Page 151 of Game Misconduct
His posture shifts slightly. Not cocky now. Just quiet.
I continue.
“You want to be the class clown? Great. Own it. But you’re also a professional hockey player with a seven-figure contract, a marketing clause, and a dozen kids out there who look at you like you’re something to become. If you can’t be that without treating every event like a circus act, I’ll stop inviting you.”
His mouth opens. Closes. He looks like he wants to argue.
But I give him nothing to push against.
No heat.
No emotion.
Just cold, brutal truth.
“You embarrassed this organization. You embarrassed yourself. And whether you realize it or not, you embarrassed your teammates—who now have to field questions about your ass instead of their game.”
Finn swallows hard. The grin’s long gone.
“I’m not suspending you. But Iampulling you from the next community event. You’ll still attend, but you’ll be on logistics duty. No media, no spotlight. Just grunt work.”
His brows lift. “I’m getting benched fromhanding out toys?”
“Correct.”
“You do know I’m the favorite Viper, right?”
I don’t blink. “Not today.”
The silence stretches. Then he nods once, jaw tight.
“Got it.”
He stands slowly, less swagger this time, and turns for the door. But just before he opens it, he pauses.
“It really was an accident.”
“I’m sure it was, only it doesn’t look like it on video. It looks like showboating.”
“I was just going with the flow. Thought I’d be funny.”
I meet his eyes, finally letting something flicker behind mine.
“It’s only funny until someone else pays for it.”
He leaves without another word.
I wait a full thirty seconds before I let my shoulders drop.
Then I pull my phone out again.
Still no message.
Just clean lines.
And a whole lot of space I don’t know what to do with.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
