Page 87 of Break The Ice

Instead, I open the door, and my stomach drops out. Panic and pain. This isn’t fair.

It’sjust not fair.

My uncle’s mouth drops open, and his eyes widen. “So it is you? What the fuck are you doing here, Rhee?”

Chapter twenty-one

Ryann

“Uncle Patrick.”

Having him stand here in front of me, looking well and real, words fail me.

He pushes into the room and glances out at the hallway before slamming the door shut. He keeps one hand on the door and breathes heavily before he whirls around with narrowed eyes and a red face.

“What the actual fuck, Rhee? He’s going to find you. Why did you come back here?”

His aggression is easy to ignore. I stare at him, perplexed and distraught by the changes. He’s aged. He looks tired. I heard after everything went south that his beta, my aunt Henrietta, left him. He threw everything into hockey. I’m not the only person who lost my entire family that day.

“God fucking damn it, Rhee!” he shouts.

My uncle pulls me into his arms. He still smells the same, like menthol and cheap cologne. But he feels familiar.

Tears burn in my eyes, and I hug him back as tight as he’s hugging me.

“Why are you back, you stupid girl? Why didn’t you go and make a life for yourself?”

He pulls free and wipes the tears from my face.

“Rhee,” he stops and shakes his head, glaring at me. “Why would you come back? Why? I don’t understand?”

I open my mouth, but the door opens.

“Honey, we’re home-” Raider’s happy tone drops, and an awkward silence falls between us.

“Coach?” Wren says warily.

I close my eyes and slump a little because I can almost feel my uncle’s indignation welling up. He withdraws from me, and I feel a moment of regret.

“You knew she was here?” he thunders.

Kit and Callan choose that moment to join us.

I sit on the bed and drop my chin to my chest. Could this night get any worse?

“Rhee? You want to tell me what’s going on?” My uncle slams his hands on his hips and glares at me.

I sigh and open my eyes. “I’ve been staying with the pack since I got back.”

“How long?”

My uncle’s voice reminds me vividly of my dad’s in that moment. He’s got the deadly vibes down to a tee.

“A couple of weeks.”

“I knew I saw you at the game!” my uncle hisses. “And the press conference. How could you be so stupid? After all the things we went through to keep you safe. You were meant to leave and start a whole new life!”

“Uncle-”

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