Page 55 of Unmask
“Because,” Mason gritted out, “we handled it. The last thing she needed was you going full-blown psycho and ending up suspended. Or worse.”
“Don’t dodge. I asked for details, not damage control,” I growled, the familiar heat of anger coursing through my veins.
Mason got to his feet, leaving his helmet on the ground. “And I’m telling you—we were keeping you from going nuclear and getting suspended.”
I let out a humorless laugh. “Guess that plan failed because now I’m exactly there. I’m about to make sure none of them can walk again unless one of you starts spilling details. Or I can just ask Kaylor.”
“I’m surprised she hasn’t already told you,” Maddox said.
My fingers curled. “We haven’t had a lot of time to talk.”
Mason smirked. “Oh, I just bet. Who has time to talk when your lips are otherwise engaged?”
I didn’t even dignify that with a response. “Give me their names. All of them. Or I’ll just start picking the team off one at a time.”
Nash looked at me. “I thought we were done killing people.”
Tugging off my pads, I tossed them to the ground. “They should have considered that before laying a hand on her.”
No one said anything, and I’d run out of patience. Fine. If they weren’t going to volunteer the information, I’d take matters into my own hands. Someone was going to start talking, and I wasn’t going to wait for permission.
I shoved off the bench and stormed across the field, vision tunneled. Dawson didn’t even see me coming. Perfect. I launched at him with everything I had, tackling him like a battering ram straight into the turf. His helmet tumbled off his head as he hit the ground hard, a startled gasp tearing from his throat.
The entire field stopped. My knee pinned his chest, and I grabbed the front of his jersey with one hand, the other locking around his throat. “You ever lay a hand on her again,” I snarled, my voice low, “and I’ll fucking kill you.”
“What the hell, Kreed? What is your problem?” he wheezed, fighting for air.
“You know damn well,” I seethed into his face.
He tried to speak, but I squeezed just enough for the message to land. “I figured you didn’t give a shit anymore,” he struggled, hands trying to push me off him. “You never cared in the past.”
Everyone else on the field knew better than to interfere unless they wanted to end up on their asses. I didn’t have to think twice about watching my back because my crew would. “My personal business is mine.Andeven if I had lost interest,she’soff-limits.”
His eyes widened as I squeezed, just enough for him to understand I meant it.
“That goes for all of you,” I added, projecting the threat loud and clear over the field. “One hand. One word. One fucking breath in her direction, and I’ll bury every one of you.”
A shrill whistle tore through the tension. “Break it up!” Coach roared from the sideline, storming toward us.
I released Dawson and stood slowly, breathing hard but steady. My gaze flicked to the rest of the team, who looked like they had just seen death walk across the field.
I didn’t say another word.
I didn’t need to.
I turned and stomped off the field, fire in my blood and one singular vow in my head: They would never touch her again.
Practice had just wrapped up,and a light dusting of snow began to fall, frosting the field in a thin white sheet. My breath fogged in the cold air as I headed toward the bleachers, slinging my gym bag over my shoulder.
That was when I saw her.
Kaylor sat in one of the middle rows, scowling down at her phone as if it had personally offended her. She was breathtaking, fat flakes of snow drifting slowly around her, giving her this frozen princess aura.
My lips curved downward, and I slowed my steps, drawn to her like gravity. “What’s got you frowning so deeply?” I asked, dropping down onto the bench beside her, her nearness and scent expelling some of the fury churning within me.
She startled, her shoulders jerking. It took her a second to orient herself, blinking up at me like she forgot where she was for a second. Cute. She shook her head. “What?” She finally glanced up, her eyes landing on me. “Oh, it’s you.”
I wavered between amused and annoyed. “Who were you expecting?”
