Page 105 of Touchdown, Tennessee

Something bad was hovering at the corner of my mind, though.

Even if we got rid of the videos, even if the cops came and nabbed Colby for a DUI…

He still had the information.

And information was all he needed.

He could tell Coach Ennick about Andrew’s past relationship with his son.

He could post online about Andrew, too, talking about the bar fight and the secret relationship, too.

There was nothing we could do to stop that.

“How much is it going to take, Colby?” Andrew asked him now, as the wail of the sirens came closer.

The fuck does that mean?

Colby gave him a glare. “Lots.”

“Ten thousand,” Andrew said, glaring straight down at him. “And you don’t say a fucking word.”

Something went cold in my chest, like it was turning to stone.

I’d forgotten.

Andrew had the currency that actuallycouldcontrol information.

Real currency.

In my world, that had never been an option.

But for him…

“Not even close,” Colby spat back at him. “I know your family’s fucking loaded, Peachel.More.”

“Fifteen thousand. And you don’t say a single goddamn word. Ever.”

“Going to need a lot more than that. Give me fifty thousand dollars.”

“Will you say a word of this? Toanyone?Including your football team? Your boys? A single goddamn person on planet Earth?”

My stomach was sick.

Fifty thousand was more than many people’s annual salary, and Peachel could just toss it out.

Just like that.

To a guy who was blackmailing him, for fuck’s sake.

“Fifty thou, and I’m your quiet little fucking bitch forever, Peachel.”

Was this what it was about the whole time?

Did Colby somehow know that Peachel would be willing to pay, and do all of this just to have a chance at it?

How many times has Andrew been extorted?

Used for his family’s access to wealth?