Page 21 of Cold Carnage

Paige had a history of controlling narratives, of getting close to the right people, and using her influence to protect them. This assistant coach story seemed to suggest more than just professional misconduct. Could Paige have been spinningstories to cover for someone she was involved with? It didn’t matter if the rumors were vague—this was enough for me.

I felt a surge of irritation. Paige had manipulated entire situations in her past to protect people, all while maintaining this calm, polished exterior. Was that what she was doing now? Spinning my team’s scandal to protect herself or someone else? Maybe it was time to get ahead of this before she got too comfortable in her role. Maybe she and Leo Wolfe knew each other.

I wasn’t going to let Paige take control of my team’s image. I wouldn’t let her do to me what she did to others in her past, what she had done to Brendan. It was clear she knew how to manipulate situations, and right now, she was controlling the narrative around the scandal like it was a PR exercise. But this wasn’t just about media perception—this was my reputation, my team’s future.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady my thoughts. "Thanks for looking into this," I said finally.

Derek nodded, his expression serious. "Just be careful, Ryker. And calm your tits, bro. She seems like she's doing right by the team."

"The fuck would you know?" I muttered, already lost in thought.

Derek stood up and clapped me on the shoulder before heading toward the door. "Call me if you need anything."

As soon as he left, I paced the living room again, my mind racing. Paige's past made me wary—her ability to navigate scandals with such ease made her both an asset and a potential threat.

And who the fuck had she been involved with? Maybe there was a way to check that out.

I had to confront her about this information, but not head-on. I needed a plan, a way to uncover what she was really afterwithout tipping my hand too early. Maybe I could manipulate the situation. If she didn't do right by the team the way I saw fit, I'd go to Gideon about this.

And if he knew?

Well, surely, the public didn't.

This wasn’t just about protecting myself—it was about protecting the team from whatever hidden agendas she might have.

And she had to have one. Hell, maybe she was seeing Yamaguchi. No one knew shit about him even if he was a damn good coach.

The sound of my phone buzzing on the coffee table pulled me from my thoughts. Another message from Derek:

Stay sharp.

I smirked at his advice and tossed the phone back down. It looked like things were about to get even more complicated around here.

I stalked toward my bedroom, the tension in my shoulders ratcheting tighter with each step. Paige couldn’t be allowed to twist this situation any further. She might’ve been able to bury scandals back in Michigan, but this was my team, my reputation on the line. Whatever skeletons she had in her closet were staying there.

The room felt colder as I entered; the shadows lengthening with the setting sun. I sat on the edge of my bed, running a hand through my hair, trying to map out how I’d confront her without tipping her off. My phone buzzed again—a message from one of the team’s sponsors needing reassurance about our latest crisis.

I typed a quick response, promising them we had everything under control, and tossed the phone aside. The irony wasn’t loston me; here I was trying to assure others while I felt the ground slipping beneath my feet.

Paige had handled today’s meeting with finesse—too much finesse for someone new. It made me question if she had orchestrated this whole thing just to prove herself indispensable. I wasn't sure how she got the footage, but it seemed like too much of a coincidence that three days after she got here, that video leaked. From three months ago.

The clock on my nightstand ticked away each second I sat there brooding. Time wasn’t on my side; every moment Paige continued to manage this crisis was another moment she could bury evidence or spin the narrative to her liking.

I stood up, pacing again. No more waiting. I needed to confront her now before she got too comfortable in her role. I grabbed my jacket from the chair and headed out of the bedroom.

The hallway stretched out before me like a gauntlet. Each step echoed louder than it should have, amplifying my resolve. I was positive she was still at the office, working her ass off.

This needed to end.

Now.

Chapter 7

Paige

The office was bathed in the soft glow of my laptop screen, the only light breaking the shadows that had settled over the room. It was late—far later than anyone else in the building usually stayed—and the silence was calming. I thrived in this atmosphere. When the noise of the world faded and the emails stopped pinging, I could focus on the task at hand: managing the PR fallout from the team’s scandal.

I had a long list of things to tackle. The statements from the players had to be perfect, the media strategy needed to address the tension without fueling the fire, and every decision had to protect the team’s reputation while ensuring we didn’t lose sponsorships or fan support. This was what I was trained for, and I didn’t mind the long hours. This was my moment to prove I was more than just the new Assistant GM—I was capable, dedicated, and ready to handle whatever came my way.

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