The head of the snake, as Liam called it.
I work my hardest at practice, my mind not in it as it settles on my father, just as predicted by Coach. Before I head out for the day, he pulls me aside.
“I need you in it on Sunday, Bradley,” he says, his voice gentle despite the tough words.
“I will be.”
He studies me for a beat, and then he nods, seemingly satisfied.
I think about heading to Chicago to see my father behind bars, to talk to him and get a sense of how bad this might get. But I told Coach I’d be in it on Sunday, so I need to stay here. I need to be ready to go at practice tomorrow and Saturday. Ready to play on Sunday. And then my father will be arraigned, and we’ll know what we’re dealing with when it comes to bailing him out.
As it turns out, he knows my schedule well enough to know when I’m free to answer his call. I’m on my way home from practice when I receive an incoming call from a number I don’t recognize.
“Hello?” I answer over the car’s Bluetooth system.
“Collect Call from Thomas Bradley, inmate at Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center. Press one to accept the call.”
I sigh as I click the button.
“This call will be monitored and recorded.”
“Hello?” I say into the line.
“Ford,” my father says, and it feels…weird. We rarely talk on the phone. We rarely talk at all. “My lawyer’s educated guess is that bail will be set between two and three million. I need you to gather the funds.”
“From where?” I ask, as if he’s going to give up all his hidden accounts over the phone.
“You’ll figure it out.” He ends the call.
I slam a hand on my steering wheel.
I immediately dial Madden.
“I assume you heard the news,” he answers.
I sigh. “He just called me and told me to gather the funds for his bail.”
“How much?”
“He said his lawyers are guessing two to three million.”
“Fuck,” he mutters. “What are you going to do?”
“Why do you think I called you?” I ask.
He chuckles. “Don’t look at me.”
“You’re the CEO of a multi-million-dollar company,” I argue.
“Co-CEO,” he reminds me. “He put me through hell, and it almost cost me Kennedy. I wouldn’t say I’m eager to jump into helping him, and just because he hasn’t done that to you yet, don’t think he won’t. Don’t give him your money, Ford.”
“What am I supposed to do then?”
“Let him rot. He’s not innocent.”
“That’s it?” I ask.
“That’s it from me. I would venture to guess that Dex, Everleigh, and Archer would agree with me. You may have better luck with Liam and Ivy,” he says.
