Page 15 of On Ice

I’ll be honest, I never in a million years expected this much pushback from Evan. I figured he’d be hurt and betrayed that the guy he’d slept with planned to use him to make money by throwing games. It hadn’t occurred to me that the sexy, easy-going guy I’d wined, dined, and spent the night with had an actual spine. But he does. Instead of falling apart, he’s pissed and fighting back, and I can’t help but admire him.

But he needs to learn his place.

“Do you foolishly think you’re the only one who will suffer if you keep fighting me, Evan?” I lean toward him in a threatening manner and he moves back slightly. That’s good. It shows he’s not nearly as confident as he’s pretending.

“What does that mean?” he asks quietly.

I curl my lip. “You know exactly what it means. If you’re too stupid to care about your own life, maybe you’ll care about Noah’s.”

A shudder runs through him and the blood leaves his cheeks. “Wha… what?” he whispers.

“You heard me. If you don’t do what I want, it’s Noah who will be punished. It’s obvious you’re too stubborn or stupid, or maybe both, to care about your own life. But you care about the team. They’re everything to you.”

“Don’t you dare threaten Noah.” His voice shakes so hard, he sounds like he’s riding a roller coaster.

“You’re not the one in charge here, I am,” I snarl. “You’ll do what I want or Noah will pay. And if that isn’t enough to get you in line, then I’ll move on to Torres and Deck. There are plenty of pawns on the board besides you. Wake the fuck up.”

He takes a step back as if he’s been struck, bracing himself with one hand on the kitchen counter. “You’re a monster.”

“Yeah, I am,” I hiss. “Do what I tell you to do and shut up. You’ll make a lot of money as will the rest of the team. If youtreat me right, maybe I’ll even let you end the season with the Stanley Cup.”

“What does that mean?”

I shrug. “It means your team isn’t the only team I can get to.”

He looks sick. “I wouldn’t want to win the cup that way.”

“No? Too proud?” I smirk.

He lets out a shaky breath. “Yeah, Luca, I am. If I don’t earn it I don’t fucking want it.” His voice breaks and he grits his teeth.

The pain and pride in his voice makes my chest tighten oddly. I thought he’d be happy if I offered him the Stanley cup. Instead, he looks horrified that he might win it like that. Once more I find myself confused by him. Why wouldn’t he want that trophy handed to him? Why would it matter how he got it so long as he got it? I know from our conversations last night that’s his dream; to win the playoffs one day.

“Fine, don’t win the playoffs,” I say harshly, trying to cover my confusion. “So long as we can set up the wins and losses for optimum profit, I don’t really care.”

He hangs his head and he’s quiet for a few minutes. A muscle works in his jaw as he struggles with the barrage of emotions I’m sure he’s feeling. When he finally lifts his gaze to mine, there’s resignation there. “Luca, we worked like hell to get where we are. Please don’t do this to us.”

My gut churns as I hold his pleading gaze. After last night, I have a sense of who Evan is. He has a lot of pride. I’m sure it’s agony to beg me like he’s doing. I feel a little sick that he’s decided to do it, if I’m honest. But that’s how much he loves his team.

“It’s too late.” I force myself to sound hard and cold. Crushing down the strange empathy I feel for him is my only defense. I can’t back out of this now even if I wanted to. That would make me look weak. Indecisive. In my line of work, that could get me killed. I have to push forward now. That’s the only path for me.

I glance at my watch and then meet his resentful gaze. “We’ll have to finish this discussion later. I have to meet the rest of the team in an hour.”

He doesn’t speak, but if looks could kill…

“It’s important that you not tell anyone anything we’ve discussed,” I warn.

He scowls. “Maybe if they know what a scumbag you are then they’ll know not to listen to you. Not to trust you.”

My smile is strained. “Don’t push me too far, Evan. I’ve been very patient with you, but my patience isn’t limitless. If you tell the team, or anyone for that matter, what my plans are for the Ice Hawks, it won’t end well. Loose lips sink ships, and I’ll tell you right now, I’m not the type who goes down with the ship. Capisce?”

He grimaces but stays silent.

“Tell me you heard me and you understand, Evan,” I grate.

He curls his lip. “I heard you and I understand you’re a piece of shit.”

I move to the door and right before I leave, I give him a gloating smile. One designed to make his blood boil. “I’ll see you at the team meeting. Oh, and by the way, thanks for last night. I thoroughly enjoyed my time with you. We should do it again sometime.”

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