Page 52 of Twisted Ruck

"It must be nice to have a normal life." I sighed softly.

"I don't know, normal looks boring to me," Atlas said. "Jay and I usually get restless on a night off."

"Yes, but you don't go and attack people or places because you get bored," I said. "On any given night in Dusk Bay, that could happen."

I couldn't help looking over my shoulder. As far as I could tell, no one followed us. I couldn't see anyone lurking in the shadows, ready to make trouble.

Just because I didn't see them, didn't mean they weren't there though. I wouldn't assume. Assuming anything in this town could get you dead.

"We won't let it happen," Atlas assured me. "Come on, let's get inside." He led us over to a small door at the rear of the building and tapped on it.

After a few moments, the door opened.

"I was starting to think you weren't coming." Coast Riggs, the team's strength and conditioning coach, grinned and held out a hand to Atlas. "This must be Chelsea. They've both said a lot about you." He shook Atlas' hand before offering to shake mine.

I noticed he didn't make the same offer to Jay.

"All good," Jay interjected.

My face heated. "I'm sure they exaggerated."

"They often do, but you're as cute as they said you were." Coast gave me a wink and stepped back so we could enter the building. "Atlas said he wanted to teach you how to skate."

"Did he?" I looked at Atlas sidelong.

Atlas grinned. "I did. Coast was nice enough to say we could use the ice for an hour or two."

"That's not how I remember the conversation going," Coast said. "I recall bribery and maybe a threat or two."

"Your memory is failing you, Riggs," Atlas said. "For the record, I offered no bribes or threats."

"This time," Jay said.

"I like to keep my options open," Atlas said, grinning.

"I like to think you're smarter than to actually try to threaten me," Coast said sweetly. He turned to me and added, "Atlas knows how easy it would be for me to make him disappear. Lucky for both of us, he's harmless, for the most part."

He reminded me of Frost. Smiling and friendly on the outside, dangerous as hell on the inside. He was also a valued employee of the Brantley family.

Formerly centre for the Dusk Bay Demons, he retired a couple of years ago, but stuck around to coach and do jobs for his boss on the side. Rumour had it, he once killed a man with his ice skate. I had no idea if that was true or not, but this was Dusk Bay; nothing would surprise me.

Plus, they don't call them knife shoes for nothing.

Atlas rolled his eyes. "That's what I want everyone to think."

Jay patted his bicep. "We really know you're not harmless. Right Chelsea?"

I looked at all of them, opened my mouth, then closed it again. Slowly shook my head and said, "You said something about skating?"

Coast chuckled. "I like this woman. I might have to introduce you to Sinclair, my girlfriend. I think you two would get along."He closed the door behind us and waved us toward a nearby corridor.

Chapter Twenty

Chelsea

"That was amazing!"I sat down in the locker room to untie the laces of my skates. "I didn't even fall on my ass once."

"That's because I was behind you the entire time, ready to catch you," Atlas pointed out.

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