Chapter 66

Chapter 66
Damon

The locker room felt colder than usual, though the air conditioning hadn’t changed. I couldn’t stop thinking about Alicia. About how she had stayed calm when I needed her most, how she had held onto me like I was the fragile one, about the way she had trusted me even when Nathan’s threats made everything feel impossible.

It should have been comforting, but all I felt was a low, gnawing tension. Practice had ended hours ago, yet I couldn’t shake the feeling that Nathan was already moving his pieces. I had gone through every angle, every possibility, and still… nothing felt safe. Not the team, not the stadium, not Alicia.

I pulled on my jacket and walked to the empty corridor outside the locker room. The echo of my cleats against the tile sounded louder than it should have. Each step reminded me of last week’s game, of the moment I’d felt that sharp pain in my ribs, and of the suffocating fear that had come with it.

I stopped in the middle of the hall and pressed my hands to my face. Breathe, I told myself. Just breathe but the calm didn’t last long. My phone buzzed in my pocket. Sabrina.

I answered immediately.

“Damon,” she said, her voice sharp and controlled, like she had swallowed hours of frustration just to stay calm on the line. “I’ve got information. And you’re going to want to hear this before anyone else sees it.”

“I’m listening,” I said, leaning against the wall, trying to keep my voice steady.

Nathan’s name alone made my stomach tighten.

“I’ve gone through the footage,” she continued. “All of it. Stadium cams, practice fields, team facilities. He’s planning something. Something calculated. He’s not just trying to get in your head...he’s trying to hit where it hurts most.”

“What kind of planning?” I asked, trying not to sound as anxious as I felt.

“Red Valley Comets,” she said. “He’s been with them for less than a week, and yet he’s already rearranged schedules, security, and travel logistics. Every move he makes gives him an edge. He’s not thinking like a player. He’s thinking like someone out to dismantle your life piece by piece.”

I ran a hand through my hair. I could feel the tension in my shoulders, in my chest.

“Did he… target anyone else?” I asked cautiously.

“Yes,” she said, her voice dropping slightly. “But he’s focused on you. And Alicia.”

My stomach turned. My heart slammed against my ribs.

I pressed the phone harder to my ear. “What do you mean?”

“He knows you care,” she said. “He knows she matters. And he’s going to use that against you if he can. Marcus...he’s compromised too. Nathan is playing a long game, Damon. He doesn’t need to hit you directly. He can get to you through the people you trust.”

I clenched my fists so tight my nails dug into my palms.

“I don’t… I can’t let that happen,” I said.

“You won’t,” Sabrina said firmly. “But you need to be careful. Plan every move. Think ahead. And don’t underestimate him. He’s not just another player. He’s someone who’s been preparing for this for a long time.”

I exhaled slowly, my pulse still racing. “Alright. I’ll be careful.”

“Good. Meet me after the stadium clears. I’ll show you everything I’ve found.”

I hung up and leaned against the wall, letting my head fall into my hands. Alicia. Marcus. The team. Everyone I cared about felt suddenly fragile, like one wrong step and it could all collapse.

I forced myself to move. To keep going.

I walked to the batting cages, picked up a bat, and started swinging.

Crack. Crack. Crack.

The sound echoed through the empty stadium, and for a moment, I could pretend that none of it mattered. That the only thing in the world was the ball and my swing but the fantasy was short-lived.

Each swing reminded me of the last game, of Nathan’s face as he watched from the sidelines, of the moment I realized someone I trusted had been manipulated.

I dropped the bat, my hands shaking. I needed a plan. Not just for the game, not just for the team, but for Alicia. For her safety.

I pulled out my phone again and called Marcus. The line clicked. “Damon,” he said cautiously.

“Where are you?” I asked, not bothering with small talk.

“I...just finishing up some stuff,” he said.

“Alone?” I pressed.

“Yes,” he said, a little too quickly.

“Good,” I said. “Meet me at the stadium in an hour. Alone. We need to talk.”

There was a pause. “About Nathan?” he asked.

“Yes. About Nathan. About trust. About everything that’s gone wrong.”

“Alright,” he said finally. “I’ll be there.”

I hung up and took a deep breath. I knew Marcus was scared, and I knew he had reasons to act the way he had, but Nathan had crossed a line. If Marcus was compromised, even slightly, it could cost more than just a game.

I grabbed my keys and left the stadium. The drive to the penthouse was quiet. I didn’t turn on music. I didn’t call Alicia. I didn’t want to think about anything except the conversation I was about to have with Marcus.

I parked, got out, and walked to the rooftop of the building across from my apartment. It was quiet, isolated, perfect for what needed to happen.

Marcus was already there. His back was to me, looking down at the city lights. I could tell he was nervous.

“Damon,” he said, not turning around.

“Marcus,” I said, keeping my voice calm.

There was a long silence.

Finally, I asked, “Is Nathan using your daughter against you?”

Marcus flinched. His shoulders tightened. “I… I don’t have a choice.”

“You always have a choice,” I said quietly. “You can tell me now, or you can face what happens when he uses her anyway.”

He turned, his eyes red, guilty. “He… he threatened her. I couldn’t...”

“I know,” I said softly. “I understand that. But you don’t get to hurt the team. You don’t get to endanger Alicia. You don’t get to play both sides. You’re either with us or against us.”

His head dropped. “I want to fix this. I swear I do.”

“You will,” I said. “But you have to be honest. Completely honest. Every move, every detail, every fear. Otherwise, we’re just feeding him what he wants.”

Marcus nodded, defeated but resolute. “Okay. I’ll tell you everything.”

I pulled him into a quick handshake, the gesture heavy with unspoken trust.

For a moment, I felt something I hadn’t felt in days. Control but as I looked out over the city, my chest still heavy with fear for Alicia, for the team, for the game, I knew the storm wasn’t over. Nathan had one more move left, and I had no idea when he’d make it.

I exhaled and pulled out my phone. I couldn’t let Alicia see me like this. She needed to believe I was fine, that everything was under control, even if it wasn’t.

I sent her a quick message. Almost done with stadium checks. Heading home soon. Stay safe.

I didn’t mention Marcus. I didn’t mention Nathan. I didn’t mention the plan forming in my head, the strategy I was already thinking through.

I had to be strong for her. I had to be strong for the team. I had to be strong for myself.

The city below glimmered like a field of lights, beautiful and dangerous all at once.

I clenched my fists, feeling the tension in my body, and whispered to myself, “Bring it, Nathan. I’m ready.”

Deep down, I knew this time, I couldn’t fail because the next move wouldn’t just be about baseball.

It would be about everything I loved and I wasn’t about to let anyone take that from me.