I broke my gaze from his, though doing so required superhuman effort on my part.

“You should go.” Other than my words, there wasn’t one thing about me that wanted him to go, and he had to have read my face.

“Are you sure?”

I was nothing if not straightforward. “Axel, I can’t deny this attraction between us, but this cannot happen.”

“Because of your brother?”

“That’s part of it, but also because of my job and my current priorities. You should be concentrating on making the team and extracting yourself from this mess with my sister-in-law.”

He nodded in resignation and reluctant agreement. “I only had that one night with her, and she propositioned me in the bar, I swear to God. I had no idea she was married and especially not to a teammate.”

I was beginning to believe him, though I wasn’t sure why, but I wouldn’t afford cutting him any slack, not yet. He hadn’t paid enough for his dumb-shit move. “You picked up a random woman in the bar. Did you really think that was a good idea?”

“I didn’t think.” He swallowed and averted his eyes, ashamed of himself as he should be.

“You didn’t think beyond your dick, which in most cases would be good enough for me, but this time my blood is involved, and Jock means more to me than some casual fuck ever will.” I walked to the door and held it open. “Please, leave.”

“Okay.” He squared his shoulders, walked out the door, and didn’t look back.

I, on the other hand, looked forward and watched him go with a mixture of relief and regret.

~~Axel~~

I drove home. When I put my key card in the slot, the door to the parking garage opened, and I entered. I parked in my spot, which was halfway to the elevators, and got out. The garage was dimly lit, and I wasn’t one to worry. I was a big guy and held my own in a fight.

I was almost to the elevator when a figure stepped out from behind a van. Alerted by possible danger, every muscle in my body tensed, as I turned to confront the shadowy figure. As the person walked under a dim light, I let out the breath I’d been holding.

“Bria?”

She staggered toward me, her eyes unfocused and bloodshot. The smell of liquor overpowered me. Her lips thinned into a grim line. Her body language was full of menace and alcoholic rage. I merely stared down at her impassively and kept my distance as best I could.

“You have to fix thish. Thish wash your fault.” She slurred her words, but I understood her.

“We’re both to blame. I can’t lie for you,” I said firmly but carefully. This woman was an explosive powder keg of instability. I’d had an alcoholic aunt like her, and I recognized all the signs.

“Because you won’t. You’re a selfish bastard,” she snarled. She started toward me, staggered, and steadied herself on the nearest car.