Chapter 7 - The True Colors
Mason had forgotten his custom shin guards and had run back to the locker room to grab them.
Now, he was standing entirely perfectly still, listening to the man he thought was his savior confess to absolute financial ruin.
"Just stall the federal auditors for forty-eight hours," David hissed into his phone, pacing furiously.
"Once I parade the kid in front of the Chicago press, the agency will cut the check."
"Yes, I know I'm risking everything, but I didn't come to this miserable town to play dad for free."
Mason dropped his shin guards.
The hard plastic hit the tile floor with a loud, sharp clatter.
David spun around instantly, dropping his cell phone in pure shock.
"Mason," David stammered, his confident facade shattering completely.
"You forgot your gear."
Mason stepped fully into the light, his jaw trembling.
"You're using me," Mason whispered, his voice echoing in the empty locker room.
"You didn't come back for me."
"You came back for a paycheck."
David raised his hands defensively, pasting a fake, comforting smile onto his face.
"Son, you're taking a business conversation completely out of context," David lied smoothly.
"We are going to build an empire together."
"You're going to pay off your debts with my endorsements," Mason corrected, stepping backward.
"My dad was right about you."
David’s face darkened, the fake smile instantly vanishing into a scowl.
"Don't call that mechanic your dad," David snapped viciously.
"He's a nobody who changes oil for a living."
"I am the reason you have that talent, and you owe me."
Mason shook his head, tears of pure betrayal streaming down his face.
"I owe you nothing," Mason declared, turning to walk out.
David lunged forward and grabbed Mason roughly by the arm.
"You signed that paper, you little brat," David snarled, his true, violent nature finally breaking through.
"You are getting on that plane to Chicago with me tonight, even if I have to drag you onto it."
I couldn't hold back anymore.
I kicked the heavy metal doors open with enough force to shatter the lock.
"Take your hands off my son!" I roared, charging into the room.
David looked up just in time for me to tackle him directly into the metal lockers.
We crashed to the floor in a tangle of limbs.
David punched me hard in the jaw, my head snapping back against the tiles, but I didn't care about the pain.
I grabbed him by the collar of his expensive suit and slammed him back onto the floor.
"If you ever touch him again, I will kill you," I breathed heavily into his face.
Mason grabbed my shoulder, pulling me back desperately.
"Dad, stop, he's not worth it!" Mason cried out.
I let go of David, panting heavily, and stood up, pulling Mason behind me.
David scrambled to his feet, wiping a trickle of blood from his lip, his eyes blazing with madness.
"You're both dead in the water," David laughed breathlessly.
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"Security!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. "Security, the suspect is in here!"
Within seconds, the heavy footsteps of multiple police officers echoed rapidly down the corridor, heading straight for us.
