Page 88 of Chips & Checks
Dante lifts one shoulder. “If she wants to work in a sport like hockey, she needs to toughen up. A little thing like a hair tug won’t hurt her. Are you saying that caused emotional damage?”
I open my mouth to tell Dante exactly what I think of that, but my agent catches my eye and gives a tiny shake of his head.
“That was uncalled for, Dante,” Coach says. “If that’s going to be the way things are done around here, I’ll need to rethink my employment. I have a daughter now. And that shit is not cool.”
Sergio sneers. “I’m telling Mom you said that.”
Dante rocks back on his heels. “Hey, now…”
There’sanotherknock on the door, but Viktor doesn’t wait for a response before he shoves it open. Even Violet looks surprised by his arrival. I guess thiswasn’ta coordinated effort then.
Viktor strides up to Violet’s side and rests a hand on her shoulder. “Hey. So, I came to tell you that as the team captain, if you trade or release Bowen and keep Chad, I want to be traded. I won’t be part of an organization that protects a predator and punishes the one guy who stands up to him.”
Dante flaps a hand at him. “Your funeral, kid. I never thought you were a good team captain anyway. Your speeches are too fucking long.”
“Uh huh.” Viktor leans toward me and lowers his voice. “Meet us at The Puck Drop when the meeting is over.” He adds, at full volume, “Come on, Vi. We’re passing this off to Knight.”
“Knight?” I rasp.
Viktor winks. He and Violet exit, though Viktor stops on the way out to hold the door open for Knight.
“The hell is this clown show?” Dante demands. “This ismyfucking team, and what I say goes!”
In my experience, Knight is an easygoing jokester, but he’s dead serious when he tells Dante, “If you trade Bowen, trade me, too.”
“Cute,” Dante sneers.
Sergio ignores his father. “And why is that, Knight?”
“Because we all know what Chad’s like,” Knight says. “And if you’re going to back him, then great. He’ll be the only person on your team. Good luck finding a whole new team before next year who all want to skate alongside a sexual predator.”
“You really think you and Viktor speak for the whole team?” Dante asks. “Thearrogance.”
“Nope.” Knight winks at me. “They can speak for themselves.”
And sure enough, one by one, my teammates step through the door, each of them making the same promise. I’m not that surprised to see Camden, since he’s also friends with Violet, or her brother Lenyx, but I raise my eyebrows when Tristan appears. Same with Owen. The goalie and I don’t talk much. Heck, I don’t think he’s chatty with anyone, but here he is, sticking his neck out for me. I should have spent more time with these guys, talked to them more. I promise myself that if by some miracle, I don’t get traded, I’ll make more of an effort.
Briggs is the last in line. He nods to Owen as the goalie leaves.
“Oh, Sawyer,” Dante says, spreading his hands wide. “I’m glad you’re here. Looks like you have job security. At this rate, we’re going to have to replace this whole back-talking, ungrateful team.”
Briggs moves to stand beside me. I’ve never seen him so stone-faced and unamused. “You seem to have forgotten Violet is my daughter, boss. Turning a blind eye to Chad’s actions and putting her in harm’s way has me as furious as Bowen. And I won’t bring back the magic to a team that has lost its moralcompass.” Briggs lays a hand on my shoulder, an echo of the support Viktor showed Violet.
After everything,thisis what finally makes my throat close and my eyes start to water. I don’t cry, because I know that would count against me in Dante’s shitty book, but if I said anything now, the wobble in my voice would give me away.
“Sawyer—” Dante begins.
“How much would Chad have had to hurt her before you decided it mattered?” Briggs asks. “How far would he have to go?”
Dante sputters.
Briggs gives him a scathing once-over. “Getyourhouse in order, old man, or start over with a team you can’t respect, and who will never represent you and your brand the way this team does.” He gives my shoulder one final squeeze and stomps back toward the door.
“Is there anyone else out there?” Sergio asks. “Or can we proceed?”
“Just me,” Briggs calls over his shoulder. “I was supposed to do the mic drop, and—oh,shoot, sorry Renee. Didn’t see you there.”
Renee slips past Violet’s father along with Annette Lange, the Venom HR Director. “No harm done. Looks like I missed a real party, hm? I passed all the boys in the hall. Someone will have to catch me up later.”
