Page 187 of Gloves Off

“Sweetheart.”

My voice is a dry rasp, and her head jolts up. Red and puffy eyes. Tearstained face. My chest aches. I can handle the other pain, but this? No. I can’t take this.

I’m done playing hockey. I know that now.

“You’re awake.” She sniffs and wipes her face, blinking away the tears.

In an instant, she’s at my side, pressing a soft kiss to the corner of my mouth that doesn’t hurt so much. Her scent is in my nose, her hair tickles my neck as it falls around me in a curtain of softness, and her hands barely touch my face, they’re so gentle.

“Alexei,” she breathes, and a fresh wave of tears shine in her eyes. She sucks in a tight breath, blinking, slipping on her professional exterior. “Do you remember what happened?”

“No.” I know it was bad, for my head to feel like this.

“Okay.” She nods to herself. “You were playing a game and experienced a head shot.”

“Feels like it.”

She pulls out a penlight as her eyes well with moisture. “I bet. Can you tell me your last name?”

I’ve done this before. She’s checking me for the concussion severity. “Volkov.”

“Good. Do you know the date?”

“January third.” I fucking hope.

She nods again. Good. “Who am I?”

My heart trips. “My wife.”

Her eyes close for a brief moment and she nods. “Yes, baby. What’s my name?”

“Hellfire.”

“Alexei, I swear to god.”

Teasing her dulls the pain. “Georgia Greene.Dr.Georgia Greene.”

“Good. I’m going to shine a light in your eyes.”

I study her face while she checks my pupils.

“What are you feeling? Headache? Nausea? Ringing in your ears?”

“Headache. Ringing in my ears. Back hurts.”

She nods to herself.

“Am I still pretty?” I ask with a crooked grin.

She doesn’t smile the way I want her to. “You’ve been unconscious for an hour.”

“Shit.”

“Yeah. Shit.” Her throat works. “The doctor will do an assessment, but I think you have a Grade 4 concussion.

This woman loves me. Watching me get hurt hurts her.I’mhurting her. It’s so simple when I put it that way. I reach for her hand.

“I’m done with hockey.” I knew it the second I opened my eyes and saw her curled up and crying. “I’m ready to retire.”

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