Free BREAKAWAY (The Dartmouth Cobras) by Bianca Sommerland

off and covered her mouth with her hand. "Dean, I'm so sorry. I didn't even think about it. Oh, god. Sebastian asked for her. Specifically!"
    "Shit." Landon wrapped his arms around Silver as though to protect her from her own ill thought out actions. He lifted his head and stared at Dean. "She knows she messed up. She knows she should be punished. I'm sure she accepts it. But she couldn't have expected that."
    "No, I'm sure she didn't." Dean's jaw steeled as he gathered the photos and hid them in the folder so he wouldn't have to see them anymore. "But what are the chances that Ramos didn't know he was messing with my daughter?"
    Landon paled. "Hey, man. It's not like we talk about her in the locker room."
    "Are you saying he didn't know? That he thought she was just another cheerleader exposing herself for—" His throat clogged up. Jami wouldn't go that far. Not without someone urging her on. Sebastian had pushed her to do this. Either ignorant that she was his daughter or not really giving a fuck. His jaded self edged towards the latter. "Is the team really that disjointed, Landon? Is it possible he doesn't know she's my daughter?"
    Squaring his shoulders, Landon moved away from Silver. "If he doesn't know now, he will shortly, I can promise you that."
    "Thank you, Landon."
    "Okay, you two need to back off." Silver folded her hands over her big belly and frowned at them both. "Jami won't thank you for getting involved."
    "Silver," Dean tried to be as gentle as he could, considering his daughter was the center of the discussion and Silver just didn't get it. Silver's father hadn't cared enough to protect her from men like Ramos. Or even men like him. Of course, it was too late for that. "You do not have permission to speak. To me or anyone else. Landon supports my punishment. If you'd like to safeword out, do so now, otherwise be silent until we return and think about what you've done."
      Silver's chin jutted up. "Yellow. We will discuss this before I start with the stupid speech restrictions. I should have told Jami, straight out, that she had to talk to you right away. I get that. But you have to respect that Jami is an adult. She did her time in rehab, your mom even agreed her getting involved in something like this would be good for her."
    Oh, this just gets better and better. He scratched his jaw and arched a brow at Silver. "My mother knows about this?"
    "Yes." Silver smirked. "You gonna tell her off too?"
    Landon snorted and Dean was tempted to punch him. Instead he straightened his tie and sighed. Punishing Silver for something his own mother had kept from him seemed ridiculous. As much as he hated the entire situation, there wasn't much he could do about it. As far as the women were concerned anyway. "I suppose I'm outnumbered then. Jami may continue the tryouts and I'll do my best to act surprised when she tells me."
    "I'd appreciate that, but what about this thing with Sebastian? It's just a picture, Dean."
    She knew him too well. "You can't honestly expect me not to—"
    "Stay out of it? Yes, that's exactly what I expect you to do. You know Sebastian won't hurt her. You trusted him enough to make him a DM at the club."
    "Monitoring scenes at the club is much different than . . . ." Damn it, than what exactly? He didn't even want to think about what Ramos would do with his daughter. He rubbed his eyes with his fingers and thumb. "At least, with the playoffs, he won't be around very often. But he may have a problem with the other players if they see him with her. Actually . . . ." He put his hand over the picture Landon had laid facedown and made a rough sound in his throat. "Seeing this might be enough to agitate a few of them. Many still see her as a little girl."
    "But you won't make an issue of it?" Silver looked over at Landon. "Either of you?"
    Landon mumbled his accord.
    "Good." Silver grinned and leaned back in Dean's chair, arms folded over the top of her large belly. "Now, just one last thing—"
    "No."