When I finally made my move, it wouldn’t be just her on her knees.
I’d make all of them fall to their knees for me.
The rink smelledhow I expected, but walking in made my skin tingle with the closeness to my prize, like being in her space made it more real.
I slid onto a stool at the bar, ordered a beer from a middle-aged man and let my eyes roam the place. She wasn’t working; she was in her college classes, finalizing the last few weeks of her degree. It was pathetic that she thought a piece of paper would make her worthy of something.
Part of me wished she was working, so I could catch her behind the counter, watch her pour a drink with that sharp little smile she gave strangers. But tonight wasn’t the time for that.
It didn’t matter. I had time.
Soon, I’d have all the time in the world to fuck with her out in the open.
The older man next to me nursed a beer, half watching the muted hockey game on the TV above the bar. I recognized him from stalking Frankie—Rick. Rink rat, coach, bartender, Zamboni driver. He was always around.
Always in my way.
I waited until he sighed at a bad play before I broke the ice and spoke up, “This place is kind of a dump, isn’t it?”
He glanced over and snorted with a friendly smile, “Some people call this dump home, so watch it.”
I sipped my beer, pulling back my lips to smile at him with the same friendliness. “A friend of mine told me to stop by, Frankie. Cute little thing, dark hair, green eyes. Body full of curves and sass. You know her?”
Rick’s whole face softened, and he chuckled, shaking his head like he couldn’t help himself. “Don’t let her hear you describing her like that, she’ll knock your lights out. But yeah, everyone here knows Frankie. She runs the place and practically owns it. Strong as they come, hell of a mom. Her kiddos are the heartbeat of this place.”
My jaw clenched, but I forced a smile. “Yeah, I bet.”
He leaned closer, lowering his voice conspiratorially, as if we were good friends. “She’s not working tonight, but you might see her around. I don’t know how she does it. Bartending, raising two kids, going to college, and keeping those two idiots on skates in line.”
“Two idiots?” I asked, feigning casualness.
Rick laughed, tossing back the rest of his drink. “Her men. Trav and Eli. One’s a firefighter, the other one builds homes. Good men. She’s got herself a little fan club here, I’ll tell you that.”
The words hit like a blade to the ribs, twisting in and cutting everything up to pieces. My grip tightened around my beer glass.Her men.He said it as if it were a fact. Like they belonged to her.
Like they all belonged to each other.
I leaned in, my smile tightening. “And she just what? Takes up with the both of them? No one bats an eye? Where I come from, the town would run her out with a scarlet A on her chest for being a slut.”
The menace in my voice was strong, and I grimaced as Rick’s grin faltered.
His brow kit as he studied me more closely, like the air had shifted, “Funny question for a stranger. How do you know Frankie again?”
I pushed back from the bar stool, sliding a few bills across the counter. “Doesn’t matter.”
Rick straightened, his shoulders squaring, “It does if you’re asking about Frankie.”
I met his stare head-on, letting him see the truth simmering just under my skin. “Tell her I stopped by. She’ll know who I am.”
And then I walked out, leaving him with his mouth half open and the unease settling in his gut.
Exactly where I wanted it.
The scream shreddedthrough the cabin like a knife, shrill and ear splitting.
I was on my feet before my brain caught up, jumping over Eli’s body as the sound of Emmie’s wails tore me out of a dead sleep and yanked me down the hall toward her. The guys were right behind me, bare feet pounding up the stairs to her roomand crashing through the door to her new room all together as one.
She was curled into a ball in the center of her brand-new bed, thrashing in her blankets and sobbing as her little hands clawed at the air like she was fighting off invisible hands. “No!” She cried, “No, don’t! Mama! Please, Mama!”
