Page 171 of Breakaway Hearts

“What about this year’s team?” Haylie asks.

“They know what’s what,” Trevor says with such certainty I want to punch him.

From this close, it’s easy to see that there is nothing left of the boy I fell for in junior high.

Nothing at all.

“Funny,” Haylie continues like his confidence surprises her. “We have signed affidavits from five women who say they had similar encounters with you, as well as four past or present teammates who can corroborate.”

“They’re liars.”

“Not sure Mr. Pruitt will appreciate you talking about his son that way,” I point out. I was surprised when Devon told Haylie he was willing to testify against his teammates over things they’d said in the locker room. Apparently, someone made him realize that standing back and letting it happen when you could have stopped it is just as bad as participating.

“Devon would never,” Trevor argues, his eyes on me for the first time today. I almost flinch at the ugliness in them, but I force myself to hold my ground.

“Only he did,” I tell him. “Seems there are decent hockey players left.”

“You can’t…those aren’t admissible.” Mr. Milligan turns to his lawyer for confirmation.

“Not today, no,” my lawyer assures him. “But at a trial, they would be.”

“You can’t prove any of that,” Trevor argues, but he sounds afraid, and his mother looks appalled. Like she’s going to be sick.

“Maybe not. But I’d love to try.” My lawyer looks at Trevor like she eats boys like him for breakfast and I am so glad she’s on my team.

“What if you just take the article down and sign an NDA. A hundred thousand is a lot of money,” Mr. Milligan offers, looking annoyed more than afraid, making it clear that while Mrs. M might have been convinced of her son’s innocence, Mr. M just thought he could bully me to his will.

“I think I’ll take my chances.”

Their lawyer leans in and says something that sounds a lot like, ‘you should drop the case’. Then ‘please stop talking,’ when he goes to argue.

Mr. Milligan, however, has been texting. “Pruitt will give you the internship if you take the article down and leave his son out of it.”

He looks to me like it’s settled, but for the first time since I got the email, I am so happy Pruitt & Dobbs didn’t choose me. I actually laugh.

“I’m sorry, but I can’t do that. Nor do I want an internship that costs me my integrity.”

I follow Haylie out the room, and once we’re back in front of the judge, opposing counsel lets him know they’re dropping their suit.

We won.

Chapter Eighty-One

Owen

But she is

I’m nervous, pacing the hallway. It’s killing me that I can’t be in there with her. That Madison has to face her assaulter alone while he plays the victim. My blood is boiling, and I must not be hiding my anger very well, because the security guard keeps looking at me like I’m trouble.

I just need to know she’s okay.

After what feels like hours, the door opens. I immediately jump to my feet, but Trevor Milligan barrels out, looking pissed. He almost doesn’t see me through his rage, but then his eyes lock on me and his nostrils flare.

“You,” he practically spits. “Bet you think you’re so smart, fooling everyone into thinking you’re some nice guy…What? Not so tough without your team to back you? Prefer picking on the traitor-hoe rookies?”

He’s goading me, and even as a Laughlin Park-raised nepo baby who’s never been in a fight that wasn’t on the ice, I want to. I want to hurt him so bad I’m not sure I’d be able to stop…but Madison is in that room, and she doesn’t need the drama, or anything else tying her to this asshole.

“No, you’re just not worth it.”