Page 29 of Puck'N Enemy
Coach quirks an eyebrow. “You threatened to go to the cops?”
“Yeah. I knew enough about his operations from hanging out with Dylan. If I wanted to, I could give the info to the cops to bring him down.”
Coach’s expression tightens. “That was stupid of you, Logan.”
My hands ball into tight fists. “I know. I should’ve just gone to the cops first.”
“What happened after that?” Coach asks, keeping his attention on me.
“One evening Dylan asked me to hang out with him after practice,” I say, remembering the day that would change everything between us. “It was no big deal, so I agreed. He took me to the canal that runs through the town’s east end and before I knew it, we were surrounded by a dozen guys. They were all Pete’s men.”
Pain and anguish throbs through me, reminding me of the greatest betrayal of my life.
“Dylan attacked me before I could figure out what was happening,” I say as tears prick my eyes. “He unleashed his inner demon on me and hit me hard enough to crack my ribs. But that didn’t stop him. When he had me on the ground, he kicked me until I passed out.”
A single tear slides down my cheek. “The men surrounding us didn’t even have to lift a finger. Dylan was enough to break methat day.” I meet Coach’s gaze as my heart squeezes painfully. “He betrayed me that night. The way he hurt me could’ve taken away my chance of playing hockey again. I could’ve lost the only thing that gave any meaning to my life. I wished he’d just killed me.”
“Did Pete come after you again?” Coach asks.
I shake my head. “He didn’t have a reason to anymore, I guess,” I say in a ragged voice. “Dylan ran away that night. I was found by some dog walkers along the canal and they called emergency services to get me. By the time I woke up, I was hooked to an IV and lying broken in a hospital bed.”
Silence falls over us as both Coach and I stare at each other.
“You remember the state I was in, don’t you?” I slowly ask. “You remember how scared I felt when the doctor said I couldn’t play hockey until my injuries healed. I thought I’d never step on the ice again.”
Coach nods again, his gaze dimming.
“It took me a few days to feel alive enough to look for Dylan and ask him why he betrayed me like that,” I say as my past frustrations peak again. “How could he hurt me like that for an asshole like Pete, who only wanted to use him? Did I mean nothing to him? Did he never love me at all?”
“Calm down, Logan,” Coach says in a hoarse voice. “You’re letting your emotions cloud your judgment.”
“That’s why I’m here,” I say angrily. “You promised to tell me what you know. Just tell me why Dylan came back. And why did he run in the first place? Was he scared I’d sue him or something?”
“Go and switch off the stove,” Coach says.
“Huh?”
“Go into the kitchen,” he says, gesturing toward a hallway. “The soup’s nearly done.”
“Uhh...okay.” I head in the direction he points at and enter the small but neat kitchen.
I switch off the flame and look around. There’s no way someone as sick and weak as Coach Becker could keep the place in such good shape.
Suddenly, I catch a glimpse of the life Dylan is living.
He might’ve betrayed me but he’s been doing a good job keeping our old coach fed and looked after. A sigh escapes me as I feel my anger drain away.
I go back to the living room and take my place on the couch.
“Are you feeling all right?” I ask him.
“Yeah, I’m fine.”
“So, tell me already,” I say, letting him see my desperation. “Where was Dylan during this whole time?”
“Dylan didn’t betray you,” Coach says slowly. “He saved your life back then.”
“What?” I gasp, feeling a surge of anger. “You were there back then. You saw what he did to me!”
