the house before I pulled out my phone and dialed the one person I needed to talk to before I took any action against Yates.

"What?" his barking voice was impatient, but I didn't intend to mess around.

"I need your help," I divulged, slightly breathless from my run across the space between Maddox's house and my own.

"Ryan?" Something ruffled in the background on Connor's end of the line, muffling his voice slightly.

"Yep, that's me. Do you think we could meet somewhere? MaybeOn Tapin half an hour?"

"Sure, see you there," he agreed easily, ending the call. Maybe I should've asked him not to tell Maddox, but I just had to hope he wouldn't for now. I didn't want to ask him to hide anything. It wasn't fair to Maddox, and I didn't want to risk his trust in me that way. If he found out, it wasn't the end of the world.

I crept into the house, avoiding every floorboard that squeaked along the way. Living in the house I grew up in had its advantages. I finally made it into my room, glad I hadn't run into Quinn. If he had any idea what I was about to do, he'd have been all up in my business, trying to stop me or convince me to take him along. But I couldn't risk him, either.

Changing my clothes quickly into some black yoga pants and a black tank top, I tied my shoes and swiped my keys off the dresser. I cracked open my bedroom door, listening for any sign of anyone in the house, but all was quiet. I crept back out the way I came, softly closing the screen door behind me. I felt terrible that Quinn was stuck doing the ranch work on his own again today, but with any luck, he wouldn't be doing any of that much longer.

I never dared to hope that he'd get the chance to pursue his passions, but now it almost felt within reach, as if my fingertips were just brushing along the future we were meant to have. And it was all thanks to Maddox.

That was why I was doing what I was right now. I wanted to carry my own weight, to show him that he didn't have to be my savior, that I could shoulder the burden at his side. Opening my car door, I tossed my purse on the seat, checking and then double-checking that the envelope was still nestled safely inside.

The short drive toOn Tapwent quickly, and I found myself in the nearly-empty bar at almost lunchtime with only the bartender and a lone patron at the far end of the counter. I was early, so I nodded once at the bartender and took the booth furthest in the back to wait for Connor.

I scrolled through my phone while I waited, but thankfully he was early, too. The bell above the door chimed as he pulled it open forcefully, striding inside and pulling off his sunglasses as he scanned the empty room. When our eyes met, he offered me a little wave before making his way over and sinking down into the booth across from where I sat.

"I've gotta say I was surprised to get your call," he started, lifting his hand to signal the bartender.

"Yeah, well, I was surprised to get this," I countered, sliding the envelope across the table. He picked it up, his eyebrows shooting up before narrowing as he studied the picture first, then the note attached.

"What the actual fuck does he think he's going to accomplish with this?" Connor questioned, shoving the picture back into the envelope.

"I don't know. But I plan to do something about it." I picked up the menu the bartender dropped off. I wasn't hungry, but I was fidgety and wanted something to do with my hands.

"And what's that?" Connor studied me from across the table, his expression unreadable. I got the feeling my answer was about to determine whether or not he brought Maddox into this.

"I intercepted that delivery this morning meant for Maddox. I assume you heard what his dad did last night?"

Connor nodded, so I continued. "When I saw this, I couldn't let him see it. Not yet. I want to know for sure that Yates sent it. And then I want to pay him a visit where I kick him in the balls so hard, he'll never have to worry about another hooker suing him for his worthless DNA."

He chuckled, an appraising glint in his eye before finally pulling out his phone and making a short call to Sebastian, asking him to find out what he could. There had to be a record of him hiring a PI or photographer or someone to snap that photo.

"Do you know who the guy in the picture is?" I asked Connor, pulling the picture back out and pointing at his face, noting the tattoos running up his neck and down both arms.

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