Page 2 of The Break Out (Denver Dragons #3)

2

I start my morning on social media, seeing what the latest news is on trades in the league since the trade deadline is approaching. There are some rumors of me getting traded to Denver but I’m hoping that’s all they are. I like L.A. I don’t want to leave. There are models, actresses, hot chicks of any kind I could ever want. Whenever I need a woman in my bed. I have one. Sure, I can get that anywhere, there’s just more here. Plus, Denver hates us, and I know it would cause issues being there. And it’s fucking cold. I’ll stick with California.

There aren’t any missed calls from my agent or anyone on the team, so I feel like I’m safe for another day. There are plenty of accounts online talking about the possibility and benefits to trading me along with a handful of other players from various teams.

Tossing my phone aside, I get up to brush my teeth and grab my gym bag before heading to morning skate at the practice arena.

We run some drills on the ice and of course Kenneth Richardson starts bitching about something to one of the assistant coaches. We all have our reputations, and mine is far from great, but he’s the worst.

“Entitled prick,” I mumble, skating past him to continue what I was doing.

“You got something you want to say to me, Wheeler?” he calls out, turning his rage from our assistant coach onto me.

“Get back to practice,” I call back right before shooting the puck past our goalie right into the net.

“Wheeler!” Coach calls from the bench.

I skate over. “What’s up?”

“We just got the news, pack up your stuff you’ve been traded.”

I drop my stick. “Fuck. Where?”

I can see he tries to stop the cringe from taking over his face but fails miserably. “Denver.”

Fucking trades. It all happens behind closed doors like we are some sort of pawn to do with what they will. Here I am, having to uproot my entire life, get on a plane to an entirely new place and get ready to play with a whole new team in the morning.

This is the second time I’ve been traded since entering the NHL. The first time, I was happy to get to L.A. and planned to spend the rest of my career with this team .

Which clearly isn’t in the cards for me now.

Back home, I pack up my really important shit and plan for a moving company to come get the rest. I’ll end up staying in a hotel until I can find somewhere to live. A hotel the league pays for which means it’s nice as fuck. Too bad that still doesn’t take away the sting that I’m headed to Denver.

Fucking Denver. It’s pretty I guess, but it’s cold and all those damn Dragons players are dicks. Yet, they’re my new team and now I’m considered a Dragon as well.

The second I step off the plane I’m pissed off. The strong wind is whipping me in the face and chilling me even through my jacket, which is clearly not thick enough for my new environment. I continue to be pissed off as I get my rental car while I wait for mine to be delivered.

Once I’m at my hotel room I toss my bag onto the bed and scowl at it. Tomorrow is going to fucking suck.

Would ya look at that? It already sucks.

I showed up to the practice arena to scowls and quiet mumbles of shit that just pissed me off more. I try not to pay attention to any of my new teammates while I gear up. Right before I head out to the ice, I’m approached by the team captain, Brent Collee.

“Wheeler,” he greets, completely straight faced .

I’m pretty sure I fought him last season, and just grunt in response.

“Look, I know our teams haven’t always gotten along. But you’re not with them anymore. You’re with us. So, let’s all put the shit behind us and focus on being a team,” Collee says.

I narrow my eyes at him. “I may have to wear your jersey, but I’ll never accept being a part of this team.”

Without giving him a chance to respond, I push past him and head out onto the ice.

I’m not here to make friends. I’m here to do my job, play hockey, and get paid. I’ll play my best, because no matter what I still want to win. But I’m not going to make up for anyone else’s shitty playing and I’m not going to hold anyone’s hand out there.

The coaches tell me what drills to run, and I do it without a word. The looks continue, but no one says anything to me. Just the way I want it to be. We have a game tonight and I expect to get benched for it since I just got here, but that’s not what happens.

As I’m leaving the ice, Coach stops me.

“Third line with Merrick,” he says, naming another defenseman.

I grunt in response before heading back to the locker room to shower and get the fuck out of here.

Some of the guys are talking to each other, but I do my best to ignore them. Until I hear Dumont talking to Collee and I hear a familiar name come out of his mouth .

“When do you think you’ll see Brynn again?”

Brynn.

The baby Collee.

I smile to myself thinking of the leggy blonde. She’s hot as fuck and wants nothing to do with me. I forgot she’s my new captain’s little sister. She was around a lot when Spencer was dating my teammate, Kenneth. I’ve always tried to get into Brynn’s bed, but she’s never budged. It kind of became a mission for me to make it happen.

“She’s talking about moving here with Spencer once the tour is over,” Collee responds.

“Chandler will love that, especially with the baby on the way.”

I grimace thinking of having a kid. Sounds like being tied down which is not something that’s in my future. I also know the rumors about some of the guys on this team sharing a girl. Fucking weird.

“Yeah, she’s going to want to be around and since this is where Spencer will be, it kind of works out.”

Smirking as I head to the showers, I think about how it may kind of work out for me as well. Maybe Denver won’t be so bad at all. Especially if I can manage to fuck my captain’s sister. Things may get a little fun around here.