Total pages in book: 126
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 121734 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 609(@200wpm)___ 487(@250wpm)___ 406(@300wpm)
He snarled, lunging for me, but Estaban still held him back. “You fucking heard me. You were always obsessed with my family. What? You had to find the female version of me to fuc—”
I walloped him.
He didn’t see it coming. Estaban didn’t see it coming. And before either could recover, someone yanked Estaban out of the way and I hit Daniel again, hard enough that he tipped over into our bench. I followed, going for him again, except this time, he shook it off enough to start fighting back.
Finally. Fucking finally. I had my hands on him, and I could hit him all I wanted because of what he’d said. That was on tape. He’d come at me after the game was done. He’d shoved me from behind. I was due this fight, and I was going to deliver.
I kept hitting him, backing him all the way to the opening of our tunnel. Everyone had scattered. I felt hands trying to get between us and peel me away, but I wasn’t budging. It felt good to hit him.
I wailed on him until finally someone got between us, managing to pull both of us away.
Daniel laughed, shaking his head and wiping a hand over his mouth. “What? You learn how to fight from my siste—”
I lunged for him again, but there were too many people between us. They held me back, but not him anymore. He straightened, unable to hold back a wince, and shook out his hand.
“You’re done, Connors.”
He laughed again. “Yeah?” He looked like he might chirp some more, but then his eyes went evil. Shit. He was going to hit me, and I couldn’t defend myself. The people holding me back were holding my arms.
He reared back, and I prepared to take it, trying to maneuver my face so he would only get the side.
“Daniel!” Rain’s voice came across the ice.
He faltered, turning to see her a few yards away, standing behind a couple of the assistant coaches. Her face was set in a fierce scowl, but she wasn’t scared. She was pissed.
Daniel tipped his head back, more of that toxic laughter spilling from him. “Don’t tell me you’re on your back for all of the—”
BAM!
Daniel shut up and he fell down, because he’d just been laid out by Meester.
“Do us all a favor,” Meester said calmly, standing over him. “Please shut the fuck up. Loser.” He twisted in Rain’s direction. “Think I got this assertive thing down now. Thanks, Rain.”
He walked past her to the locker room.
She stared at her brother, blinking in shock.
The rest of the Montreal team swarmed in to help their teammate, and the assistant coaches motioned for us to get to the locker room. The crowd was going insane. We could hear them all the way down into the tunnel. It felt like the ceiling was going to cave in.
Coach Hines called us in. “We need our three stars. Bruge, you’re third. Brick, you’re second. Griffin, you’re first. Toss your stuffed wolves to the fans and get your asses back in here.”
74
RAIN
Iwas coming from my office when I saw Coach Hines in the hallway. He shook his head. “That was a shitshow.”
I nodded. “Yes. It was.”
He broke out in a grin. “But fuck if it wasn’t satisfying to see Griffin let loose.”
I laughed.
“Don’t tell anyone I said that.” He gestured toward the locker rooms. “Your boy’s in with Hunter, getting his hands looked at. Again. And go home. Go celebrate the win tonight. It’s still the holiday.”
“Sounds good, Coach.”
He waved and ducked into his office. I didn’t understand the “again” part of what he’d said, but I headed for the trainer’s room, where I saw him fussing over Tyler’s hands.
“You can’t keep doing this to your hands,” Hunter said. “We need your hands. You need your hands. I shouldn’t have to tell you that.”
Tyler grimaced as he tried flexing his knuckles, but they were wrapped, with ice packs layered in the folds.
“You laid out my other brother, and I didn’t know about it?” I asked.
Hunter shrieked, jumping and whirling around. “Oh! You scared me.” Tyler grinned as Hunter stepped aside. “He’s all yours.”
Hunter went out, closing the door behind him. When I didn’t move right away, Tyler made a grunting sound and widened his legs. “Get over here.”
I lingered.
He made another exasperated sound and leaned forward, hooking a finger in my pants. He tugged me between his legs. Once I was there, he closed them behind me and pressed me against his chest. His arms went over my shoulders. “There,” he said softly. His eyes traced my face, pausing on my lips. “Right where I will always want you.”
My body heated. “I don’t think you should say things like that when we’re in the locker room.”
“We’re not in the locker room. We’re in the trainer’s room, which Hunter just turned over to us. He closed the door. Hunter never closes the door.” Tyler tightened his legs around me and moved in to nuzzle my throat. “I missed you.”