Page 29 of Cold Carnage

His eyes narrowed slightly as he took a step closer. "You sure you're okay? You look like you haven't slept in days."

I shrugged him off. "I'm fine."

He nodded slowly but didn't seem convinced. "All right, man. Just... don't let them get to you."

"Not planning to," I replied.

Dominic left, leaving the locker room eerily quiet except for the hum of fluorescent lights overhead. I looked at myself onemore time in the mirror. Dark circles under my eyes hinted at restless nights. The reflection didn't lie; it never did.

I adjusted my collar and took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. Paige's words echoed in my mind:We're on the same team.The phrase gnawed at me, unsettling as it was comforting.

The press conference was about to start soon. Time to face the music.

Chapter 9

Paige

Ipaced back and forth behind the curtains, nerves twisting in my stomach. The press conference was moments away, and Ryker was nowhere to be seen. I glanced at my watch for the tenth time, biting my lower lip. Where was he? We were supposed to address the crowd together, but it seemed like I might have to do this alone.

Taking a deep breath, I tried to steady myself. The room beyond the curtain buzzed with chatter, the anticipation palpable. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was a test—another hurdle Ryker had thrown in my path to see if I'd stumble.

Just as I began to resign myself to facing the press solo, I heard the soft click of a door opening. My heart skipped a beat as I turned, and there he was.

Ryker stepped into the room with an air of calm that contrasted sharply with my own anxiety. He moved with an almost feline grace, each step measured and deliberate. His sharp features and intense eyes gave him an aura of quiet authority. His dark hair was neatly slicked back, emphasizing his strong jawline and high cheekbones.

He wore a tailored black suit that fit him perfectly, highlighting his broad shoulders and lean frame. The crisp white shirt beneath it made him look even more striking. A dark tie completed the ensemble, giving him an appearance that was both commanding and impeccably stylish.

My gaze lingered on him longer than it should have. He looked good—really good—and I felt a pang of something I couldn't quite name. Maybe it was admiration, or maybe it was just relief that he had shown up after all.

He caught my eye and raised an eyebrow slightly, as if questioning my scrutiny.

"You ready?" His voice cut through the silence, low and steady.

"Yeah," I replied, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "Of course. Absolutely."

He nodded once, then turned his attention toward the curtain that separated us from the waiting press. Without another word, he moved forward, and I found myself falling into step beside him.

As we approached the edge of the stage, my nerves began to settle somewhat. Ryker's presence had that effect on me—grounding me in a way I hadn't expected. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad after all.

Ryker and I stepped onto the stage together, the blinding flash of cameras hitting us instantly. I took a deep breath, letting the sea of faces and murmurs wash over me. Ryker gave me a brief nod, signaling it was my turn to take the podium first.

I approached the microphone, my heart hammering in my chest but my face betraying none of my nerves. "Good afternoon, everyone," I began, my voice steady and warm. "Thank you all for being here today. Your time and dedication to covering our team means a lot to us."

The room quieted, the murmurs dying down as the reporters leaned in, their pens poised and cameras ready. I felt a small surge of confidence; they were listening.

"I know many of you have questions about the recent footage that surfaced," I continued, maintaining eye contact with the crowd. "I want to address it directly and honestly."

Taking another deep breath, I straightened my shoulders. "The video shows a fight that broke out over the summer at a local bar. It was an unfortunate incident, and it’s something we deeply regret."

I paused, letting my words sink in before continuing. "Emotions run high in competitive environments like ours. That doesn’t excuse what happened, but it does provide some context."

My eyes scanned the room, meeting the gaze of several reporters who seemed genuinely curious rather than confrontational.

"What matters now is how we handle this moving forward," I said firmly. "We are taking steps to ensure such incidents do not happen again. We’ve already begun implementing conflict resolution workshops and are working closely with our team to foster a more supportive environment."

A hand shot up from one of the reporters in the front row. I nodded at him.

"Can you tell us what sparked the altercation?" he asked.

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