Page 19 of Puck Princess

We’re close enough that my threat spits across his face. He flinches back, but his response comes out cocky as ever.

“Go ahead and try.”

It’s all the invitation I need.

I hit him,hard.But he’s powered on adrenaline, same as me, and he shakes it off and hits me back. I don’t feel the blow, but I hit the ground. Before I can get up, he kicks me in the stomach.

“Stop it!” Callie shrieks, grabbing onto Miles. He shrugs her off, shoving her into the wall. It gives me the two second rebound I need to get back up and charge him.

It’s a replay of what happened at the game. The brawl on the ice. But this time, there are no cameras. No refs. There’s no restraint and nothing holding me back.

For months, I’ve been looking for the man who hurt Summer and threatened my nephew. And he was right there the whole time, preying on and threatening Callie. He’s hurt everyone I care about, and it’s enough that I want him gone. Period.

“I trusted you,” I seethe, slamming him into the concrete. “You were my teammate. My friend.” I hit him again.

“And you were a pussy.” He grapples for control, but I pin him to the wall with a shot to his chest and an uppercut that clacks his teeth together. “You think this team is a family, but this world is every man for himself. If someone gets in your way, you have to step over people. Even if it means treading on them.”

“Tread on this.” I hit him again. His nose makes a sickening crack. Blood gushes down his face, gathering on the concrete around his head.

And I hit him again.

And again.

“Owen.” Callie’s voice comes to me from far away, garbled like I’m underwater. The rage surging through me blots everything else out.

“Owen, stop!” This time it’s Summer. She grabs my shoulder, trying to pull me off of him. I get in one more hit before she shoves me onto the ground. “He’s out cold.”

“That’s not good enough. I want—” She doesn’t let me finish the sentence.

“He can’t pay child support if you kill him, dumbass.”

I’m breathing heavily, trying to pull myself back from the bring. But with the adrenaline pumping through me, I’m like a drag racer without a parachute. Then I turn and see Callie.

She's on the ground against the brick wall, shaking.

Summer moves out of the way as I crawl to her.

“I’m sorry. I’m— Did he hurt you?”

If he did, fuck child support. I have more than enough money to take care of Summer and Nicky. Killing Miles would be worth every single penny.

Callie shakes her head. “No, I’m okay.”

Good. That makes it so much easier to be mad at her.

“What the fuck were you thinking? Why—” My fingers curl into her hair, pulling her forehead to mine. “Why did you come here alone?”

Callie’s lips tip into a smile, and I let myself feel the tiniest bit of relief.She’s okay.“For this.”

She presses a button and Miles’s voice fills the alley again. He’s still out cold on the pavement, but every single one of his threats are replaying on Callie’s phone.

Summer cackles. “Holy shit, you’re amazing.”

“I think I got everything. His threats and him admitting what he did to me and to you.” She looks up at me, beaming with pride. “I think I got him.”

I’m so relieved and proud and grateful that I pull her to me again, kissing her forehead.

She clicks a button and saves the recording to her phone before sending it to Summer.

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