Page 43 of My Pucking Crush

TWENTY-THREE

Luca

The following day, we check into another hotel room for the Kansas City game, and the two beds draw a look between us. We drop our suitcases on opposite sides of the room. Max needs to change into workout gear for pregame practice. Keeping my suit on, I give him space and wait in the lobby.

The wall of glass opposite the rooms on our floor catches my attention. The view stretches out across Kansas City. Worry settles into my gut.

I’m too close to Chicago.

I check on my sister, but she doesn’t answer. The messages don’t get returned, and panic crawls up my spine.

One by one, the team gathers in the lobby while my brain tackles several tasks that include watchingallthe players because I’m still team security. I also keep my eyes peeled for Max while checking my phone, scrolling through the special encrypted app I use, updating it, and restarting my phone hoping it’s a platform glitch.

“What’s wrong?” Max tugs my arm, startling me out of nowhere.

I’m suddenly crippled. I honestly don’t know how much time has gone by. “My sister,” I gulp out with more vulnerability that I can hold in.

Max’s face hardens. “Is she all right?”

“I talk to her through an encrypted app. Her message failed.”

Max’s gaze cuts across the team in the lobby, his jaw opening and closing like he’s considering makingsome kind of announcement on my behalf. “Let me talk to Coach Beck. This is crazy. I’ll be fine for a couple of days. Go find her, be with her.”

The concern in his eyes guts me. He took my confession about the bratva seriously.

“No,” I blurt, dueling responsibilities warring in my head.

“Then stay here at the hotel and figure out another way to get in touch with her.” He grips my arm, his touch soothing and possessive. “We’re just practicing, and then I’ll be back here to shower and nap.”

I think about him sleeping in a different bed. Will he face away from me again?

The app finallyfinallybeeps.

Samara: Hey.

I clench my stomach when I type:

Me: Where’s Fina?

...

...

...

Fina’s in Miami.

Fina is our other sister. Who’s dead. Died when she was four.

Miami is our code foreverything is all right. If she said ‘Salt Lake’...

Jesus what would I do? I push those thoughts away, because my sister is fine. For now.

Me: All good?

Samara: All ways. (smile emoji)

Me: Brat.

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