“Alek!” a jovial voice said over the line as Alek put it on speaker.AD Hall. What the fuck?“To what do I owe this pleasure after midnight on a weekend?”
“I’m resigning,” Alek said. “Effective immediately.”
The fuck he was. I stood, despite the protest in my ribs, and strode toward him, only for him to hold up a hand, his eyes colder than I’d seen them before.
Tristan’s eyes were wide, but he said nothing.
Eva paled and shook her head, her lips forming the wordnowithout sound. She reached for him then stopped halfway there, trembling.
“Alek, are you okay?” AD Hall asked carefully.
“I’m fine. This has been a long time coming.”
“Whatever’s happening, I’m sure we can work it out. Youcan take a leave of absence, switch up your staff, a raise! Tell me what you need in order to be able to stay.”
Alek took a deep breath, and Eva reached out to hold his hand and squeeze, as if to offer him comfort.
He smiled down at her, and his expression was so fucking tender, my chest ached with affection for the both of them.
“Soon,” Alek continued, “a news story is going to break about me and some of my students.” He swallows hard. “It’s all true.”
“Alek, what are you talking about?”
He was giving up everything for this—for us, for Eva. “It’s been an honor to be part of your athletic program,” he said, his voice rough.
A tear streaked down Eva’s face. She was still holding his hand, squeezing so hard, her knuckles were white.
“I’ll stop by tomorrow to take care of any paperwork, but I won’t be joining the team again,” he said.
“You’re abandoning those boys in the middle of the season. They have a game tomorrow!”
“When the news breaks, you’ll be glad I didn’t get in front of a camera one last time,” he said.
“Alek!”
He hung up.
The silence in the apartment was deafening. He’d just ended his career.
“Alek,” Eva breathed. “Sir. Why?”
He looked out the window, but his expression was clear. “This was the only way, baby girl. It takes away Carter’s leverage, it protects you, and most of all—” He reached down to lift her to her feet. “It’s the only way to remove the power differential between me and you—between me andall of you.” He finally looked at Tristan and Cole, a flash of vulnerability in his eyes.
Tristan surged to his feet and joined Alek, dragging me with him on the way, until we stood in a circle, the tops of our heads bent down—except for Eva, who looked up at us with a thousand emotions swirling in her eyes.
“We’ll destroy him,” Eva said, hope coloring her voice. “Make it so he can’t hurt anyone ever again.”
Alek’s smile was crooked. “That’s right, baby girl.”
“What do the bratva want in exchange for helping us?” Tristan asked.
“Control of the betting operation once Carter’s gone. Probably a cut of the legitimate businesses too. And—” Alek paused. “They won’t help someone who refuses to help the brotherhood in return.”
“And now that you’ve quit coaching, that’s it? You go back?” Eva asked.
“I’ve already gone back,” he answered softly, and Tristan’s eyes flicked down to his knuckles. Eva gasped when she made the connection, and fuck, I didn’t think my heart could break anymore.
“So we have a plan,” Tristan said. “Eva stalls. Cole gathers evidence. Alek brings in the bratva. And I—” He swallowed.