So as I look at Mr. Sinclair, I say the only thing that comes to mind.

“You don’t deserve them, and they will be so much better off without you.”

And then I leave, ignoring the names and the threats he’s throwing my way because Mark Sinclair can’t hurt me. He doesn’t have that power over me, and the people he does have that power over deserve to know he is a piece of shit.

The only problem is I’m the one who has to tell them.

Claire: Where are u?

I smile because I was just about to text her. After kicking ass in Chattanooga, the guys and I decided to go to the Gilroy to hang out and wind down before heading to bed.

Me: I was about to text u; wanna go to the Gilroy? I’m on my way there.

Claire: I’ll meet you there.

Awesome. I’m more than pleased that she’s coming out. Ever since I left her earlier, she has clouded my thoughts and clogged all my senses. That is until a huge defenseman knocked me on my ass and then I woke up, remembering that I had a game to win. And that’s what I did. We dominated, and really, it isn’t fair how we basically murdered those boys. I mean, eight to zero is a little intense. I’m happy though, a win is a win, and we need it for the championship.

“Claire coming out?” Jayden asks as we pull into the parking lot of the Gilroy.

“Yeah,” I answer, tucking my phone in my pocket as he stops. Getting out of the car, I look around to see if I see her, but I don’t, so we head toward the door. Before I can reach it though, Jayden’s phone rings.

“It’s Dad,” he says, his face scrunched together. “It’s almost one in the morning. Why would he be calling me?”

“I don’t know. Answer it,” I say and he does.

Watching him, I listen since I can only hear his side of the conversation. “Hey, I’m sure she is. Lucy left before the bus pulled out. Maybe her phone is dead? Did you call Lucy? Yeah, I don’t know.”

When a hand slides into mine, I look over to find Claire, and I’m a little taken aback by what I see; she has more makeup on than I’ve ever seen on her before.

With my brow up, I say, “Hey.”

I then lean over, kissing the side of her mouth since her lips are so red, I’m sure it will stain my mouth. I usually don’t mind, but that stuff looks as if I’ll need Clorox to get it off.

“Hey, I need to talk to you,” she says, her eyes wide and her breathing labored.

Before I can answer, I hear Jayden says, “Yeah, she’s with him. Why?”

Look back at Jayden, I make a face and he shrugs. Glancing back at Claire, I say, “Hold on, Jayden’s on the phone with my dad.”

“Um, okay,” she says just as Jayden hangs up.

“Yeah, I don’t know what the hell his problem is.”

“What did he say?” I ask.

“He asked if Mom was home, and I said I’m sure she is, but he’s bitching, saying she isn’t answering her phone. He went on a tirade about that and then he asked about Claire,” he says, looking over at her, pointing his phone at her. “So weird.”

“That is weird.”

“Yeah, he’s on his way home, said he’ll be there in a minute.”

“I thought he was in New York?”

“Yeah, I don’t know. I’m gonna text Lucy and let her know he’s on another level and also check in, make sure they’re good.”

I nod. “Sounds good. He’s an idiot,” I say, shaking my head. “Oh well, I’ll meet you inside.”

“Okay. Hey, Claire,” he says, and Claire smiles as she waves.

“Hey, Jayden,” she says and then he heads inside, saying that he’ll get me a beer.

“Can we go by my car? I don’t want people hearing us,” she says, but before I can agree or disagree, she heads toward her car and I follow. Something inside my stomach clenches because something isn’t right. I don’t know why I feel that way, but I do. She doesn’t ever just walk away from me; she takes my hand or leans against me. Something is wrong and soon the hairs on my arms are standing at attention.

When we reach her car, she turns and I ask, “Why are you wearing so much makeup?”

She waves me off. “I just left the club. Remember the investors?”

“You wear that much makeup to meet some investors? It’s caked on.”

“I know. Just let it go okay? I need to tell you something,” she says, flustered. “One of the investors was your dad.”

My lip curls up. “Huh?”

“One of the investors planning to open a new burlesque club in New York was your dad,” she says and something isn’t clicking right.

“My dad is a lawyer for hockey players,” I say. “Are you sure it was my dad?”

She nods. “Yeah, he threatened me,” she says cautiously.

Shocked, I ask, “He did what?”

“Yeah, but it gets worse,” she says, looking everywhere but at me.

“How?” I ask and somehow I think I know what is about to come out of her mouth.

“After I turned down his deal, I went to get my purse and he walked up with one of the dancers from the club. She informed me that he was her boyfriend. Then he sent her to go to the car, and when she was gone, he tried to buy me off so that I wouldn’t tell you guys. When I said hell no, he threatened me but he never got his hands on me because the bodyguard stopped him.”

I must not be processing what she’s saying, but I know it’s the truth. I’ve always thought my dad was fucking around on my mom. He’s always such an ass to her and always gone and shit. For some reason though, my heart aches. It must be because my mom is going to be completely broken. She loves my dad for some fucked-up reason, and this isn’t going to go well. Taking in a slow breath, I clench my hand into a fist, my nails biting into my palm as I let out the breath in a whoosh.

“Wow, I need to call my mom,” I say almost like I’m in a trance.

“I’m sorry,” she says, and I shake my head.

“It’s not your fault,” I answer, reaching for my phone in my pocket. When I hit the screen, I see that I have four text messages and five missed calls from Jace.

“Shit. Jace has been calling and texting me.”

“I didn’t hear your phone ring,” she says and I nod.