Page 96 of The Player's Club

“That’s not an excuse.”

“No, but it’s not worth killing me either.” He wiped his mouth. “If I would’ve known you’d go berserk, I wouldn’t have come here. Elodie never mentioned that little detail that you’re fucking crazy.”

I froze. “Elodie?”

“Yeah. She’s my coworker. We work for the same paper. I was given you as my assignment when she dropped the ball.”

Darren. That was the name Elodie had given me. “You’ve been watching me?” I asked.

“Obviously.” Darren inspected his broken camera. “You didn’t have to fucking break my camera,” he mumbled.

“Did Elodie tell you about the club?”

Darren looked up. “What? No. She told me that was a dead end. She was wrong, of course. I knew she was wrong or just straight-up lying.” Darren kept fiddling with his camera, which prompted me to take it back from him.

“Focus,” I growled. “What all did Elodie tell you? About me?”

Darren stared. “Nothing. Why? Does it matter?”

“Yeah, it fucking matters.”

“All I know is that she got offered a big check to write a story about you.”

“Did she accept it?” I demanded, my heart pounding.

“Dunno.” Darren picked up the rest of his camera gear. “Uh, I need to go. I’d rather you not decide to kill me after all.”

I almost admired his sass even as I wanted to punch him again. “Get out of here before I have you arrested. No, wait. I’ll escort you myself.”

“Oh, goody,” Darren retorted.

Once I finally got rid of him, I went inside. I collapsed onto my couch, the adrenaline of the past hour making my stomach roil.

Had Elodie taken the money that Darren had mentioned? I knew she was tight on cash. If she had taken it, I almost couldn’t blame her.

Almost being the operative word.

I sat up, groaning. What the fuck was I going to do? My secrets were out. Everything was out in the public to consume, judge, and comment on. What did this mean for the team? And for my career? And what would my parents say?

I picked up a bottle I’d left on my coffee table and threw it at the wall. It smashed, glass scattering everywhere. But the satisfaction was short-lived.

What the fuck am I going to do now?

ELODIE

I was a basket case when I saw the news about Mac. I’d been at the office, and Darren had come in to my cubicle with a strange expression.

“What is it?” I’d asked, instantly worried. I also couldn’t help but notice his face was bruised.

Darren grimaced. “Here. I thought you should know before it’s published.” He handed me his tablet, and I stared down at the screen, unable to comprehend what I was reading.

Hockey star is a BDSM enthusiast? Blades player Cole Mackenzie apparently loves whips, chains, and sex clubs.

I felt sick. I just looked up at Darren with wide eyes. “How . . .?”

“I did my job,” he said, surprisingly gently. “I knew that office building had more to it. I’m sorry, Elodie. But it was surprisingly easy to get people to talk.”

“You bribed them.”