Free BREAKAWAY (The Dartmouth Cobras) by Bianca Sommerland Page B

believed when he was too young and stupid to question it. But now he knew he could protect himself better than this tub-of-lard could.
    Lee’s lips curled away from his crooked teeth. “Because if your dad finds out she’s still a distraction, it may be a problem.”
    “She’s not.” Ford pushed the photos away from him and stood. “You know I’m not into coke heads.”
    “True.” Lee’s thick lips twisted into a sneer. “But she’s all cleaned up now, isn’t she? Except for being a whore.”
    “Don’t call her that!” Ford turned away from Lee, realizing too late that he’d just given the man the upper hand. Bile rose in his throat. His own man, Cort , who handled his bar 'The Office' for him, had found out that Jami's new ‘friends’ were getting paid by his father to mess her up. Not long before that, dad had told him the truth about his biological father. Dad would have gotten rid of Jami if she hadn't dumped him. And strange as it sounded, overdosing was probably the best thing that could have happened to her. She'd gone to rehab and moved away, which meant his father wouldn't bother with her anymore.
    Ford didn't want to give his dad any reason to turn his attention to Jami again. But the photos had pissed him off. What the hell was Jami thinking?
    What the hell was he thinking? He should have called Cort . Cort would have gotten something on Ramos, clean and easy, no questions asked. But he'd figured, under the pretense of wanting a way to blackmail the defenseman, he could get his dad off his back about fixing the games.
    And still keep Jami safe.
    She wasn't for him. The things she needed, he couldn't give her. But he cared about the kid.
    You should have cared enough to stay out of it. Too late now, fucktard .
    He closed the folder on his desk when he caught Lee staring at the pictures and leaned forward. "Jami is useless to us. Ramos, however, is in the spotlight, messing with the GM's daughter right out in public. If we're lucky, he'll be on the outs with his team. He's new, but he's an important player, and if we can get to him, right before the playoffs . . . ." He watched Lee's pudgy face take on a hungry, greedy expression. The man had made a shitload the last time they'd rigged a game. Hopefully he'd stop thinking about Jami and start thinking about the money that would be coming in if he pulled this off. "He's hiding something. Find out what it is."
    Lee frowned and his pudgy neck swallowed his chin. "What makes you think he's hiding something?"
    Ford opened the folder, hoping to confuse Lee's small brain with some facts as he held out a photo of Jami with Ramos. "He ain't stirring up this kind of controversy for nothing. Man like him isn't interested in a kid like her. Out of all the Ice Girls, he chooses the GM's daughter? Come on. He's diverting the press."
    Taking the picture, Lee held it up and licked his lips. "She's a very pretty girl, Ford."
    He fought not to snatch the picture away and let out a harsh laugh. "I've had prettier. And so has Ramos. Trust me, he's using her."
    "Like you were?" Lee smirked and arched a thin brow. "Sometimes with a few of your friends."
    "Yeah, exactly like that." Ford scowled and plucked the photo from Lee's sausage-like fingers. "What is it, Lee, you still bitter that I never shared her with you?"
    Lee shook his head slowly. "No. I was never interested in sharing her." He took the plane ticket and stuffed it in his briefcase. "I'll shadow the man. Find out what he's up to. But I'm not stupid, boss. You can't pretend you don't care that he's got her. And since I'm such a nice guy, I won't say anything to your father. But stay away from her."
    Ford laughed uneasily. Maybe Lee wasn't as stupid as he seemed. "I plan to."
    "Good." Lee mumbled something to himself and nodded. "Very good."
    A chill crawled over Ford's flesh as the man left his office. Something wasn't right about him. He needed to have a talk with his dad. If he had to have a handler, he'd