Page 41 of The Girlfriend Card (Vegas Sin #4)

I gasped, realizing what he had in mind: he wanted to put me on the shelf.

“You won’t play in any games or practices for the duration of your contract,” he said.

“You won’t be allowed into the team facilities or anywhere near the team.

For five years, you won’t see any ice at all, Dakota.

All you’ll do is sit on your couch, watch TV, and stuff your face with ice cream.

And the rest of the world will move on without you.

By the time your contract expires, you will already be forgotten, and your career over. ”

I couldn’t believe he’d do something so extreme. “There’s no way you’d do that,” I muttered.

“Oh, but I would , Dakota. And I’d love every minute of those five years.”

“But you’d still have to pay me,” I said, my voice small. “There’s no way you’d burn twenty-five mil just to punish me.”

“I’m worth billions . What’s twenty-five million to me?

It’s chump change. And to end the career of the man who fucked my daughter?

To me, that’s a damn good deal. In fact, I’d say it’s the best money I’ll have ever spent.

” He paused. “Unless, of course—and here’s where I’m going to offer you a carrot—you agree to never contact my daughter ever again. ”

I didn’t need to ponder his offer for long.

“No,” I said.

“ No? ” His eyes widened with surprise.

“Absolutely not,” I said, my conviction growing. “No deal.”

“You’re choosing my daughter over your career?”

Killer tried to intervene. “Be reasonable, Dak. Women come and go; you know that. You’ve worked so hard all summer long for a second chance. Don’t throw it away now.”

I shook my head, disappointed in my coach. “Killer, before I met Ottavia, you were ready to give me the axe. What changed?”

“ You changed, Dak,” he said. “I saw it the moment you walked into the locker room this morning. You look different, you move and talk different. And your play on the ice? Tenacious. Unrelenting. Like a dog on a bone. It’s what I’ve always wanted to see from you—honest, hard-working hockey—instead of the flashy skill shit. ”

I nodded. “And it’s all because of Ottavia.

I’ve finally found someone who understands me.

Do you have any idea how valuable that is?

She makes me want to be a better person, Coach—she makes me want to be good .

And as a result, hockey is fun again. I can’t wait to get out there and show not just the world, but Ottavia especially, what I’m capable of.

So you guys aren’t just asking me to stop seeing Ottavia—you’re also asking me to give up the meaning I’ve found in my life.

What would be the point of that? I know where that path leads.

I’d go right back to playing uninspired hockey and you’d be wanting to get rid of me all over again.

I might as well take the option where I at least know I have a chance at love, at being happy. ”

“But what if, a year or two down the road, you and Ottavia break up?” Killer asked.

“It’d still be worth it,” I said.

Killer sighed. He cast a pleading leer at Mr. Capuano and quietly murmured, “He clearly likes the girl, Sal. Is it really so bad?”

Mr. Capuano wouldn’t hear it.

“You damned fool,” he said to me. “Do you seriously believe she actually likes you? Can’t you see she’s using you to get back at me? Why else would she go along with that ridiculous story about being ‘Jane?’”

“I don’t know why you keep thinking that I’m lying about me and Ottavia.” I added smugly, “Because the media sure believes my story.”

He laughed. “And who do you think planted that story in the first place, numbnuts?”

Then Ottavia was right, I thought. But that seemed to only create more questions.

“But why would you plant the story if you didn’t believe it yourself?” I asked.

“To shape public opinion.”

“Of?”

“You and Ottavia.”

“So you wanted us to look bad? Why?”

“You still don’t get it, eh.” Mr. Capuano sighed. “Let’s go back to the very beginning. What got you into this situation in the first place, Dakota?”

“The mechanical bull video.”

“That, yes, but also specifically claiming you had a girlfriend at the time. Jane, was it?”

“Yes, that’s the name Ottavia used when we met,” I murmured, trying to keep the story straight.

“Cut it out. You’re only making yourself look worse.” Mr. Capuano rolled his eyes with contempt. “But you claimed nothing happened with the girl from the bull video, right? Because you were loyal to Jane?”

“T-that’s right, yeah,” I said, my eyes darting left and right. I felt the walls closing in on me, but I wasn’t sure what exactly he was getting at.

“But if something did happen with the girl from the video,” Mr. Capuano continued, “then what implications would that have on your relationship with Jane?”

“It’d mean that I cheated on her,” I murmured.

“Yes! Right!” Mr. Capuano clapped and pointed at me. “Ottavia believes you’re loyal. That you might be a flirt, but you’d never stray. Remember?”

“Okay … but what does this have to do with anything?” I asked.

Mr. Capuano grabbed hold of Killer’s computer monitor and spun it around, a YouTube video ready to play. My heart sank when I saw who it was; she was the busty blonde I rode the mechanical bull with at that bar in Dallas.

“Press play,” Mr. Capuano said.

Killer clicked a button on his mouse and the video began.

“Hiiii, YouTube! My name’s Kelly, AKA Devils Girl. I’ve been trying to keep things on the down low for a few months, but yes, I’m actually the girl from the mechanical bull video with Dakota Easton. And yes, you are SO welcome, Devils fans!”

She laughed and did a little victory dance.

“So, about the night in question. Let’s see.

I was at Stampede with a few of my friends when Dakota walked in.

I instantly recognized him right away, because, obviously, I’m a huge Devils fan, and he plays for the enemy, right?

” She let out a devious giggle. “Anyway, I went up and introduced myself and told him how happy I was, as a Devils fan, to see a member of the Vegas Sin out late partying the night before Game Seven. Dakota laughed and said, ‘Sorry to disappoint you, but I play better when I’m guilty. Your team is totally fucked tomorrow.’ I jokingly responded with something like, ‘Wanna go back to my place and test that theory? Because I’ll keep you up all night to make sure you’re playing your guiltiest.’ ”

She squealed a happy note.

“Which I am so proud of, y’all, because I’m not normally that forward with men, but he LOVED my cheesy pickup line.

He got this sexy look in his eye, and he pulled me in and kissed me and put his hands all over me.

I couldn’t believe it—an opportunity to sleep with a pro athlete and help my own team out? ! I was so psyched.”

I groaned. This didn’t look good, no—but it also wasn’t anything damning, either.

“It’s her word against mine,” I said. “This doesn’t prove anything.”

“Maybe not,” Mr. Capuano said. “But the pictures and video sure do.”

“Wha’?”

“What’s wrong? You don’t remember her filming?” He snickered. “Keep watching.”

“After a few drinks, we decided to head back to my place. But on the way out, Dakota grabbed me and whisked me over to the bull. He said he wanted to see how well I could ride before he took me home—ohmigod, y’all, I was dying! Obviously, I had to pull out all my best moves to impress him …”

I felt myself sinking lower in my seat.

“So we’re riding on this bull, and I’m shaking and bouncing my ass in his crotch, and I can feel his dick, like, growing bigger and bigger against my butt.

He felt huge! I got sooo into it. But then the bull started spinning like crazy, faster and faster until we got thrown off, which really hurt—and y’all already know Dakota banged up his knee pretty bad.

He wanted to head back to his hotel to take care of his knee at that point.

But I’m a hardcore Devils fan, and he’s obviously tall and hot, so I wasn’t going to let him go that easily …

“After promising I’d take very good care of his knee, we took a cab back to my place instead. First thing I did was get a bag of frozen peas from the freezer for his knee, but the second he dropped his pants? Those peas got chucked aside, and we got down to business.”

A series of pictures and videos, with the naughty parts blurred out, showed on the screen. Until now, I’d completely forgotten that she’d filmed me between her legs. I gnashed my teeth. Her photo evidence left no doubt it was me.

“Trust me when I say that I was true to my word, and Dakota didn’t get a single wink of sleep that night.

And now you know the story of how I helped the Devils win the Cup last year!

So if you wanna put my name on the Cup, Devils, I won’t say no, because I definitely played a part in us getting past the Sin!

To be fair, Dakota did score the Sin’s only goal …

so maybe he was right about that playing guilty thing.

But my team won, and I got an unforgettable night and a great story out of it, so I’d like to think we both won. ”

The video came to an end, and a loaded silence hung in the air.

“You paid her to say all that, didn’t you?” I asked.

He chuckled. “I paid a small fortune to track her down, and then had to pay her another small fortune to get her tell her story, yes. But it’s the truth, isn’t it? You’re not denying her account. She’s got evidence. That’s clearly you in those pictures, Dakota.”

“Okay … but …” I grumbled. He’d had me trapped. There was no way out but the truth. “Alright, fine. I admit it. I was lying about Jane. I hired Ottavia to pretend to be my girlfriend.”

“Ha haaaaa!” Mr. Capuano clapped excitedly. “Amazing! He finally tells the truth!”

“I don’t see why you’re so excited, because all that means is that I didn’t cheat on Ottavia. I hadn’t even met her yet.”

“ Ottavia knows that, yes, but the public doesn’t.

Every single time someone sees you two together, they’ll immediately think of how you cheated on her, and how weak and pathetic she is for taking you back.

How long do you think it’ll take before she gets tired of everyone snickering behind her back?

How long until she begins to resent you? ”

Suddenly, I started to understand what he was trying to do. “So that’s what you wanted to do, huh. Make me look unfaithful to taint our relationship.”

“I also wanted to make you look untrustworthy,” he added. “Which wasn’t hard to do, because that’s exactly what you are.”

“Fine. That’s my rap. I’ll live with it. As long as Ottavia knows the truth, who cares what other people think?”

He snickered. “You don’t seem to realize I’ve also damaged Ottavia’s trust in you. She seemed to believe you really hadn’t slept with that bull girl, because that’s what you’d told her. How is she supposed to trust you now? Knowing how easily and convincingly you lie?”

Damn. He was right. I’d told Ottavia I didn’t hook up with that chick. I didn’t think she’d ever find out I had, or that it’d ever matter.

“I can explain it to her,” I grumbled. “She’ll believe me.”

Mr. Capuano sat on Killer’s desk. “Dakota, it’s already over. Ottavia saw that video and she doesn’t want to see you anymore. If you’re smart, you’ll take my offer and save your career, because she’s already done with you.”

“You’re manipulating her. All I have to do is call her and tell her the truth.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket to call Ottavia, but Mr. Capuano clicked his tongue in warning.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” he sang. “Remember my ultimatum: it’s either Ottavia or your career. And I’m telling you right now that Ottavia is already a lost cause for you.”

I countered with some blackmail of my own. “She told me you’re forcing her to marry Leo for political purposes. I could go public with that story, you know.”

He laughed the threat off. “You’d have a hell of a time finding anyone willing to print that story. And even if you did, no one would believe you.”

I grumbled.

But if he were telling the truth—if Ottavia didn’t want to hear a word I had to say—then why would he try so hard to stop me from talking to her?

Wanting to call his bluff, I scrolled to Ottavia’s number in my contacts.

“Dakota, if you make that call, the deal’s off,” Mr. Capuano warned me. “And just so you know, she won’t even answer your call.”

I pressed the call button anyway.

While the phone rang, Mr. Capuano tutted and turned to Killer. “What a shame, Dean. We just witnessed the end of an NHL career. And for what?”

The phone continued to ring.

“She won’t answer, Dakota. Wanna know why?” he said with a wink. “Because I made her the same offer I made you: cut all contact with Dakota, or kiss your trust fund goodbye. Wanna know what she chose?”

But Ottavia’s sweet voice filled my ear. “Hi!”

Her voice was a lifeline, and a surge of hope shot through my racing heart.

“Ottavia, it’s me!”

Thank God she answered! I thought. Unable to contain my excitement, I jumped out of my chair and threw the middle finger right in Mr. Capuano’s face, mouthing the words, Fuck you.

“Listen, Ottavia, I—” I began to say, but she interrupted me.

“This is Ottavia. I’m not available right now.” My hopes were shattered when I realized I was listening to her voicemail greeting. My heart was crushed as I listened to her pre-recorded message.

Stunned, the phone slipped from my hands. “Leave a message and I’ll get back to you. Thanks!”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to gather my thoughts. Mr. Capuano’s smug grin only intensified, relishing in my apparent defeat.

“As I was saying. She chose her trust fund over you, Dakota. Don’t take it personally. Anyone in her position would.”

My shoulders slumped.

“Because I am fair, I will make you one final offer, Dakota,” he said. “Cease all contact with Ottavia from this point forward, and I will let you play this season.” He stuck out his hand. “Deal?”

I stared at his hand. I didn’t want to.

“Shake his hand, Dak,” Killer urged me. “I’m telling you, you’re going to have the best year of your career. It’d be a damn shame to throw it all away over a woman who’s already moved on.”

I grumbled, still staring at Mr. Capuano’s hand.

“There are plenty of other fish in the sea, Dak,” Mr. Capuano added, chuckling like we were buds. “And if Dean is right about you, you’ll be drowning in pussy this season.” He winked. “Just hopefully not before any big playoff games this time around.”

Fuck …

With no other choice, I reached out and gave Mr. Capuano my hand.

“Deal,” I murmured.

“Deal it is,” he said, and we shook.