Page 94 of Call the Shots
“Fine. You’re suspended too.” Vernon’s eyes landed on me. “Beau, you’re captain.”
Beau?
I realized who he meant when everybody else did, eyes flickering in my direction.Me?I wouldn’t be running practicetwice a week, I’d be shouldering all of it, and without Elijah, my defense partner.
“If they’re out, I’m out,” I said flatly, kicking my chair back behind me.
Shock rippled through the room, and I moved to Denali and Elijah. It wasn’t like I believed in the suspensions, Vernon was barely at the Colo, we would’ve found a way around it, but I didn’t want anyone to consider me captain with Denali gone.
“If they’re suspended, I’m suspended,” Fridge said suddenly.
I glanced in surprise and saw Nick pushing out of his chair too. “Count me out.”
“I’m out.”
“Suspension, agreed with.”
“If those three are gone,” Pickles pointed at us, “I’m walking.”
More and more of our teammates left their makeshift chairs, not even for a performance, they were joining us in the middle of the room. I sought out June’s face in the crowd and she looked just as stunned.
The door opened and Cleo stepped in. “What’s going on?” She stared at the black device. “Oh.Oooh.”
“I’ll find out who did it,” June blurted out. She used her crutches to make a loop towards Vernon and plucked the camera from his hand. “I have a trip to Austin but themomentI get back, I’ll figure out the company who sold it and track down the owner.”
My throat tightened. June wouldn’t sell out one of the guys. Would she?
Vernon’s shoulders finally relaxed. “At least someone’s doing somethingproductive.Clearly, there are players who think they’re above the rules.” His gaze passed over the congregated crowd. “It’s time for you to remember who’s in charge.”
Without another word, he left the room.
“Are we…suspended?” Montoya asked slowly.
“Ignore the suspensions,” Denali said. “The meeting isn’t finished, back to your seats.”
Nick sighed. “I really wanted to leave early.”
After the meeting,I watched June and Cleo whisper urgently. It looked like an important conversation, but we had to talk.
“June?” I broke in. “When the Clemenza thing happened, you protected your friends. Why would you snitch to Vernon? The guys trust you.”
“Bear—I know who did it.”
“What? Who?”
June thumbed towards Cleo.
“I didn’t hide it well enough.” Cleo grimaced. “We need a backup plan. Because we have to get rid of Vernon.”
CHAPTER 35
JUNE
SENTIMENTAL VALUE
By the timeI was off my crutches, I thought Vernon would’ve returned to his disappearing act but that was wishful thinking. New flyers were posted around the Colo.
HOCKEY PLAYERS LATE TO PRACTICE WILL FACE DISCIPLINARY ACTION
