Page 20 of Heart of a Defender

We crash into each other again, and this time, it’s personal. Mark swings his stick at me, a cheap shot that barely misses my head. That’s the final straw. I’m through battling for a puck. I’m fighting for my girl.

“You want to go?” I shout, my voice echoing in the cold air. I drop my gloves and clench my fists as I face him.

“Bring it on, pretty boy.” Mark grins, a predatory gleam in his eyes. “You like fucking the trash I took out?”

We collide in a flurry of punches. The crowd erupts around us, screaming and cheering. The refs try to pull us apart, but we’re too far gone. I land a solid fist on his jaw, feeling the satisfying crunch of bone and the sting of pain in my knuckles. He swings back, catching me on the cheek, but I barely feel it. My adrenaline is too high.

“Stay away from her,” I growl, landing another punch to his face. The skin above his eye splits, and blood smears into his sweaty hair. “You don’t get to hurt her anymore.”

Mark’s eyes flash with anger and pain. “She’s nothing. Just a pathetic little piece of—” I cut him off with another punch, sending him sprawling across the ice. The refs manage to pull us apart this time, dragging us to our feet and away from each other. We’re both bloodied and bruised, breathing heavily, but I feel a grim satisfaction as the refs haul us to our respective penalty boxes.

“This isn’t over, Brooks.” Mark spits a mouthful of blood onto the ice as he glares at me.

“It is for you.” I glare back at him, my chest heaving.

I collapse onto the penalty box bench, high on adrenaline. The crowd noise blurs as my thoughts move inward. I’m supposed to be a team leader, not a half-cocked ass with an ax to grind. A pang of guilt stabs me in the gut as my mind flashes to Mom and Lauren. They’ve always been proud of my sportsmanship and ability to keep a level head.

I glance at the VIP box where Mom and Lauren watch the game. Mom stands at the window staring at me with her hands cupped over her mouth. Lauren holds Mom’s shoulders, her brow furrowed. I’ve let them down.

Isn’t fighting for Madison’s honor and dignity the right thing to do? I should have waited until after the game when we weren’t on the ice. But damn, his snarled grin makes my skin crawl.

The game resumes, and I’m forced to watch as my team fights on without me. I catch sight of Madison in the stands, her eyes wide and worried. Her expression gives her away, but I’m drawn to the reassuring sparkle in her green and gold-flecked eyes.

When the buzzer sounds, signaling the end of my penalty, I step back on the ice with a heavy heart. I need to prove that I’m more than a hothead. I’m nothing like Mark. I’ll show Madison, my family and my team that I can rise above this.

CHAPTER 11

THE PUCK STOPS HERE

***

Madison

My heart pounds as I watch Zach and Mark battle. The tension ratchets up tenfold when Zach throws down his gloves. My stomach twists, and every fiber of my being is on edge. Watching them come to blows overwhelms me to the point I can barely breathe.

I watch Zach as the ref escorts him to the penalty box. His face is bloodied, but his eyes remain fierce. My heart swells with emotion. I can’t help but think he fought for me.

Me.

I want to rush the ice and wrap my arms around Zach, and let him know how much he means to me. But my presence here has been enough of a distraction. I don’t need to add fuel to the fire. I stay in my seat, gripping the edge of the bench as the game resumes, waiting for Zach’s time in the penalty box to be over.

The penalty buzzer sounds, and Zach steps back onto the ice. My heart leaps as I see him rejoin the game. He’s moving with purpose, every stride powerful and determined. The tension between the teams is thick, and I know it’s only a matter of time before Mark pulls a stupid stunt. He isn’t one to back down.

The puck drops, and the play is fast and furious. Zach is everywhere, his presence commanding. He’s skating harder than he did during practices, pushing himself to the limit. Mark is back, too, circling like a predator, neither man giving the other an inch.

The puck flies across the ice, and Zach intercepts it, driving it toward the Predator’s goal. Mark is on him instantly, their bodies colliding with a force that causes me to wince. The crowd jumps to their feet, the noise deafening as the two men struggle for control.

Anger sparks in Mark’s eyes, the frustration of being bested getting the better of him. He throws a cheap shot, his stick jabbing at Zach’s side. Zach grits his teeth, shoving Mark away and keeping his focus on the puck. He maneuvers around him with a skill and focus that takes my breath away.

As Zach powers towards the goal, my own determination rises. I can’t hide behind fear and doubt any longer. I know now, without a doubt, how much he means to me. I have to tell him. He has to know.

Zach sends the puck flying into the net with a final, powerful shot. The arena erupts in cheers, the goal lights flashing. I jump to my feet, a mixture of relief and pride flooding through me. I scream Zach’s name as loud as my lungs allow. He did it. He scored.

The victory is short-lived. Mark charges at Zach, rage fueling his attack. They collide, and this time, it’s more than just a scuffle. It’s a full-on brawl. Fists fly, and fury flashes in their eyes. The refs and their teammates rush to break up the fight, but it’s chaos.

My heart thunders in my throat as Zach and Mark are pulled apart. Blood drips from Zach’s nose, but his eyes are fierce and unyielding. Mark shouts something at him, his face twisted with anger, but Zach just shakes his head, his gaze unwavering.

As they’re both escorted back to their respective penalty boxes, the toll it’s taken on Zach is obvious. He’s battered and bruised, but the fire in his eyes tells me he’d do it all over again.

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