My knee ached as I burst between the linemen. I saw Peter up ahead, ducking down, ready to tackle me, but I juked aside. He hit my side but couldn’t find any purchase as I pushed through into the secondary.

Coach blew his whistle and the play came to an end. So far, my knee was holding up. It ached a little bit, especially on those hard cuts, but I was running pretty well.

Maybe that extra rehab with Taylor the day before really had helped. Or maybe just getting a taste of her nice little pussy was enough to make me not give a shit about my pain.

The girl was incredible. The way she kissed me, the way she tasted, everything about her made me want her more and more. Getting her to admit that she wanted me to suck her little clit until she came was the highlight of my fucking year, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it.

Too bad I really had needed to go in for more fucking film training with Raylon. Knowing that I had to leave Taylor behind had fucking killed me as I sat there and talked strategy with Coach Kelly and Raylon, but it was my job. I had to do what Coach wanted. I couldn’t risk getting Taylor into any trouble just because I wanted to stay behind and tease her clit until she couldn’t breathe.

“You look strong out there,” Raylon said as I came over to the sidelines.

“Thanks, man.”

“Make sure you hit that A-gap hard. Shoulder down, ready to break a tackle. They’ll come hard at you.”

“Fuckers can’t take me down.”

“They can and they will. Don’t get a big head.”

I nodded. “You’re right. But they won’t get me every time.”

He grinned. “No, they won’t.”

I glanced over Raylon’s shoulder and caught Taylor looking at me. I grinned and she quickly looked away.

This morning’s session had been a little strained. I had flirted with her, and even went to kiss her again, but she had pulled back. She wanted things to be professional when we were at work. She didn’t want what had happened to change anything between us.

Bullshit, but if that was what she wanted, then that was what we’d do. She was clearly uncomfortable even looking at me in public, like people could somehow magically tell what had happened between the two of us.

I couldn’t blame her, though. If we got caught, she would lose her job, but I wouldn’t. They might be pissed at me for sleeping with my therapist, but they weren’t going to get rid of their starting running back over it. Maybe back when I was the backup rookie, maybe then they’d cut me for being an asshole.

Now, though, she was risking way more. I had to be aware of that if we were going to keep this thing up.

Practice went smoothly. After field work, I did some more therapy with Taylor, and she acted just as professional and distant as she had that morning. Overall, though, it was a good day. I didn’t hurt myself or push myself, and soon I was back in the locker room showering off.

My knee was aching, so I took my time. I was the last guy dressed, and I walked slowly out of the facility, heading back toward my apartment building. I probably should have gotten a car, just to minimize any work on my knee, but I felt stupid getting a car for a ten-minute walk.

Just as I left the facility, I noticed someone suddenly step onto the sidewalk up ahead of me. I usually didn’t mind that sort of thing, but I suddenly tensed.

It took me a second to recognize him. Tony smiled as I slowed down.

“Hey there, buddy,” he said.

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

Tony was tall, though not as tall as me. His hair was cut short and he had tattoos all along his chest. He wore slacks and a clean white dress shirt, and he was smiling at me casually.

“I just wanted to check in with you.”

“This is not okay. We can see my fucking practice field from here.”

“So what? They don’t know who I am.”

“Fucking asshole.” I started walking, and he fell into step next to me. “Extorting me for cash isn’t bad enough?”

“I’m not extorting you. I’m just implying that you should make some legitimate bets with my organization.”

“Right. Because if I don’t, you’ll ruin me.”

“We’re friends, Owen. We don’t ruin our friends.”

“You just extort them.”

He laughed, shaking his head. “We’re going to go in circles at this rate.”

“What do you want?” I asked again.

“I just want to say hello, remind you that we’re around.”

“I thought that phone call was for that.”

“You sounded unhappy on the phone. I thought I needed to come see you.”

“You saw me.”

“Don’t forget what we did for you, Owen. We made your life good. We helped your career.”

“And now you’re making me place bets on my own sport just to keep me in your fucking back pocket. And for what?”

He shrugged. “We like to cultivate favors. One day we’ll need something, and we’ll come to you.”

“Like the fucking Godfather.”

“Just like the Godfather. It may have been a movie, but it had some good ideas.”

“I placed my bet. Now leave me alone.”

“You’re our man. Don’t forget that.”

I stopped and faced him. “Nobody owns me.”

He smiled and kept walking. “We own you, Owen. Don’t forget it.”

I watched as he waved and then crossed the street. He didn’t look back as he headed down and away, disappearing from view.

“Fuck,” I said to myself, and slowly started back toward my apartment.

I didn’t know what I was going to do about them. Between the mob and Taylor and my knee, I had enough to worry about for one damn lifetime.

At least Taylor made me feel good. The others were just a drain on me, a stress. Taylor might have been difficult, but god damn if that wasn’t a good thing. I wanted the chase.

Most of all, I wanted the feeling of finally getting what I wanted.