Victor didn’t believe it, no matter what Marcus said to him, he felt that the man in front of him was hiding something from him.

“And that’s all it is? You’re not feeling the game anymore? Dude, you are fucking talented on the field, you make the game seem so easy.”

“Hold on, are you complimenting me?” Marcus asked.

“Yeah,” he said with a shoulder shrug. “So what if I am?”

“Don’t do that too often, I’ll start thinking you like me.” Marcus smiled, and Victor felt a tightening in his chest and reached up to rub it in agitation.

Victor didn’t know what to say. The thought of not seeing Marcus on the field bothered him, the man was his rival. And even though he’d never admit it, Marcus Reid played the game better than he did. He was born to be on the field, and most of the time Victor was in awe of the man’s abilities.

"I need to speak with you." Victor could tell the word privately was left off his statement.

Sighing, Victor nodded and stepped over to Valencia. "Val, can you give us some privacy?" When she didn't respond right away, Victor tapped her on her shoulder.

"What?" she snapped, turning to look at him. "Can't you see I'm ogling my male god?"

Victor was lying on his back, willing the remote to appear in his hands without any success. He groaned as he leaned, overreaching for the controller, then going back to his comfortable position on his couch. The only thing he’d done in the past two weeks was eat, sleep, and shower—in that order.

Instead of flying back to Sun Breeze City, Victor went to Ashburn city to his parent's house, where he’d been relaxing without being hounded by the press, or anyone else for that matter. Married, what the fuck? Victor had called his lawyer, Trevor Sims, to deal with getting an annulment; he realized he’d have to jump through hoops because of certain laws. He’d yet to tell his parents what had happened and was surprised that the press hadn’t caught wind of it yet.

"It's time I stand up for myself. It's time I fight for what's mine. I loved your grandfather, but I've never denied that I carry some hate for him as well. His form or protection hurt me more than comforted me." She turned to Bill. "If you're willing, I would like to marry you. I know what I will lose, but I've wanted to be yours since we met."

A few hours later, there was a knock at his door. Marcus looked through the keyhole and breathed a large sigh of relief when he saw that it was his mom and her lover, Bill. He unlocked the door, and his mother hugged him tightly as soon as he opened it.

“I’ve been so worried about you.” He wrapped his arms around her, holding onto her for dear life. She pulled back and cupped his cheek. “You look terrible.”

“I feel terrible.”

“I brought you some ginger tea for your stomach,” she said, wrapping her arms around his shoulders as they walked farther into the room.

“Are you sure Dad didn’t follow you?”

Marcus wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and sat back, praying to the gods he didn’t have to throw up again. It had been two months since he’d made the mistake of getting drunk-married, and after taking three pregnancy tests, he couldn’t deny that he was pregnant.

Marcus had been avoiding everyone since that night a couple of months ago. After storming out of the hotel room, he'd gotten home and saw his father’s car sitting in his driveway. Instead of confronting his father head-on, Marcus returned to the hotel lobby ATM and withdrew some money before disappearing.

It all begins with an idea."You cocky little bastard," Victor roared.

Marcus scowled and ignored the flashing lights; the reporters were always around, and he knew that was his father's doing.

"Whatever, Masterson, it's already the start of the season, and it doesn't look like your team is doing that great. I guess that's what happens when they have a shitty ass captain like you. Your ego is bigger than your skills on the field."

"I could say the same about The Phoenix Fire; you're only the captain because of who your father is."

"Fuck you, Masterson," Marcus said, clenching his fist, praying for the umpteenth time that he didn't punch the shit out of the man in front of him. But he was more irritated that Victor had the nerve to say his father was the reason he was the captain of The Phoenix Fire, he knew he had that position based on his own merits.

"Oh, did I touch a nerve, Reid? Hate being compared to 'Daddy Dearest'," he said, leaning close enough for Marcus to smell his expensive cologne mixed with his alpha pheromones.

"Leave my fucking father out of this," Marcus told him, gritting his teeth.

"You sound almost jealous," Victor said loud enough for the reporters to hear.