Part 11 (1/2)

Now lets take it to Jake Ford out on the field with tonights all-star player Adrian Maxwell.

Thanks, Bret. Im here at Princeton National Stadium with the Adrian Maxwell, New York Mavericks star quarterback. Adrian, what were you thinking in those last few minutes while you were running the ball to make that ambush winning touchdown?

Adrian smiled and looked right at the camera. I was thinking about my kitten.

Chapter Eighteen.

Adrian Your cat? Seriously, man? When the f.u.c.k did you get a cat? Emmet was slinging has gear over his shoulder. He was fully showered and dressed and heading out of the locker room for his own interview.

How could I explain it to him? Ill uh, introduce you later, at the after party.

Emmet shook his head and laughed. Great game. Glad you got back in there.

Thanks man. You did amazing.

You coming?

I nodded. After I shower up, Ill be there.

Okay. Emmet walked out the door, along with the majority of the team. Cameras and reporters were waiting for them all.

The hot water felt amazing. The showers were empty, and I thought about how when I did get out and towel off, the last of the guys would be out, and I could think for a moment in peace. I needed to let myself absorb what had taken place in the last half hour. We had won the game after a devastating first half. It secured our place and put us on a straight road to the Super Bowl. Mallory got to see a super exciting gameand I may have just singlehandedly put her life in jeopardy.

I towel-dried my hair, pulled on a fresh pair of jeans and socks, and tied my shoes before pulling on a hooded sweats.h.i.+rt. I was rummaging through my gym bag for my keys when I heard the locker room door swing open and closed. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and my fingers moved to what Id stowed at the bottom of my bag.

My fingers gripped the cold metal handle of a gun, and I turned pointing it out away from me at G.

I knew hed be here. I knew that once I made my decision to win that hed show up, and deep down, I knew this was the decision I had always planned to make, which is why Id brought the pistol. What I hadnt expected or planned for was how I would feel, staring down the barrel of his pistol that was poised and pointing back at me.

You f.u.c.ked up, Maxwell. Royally.

I didnt say anything, I held my gun steady.

I dont have a choice now, Adrian. You left me no f.u.c.king choice. His own gun shook with nerves, or anger, or pure frustration, I didnt know. But it was clear he was agitated. I need you to follow me out and go for a ride. Im not asking. He waved the gun towards the door. Move. Im on the hook for a lot of money here, and Im not paying for your poor judgment.

I didnt move.

After a moment, G clenched his teeth and adjusted his grip. Man, why do you have to fight all the time? Listen you can come with me now, or I send Nick and Luca over to your M and dads place over on Wildwood. Yeah, we know where they live”cute place. Too bad its gonna be a crime scene soon.

I tried to keep my cool. Listen, G, do you have a name, or is it too hard for you to remember more than a letter? I reached back in my duffle bag.

Hey hey, stop right there!

I kept my gun on him and lifted my cell phone into the air with my free hand. Easy, G. Just grabbing my phone here, the same phone I had in my pocket the other night. You know, the night I mangled your friends face. Hows he doing, by the way? I hear make up works wonders for dual black eyes. Think the nose is a lost cause, sorry.

G scoffed a laugh. I can blow that and all your fingers off right now. No more recording, buddy boy.

Yeah you could. Where are your boys now?

On the way to your childhood home.

I smirked. Youd think that, but Im one step ahead of you, G. See, Ive already turned this recording into the police, and your little posse of mobsters are now on their way to the police station. Nick, Mr. Luca, Nicky Belini, and Johnny Mugs Marcciano, all apprehended as they walked out of the stadium. Think they might have cars waiting for your grand exit now too.

His face had changed from fl.u.s.tered flush to lighter than pale. f.u.c.k.

Sorry friend, the gig is up. You lose, do not pa.s.s go, do not collect a single d.a.m.n dime.

G.o.d d.a.m.n it, why didnt I listen to her? He blinked sweat out of his eyes, knuckles white on his gun.

Excuse me?

My sister, why didnt I listen to her? It had to be you, you had to do this, you had to not only destroy my plan, my job, my f.u.c.king life, but you had to steal my sister from me too! His voice was cracking.

What are you talking about?

Mallory! My sister, Mallory! he yelled.

Now it was my turn to turn white, and his words. .h.i.t me like a sack of bricks. Gyoure, youre Giovanni? Oh, Christ. The man whod been hara.s.sing me this whole time was Mals own brother.

She told you about me?

Yeah man, of course she did! Youre an a.s.shole. Do you have any idea how wonderful your sister is? How much she cares about you? d.a.m.n it, why do you have to be her brother? My head was swimming with emotions. Why did he have to be part of her? Id wanted to know him someday. Id set it up in my head when she told me about him that he and I would have a commonality through her. That I would like him because she obviously did, in spite of his faults.

I actually thought I might have another chance at a second brother figure, and now he had ruined it, shot it all to s.h.i.+t.

You knew about me and Mallory”how could you do this to her? Shes your sister, your only family, she loves you! How do you do this to someone you supposedly love? You could have ruined her life. Can you live with that?

I watched Giovannis gun drop and his shoulders slumped, eyes rimmed with red. f.u.c.k, of course I love her. Shes my sister. And she must be in love with you”I mean, the way she put me in my place the other day, she must. d.a.m.n it. He rubbed his hands over his face. Sh.e.l.l be better off with you. I cant give her anything good anymore, not now.

I was beginning to feel sorry for him, honestly. I knew this because of Mallory. She cared for him, I knew that. How would she feel about me turning him into the police? Would she hate me forever? Id still lost her. Giovanni had won, I had lost. There was no money and no Mallory for either of us. I lowered my gun. Instant relief flooded my tense muscles. Giovanni stood there, looking sorry for himself as much as I felt sorry for me.

Listen, theres a door out of here from the steam room. The police are probably looking for you to come out the front or one of the side gates. Go down the hall, two doors, past the sauna, and out the emergency exit. It should take them a while to realize you arent here anymore. Get out of town. Stay out of town. Dont call, dont text, in fact, dont even get a cell phone. Find an honest job, learn a f.u.c.king trade that doesnt involve gambling, extortion, or beating the c.r.a.p out of people.

Now youre going to tell me what to do, like you know my life? Like you have all the d.a.m.n answers? His face was red again. He raised his gun and aimed at me again. I stood there my hands in the air. He could shoot me, but I wanted to believe he wouldnt, for Mallorys sake. We stood there for what seemed an eternity.

Then Giovanni dropped the gun and ran from the locker room, leaving me alone with the cleanup of all that had occurred.

Chapter Nineteen.

Mallory My head fell backwards as I laughed. Adrian poked at my sides, tickling me as he carried me in his arms across the threshold of the hotel penthouse suite. We were both a bit tipsy, having indulged on tall gla.s.ses of celebratory champagne. The whole team, Coach, and spouses, dates, and close friends, including Robbie and Leslie, gathered at Hooligans, a local establishment that had been reserved to celebrate the Mavericks victory. We danced and sang for hours, replaying the game, planning for the next and enjoying each others company. I finally got to meet Emmet when Adrian introduced me in a whisper, telling Emmet that hed like him to meet his kitten. Emmet coughed and choked on his drink.

A pleasure to meet you. For the love of G.o.d, make him win every game like that from here on out.

I blushed deeply.