Page 42 of Devil on Skates
“I’m offering you a chance to secure both your futures, but separately. Be practical, not romantic. You’ve only known each other for... what? A month? Two? It’s hardly a life decision.”
Dismissing my relationship with Xavier as if it’s nothing stings. And yeah, it’s all new, but it’s also so intense and powerful that time doesn’t matter.
The choice is brutal. Sacrifice my relationship with Xavier to save his career, or keep us together and ruin his future. Someone’s losing something essential either way. Would Xavier hate me if I told him my choice is the reason why he can no longer play hockey? Maybe I wouldn’t even have him then, and I’d be all alone.
It’s totally unfair, but I know Costello has the power to follow through. He owns the Stonebrook Shadows, has connections, and knows how to make threats stick.
“Can I think about it?” I ask, trying to buy some time.
“No.” His gaze holds mine. “This offer ends when you leave this room. Decide now. Either you go with my men to your new room on Keith’s campus and never contact Xavier again, or you leave alone to whatever uncertain future awaits you both.”
The pressure’s designed to overwhelm me, and it’s working. I can’t stop thinking about Xavier and how much hockey means to him.
If I sayno, his career will be over before it even properly started. And if I sayyes,I’ll lose him and I won’t even be able to tell him why. As for me, I’ll have to pretend to be Keith’s girlfriend, which will please my dad, but it’ll make me unhappy.
But I don’t actually have a choice, do I? Costello can make our lives hell, and even if Xavier wouldn’t be immediately mad at me, he would probably resent me later, once the reality of losing hockey fully sank in.
I love him too much, and that’s why I want him to be happy and fulfill his dreams. He’s too good a player for his career to endlike this. And maybe our relationship wouldn’t have survived the test of time anyway.
“I accept,” I say, before I change my mind. “But I want to break up with him properly. He deserves that.”
Costello’s lips spread into a smile. “No. That won’t happen. Consider it payback for what you both did to my son. Disappearing without an explanation will hurt him. That’s the consequence.”
He’s a cruel man and punishing both of us through me. It’s not just about making a business-like deal with me to make his son happy. It’s revenge too.
“My men will make sure you don’t violate our agreement,” he says. “They’ll take you to your room. You’ll be monitored at all times. No slip-ups, or it all ends.”
The thought of being watched and controlled like that makes my skin crawl. I’ll be like a prisoner, but there’s nothing I can do.
“Do we have a deal?” Costello holds out his hand again, as if this is all just a normal business deal.
I nod. When he shakes my hand, it feels all kinds of wrong.
“Good,” he says. “This is just the beginning. You get the money and all the benefits that come with dating a Costello, Xavier gets a shot at his career, and my son gets what he wants. Everyone wins.”
If he thinks this is a win for me, he’s absolutely crazy. Tears fill the corners of my eyes, but I don’t want to let them fall in front of him. My phone buzzes, but I know I won’t be able to answer any of Xavier’s texts anymore.
I’ll disappear from his life with no explanation and no closure. He’ll think the worst of me and never find out that I’m walking away to protect him. He’ll never know about my sacrifice because he’ll think I’m some kind of monster who toyed with him and ditched him for another guy.
A tear slides down my cheek. At least Xavier will be fine, and he’ll have his career. Soon, he’ll forget all about me and focus on becoming the player he was always meant to be.
And I...
I’ll completely lose myself and everything that’s ever mattered to me, including my freedom.
Chapter 22
XAVIER
THE BACK ENTRANCE TOthe arena stays empty. Minutes turn into an hour, and my texts to Irina go unanswered. Each unread message tightens the knot that’s formed in my chest. This isn’t like her at all. Where is she? Is something wrong?
Eventually, I give up waiting and start checking every exit, scanning the crowd for her. But she’s nowhere in sight. It’s as if she just disappeared into thin air, leaving behind nothing but this gnawing anxiety.
When I finally get back to my dorm, the sinking feeling in my stomach gets worse. Her stuff and everything she brought with her after she left her dad’s place is gone. The textbooks on my desk, the extra toothbrush in the bathroom, the hoodie she borrowed that actually looked better on her... All of it just vanished.
No note. No goodbye.
I call her again, but it goes straight to voicemail.
