Page 31

THIRTY

declan

We fought like hell against Detroit and still lost. It’s a shitty start to this road trip. It was made even shittier when Willa told me everything that went down at Maverick’s house. I’ve been tossing and turning for over an hour. What if something happened, and I wasn’t home?

The lights in the hotel room turn on, making me groan and bury my face in my pillow. “Why?” I complain.

“What’s going on? I can’t sleep while you’re over there cosplaying a rotisserie chicken.”

I laugh and throw my pillow at Ben. “I’m just really worried about things that went down at home,” I explain. I really like Ben. He’s become a good friend. I don’t know him well enough to let him in on everything, though.

“Is Willa okay?” he asks, genuine concern in his tone.

“She’s good, man.” I smile, so he knows I mean it. “She just had a rough night, and I’m not there.”

Ben nods. “I get it. She’s strong, though. She can handle it.”

“Did you guys meet at the last game?” I ask him.

He shakes his head. “She’s a female drummer in an industry dominated by men and married to your dumbass.” I laugh at his accurate and insulting assessment. “I also overheard her letting the ref know exactly what she thought of his calls at the last game.”

I belly laugh at that. “You’re right. I wouldn’t cross her.”

“Can we sleep now?”

“Yeah. Sorry for keeping you up.” He turns the light out instead of answering me. “Can I have my pillow back?” My face catches it with an oof a moment later.

“Gideon!” I yell, jogging after my team captain. He stops and waits for me. I had another concern last night that I didn’t think Ben could help me with.

“Hurry up, Dec. You’re delaying breakfast, and I’m starving.”

“How close are you with your agent?” I ask him when I get to his side.

“She’s nice, and I’ve been working with her since I signed eleven years ago. I don’t talk to her outside of work-related things, if that’s what you mean.”

“Would it be weird if you did?” I ask.

He frowns. “Are you trying to ask Diego to be your friend?”

“Fuck no. He’s great at what he does, but I don’t like him.”

“I’m going to need your help on this one, buddy.”

“Willa’s agent is always with them. Well, not always. But like kind of a lot.” When she told me he was there last night, I got weirded out. “They haven’t even known him very long. He was at Thanksgiving with us.” I leave out that he was invited, and I wasn’t.

“Are you worried about him and Willa?” Gideon asks slowly.

I roll my eyes. “Not in that way. I’m just worried he’s taking advantage or something.”

“Why don’t you talk to Willa about it?”

“I needed another opinion.”

“Just talk to her. But try to make more sense when you do.” He claps me on the shoulder and walks away. I go to follow him, but just as I take my first step, my phone rings. My stomach growls in protest, but when I see it’s Willa, I answer it.

“Good morning, Princess.”

“Dec,” she says, her voice sounding strange. I freeze in my tracks.

“What’s wrong? Did she come back?”

“I’m okay, Declan. But the night guard, Dean, was found dead in the guard house this morning.”

“What happened? Did he have a heart attack or something?” I ask. Dean was a nice guy, but he was in his sixties and always eating cheeseburgers.

“Uh, no.” That’s all she offers, and I can tell it’s something much worse that she doesn’t want to tell me.

“I’m coming home.” I turn on the spot and march back to my room.

“You’re not coming home. You have three more games,” she protests.

“Fuck hockey. You’re in danger.” I plow through the door to my room, almost knocking Ben over. He looks like he’s about to let me have it until he sees my face. His brows shoot up, and he follows me back towards the beds.

“I’m fine. Hey! Callahan, give me that back!”

“Hey Dec, it’s Cal. I’ve got our girl handled. You don’t have to come back.”

“I can’t stay here while my wife could be in danger, Cal,” I say while throwing my clothes into my duffel bag.

“I get it, but I hired around the clock security, and Willa agreed to stay with Belle and Kai until you’re home.”

“Agreed isn’t the right word. Forced is better. Or threatened. That’s a better one,” Willa yells.

“How did Dean die, Cal?” I ask, pausing my packing. “Cal,” I repeat when he doesn’t answer right away.

He sighs. “His throat was slit.”

“I’m coming home.” I hang my phone up and throw the last of my things into my bag.

“Is everything okay?” Ben asks, following me out the door.

“Someone killed the security guard at our gated community last night. Maverick’s mother also showed up last night. And I was playing a fucking game.” I’m aware the anger I’m feeling shouldn’t be directed at Ben, but I can’t stomp it down right now.

Ben grabs my elbow to stop me. “I’m your friend, Dec. Let’s figure this out.”

“What’s there to figure out?” I ask, taking a deep breath to calm myself.

“Today is a travel day, right? Your game isn’t until seven tomorrow night. If we get you on a flight soon, you can be back in time to play. We just need to talk to Coach.”

“We? Are you coming with me?” It would be nice to have someone with me while I panic the entire flight to Boston.

Ben shakes his head. “I’ll go with you to talk to Coach, but I have to coordinate with the social media people. We’re doing some travel stuff so they can post behind-the-scenes content. Kind of like what you guys are like off the ice.”

I nod and take off at a brisk pace to find Coach. Which isn’t too hard. He’s always at breakfast with the team. He sees me coming and immediately gets up from the table and meets me.

“What’s going on, Monroe?” he asks.

“I need to fly home. I’ll be back by tomorrow night’s game.” I think. “You can bench me if you need to.” Coach frowns, and I can see Ben roll his eyes.

“Declan is trying to tell you that there was a murder in his neighborhood, and he’s freaking out and needs to check on his wife.” Ben explains for me.

Coach’s eyebrows fly into his hairline. “Is Willa alright?” he asks. I appreciate him more than he knows. There are plenty of coaches who would be far more concerned with the game, but he genuinely cares about his players.

“She says she is.”

“He needs to go see her or he’s going to keep freaking out. Then he’ll play like shit for the rest of the time we’re on the road.” Ben says, holding up his phone. “I got him a flight out in two hours. The return flight lands three hours before he needs to be on the ice.”

Coach examines Ben with keen eyes before turning them on me. “What were you going to do if I said no?”

“Go anyway,” I say immediately.

Coach nods, spinning the gold band on his left hand. “Check on Willa and get your ass back here. Bring her with you if you need to, but you will be on that ice tomorrow night.”

“Thank you, sir!”

“I sent you your tickets. There’s an Uber waiting for you out front. You need to go now,” Ben says, shoving me towards the door.

“You’re a good friend!” I shout over my shoulder as I run out of the hotel.

I’m coming, Princess.