Instead of taking her phone, he went back to the guest bedroom and dug into the pockets of his jeans. “I still have my wallet and phone,” he called out, “so at least I didn’t get robbed.”

“I’d have loaned you some dollars,” Catie said when he emerged from the room. “At a generous interest rate. Nothing over twenty-five percent.”

“The Dragon would be proud.” Walking over to the counter, he made the call as he began to pour himself an orange juice from the bottle Catie had put there.

His mother answered on the first ring. “Danny, sweetheart.”

His mum and dad’s concern wrapped him in a familiar warmth. He knew other guys his age might’ve been annoyed at their worry, but Danny made no bones about being close to his parents. Joseph and Alison Esera were his rocks, and they understood the line between caring and hovering. That was why they had four strong, independent sons who adored them.

After the two pronounced themselves satisfied that he was all right and that Catie was “looking after him”—he narrowed his eyes at that—they told him to call Gabriel.

Danny took their advice, and his big brother helped break it all down for him. File the police report, contact his sports agent so he could talk to team management on Danny’s behalf, and touch base with the hospital to authorize the release of his medical report from tonight’s incident to the team.

“That way no one can accuse you of drug taking,” Gabriel said. “It ever comes up, it’s all documented.”

Being labeled a drug cheat could be the kiss of death for a sporting career, but Danny hesitated. “Gabe, no one knows. I just want to forget it.” Forget being out of control when he’d spent a lifetime learning to be disciplined, to color within the lines.

“This is your call,” his brother said. “But if you don’t report it, it becomes a hidden thing you’re going to worry might come back to bite you. Better to be up front as close to the incident as possible, when all the data is there to back you up—including a respected ED doctor and her colleagues. Also, you’re going to go to therapy.”

Danny’s jaw dropped. Striding to the balcony doors, he opened them and stepped out into the icy chill. “Hell I am!” He never yelled at his big brother—he had too much respect for Gabriel. But this was ridiculous. “It was one night and nothing bad happened!”

Gabriel let him go on for a bit before quietly saying, “You’re angry, little bro. Listen to yourself. Sort it out by talking to a professional before the anger goes toxic inside you.”