NINE
Concussion
Deacon
When I slideinto the SUV I see our driver is none other than Dean Costello himself. And where Dean goes, Drew goes … unless it’s Sunday and her other husband—the one by law—is on the field, QB’ing for the New York Knights.
“I should make at least two of you walk for wearing those colors, disrespecting the Lions,” Costello tuts.
Half our roster comes from Lincoln University, where Dean Costello played goalie. He was damn good too. He would have gone pro had his grandfather, who owned half the city, not passed away at the end of his senior year and left it all in his hands. Costello bought the Bears to stay connected to what he loves. Hired the league’s first female coach from Lincoln and signed the top players on his team. Props for that.
“Is that a crop top?” Drew laughs.
“We were on the lam; we had to do whatever was necessary to survive.” Dash defends.
“Not sure how.” Costello nods toward the house. “Who the fuck lives in that broken ass?—”
Dash grips the headrest in front of him, no doubt anchoring his ass in place. “Paul fucking Bronski.”
“Isn’t he dead?” Costello asks.
Drew smacks his arm. “No, he’s not dead.”
“Not sure that place screams I’m living the good life,” Dean shakes his head as he pulls out into traffic.
Dash laughs, “He’s got chickens living in?—”
“Hens,” I correct after overhearing both Nalani and Paul do the same.
“You for fucking real?” Costello chuckles.
“He and his wife of sixty years didn’t have children, and one of the hens is still alive. It’s honorable,” Koa explains.
The whole vehicle goes radio silent.
“What?” He asks.
“It is sweet,” Drew says before holding her phone up so we can see her screen. “Do any of you know Claudia Holloway?”
“She’s a friend of Nalani’s,” I answer, because anymore at this point doesn’t make sense.
Drew suppresses a smile and clears her throat as she looks at Koa. “So, are you and she?—”
“Working through some things.”
“Well, Claudia has applied for the staff psychologist. Bitty and Sofie Fairfax are two of her references. Will you have any issues with her getting hired if you’re required or need to see her?”
“None,” Koa answers.
“How’s your head?” Drew asks me.
“Been hit harder by better. Thanks for asking.”
“We’ll have the doctor check you out, anyway, before you get out on the ice,” Costello says.
“How much time are we looking at? A year? Five to ten?” Dash asks.
Drew giggles. “You have ‘practice’ an hour from when we tell them you’ve arrived, and I’ll be there to make sure thevictims and heroesof last night’s fiasco aren’tinconveniencedany more than they already are. And that being said, let’s hear what went down.”
