Page 127 of Break The Ice

That’s why I sat beside her. I took her home because she felt like mine. I tied her up because I couldn’t bear to see her leave. Well, that and the fact that she was the coach’s niece. I was almost sad to realise who she was. I didn’t want to look weak in front of her.

It was instant infatuation. It was instant lust.

She’s in trouble. I struggle up, swaying wildly until I’m upright. I stand up and sway.

“Hey, hey, Raider, lay down,” Kurt says.

“No, have to-” I push the hands off me. “Ryann!”

“Ryann?” Kurt echoes. “Who the hell is Ryann?”

“I need to get to her!”

“You ain’t going nowhere. You need to get to the hospital first. Look, Raider, there is no one named Ryann. No one is trying to find you. Just lay down and rest before you fuck your leg up forever.”

I struggle for my phone, but it’s not here, it’s in the locker room.

More conversation hits us from outside the open door of the treatment room.

“He’s missing.”

“Yeah, he’s always missing these days.”

In my drug-addled mind, it makes all the sense in the world. I know who the stalker is. I need to tell someone; I need to protect Ryann!

“Callan! Message Callan, he’s here. He’s here!” I shout.

Kurt presses me down. “Grab me that needle!”

Someone walks into the room, and I recognise Wren’s old coach. He comes in, grabs the needle, passes it to Kurt, and helps to pin me down.

“Settle down, son. It’s going to be fine.”

The needle slips into my arm, and I’m hit by a wave of warmth and calm.

“Just another sedative, Raider. Just to calm you down until the paramedics get here. You seem to be having a reaction to the first drug, but don’t you worry, I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

“Such a fucking shame. He was a brilliant D-man. I almost feel bad for taking Turner off your hands.”

“So it’s done, then? Wren is being traded home?”

“Yeah, after the game, he catches the flight with us.”

Everything is so hazy and light, but those words make little sense. Traded? They traded Wren? To the other side of the country? No! No!

“Callan,” I moan. “Kit. Ryann. Wren.”

“Hush now, Raider. You’re safe, and everything is going to work out perfectly when you wake up. It’s all going to be okay. Stop fighting it, Raider, just sleep.”

Hurt saturates everything. It all blurs until I’m sucked back under where the pain can’t follow.

Chapter thirty-seven

Callan

The crowd drives meback and follows me as I retreat. Step by step, ignoring my fear, ignoring my silent screaming protests. The white flashes, the cameras in my face. I can’t think. I can’t speak.

“Did you know about the Raines sex scandal?”

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