It’s Always Us (Abandoned Brothers #3)

Chapter 41

MARK

I lace up my cleats and toss my sweatshirt on top of my gear.

I stretch my arm, ready to work. I’ll show this crew what I can do.

Sean’s words race through my head. Get a decent deal, and then get to Ohio. That’s exactly what I’m going to do and Lex doesn’t get a say this time.

I warm up, tossing balls to a trainer. The sky is gray, and there’s a chill in the air, but the slight breeze is invigorating.

My blood pumps faster as my fingers find the laces. I’ve missed this. I just need my shoulder to prove my worth.

“All right, let’s set it up,” one of the offensive coordinator directs. “Show us if you’ve still got it, Sandberg.”

The receiver takes off. I cock my arm, release the ball, and it makes contact. The receiver jogs back and sets up again. He runs to the corner, turns at the twenty-yard mark, and the ball drops right into his hands.

We do it again and again. He runs toward the post this time and into the end zone. I drop back, thrust my arm forward, and it’s gone. The ball spirals long and far and straight to my target. Dime.

I can’t help the grin of pure satisfaction that creeps across my face. There it is.

We run a few more plays, but my shoulder is tiring, and the trainers know it. All I need is strength and endurance, and it will come.

They call me in, and we discuss my therapy and training schedule. They thank me for visiting as Rob stands off to the side, working the GM. I pull my sweatshirt back on, knowing my shoulder will hurt like hell later, but it’s a different kind of pain. A healing one, and it feels damn good.

Rob smacks me on the back. “That’s the way to do it, kid. Now, you sit back and leave the rest to me.” I smile for the first time in what feels like forever. “Drinks on me before they shuttle you home?”

I shake my head. “Nah, I’ve got to get going.” He frowns, but I ignore it. I need a deal, and Rob needs to make that happen, not worry about what’s happening in my personal life. Plus, Bree’s life will remain private, at least until I have a chance to meet her and understand my role.

The thought has my stomach clenching tight.

“Well, all right. Let’s get out of here.”

Rob and I exit the facility and walk to our rentals.

He offers his hand. “I took video. We’ve got something solid to work with. I’ll be leaking this ASAP.”

“Keep me updated. The sooner we get something locked in, the better.”

He pats me on the back and then steps away. “Keep training, Mark. I’ll be in touch.”

I laugh, alive and ready to get down to business. There’s no way in hell I’m going to let my past ruin everything I’ve worked for. I certainly won’t let it steal one more second of my time with Lex.

I climb into the SUV and toss my duffle onto the passenger seat. I dig for my phone to notify the pilot I’m on my way.

Lex’s name appears next to a voicemail notification, and my chest swells with the need to see her.

I press the button to start the car and put the phone to my ear. I listen to her tell me she’s leaving her appointment. The one I should have been at. Her sad, unsteady voice all but begs me to call her. I want to ram my head into the steering wheel for letting her do this on her own. Again.

I back out of the parking spot and proceed toward the security gate. On the line, she pauses and sniffs before she says she can’t do it without me. Someone might as well rip my heart out and throw it under the car so I can run over it. I hate myself all over again.

The gate opens, and I drive through as she apologizes. Then, I slam on my brakes as I listen to horns and then what sounds like a blast of crumpling metal before dead silence .

I pull the phone away to check the screen and put it back to my ear. Nothing. I hit dial and call her as the gate tries to close but bounces back up.

It goes straight to voicemail, and my stomach churns with such force I fling the door open just in time for all the contents to splatter against the asphalt.

I spit and breathe, my stomach emptying again. When I’m certain I’m done, I close the door, letting my head fall to the headrest as tears crest my eyes. All I can see is her face. My hands feel the gentle bump, bump, bump as I slide them across her belly.

I hear her voice quiver as she tells me she needs me. Tears run down my face. I blink them away while my shaky hand scrolls to Cal’s number. I put the car in drive as it rings, flooring it.

When there’s no answer, I hit his number again, my heart hammering as I speed through stoplights to the private airport. There’s no plane that can get me there fast enough.

I feared what I would face reliving my past, but I was a fucking idiot. I can’t even let my mind acknowledge what I could face when I touch down. The terror is so intense my entire body vibrates. I need someone to answer the damn phone and tell me that she and our babies are all right.

Please, baby. Please don’t leave me. Please.