Page 38 of Run the Play (Nashville Rampage #2)

Chapter Twenty-One

L andry

Rowan’s hand is locked in mine as we make our way into the stadium. Today is an off day, but Coach Warner and Roger Hampton, the Rampage owner, called first thing this morning and asked if Rowan and I could come in to speak with them.

We’re both quiet as we make our way to Roger’s office.

Rowan has apologized countless times since we got the phone call.

I don’t know how to make her understand that this isn’t on her.

I thought last night I had gotten through to her, but then again, today, she’s back at it.

I think she’s just worried and stressed.

I also think it has a lot to do with the fact that she’s not used to having someone in her corner.

She has me now.

She has all of us, and she has nothing to be sorry for.

“He’s expecting you,” Cala, Roger’s assistant, tells us.

I nod at her and lead us to the door. I stop just outside and turn to Rowan.

“Whatever happens in there, we’re in this together.

You did nothing wrong, Rowan.” She worries her bottom lip, and tears fill her eyes, but she blinks them away.

“We’ve got this,” I assure her, squeezing her hand before rapping my knuckles on the door and pushing inside.

I don’t wait for them to invite me in. I know they’re waiting.

“Landry, Rowan, please have a seat,” Roger says.

There are three chairs in front of his desk. Coach Warner is occupying one of them. I wait for Rowan to take the middle seat before I settle in the one on the far left.

“Thanks for coming. Ms. Mills, I’d like to personally apologize to you on behalf of the Rampage organization for what happened yesterday.”

“It’s not your fault,” Rowan says, her voice small. “Chaz and I used to date.” She glances over at me, and I nod. “I left him after he put me in the hospital.”

Roger and Coach Warner both curse under their breath.

“You can tell them. We’re all on your side, baby,” I tell her.

She nods again and launches into her story.

She tells them about growing up in foster care, meeting Chaz at college, and following him to Los Angeles.

She doesn’t leave anything out, and by the time she’s done, her face is stained with tears, but the invisible weight on her shoulders has lifted.

“Thank you for trusting us with your story,” Roger says. “I know how hard that must have been for you, to tell us your history. I know you said you didn’t report him before because you felt like it was your word against his, but you have medical records for this hospital stay, yes?”

“I do. However, I told them it was an accident, although I don’t think they believed me.”

“You have this entire organization behind you. If you wish to pursue this, and we hope that you do, we’ll be there with you every step of the way.”

Rowan shakes her head. “I don’t want to bring bad press to the team.” She glances over at me. “Or to Landry.”

“This is not on you,” Coach Warner says. “If my daughter—” He pauses, clearing his throat.

I didn’t know Coach had a daughter. That’s definitely news to me, but then again, he’s always kept things professional.

Though I’ve never seen her at a game, or even a wife or girlfriend, now that I think about it.

There must be a story there, but right now, all I can worry about is my girl and how she wants to handle this moving forward.

I want her to press charges for all of it, and nail his ass, but I’ll support her whatever decision she makes.

“We support you. The organization, the team, we’re all behind you,” Coach Warner tells her. “We don’t want to see him get away with what he did to you, or perhaps do the same to others.”

“I don’t know if there are others. I know he cheated on me, so I could only assume so. I wasn’t close to any of his friends in LA. I stayed to myself and tried to toe the line where Chaz was concerned.”

“Rowan, baby, what do you want?” I ask her. “Don’t think about me or the team. Think about what you want. Tell me, and that’s what we’ll do,” I tell her.

She pauses, staring down at her hands, one of which is entwined with mine. I can’t seem to let her go, even when I can see she’s safe sitting right next to me.

“I don’t want him to hurt anyone else.” She pauses, and we all stay quiet, giving her time to work through her emotions. Slowly, she lifts her head to look at me. “I’m stronger this time,” she tells me.

“Damn right you are. You were strong then too. You left him, Rowan. You’ve proven that you’re a strong, beautiful badass who can fight back.”

She looks over at Roger. “I’m so sorry for all the trouble this has caused the team and the organization.”

“I appreciate that, but I don’t accept your apology, because there is nothing for you to apologize for. You are innocent in all of this, Rowan. If my vote counts, I say we nail this slimy bastard with every charge they can toss at him. We are behind you.”

She sniffs. “Thank you, sir. I appreciate that so much.” She clears her throat and sits up taller in her chair. She squeezes my hand. “I want to press charges.”

“There’s my fierce girl,” I tell her.

“I don’t know where to go from here,” she confesses.

“That’s okay. I took the liberty of calling Officer Simpson, a close friend of mine on the Nashville force, and her partner to this meeting. They’re waiting outside. The team is also pressing charges for assault of an employee. We’re not going to let this go, Rowan.”

She nods, and Roger buzzes his assistant to bring the officers in.

We move to the conference table on the other side of the room, and for the second time today, Rowan tells her story from start to finish.

The mood in the room is somber, but there is a sense of relief that something is finally being done. He’s going to be stopped.

“Thank you, Ms. Mills,” Officer Simpson says. “This is enough to hold him.”

“Hold him?” Rowan asks.

“Yeah, he’s been in lockup. Officer Hughes delivered him to Nashville late last night.”

“So, he’s not—he can’t get to me?” Rowan’s voice cracks, as does my heart, hearing her fear.

“No. He can’t get to you. These charges, with eyewitness reports of Coach Warner and the other players present, he’s going away for a while. I can’t see any judge not making him pay. They’ll make an example out of him because of his status as a professional athlete.”

“Other players?”

“We all reported him,” I tell her. “Each of the guys, and well, I’m supposed to give mine now.” I nods at Officer Simpson. “The guys went down to the station first thing to give their reports on yesterday’s events.”

“Really?” Tears swim in her eyes.

“You have an incredible support system, Ms. Mills. Use it. Lean on them.” Officer Simpson smiles, although it doesn’t quite meet her eyes. I can’t imagine the things she sees in her line of work.

“Are you ready to give your statement?” Officer Simpson asks me.

“I am.”

She nods, slides me a piece of paper, and tells me to write down the events that happened last night.

I do so quickly and efficiently. I try to leave my emotions out of it, but it’s hard to do when it’s the woman I love who was attacked.

Signing my name at the bottom, I hand the form back to the officer, and she nods at her partner as they both rise from their seats.

“We’ll be in touch with any updates.”

“Will you tell me if he gets out?” Rowan asks her.

“I will, but this is a high-profile case. My guess is that bail will be denied because of that.”

“Thank you.” Rowan slumps back in her chair, her relief evident.

“I’ve called a press conference in an hour from now. I’ll handle the reporters and ask that they give you both your privacy during this difficult time,” Roger tells us.

“Thank you, sir.”

“I’m sorry, Rowan. It’s a hard pill to swallow that it was one of our own. We had no way of knowing when we signed the trade deal.”

“I didn’t want you to know,” Rowan tells him. “I wanted to put it all behind me. I actually considered quitting, and running, but this one—” She turns to me and smiles “—and his friends, your players, along with Corie and her best friend, Sloane, talked me out of it.”

“Well, I’m glad they did. You’re a true asset to the team. John has nothing but great things to report. Keep up the good work. We have grief counselors on staff, and take off as much time as you need. HR will be reaching out to you, to offer you any support that you need as you navigate healing.”

I watch as she swallows back her emotions. “Thank you, sir.” We stand and shake Roger’s and Coach’s hands before leaving the office.

The drive home is quiet. Neither one of us needs to fill the silence. Instead, we relish it, knowing that the other is there for whatever we need. When I pull into the driveway, it’s lined with cars and trucks.

“They’re still here,” Rowan says, taking off her seat belt.

“I’m sure they were worried about you, and the guys might be napping,” I say, chuckling.

“I’m kind of glad that they’re here,” she tells me.

“I want to tell them all what happened. Their support means so much to me. To us,” she says, reaching over and placing her hand on my arm.

Her warmth settles me. I’m so damn grateful she’s here with me, and she’s going to be okay.

I’ll make damn sure she has the support she needs, from me, from counselors, whatever she needs.

Not getting to her sooner will always be something that I’ll regret, but she’s going to be okay, and that’s what I need to focus on. Her, us, and our future.

“Well, let’s go tell them. We can order some food, or make some, and wait for the press conference.”

“I’m sure Corie already knows, being the social media manager.”

“Probably. That’s a good thing. She has all the details and the truth to respond to the trolls.”

“This is going to be a media nightmare, Landry.”