Page 108 of No Pucking Way

Jack propelled himself forward with superhuman speed, weaving through defenders with the grace of a dancer.

"Finish it, Jack," I urged him silently, praying that somehow my thoughts would reach him. As if on cue, Jack wound up and fired a one-timer straight into the net, the puck whizzing past the flailing goaltender. The crowd erupted in a deafening cheer.

"Yes!” I whispered, a grin breaking across my face.

Greyson told me, “I love watching you watch hockey.”

There was a wistful expression on his face, as if he missed playing for me.

“Why did you give it up?” I asked him.

“I had to focus on taking care of my sisters. Protecting them. I was afraid I’d lose them like…” He stopped himself, shaking his head. “I got mixed up in such a dangerous business. I wasn’t content following orders… so I had to prove I could lead the Jackals. Become the Jackal.”

I took his hand, squeezing it in mine. It was obvious he had lost so much.

Jack was dominating the ice. He was like a god in the rink tonight, and the other team didn’t stand a chance.

“He’s always been good, really good,” Greyson admitted, and I was surprised to hear him compliment Jack, but it also made me feel good. Greyson had a good hearted side. “But when he’s playing for you, he’s incredible.”

“He’s not playing for me,” I demurred. “He wants the Devils to win for himself.”

Greyson gave me a disbelieving look. “Kennedy… he is playing for you.”

“Too bad I don’t give a shit about hockey,” I said.

Greyson let out a little chuckle. “All right. You’ve always been the sweet, innocent, honest one… don’t start lying to yourself now.”

Jack scored yet again, practically single handedly. The buzzer went off and the team gathered around him, celebrating the victory…and Jack’s incredible performance.

“Come on, we’d better get out of here,” Greyson said. He offered me his hand. “You know those guys are going to come right for us…trying to kill me and fuck you.”

“And where are we going?” I teased him. “Do you promise not to kidnap me?”

“No,” he said shortly. “I’m never going to promise that.”

Before he could say anything else, there was a bang on the glass and I jumped. Jack was standing there, a sweat-soaked, hot mess.

“Drama queen,” Greyson drawled, shaking his head. He studied Jack, biting down on his lip.

Jack made a slicing motion across his neck with the hockey stick.

“To think he used to be the sweet one.”

“He was the sweet one?”

Greyson opened his mouth to respond, but then his pocket started buzzing. He pulled his phone out, scowling from whatever he’d read on it.

“Unfortunately, I’m going to have to leave you with Twiddle Dee over there after all. I have some–business to attend to.”

“Business. Right,” I said, adding another check mark in the column of why Greyson was bad news.

The only problem was that with every red flag I found…I started to like him more.

He drew me in for a kiss that left me breathless before saluting Jack, who looked ready to kill him.

“See you soon, baby,” he said before hustling back up the stairs.

“Meet me outside the locker room,” Jack growled before skating away.

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