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“I think I caught that one.”

“Yeah, well, now that you’re boning my sister-in-law, who happens to be one of my children’s favorite people, you have to deal with me.” She walks over next to me and removes her crossbody bag, sets it on one of the stools, pulls out a folder, and drops it on the towels. “All that in there is public record. A web search is all it took to find out your name was on the penthouse as the co-owner, which was necessary to make you legally obligated to pay because of the most fucked-up prenup I’ve ever seen, and somehow you were able to sign for the sale of it and have it notarized in New York City while you were in-flight to our LA game.”

I shove my hands in my pockets. “All right.”

“Just all right?” she gasps.

“I appreciate you doing that, but?—”

“No, Kolby, no buts. Because it’s not just you, it’s Lo. And the way you two have been circling each other since day one, it’s going to be my nieces and nephews one day.”

Fuck …

“The contract we’re going to give you caps our salary, and you deserve that. But this family, who went all-in based on what Knoxville did to one Cohen, who grew up with us, is Logan’s best friend … they deserve to reap the benefits of our investments.” She sits down. “I know men like you. I’m surrounded by them. When you have to hand over millions, Kolby, double digit millions to that bitch and her family, you’re taking away fromyourfamily. You’re taking away from whatever charity that, to your bones, you have to support because you know from some life experience that when a kid like you gets a scholarship, it changes his life.”

“Ava, I?—”

“One phone call, not court. One, Kolby, and just the threat of going to the board, and you’ll be done with this. Which, by the way, he doesn’t deserve. He deserves to rot, and not just because what he’s done to you, but what he does tosomany others.”

“One phone call?”

She holds up a finger. “One.”

“And if he saystake me to court, you’ll back off?”

“No, I’ll bring in dozens of other files of people this man has ruined to convince you otherwise.”

I sigh.

“Fine, I won’t do that. And when I make the call, I won’t cross lines.” She holds up three fingers. “Girl Scout promise.”

“You were never a Girl Scout.” Lo laughs as she comes through the door.

Chapter16

Little Talks

Lo

“You’re out early.” Ava smiles as I set down a large tin of Mickey’s best filets and some grilled chicken breasts, knowing I need to grab groceries, but hoping this works for now.

“Riley’s week to close, but I’ll go back over before nine, or I’ll find her passed out on a table somewhere,” I say as I look from her to Kolby, who looks far less bothered than I expected after I heard Ava’s and his conversation.

“Thought Jackson was stepping in,” Ava says.

“He’s busy with the boys and all that.” I shrug.

“You work too much,” she scolds.

“You never stop,” I point out.

I see Kolby flip a page in the folder, and his face goes rigid.

“What is it?” I ask, toeing off my boots.

He doesn’t answer. He looks at Ava. “Cell phone records are public record?”

“Nope, but when the security boys cross-referenced her phone number across the NFL, Caleb Cross from the Outriders popped. Looks like she has made contact with him recently, one conversation is under three minutes, under four, and the rest went to voicemail.