Page 56 of Knot Dead Yet

I pushed myself to my feet and, leaning against the wall, hurried down the hall. With no idea where to go, I picked a direction and went with it. I covered my mouth with my hand as I sobbed. My heart screamed the farther away I got from the pack.

Wait. I stopped and nearly fell again.

What if it was Ewan who attacked me in the alley and sent those flowers? He knew exactly where I was, and he wanted me out of the picture.

The man who grabbed me was about his height and had wiry strength, but the voice? I didn’t know. Maybe. I couldn’t say for certain.

But it made sense.

Oh God. Ewan was Alderic’s cousin. Part of the pack. It would destroy them.

Shit. I lurched forward and found a door that opened. Stumbling through it, I found myself in the big garage. The huge cargo doors were open to the cold night and one of the zambonis sat parked, humming with the engine on.

I locked my eyes on the open door. Outside. An escape.

My tears kept flowing as I scurried across the garage. About thirty feet from the door, I hit a frozen puddle of water and slid. I yelped as I attempted to keep my balance and not crash onto the concrete.

Managing to only fall to one knee, I paused to catch my breath. My heart pounded and my vision tunneled.

Almost there. Fresh air and freedom.

I started to stand when I was snatched up from behind. Two strong arms yanked me off my feet and a stinking cloth was pressed hard against my face.

Gasping, I drew in the awful scent of gasoline. Strong and fresh. My world spun and my head felt way too light.

“Give in to it, sweet girl. I’ll make everything alright again.”

No! He’d followed me.

I screamed and sucked in more gas fumes. Blackness enclosed around me.

I had to get away. One push…

My limbs weren’t obeying my commands anymore. My body sagged.

He shushed me like I was a fussing baby.

I frantically tried to keep conscious, but one more putrid inhale and I lost my connection to the world.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE – Alderic

Ewan was escorted to the penalty box for the second time. He bitched loudly all the way and kicked the door when it was closed behind him.

What had gotten into my cousin? Usually he was all mouth, and if any of the other team’s players tried to take a swing at him, he’d dodge. Sometimes Maddox would step in to fight if the other player got too aggressive, but tonight Ewan was starting the fights. Not just trash talking, but throwing punches.

We were ahead by one, but last time we were short one man because of Ewan, Chicago scored. Now in the last few minutes of the third period, we were short-handed again.

I let out a long breath and forced my mind away from my frustration with Ewan to focus on the game. Casimir moved to take up the right wing position as Kane readied himself to face off against Burger. That was literally the surname of the Flurry’s star center, and it suited the fucking meathead. The bastard grinned at Kane. He wasn’t wearing his mouthguard and displayed the hole where he was missing a tooth.

The puck dropped and Casimir barreled into Burger so Kane could get the puck. I skated to the far side as Maddox came to keep the other team off Kane. If our captain could get a shot on his own, we might win as he had the highest goals per game in the league. Chicago knew he was the top threat and covered him good. That’s why I was creeping around to the side.

Kane passed to me and the puck got knocked. I chased after it and let my momentum take me behind our net. My heart was hammering as two Chicago players skated around to pinch me between them. With all the other three members of my linecovered, I gave the puck to the last person they’d expect: our goalie.

Tiergan could move quickly despite the bulk of his pads. He darted to the other side of his net and whacked the puck down the ice. Casimir checked the player on him and raced after the puck.

I slipped around from the two guys on me and sped across the rink. Kane was still fighting to get into the open, but as the last minute ticked by, it seemed Chicago wasn’t going to let that happen.

One of the Flurry’s defensemen got the puck and zoomed to almost the center before taking a wild slap shot. Tiergan deflected it and the puck came sailing back the player’s way. Maddox plowed into the guy and passed the puck to me.

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