Page 25 of Renegade Rift
“Whatever you have to tell yourself, love.” The endearment slips out, but if she hears me, she doesn’t react. I spread the knit blanket out over her, smiling as she snuggles into it. “Just please let me know you’re safe.”
She looks up at me through tired eyes. “You aren’t going to let this go, are you?”
“No. I’m really not.”
She yawns again, the call of sleep too great now that she’s horizontal and warm. “On one condition.”
“Name it.” I’ll do anything to keep her from shutting me out.
“Don’t tell my family you found me.”
Okay, anything but that. Her family has been just as desperate to find her as me. I have a standing phone call with her dad most weeks. And while her mom is still upset and mourns her disappearance, they both want nothing more than to know she’s safe.
“But they are?—”
“Ford. They can’t know.”
“Okay.” I nod, even though I hate it. I only just found her. I’m not about to betray her trust. “Get some sleep.”
I’m almost to the door when I hear a muffled, “Thank you for fighting for me.”
“You’re worth fighting for,” I whisper, but the only response is an adorably soft snore.
* * *
The moment I’m in a cab, I get my agent on the phone. Max has been with me since I was first drafted into the league. He’s the kind of agent who really looks out for his players’ best interest, but also isn’t afraid to call you on your bullshit.
“Hey, Race Day.” I hate that nickname and wish it would die. The way Mercer got my agent calling me it too, to ensure it would follow me no matter what team I played for is a kindness I intend to repay him someday.
“It’s late. Is everything okay?
“Yeah.”I mean, except that I just got in a fight and probably need X-rays, but we’ll get to that in a minute.“I was hoping you could get me a list of apartments near the stadium.”
“You finally moving out of the Row?” The surprise in his voice isn’t lost on me. Not a month and a half ago I was telling him how I didn’t want to set roots since our contracts as disaster draft players are only for one year, and if I didn’t find Juliet, I didn’t know if I wanted to stay.
That doubt is gone.
Between the atmosphere at the Renegades and now Juliet, there’s no way I’m leaving. That is, as long as Willow wants to keep me on the team.
“I’m not ready to move out of the Row just yet. I just need to find a place. Furnished preferably.”
Max pauses, and I hear the uneasiness in his voice. “What’s this about? Is it something I need to be concerned about?”
This is why I pay him the absurd amount I do. I’d trust this man with my life. I do. Every day. At least with the version of myself that we present to the public. He’s the best of the best. But that doesn’t mean I’m ready to tell him about Juliet. Especially when I still don’t have all the answers.
“No need to worry yet.” I reassure him, feeling only slightly guilty that I’m keeping Juliet a secret.
“If you were anyone else, I’d be worried.” He twists the knife of guilt without even knowing it. “Let me see what I can do.”
“Thanks, Max.” Pain throbs in my hand, and I know he’s going to hate what I have to admit next. “Oh, and I need you to get me in first thing tomorrow to have my hand looked at by that off-books doctor.”
“Shit.” He sighs. “Do I want to know?”
“If I tell you I defended a pretty girl, will you leave it be for now?”
He grunts, and I can picture him shaking his head in the way he does when he’s had enough of my charm. “Because I know you wouldn’t do it without just cause, yes. But if it becomes a regular thing, we’re going to have a very different conversation, and the second it involves you needing a lawyer, I need you to swear I’m your first call.”
“Cross my heart.”
