Free Offside by Bianca Sommerland

she’d joked with the day before over breakfast. Scott took a step back and put his hands up. The other two men straightened and did the same. “Clasp your hands behind your neck and don’t fucking move. Tyler, get my zip ties.”
    Vanek hesitated by the door, subconsciously rubbing the stark red marks on his arm. “Not Demyan, Laura. He fucked up, but this isn’t his fault.”
    This is all my fault. Scott stared at the marks, already picturing the nasty bruises they’d form. I did that.
    Laura’s jaw tensed. She glanced at Scott, in total cop mode. “This gun registered?”
    “Yeah.” I’m not that stupid. “Do what you’ve got to do. Getting hauled in will just make my fucking day.”
    “He didn’t do anything!” Vanek took a step forward, but Chicklet hauled him back. He groaned. “Nothing happened. I’m not pressing charges. I just want them gone.”
    “Assault is not nothing, Tyler.” Chicklet put her hand on Vanek’s shoulder. “I’m not letting them get away with this.”
    “You nailed the guy before I had a chance.” Vanek wrenched away from her. “Just leave it alone.”
    Gun still on the men, Laura glanced over at Chicklet, then jutted her chin toward the door at Chicklet’s nod. “Out.”
    The men grabbed their clothes, slamming into each other as they scrambled for the door, still naked. After they were gone, Laura checked the barrel of the gun, then arched a brow at Scott.
    “One bullet?”
    Scott shrugged. “Didn’t figure I’d need more if someone came after me.”
    “Why would someone come after you?”
    “It doesn’t matter,” Chicklet said before Scott could come up with an answer. Her brow creased as she looked at Vanek, who folded his arms over his chest and avoided her gaze. “This is your place, Tyler, but I honestly think it’s a bad idea for Scott to keep living here. You don’t need this. You’ve been working so hard to get better.”
    Vanek pressed his eyes shut. Bowed his head. “You’re right. I’m sorry, Demyan.”
    Swallowing hard, Scott nodded. “Don’t be. I don’t blame you. Just . . . just give me a few days to find a new place?”
    “Yeah. Sure.” Vanek sighed. “And this stays between us. The team needs you.”
    Right. Like they need more bullshit. “The owner has no reason to keep me, man.”
    “Silver put her neck out for you.” Vanek ground his teeth. “Give him a fucking reason.”
    As soon as Vanek walked out, Chicklet strode up to Scott, practically spitting in his face. “I don’t know what’s wrong with you. And honestly, I don’t care. You wanna trash your life? Go for it. But I’ll be damned if you bring him down with you.”
    “Got it.” Scott watched the two women leave his room, then sank to his bed and dropped his head into his hands. His throat locked and he swallowed back a sob. Vanek was the only person who gave a fuck about him. He’d started to think about the kid like a brother. He’d gone to physical therapy sessions with him, more invested in the kid’s career than he was in his own. He just couldn’t accept that Vanek wouldn’t recover, even though all his diagnostics seemed hopeless. But like always, Scott didn’t fucking think about how his own actions affected anyone else. After leaving Zach’s place, he’d hit the closest bar and gotten hammered. He didn’t remember anything much after that.
    A buzzing from his jacket, hanging on the hook behind his bedroom door, drew his attention. He dragged himself off his bed, fetched his phone, then checked the number.
    His brother. He answered. “This is a bad time.”
    “It always is.” Jimmy let out a shaky laugh. “Spot me twenty K and I’ll leave you alone.”
    “Only twenty this time?” Scott’s stomach heaved. He dropped the phone and stumbled toward the trashcan under his desk. He puked, then picked up his cell, shaking hard. “I’ll put it in your account.”
    “Thanks, bro.”
    Jimmy hung up. Scott numbly dialed his bank and