Page 112 of Captain's Claim

"Every damn good thing I've had since the day my life changed forever is because of him." I turn to face the cameras directly. "But lately, there's one more person that helps me get through each and every day. And suddenly, the hockey family I love so dearly, isn't playing nice."

The room goes dead silent.

I find Sophia's eyes in the crowd, giving her a small nod before locking my eyes on the camera again. On every reporter who printed those bullshit headlines.

"And I've had enough."

My throat tightens. My chest burns.

A small whisper passes through the room, but I don't falter. We're in overtime now, and that's when Blake Maddox rises to the top.

"To all those people out there thinking Sophia Hart rode my name to the top? You've got it backwards. I'd give upmyname forher." My voice carries clear and strong. "I've captained this team for a decade. I've given everything to this sport. But I havenever met someone more determined, more brilliant, and more worthy of this job than Ms Sophia Hart."

The reporters' pens have stopped moving. Every phone is raised, recording.

"The Icehawks brought her in for a reason. And she's done a damn good job." More cheers and hollas. "For those of you don't see her for what she is? Then you don't deserve her."

A murmur ripples around. The kind of sound people make when they know they’re witnessing something big. Something thatcan’tbe spun any other way.

"You think a couple of smug panelists and washed-up execs can take her down? You think a few bullshit headlines are enough to shake me? To shakeher?"

My voice drops lower, deadlier.

"Then you don’t know Sophia Hart."

I lean into the mic, slow and deliberate. "And you sure as hell don’t know me."

I let the silence stretch for a second longer, my pulse steady, my message unmistakable.

Then I lean back.

"This bullshit stops now. The headlines? The constant harassment? Taking aim because she's a woman? This is hockey, and all this circus crap, it's ruining the game we love."

"Don't ruin hockey with your stupid egos. It's got no place in our game, and good people like my girlfriend over there shouldn't have to put up with your masochistic shit."

"Thank you all for coming."

A long beat passes through the room, then pure Iron Ridge chaos erupts.

Cameras flash. Voices overlap. Reporters scramble, shouting questions, but I don’t answer.

Because I don’tneedto.

The message is loud and clear.

I push through the crowd, not caring who I knock aside. My focus narrows to one person - Sophia. Her eyes are wide, glistening with tears as I climb over chairs to reach her.

My hands find her waist and I lift her up, pulling her against me.

The smell of her perfume hits me as I crush my mouth to hers. She tastes like everything I never knew I needed until she stormed into my life with her marketing plans and determination to ruin my world.

"I love you," I breathe against her lips. "Forever."

The tavern erupts around us. Connor's voice rings out first, of course it fucking does.

"IR-ON RIDGE! IR-ON RIDGE! IR-ON RIDGE!"

Others join in, the chant building like thunder. Even Eli's gravelly, suddenly emotional voice joins the chorus as he gives me a wink and a nod that looks something like a proud father would do.

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