Page 6 of Ruthless Deliverance

“My shoulder is fine.” At least it will be by the game. It has to be. The opener sets the tone for the season. My last season to prove myself and do what my father did—bring the school his grandpa built the championship title.

“Creed, there’s nothing wrong with acknowledging if it’s still bothering you. The injury was a brutal one. There’s no shame in admitting it’s still affecting your game or taking you out of it. There’s no point in risking doing permanent damage.”

The permanent damage is done. Inside and out. “My shoulder is good. I’m good. Do your job and coach the team, not stand here and coddle me.”

“Fine, shithead. Bench. Maybe talk the other shithead into taking a few days off before he forges a note from his doctor.” Coach steps away before I have a chance to get in his face and demand to be back on the field for practice.

I could still do that. He’d put me back in, knowing at the end of the day he has to do as I say. They all do. But today, I don’t feel like fighting. And that makes me feel weaker than when my shoulder snapped.

Dropping onto the bench, I watch as my teammates run a play with the backup quarterback who doesn’t see much action. The backup QBs never do. Even last year, when I was a junior, the backup was a senior and bitched the entire time because I was starting. Nothing has changed. Injured or not, in pain or not, I’m playing. I feel weak and pathetic enough without giving up my rightful position.

“What the fuck, man? You’re supposed to have my back. Why didn’t you tell him to let me play?” Beau’s whining hits a nerve worse than my throbbing shoulder.

“Get your own shit sorted out.”

“My shit? How about you, standing there and letting that bitch humiliate me in front of everyone, only to instruct Cabot to keep her around. And what for? You just wanna watch her, like a pathetic pussy.”

Slowly turning to him, I take inventory of the damage again. “You sure I’m the pathetic pussy? Because you sure don’t look too tough right now.”

“I didn’t know the crazy cunt would actually swing on me.”

“Now you know. And don’t make me tell you again. She belongs to me.”

He chuckles, closing his eyes as his head drops back. “Good luck. No one will get through to that psychotic wench.”

“I will.” I have to. She’d captured my attention first thing this morning, but when she broke Beau’s nose with zero hesitation, I knew I’d go to any length to have her. She didn’t answer my question if some asshole thinks he has a chance with her. Not that it would make a difference; it may involve a few more broken noses, though. My gut says she’ll swing at me before anyone else takes a hit.

The challenge. That’s what I want. I want to feel her strength because the moment she fought back was the first time I’ve felt like I could experience anything other than agony.

“Yeah. Well, block your face. It hurt like a motherfucker when doc had to reset the bone.” His hand reaches up, barely touching his nose before he looks to me. “Do you have any pain killers left? The supply they gave me at the hospital will be gone in a few days.”

“Because you eat that shit like it’s candy.”

His mangled face looks to me with a grin. “It is. The best candy around. And I feel a sweet tooth coming on.”

“I’m sure you do.” Shoving off the bench, I put my helmet back on and head on the field. I tell the backup bitch to sit down before the play is done. The line resets with me in place, the rightful leader of this team. Once the ball snaps, my fingers grip the pigskin tightly as I shuffle back, searching down the field to find Marco unguarded. It’s a clean pass. I could easily beam it to the wide receiver. But he’s not the one who should be on the other end of the pass. Defense is upping the pressure as they close in. Tucking the ball securely against my chest, I maneuver down the field before sliding across the first down line to pick up the yardage. I’m still on the field. I’m still in control of the ball. So why the fuck do I want out of the game?

6

DANI

This is my first time working undercover, so I’d expected it would be the worst. It has to only go up from here, right? I mean, it should be my off time, but what am I doing? Fucking homework. I made decent grades going through high school the first time, but once was more than enough. I loathe working on calculus in my newly assigned bedroom in a home I’ll be sharing with Philip for God knows how long. Yep. Worst assignment ever. And I’m not talking about the math problems.

It’s well into the evening by the time I hear Philip shout my name from downstairs. Great. Within seconds, my bedroom door swings open, and the asshole steps into the room. “The first goddamn day, Danica.”

I stand from the desk, folding my arms across my chest. Sharing a house with him is uncomfortable enough but having him stand in the space that’s supposed to be solely mine feels too invasive. “We agreed that you’d stay the hell out of my bedroom, and I’d extend the same courtesy to you.”

“I don’t give a shit about your little girlie domain issues right now. You’re gonna blow this entire sting because you can’t control your fucking temper.”

“Yeah? And you’re the model of control and levelheadedness, are you?”

He takes a step back, rubbing a hand over his reddened face as he shakes his head. “You broke some kid’s nose, Danica, and it’s only day one.”

“He’s lucky that’s all I did after he put his hand up my skirt. Besides, I gave him the opportunity to change the course of the situation, but he insisted I teach him the hard way.”

“He insisted on you breaking his nose?” Philip asks, his arms dropping by his sides. At least he looks defeated and not fuming anymore because the sooner he leaves this room the better for the both of us.

“Yep. Pretty much. He had fair warning but made the wrong decision, so he suffered the consequences of said decision.”