Chapter 15 - The Son He Was Willing to LoseThe argument had started when Everett found Trent speaking with investigators.

By the time Leo arrived, students surrounded the edge of the stadium parking lot.

Nobody approached.

Everyone recorded.

Everett stood beside his black SUV.

“You think cooperating makes you innocent?”

Trent faced him.

“No.”

“Good. Because it doesn’t.”

“I never said it did.”

“You assaulted a student.”

“I know.”

“You destroyed university property.”

“I know.”

“And now you’re trying to blame me.”

Trent laughed bitterly.

“That’s what this is about?”

Everett lowered his voice.

“You have no idea what you are doing.”

“I know exactly what I’m doing.”

Trent held up a document.

Everett’s face changed.

Even from thirty feet away, Leo noticed.

“What is that?” Brooke whispered.

Leo knew.

The list Trent had copied from his father’s office.

The seven universities.

Trent turned toward the gathered students.

“My father knew Coach Voss was going to confront Leo.”

Everett stepped forward.

“Stop.”

Trent continued.

“He told me to do what Voss said.”

“Trent.”

“He knew I was angry at Leo.”

Everett grabbed his son’s arm.

Trent pulled free.

Students reacted.

Agent Ortiz moved closer but didn’t intervene yet.

Trent’s voice grew louder.

“I thought Leo was sabotaging football players because that’s what they told me.”

Everett said through clenched teeth:

“Your attorney advised you not to discuss this.”

“My attorney works for you.”

“That is enough.”

“No.”

Trent looked toward Leo.

Their eyes met.

“I broke his crutch.”

The parking lot went quiet.

“I knocked him down.”

Everett hissed, “Everyone saw the video.”

“Yeah.”

Trent swallowed.

“So I’m not going to stand here and pretend I didn’t.”

Leo said nothing.

Trent turned back to the crowd.

“But my father knew they wanted Leo distracted.”

Everett stepped toward him again.

Agent Ortiz blocked his path.

“Mr. Holloway.”

Everett stopped.

Trent held up the list.

“This came from his office.”

Everett’s attorney pushed through the crowd.

“My client will make no further statements.”

Trent laughed.

“I’m not your client.”

“Trent—”

“No.”

He walked to Agent Ortiz.

Then handed her the original paper.

“This is everything I copied.”

Everett’s face went white.

For the first time, Leo saw fear.

Not anger.

Fear.

Agent Ortiz accepted the evidence.

Everett stared at Trent.

“You have just destroyed this family.”

Trent’s expression changed.

“No.”

He looked at Leo’s temporary crutches.

Then at the students whose careers had nearly disappeared.

“I think you did that a long time ago.”

Everett turned toward the SUV.

Agent Ortiz spoke.

“Mr. Holloway, don’t leave.”

He stopped.

“Am I under arrest?”

“Not at this time.”

“Then move.”

She did.

Everett entered the vehicle and left.

The crowd remained silent.

Trent stood alone.

Nobody applauded.

That mattered.

This was not a redemption movie.

One truthful act did not erase what he had done.

Trent seemed to understand.

He walked toward Leo.

Stopped several feet away.

Security officers immediately moved between them.

Trent kept his distance.

“I gave them everything.”

Leo nodded.

“I heard.”

“I’ll testify.”

“Good.”

Trent looked around.

“Do you hate me?”

Brooke stared at him like she couldn’t believe he had asked.

Leo considered the question.

“No.”

Trent looked surprised.

Leo continued.

“Hating you would require thinking about you much more than I want to.”

Brooke covered a laugh.

Even one security officer looked away.

Trent almost smiled.

Then Leo added:

“But I don’t forgive you either.”

The smile disappeared.

“You shouldn’t.”

Leo adjusted his crutch.

“What happens next is consequences.”

Trent nodded.

For the first time, he didn’t argue.

As security escorted him away, Marcus approached Leo.

“That was savage.”

“It was accurate.”

Agent Ortiz walked over.

“This document helps.”

“How much?”

“A lot.”

“Enough?”

“Investigations don’t work like movies, Leo.”

“I’m beginning to notice.”

She glanced toward the road where Everett’s SUV had disappeared.

“But people who believe they’re untouchable make mistakes when they realize someone close to them has stopped protecting them.”

Leo looked toward Trent.

Everett had spent years teaching his son loyalty.

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He had simply never taught him the difference between loyalty and obedience.

Now the distinction might bring down everything Everett built.