Why wouldreliefpulse through me at his words?
Maybe deep down I knew that she wasn’t right for him.
Or maybe, just maybe, I tried to pawn him off on some other woman in some wild and futile attempt to protect myself.
CHAPTER 6: Ford Bradley
Gather the Funds
I’m on my way to practice when I see Liam calling. “Hello?” I answer.
I probably should pull over based on the words that come out of his mouth.
“Dad was indicted.”
We knew it was coming, but it still makes my heart drop into my stomach. “So what happens next?” I ask.
“He was already arrested, and the arraignment is set for first thing Monday. They searched the house, too.”
“Shit,” I mutter. “So they’re holding him through the weekend. What about Archer?”
“They left him alone—for now. They could still be working on things behind closed doors but wanted to cut off the head of the snake first, so to speak.”
I let out a grunt. “Keep me posted. Sorry you’re dealing with this on your own.”
“Me too. It fucking sucks. I’ll let you know what they set bailat when I hear.”
“Thanks. How’s Mom?” I ask.
“Not well. You should probably call her. I haven’t told her Dad was arrested yet.”
“I won’t be the one to take that away from you,” I say. “I’m just pulling into practice.”
“Oh, I forgot you’re an hour later than me. I’ll let the others know.”
“Thanks.” I cut the call and head into practice as I think about my siblings. I’m in the latest time zone in the family. Moving west, there’s Liam and Ivy in Chicago; Dex, Everleigh, and Archer in Vegas; and Madden in San Diego. Based on that, I’m wondering if Vegas should be our family’s new home base instead of Chicago.
Not because it’ll put me closer to Tatum once she goes back home. Just because it makes sense for the family since more of us live there than anywhere else.
Before I even get out on the field, my head coach,Jonathan Wilder, calls me into his office. He nods to the chair across from him when I knock on his doorframe, and I take a seat.
“You need to talk about it?” he asks.
He’s a good coach—no, agreatcoach—and he can sense when his players are going through something. Well, that paired with the fact that since I come from a celebrity family, my father’s arrest is already likely all over the news.
“I just found out on my way here,” I admit. “I haven’t processed it yet.”
“Let me know what I can do. If you need a minute today, you say the word.”
I nod. “Thanks. I won’t need a minute.” I can separate emotion from this.
Maybe.
“Are you escaping this unscathed?”
“I wasn’t involved in it. My name isn’t on any of the documents. I’m not worried.”
He nods once, a bit of pride in his eyes that he chose one of the Bradley siblings who’s on the right side of this as a player on his team. I wish weallwere on the right side of it. I have no idea what’s going to happen with Archer. I still have no idea how his name ended up on some of the incriminating documents, but the grand jury must have found enough evidence against my father to push out those charges first.
