Page 128 of Rinkmates

Razor-sharp shards of glass glitter in the harsh light, embedded deep in the soles of her feet. My stomach sinks. Shock courses through every part of me.

Fucking shit.

My mind reels, trying to process.

I’ve endured grueling practices and brutal hits on the ice, but this? This is unthinkable. Deliberate. Cruel. Rage builds in my chest as I imagine someone purposely placing those shards in Liora’s skates, knowing the damage they would do. Knowing the agony she would have to skate through. Who’d do something like this?

“I…I don’t understand,” I hear myself say, but Liora is in no state to explain. She’s lost to the pain, crying and crying, and fuck. I don’t think I can ever forget these heartbreaking sobs. My chest tightens, feeling like it might burst from sheer anger. Fortunately, Priya steps in, documenting the injuries with her phone while giving me directions to the medics. Her calm, methodical voice cuts through my numbness, grounding me just enough to act.

I cradle Liora against my chest again. She weeps into my neck and each sob is like a knife to my heart. Someone did this to her. Someone wanted to hurt my Lia.

“I swear to God,” I snarl to the room at large, my vision blurring red with fury as I scoop her up. “Whoever is responsiblefor this is going to pay. I will sue them for everything they have. I will destroy them.” The words feel good, powerful. A promise.

It’s what I need to get me going. To get Liora to the meds.

And once she lies on that medical bed, her hand clutching mine like a lifeline, vengeance is the furthest thing from my mind. All I can think of is the way she screams while they take out every fucking single shard.

Thirty-nine

RILEY

“We need to talk. Now.” I storm into Grace’s office without knocking.

My voice comes out in a low growl, and I know I look like shit from the sleepless night I had.

Last night, I carried Liora into our apartment, practically begging her to take action against these assholes. But no, she just wanted to keep pushing forward, ignoring the threats against her safety. Aiden was outed without his permission, followed by instances of costume destruction and even a physical attack.

This is too much.

I didn’t sleep at all, my eyes fixed on her chest rising and falling, making sure she was still breathing. Seeing her scream like that was the worst experience of my life and I refuse to let it happen again. These freaks can’t assure me she’s safe? Fine, I already hired her a damn bodyguard. A giant orc, one that she can’t shoo away with her stubbornness. Because protecting her is my top priority now, and I won’t take no for an answer.

That’s why I slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her, as soon as weak light finally peeked through the blinds. She wassleeping soundly when I left for the production office, probably knocked out from the heavy pain meds. While I respect and accept her wishes and boundaries, I won’t simply stand by if someone is hurting her.

Grace looks up from her computer. “Mr. Huntington, what—”

“Someone put broken glass in Liora’s skates. She could have been permanently disabled and I’m not going to sit around now. We need to find out who did this, immediately.”

Grace’s eyes widened. “Is she all right? Why didn’t you tell me last night at the show?”

“Because Lia didn’t want me to. And no, she’s not all right. She’s insisting on competing in the finals, injuries be damned.” I start pacing. “This is unacceptable, Grace. I want a full investigation. Interviews, security footage, the works. And I want them prosecuted for assault.”

“Of course, you’re absolutely right,” Grace says, there’s genuine shock on her face and I relax a little. At least she’s ready to cooperate. “I’ll get my team on it right away. Thank you for not blowing this up in the media. The scandal could have ruined our ratings.”

I whirl on her, jaw clenched. Oh sure, the ratings are what she cares about. “I don’t give a shit about your fucking ratings. I care about Lia’s safety and well-being. You better implement rock-solid security protocols going forward, or I’ll pull her out of this circus myself, contract be damned. Are we clear?” I won’t let her be killed on that show, even if she holds a grudge against me for the rest of her life.

Grace swallows and nods. “Crystal. I promise you, we’ll get to the bottom of this. Liora is our top priority.”

“She’s got a bodyguard now. His name is Ivan. Be nice to Ivan,” I say and leave this goddamn place.

The apartment standsin eerie silence as I return; Liora’s nowhere to be seen.

Panic grips my chest, and I call out her name, only to be met with a void of sound. With trembling hands, I dial her number, pacing anxiously as it rings once, twice, three times.

Just as I’m on the verge of losing it, she answers, breathless.

“Hey, what’s up?”

What’s up?Her casual tone hits me like a slap.

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