Page 48 of Offside Angel

Something like pride swells in my chest.

The security guard adjusts his belt and then waves for me to follow him. “Our policy is to remove anyone who is being violent. You both need to go before I call the police.”

When I don’t move, he starts trying to usher me towards the door, even though Hanna is still lying on the floor whimpering for all to hear.

Suddenly, a shadow falls over us. The security guard’s eyes flare wide, and I don’t need to look behind me to know Evan has entered the fray.

“And you need to keep your hands off of my client if you’d like to keep them attached to your wrists,” Evan growls.

The manager frowns. “‘Client’?”

Her eyes dart from me to Evan and back again. I can see the questions mounting. Who is this woman? Why is she so important?

Evan takes the manager aside and explains the situation to her—who I am, who he works for. Within minutes, the guard is asking for security footage and Hanna is being escorted out of the store.

“Finally,” Taylor groans. “That bitch needed to be put in her place months ago. Better late than never, I guess.” She turns to me, running her hands down my arms. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” I grin. “I’m great.”

18

ZANE

I’ve barely stepped out of the locker room when the P.I. pops up in front of me.

“Fuck.” I glance around, but I’m alone. The rest of the team is still making their way off of the ice. “Again, phone calls are great. Preferred, actually.”

His face is flat as he hands me a slip of paper. “I got a new number. Another job went sideways, and I lost my phone. And my contacts.”

I wince. “That can’t be good for business.”

“It’s good for my survival, so I’ll take the loss.”

I slip the paper into the side pocket of my duffel. “Is that all or do you have information for me?”

“Nothing yet.” The pinch between his brows is the most emotion I’ve seen from him since we met. “The guy is nowhere. I’m starting to wonder if he hasn’t skipped town.”

I’ve floated that same idea to Mira more than once over the last few weeks. Some days have been so fucking pleasant it’s hard to remember someone out there wants to snatch it all away.

Mira hasn’t forgotten. Not for a second.

Knocking Hanna’s lights out at the mall was a surprisingly big confidence boost and inspired her to get back to kickboxing a couple days per week, but I can see it in her eyes every time I look at her that she still thinks Dante is prowling.

“Keep looking,” I order. “He’s out there.”

“And if he isn’t?”

“Then I waste a shit ton of money and you get paid to do nothing,” I fire back. “And I have more than enough money. Do you?”

“Fair enough.” He waves his new phone in the air. “Text my new number when you get a chance. If I ever find this ghost, I want to be able to give you a call.”

I text the number on my way down the hall and pocket my phone.

The hallways are buzzing with staff working the game tonight. A woman I recognize from before the game waves at me from behind a merch table. I signed a poster for her son on my way to the locker rooms. I normally keep to myself before a game to make sure I’m in the right headspace. It’s headphones on, the rest of the world tuned out. But I knew we were going to win—which we did—and then I’d get to go straight home to Mira. I couldn’t have been in a better headspace.

It was the same last week, even though it was an away game. We beat the Firebirds 3-1, mostly thanks to Cole being a beast in the net and Jace and I operating on some superhuman wavelength.

He knew where I was going to be all night. Carson might as well have taken a seat in the upper deck for all the good he did out there. Then, as soon as we shook hands and did our good sportsmanship routine, I hauled ass out of L.A. so I could crash into bed next to Mira six hours later.

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