Page 52 of Pucking Them
Cody sends us both a censorious glance. “How about no humor in the middle of the night, and I just take my patient outside to check this hip.”
When Cody stands, however, Dad slams his palm on the top of the table.
I hate that Cody flinches, barely stopping himself from taking a step back.
Just like he’s expecting to be hit.
“What in the hell do you think you’re doing?” Dad demands. “This is the type of challenging behavior that I have had to warn you about. You’re not my son when we’re at work. You storm into this meeting, demanding to check on players like you’re a doctor and not only a physio. You issue orders rather than obeying them. Do you think that you should receive special treatment? Just one more warning, and you’ll be fired. What will happen to your career then, huh?”
Chills run down my spine.
This is how Dad used to talk to Cody.
He would call himchallenging,disobedient, andbad.
Yet Cody was never any of that.
I was away from Freedom, however, living with Wilder for years.
Did Dad in fact never stop talking to my brother like this?
Cody is frozen. He’s become ashen.
“Don’t threaten your own fucking son,” I hiss.
Instantly, Shay stands next to Cody. Their shoulders are touching.
D’Angelo walks to tower over me. His presence gives me strength, even though I am shaking.
Despite the other men’s power, it strikes me that Dad is the king in this room.
He could destroy the careers of every single one of us…our entire lives.
We must win this season.
It’s the only way that we’ll be able to turn the tables on Dad and escape his toxic hold.
My heart is breaking because he’s still my dad. I hoped that he’d realize how amazing his son is and accept Cody. But how many chances can Cody give him?
How many opportunities must he give Dad to hurt him?
I know that Cody hasn’t told me everything Dad did when he was only a kid, and that kills me inside, but I won’t stand by now that he is an adult.
Slowly, Dad looks around at us. “What is this?”
No one speaks.
I fight to keep my expression blank.
Dad isn’t used to us standing up against him. In fact, he hasn’t been in the position for anyone to be able to stand up to him for a long time.
Anyone having too much money, influence, or power is a bad fucking thing.
Dad huffs out a bitter laugh. “Are you all kidding me right now? I’m your dad. Your coach.Your boss.You fuck up, then youact out, trying to turn things on me…? Take the beating. Accept the punishment. After that shit performance on the ice, you deserve it. And my son knows that he should act professional at work. He’s been warned before. I’m only expecting the same that I would from anyone else. Robyn, I’m disappointed in you.” I try not to show how much those words hurt, only they do. D’Angelo’s eyes gleam with rage. “Who is meant to be managing the press? You or me? Don’t project your bullshit failures onto me.”
I redden, thinking of the disastrous press and social media, not to mention the death threats, since our polyamorous relationship went public.
Is he right?
