Page 133 of Power Play

“Can’t really complain.” Maverick shrugs. “Where’ve you been, man? I haven’t seen you around the arena in ages. Did something happen?”

“What didn’t happen is the real question.” Charlie scoffs and pulls out a twenty from his wallet. He drops the crisp bill in the tip jar and rolls his eyes. “I lost the job I’ve had for fucking decades because of a misunderstanding. It’s bullshit, if you ask me.”

My fingers wrap around the water bottle. The plastic crunches under my tight grip, and I pretend it’s his neck. Anger boils in my blood, and I wonder what he’d look like with my fistin his face. I wonder what he’d look like with a black eye and a bruised cheek.

“A misunderstanding? There’s a rumor going around you found a new gig somewhere else,” Maverick says.

“Piper Mitchell happened. That bitch complained about me to HR. She?—”

I slam my fist down on the bar so hard, all the drinks rattle. Everyone in the nearby vicinity turns to look at me, but I don’t give a shit.

I’m too busy staring Charlie down.

Contemplating his murder and how I’d make it look like an accident.

“I’d be very careful what you say next,” I tell him slowly, so there’s no room for the dumbass to mishear me. “That’s my wife you’re talking about.”

Maverick drops his water bottle and gasps.

“Yourwife?” Charlie repeats, venom behind the word. “Maybe you should put her on a leash, Sullivan, so she knows her place. Fucking over someone who hasyearsof experience in this industry because she can’t take a joke shows me she isn’t going to last a goddamn season in the league. They’re going to eat her alive. Maybe they’ll eat her out, too, and I can watch.”

Rage takes over my vision.

I don’t see him anymore but Piper instead.

I’m thrown back to that night in Texas when I spotted her crying in the hallway. Shoulders shaking, head in her hands. The way she looked so small and so fuckingdefeated.

She doesn’t know I saw her.

She doesn’t know I tracked down her other coworker—the nice one—and asked him what happened.

She doesn’t know I went with him to HR, sitting by his side while he recanted each and every word this piece of shit said about her.

I’ve never been so mad in my life.

And seeing him in front of me now? Making it seem like what happened washerfault?

I could burn the entire fucking world down.

I act before I can think, setting down my water and grabbing Charlie by the collar. He’s easy to lift, and I drag him to a hallway behind the bar before anyone can notice we’re gone.

“How about you say that again?” I step close to him so our chests are touching. So I can see the fear in his eyes. I stand to my full height, towering over him and making sure he knowsexactlywho he’s fucking with. “And this time, look me in the eye when you do.”

Charlie swallows. “I-I?—”

“Say it.” My hand moves to his throat. I’ve never been in a fight off the ice, but this would be too fucking easy. “Nice and loud, so I can hear you.”

“Whoa. Hey. Liam. Easy, buddy,” Maverick says from behind me. “Let’s take a second here.”

“This piece of shit doesn’t deserve a second.” I look over my shoulder and glare at my captain. “Do you know what he said about Piper? He told his buddy they could bend her over his desk and tag team her. That if she’d just pop open her shirt, he’d give her more airtime. Claimed he was untouchable because of how much power he had. How much fucking power do you have now, dickbag?”

My fingers press harder into Charlie’s throat. I could kill him if I wanted to. It wouldn’t take much, and I’m so tempted to hurt him the way he hurt her.

“Liam.” Maverick tugs on my shoulder. “Put him down. He’s not worth it.”

She’s worth it, though.

I know she wouldn’t want me to fight this asshole.

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