Page 82 of No Promises, No Lies

The refs are still over by the bench, discussing something with the other team’s coaches. The arena is full of noise but yet the silence between Aidan and me is deafening. I shuffle my skates back and forth on the ice, anxiously playing with my pom-poms, willing the refs to move their asses and get this coin toss over and done with.

This is stupid. I’m engaged and actively planning a runaway attempt. Fully aware nothing could ever—and should never—happen between Aidan O’Rourke and me. But still, his obvious rejection stings. I chew my bottom lip to keep the hurt from showing on my face. It was just a hook-up. But we—and I—whatwe did... I can feel my cheeks heating up.Maybe he was just messing with me the whole time…

The refs finally get their shit together and the Anthem plays. The song is far longer than I remember. I shift my weight on my skates, eager to get this over with and get far away from Aidan.

The Irish Devil himself seems to sense this and leans in closer. He chuckles darkly, “Do I make you nervous, Kostalova?” There’s a bitter edge to his voice, and he’s using my last name again.

I mumble something noncommittal, keeping my eyes straight ahead, fixed on Rez as he steps forward to make the call for the coin. I can feel Aidan’s gaze burning into my cheek.

“I have a fiancé,”I blurt out.Granted, not one I want, but all the same…I don’t want him to think I’m going full puck bunny on him.Just because we hooked up once doesn’t mean he has to be a colossal dick about it.

“I am aware.” Aidan’s tone is even icier, if it was even possible.

“Well, then…good.” His stare burns through me, intense and consuming, like standing too close to an open flame.

Rez calls the coin flip. I don’t hear the outcome. The surrounding crowd erupts in cheers and music blasts out through the surrounding speakers. I lift my pom-poms, faking the smile on my face, following Elle’s lead, all while counting the seconds until I can escape out from under the scrutiny of the devil beside me.

The second she turns, I high tail it for the bench, pulling Elle with me, but we’re stopped by one photographer blocking the gate. “O’Rourke! Tyler!” He shouts over our heads to get the attention of the two Breakers captains. “A photo?”

The boys oblige, and Elle and I try to sneak around them.

“Girls too!” The photographer blocks us with his arm, motioning for the two of us to join the guys where they’re posed.

Elle and I exchange a look before skating to either side, with the guys between us.

The photographer quickly snaps a few shots before peering at us over his lens, groaning. “C’mon, guys… like you like each other…”

I glance nervously at Elle, unsure what the photographer wants us to do, but then I feel a heavy weight circle around my neck. I stiffen with the contact. A jolt of something indiscernible shoots through me at the sound of Aidan’s dark voice in my ear. “Smile for the camera, Angel,”he purrs softly.

I land a sharp jab of my elbow in between pads and smile big at the resounding grunt above me. “Speak for yourself, puck boy.”

I’m out from under him the second the camera snaps its photo. I shove past the photographer and flee through the gate. A prickle of awareness tingles along my spine.He’s following me.Aidan is hot on my skates, following me down into the tunnel.

“Did you know?”he calls from behind me.

I slow, turning with a slight attitude, “Know what Aidan?”I’m so over whatever the hell this is. I just want away from him.

Aidan’s hand wraps around my upper arm, and I find myself redirected into a tiny alcove. There isn’t a lot of space, so he pushes me up against the wall. He releases my arm, only to lean in, both hands pressed against the concrete at my back—caging me in.

Back on the rink, the Breakers’ hype music signals the start of warm-ups; warm-ups we should both be on the ice for. But Aidan doesn’t even seem to notice, his eyes nearly black when I finally look up into them.

“Adrik Kostalov ordered the hit, killing my father… Did you know?” His dark eyes search mine with a deep intensity, and mybreath stutters as I play catch up. “This whole time… Did you know?”

I take longer than a second to find my voice, held captive by the murderous expression in Aidan’s eyes, but he’s already shaking his head.

“I—”

“You know what? Save it.” He pushes off the wall and out of my airspace. My lungs take in their first full breath in at least a minute. But I’m still pinned to the wall by his glare alone, even as he backs away. There’s a cold and distant look in his eyes that makes the hair on the back of my arms stand up.

“This is war, Kostalova.War.” And then he turns and disappears down the tunnel.

My deep breaths level out and I sink with my back against the wall, my entire body shaking.

I didn’t know.I didn’t.

And why do I care so much that he thinks I did?

48

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