Page 65 of Wicked Ends (Hellions of Hade Harbor #4)
Marcus
We met the Raptors again in the final match of the season. The conference couldn’t seem to stop pushing us together, and I couldn’t have been more satisfied with that. It was time to show Brody Sinclair that the Hellions were a force to be reckoned with.
“We will have a clean game tonight, Marcus,” Coach Williams warned me.
“You know this is hockey, right?” I grinned back at him.
He sighed. “Fine, but make sure it’s your team who gets in fights, not you. I’ve had enough of subbing in the backup goalie.” Coach’s grimace made it clear how much he ’d missed having the team at its best.
“Don’t worry, Coach, I’ve got my cool back.” I slapped him on the shoulder, an informality he only allowed me.
I turned to see the other team streaming onto the ice, ready to warm up with the rest of us.
Brody looked around for me and inclined his head as soon as our eyes met.
I skated leisurely in his direction. “Sinclair, ready to get your ass handed to you?”
His eyes narrowed. “I should be asking you. I’m anticipating a repeat of last time we met, seeing as I’m sure you’re just as hotheaded and jealous.”
I put a hand on my chest, as if disbelieving. “Me? Jealous? I’m not sure what you mean.”
Brody’s lips lifted in a smirk. “Really, well, in that case, you pulled off a stellar performance. You should consider acting, since this hockey thing doesn’t seem likely to work out for you.”
“Oh, I’m not worried about hockey, or jealousy either. I’m looking forward to showing you.”
“So, you’ve not got your panties in a twist over your dumpy little professor anymore?”
I sighed. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but lies will never hurt me. And she’s not just my professor anymore, she’s my fiancée, so make sure to address her properly when you try to get a rise out of me.
You know that players who resort to underhanded tactics like distraction are compensating for being talentless hacks, right? ”
A muscle tightened in Brody’s jaw. I’d pissed him off. Good.
“You’re getting married? What kind of woman would marry a lowlife with a biker gang brother?”
I tutted. “My, my, already switching tactics to piss me off. Embarrassing. I guess you know how shit a player you are, and the rest of your team. I’ll make that clear to every single person here tonight.”
“Bring it on, Bailey.”
“With pleasure, Sinclair.”
With a shit-eating grin, I skated away and joined my friends warming up.
I was so going to have fun with this.
The game was fast-paced and tight, until near the end.
Despite my fighting words to Brody earlier, the Raptors were a good team.
Very good, and the Sinclair brothers were the best of them.
But when Cayden scored early in the third period, the energy in the rink changed, and the Hellions took that momentum and used it to smash toward the end.
We won three up, and I made sure to pass close to Brody on my way off the ice.
“Better luck next time, Sinclair.”
He might have lost, but he’d played well, even I could admit that… but not to his face, obviously.
“With a different team, maybe you could be great, but you and your brother don’t have the support system in place to shine,” I teased, twisting the knife a little deeper.
“Fuck off, Bailey,” he muttered.
“Oh, I will, but consider my friendly advice.”
“And what’s that? Get a new team?” Brody stopped in the hall, the harsh fluorescents glaring down on us both.
“Or try being less of a dickhead so your current team likes you more and wants to assist you, you know?”
“This is all big talk for a guy who was expelled from a game, and from what I hear, nearly suspended from the team altogether.”
I nodded. “Fair enough, but I learn from my mistakes.”
“So high and mighty now you’ve managed to coerce some poor innocent woman into marrying you. Take your bullshit advice and shove it. I’m sure your winning streak will last as long as Professor Whatever takes to leave your trailer park ass.”
I tutted and shook my head. “Don’t be salty because Daddy’s big bucks couldn’t buy you a win this time. I’ll let you in on a secret: There’s more to life than what color Amex you flash. A lot more.”
Brody laughed, but it sounded sad somehow. “If money was my problem, Bailey, I’d be as carefree as you. Disappointing my father in hockey, school, or business isn’t something I’d wish on my worst enemy.”
I stared at him, surprised by the sudden confession.
He seemed to be, too, as he clicked his mouth shut so hard, I wouldn’t have been surprised to find out he’d chipped a tooth.
He shook his head, as if he could take back his last statement.
I knew how that was, when the adrenaline of the game passed and you were exhausted and disappointed and the filter was gone.
It didn’t mean I wasn’t going to take advantage of him, though, fuck no. He didn’t deserve a pass.
“Your daddy issues aren’t my concern, Sinclair, but I can imagine. By the sounds of it, I’d rather have my dad than yours, and considering mine is in prison, that’s saying something.”
I reached out and clapped him on his padded shoulder, and his expression hardened into a murderous one.
“I could wish you terrible things, Sinclair, and God knows, I want to, but really, I wish you’d fall in love with a woman who puts your petty little rich-boy concerns into perspective.
I only hope she has a high tolerance for your big-man bullshit, or you’re going to find out what suffering really is. ”
“Problem here?” Beckett appeared by my side. He glanced between us, taking in the bristling tension.
“No, no problem. Brody was just running along, weren’t you, big guy?” I grinned at him.
He took a step toward me, only to bounce off Beckett’s unmovable chest. He wasn’t the best defenseman in the league for nothing.
“Have a good evening, Sinclair.”
We watched Brody walk away and join Callahan, his brother, who was sulking quietly by the locker room door, waiting for his brother in dark silence.
“Those two are trouble,” Beckett said quietly.
“You know them? Are you both part of the Rich Boys with Daddy Issues Club?” I teased my friend.
He shot me a glare and shrugged. “Rich people know each other, especially when their dads have done business in the past. Brody’s next up to be the CEO of his father’s company, even though it seems like his idea of a successful negotiation is cutting the throat of the other side.
Callahan, well, he’s the one Brody would send to do his dirty work in the dark.
A creepy motherfucker, and absolutely nuts. ”
“That might have been nice to know before I talked shit to him,” I remarked.
We made our way into the Hellions’ locker room.
“Would it have stopped you, really?” Asher pushed past us to get there first.
I laughed. “Not for a second.”
“Lily’s meeting friends in town at the diner.” Cayden tucked his phone away. He was already mostly dressed.
“I’d kill for a tuna melt,” Beckett said happily. Mr. Billionaire, and his favorite restaurant was still the one he used to go to stare at his best friend’s sister as she worked, and pretend not to be obsessed with her.
Cayden turned to me. “Aisha, Lily’s old roommate, is going to be there. Should Lily tell her the news? You know, she used to have a crush on you.”
I nodded sagely and raised my arms, positioning myself in the center of the locker room. The rest of the team looked up as I joked around.
“Let it be known, far and wide, tell the court and the villagers and all the travelers you find, Marcus Bailey is officially spoken for, now and forever. That’s right, boys.” I winked at the assembled players. “I’m finally leaving some ladies for the rest of you. My gift to you all.”
There was a smattering of applause and a ripple of laughter, then someone threw a towel at my head.
Ash wrapped a towel around his hips and waited for me to change.
“So, you coming to the diner? Bring Arianna. It’s time to get to know this new addition to the Ice Gods’ group properly.”
I checked my phone and saw a pin drop from Ari. Excitement stirred in the pit of my belly.
“Later. We’ll be there later.”
First, I had a game to play, and there was no one else I’d rather play it with.