Page 34 of Dice & Dekes

“Here’s an idea: let’s never, ever,evertalk about this ever again. And I get a pass for my rude but necessary immediate departure. Sound good?”

“Sounds good,” Sofia and Knight agree in unison.

Viktor breaks the tension by asking Sofia about her jewelry store—always a sure bet because Sofiaadoresher job—and the rest of the meal is pleasant enough. I catch some of the people around us giving me side-eye, wondering why I’m here. Nobody asks, though, probably because they all recognize me. At this point, I’m not sure how I’d answer them if theydidquestion my presence.

After dinner, I’m about to go up to my seat when Viktor pulls me aside. In a quiet corner of the hall, he whispers, “What? No kiss?”

I tilt my head from side to side. “No, but also no punch.”

He pouts. “Two words: wife experience.”

I take a deep breath.Please don’t let me regret this.“I’ll make a deal with you. Venom wins, and later, when we’re alone and no one could possibly see us, I’ll give you a kiss.Onekiss.”

The words taste strange in my mouth. Dangerous. Like tossing a match into a pile of dry kindling just to see what happens.

Viktor lights up like a slot machine announcing a jackpot. “I can’t wait. Oh, and Knova? There may be a little present for you at your seat.” He winks.

I feel giddy as I hustle off to my seat. I’m also ashamed of feeling giddy. What the hell? It’s not like Viktor’s the first guy to be nice to me.

The “gift” on my seat is tucked inside one of the arena’s gift shop bags. I shake my head when I see the Venom colors of the jersey inside. If Viktor thinks I’m ready to wear his name…

But I squeal when I turn it over. Viktor must have had this custom-printed because, in place of a name, the jersey reads,SAVAGE.

I can’t stop running my fingers over the letters on my back. It’s meant to be a joke, I know that—but something about it feels weirdly perfect. Like I’ve finally stepped into a version of myself I’ve been circling for years.

Sofia catches up to me just as I pull the jersey on. “Wow. Viktor knows you too well.”

“I’m afraid you’re right.” I flip my hair out of the neck of the shirt and look up just in time to catch Viktor’s gaze from the ice below. He’s smiling up at me.

Yesterday, I would have taken it off just to spite him. Now I’m worried about what it means that I want to keep it on. I tug it until the material hangs properly and give him two thumbs up.

My brother looks between Viktor and me, and in the end, his steely glare lands on Viktor.

The lights in the arena dim as the pre-game countdown begins. The music thrums through the floor, the crowd rising like a tidal wave—and even though I’m not sure where I stand with Viktor, I’m standing with his people. My people. That counts for something.

When I take a bathroom break right before the game starts, some guy stops me. “What’s with the shirt? You know there’s no Savage on the team.”

I raise one eyebrow. “Do you dare ask me that with Savageliterallywritten across my body?”

One of the guy’s friends pulls him away. After they pass me, I hear one of them say, “She certainly savaged the National Anthem.”

I let out a snort of laughter, even though the joke’s at my expense. The guy has a point.

Viktor was right. I’m already laughing about my terrible singing, and it hasn’t even been ten years yet.

Chapter Eight

Viktor

Knight’s glower is instant the second I walk into the locker room. He’s got his gloves off, jaw working overtime, and I haven’t even taken off my jacket yet.

“You took her to the pregame dinner?” he says, no hello, no warm-up. Just the opening line of a brother ready to throw hands. “Seems like you and my sister are getting pretty cozy.”

“She wanted to come,” I say, keeping my tone casual as I stash my gear. “Not like I dragged her there by the ponytail.”

“Doesn’t mean you needed to sit next to her all couple-like.” His eyes narrow. “She could’ve sat with Sofia.”

“She did sit with Sofia. I just happened to be on the other side of her.”

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