Defensive Zone (The Dartmouth Cobras #2)

by Bianca Sommerland

  "Quit rimming my ass, you idiot. This is good. Enough for me to consider putting you on my payroll." Silver punched his shoulder. "And I might forgive you for using me if we can get Ford to back off Jami. Just tell me what you need me to do."

  "It shouldn't be hard. Just be your charming self." Lips twisted into an evil smile, Asher leaned close to her. "From what I hear, Ford is as much of a dog as our stud Demyan."

  Silver cocked her head. "Our stud?"

  "You wouldn't have him if it wasn't for me. And if you do hire me as the team's new lawyer—and you need one, by the way, since the last one worked for Kingsley . . . ." Asher's licked his lips. "Let's just say me and Cedric have fantasized about Scott a few times, and he'd be fun to play with, if he's willing."

  Silver thought on how Scott had flirted with Scarlet. "I'm starting to think that man will fuck anything with a hole. So go for it. But for now, how to we trap Ford?"

  "He won't be shy about telling you what he wants from you. The whole family is arrogant as hell." Asher grabbed her purse and dumped the contents on her desk. He eyed her as he opened the zipper pocket and pulled out the vial. "How have you been doing with this, anyway? Sweet stuff still takes the edge off?"

  "You know it does. Now put that shit away and stop going through my stuff, we're not together anymore and you know I don't lend out my lip gloss." She plucked a rose from the bouquet, stripped off the plastic, and stuck it in her mouth. Mmm. Strawberry. "I'm handling it. You were saying?"

  Asher picked up her phone. "Call me just before you go into the bar. I'll record the conversation. We can use it against them. Much as they want to make money off the team, they won't risk their reputation."

  "So should I tell them I've got them when I'm done? Or should I save it for when they come at me again?"

  "Tell them. If they know killing you won't keep them clean, you'll be safe."

  "So going there isn't safe?"

  "No, but neither is sniffing coke. You've never played it safe, Silver. Don't start now."

  Yeah, heaven forbid. She rolled her eyes and sucked hard on the lollipop. "I'll give you one thing, Asher. You know me."

  "So you'll do it?"

  "Yeah, I'll do it." She picked up the picture of Ford and Jami and frowned. Jami looked so happy. Finding out she was nothing but a pawn would hurt her so bad. But it had to be done. "I guess we keep this between us?"

  "Your dad doesn't know I got you shot, does he?" Asher rubbed his fingers over his eyes. "Fuck it, Dean is a better father than yours ever was. Do you really think he needs to know about the trouble his daughter's gotten herself in? If you do, then tell him, but I think this will get a lot more complicated than it needs to be."

  "Dean would freak. He wouldn't let me do this." Hopefully he'd forgive her if he ever found out. "Let's save the kid, and me, a big headache and get this over with."

  "That's exactly what I hope you'd say. The bar should be pretty empty now."

  Great. She grabbed her jacket from the back of the chair and pulled it on. No witnesses. Ford will like that.

  She'd be lucky if she got off with a canning if either Dean or Landon ever found out.

  But she'd take the pain if she made it out of there alive.

  * * * *

  Silver sucked hard on her rose lollypop and tongued the hard petals. Her heart throbbed in her ears as she stepped off the elevator and checked the main floor. All clear. She'd made it this far without anyone questioning where she was going. Her staff wouldn't, her leaving wasn't a big deal. She'd taken off for the road trip on a whim. Nobody took her seriously. Including her secretary who now had two weeks to find another job.

  No need to worry about that now. This didn't involve the team. Or it shouldn't anyway.

  Out on the sidewalk, she plucked the lollypop from her mouth and let out a sigh of relief. Then giggled. Sneaking out as a teen had been less nerve-wracking.

  Sneaker soles slapping pavement pulled her away from her internal fist-pump of success. She stopped and turned.

  A dark smile and a flash of very white teeth spelled out utter failure. Dominik jogged up to her side and put his hand on her shoulder. "What's your hurry?"

  Further down the sidewalk she saw Oriana and Max. Oriana gave her the big sister I-know-you're-up-to-something look before hooking her arm with Max's and heading to her favorite café.

  "I expect an answer, little sister." Dominik's tone made her shiver. He'd never used that tone on her, the one that made her want to kneel and apologize for even considering misbehaving.

  Thanks for siccing the scary one on me, sis. Clasping her small studded leather purse in her hands like a pathetic little shield, she gave him her most innocent smile. "Oh, I'm just running late for a meeting Asher set up—"

  Dominik frowned. "Asher?"

  Brilliant, Silver. She wrinkled her nose and shrugged. "We've worked out a professional relationship. He really is a good lawyer."

  "Perhaps. But why would you need a lawyer?" His hand left her shoulder and he folded his arms over his extremely wide chest. In that position, he looked like a damn enforcer. "Are you in some kind of trouble?"

  "I'm not in trouble."—yet—"I'm just . . . helping a friend."

  "I see. Is this friend in trouble with the law? Are you going to speak to the police?"

  "No! The cops really don't need to be involved." Shutupshutupshutup!

  "Ah. And what about Richter and Bower?" His brow arched. "Do they know that you're getting yourself involved?"

  "They will."

  "When?"

  "After."

  "I see." He rubbed his chin and glanced up at the forum. "You passed Richter's office and didn't think to mention it to him. I have a feeling you know he wouldn't approve of whatever it is you're doing."

  "He's busy." She ran her tongue over her teeth and sighed. "I swear I'll tell him—I'll tell them both. This is just something I need to do."

  "Something potentially dangerous, I gather?"

  "Umm . . . ."

  "Umm is not an answer. I can't allow you to put yourself in danger, Silver."

  Damn it. I am so going to get you for this, Oriana. She had to hurry, or she'd miss her meeting with Landon and that would definitely let him know something was up. Which left only one way out.

  "Come with me then." Actually, having him along was a damn good idea. Ford was less likely to try and intimidate her with someone like Dominik watching over her. Dean and Landon would be less pissed if they knew she'd been careful. A total win-win. "It shouldn't take long. And you are the enforcer."

  Dominik chuckled. "On the ice, little one."

  "Well consider this me adding to your duties. It's just a meeting, but if you're there you can assure my dear sister and everyone else that I was perfectly safe."

  "Very well." He put his hand on the small of her back and redirected her to his SUV. "But you will tell me exactly who your friend is and who we're dealing with on the way there."

  Her heels scraped the sidewalk as she tried to pull away. "I wanted to take my car."

  "I'm sure you did." Dominik unlocked the driver's side door. "Get in."

  * * * *

  The Office sat between a boarded up bakery, and a used boat lot, in a fairly rundown part of the older port district. The bar itself looked well kept enough, with clean whitewashed brick was and a large sign over the spotless reflective glass front, with the name in bold, black metallic print.

  Not the dingy, creepy joint she'd expected.

  A light laugh breezed out with her exhale as Dominik joined her on the sidewalk. "I can honestly tell Dean and Landon I was at 'The Office' this whole time."

  Dominik didn't seem to find that funny. He strode forward and held the door open for her. "Make it quick."

  Snapping her suit jacket straight by the hem, she walked past him and stepped into the bar. The hovering smoke cloud appeared to be a thinned version of the fog outside. Off to one side, plain high tables with black padded stools lined the wall. A lon
g, half oval counter in red polished wood took up the other side of the room. Two men leaned on the counter, one the pudgy guy that Dean had scared out of her office, the other a middle aged biker all darned up in leather.

  Behind the bar, Ford uncapped two bottles of Heineken. He laughed at something the biker said and scratched the center of his hairless, bare chest. The entrance to the bar stood wide open, giving her a clear view of the rest of him. Low riding jeans, showing off his trim waist and the sharp cut of his pelvis, accented by a metal studded belt. He wasn't that muscular, compared to, say, Landon, but it wasn't hard to see why Jami had been attracted to him. Something about his smile hinted an invitation for a reckless ride.

  Silver had been on a few of those. They'd lost their appeal along with the last fad of animal print.

  Her heels snicked loudly on the old wood floor as she approached the bar. She smacked her best bitch-on-a-mission expression on her face. "Hello, Ford."

  "Hey, Silver." Ford faced her and smirked. "I was wondering how long it would take before you stopped oogling me and remembered your manners."

  "Oogling?" She snorted indelicately. "Oh, I get it, you're one of those."

  Ford brought his beer to his slanted lips. "One of those?"

  She tossed her head and shrugged as she slid onto a stool at the end of the bar. "If a woman looks at you, she must want you." She batted her eyelashes. "If I'd met you a year ago, I'd have played with you for one night. You're not utterly revolting."

  "I guess it's a good thing we didn't meet last year." He held up his beer. "Thirsty?"

  "No. And I don't plan to be here long."

  "You're the kind of girl that's unbuckling a guy's belt before you get his name, aren't you?" He exchanged a look with the biker and chuckled before turning back to her. "All right, let's do this. How can I help you, princess?"

  Her eyes narrowed. "Don't call me, princess, you cocky stump dick."

  "Since my dick is officially off the table, how about we stay on track? Unless you want to start trading insults?" He took a swig. "You've been around. Shall we discuss your floppy pussy lips?"

  Lips parted, she stared at him. Oh you didn't just fucking go there. "I should slap you."

  He rolled his eyes and sighed. "You're boring me, Silver. I've heard a lot about you, but never that you were boring."

  "I'm not here to entertain you—"

  "You're here to entertain everyone. Are you getting to a point?"

  "Yes. I want to know why you're using Jami. If you want something from me, just say so."

  Nodding slowly, he took another swig. "What is it you think I want from you?"

  You're supposed to call Asher before you get him talking, dummy. Shoving her hand in her purse, she pressed send on her phone and snatched a stick of red licorice from an open mini-pack. After snapping her purse shut, she stuck the licorice in her mouth and chewed hard.

  "You tell me. I know dough boy there works for your family. And your family is invested in the team." She swallowed and dropped her gaze to the bar top. "Daddy says I have to keep the investors happy. I can't be doing a good job if you're going after the GM's daughter rather than coming directly to me. We don't need to play games."

  "I like playing games. I like playing them even more when I know the outcome." He gave her a shrewd look. "Are you hearing me?"

  She nibbled on her bottom lip, glanced towards Dominik—who stood by the door like a bodyguard—and leaned forward. "I'm new at this, so no, I don't think I'm hearing you. Are you talking about the Cobras?"

  "What else would I be talking about?"

  "But . . . ." She shook her head and made her eyes go wide with confusion. "All we can do is put together the best possible team. You probably know the sport better than I do? We've got a pretty good lineup . . . ."

  "Yes, but a good lineup isn't enough. You can't make money off games when everyone can guess the outcome. You make money when you know the outcome."

  "But how could anyone know the outcome?"

  "You're smarter than that, Silver. I'm sure you know the goalie last year was throwing games. The team was good enough to win several despite him, but they remained the underdog. Most people bet for the opposition." Ford eyed Dominik. "You have no idea how much money can be made when you bet against the odds—but aren't really betting against the odds."

  Her hand hovered over her mouth. "Is that even legal?"

  "Of course not. But neither is buying coke." Ford held up his beer in mock cheers. "I've done my homework too, sweetheart."

  "So you want me to . . . ." She shook her head. "What does Jami have to do with this?"

  "Nothing anymore. I don't need her." He straightened and rolled his shoulders. "She's more immature than I thought she was, and more trouble than she's worth. She broke up with me this morning."

  "Oh." Silver bit into her licorice and ground it to pulp between her teeth. "So . . . you thought I would . . . fix the games for you?"

  "As if you could. Your fuck friend is the goalie, he's too clean to go for it." Ford's hand shot out and he wrapped his fingers around her wrist. "He might do it for you though—"

  Dominik crossed the room and she looked up to see his eyes darkening to the color of wood freshly beaten by a storm. "Silver?"

  "I'm okay." She twisted free of Ford's grip and glared at him. "I won't ask Landon to throw games. They mean too much to him."

  Ford laid his forearms on the bar and lifted his shoulders in a careless shrug. "Well, I don't really need you either. But I won't share the profit unless you make this easier for me. Who else are you fucking? The GM's too uptight to work with. What about that new guy? Sebastian? He's a defenseman. He could be useful."

  Her throat locked. "I'm not fucking him."

  "And Scott? Actually, I considered approaching him myself. He seems the type."

  "I think Scott would surprise you."

  "Are you doing him? I'm sure it wouldn't take much for you to find out." Ford's lips twisted slightly. "And you came here with your sister's boyfriend. He could be useful."

  Dominik must have heard that, he was close enough. But he didn't say a word.

  "He came here to make sure you didn't try anything." She sat up and her chin jutted out. "And he's loyal to my sister."

  "But you trusted him enough to come here and discuss this with me?" Ford set down his beer and flattened his hands on the bar. "How do you know he won't say anything?"

  "He doesn't need to. You've said enough." Smiling sweetly, she picked up her purse. "The team needs your family's money, so I won't go to the cops. Unless I have to—"

  Ford grabbed the collar of her blouse. "You're not involving the cops."

  "I suggest." Dominik reached out and latched onto Ford's wrist. "You let her go right now."

  A click from the far end of the bar made Silver's heart skip a beat. She knew that sound. From the corner of her eye she could see the black metal gleam of the gun in the biker's hand. He motioned with it for Dominik to move away.

  Dominik snarled and fisted his hands at his sides. "She's got someone on the phone, listening to all this. I suggest you let her go before he calls the police."

  "Chill, Cort, they were just leaving." Ford released her and held up his hands. "The drama isn't necessary, but I must say, well played, Silver. I just hope you don't forget that you do need my family's money. Your daddy dumped everything he has into this team. You know that, right?"

  "I know that." Silver rubbed her throat and retreated to Dominik's side. "Just stay away from my family—and that includes Jami—and we'll be fine. Otherwise, I'll expose you and let the league cover the loses. I've got other ways to put this team back on track. We won't need you for long."

  "We'll see." Ford thrummed his fingers on the bar. "Maybe Kingsley Enterprises will tighten their purse strings a little, just to remind you how much you do need us. But either way, I wouldn't count on me leaving your family alone, princess."

  "If you touch Jami—"

  "Jami wil
l be fine. She was a good time, that's it. I don't threaten kids." He inclined his head towards Cort who still had his gun out. "But, as I said, you're leaving."

  Dominik latched onto her arm and dragged her towards the door. "Yes. We're leaving."

  Outside, Silver stumbled away from Dominik as the world did a lopsided spin and she almost pitched herself face first into the sidewalk. Dominik hauled her up and practically carried her to his car. After sitting her in the passenger seat, he dug his fingers into her shoulder.

  "You tell Dean—and Landon—today." His jaw went hard. "Or I will."

  "I'll tell them." She gasped and pressed her hands into her stomach. Shitshitshit. I am so fucking screwed.

  As Dominik drove, she stared out the window, her eyes burning with unshed tears. Landon and Dean could punish her all they wanted. It would change nothing.

  She'd royally fucked the team. And she had no idea how to fix this.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Landon pushed open the door to Silver's office, a broad smile on his lips, and her gift draped over his arm. One look at her blotchy face and his excitement drowned under concern. With long strides he cut across the room and pulled her up against him.

  "What happened?"

  "Just hug me for minute." She buried her face under his arm. "You're going to be too mad to hug me after I tell you."

  He stiffened, but stroked her back until she stopped shaking. "I'll never be too mad to hug you. Tell me what it is—it can't be any worse than signing Demyan."

  "Oh, it's worse."

  Fuck, why do I have a feeling you're not exaggerating? He put his hands on her shoulders and eased her back so he could look into her teary, bloodshot eyes. "How about you tell me and let me decide?"

  His whole body trembled with rage as she finished telling him what she'd done. Not at her—hell, he grabbed her and held her tight, sick with the idea that he could have lost her. His rage was at that man, Ford, who'd been stupid enough to threaten her. If that bastard was here right now, Landon would rip his head off and beat his body to a bloody pulp.

  Burying his hands into Silver's hair, he tugged her head back and kissed her forehead. "I'm proud of you for bringing Dominik. This could have turned out so much worse if you'd gone alone. Who knows what that son-of-a-bitch would have—" Fear clogged up his throat and cut off his words. He inhaled and kissed her cheeks, her eyes, then groaned into her mouth. "Don't ever do anything like that again. I know your heart was in the right place, but you risking yourself like that is inexcusable."