Page 91 of Leading the Blind
“They started the money transfer. That part is live.” Jase swallowed. “Are you hurt bad?”
“No. You?”
“My head hurts, I still can’t see, but besides that? I’m okay.”
“Cut on my ribs.”
His phone buzzed, and he looked since they were moving slow. “Cotton says Emmy will be there for the meeting with Ace. He already talked to her. Guess we get to meet those babies.”
“Guess we will. I know it isn’t as…right, I guess, but I did it. We did it. Together. We’re champions.”
“We did, baby.” They hit a red light, and he leaned over, tugging Jason to him to take a light kiss. “We did it. The rest is just spin. I love you.”
Jason nodded, and a ghost of a grin touched his lips. “Ditto, babe. I couldn’t have done it without you.”
Bax just snorted. “I know.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
There was no way he was going to survive this. Jason puked up his guts, showered then got himself ready to enter the lion’s den. He had no doubt that Randy would be there with Ace, along with Steele and Cash and a handful of the other founders.
Not Coke, though. Coke was in the fucking hospital.
He wore his sponsor shirt—the good white one that made him look taller, and a pair of Luccheses that sounded strong when he walked.
Bax never spoke a word.
Jase wasn’t sure what had happened out on the arena floor. He’d been confused and overwhelmed and…and it had been over. He’d planned for this minute for the last two years, and now it was here and he’d lost himself.
He was sure as shit found now, though.
A knock came to the door, and when Bax answered it, he heard Emmy’s voice. “Hey, guys. I brought Daniel. We’re going to formulate a plan. Talked to Dillon. Coke is still in surgery, but it looks real good.”
He closed his eyes a minute.Thank God for that.
“Come on in,” Bax said. “I ordered up a catering tray. Should be here soon. I’m Andy Baxter, sir. Nice to meet you.”
“Daniel Goodnight. Pleasure to meet you boys. Sorry it’s under these circumstances. Let’s all have a sit.”
That smooth Texas drawl put Jason at ease. This was someone he could work with.
“I’ve spoken to Balta and to Miss Emmy here. Now I need to speak to you. What are your priorities?”
“I want my money and my title. I’m willing to announce my retirement today, but I’m not giving up the chance to tell my story.” Dillon had told him that, and the sponsorships from that would be his money.
“That’s more than fair,” Daniel said. “The league will want to spin this in their favor, and if it’s the money and the title that’s important, I think you might be well served doing that—working together with them.”
Jason nodded. “If they will, I will. If they want to play hardball, I will do that too.”
Emmy was murmuring quietly to Bax, but he couldn’t make out what they were saying. Not too much later, he heard her pounding something—maybe with her shoe—then the toilet flushed.
Daniel chuckled but was all business. “Good deal. So, we take the line first and foremost, that you clawed your way back up with no more help than anyone who had a catastrophic injury would get.”
“You know it. I rode those bulls. Me. No one else.” And he’d be damned if anyone argued.
“That’s it. They’re gonna argue all kinds of crap. You just keep that line. No spurs in the bull rope. Your rope is like everyone else’s.”
Emmy chuckled. “Yeah, they already examined it. You keep everyone but Coke out of it. That’s what Dillon said. He knew. Coke knew. Andy knew. That’s it.”
