Page 35 of Dario

A bang echoes around the arena. I stop playing in the middle.Was that a gunshot?The crowd begins to scream and rush to the nearest exit. Gemma! I fear for her and scan the crowd for her familiar face. My heart races as I fly across the ice to where she's sitting. My teammates are with me as we cross the barrier. We push through the commotion, desperate to find our girls.

Dodge is the first one I see, followed by Levi.

As they approach, all four girls are huddled together. "Take cover," he shouts.

The second Gemma approaches, I grab her and take her behind the barrier, out of sight. My heart races as my hands run over her. "I'm okay." Her eyes wander behind me.

I turn to see that Madden has followed us to grab the girls. He is currently holding one girl in his lap as they take cover. I don't recognize her. I drop to my butt and pull Gemma into my lap, wrapping my arms around her. "Are you hurt anywhere?"

"No." She bursts into tears and buries her face in my neck. "The bullet grazed the girl Madden's holding. She got hurt because of me."

"She got hurt because of a madman. Not because of you." I close my eyes and hold her close.

There isn't a second shot, so does that mean the person was apprehended or that he fled after the first shot? My eyes fall on Dodge, who is on the phone. I catch his eye. He nods discreetly to indicate that the situation is under control. I feel a wave of relief wash over me as I continue to hold Gemma in my arms.

"They got him, Gemma," Dodge yells. "He's not going anywhere."

Thank God. "What about Theresa?"

Dodge makes a face and shakes his head. "We need to get everyone back to the hotel and get the girl some medical attention."

"Tessa George," Madden announces. The woman pushes against my friend as he holds some- thing to her face. "Is it safe to move? I want to find the paramedics," he says.

I grimace as I watch Madden, noticing the tension in his words. Gemma rises from my lap and reaches out for me. She pulls me up and quickly wraps her arms around my waist. "It's over," she says, stepping back.

Lake keeps his hand on Juniper's stomach as he holds her tight. Nikoli is kissing Willow. Rhodes has Rosie wrapped around him.

I keep Gemma with me, but I go to help Madden get to his feet because he won't let go of the girl—Tessa. His face is devoid of humor as he cradles her. She does not seem to want to move either. Here we go again, I think.

Gemma slides her hand into mine, drawing my gaze back around. I glance over her head at Dodge. The man finishes talking to the cops and approaches. "It's safe to go to the locker room. Levi and I will escort the girls back to the hotel. We'll stay in one room, so I'll text you when we get there and let you know which room we're in."

"Can't we keep the girls with us?" I ask, not wanting Gemma to leave my sight.

"There are too many variables. They'll be safe." Dodge stares at Madden, who is now sitting in one of the seats, while a paramedic examines Tessa, who is still in his lap.

Gemma nestles against my chest. "I don't like going back without you, but I'll be fine." She gives me a warm smile. "Go get changed and find out what's going on with the canceled game tonight." She brushes her lips against mine.

I run a hand through my hair and sigh, under- standing that this is what will happen. "Okay. Don't go anywhere without Dodge." I whisper in her ear. "Promise me, Gemma."

"I promise." With one last hug, she grabs Juniper's hand, and the girls move off, with cops for an escort out of the arena.

CHAPTER TWENTY

GEMMA

Juniper hadher arm around my waist as we walked up to her room. She has a suite, so her room is the largest. Willow and Rosie have rooms further along the hallway. I'm sure the boys don't sleep in their assigned rooms. I don't mind. I just find it amusing.

Even as we enter the room, all three girls are friendly. As the door closes, I say, "I'm sorry." Tears fall. "This is all my fault. I knew he was after me. I put everyone in danger tonight, and that poor girl caught the bullet. Luckily it grazed her. It could have been much worse.” I choked back a sob.

Juniper holds me and I feel the others are close. "We decided to come with you," Willow says.

"We're in this together," Juniper adds.

Her words of encouragement comfort me, but I can't shake the guilt that's weighing on my chest. Juniper squeezes my hand and says, "You'll get through this. We're here for you."

"If anyone is to blame, it's me," Dodge admits. "I knew the risk, and I wanted him to show himself so we could end this. I didn't expect a gun. I should have, and this is on me."

"Everyone," Juniper says in a firm, commanding tone, "we need to settle down and order pizza and ice cream." She grins.

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