Page 104 of Date with a Devil
“But why? And for who?” Dane asked. “Who personally benefits from that gag order?”
He didn’t expect Mr. Sullivan to have an answer.
But Mr. Sullivan pursed his lips and answered, shaking his head somberly. “General Manager Scott Baumbach, and Megan Smith.”
“What?” Dane asked, his voice going up an octave. “Hath’s ex-fiancée? What’s she got to do with this?”
“Megan is Mr. Baumbach’s stepdaughter,” Mr. Sullivan said.
“She is?” Dane asked, breathless. “How come Hath never told us that?”
“Perhaps he didn’t want you to know.”
“Well, why the hell not?” Dane asked.
“Maybe he didn’t want the men he led into battle to view him as the GM’s son-in-law. It wouldn’t be the first time that family relations caused tension between teammates.”
“I’m so confused,” Austen said, her hands on her head. “What does Megan have to do with the gag order?”
Mr. Sullivan explained calmly. “Mr. Baumbach told me he didn’t want the press to drag his stepdaughter’s name through the mud after the tragedy.”
“So, what—he wanted the press to drag therestof us through the mud instead?” Dane asked, angrily. “And why the hell would the press be talking about her, anyway?”
“I only learned of this today.” Mr. Sullivan said. He took a deep breath and chose his words carefully. “But it seems that … well, there might have been some sort of—affair.”
“What?” Dane’s eyes went wild. “Whohad an affair?”
“Mr. Campbell and Ms. Smith.”
“Megan was having an affair withSoupy?” Austen asked, her jaw unhinged.
“I’m afraid so.”
“Bullshit!” Dane shot up and paced around the balcony. “You think Soupy would screw around with Hath’s girl? No way. They were best friends! He wouldn’t—he’dnever. You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about.”
“I know you’re upset,” Mr. Sullivan said, “but I’m only relaying to you what I was told.”
Dane continued to pace until Austen came to give him a hug. She mashed her face against his chest and squeezed her arms around him tight. “Shh. It’s okay, Dane,” she whispered, her voice nurturing. Dane lowered his head against hers, his anger melting. He couldn’t believe it—the thought that Soupy would betray his best friend like that? One of theirown?It hurt. He didn’t want to believe it. But what hurt even worse was that the more he thought about it, the more that explanation made sense, the more believable it became.
“God damn it, Soupy,” he muttered. “Why?”
Once he’d calmed down, Austen led him back to his seat.
“Tell meeverythingyou know,” Dane said to Mr. Sullivan as he sat.
“I’m sorry, Dane, but I just did.”
Dane hung his head. “Great.”
“I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news.” He turned to Austen. “Obviously, this is off the record. I don’t want to be quoted on this.”
“Of course not,” she said. “It’s all hearsay, anyway.”
“More secrets, then? More gag orders? Is that your solution?” Dane asked.
“That’snotmy solution, no. Not at all.”
“Then what is your solution?”
