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I gasp. “Fuck you, Declan. That’s low, even for you. This baby is innocent and has nothing to do with this. You’re nothing to me. Now go fuck off, before I do something I’ll regret.”

“But I can take care of both of you. I’ll take full responsibility. Isn’t that what you always wanted? For us to build a family?”

“A family?” An ugly laugh escapes me. “You had a vasectomy four years ago. You told me you’d reverse it when we were ready. We were never going to be ready.”

I shake my head. “You don’t want a family, Declan. You want a pregnant wife as a shield when the commissioner reads her report. That’s what I was for five years, wasn’t it? The wife in the photos. The reason nobody looked twice at you around those girls.”

My voice shakes, and I let it. “You’re a toxic, abusive, manipulative asshole, and I don’t want you anywhere near me or my child. Ever.”

He looks hurt, and I almost feel sorry for him. Almost. But then I remember what he’s done. He deserves worse.

“You’re going to end up alone and miserable. And everyone will hate you. You’re going to realize you had the best thing in your life, and you threw it away. You’re going to regret this,” he says.

“I highly doubt that.”

“This isn’t over.”

“It is for me,” I tell him. “Now get off my fucking car.”

He clenches his fists, and for a second, I think he’s going to hit me. But then he lets out a breath and walks away. I watch him go. I feel relief that he’s gone, and rage that he had the nerve to come here, to try to manipulate me again. He’s unbelievable.

I get in my car and take a breath. My hands are shaking on the steering wheel. The baby kicks, hard, right under my ribs, like somebody in there has opinions too.

Declan’s right. This isn’t over and it won’t be over until he’s behind bars, if Kayla’s notebook can even put him there.

If I thought I could sit back and let the investigation do the work, I know better now.

This is a war. There will be casualties. I just have to make sure none of them are mine.

CHAPTER 27 – Valentina

Sunday, November 16

Iwake up to the sound of rain against the hotel window, a gentle patter that’s soothing, but means we will get soaked playing today.

It’s a game day, so we don’t have an extra training session, but that doesn’t mean I want to be lazy and spend the day in bed. I need to move around, get my blood pumping.

I look at Lexa, who’s still sleeping. She’s so fucking perfect. I want to kiss and touch her. But I resist, I don’t want to be selfish.

I can’t distract her from her focus. She’s the best player in the league, and she needs to be ready for the match. She also needs her rest, especially after last night.

I smile, remembering what we did. We can’t keep our hands off of each other. With her, it’s always so hot and so damn wild. It’s like we’re addicted to each other’s bodies.

I’m careful not to wake her as I get out of bed and grab my phone from the nightstand. It’s barely light out, but I have a text from Raul.

Buenos días, hermanita. Coffee?

I smile. Sure. Where?

The lobby has a decent café. I’ll wait for you there.

I check the weather. It’s going to be a wet and windy day. The match against the Blackfriars is going to be tough, especially in these conditions.

But we’re not afraid. We’re the Breakers. We thrive on challenges.

And besides, Blackfriars haven’t been doing too well this season. They’re in twelfth place, which I only know because it’s one above the Gators.

A pang of guilt hits me when I think about the Gators. Once I was their star, their hope. Now that I’ve left, they’re struggling.