The Jock - The Ashford Brothers Series - Book Four

Tatum POV

Three years ago

“Grace, please, I need you to put your shoes on. We’re going to be late,” I shout from the kitchen. I can hear Grace laughing in the living room while I finish getting all the dishes in the dishwasher. I hate leaving the house a mess before I go out, and I know that if things are not clean Thatcher will be upset.

“Grace, I will not say it again,” I shout once more and that’s when I hear a loud bang that makes my heart beat so fast I think I might have a heart attack. I drop everything in the sink and I run out of the kitchen to find Thatcher with his hand closed in a fist and a hole in the wall. Grace’s eyes are wide and the tears are pooling in her eyes. Unfortunately, she knows not to cry.

I run to Grace and pull her into my arms, lifting her from the couch as she rests her head against my shoulder as Thatcher looks at me with our daughter in my arms. My breathing is erratic and my heart rate is so fast, I think my watch will start beeping any minute now.

“I told you I need to sleep,” he says between greeted teeth and I nod slightly, hugging my daughter tighter. Grace is only five, and she already knows to let him sleep and stay quiet. I, on the other hand, forget sometimes, but I know I can take it. I just don’t want him touching my daughter.

Thatcher used to be caring and kind, but since he lost the title of captain of the Hockey team, he plays at; he became a different person. He thinks everyone is out to get him and that includes me. I met him when I interned at the team he was playing in Chicago and we fell in love almost instantly. I got pregnant two months after we got together and he proposed. We eloped and now we are here, five years later.

“Close your eyes, baby,” I whisper into Grace’s ear and she nods slightly and I can feel her little hands holding on tight to my t-shirt.

“I’m sorry, I am just trying to get us out of here quick to let you rest. I have that press conference today and I need to drop Grace off with Mara,” I say as he approaches me. My stomach turns as he pulls Grace away from me.

“Mommy, mommy,” she calls me and I try to hold on to her, but he pulls her away from me. Grace keeps calling for me as he walks into her room and puts her inside, closing the door. I know what is about to happen and I stand still in the middle of the living room.

I can hear Grace crying in the bedroom and my entire body is screaming for me to move, My entire body is telling me to get out of here but my heart is telling me to stay, this is the only way I can stay with my daughter.

Thatcher keeps threatening me. He says he has more money than me, and everyone loves him. No one except Mara knows how he truly is. Abusive and manipulative. I know if we go to court, he will win and Grace will be taken away from me. That is the only reason I am still here. Because he will take her from me and I wouldn’t be able to let him do that.

Thatcher walks back into the living room and he walks straight to me grabbing me by my long hair. He wraps my ponytail around his hand and drags me to the kitchen, where he closes the door. At least he always takes me to the opposite side from where Grace is. Like that, she can’t hear the disgusting things he says to me, and she can’t hear him punching me.

“Why don’t you listen, Tatum? It’s easy to stay silent. Look at you now, quiet,” he says as he shoves me against the kitchen island and I slam my ribs against it. A sharp pain makes me gasp as his hand tights around my upper arm and he punches me in the stomach, making me bend over.

“If you did as you’re told, this wouldn’t happen. This is all your fault,” he says and I nod, trying to make him see that I believe in him, and that he is right. I learned the hard way not to fight back. The first time he hit me, I left, and he begged me to come back. He said he would never do it and for a while, it didn’t happen, but now, anything is an excuse.

“You make me do this. Why can’t you be an obedient little wife?” He asks as I feel a tear rolling down my cheek while he throws me on the floor and grabs me by the hair again. My eyes meet his as he bends down and places one hand on my face, caressing it. I know what is about to come and that is the worst part.

Present day

“Come on Grace, today is mommy’s first day and we can’t be late,” I say and Grace nods as she puts her shoes on. Grace is the happiest little girl to be around. She has just turned eight years old, and she is brilliant. She has good grades and everyone loves her. She is a ray of sunshine.

We moved to New York last week. I found a job as PR to the New York Rangers and today is my first day. I have been following the team on social media for a while now and they have so many PR issues I know I am in for a big rollercoaster ride.

“Grace, come on, get your backpack,” I say and she appears in front of me already with it. The team has a protocol with one of the best schools in New York and they got Grace to transfer there without any issues and I couldn’t be happier.

“Mom, are you going to meet the players today?” Grace asks and I look at her as she holds my hand while we cross the street and I smile.

“Yes, I am meeting them today,” I say and she smiles as she looks at me.

“Can I go with you? I don’t want to go to school,” she says and I stop walking as soon as we reach the sidewalk and get on my knees in front of my daughter as I adjust her scarf.

“What is going on, pumpkin?” I ask and she takes a deep breath as she looks at her feet and when her eyes meet mine, I can see the tears that threaten to spill.

“I don’t want to go to school, I don’t know anyone,” she finally says and I smile as I move my fingers to take the hair from the front of her eyes.

“You will meet everyone and I know they will love you. You are such a special little girl,” I say, and she nods as she looks down again.

“Just today mommy, please,” she begs and I shake my head.

“No Grace, you know I can’t do that, I need to focus at work, and I need you to do your job that is going to school, Please don’t ask again,” I say before I stand straight and hold her hand again as we keep walking. Grace stays quiet all the way to the school gate, and she watches as all the kids run inside.

“I love you, Grace, and I know you are going to be thrilled here, you will meet someone that will be your best friend and will hold your hand when you don’t feel comfortable,” I say and she nods.

“Just like you and Auntie Mara?” She asks and I nod, smiling.

“Just like me and Auntie Mara,” I tell her and she smiles, hugging me tightly before she takes a deep breath, holding on to the straps from the backpack. Grace walks into school and I watch until I can’t see her anymore and I clear the single tear that fell from the corner of my eye.

I’ve known Mara my entire life. Our moms were best friends, so we grew up together, We are only three months apart and we were raised together as sisters, almost. Mara’s mom is like a grandmother to Grace and a mother to me. She took care of me when my parents died when I was ten years old. I had no other family and instead of allowing the system to take me; she became a foster parent so I could stay with her. She was never allowed to legally adopt me, but I know she sees me as a daughter.

A small cab ride later, I am standing in front of the stadium. I smile as I look up to see the New York Rangers’ symbol. I show my card to the security guard and he allows me to come inside. “Tatum, it’s a pleasure to finally meet you in person,” I hear and I look around to find my boss smiling at me.

I shake his hand as he guides me through the corridors and into his office. I know what I am getting myself into, especially the scandal involving Frederick Ashford. Every player has been put under a microscopic eye. I have been digging deep into everyone’s social media and I can see a few things that I will be deleting. The first thing I will do is hire a social media consultant company to keep track of all the players’ social media so I can focus on clearing the damage made by Frederick Ashford.

“Are you ready to meet the team?” He asks, and I nod as we walk straight to the changing rooms. Working with hockey teams since I finished college makes me highly aware of how these men behave, especially when they realize I am a woman. They think they can seduce their way into my life and make me take it easy on them, well that won’t be happening. I take my job seriously.

“Team, I would like you to meet Tatum, our new PR, and the person who will clean up your messed up lives and make you all regret the stupid things you post on your social media. Welcome her and please, behave,” the boss says as I scan the men in front of me, some with only a towel wrapped around their waists and others still in uniform. I have to say they are all in shape and I can understand why women fall for them so quickly.

Since I got away from Thatcher, I decided never to get involved with a hockey player ever again. They all have more money than sense and I don’t want to go through the same things I did before. I learned my lesson the hard way and I am not making the same mistakes all over again.