Page 1 of Bad Ruck

Chapter One

Chelsea

I don't knowhow long I stood there, my eyes locked on Ramsey's. I couldn't tear myself away from his gaze. They held a warning, I just didn't know what for.

Finally, I shook my head and broke the stare. "What did you?—"

"Chelsea? What's wrong?" It was Atlas, holding a small brown dog, who came to stand in front of me. Blocking my line of sight.

I shook my head slowly, trying to clear it. "I don't know. Dallas isn't here. Ramsey said he left the stadium before him." My gaze found Atlas' face, and the worried furrow of his brow.

I didn't want to say the words out loud, so I whispered, "I have a bad feeling."

"Fuck." Atlas looked at Ramsey, then me. He handed the dog to one of the shelter staff and stalked over to Ramsey.

I hurried along behind, acutely aware the other guys were starting to notice something was going on.

"Chelsea said—" Atlas started.

Ramsey interrupted. "I know what she said. Let's not do this here."

"Where is he?" I asked. I tried to contain my fear, shove it down or away, but I failed miserably. If he did something to Dallas…

"What did you do?" Storm was beside my right elbow, face like thunder ready to strike. Or take a swing.

"Same question," Frost was beside him. He was slightly calmer, his expression more neutral, but his tone was no less accusing.

"What's going on?" Jay held a fluffy white cat and looked at all of us in confusion.

"That's what we're trying to find out," Atlas said. He raised his eyebrows at Ramsey.

Ramsey sighed. "I don't know where he is. He overheard Otis Skinner and I talking.”

"What were you talking about?" I demanded. We were supposed to be able to trust him.

At this exact moment? I didn't. He was acting too squirrelly. Too suspicious as fuck.

My brother would say if it seems like he has something to hide, he probably does. Right before he chained them up and worked the truth loose from them.

Ramsey rubbed a hand over the back of his head, his mouth pressed in a frustrated line. "Can we talk about this somewhere else?" he asked through clenched teeth.

He glanced over to the camera crew, who were currently occupied with a couple of the other players. It wouldn't be long before they also realised something was going on. Something with the potential to be more newsworthy than a bunch of cute animals. If they started digging, a bad situation would turn to shit in a heartbeat.

We didn't need that kind of scrutiny. I certainly didn't.

"I think we're done here." Storm nodded at Jay to return the cat to the shelter staff, and eyed the team's PR person, as if daring them to say they weren't finished.

Fortunately for everyone, she nodded to indicate they got what they needed from the guys: advertising for the animal shelter in the hope more people would adopt the pets there.

Personally, I would have taken several animals home if I had room for them. Apparently I had a thing for collecting strays.

Keeping himself behind us, Storm herded us to the exit and out into the street.

"I'm not going to make a run for it," Ramsey said over his shoulder.

"Says you." Storm glared at him and waved us all over to a small park near the shelter. Little more than a patch of grass with a few trees and a couple of benches, it was private enough for now.

"Talk." Storm crossed his arms over his massive chest and glared at Ramsey. His narrowed, cold eyes, furrowed brow and turned down mouth would have intimidated a lot of people.

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