Page 31 of Wicked Truths

There’s bound to be a bruise there tomorrow.

The flash of several cameras breaks the two of us apart, despite the anger still flowing through our bodies. We’re going to have a lot of explaining to do, and based on the expression on Coach’s face, we’re going to be skating drills all day.

“You hit like an old man. I barely felt anything.” Rookie tries to start more shit, but I turn around and skate away. His voice stops me in my tracks.

“It’s no wonder Francesca left you. She couldn’t trust that you’d protect her.”

When her name comes out of his mouth, the anger inside of me turns into white hot rage.

My fists pummel him, landing blow after blow on his chest, stomach, and ribs. He hits back with equal anger.

A hand wraps around my arm as my fist is in the air, pulling me off of Williams. Turning around, I see the confusion, anger, and shock on Joey Marino’s face. “Dude, what the fuck?”

I let Joey pull me away from Williams as more cameras flash, but I freeze, like ice water filling my veins. The cameras aren’t the reason I stop in my tracks.

Standing at the gate leading to the tunnel are Francesca and Arturo Marino, with matching scowls on their faces.

Like father, like daughter, I guess.

Sure, I could explain what set me off, and Arturo would immediately understand. After all, I was standing up for his daughter. Eventually Francesca would forgive me and understand my reasoning as well, but at the end of the day, I fucked up.

Big time.

The reporters whisper to one another as gossip among the players echo throughout the arena.

“She left him a couple of years ago.”

“You can see the way they look at each other.”

“He still cares about her.”

“Rook shouldn’t be talking about her bangability in front of Montgomery after we warned him in the locker room.”

“Rook’s dead meat.”

Francesca must be hearing some of the gossip because her anger subsides slightly, and her expression softens as she looks at me, but it turns deadly when her gaze meets Rookie’s.

I’ll have some ass kissing to do later with both Arturo and Francesca, but Rookie is going to need a miracle to get out of this unscathed.

Chapter Nine

FRANCESCA

I’m rarely left speechless,but right now, my mind can’t even put together a sentence other than ‘Is he fucking kidding me?’

One look at him and I can instantly see the regret he’s feeling. Maybe he regrets where the fight happened, not that it actually happened.

Whatever was said must have been horrible because Rhett isn’t the type of man to start a fight, especially with a teammate at practice.

Or maybe he’s changed. I don’t really know him anymore. This could be how he acts now.

It’s highly doubtful, but unfortunately, it’s still a possibility.

My gaze moves to the other fighter. I remember him from the binder. He was the very last picture. Chase Williams.

The newest player on the Savannah Sharks and a recent high school graduate. He seems to have a chip on his shoulder, like he’s the best of the best.

Maybe he is a great player, but pulling shit like this will overshadow any great play he has this season.

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