Page 143 of Break The Ice

“So, what do you have to lose?” I ask coldly, my voice sounding far away. “What’s more important than Ryann?”

“My house, my license, my reputation. He holds it all in the palm of his hand. I have mortgages and bills, Wren. She survived all this time, she can do it again. I’m old and washed up. How will I survive without a job?”

I stare at him in disgust. Part of me can understand his reasoning, but the biggest part of me thinks it’s pathetic, and he doesn’t deserve her.

“Where is she?”

His phone rings, breaking the silence between us. He pulls out his phone, paling as he answers it. “Yes, Alpha Raines? Meet the plane in thirty minutes? But that’s not enough time, and there’s been an incident-”

He pauses and licks his lips, looking at me.

“No, sir, I understand. I’m leaving. I’ll be on that plane. No, thank you for giving me another chance.”

Smith stands up, pulling free of my hold.

“I have to go.”

“WHERE IS SHE?”

Coach closes his eyes. “I don’t know. I needed you to listen-”

I hit him hard, he staggers back, so I hit him again.

“You lied to me!” I howl and hit him a third time.

Coach squeals and covers his face. “Stop! I’m sorry, I’m sorry!”

I narrow my eyes on him. “I will never allow you near her again.”

Smith mops at the blood pouring from his nose. “That’s okay. We all have to do what we have to do to survive this world, and not all of us have the luxury of morals and virtue.”

“Coward.”

He leaves me standing there seething. I take a moment to decide where to go, but I’m drawn back to the ice, so I return to the stadium. I’ve still got my skates on. Those sirens scream through the place, echoing and ricocheting back and forth.

The smell of people and food is still in the air, but it’s empty. As far as the eye can see, it’s just empty. Panic grips my insides, turning them as cold as the rink below.

I’m just turning when I spot movement and see her race in on the other side. What the hell?

She got away? I stumble towards her and then stop, staring at the figure in front of me.

“Wesley,” I hiss.

He smiles and takes a few more steps.

She hasn’t seen us yet. I wish I could warn her. Shout something, but she would come to me instead of away. I know her.

He throws himself at me, twists, and then before I can even think, he’s surprised me and got me in a choke hold. Ryann and I never got around to this lesson. I struggle against him, but with my skates on, I’m not as agile, and he’s stronger than he looks.

The last thought I have is that I hope she gets away.

I wake up toRaider kneeling over me. He’s got rings on his fingers and is wearing a leather jacket, and is that eyeliner?

I snap my arm up, grabbing him by the throat.

“Who are you?”

He looks down, the same Raider smile, the same quirk of his brows, but this Raider is darker, deadlier, and far more dangerous. And he’s not my Raider.

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