Page 59 of Red Zone

I hesitated, my throat dry as I stood before my head coach, the man who had become a pillar of strength and reason over the past three years he’d been in my life. “It’s about Lily.”

His brows furrowed, thick, bushy mustache pulling down with the corners of his mouth, and for a moment, I thought he was going to cut me off. But he stayed silent, waiting.

“She’s mine,” I said, the words tumbling out in a rush. “I didn’t know until recently, but she’s my daughter. I swear, if I’d known?—”

“I know, Liam,” he interrupted, his voice calm but firm.

The words hit me like a freight train. “You… knew?”

He sighed, running a hand over his weary, stress-lined face. “Not at first. But over time… Lily’s grin, her dimples, and the color of her eyes… Then the way you looked at her, at Skye over these past weeks—it wasn’t hard to piece together.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Shock held me suspended.

“Because it wasn’t my place,” he said simply. “I knew Skye had her reasons for keeping it from you. And I knew you’d figure it out when the time was right.”

I shook my head, my hands splaying wide at my sides. “I wish you would’ve told me.”

He stepped closer, his tone softening. “You think I didn’t want to? That it didn’t kill me to see you trying to navigate life without knowing the truth? That my niece held the information close to her heart, choosing to navigate motherhood on her own? I had to trust that she had her reasons. And, Liam, you needed to come into this on your own. You needed to be ready.”

His words sank in slowly, the initial hurt of another person keeping the truth from me bleeding into something else, something I couldn’t quite name.

“That’s why you’ve been so hard on me,” I realized. “On Ares and Kylian too. You’ve been pushing us all this time.”

He nodded. “Why do you think I called you three leaders? Why do you think I demanded more from you than anyone else? It wasn’t just about football, Liam. It’s about the kind of men you need to be. On the field. Off it. In life.”

I blinked, the weight of his words settling over me. All the times he’d called me “son,” all the extra drills, the lectures in his office about life and how we needed to step up and do the right thing, the tough love—it all made sense. It hit me in that moment. He’d done more for me than just be a coach. I finally understood why I never wanted to let him down, why I listened closely when he spoke.

“You’re more of a father to me than my own ever was,” I admitted, my voice breaking.

Coach’s expression softened, and his eyes held a warmth I hadn’t seen before. “Why do you think I’ve always called you son? I’ve seen the man you’re capable of being. And standing here now, seeing the way you’ve fought for Skye and Lily—I couldn’t be prouder. You’ve earned my respect, Liam, and the family you have now reflects the kind of man you are. Remember that.”

The door opened behind us, breaking the moment. Fiona stood there, her expression a mix of relief and urgency. “I need a quick statement from you, Liam. And Skye and Lily are ready to go.”

I nodded, glancing back at Coach. “Thank you,” I said quietly.

“For what?”

“For believing in me. For being there, even when I didn’t realize it.”

He clapped a hand on my shoulder, his grip firm. “Go take care of your girls, son.”

That was all I wanted.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

SKYE

The house was silent, the kind of silence that only came after an epic storm. The soft hum of the heater kicking on and the faint creak of floorboards under Liam’s steps felt magnified in the stillness. Outside, the wind rattled the windowpane, a sound so sharp it made me cringe before I could stop myself.

I couldn’t shake the weight of the night. Filing statements at the police station with Fiona’s help had been surreal, every detail dragging us deeper into the reality of what Joe had done. The scandal was already unraveling—players, coaches, even administrative ties—and my uncle was buried in the fallout. My aunt had stayed behind at the office with him, working late after getting assurance that Liam would keep watch over us.

But knowing we were safe didn’t quiet the anxiety twisting in my chest. My hands trembled as I double-checked the locks on the front door for the third time then moved to the windows to check each latch. Every shadow felt like a threat. When I drew the curtains tightly closed, it felt less like shutting out the world and more like bracing against it.

Lily was curled on the couch, her tiny hands gripping her bunny like a lifeline. Liam sat beside her, his large frame fittingawkwardly but protectively in the corner of the cushions. His arm stretched along the backrest, a silent barrier between her and the world.

“Skye.” His voice was soft, a nudge to bring me back to the room.

“I just need to check?—”

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