Page 154 of Until We Burn
His grin falls. “Watch your words, mutt. Let’s not forget whose arena you’re playing in tonight.” Simon cocks his head in challenge. “Or ratherwho’swatching you play tonight.”
His smug gaze draws towards the stands.
I follow after it to find Matthias Valdis talking to a group of men at the top of the stands.
My blood goes cold. Those men are the general managers of the top three NHL teams in the league: the Winnipeg Narwhals, the Seattle Shrikes, and the Vancouver Phoenix.
Matthias’ attention drops to mine and he flashes a grin that would’ve been mistaken for friendliness. But I know better.
I will do everything in my power to make sure you never take Simon’s place.
“Pops knew some of his friends were in town and wanted to invite them for a night out. He’s just that generous,” Simon prattles on. “Hope you got your A game on, because if you don’t…”
There, on the ice, it all comes together: Matthias and Simon were in on this from the very start. They wanted to throw off our game by riling us up at the Halloween party, and then break our confidence and security just before we played against each other in front of important people who had the power to decide whether or not we made it to the NHL.
Simon smirks when he sees the realization dawn on my face.
I shove him back. “You’re a fucking bastard.”
Simon bursts out laughing. I skate back to the warmup with my body clenched tight with anxiety.
Tonight is going to be a bloodbath and the Valdises are hellbent on making sure I’ll be the first to bleed.
CHAPTER 62
KAI
Before my first hockey game,there was one rule I was told never to forget:Whatever happens beyond the ice stays off the ice.
But tonight, all our grief and pent-up rage storms out.
Ice kicks up as Rowan and a Viper topple over each other. Rowan scrambles onto his skates and passes the puck. A Viper intercepts it. I skate hard towards them.
“Merde!”
I smash into the plexiglass, dropping onto the ice. A Viper laughs above me. Blood, fresh and metallic, drips from my lips. I glare up at him. But no whistle sounds. The referees don’t make a call, and the game keeps on going.
I shakily wipe the blood off my mouth and push myself back up. The Vipers’ left winger takes off with the puck. I charge after him. My shoulder shoves his. With a bang, the Viper slams into the boards, and I wrest the puck back.
“Fuck you!”
A swarm of Vipers throw themselves at me, grabbing at my jersey, their fists striking at my helmet. I dodge their hits, as other Griffins shove them back.
Simon lunges at me. “So, that’s how you wanna play, mutt?”
I shove him back. “Tell your boys to go home if they can’t take a hit like that!”
The whistle blows.
“That’s enough, boys!” Linesmen come to cleave us apart. “Step back! All of you!”
I fight to catch my shaking breath as I back away from the Vipers.
A referee skates to the front.
“Number seventy-eight: Kainoa Mason-Maiau.” He extends his arm to the side and clenches his fist. “Two minute penalty for roughing.”
My vision goes red.“Are you fucking kidding?”
