Page 26 of Personal Foul (The San Diego Storm #3)

Colin

W e made it through the four preseason games, only losing one before starting our campaign to return to the Super Bowl, just twenty weeks away. While it sounded like a long time, it wasn’t. I hated thinking about the end of the season because I was enjoying myself here.

Carson and I complemented each other well on and off the field.

I kept the damn helmet on during the game, only fucking up occasionally when my brain reverted to rugby.

The most significant issues were the face mask penalties I received.

Every time the referee threw his little yellow flag, I knew it was me.

And when it cost us points, Lennox and Evan tried to make me feel better by letting me know they’d cover them.

“It’s okay, Australia,” Lennox said, clapping me on the shoulder. “It happens to the best of us. I’ll just find Ellis for six to even the score.”

And most of the time, he did. But there were times I found myself distracted by intrusive thoughts that told me I wasn’t good enough to play this game and didn’t deserve my ten million dollar salary.

It had been a month since George had found the discrepancies in my finances.

I hadn’t heard from Leland, but when his automatic payments ceased at the end of the month, he’d be in contact.

I hadn’t even told Owen about the suspected embezzlement.

I couldn’t take the chance on the asshole finding out I knew before George was ready.

Shortly after I cut him off, rumors circulated in Australia that I was being kicked out of the NFL for misconduct. Carson laughed it off.

“You haven’t received a fine or been suspended, much less kicked out of a game. Stop letting him get in your head. He’s playing games with you.”

He was right. Leland was a mastermind at getting what he wanted, and when he showed up in San Diego the last week in September after our first home game against Green Bay, I wasn’t surprised.

“Are ya ready to go? I’m starving and I got plans for you.”

Carson’s cheeks tinted pink as he grinned. “We’ll order takeout and pick it up on the way home. I just need to see Coach O’Neil. Decide what you want, and I’ll meet you in the car.”

He tossed me his keys, then winked.

“I know exactly what I want,” I teased, then reached around to squeeze his ass cheek.

He was used to me fondling him now and didn’t scowl at all. I missed it. “Okay. Hurry it up, eh?”

We went our separate ways in the hallway as I headed to the car. As I looked around at my teammates leaving with their families, it occurred to me that the loneliness I was used to feeling was fading. Carson and my new friends had done that.

My phone buzzed with a text as I pushed through the glass doors that led to the players’ parking lot. Looking down at the screen, there was a message on the group chat from Lennox.

Lennox: Steaks and swimming at my house tomorrow for anyone who can attend.

Evan: What time? Hudson has to fly back tomorrow.

Lennox: What time does he have to leave? We can be flexible.

Evan: I’ll check. brB

Me: What should we bring?

Lennox: Anything you want.

Drew: I’ll bring beer.

Lennox: Not the cheap shit.

Evan: Hudson and the kids have to leave by seven. Will that work?

Lennox: Yes. Make it two then. Bring the kids. We have Daniel.

Me: See you…

I was typing back when a big hand wrapped around my arm and slammed my back against the side of a car. The smell of his aftershave hit my nose, immediately sending warning bells sounding in my head.

“Hello, trouble. Did you really think I’d let you fuck me over?”

I looked into his dark brown eyes as he pinned me to the car. His jaw was unshaven, and he appeared like he’d slept in his suit.

“What are you doing here?”

He sneered at me. “You’re not that daft. I want my money.”

“Your money? There is no your money. I told you, I have a new agent. And it’s not you. So you can fuck right off back home.”

I pushed him back, knocking him off balance. But Leland wasn’t going to let me go that easily. He had me by at least fifty kilos.

Slamming my front to the car, he pressed the side of my face down to the metal, then leaned his body on mine. His words and breath ghosted across my face, making me wonder what I ever saw in him.

“You don’t want me telling the Americans about how…”

Before he could finish making his threat, Leland’s weight was ripped away as Carson’s voice filled the air, along with grunts and the sound of bodies hitting the concrete.

I turned quickly to see that Carson had thrown him to the ground and pinned him.

“You piece of shit. Don’t you ever put your hands on him again.”

Leland struggled under his hold as curse words shot from his mouth.

“Get the fuck off me. I’m his fucking agent.”

Carson leaned down in his face. “I know exactly who the fuck you are. You were told to stay away and you should have goddamn listened. He will never have to deal with you again if I can help it.”

The heavy footfalls on the concrete and the yelling momentarily distracted me. I looked up as Mason and Will Watson, one of our defensive ends, came running.

Reaching down, they pulled Carson off him, then picked Leland up by the arms like he weighed nothing.

“Get your fucking hands off me,” Leland spat as he struggled to get away from them.

Carson came to me and put his hands on my face to focus my attention on him. His eyes were frantic as he looked me over.

“Baby, are you okay? Are you hurt?”

Snapping out of my shock, anger rose to the surface as I glanced at Leland over his shoulder. God, I fucking hated him.

Carson saw the fury in my eyes as he held me back. “We have a bigger plan,” he whispered into my ear. “Let him sink himself.”

He held me as two members of our security team came running up and took over control of Leland. Will and Mason stepped back, then over to where we were.

“Call Coach,” Mason said to Will. “He needs to be out here.”

My gut clenched as I realized I’d done it again. Brought chaos to my new team.

“Struggle all you want,” one of the security team said to him. “You’re wrestling with former SEALS, so give the fuck up.”

“Baby?” Leland hissed at me. “You’ve bedded another player?”

Embarrassment and rage battled inside as I lunged for him, but Carson held me back. “Don’t. Let security handle it.”

Leland continued to spew vehement words as Coach Henderson approached with Coach O’Neil. He took one look at the way Carson was holding me back and the wrinkled asshole held by security.

“Is this the agent?” he asked me.

I nodded. “Ambushed me when I came out.”

Coach called out to O’Neil. “Call the police. And Carlisle.”

The man pulled out his phone and stepped away to make the calls. Coach turned to me. “Do you want to press charges?”

“For what?” Leland bellowed. “I’m allowed to talk to my client. I want to press charges against that bloke for attacking me!”

My eyes narrowed on him as I spoke to Carson. “If they arrest him, will the authorities throw him out of the country?”

“I can find out.”

Carson pulled out his phone and made a call to his father.

“We need to get you checked out by the team doctor,” Coach stated.

I shook my head. “I’m fine. Never hit the ground. Rugby player here.”

“Humor me,” he said. That really meant I had no choice.

I glanced at Carson, who smiled and gave me a single nod. We could be done with Leland here in the States and let the authorities in Australia handle the rest. And if I stayed here, I’d never have to lay my eyes on the fucker again. And the last thing I wanted was to go to court in America.

Glancing at Coach, I gave him my answer. “I’ll let the team handle it. I’ll be so happy when I don’t have to see him ever again.”

Leland sneered at me. “You have to come home sometime, and I’ll be waiting with legal papers. You can’t stay away forever.”

“I don’t have to do fucking anything if I don’t want to. This is my new life here in America, and you’re not part of it. You tried to destroy me, but you’ve failed.”

By the time I’d given my statement to the police and security had informed Leland it was all caught on surveillance, the authorities hauled Leland into the car and took him away.

Deep in my gut, I knew this fix was temporary, and he’d find a way to get back at me, even from across the ocean. I just didn’t know when it would come.

By the time we got in the car to go home, I was numb. Carson decided we should order dinner for delivery, rather than delaying our arrival at home. He held my hand as we drove, but let me be until he pulled into the garage.

He cut the engine and turned to look at me. “Are you okay?”

Nodding slowly, I assessed my mental state. “Yeah. I am. Just surprised he came all this way, but at the same time, I’m not. He must be feeling desperate. Maybe he knows I’m on to him.”

Carson put his hand on my shoulder. “It will be over soon. And he has no idea how much he’s fucked himself over by coming here like that. Just wait. It’s going to be fine.”

I took a deep breath and clung to his words. “Think we can get in the jacuzzi for a while and watch the sunset?”

He grinned. “I think that can be arranged.”

“Good. Then order us some food and let’s get going. I need you to fuck me into the mattress later.”

Carson laughed. “I can do that.”

After dinner and the endless duties of being pet parents, we climbed into the warmth of the hot tub. The pain was blooming from the game, making the bubbling water a balm for the physical injuries as well as the mental ones.

Carson sat across from me, his legs outstretched around mine, with his eyes closed. Even in the safest place imaginable, he was protecting me.

The late evening sky was a burst of orange and hot pink before sinking into purples and dark blues that brought the darkness.

Carson closed his legs, drawing our knees together. His smile was heartbreakingly warm as he looked at me.

“What are you thinking about?”

He leaned forward and lightly massaged my thigh muscles.

I shifted my gaze over his shoulder at the ocean. “My apartment faces east, so this view was never mine. It’s always been there, but I never saw it. The gradual change happens so slowly, without even noticing it. And I was oblivious to it all.”

My eyes met his. “I’m used to being left in the dark of night to pull myself together, only to start all over alone at sunrise.”

Carson’s eyes burned into mine with an assurance I’d never seen before. “You’re not alone anymore. I’m here to ride out the darkness and rise with you into the light.”

I was afraid to hope, but if anyone would, it was him.