Page 85 of Sporting Goods

Her glare was slow when it met mine and she hit the pedal. “I sure hope you’re right.”

Almost exactly when Josh and the police predicted, Max Withers and his son Jax walked into my store. Within the hour of the phone call Rayne received. Most of the staff had gone except for Jack who was staying to help close up.

Should’ve asked him to leave early too.

Jax eyed me but then looked away quickly, clearly under his father’s control. His shy eyes glanced at his dad. It broke my heart but I didn’t blame him.

“Hey kid,” Max called Jake. “My son wants to see some of your best cold weather gear. We’re taking a little trip, he’ll need it.”

Jake leaned into, pointed and whispered. “Is that Max Withers?”

I nodded and murmured in his ear. “Take the kid to the furthest aisle and distract him there.

Jake circled me and called Jax over with him. I winked at Jax as he passed me with a glance in my direction and turned my focus to the kid’s father.

I was prepared for him.

When Rayne’s phone rang and I turned away from her drama and deleted the photo, a message from Josh popped up.

Josh: I have a feeling Max took Jax. Good chance he’s leaving town. Let go from Gaters earlier this morning. Please warn Rayne if you see her.She’s not answering.

Heard him curse your name when he stormed off this morning. Wouldn’t be surprised if he stopped by the store.Keep me posted.

And Logan, be careful. Don’t underestimate him.

There was a burning in my chest when I looked back at Rayne’s panicked, pleading face when she asked me for help. By that point, if there was the slightest possibility of Max showing up, I needed her out of there.

The fact that my sister flipped me off and went after her was only icing on the cake. They were both gone, they were both safe.

“What can I do for you?” I asked amicably.

“You can stop trying to take everything that belongs to me,” he answered in an equally civil tone, strolling toward me at the register.

“I don’t have anything that belongs to you.”

“I’ve got to hand it to you. Smooth, movin’ in on my ex-wife just as you’re making your come back to the league.”

There was no way I was talking about Rayne with this asshole.

“Speaking of the league, isn’t there a game tonight?” I poked with a grin. I knew it was a low blow, considering what Josh told me when I called him as soon as Rayne and Tisch left. Max’s contract was terminated for poor conduct as of this morning. And with his history, it was doubtful he’d be picked up.

The game was cancelled. Josh set up a search party with half the team.

He smirked, drawing closer to me. “D’you know, they say the most dangerous person around is the one who's got nothing to lose.”

I swallowed, wishing Jax wasn’t here. Or hell, that I’d asked Jake to take him to the stock room and lock the door behind them.

“I lost my position with the Gaters, I lost my wife. But I am not losing my kid without a fight.”

I would have respected his proclamation if Tisch hadn’t told me everything Rayne explained that night. This prick didn’t give a damn about his kid. He aimed to hurt. This was all about pride for him.

“Where you two heading?” I asked, clearing the counter to appear impartial.

“A trip. Rayne here today?”

“I haven’t seen her,” I lied. A vision of her pained expression when I showed her the photo just over an hour ago was now instilled in my mind.

“Why are you here, Max?”

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