Page 28 of Gloves Off

“Home.” I give my sleeve a tug but he doesn’t let go.

His eyes flick down the dark alley. “Take a car.”

Ugh. So controlling. “Jordan and I live three blocks from here.”

He hesitates, something odd in his eyes. Concern, if I didn’t know him better. For a horrifying moment, I think he’s actually going to offer to walk me home.

“Don’t walk through the alleys.” His throat works, eyes moving over my heels. “It’s dark.”

“Don’t tell me what to do, Volkov. Learn that rule and this agreement is going to be a breeze.”

This time, when I pull my sleeve from his grip and walk away, he doesn’t stop me, but I feel his gaze on me until I turn the corner.

CHAPTER 12

ALEXEI

The next day,I’m at the rink with the rookie, practicing defensive drills.

“Again.” I gesture at the fourth-line forwards I’ve wrangled into a scrimmage. “This time, use your body weight. Get physical, Walker. Shove the other guy out of the way, get him against the boards, do what you need to do to disrupt the play.”

We run the play, but the forwards sail past Walker with the puck.

“Walker,” I yell across the ice. I don’t know why this isn’t getting through to him. “What did I say?”

“Get physical.” I can hear the frustration in his voice, and his usual smirk is gone.

“Okay. Again.”

We try again and again, but it’s not working. My mood sinks, and the rookie can feel it. At the bench, Ward watches me fail.

“Let’s take a break,” I tell Walker before skating over to Ward.

“How’s it going?” he asks.

Terrible. I don’t even know where to start with the rookie. “He has a long way to go.”

“That’s why I paired you together. Be patient with him. You guys will figure it out.” His gaze flicks to my shoulder. “How’s that shoulder doing?”

“Great. Feels brand-new.”

Even now, the dull ache throbs. Exercise releases pain-relieving endorphins, but the pain always returns.

Ward watches me like he doesn’t believe me. “You’ll talk to me if anything changes?”

“Yes.” Never. I’ll just get better at ignoring the pain.

“Good.” His eyes warm. “I saw the photos online. Congratulations.”

I pull my glove off and we shake hands. “Thank you.”

I glance up to her office overseeing the rink. The light’s on, so she must have gotten home okay last night. Yes, I can’t stand her, but her walking down that dark alley replayed in my head all night.

If Ward suspects anything about the reasons for our marriage in relation to my citizenship, he doesn’t bring it up. Instead, his brow wrinkles. “My admin didn’t see your response to the team dinner tomorrow night.”

The welcome back dinner for players and staff. I wasn’t planning on going. “I can’t make it.”

“Dr. Greene is going but you can’t?”

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