Page 69

Gwen

T ito’s was electric as I sat at a table, trying to check texts. I’d had a nice visit with Mia and now she was talking to Dean and some others.

Isabella

You are so a fashion disaster. I can’t believe you wore that to a press conference. Also, you were voted the game’s worst-dressed MASO. Do you need me to send you things? By the way, your hair is wavy .

She added a link to a post, ranking the outfits of the MASOs for the games played tonight. There was a picture of me in my jammie pants, hoodie, hat, and backpack. The caption was “ Not sure what player she belongs to, but she looks like she just got out of eight am calculus.”

I rolled my eyes. All the stuff I needed to do my hair was expensive. Mercy and Verity sat down and Verity handed me a beer. I showed her the article.

Verity took a sip of her fruity drink. “That’s funny. Look, they low-ranked every MASO who wore a jersey. Both Atty and I are near the bottom. Don’t know who she belongs to? You’re literally wearing Clark’s number in the photo.”

Whatever, anyone who ranked Verity and Atty near the bottom weren’t to be trusted.

Mercy rolled her eyes. “I’ll fix this.”

She got out her phone and commented, “She just got out of hockey practice. In case you didn’t notice, she changed into a pink mask and a Knights’ jersey later.”

“Thanks,” I laughed. Hopefully, my sister wouldn’t think I looked like a fashion disaster in our mom’s old dress. Kaiko picked it up today, and it was at Mercy’s. The alterations were more than I expected, but from the pictures it looked like she’d done an amazing job, especially with making it strapless.

“Why is your sister hating on your clothes? That’s a nice suit. I was sad when it got too short. Verity picked it out,” Mercy added.

“I know. I don’t get it. I love it. Thank you.”

“Isa’s a fashion snob who works for Vecci and thinks being badly dressed is worse than death. But she means well. The suit is nice, but not super couture or whatever her standard is.” Lenny took the stool next to me and handed me a box. “One pastrami sandwich, as promised. With extra pickles.”

“Lenny, what are you doing in New York?” I wasn’t expecting a sandwich tonight. Was the deli even open at this hour? He wore a dark suit, but stood out among all the other guys in suits.

One of these guys is not like the other.

“Authenticating paintings for an auction house.” He turned to Verity and Mercy. He gave Verity an appreciative look. “I’m Lenny.”

“Verity,” Verity replied, looking wary. “This is my sister Mercy. Gwen, your sister works for Vecci? ”

“Yeah, I think she designed that dress you wore in that last show. I don’t keep in close touch with my family, because they think boundaries are only for countries.” I grabbed a crunchy pickle spear and took a bite. Mmmm.

Verity snorted. “I get that.”

“I was watching the game with some clients in their box when you texted me. I’d been trying to figure out how to get down there and bother you. Is that Mia?” Lenny’s eyes fell on her as she talked to Dean, Gio’s arm around her.

“Yep.” I took a bite of my sandwich, which had the perfect ratio of pastrami to mustard. Lenny knew Mia and Gio from tagging along to stuff at Nonna’s over the years.

“Matty wants you to call him. Like now,” Lenny replied.

“Who are you?” Carlos stood there, frowning. “This is not Popi. Other Popi?”

“Popi’s bestie, so pretty much. Popito?” I laughed. “Most of the Knights think Matty is my dad.”

Carlos snorted. “ No. You need to work on your Spanish if you’re going to Mexico City next year.”

I nearly spit out my sandwich, and I took a big gulp of beer to wash it down. “Who says I’m going to Mexico City? I never reached five-foot-ten.”

Not that I was against it. I’d take any PHL team. Clark would fully support me. Like I’d support him if he went somewhere else. It was part of the job. Hopefully someone was watching me tonight and liked what they saw.

“Oh, the Tigres are still watching you, Mariquita. And that pink gear? You’re perfect. Besides, my cousin plays for them,” Carlos replied. “He tells me things. See, Lucky agrees. He’s proud of you, too.”

True. They were besties. I had gotten a text from an old teammate of mine who now played defense for Mexico City, and she’d seen me on TV tonight.

Not that I understood why pink gear made me more attractive to them as a player. But I’d take it.

I pretended to pet Lucky. “That means a lot, Lucky.”

Mercy turned and waved at someone. “Oh, there’s Kaiko.” She left the table, Carlos going with her, pretending to take Lucky with him.

“Nice to meet you.” Verity got her pink crutch and her fruity drink. “I’m going to find Grif.”

“Lenny, this sandwich is so good.” I took another bite. Yep, just what I needed.

“Um, who or what is Lucky?” Lenny’s eyebrows rose.

“Grif Graf’s imaginary cat.” I shrugged and ate a fry.

Dimitri eyed Lenny from across the room where he was with Carlos, Valya, and a bunch of other people. Kaiko and Mercy joined them.

“Why can’t I have my painting?” I popped another fry in my mouth.

Lenny took another fry and gave me a look. “Why do you think?”

My heart sank. Not everything Lenny did was legal.

“It’s real ,” Lenny replied softly. “But not stolen. Okay, maybe it was. The owners were shitty, and you deserved it more. However, your dads had a fit, since everything has to be above board with you. So they bought it.”

“Above board?” I finished my pickle.

“Don’t be coy, Buttons. I know you know what’s what. However, if you want to continue to Gwen to the Gweniest, I’d be careful what questions you ask,” he told me.

My belly twisted. I knew what people said about the dads. I’d seen things over the years. But no, I didn’t want to know.

Wow, Lenny had stolen a painting for me. How sweet. And the dads had bought it to make it legitimate. For me.

Huh.

Wait. The painting on my wall was real? Wow.

“I… I like my life.” I ate my other pickle, pondering this. “While I miss them, I text Matty a few times and suddenly I’m getting birthday presents at work when it’s not my birthday from people I hadn’t heard from in years.”

“They miss you. They are capable of respecting your boundaries, but you have to make them want to.” Lenny took a fry.

I grimaced. “I don’t have that kind of patience.”

“Who are you ?” Clark came over to the table.

“Lenny.” He eyed him. “Take good fucking care of her. I held her the day she was fucking born.”

“Oh. Lenny, your brother’s friend who bought your cards.” Clark nodded.

“Yep. The one and only. He’s in town for work. Saw me play, brought me a sandwich.” I pushed the box toward him and he took a pickle.

“Finish up and call Matty. He’s waiting,” Lenny added.

I crammed food in my face, while Clark pumped Lenny for embarrassing stories about me. Then I held up my phone. “It’s too loud right here. I’m going to go back by the bathrooms.”

Which was where I’d sneak calls when I worked here.

Clark frowned. “Should I come with you?”

“I’m fine.” I found that quiet place behind a ficus tree, where if you stood just right, the cameras didn’t see you–so you couldn’t get in trouble, as long as you kept it short and weren’t missed.

I called Matty, and it immediately switched to a video call. With a sigh, I fished earbuds out of my pocket. I’d already video chatted with half my university team. And talked to my host mom, who couldn’t stop squealing.

“Buttons.” Matty beamed at me on the screen. “I’m so fucking proud.”

“You are?” My eyes narrowed at the bookcases behind him. “You’re at the dads?”

“Yes, I was here when you texted. We watched you together and now they want to buy the Belugas.” He grinned.

My hand went to my face. “Please don’t.”

“But that would be fun. You played in a game!” Babo’s weathered face appeared on screen and my heart sank. Not because I didn’t want to talk to him, but due to how much he’d aged in three years.

“I did. Um, next time you come see me play, please ask me if I want to go to dinner. Coach might not let me, but I won’t be mad.” Now I felt awful, because they’d come to see me play and hadn’t approached me, in an attempt to honor my wishes for space.

He beamed; blue eyes sparkling. “I’d love that. Looks like you’re not near us until after the new year. You wore our present in the game. I’m so glad you liked it.”

“I love everything. Thank you.” I couldn’t help but smile at his excitement.

The phone got passed around as my other dads talked to me about the game and I couldn’t help but fill with delight. I’d been waiting for them to get excited about hockey with me for years.

But all of them seemed so old. Especially when Popi mentioned if I got good grades, he’d consider getting me a malamute puppy. Which was what I’d wanted when I was a teenager.

Papa took the phone. “Buttons. You looked great out there.”

“Thanks. I… I’m happy in New York. I’m finishing up at NYIT. Doing an internship. Hoping to get signed when I graduate.” I always wanted his approval most of all.

“I’m proud of you for getting into such a good university, and for doing so well on your own.” He looked the least old of everyone, even though they were all pretty similar in age. But I could see it in his hazel eyes, hear it in his voice.

He was proud of me? I’d take it.

His look grew sad. “I didn’t know you still wore pink for your mom when you played.”

Oh. They’d heard that.

“It’s been a while. I grew out of my pink stuff. Thank you for the new gear, I appreciate it. But my birthday is in February.” There. A boundary.

I waited for him to smash it.

“Okay.”

Okay? No, amused, is that so?

“I know you keep a disciplined schedule, which I appreciate, but you are invited to any and all holidays. Even if you can only stay a day. Mateo will help you with transportation if you need it,” Papa added.

No please. No pleading. But he was head alpha and a powerful man, who ran a big transportation company. This was as close as it got–because it wasn’t an edict. However, an offer to get my ass to Vancouver was thoughtful.

“Thank you. I’ll check. With hockey we don’t get much time off, even during winter break, since we still have games.” I wanted to say yes. Who knew how many holidays they had left?

But my family was like a riptide. One misstep and I’d be pulled under. I had to be cautious.

“Good.” He nodded. “The purple hair is nice.”

Matty took the phone from him and slipped into the other room.

“That was uncalled for.” I pouted, feeling so many things after a dad ambush.

“I needed you to see them. Please consider visiting.”

“I like my life.” And my bubble of ignorance.

“I know. It suits you. You can do your own thing and still see us. Promise. I’ll get your ticket if you want me to. Good night, Buttons.” He ended the call.

For a moment I sat there feeling everything all at once. Despite everything, I still loved my family. Even if the things people said about them were true. I didn’t want to be a part of that any more than I wanted conditions on love or money.

However, they’d seen me play. They told me they were proud. I needed that.

“Babe?” The voice came from the other side of the plant.

My body tensed, and I took out my earbuds. A hoodie-covered head poked over the plant, and turned, so I couldn’t see his face.

Even without that familiar fabric softener scent wafting toward me, I’d know it was him. I scowled. “Don’t babe me, Austin.”

Of course he’d show up. He knew this was where the Knights went after games from years of bartending here. He must have snuck in, otherwise someone would have texted me that they’d seen him. I texted Clark.

Me

Austin’s here. Still by the plant. Find me in five minutes.

“A shutout. Shit. What a debut game.” He leaned against the wall. “The NYIT game was good, too. You play like I remember. Back when you were good, back before you changed.”

Still sitting, I put my head on my knees, I also hit record on my phone and shoved it in my jacket pocket. Just in case. The accountant in me liked backup.

So he had been at the NYIT game. Huh. But he might have been in New York for sponsor things or something.

“It’s too bad that I couldn’t be the one to bring it out of you. It hurt me so fucking much that I couldn’t fix you after you got kidnapped. And that you didn’t trust me enough with what happened.” His shoulders slumped.

“You fixed me more than you know,” I said softly, belly churning. “I wouldn’t have made it without you. Mostly because you didn’t make me talk about it. I don’t even trust myself with it most of the time. But you’re not here to talk about that, are you?”

“No,” he admitted.

“I don’t want an apology, explanation, or your money. You're unredeemable in my mind and will never get another chance. What you did to me was shitty on so many levels,” I spat. “However, please let Windy know I didn’t murder you. His accusations are going to cause him trouble if he doesn’t stop.”

“Windy thinks what?” Disbelief rang through his voice.

“Did you even ever love me? I loved you with my very soul, Austin Blake. It breaks me up that I gave you everything and to you I was just your bang maid.” My voice shook.

I should leave. However, we were in a public place. Clark would come in a few minutes. Maybe I wanted a few answers…

“I loved you so much. It was like my heart got ripped from my chest when I knew it was over. I don’t want this life. I wanted a life with you and losing that chance hurt. Seeing you on the ice in a Knights’ jersey was a knife in the heart.” His dryer sheet scent grew salty as he continued to keep his back to me.

“Then why didn’t you fight for us? Five years, Austin.” I sniffed. “You simply gave up. Gave me up. Gave us up. For what?”

“You don’t understand what families like mine are like. I blew my one chance at escape. I can’t fight this.” Frustration leaked into his voice.

“Can’t or won’t?” I snapped. I understood more than he’d ever know. Also, never underestimate the power of a good spreadsheet.

“ Can’t. See, you don’t get it. I couldn’t take you with me, no matter how much I wanted to, and I’m so sorry.” His voice grew soft, and he turned toward me, the hood hiding his face.

“So, instead of having an adult conversation, you put me in the fucking hospital? Are you shitting my dick right now?” Next he was going to tell me he wore the skates tonight to let me know he still cared.

“I… I put you in the hospital?”

“What do you think throwing a skate at my head did?” I moved my bangs, so he could see my scar.

He sucked in a breath. “I… I didn’t know. I didn’t mean to go that far.”

“ That far ? You meant to hurt me? Of course, you didn’t know; you fled the state and changed your name.” Who was this alpha?

“No argument in all the world would make them change their minds. We had our chance, and we failed,” he told me.

My eyebrows rose. “Given who they are, do you think they’d actually let you play for another team?”

Those conditions felt like he’d been set up to fail. They were probably friends with the other team and made a deal or something shady like that.

“They wouldn’t do that.” He shook his head. “We failed, and I had to keep my word. I also couldn’t risk you following me into this life. There’s no place for you here. I know your boundaries. I was only going to hurt you enough for you to leave and never look back.”

His hand went to his face. “But then when you were calling Clark and leaving, I got so angry and I couldn’t help myself. The skates were right there, and then you ran, and well, the alpha in me got–”

“That is such a load of bullshit.” My hands fisted as I ached to punch him. I wasn’t to blame for him hurting me.

“I was trying to protect you,” he blurted, turning to face me, face still in shadow, though I could see the bruises from the game.

“Protect me by hurting me?” I scowled at him. How dumb could he get?

“Yes. You’re a good person and I wanted to protect you from this life I now have to lead. You have no idea about the world I live in. You try so hard, but they’d eat you alive. You’d never fit, and you’d be so fucking unhappy. Or you’d lose everything I love about you trying to. This life wrecked my mom, and that’s the last thing I’d ever want to do to you.” His voice broke.

Oh. I knew he loved his mom. It still didn’t excuse what he did.

“Did your mom even die? Or is she an asshole like your dad?” I snapped.

“She did die.” His voice broke. “She was a beta like you. My dad knew the family would be bad for her. But he ignored it, even when it was too late. I’ll never forgive him for it.” Anger wafted off him. “Or my grandfather. There’s no escaping them.”

“I was good enough for you when you needed me to help you pay tuition, even though your family owns a car company. Then you graduate and suddenly I’m not? Not to mention the family business is a hockey team . That’s not you having to give up your dreams. I wasn’t going to ask your family for a job. I know how to not be embarrassing in public. Also, we’d talked about an omega.” Would it have hurt him to have a conversation with me?

His laugh grew derisive. “No. You’ll never be good enough for them. There’s no place for you in my world. None. It’ll end like my mom. Or worse. Ris, my omega, will hate you. You’re not her people. Just like my dad’s omega hated my mom. In another life…” He sighed.

Things pulled together. Again, it might be an explanation, but it was no excuse.

“Save your bullshit.” Unfortunately, plenty of betas got dumped by their alphas once they’d outlived their usefulness.

I’d just never thought it would be me.

He flinched, and the hood fell back. His hair was neat and short, and his natural blond, which he hadn’t been in years. I saw the full impact of the bruises he’d gotten during the game. Wow, they’d gotten him good. His nose looked broken. He also had a beard.

“I… I’d hoped everything would work out. But I had to be prepared. See, you don’t get it,” he snapped.

“You didn’t talk to me. Was wrecking all my stuff necessary? I didn’t take you for petty–you know how little I have. That was the only photo I had of my mom. Also, canceling the payments you’d already made for my tuition was downright shitty. We have a fucking contract. You left me in a tough spot,” I admitted. I might as well let it all out.

His blue eyes widened. “Fuck. I forgot about the contract. I was trying to protect you. Erase the trail. I’ll pay you back. I wasn’t trying to use you; I just needed to figure out how to do it without anyone knowing.”

Um, sure.

“I don’t need your money.” My arms crossed over my chest.

“My family doesn’t know about you. I mean, they know I was with someone, but they were never interested enough to care. That’s why I deleted all my social media and reversed the charges. I didn’t want them to find you, or know you meant something to me. They can ruin your life, your career–and the Deloitte family loves to ruin people.”

What Kylee said to me made sense. Shit, I needed to email her.

“I have no idea who you are.” That hurt. While I’d hid a lot of my life from him, I never hid who I was.

Not to mention I’d been there with the asshole family of the entitled alpha that sought to destroy everything I loved.

“It was my brothers who trashed your stuff. I hid your hockey box so they wouldn’t ruin your rings.” His voice turned pleading like that excuse fixed everything.

While I appreciated that, I would’ve rather him protect the photo of my mom. Or maybe tell his brothers to stop.

“You can’t tell people I’m your ex. I don’t even know how you figured it out.” He sounded hurt. Austin always liked to think he was the smart one.

“I know what you look like playing hockey.” I rolled my eyes.

“Oh. Well, you shouldn’t have told Clark–or Ty.” A hint of anger rippled through his scent.

“Ty figured it out from your playing. You wore the skates I bought you and you pushed Clark while calling me sloppy seconds . Did you not think he’d figure it out? Your disguise is shitty.” My voice went incredulous. Clark had told me what happened when they fought at warm-ups.

“Oh. Um, my anger got the best of me. Again. My family can’t know. Your PHL career will be over. They can shadow-ban you, get you kicked out of school, make it impossible to get a job,” he told me.

“Your anger got the best of you? Well, maybe you need anger management classes–or alpha suppressants.” All the worry about my career and not a single worry about what it might do to him, given he was an alpha Deloitte, and I was just a beta.

“Yeah, like my family would be okay with that. I can’t believe you’re with Clark. You cheated on me with him, didn’t you?” He stroked his stupid beard.

The old accusation made my eyes roll. “No. I didn’t. But you cheated on me with Ris.”

“She’s an omega. It’s not cheating. I’ve known her forever. We weren’t promised until a couple of years ago.” There was no remorse in his voice.

Not cheating because she was an omega? What sort of bullshit was that?

“You were with me for five years.” I arched an eyebrow at him. “I don’t believe that they don’t know about me. How do you know they won’t come after me, regardless?”

“I changed my nicknames that I called you with each new hair color, made it sound like you were different girls, and played it off like it wasn’t serious.”

My head snapped over to him. “You couldn’t have told me any of this?”

I caught two unfamiliar scents and my body went on alert. Shit. This was not Clark coming to get me.

“I was trying to protect you,” he growled.

“Protect her from what?” Derick Deloitte, the eldest of the Deloitte brothers, sneered. He was taller and thinner than the other two, but still muscular. He was number 18, winger for the Gears. “This doesn’t sound like a blow job, does it, brother?” His short hair was the same shade of blond, but his eyes were brown.

“No, it doesn’t.” Tripp Deloitte was a little shorter and a lot stockier. His dirty-blond hair was long and hung in his blue eyes. Number 17 and co-captain with Derick.

Derick peered at me. “One of your bang maids is after you now that you’re famous and mad you lied?”

“That’s not what this is. She’s no one,” he blew off, sneering at me.

That didn’t hurt the way it should. I was nothing to Bronson Deloitte. If anything, I was disappointed in myself for thinking Austin loved me.

I stood and tried to get back to Clark. The two brothers blocked me.

“Let me pass,” I demanded

“Oh, I don’t think so.” Derick pinned me against the wall.

“Get your hands off me, Derick Deloitte, you don’t have permission to touch me,” I screamed, kneeing him in the balls, and ducking under him, needing to get past the plant, so that the cameras caught this.

I darted past Derick while Austin stood there like a lump. Tripp grabbed me.

“Tripp Deloitte don’t touch me, you neither Bronson Deloitte,” I shrieked as Derick grabbed me from behind, slammed me up against the wall and slapped a hand over my mouth, as I struggled and kicked, trying to scoot a little further against the wall, so I was firmly in view of the cameras.

While I might be hesitant to ruin Austin, I had no such qualms about Derick and Tripp.

“Don’t move.” Tripp slapped me hard across the face, both him and Derick making sure to stand where I couldn’t kick.

My cheek burned as I struggled, and he slapped me again.

“You don’t get a piece of him, you little beta whore,” Tripp growled. “Don’t forget that you signed a non-disclosure agreement.”

No, I didn’t. But I could see Austin getting backed into a corner and lying. Or even forging my signature.

My teeth clamped down on his hand and Derick yelped, letting go of my mouth as I screamed.

“Let go of my girl.” Tenzin punched him in the face.

Clark came running, Jonas and Dimitri with him.

My girl? Tenzin still thought of me that way? Those words warmed me.

“Gwen. I’m right here.” Clark came over to me, shielding me with his body.

“Don’t touch the fucking goalie.” Jonas punched Derick in the face.

Dimitri cornered Austin with his gigantic frame. “You should be ashamed of yourself, Austin .”

“There’s no fighting in here.” Ernie, my old boss, stormed over with the bouncers.

Derick slugged Jonas. “You’re mistaken. We’re the victims. Don’t you know who we are? This little beta whore here–”

“Gwen’s a lot of things. A whore isn’t one of them,” Ernie replied. “Austin, you have some nerve showing up here, then attacking someone, after what you did. Gwen, get some ice from the bar. You alphas need to take this outside. You Deloittes are banned, you too, Austin. Knights, this is a warning. No fighting in the bar. I’m only giving it to you, because you treat everyone nice.”

“I’m the goalie that kept you from scoring, you dipshits,” I spat. Ugh.

Wait, what did he do?

“Come on.” Clark shielded me and we got some ice from the bartender.

“Where’s Lenny? We need to get the footage before the Deloittes have it erased.” I took my phone out of my pocket and stopped the recording, immediately sending a copy to the place I kept such things. I looked around the bar.

“On it.” Mercy was right there, texting. “Those assfucks.”

I took some selfies and added them to my vault, then sent everything to Kylee and Stu that she’d asked for.

Carlos brought me a beer. “You okay?”

“Austin is a fucking knotwaffle.” I downed it, my mind still reeling from everything. He hurt me to protect me?

Matty

I’ll take care of him.

How did he know? But Lenny might be out back, beating the shit out of the Deloitte brothers.

Me

The Deloittes could ruin me and wreck my career in the PHL.

“I’m right here.” Clark wrapped his arms around me.

My body shuddered. “I’d finished talking to my dads. Austin wanted to talk. It cemented that he’s a knotwaffle, since he claimed he hit me to protect me from his family, since I’m not good enough for them. Then his brothers came and…”

“You’re safe.” He held me tight.

“Thank you. Do you want some ice for that black eye you got during the game?” I offered.

“It’s fine.” Clark held me tighter.

Tenzin came back. There was a bruise on his cheek that wasn’t there before, and he looked a little smug. “I’m right here. I won’t leave you, promise.”

“You won’t?” I left Clark’s arms and buried my face in Tenzin’s chest.

“No. I’m so sorry if at any point it felt like I did.” Tenzin’s arms wrapped around me. “I truly appreciate your patience and I apologize if I seem distant. Things have been hectic and no, I’m not questioning whether I want to be with you and Clark. I promise. If anything, I’ve been trying to make myself worthy of you.”

“Are you?” I peeked up at him. Everything he said soothed my ragged soul, and I desperately wanted it to be the truth. “I’ve missed you. It feels like you’re not even my friend anymore.”

“I’m so sorry, Precious,” he murmured. “I didn’t intend to hurt you. You both mean so much to me.”

The look on Clark’s face said it all–he was hurt by Tenzin too.

“It’s not me? I mean, I’d understand if it was, but I’d want you to tell me instead of stringing me along or shutting me out.” I buried my face in his chest again. He smelled so good.

“It’s not you. I just needed to get my shit together. I still don’t have it together, honestly. But I miss you.”

The rawness of it hurt my heart.

“I don’t have my shit together either, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to be with both of you,” I told them, reaching for Clark’s hand.

“I want to be with both of you.” Clark’s voice was raw, honest. “Stay with us.”

“I will. After this we can go home and talk this all out,” Tenzin offered.

“I’d like that,” Clark said softly. “This only works if we communicate. Which differs from talking.”

Tenzin looked abashed, and I got the feeling something may have happened between them to instigate this.

“I want back what we had. I want to hold hands and watch movies and go dancing. I know we’re all so much busier now, but you know what I mean, right?” Eyes tearing, I gazed up at Tenzin.

“I do. And I want it too.” He pulled Clark to us.

Ernie came over to me. “You okay?”

“I am. But what did Austin do? I’m guessing it wasn’t just ditching his shifts, because you let me in here,” I replied.

“I regret firing you. I was mad at him and thought you were helping him steal booze and short tips.” His look went abashed. “Found out who was helping him and it wasn’t you. Which was why I asked you back.”

Asking me to fill in was asking me back? Okey dokey.

“He was stealing?” It was weird that I didn’t know that, but then I’d missed so fucking much.

“Glad you’re okay.” My old boss awkwardly nodded and went back to work.

For a long time I let the two of them hold me tight in the bar. Mia and her pack said goodbye and left. Some others went home as well. Lenny was nowhere to be seen. Oh well.

“I got it, and sent it to you,” Mercy told me, returning. “My friend is super good at shit like that.”

“Thank you,” I told her. I found it and put it with everything else.

“Are you ready to go home?” Clark asked. “You have work and class tomorrow.”

“I do.” I looked at Tenzin and he nodded. Whoops, I never did my reading for class. I’d have to squeeze it in tomorrow.

We said our goodbyes. Tenzin looked at Clark and me as we got onto the bike.

“Be careful?” Tenzin asked. “I’ll knock on your door with your things and we’ll talk.”

“See you there.” I waved. I put on my helmet, wrapped my arms around Clark, and we set off. “Talking to him is good, right?” I said through the com system. I liked that we could talk to each other.

“It is. I don’t think he realized he was hurting us,” he said as we made our way through the streets of New York. “I’m curious about what has been keeping him so busy. He mentioned something about family stuff. I hope his sister is okay.”

“Oh, me, too.” I liked her. “Something’s going on and I’m glad he’s ready to talk about it. I want to be there for him.”

If he wanted to do more than talk I’d be okay with it.

“Are you okay? I can’t believe Austin’s brothers did that. What did Austin say to you?”

I gave him a short version. “No apology. No proper explanation. Just that he hurt me to protect me.”

“That is unbelievable. I’m just glad you’re okay,” he told me.

Me, too. With three alphas that could have gotten out of hand, quickly.

“I… I hope we can set things right with Tens,” I sighed.

“If he doesn’t spend the night with us, don’t be sad. I’ve got you.”

“Yeah?” My core warmed. I was usually horny after a game, and tonight was no exception.

“Yeah. Grif told me that, um, this is a Knights thing. Apparently goalies who get shutouts get oral from their partners. Not that I need a reason to go down on you. But…” Clark’s head ducked.

I sucked in a breath. “Oooh, I’ll take that.”

Out of nowhere, a car flew at us.

“Fucking shit, what is this guy doing?” Clark swore. He swerved as I held on tight.

A crashing sound ricocheted thought the air and everything went black.