Page 129 of Born of Ice

If they don’t want me back, I’m out. It’s not a team when you have to be forced to play together. That’s not a united front against those fuckers who want to see the Outlaws’ blood on that ice.

A beat passes before none other than Fooley groans with elation. “Fucking finally!”

My brows hit my hairline. He’s the last person who should want me back. It’s his spot on the lineup I’ll be taking, yet here he is pulling me into a bro hug.

And one by one they all follow his lead. Every one of my teammates smiles at me, slaps my back, and laughs at my stunned expression.

“I think we broke him.” Abel chuckles. “Or maybe he’s going soft in his old age and from all that time he spent in Iris Lake.”

“Your arms are too weak to break me, golden boy,” I shoot back with the nickname he hates. The guy is too pretty and too polished, hence the nickname. “They could barely hold the stick at the last game. How do you plan to handle me?” The room erupts in laughter.

“Nope, still the same grouchy fucker we remember. It’s good to have you back, man,” another teammate hollers.

“Ha-ha,” Abel scoffs playfully. “I bet I could still take you. I mean, your girlfriend is much smaller than me and by the looks of it she has your balls in an iron grip.”

Fire flashes through my eyes, my body gearing up to fight whoever disrespects my girl, but Sava interrupts me.

“Jesus Christ.” Severin chuckles, punching the kid’s shoulder. “Can you think before you speak for once in your life? That man is about to break every bone in your body because you made it sound like you were making fun of his girl.”

Abel’s green eyes widen when he does a double take on my stance and narrowed eyes.

“Whoa, whoa.” He backs up, both his hands in front of him. “I did not mean it like that. It was a compliment. You know, someone so small but still took down the mighty Axe. How did she even do it? You had so many girls and it’s this one who’s captured you.”

I let out a low growl, taking a step toward him and Abel squeaks. Literally, and I lift my eyebrow at him as he hides behind a laughing Fooley.

“Zlatan, you really need to see someone for that filter. How do you always manage to make things worse with your mouth?”

“It’s a talent,” Abel mumbles, still eyeing me. “I swear, I like the girl. She’s hot. No, wait, I didn’t mean it like—I’m not hitting on her. Just that she’s beautiful. I swear, I swear.”

“Golden boy?”

“Yes, Mr. Axe.”

“Shut up.”

“Mm-hmm, will do.” The silence lasts all of two seconds. “Does she have a sister?”

The room dissolves in laughter again as Abel throws out confused glances and says, “What? Why are you laughing, fuckers? I’m ready to settle down.”

“Sure,” we say in a chorus.

The practice goes off without a hitch. We settle into our usual line up as if I didn’t miss a shit-ton of games. As if I wasn’t the angry asshole I was the whole season. It feels just like before but better. So much better. My chest tightens with the crushing feeling inside. It’s impossible to have it all, is it?

Something is bound to crash and burn because I can’t have it this good. I can’t be this happy.

“Maybe I should beatyouup, Quinn.” I stop when I hear the annoying voice from this morning again. Why is he everywhere all of a sudden?

“What the fuck do you want, Shishkov?” I resume walking. If he wants to talk, he can follow me. As he does.

“I want you to let her go.” He reaches me fast since he’s not in the full hockey gear I have on, pulling on my arm to face him.

I snort, slapping his scrawny fingers away. “Are you drunk? In what universe do you think I care about what you want?”

Erik glares at me, his whole body vibrating with anger I not so long ago felt myself.

See what not having the magic that Electra Monroe is in your life does to a person. And the fucker thinks I’ll give her up. Ha!

“And what about what she wants? Hmm?”

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