Chapter 4

I woke in a short-term apartment in Boston on Monday morning.

There were twenty-seven missed calls on my phone.

The first came from the Wolves' head of business operations at 8:03 a.m.

Next came the team's legal counsel, three sponsor representatives, and Declan's assistant.

Declan's call was at the bottom of the list.

Until last night, he still thought I had taken Theo to a hotel to cool off for a few days.

I called Helena first.

"That termination notice of yours has Detroit in a panic," she said. "Shaw has an endorsement renewal today, and no one knows what he promised the company."

"The files are on the team's server. So is the index."

"They can't find anything."

"Because they used to come straight to me."

Helena paused for two seconds.

"Are you still joining the nine o'clock client meeting?"

"Yes."

I changed and took Theo to the childcare center Helena had arranged for him.

Halfway through the meeting, Declan finally called.

I did not answer.

The second and third calls came immediately afterward.

Helena glanced at the screen. "Do we need to stop?"

"No."

I opened the player profile in front of me.

Malik Grant, twenty-four, was a wide receiver for Boston. An old shoulder injury had led his previous agent to advise him to accept a contract with almost no guaranteed money.

"I've read the first starting contract you negotiated for Shaw," Malik's mother said. "That injury guarantee saved his career."

"That was seven years ago."

"Which is why I want to know if you can do it without Shaw's name behind you."

I met her appraising gaze.

"Give me forty-eight hours. I won't let Malik gamble the rest of his life just to stay on the field."

When the meeting ended, my attorney sent a message.

The divorce petition had been formally served.

Declan called again at almost the same moment.

This time, I answered.

"Where are you?"

Quick footsteps sounded on his end, followed by cabinets being yanked open.

"You've received the divorce papers."

"I asked where you and Theo are."

"That no longer concerns you."

"I'm his father!"

"That isn't what you said when Blair asked about him yesterday."

Declan stopped breathing for a beat.

"I only said that to deal with her. You know how complicated it would be if our relationship became public."

"So you chose to erase us."

"Maren, I can explain."

"You had seven years."

A doorbell rang on his end.

Someone quietly stated the purpose of the visit. Papers rustled. When Declan spoke again, his voice had gone hoarse.

"Divorce petition. Temporary custody arrangement. Notice of termination."

He read each heading aloud.

"You even took Theo's birth certificate?"

"Yes."

"How long have you been planning this?"

"Since the moment you left us at the emergency entrance and drove back to Blair."

After a long silence, he said, "I'm not signing."

"Then a judge can decide."

I ended the call and stepped out of the conference room.

Helena stood at the far end of the hallway with an uneasy expression.

"Maren, someone's downstairs asking for you."

"Who?"

"Declan Shaw."

I checked the time.

Less than four hours had passed since our call ended.

The elevator doors slowly opened in front of me.

Declan stood inside, clutching the divorce petition he had already crumpled in his fist.

Before he could speak, Helena's phone rang behind me.

Her face changed as she looked at the screen.

"Maren," she said quietly, "someone just leaked Theo's birth certificate."