Page 21 of Devil on Skates

IRINA

I TRY TO PUSH THROUGH the crowd in the arena and find Xavier. My mind’s stuck replaying what happened. For some reason, he just lost it and attacked that guy. Whatever set him off had to be huge because he’d always been so calm on the ice every time I watched him play.

I check my phone again, but Xavier still hasn’t texted me back to tell me where I should meet with him. Maybe he’s worried his dad will want to talk to him again, and he doesn’t want me to witness that. But I know he needs me, and I want to be there for him, because something definitely happened.

“Ms. Marshall?” An unfamiliar voice stops me right in my tracks.

I turn around and see an older man in a suit.

He’s flanked by two big security guys who look like they mean business.

He carries himself with a confidence that borders on entitlement, and the way he sizes me up immediately puts me on edge.

How does he know who I am? Is he one of my dad’s friends or something?

“Yes?” I say, already looking around for a quick exit.

Him having his security around makes this feel way more official and a little bit threatening.

“Noel Costello,” he says, holding out his hand. “Keith’s father. We should talk.”

My pulse speeds up. Keith’s dad? Uh, oh. That’s not good. Somehow, I managed to avoid meeting him, but now it’s too late to disappear somewhere. What is he even doing here?

“Let’s go somewhere more private.” He gestures toward a hallway away from the main crowd.

The security guys move forward, which makes it obvious refusing isn’t really an option.

We reach a small conference room that’s usually reserved for post-game interviews. The guards stay outside. When Costello shuts the door behind us, I swallow hard.

“My son’s heartbroken,” he says, leaning on the table instead of sitting down, his gaze narrowed at me. “What you did to him was cruel.”

“It wasn’t my intention,” I say, licking my dry lips. “I never wanted—”

“I don’t care. All I want is for Keith to be happy. And for reasons I don’t fully understand, he wants you. It’ll probably pass, but until then, he wants you and he’ll have you.”

His tone and the implication send a chill down my spine. This isn’t just a dad worried about his kid’s feelings. He doesn’t care about anything or anyone except for what he wants, and I bet no one has ever refused him.

“I have an offer for you.” He straightens, pulling an envelope from his jacket. “One that could work out for everyone if you’re smart enough.”

My throat goes dry as he puts the envelope on the table. “What kind of offer?”

He nudges the envelope toward me. “A very generous one. Plus, I’m willing to offer Mr. Gallagher a contract with the team I own. Entry level, of course, but with real chances to move up.”

Money for me, and a shot at a career for Xavier, despite what happened today. It sounds good on paper, but I know better than to trust easy deals from people like Costello.

“And what do I have to do in return?” I ask, keeping my hand away from the envelope.

“It’s simple,” he says. “Cut all contact with Xavier Gallagher. You’ll get back together with my son.

And you won’t tell anyone, especially Keith or Xavier, about this deal.

” His smile is as unnerving as the glint in his dark eyes.

“You get financial freedom, Xavier gets his career, and Keith gets what he wants. Everyone wins.”

I gape at him. Financial freedom means escaping my dad’s control and solving my housing and school worries. For Xavier, the contract means fulfillment of his dreams and a way out from under his dad’s thumb.

But the cost? Cutting things off with Xavier for good, going back to a relationship based on control, and hiding the truth? That feels impossible. The past week with Xavier showed me acceptance, real understanding, and support that didn’t come with any conditions.

The talks in his dorm and sharing everything... His rare openness about his dad’s controlling tendencies... The way Xavier really listens when I share my doubts, never brushing me off. The simple comfort of having him close whenever I need him.

I’ve fallen for him. It’s something I didn’t really want to admit to myself, but now that I think about potentially losing him, it scares me to death.

“And if I refuse?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady and my face expressionless.

Costello’s smile fades, his gaze turning cold. “Then I’ll make sure Xavier never plays hockey again. Given how he behaved today, that won’t be hard to achieve at all.”

I gasp. Taking hockey away from Xavier forever would destroy him completely.

“You want me to break Xavier’s heart to save his career,” I breathe.

“I’m offering you a chance to secure both your futures, but separately. Be practical, not romantic. You’ve only known each other for... what? A month? Two? It’s hardly a life decision.”

Dismissing my relationship with Xavier as if it’s nothing stings. And yeah, it’s all new, but it’s also so intense and powerful that time doesn’t matter.

The choice is brutal. Sacrifice my relationship with Xavier to save his career, or keep us together and ruin his future.

Someone’s losing something essential either way.

Would Xavier hate me if I told him my choice is the reason why he can no longer play hockey?

Maybe I wouldn’t even have him then, and I’d be all alone.

It’s totally unfair, but I know Costello has the power to follow through. He owns the Stonebrook Shadows, has connections, and knows how to make threats stick.

“Can I think about it?” I ask, trying to buy some time.

“No.” His gaze holds mine. “This offer ends when you leave this room. Decide now. Either you go with my men to your new room on Keith’s campus and never contact Xavier again, or you leave alone to whatever uncertain future awaits you both.”

The pressure’s designed to overwhelm me, and it’s working. I can’t stop thinking about Xavier and how much hockey means to him.

If I say no , his career will be over before it even properly started. And if I say yes, I’ll lose him and I won’t even be able to tell him why. As for me, I’ll have to pretend to be Keith’s girlfriend, which will please my dad, but it’ll make me unhappy.

But I don’t actually have a choice, do I? Costello can make our lives hell, and even if Xavier wouldn’t be immediately mad at me, he would probably resent me later, once the reality of losing hockey fully sank in.

I love him too much, and that’s why I want him to be happy and fulfill his dreams. He’s too good a player for his career to end like this. And maybe our relationship wouldn’t have survived the test of time anyway.

“I accept,” I say, before I change my mind. “But I want to break up with him properly. He deserves that.”

Costello’s lips spread into a smile. “No. That won’t happen. Consider it payback for what you both did to my son. Disappearing without an explanation will hurt him. That’s the consequence.”

He’s a cruel man and punishing both of us through me. It’s not just about making a business-like deal with me to make his son happy. It’s revenge too.

“My men will make sure you don’t violate our agreement,” he says. “They’ll take you to your room. You’ll be monitored at all times. No slip-ups, or it all ends.”

The thought of being watched and controlled like that makes my skin crawl. I’ll be like a prisoner, but there’s nothing I can do.

“Do we have a deal?” Costello holds out his hand again, as if this is all just a normal business deal.

I nod. When he shakes my hand, it feels all kinds of wrong.

“Good,” he says. “This is just the beginning. You get the money and all the benefits that come with dating a Costello, Xavier gets a shot at his career, and my son gets what he wants. Everyone wins.”

If he thinks this is a win for me, he’s absolutely crazy. Tears fill the corners of my eyes, but I don’t want to let them fall in front of him. My phone buzzes, but I know I won’t be able to answer any of Xavier’s texts anymore.

I’ll disappear from his life with no explanation and no closure. He’ll think the worst of me and never find out that I’m walking away to protect him. He’ll never know about my sacrifice because he’ll think I’m some kind of monster who toyed with him and ditched him for another guy.

A tear slides down my cheek. At least Xavier will be fine, and he’ll have his career. Soon, he’ll forget all about me and focus on becoming the player he was always meant to be.

And I...

I’ll completely lose myself and everything that’s ever mattered to me, including my freedom.