Page 106 of Pucking Them
“Now you sound like Dee.” Shay’s eyes glisten with tears. He snatches D’Angelo by the elbow and turns him to face him. “I’ll go with you because I’ve just worked out when you must have been hurt. You forgot the buddy system when you met that new mental skills coach, right? You didn’t change in the locker room after practice. What happened? Who did this?”
My heart sinks.
I push myself forward on the seat.
My pulse races. Sweat drips down the back of my neck.
“Just say it, D’Angelo.” Neve kicks her heel on the top of the table, knocking over my bottle.
The beer puddles like blood. I barely notice the warm liquid, as it drips into my lap.
“Wilder,” D’Angelo whispers. “He trapped me in the showers like a hazing with two of his teammates.”
My stomach drops.
I want to hurl.
My eyes smart with tears. “This is because of me.”
My fucking ex has always targeted D’Angelo because of me. At college, I didn’t know just how much my friend lost because of Wilder.
But I do now.
I won’t allow it to happen again.
D’Angelo hurriedly shakes his head. “Never blame yourself, principessa. This is about Wilder’s twisted revenge and jealousy. He’s as obsessed with me, as he has been with you. He said that what he was doing was because he blames me for his suspension.”
Furiously, Shay balls his hands into fists. “The bloody bastard.” He rests his forehead against D’Angelo’s. “But why didn’t you tell us? No one beats my lover, captain,Sir.”
D’Angelo’s shoulders relax on theSir.
I could kiss Shay for saying exactly what D’Angelo needs to hear right now, giving him back the control that my dick of an ex stole from him.
For offering him implicit forgiveness within a single word.
“Because Wilder threatened to come after you, cucciolo,” D’Angelo murmurs against Shay’s lips, intently meeting his startled gaze, “both on and off the ice. He warned that if I reported him or told anyone, then the Penguins would injure you badly enough to end your career in the same way as yourtwin’s was. Nobody must know that I’ve broken my silence, you understand?”
Shay pales.
“Asshole,” Neve hisses.
“I realized then that my number one rule may have changed.” D’Angelo’s gaze slides between Shay and me. “I never had anyone who I loved before Robyn and you. But now, keeping my family safe means more than anything to me. A single beating is nothing, if it keeps you safe from a career ending injury.”
“Idiot,” Shay’s voice is hoarse with tears. “We’re in this — the season, this relationship, and our lives — together. Your bruises feel like mine. No more heroics, okay?”
“Well, that’ll be easy,” D’Angelo drawls. “I am far more like the coldly sexy villain.”
Michael gives me a sympathetic smile, before turning back to D’Angelo. “I’m not the PR expert here but I understand why you may want to keep this violent stalker NHL rival quiet for the moment. But can’t you at least get a restraining order?”
“I don’t know that it would help.” I clutch my hands in my lap, which is damp with beer. “Wilder has only just been under investigation. He must know that he almost lost his entire career. It’s probably why he’s so mad. This move of his is ballsy even for him. Where was our security? How did he get away with attacking a Bay Rebels player?”
D’Angelo rests his hand on Shay’s hip, circling in rhythmic patterns. “It’s what I want to know.”
“Someone else must be behind this.” Cody’s expression becomes grim. “Wilder is working with someone in our team or someone who used to work at the arena who still has access.”
But who?
I shudder.
