Page 114 of Altius
I refreshed Cal’s tablet for the hundredth time. “I don’t understand the bomber’s thought process.”
“Maybe there isn’t one,” he said, propped against the side of the medical cabinet, scanning the passing players and staff. “Could be a spur-of-the-moment impulse. Or they could be happy because they’re winning.”
“But they won most of their games. There has to be a reason—and don’t say rut cycle.” I gave his stomach a light swat with the tablet. “Reproductive urges are too convenient an excuse.”
Cal accepted the tablet with a low chuckle. “What you consider excuses are valid reasons for most oddities in my field of medicine.”
“Then stop thinking like a doctor,” I said, running a frustrated hand through my hair beneath the hood of my coat. “And start thinking like a football player. What are we missing?”
Alijah burst through the crowd, holding onto his camera for dear life, skidding to a halt in front of us.
“Cal—Cal, check your phone,” he said, panting hard. “Need to check your phone. Now. Joaquin said so.”
A glance at Cal confirmed he was just as confused—and alarmed—as I was.
While I was wary of Joaquin’s schemes, I knew he wasn’t the type to overreact. He wouldn’t activate Alijah as a messenger if it weren’t important.
We both pulled out our phones. Aside from Papa’s constant gushing about how wonderful the guys were, my texts were ordinary.
Cal’s expression darkened as he scrolled through his messages, unconsciously emitting a wave of icy dominance.
A pair of physical trainers took a few large steps away from him. Even Alijah shifted back.
“Shit,” Cal cursed. “I need to go.”
“What’s wrong?” I pressed closer, almost reaching for his arm—but I stopped myself in time.
“Fucking Roddy,” he spat, pulling off his hat to tug at his already mussed hair. “You were right. The shareholders leaked to the press about his embezzlement.”
It was December twenty-ninth. Two full days before Chaz planned to announce Roddy’s departure.
I did a quick search on my phone and frowned at the headlines.
Rotten Successor Scandal Rocks Verray
Shipping Leader in Violation of Designation Equity?
Entitled, Egocentric, Embezzler: All the Dirt on Roderick Carling
The articles included all the gory details about Roddy and then some.
How convenient…for Heather.
“Are you sure it was the shareholders?” I asked.
Cal wheeled on me, shaking his head. “No, no. Heather would never. She respects Chaz too much.”
“I wasn’t talking abouther.”
He froze, staring at the scoreboard, forcing deep breaths. We both knew Anya Sethi could be ruthless.
“It’s possible. But I still have to help.”
“I don’t understand,” I said, edging closer, fingers latching onto the side of his coat. “Why is this your battle to fight?”
“I’m not doing this for the family legacy. It’s for…” Cal let out a frustrated huff and turned his back to the field, bracing an arm on either side of the medical supply cabinet, shielding me from view.
Alijah shimmied over a few steps, forming a secondary barrier between me and the rest of the world, taking photos while trying not to eavesdrop.
