Page 41 of Devil on Skates
IRINA
I TRY TO PUSH THROUGHthe crowd in the arena and find Xavier. My mind’s stuck replaying what happened. For some reason, he just lost it and attacked that guy. Whatever set him off had to be huge because he’d always been so calm on the ice every time I watched him play.
I check my phone again, but Xavier still hasn’t texted me back to tell me where I should meet with him. Maybe he’s worried his dad will want to talk to him again, and he doesn’t want me to witness that. But I know he needs me, and I want to be there for him, because something definitely happened.
“Ms. Marshall?” An unfamiliar voice stops me right in my tracks.
I turn around and see an older man in a suit. He’s flanked by two big security guys who look like they mean business. He carries himself with a confidence that borders on entitlement, and the way he sizes me up immediately puts me on edge. How does he know who I am? Is he one of my dad’s friends or something?
“Yes?” I say, already looking around for a quick exit.
Him having his security around makes this feel way more official and a little bit threatening.
“Noel Costello,” he says, holding out his hand. “Keith’s father. We should talk.”
My pulse speeds up. Keith’s dad? Uh, oh. That’s not good. Somehow, I managed to avoid meeting him, but now it’s too late to disappear somewhere. What is he even doing here?
“Let’s go somewhere more private.” He gestures toward a hallway away from the main crowd.
The security guys move forward, which makes it obvious refusing isn’t really an option.
We reach a small conference room that’s usually reserved for post-game interviews. The guards stay outside. When Costello shuts the door behind us, I swallow hard.
“My son’s heartbroken,” he says, leaning on the table instead of sitting down, his gaze narrowed at me. “What you did to him was cruel.”
“It wasn’t my intention,” I say, licking my dry lips. “I never wanted—”
“I don’t care. All I want is for Keith to be happy. And for reasons I don’t fully understand, he wants you. It’ll probably pass, but until then, he wants you and he’ll have you.”
His tone and the implication send a chill down my spine. This isn’t just a dad worried about his kid’s feelings. He doesn’t care about anything or anyone except for what he wants, and I bet no one has ever refused him.
“I have an offer for you.” He straightens, pulling an envelope from his jacket. “One that could work out for everyone if you’re smart enough.”
My throat goes dry as he puts the envelope on the table. “What kind of offer?”
He nudges the envelope toward me. “A very generous one. Plus, I’m willing to offer Mr. Gallagher a contract with the team I own. Entry level, of course, but with real chances to move up.”
Money for me, and a shot at a career for Xavier, despite what happened today. It sounds good on paper, but I know better than to trust easy deals from people like Costello.
“And what do I have to do in return?” I ask, keeping my hand away from the envelope.
“It’s simple,” he says. “Cut all contact with Xavier Gallagher. You’ll get back together with my son. And you won’t tell anyone, especially Keith or Xavier, about this deal.” His smile is as unnerving as the glint in his dark eyes. “You get financial freedom, Xavier gets his career, and Keith gets what he wants. Everyone wins.”
I gape at him. Financial freedom means escaping my dad’s control and solving my housing and school worries. For Xavier, the contract means fulfillment of his dreams and a way out from under his dad’s thumb.
But the cost? Cutting things off with Xavier for good, going back to a relationship based on control, and hiding the truth? That feels impossible. The past week with Xavier showed me acceptance, real understanding, and support that didn’t come with any conditions.
The talks in his dorm and sharing everything... His rare openness about his dad’s controlling tendencies... The way Xavier really listens when I share my doubts, never brushing me off. The simple comfort of having him close whenever I need him.
I’ve fallen for him. It’s something I didn’t really want to admit to myself, but now that I think about potentially losing him, it scares me to death.
“And if I refuse?” I ask, trying to keep my voice steady and my face expressionless.
Costello’s smile fades, his gaze turning cold. “Then I’ll make sure Xavier never plays hockey again. Given how he behaved today, that won’t be hard to achieve at all.”
I gasp. Taking hockey away from Xavier forever would destroy him completely.
“You want me to break Xavier’s heart to save his career,” I breathe.
