It was eight that evening before Dan had finished with the police, the NFL commissioner, and the press. The lengthy and dramatic press conference had been especially difficult for Phoebe, but she had handled it like a trooper and was already being declared a heroine on the evening news. He didn’t like the fact that the press was trying to make him into a hero, but he knew that stories like this died a natural death after a few weeks. Then their lives could return to normal.

Ray Hardesty had suffered a major heart attack and was under police guard at the hospital. As Dan gazed around the silent coaches’ locker room where he’d finally been able to shower and change into clean clothes, he knew he would have no regrets if Hardesty didn’t recover.

Everyone else had left long ago for the victory party. As he slipped into his parka, he was bone weary and all he could think about was getting to Phoebe. But there was something he had to do first.

He walked out into the silent corridor, then drew up short as he saw Jim, Darnell, Webster, and Bobby Tom leaning against the opposite wall. All of them were wearing street clothes.

He regarded them uneasily. “I thought you’d be at the party by now.”

“We decided to wait for you,” Jim said.

“I have to make a stop first. I’ll meet you there.”

Bobby Tom unfolded his lanky form from the wall. “We care about Phoebe, too.”

“What are you talking about?”

Darnell took a step forward. “Me and my fiancée were sharing the same closet with you and Phoebe after the game. We overheard what she told you about Reed Chandler. I shared the information with my teammates here.”

Long seconds ticked by as Dan studied them. “I can take care of Reed by myself.”

“We know that. We’re just planning to come along for moral support.”

Dan began to argue, but fell silent when he realized that, in their minds, Phoebe had become their teammate today.

Twenty minutes later, they pulled up in front of Reed’s brick and stone two-story house. Dan was relieved to see that the lights were on. Reed was home, so this wouldn’t have to be postponed.

As they walked up the drive, he slipped his gloves into his pocket and regarded the men who had come with him. “Reed’s mine. I don’t want anybody else to touch him.”

Bobby Tom nodded. “Just make sure there aren’t any leftovers.”

Reed answered the door himself. When he saw Dan, he looked puzzled, and then his eyes widened in alarm as he observed the platoon standing behind him. He immediately tried to slam the door, but he wasn’t quick enough, and Dan drove his shoulder into it, sending him flying.

The men crashed into the hallway. Reed scrambled back against the archway that led to the living room. Dan could smell his fear.

“What do you want? Get out of here!”