Page 120 of The Assist
‘Unprofessional.’
‘Explains why he got so much playing time.’
‘She’s punching.’
‘Typical Diesel, can’t keep it in his pants.’
I shove the phone back at Murphy and stand up too fast, my chest tight. “Where’s Danny?”
Murphy raises his brows. “You planning on hugging it out?”
“Whereishe?”
“I don’t know, mate. Somewhere he shouldn’t be, if he knows what’s good for him.”
I push past him and head for the gym. The rage is coming in waves now; hot and consuming. It’s not even just about the photo. It’s the facthefiled the complaint.Hetried to spin something real into some bitter, jealous dig. Like Mia would ever compromise herself for me. Like I didn’t work to earn every second I’ve played since I got back.
I hear his voice before I see him. Danny. Loud as always. Laughing with someone near the treadmill, like he hasn’t just set fire to the one good thing in my life.
I don’t think. I just move. “Oi!” I snap, stalking across the room.
He turns, the smirk dropping off his face when he sees me. “Mate,”
I slam him up against the wall before he gets another word out. “What the fuck did you say to them?” I growl, my forearm against his chest. He shoves back, trying to act tough, but I’ve got twenty pounds on him and a hell of a lotmore rage.
“I said the truth,” he spits. “You’re getting special treatment and everyone knows it.”
“You petty little shit,” I hiss. “You didn’t have the balls to say it to my face?”
“You think you’re untouchable because you score a few goals and get your dick wet with the physio?”
I see red and pull my fist back… And then Murphy’s there, between us, shoving me off. “Enough!” he barks, eyes blazing.
“Get out of my way,” I snarl, but he’s not moving.
“You think this helps anything? Think Mia wants to see you knocking out teammates like some caveman?”
My chest heaves. Danny’s still glaring, rubbing his shoulder.
Murphy turns on him next. “And you. Filing complaints because you can’t keep your spot on the line-up? That’s low, even for you.”
“I told the truth,” Danny mutters, but he looks smaller now.
“No,” Murphy says. “You made it personal. And that makes you a coward.”
Danny storms out, swearing under his breath. I’m left shaking, my fists still clenched, and my heart trying to punch its way out of my chest.
Murphy claps a hand on my shoulder. “Come on,” he says. “We’re going for a walk before you get benched for murder.”
We end up outside,behind the rink, where the staff take smoke breaks and chuck snowballs when training is too intense. I lean against the wall, trying to calm down, trying not to think about what Mia would say if she saw me lose it like that.
“She’s not gonna want to be anywhere near this now,” I say bitterly. “I’ve made it worse.”
Murphy leans beside me. “You think she doesn’t already know who you are?”
I shake my head. “She trusted me to keep this under wraps. To keep her safe. I couldn’t even do that.”
“She’s not looking for you to save her, mate. She picked you knowing the risks.”
