Page 9 of Play to Win

Fuck, what kind of place is this?I mean, I get that there are working girls here in Vegas.Sex is everywhere.But Lacey doesn’t strike me as someone who’s into that.She was trying to hide how pissed off she was, but I could see it.

I straighten, my senses on alert as the manager appears to be apologizing profusely for something, placating the customers.I narrow my eyes and take another gulp of spirits, which burn their way down my chest.

“Right, Théo?”

I blink and turn to Jeff, my boss.Former boss.“What?”

He laughs.“Time to cut you off?”

I shake my head.“Nah, I’m good, sorry.”

“Should they do away with reviewing goaltender interference?”Jeff asks again.

“No.We have the technology, let’s use it.”

“But they’re not using it right,” Andy objects.“Nobody knew they were going to challenge every fucking call.”

“The problem is, goaltender interference isn’t black and white.The puck crosses the line or doesn’t—black and white.But whether the contact was incidental or intentional, that’s a lot harder to decide.”I rub my chin.“Hard to figure out someone’s intention on a video.And the rule is so subjective that two similar plays will have different results on different nights, hell, even in the same game.Even worse, some of this year’s calls were really hard to understand.”I’m usually cautious about airing my opinions on league governance in public, but I’m comfortable with these guys.

“No shit.”

We get into a discussion about possible changes to the rule, but then I’m distracted again when I see Lacey across the bar.She has a backpack slung over her shoulder, and as she walks down a hallway, the lighting glints on her face.Her face is wet.Is she fucking crying?

I shoot up out of my seat.

Then I pause.I have no idea what’s going on here, and it’s none of my business.It’s not like me to spontaneously jump into a situation without carefully considering all the consequences.

Fuck it.

I stride after her.

“What the ...?”I hear the guys muttering behind me.

“Lacey.”I call to her as she reaches the elevator.The lobby area on this floor is empty, dimly lit, with music pumping through speakers, the hostess stand around the corner.

She starts and turns to me, those big eyes glossy but also flashing sparks.“What?”

I stop a couple of feet from her.“What’s going on?Why are you crying?”

She closes her eyes briefly then shakes her head.“This is not your business.Don’t worry.”

“There’s something weird going on.”I set my chin determinedly.

“Okay, fine.I just got fired.”She lifts both hands.

“Whaaat?”I stare at her.“Just like that?”

She hitches a shoulder and swipes a hand across one cheek.“Yeah.Just like that.”

“Was it because you wouldn’t sit with those guys?”

Her lips pucker up as she considers my question, then her gaze shifts past me, over my shoulder.I turn and see the aforementioned guys in their crappy suits, apparently also coming after Lacey.Oh no.Fuck no.

I slide my hand around her upper arm and gently pull her away from the elevator door.“You’re coming with me.”

She inhales a shaky breath, her eyes darting back and forth between me and the other dudes.

“She’s coming with us,” the taller guy says.“Right, Lacey?”His smile is menacing.

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