Chapter 28: Chapter 28

KATE

It was early in the morning. Piper and I stood lazily around the kitchen, making coffee and wishing we had food in front of us.

“You know,” I began. “Tyler cooks for me. He’s actually pretty good.”

Piper’s eyes lit up. “For real? You snagged the hottest guy in the city, and he cooks you food?” She playfully fanned herself. “My inner fat kid is so jealous.”

“Speaking of hot men, are you going to tell me where you keep running off to lately?” I asked, wiggling my eyebrows at her.

“Nope.” She smiled, then poured us both a cup of coffee. “Have you decided which car you’re ordering for the team?” she asked. “We have to place that rushed order today if we want the cars ready for tonight.”

I shrugged, still unsure which vehicle I wanted. “Let’s go look around once we’re dressed.”

Piper jumped up on the counter. “I made the arrangements with the restaurant last week and double-checked with them today. We’re all set for tonight,” she assured.

She looked toward the butler’s pantry next to the kitchen, and a mischievous smile appeared on her face. “Can we go look inside the secret wine cellar?”

I picked up my coffee cup and waved to her behind me. The remote sat on the counter. I clicked the button and waited for the doors to slide open. Piper giggled as we lowered into the wine cellar.

The doors opened again, and we stepped out. She ran her fingers along all the bottles that were within reach. The lights were dim but emitted a soft glow that filled the cellar.

Piper walked to the back, while I rummaged around and searched for a bottle of liquor that I could take to Tyler’s later that evening. I came across a nice Bourbon and decided that would do.

The sound of scraping metal had me jerk my head up in surprise. “Pipe,” I called out. “You okay?”

“Kate, come here.”

I found my way to Piper who was holding a few bottles of sweet red, her favorite. She stared beyond the bottles at a pistol sitting atop a white piece of paper.

“It’s just a gun, Pipe. Dad has a gun safe upstairs,” I said, laughing a little.

“I know what it is. This paper though…” She lifted the folded piece of paper and handed it to me.

~Kitty-Kate, my love~

It was in my dad’s handwriting and was addressed to me in the nickname Dad and Julian had for me, the one they’d given me when I was only three years of age.

“Let’s sit, babe,” Piper whispered and ushered me to the high-back chairs in the wine cellar.

I took a seat, my hands trembling as I held the precious piece of paper. A tear slipped from my eye as I carefully unfolded it.

I’d seen my dad’s handwriting plenty of times since he had passed away, but always on business documents, nothing with a personal touch. Taking a deep breath, I began to read.

~Kate,~

~If you’re reading this, it means I’m not physically with you anymore. I’ve been having some health issues, and I never wanted to worry you. But I’m always here, baby.~

~Every time the wind blows your hair, every time the sun shines down on your sweet face, I’m here. You’re the strongest person I know, you get that from me!~

~However, I hope I didn’t burden you by leaving you with all my business dealings. I trust you to take care of everything, and I know you can do it.~

~I’m sorry about Nicolette. I only want her to be the best she can be. She can and will learn from you. Try to be patient with her. As for your mother, she will come after what I’ve left you. But she will never win if you always stay strong.~

~My vehicle warehouse is all yours. Promise me you won’t give any of those cars up. One day you may have a son who will fall in love with those cars just as I have.~

~My absolute favorite is in the far left-hand corner. It’s one of my prized possessions. Go see it when you can; you’d love it, baby.~

~As I write this, I’m thinking about where to hide this note for you. I’ve decided on the wine cellar. It’ll be placed behind your favorite sweet wines you love so much.~

~I’m chuckling to myself, and you’re probably rolling your eyes right now.~

I was, in fact, rolling my eyes.

~Out of everything I’ve ever taught you, there’s only one thing I forgot; and it’s by far the most important thing of all. Fall in love, Kate.~

~Don’t be too caught up in work. Don’t be too busy or too tired. Let yourself be taken care of and take care of your future spouse in return. You’ll know when you find the one, people always do.~

~Don’t let him slip away. I know how stubborn you are; you’re the exact same person as me. Be free, baby girl. Love him like it’s your last day. Bless me with grandchildren to look down on and protect.~

~Learn from my mistakes. Enjoy your life. It’s too short. Love like never before, smile every day, dance around the house. Just be happy, my love. That’s all I could ever want for you.~

~I love you, Kitty-Kate, more than you could ever know. Dad.~

“Oh honey,” Piper said, walking over to me as I held the paper against my chest and let out an ugly cry.

“Read it, Pipe.”

She hesitantly took the letter from me, and a few minutes later, she was ugly crying with me. Piper walked away to grab one of those red wines my dad spoke of.

“It’s five o’clock somewhere.” She smiled and opened the bottle for us. Filling two crystal wine glasses to the brim, we toasted to the wonderful man that was my father.

Two hours later, we arrived at my dad’s warehouse. I wanted to go see his favorite car. I’d never known which one it was before.

We rushed straight to the left-hand corner at the back and uncovered a beautiful plum-colored Dodge Challenger. It was a 1969 version. Piper and I climbed in, laughing and enjoying the beautiful white leather seats.

“Wow,” she said. “This thing is gorgeous.”

“You’re telling me.”

We scanned every inch of that car until my eyes landed on the driver’s headrest. A picture of a cat, not a little house cat but more like a panther, was carved into the headrest.

Underneath, it read “Kitty-Kate” in small writing. Piper turned to her headrest. It had the same picture but with the inscription, “Nicolette.”

A few more tears threatened to brim our eyes, but we pulled them together.

“Holy shit, Pipe!” I yelled, scaring my best friend. “This is the car.”

She thought I was crazy. “What’re you talking about?”

“The car for my players,” I said. “Oh my God. They make the new Challengers in the Hellcat edition now. They’re crazy fast, and I’d overheard some of the guys talking about it before one of the games a couple weeks ago.”

We went straight to the dealership, and I paid quite the extra convenience fee to ensure that twenty-two of those vehicles would be lined up perfectly inside my dad’s warehouse by eight o’clock that night.

I wanted the cars in a few different colors for the guys to choose from. It was the perfect thank-you gift for my players.

All the guys seemed unbelievably happy with their “bonus.” Of course, they could afford the car on their own, but I thought everyone having the same one would show my gratitude and a united front.

We were in this together. They protected me, and I protected them. We were a family, not just a team.

“Richard would be very proud of you, Kate,” Uncle John said, draping an arm around my chilly shoulder.

The air had cooled down slightly as it was later in the evening. However, I couldn’t miss that opportunity to wear shorts and a tank top, now that the temperatures were finally rising.

“Thank you.” I hugged him tight, then we made our way through the warehouse. We walked around, and I showed my uncles and sister the old Challenger that had inspired the idea.

Nicolette squeezed me tight and cried a little seeing her name inscribed on the passenger headrest. We shared a moment of bonding together before we continued walking around.

A light flicked on in a room on the other side of the building. We rushed over there only to find Kevin standing inside, looking through the papers on a desk.

“What the fuck are you doing?” I asked, angrier than I intended.

“Kate, Kate, Kate,” he replied. “Such ugly words from such a beautiful mouth.”

~Did he really just say that?~

“Kevin enough,” Uncle Fred yelled. “Don’t speak to her like that.”

“What’s wrong, Dad?” Kevin continued. “Afraid precious Kate will have her feelings hurt?”

My breathing turned ragged, my fists involuntarily clenching at my sides. Nicolette clung to me like a scared child. She never dealt well with confrontation.

I didn’t either, but something inside me flared up upon hearing Kevin’s spiteful words.

“Get out of here before you cause a problem,” Uncle John commanded.

Kevin stood his ground, just staring his father and uncle down. His blue eyes drifted to meet mine, and an ugly smile crept on his face.

His eyes stayed glued to me as he reached down and continued sifting through whatever papers my father had left on his desk in that warehouse.

I gulped, unsure about what to do next. I wasn’t scary, I knew that, but I had to say something to assert my authority. Uncle Fred approached Kevin, grabbing his arm and trying to move him.

His feet refused to leave the ground. Both of my uncles started cursing at him loudly to get out of the room.

“Get your hands off of my father’s things,” I cried out.

Inch by inch, I made my way closer to his annoying body. I felt sick as he looked me up and down—my own cousin.

“I could put my hands on you instead. Would you like that?” he retorted.

I near about gagged at his words. “You disgusting pig,” I bit out. “You’ve been trying to get a rise out of me since the moment I came aboard. You sicken me, you piece of—”

My sentence broke off as Kevin lifted an arm and backhand slapped me across the face. I stumbled backward but didn’t fall. My adrenaline pumped; I was ready to tackle him onto the floor. I never got the chance though.

Three large bodies threw him to the ground, and then my uncles jumped into the mix. Nicolette’s hands were covering her mouth as she stared at me while the commotion continued.

I rushed over to my sister, choosing to ignore the fighting men on the ground. I didn’t care what happened to Kevin at the moment. I knew my uncles would prevent it from going ~too~ far.

“He hit you…” Nicolette’s voice trailed off.

“Nic, I’m fine. Just breathe.”

She brushed her fingers across my cheek. “You’re bleeding. It’s that stupid class ring of his.”

A minute later, the men turned quiet behind us. I turned to look. Kevin’s face was bloody and bruised, but his smile never left his face. His father gripped his arm hard, dragging him out of the room.

By the look on Uncle Fred’s face, I wondered if he too had hit his own son.

Uncle John rushed over to me, staring at my face. “Jesus,” he said. “Are you okay, Kate?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Go help Uncle Fred, please. Don’t make him deal with Kevin alone.”

My uncle nodded and ran to catch up with his brother. I then faced the three men who had barreled into the room to protect me. Tyler, Jaromir, and Mathieu.

Tyler rushed toward me, stopping an inch from my face. His hand held my jaw in place as his thumb wiped the dripping blood from my cheekbone.

He wanted to kiss me; I could feel it. I think the whole room felt it. But with the other two players standing there, he managed to hold himself back. But boy, did I want his lips on mine.

Nothing could have comforted me more. Instead, he wrapped me up in his arms and hugged me, not letting go for a solid five minutes.

I didn’t want to cry. Kevin didn’t deserve that, and I didn’t need these men seeing me as weak. But suddenly, my head throbbed with exhaustion.

I cried, my face still buried in the crook of my boyfriend’s neck. He held me, our audience staying silent. I managed to pull away from him shortly after.

Nicolette stood smiling, holding a very small, probably outdated, first-aid kit. “This might help. I don’t want your gorgeous face to scar,” she said, lightening the conversation.

The thought was very sweet, yet I had little faith that my sister even knew how to unwrap a band-aid. I thanked her, holding my hand out for the small box.

“Is it okay if I go speak to your uncles, Kate?” Tyler asked. “And probably answer some questions from the twenty guys lined up outside the door.”

He pointed to the rest of the players staring inside at us. I smiled and waved at them, then nodded to Tyler. He winked at me when no one else was looking.

“You were so smart to look for a first-aid kit,” Mathieu complimented Nicolette. She blushed, and I had to stifle a laugh again. Those two kids were going to be trouble.

As they flirted with each other, Jaromir knelt in front of me and ripped open a packet.

“This might sting,” he spoke calmly before dabbing it on my cheek. “The cut is a little deeper than I expected, but it’s not horrible.”

“Thank you, Jaromir, but you don’t have to do this. I promise I’m fine.”

“Nonsense.” He waved a hand at me. We remained quiet as he finished cleaning my face. “You know,” he began. “Carls seemed ~really~ worried about you.”

~Carls… Carlson… Shit, he is referring to Tyler.~

“I’d say you were a little worried too, big guy,” I joked even though my body tensed up visibly.

“Of course, I was. I worry as a…~friend~.”

I ran a hand through my hair, then squared my shoulders showing my confidence. “I’m sure Tyler’s worry is completely friendly as well.”

Jaromir laughed, and I shifted my weight from one foot to another. He turned toward the door, looking out at the faces peering at us eagerly.

“You’re right. He looks the same as the others right now,” Jaromir said and left the room.

His comment was facetious. While the all-supporting Blades players were watching me through the windows, Tyler’s head was facing away, leaned against the glass.

He was continuously raking a hand through his hair, his heavy breathing noticeable from a mile away. His triceps were fully flexed, and his hands were balled into fists by his sides.

I had no doubt in my mind he wanted to kill Kevin. He must have thought my family was insane. Tyler had by then witnessed my facial injuries inflicted by two of my family members—two.

Nicolette and Mathieu noticed me sitting by myself for the first time. Seeing me laugh, their concern grew. “Kate?” my sister whispered.

“Fucking twice,” I said through the laughter. “Twice. First Mom, now Kevin.” I touched my face lightly. “At least it isn’t the same side of my face.”

She felt sorry for me, but soon, she wasn’t able to stop laughing herself. We held each other in a tight embrace for what felt like an hour.

By the time I was able to clear all the Blades players out of the warehouse, it was midnight. They drove off in their beautiful Hellcats. I even whistled as they drove away.

I convinced my uncles to leave the police out of the matter, but they did decide to fire Kevin as the general manager. He had never signed a contract, being family. But even if he had, there was always a loophole.

Kevin didn’t have it in him to speak anymore, but he did manage to flip the bird at me a few times.

Uncle Fred felt the worst, having raised such a horrible person. But it wasn’t really his fault though. People choose their own paths.

My sister and I stayed behind after everyone left, closing up the warehouse in private. “I still can’t believe he did that,” she said.

“Do you remember those movies we watched as kids where all this crazy stuff happened to the high-profile business people? We always said it was too ridiculous to be true.”

She giggled. “In a way, I’m glad Dad left everything to you. Not because I want you dealing with this on your own, but because I wouldn’t be able to handle matters like you. You’re so strong and composed, and I’m not.”

I wrapped my arm around her shoulders. “On some days, it’s all an act. I learned a lot from Dad, but I’m still a girl in her twenties.” I lowered my voice, even though no one was around. “And in love with someone I shouldn’t be.”

“Yeah right,” she exclaimed. “First off, if Dad let you date anyone, you know his first choice would be a hockey player. Second, who says you shouldn’t be?

“Piper and I did some research. Technically, it’s allowed. It has never exactly been an issue before; therefore, no rule against it or anything has ever been put in place.

“Yes, it would raise questions and you’d both be tortured, but you are already anyway. The media thinks you’re dating one player or another, so who the fuck cares?”

I loved my sister even more as she rambled. I never knew she had worked with Piper to help me with my disastrous love life. Instead of responding to her rant, I threw my arms around her, hugged her, and kissed the side of her head.

“I love you, Nic.”