Page 83 of Double Pucked

“Definitely. We’d love to help you,” Chase says, then turns to Ryker, like he means everything he’s saying. “Wouldn’t we?”

Ryker crushes his empty coffee cup ominously, then wings it into a recycling bin before he cracks his knuckles. A frisson of heat rolls down my body as the enforcer in him comes to the surface. “We sure would.”

Jasper smiles, still not getting it. “I knew you’d understand.”

Chase steps closer. Ryker does the same. They’re so much bigger than Jasper.

“We understand a lot of things. And we like to operate with…let’s say…ground rules,” he says, then flashes a smile at Ryker. “Don’t we?”

“We love ground rules,” Ryker says, stepping closer too, and I want to shoutI adore ground rules. But I keep my mouth zipped as I watch the best show ever. Bring me some popcorn.

“So here are a couple,” Ryker continues, and in a heartbeat, he strips the faux niceties from his voice. His tone is pure feral wolf as he says, “One. Never step foot in either of our arenas.”

“What?” Jasper sputters.

Chase crushes his cup now, then tosses it away while giving Ryker a sympathetic look. “Trina said he’d probably have a hard time understanding basic concepts. Let’s make it easier for him.”

Ryker stares at Jasper like he wants to burn him alive. “You’re banned. Unless you want to wear a jersey saying ‘I’m The Cheating Asshole.’ That’d be your cost of entry.”

Jasper quakes. He actually quakes, finally realizing they aren’t on his side after all.

“Next,” Chase continues, “you aren’t coming around to see her ever again.”

Ryker tilts his head, staring darkly at my ex. “And if you do, you’ll get a VIP experience, all right. You’ll feel like you’re right there on the ice, like, say, you’re in the middle of a hockey brawl. Got that?”

Jasper gulps. “Yes,” he mumbles.

Chase sets his hand against the brick wall, towering over him. “Don’t show up at her work. Or her home. Don’t talk to her. Don’t text her. And do not be such a little fucking piece of shit that you ask her for money. You cheated on her, and you could have hurt Nacho too.”

Ryker growls. “So do not go near her or her dog ever again.” He pauses. “Or else.”

Theor elseis crystal clear to me.Or else we will hurt you. And it’s pretty crystal clear to my ex too, since Jasper gulps and nods vigorously.

“I didn’t hear you. Did you understand theor else?” Ryker asks in the world’s most intimidating tone.

“Yes,” Jasper says, terrified.

They smile. “Now, say you’re sorry for being a cheating prick,” Chase says.

“I’m sorry I was a cheating prick,” Jasper mutters, looking at his loafers.

Chase rolls his eyes, then points my way. “Say it to Trina.”

They move away from my ex, and Jasper meets my gaze, looking miserable. It’s so delightful to witness. “I’m sorry,” he mutters.

Ryker curls a hand over Jasper’s shoulder. A big, firm hand that squeezes him hard, sending a clear signal—I could crush you with these knuckles. “SayI’m sorry I was a cheating prick who never ever deserved a goddess like you.”

Jasper shakes in his shoes, but then looks at me with watery eyes and says, “I’m sorry I was a cheating prick who never ever deserved a goddess like you.”

I smile, and it touches the sky. “That’s true. You didn’t deserve me,” I say, owning that statement with the full force of my badassery.

“Can I please go?” Jasper asks them, sounding devastated and shamed.

Chase taps his chin, like he’s considering it. “Unless there’s anything else you want to say to him, Trina?”

Actually, there is something. I cross my arms, lift my chin, and smile once more. “Guess what? Turns out I can come like a rock star. Bye, bye Jaspie.”

I wave as he runs away.

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