Page 51 of Triple Pucked
“Good to know that you have faith in me.” D’Angelo cards his fingers through his thick hair, trying to smooth it. “Charle’s bet is that I need to win four out of six of my next games. He has made a dangerous promise to his own brutal dad that we will make the playoffs. If we fail, he’ll suffer consequences too. So, you’re right. I’ll lead the team to do that, then Shay won’t go anywhere and Charles won’t be a problem again. Do you think that I’ll allow Wilder near Robyn again? Back into my team? I already called a meeting yesterday with the rest of the team and staff, telling them what the stakes were. Everyone is behind pulling together and saving Shay. He’s part of the Bay Rebels family.”
The tension seeps from my shoulders. “I trust you.”
“Trust your brother. He’s our top scorer. He can do this.”
My brother is brilliant. A prodigy on the ice.A star.
All I have ever wanted is for the rest of the world to see him shine like I always have.
But not like this.
D’Angelo turns away and swaggers down the corridor again. “Come on, I’m not paying you to stand around chatting.”
Shit, he’s noticed the time.
“I’ve already made you lunch. The bread was freshly baked this morning.” I follow him. “Your schedule is prepared for theweek and pinned in the kitchen on the fridge. Plus, I’ve arranged to pick up your dry cleaning after lunch.”
“Your boss must be a real hardass. Clearly, I’m actually not paying you enough.” D’Angelo chuckles. “Remind me later to increase your salary at the end of the month.”
“I’m only doing what I should. But why are you rewarding me and punishing Shay?”
D’Angelo stumbles. Then he stops in front of a high, mahogany door.
I stare at his broad back, as he rests his hand on the door for a long moment.
Why is he breathing so hard?
Then he turns back to me.
“Is that what you think?” D’Angelo’s gaze is serious.
He scans my face.
I scrunch up my nose. “You made him go running this morning after he broke the vase.”
“Broke it by playing American football inside,” D’Angelo drawls. “Anyway, Robyn went with him. Doesn’t that make it a reward?”
My eyes flash. “The vase was ugly.”
“Thanks for the interior design input. It also cost over fifty thousand dollars.”
I pale.
Shit.
Thanks, Shay.
“I’ll pay for it. We can work out some kind of payment plan, right?” I tilt up my chin. “Lucky that you’re giving me a raise.”
D’Angelo barks a laugh. “I don’t give a fuck about the vase. It was rather ugly. I sent Shay on the run because it’s his favorite exercise, which helps him get out his energy without smashing up my shit.”
“He’s upset, and you’re punishing him,” I burst out. I know that I’m not explaining it right, but the words won’t sort themselves out properly. The specter of what Cody told me about his dad and memories of how Blythe used to treat Shay are mixed up in my mind. I can’t miss the warning signs again. “You hugged Robyn all night because she’s scared about Wilder. When my brother tossed and turned, however, you made him kneel on the hard floor by the bed.”
D'Angelo marches to me, grabbing me by the elbow. “I would never discipline anyone for not being able to sleep, especially after the shock my cucciolo suffered yesterday. I understand that insomnia is an issue for him. Your brother didn’t need a hug, however, unlike our Robyn. Kneeling was what worked best to settle his mind and drop him into subspace. I know now that you were watching. So, didn’t you notice how his shoulders relaxed and his breathing evened?”
Slowly, I nod.
D’Angelo gives me a long look. “Keeping an eye out for cues like that will be a key part of the dom training that I give you. It’s about empathy and understanding how the sub is feeling. Then you can meet their needs. You have a natural, intuitive instinct for this, apart from when you become overprotective of your brother. I understand. You’ve witnessed a lot of situations where submission was forced. I create a space, however, which feels safe enough for Shay to be physically and emotionally vulnerable. It takes strength of character for him to offer that willingly to me. I wish he could see that more.”
