Page 124 of Hard Pass

I hear his words, but they don’t appease anything, because all I can think is, at least you still have something to lose.

I take a step back to let him in, a hollow laugh slipping out before I can stop it. “You might want to get used to that,” I say and close the door behind him.

His brows narrow. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I hesitate because the moment I say it out loud, it becomes real.

“My boss was here,” I finally say.

His expression shifts immediately. “Marcus?”

I nod. “Flew in this morning.”

Cole’s posture changes, irritation giving way to something stiffer. “Why? Did something happen with the investigation?”

“An article is about to drop.”

“What kind of article?”

I draw in a deep breath that doesn’t quite steady me. “About us.”

“The investigation?” It’s almost as if he’s trying to will that to be the answer but the look in his eyes says differently.

“No. About us,” I say and gesture to him and then back to me. “They called Marcus before releasing it. A professional courtesy. Asked him if he wanted to comment.” I pinch the bridge of my nose. “So now he knows about us.”

Cole goes still. “How?”

“Like I know,” I say, voice rising. “A security guard. Someone walking their dog by your house. Someone intern who cashed in on information they thought was juicy. It doesn’t matter how—someone saw and now it’s about to be out.” Just like the investigation itself was leaked.

“We were careful. We—”

“Does it fucking matter? It happened, and now the whole goddamn world will know.” My voice breaks, a sob catching before I can stop it. I turn away, walking toward the window, staring out at the street like I can escape this if I just don’t look at him.

“What does this mean?” he asks.

“For me? It means my credibility is gone. I’ve been suspended indefinitely and am officially off your case. And when that article hits, it’s not just going to look bad for me, it’s going to look like we were part of it.”

“Part of what?”

“The cover-up they’ll invent . . . or worse, insinuate.” I let out a breath. “Think about it. The lead investigator sleeps with the quarterback she’s investigating? That’s not just inappropriate, that’s a scandal. The more salacious the better for their viewership and clicks.”

“They can’t prove anything.”

“They don’t have to. You’re an NFL star. I am the woman investigating you. And they can play it one of two ways: either you seduced and slept with me to get cleared of any wrongdoing or I’m just a slut so mesmerized by her star client, she couldn’t control her urges.” And then it hits me. “Oh my God. My parents are going to read this.”

My breath comes in short, sharp gasps.

This is going to—I have to call them as soon as I’m done talking to him.

“It’s going to be okay,” Cole says. “I promise it’ll be okay.”

I struggle to catch my breath. “You can’t promise that.”

“I can try.” He drags a hand through his hair as his jaw tightens. “You think people will actually believe the seduction or slu . . .”

“Slut story?” I finish for him when he blanches and doesn’t finish the word. “Yes. I do. But it doesn’t matter what we believe. We don’t control the narrative.”

I tilt my head back, but all I see is Marcus’s face. He was so . . . disappointed in me. And that’s what sticks. Not the suspension. Not the article. That look.