Page 110 of Brace and Chase

“Jules is losing his shit,”Bear whispers from the cubby next to mine as soon as I dump my shit in it.

“Why?” I mutter. The gym did fuck all for my mood.

“Because you’re not playing tonight.”

Aww, he’s such a good captain.

“He should save it. The woman has to have something up her sleeve. She doesn’t do anything because she’s angry.”

It fucking burns how much I still trust her after everything she’s done this season, but I know I’m telling the truth.

“Facts,” Bear agrees with a sigh. “I don’t know why she would possibly do this, but she has to have a plan.”

“I hope it works,” I say simply, doubt creeping in. Then I hear it, a sound that sends an immediate alert to mybrain because I’ve only ever heard it when shit is going south.

Jules is screeching at Laney as they walk into the locker room. He looks like he’s about one-point-two seconds away from tearing out Laney’s throat.

“How can you be okay with this?” he demands, voice high-pitched.

“Dupont, I don’t owe you explanations and neither does Gab. Get your fucking head straight or you’ll be on the bench tomorrow as well.”

I suck in a sharp breath as I see Jules’s eyes narrow.

He’s thinking about it, I know. Thinking of telling Laney where he can stick it and good fucking luck winning without him—that’s what I would tell our coach if it were me. But that’s why I’m not captain.

And Jules is.

Our Picard.

He takes a deep breath and nods, swallowing his pride and remembering his place.

“Good, now suit the fuck up,” Laney shouts. He clearly didn’t gethimselfunder control.

But that’s okay, he can afford to lose it.

And honestly, if I were in his shoes, I’d be freaking the fuck out too.

Unless he knows what Gab’s plan is . . .

Doubtful.

Jules only spares me a pained glance before he sits at his cubby in the borrowed locker room that is always shit. Headin his hands, he spends the next five minutes breathing as the rest of the team files in, and as everyone hears the news.

There’s outrage, and still Jules stays quiet.

Looks like it’s up to me to remind these fuckers who is steering this Pirate ship.

“Enough,” I shout over all the commotion. “She is Gabrielle fucking Darnell. She has been fighting for this team since the moment she even thought about becoming the owner. She has fought and won endless battles against men greater than any of us, so shut the fuck up and get suited up. If you idiots have any shot of winning without me and Heart then you all need to learn a few things.”

That finally shuts them up. I start walking out, my stick in hand, but then I think they need more reprimanding.

“Oh, and he’s fine by the way, not that any of you assholes asked.”

Laney pats me on the shoulder when I step onto the ice. He looks as weary as I feel, but I know he’s still going to do the best he can with this team. I nod at him and do a couple of laps to get my head straight.

Charlie’s fine, and if Gab wants to teach me some kind of lesson by not letting me play tomorrow, then that’s fine too. I’m not going to let it stop me from doing everything I possibly can to help the Pirates win.

Everything that’s going on off the ice falls away as I focus on the drills and on checking how the baby defense is doing.

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