Page 63 of Jockstraps & Newspapers
“Bullshit,” Cass growled, taking a step forward only to freeze as Lyra put a hand to her shin.Her suave, chic sister stood up in a smooth, fluid movement.She took the papers from Cass’s hand and smiled at Marvin with her shark teeth.
“We shall have the NDA’s signed and returned shortly.We have much to discuss.”Lyra clapped a hand over Cass’s gaping maw as she spoke, knowing her better.
“Thank you, that’s all I ask that we all lay thisissueto rest and give the good people what they want—sports.A good, wholesome sport to talk about and nothing but the sport to talk about.”Marvin beamed at Cass who was physically held back by the hips with the strength of a god—a.k.a.Elliot.Lyra kept her hand firmly over Cass’s mouth as Marvin and his lawyer backed out in a swish of fabric.
After they were gone, Lyra cast a silence charm upon the room with one hand before pulling her other off Cass’s mouth.
“What thefuckLyra!An NDA?Absolutely the fuck not!His son is ‘seeking’ help, my fucking ass.I’ll help him seek help in the form of a backhand and three more fucking articles.I swear to the dragon’s above, how dare you—”
“Will you shut up?”Lyra snapped, glaring at Cass.
Cass clamped her mouth shut, grumbling to herself.Elliot rubbed his hands against her sides before speaking up, “What’s going on?Why did that just happen?”
“Stevie is in prison.”Mr.Pearson sighed, turning all of Cass’s fire into frosty, confused silence.“McMatterson has called for total silence on the subject, but that can only help so much.He’s trying to spin it that Stevie checked himself into a sex clinic to help with his clinical obsession with objectifying people.He’s asked anyone who can’t run with that, simply just not speak on it.”
“What?And we’re just gonna accept that?”Cass spat.
“Ms.Darling, something I’ll teach you at Salamander is knowing which battles to pick and which ones to let fall to the wayside.There is so much more I need you to tackle, you’ll have to let the public decide if we keep talking about Stevie...but as for Salamander,King’s Fall Daily,and all our other outlets have decided to go radio silent about this particular subject.As my employee, I hope you understand my stance.I cannot run lies, but I can accept to merely move onto the next thing.”Mr.Pearson tucked his phone away.“Lyra, I expect you to have them sign those and ship those off in the morning.”
“I’ve got this covered.”Lyra saluted him with two fingers as Renner and Mr.Pearson left the room.She waited till the two were far enough away that the spell fell down between them.Then her attention snapped to Elliot.“I think it’s best if you talk to your folks about why Stevie is in jail.”
“What?”Elliot barked, stumbling to the side of Cass.
“What is he even in jail for?”Cass cocked a brow.
“He was found in Tritus, behind the wheel and under the influence of narcotics in a stolen vehicle.A vehicle he then crashed into the side of a very rich, very unhappy businessman that is in competition with McMatterson.Where Tritus Enforcers found him and threw him in the darkest, dampest dungeon they could manage.”Lyra pulled out a pen from the large purse propped on her shoulder.She handed it to Cass first.
“And what does that have to do with Elliot’s family?”Cass took the pen, relenting her fury.She wanted to be a journalist, not an obsessed blogger.She would have to give up her pursuit of Stevie’s reckoning.Mr.Pearson had a point, she needed to move onto the next thing to talk about.Especially given that somehow karma got to Stevie first.She flipped to the first page of the packet in her hand and began to sign.
“He knows,” Lyra whispered.“I was told upon no circumstances was I to tell you of my own accord, but apparently Mr.Bonesaw does not appreciate what Stevie did to his son, or what he’s done to all the players.But, of course, from a legal standpoint, this was purely a drunken accident on Stevie’s part.Too bad he stole a councilman’s car from Tritus, meaning that any immunity he would have in King’s Fall is moot, because his father doesn’t have sway in Tritus.”
Cass peeked up from the paper to Elliot.A somber, broken expression filled his face as he nodded.“I’ll speak with him, but I know the answer.Stevie’s not getting out of prison.If he survives being there, I doubt he’ll ever see the sun again.”
“Wait, what?”Cass nearly dropped the papers before Lyra forced her to hold onto them and sign on the last line.
“I’m so sorry, Cassie.I wasn’t...I couldn’t tell you and I …if I tell you, you have to swear that it stays here, with us.If you talk about it with anyone, it will get you hurt and I can’t have that.So, I’d rather keep you in the dark than see you hurt.Swear it, baby, or else this conversation stops here.”His face was so serious.It reminded her of the night in front of the shop.There was a dark fury in his expression.It stung to see him so hurt.So unlike himself.The pen nearly toppled from her fingers as she handed all the papers and pen back to Lyra.
“I swear,” she breathed.
Elliot took the pen from Lyra and quickly signed the papers.Then, with a heavy sigh, he rubbed his face.They’d gotten all dressed up for the junket.After the game she brought him his pressed suit, his tie, and they looked delicious on him.Smoke gray and silver with hints of purple and gold in the handkerchief, but Elliot showed the exhaustion finally.His hands fell to his side.
“My father, when Rex got sick, took an opportunity with a local shop.It wasn’t to just be a mechanic, but to help strip and sell parts illegally.The money was good, because the chop shop ran like a dream.Soon, he started to take over more of the business.The old man, his boss, was getting older and wanted a fresh face to take over his empire.My father wasn’t from any family, wasn’t from any money, and was clearly hungry.He wouldn’t fumble the legacy.Soon, before we knew it, my father was in charge of it all.From the chop shop to the goods, the services, and the money.He took over collecting debts from the old man, and that’s when I realized he was in deep.He hadn’t told my Ma yet, she thought he was just the shop manager.So, when he came home, bloody and in need of stitches, I was the one patching him up in the garage, when she wasn’t home or at night classes.He put her through healer’s school, put me and my brothers through school, got Rex’s medicine, all of it.And as much as I was thankful he did it for us, I also wished he’d found another way...because I saw how it changed him.He became a man I never wanted to be and I didn’t want to lie to my Ma anymore.But Pops was in too deep and there was no coming up for air.”Elliot tugged his tie off and stuffed it into his pockets.
“Wait, so...your dad’s like...a mob boss?Is that what you’re telling me?”Cass blinked rapidly, being hit with an absurd amount of information all at once.
“Yes, and Jessie is the heir to the empire, basically.My pops only deals in cars, parts, and pain really.The reason Jessie got stabbed was the brother of a man he collected a debt from was mad.”Elliot scraped his fingers through the hair on top of his head.“And Stevie…likely my pops had the boys grab the car, grab Stevie, and much worse.That’s why my brothers were on the sideline tonight, to ensure they had an alibi, just in case.And now...and now I need to go talk to him.”
“Elliot,” Cass exhaled, grabbing a hold of his arm before he could take off.He handed the papers back to Lyra.“You don’t have to go talk to him tonight.”
Elliot stared at her.There was something soft, desperate, and needy in his stare.As if he was asking her to demand he stay.Asking that she make the decision for him, so he didn’t have to do it.She smiled, tugging him close.She rubbed his bicep tenderly.“It’s been a long day, a lot has happened.We should go home, get some rest.You can talk to him tomorrow.”
He sagged in her hands, enveloping her in his arms.She rubbed his back.Glancing at Lyra, she found her sister already filing the papers away in her purse.Lyra spared her an appreciative smile.With a loving pat to her arm, Lyra sauntered out of the room.The silence charm dropped and the sound of fans out in the arena still celebrating trickled in.They stayed there for a long time, just enjoying the tender feeling of the other person’s arms.
“Cassie, I’m sorry, I should have told you earlier.”He pulled back finally, kissing her cheek before he stood up straight.She was still enveloped in his arms.
“No...no you shouldn’t have,” she giggled with embarrassment.“I wasn’t ready before.I would have absolutely done something stupid with that information.But I’m glad you trust me enough now to tell me.”
He pressed a kiss to her brow, lingering against her forehead for an eternity before pulling away.“Thank you, baby.”
