Page 21 of Penalty Kill

It took a month for me to snap. I’d told them I wasn’t ready and that they would be the very first I told when I was ready. It was the only way I could get them to back off.

I hadn’t been tempted to break my silence on that front, until now. Until Sydney.

It was like they could sense the attraction I had to her. But none of them knew about that. Except Amelia.

I glared down at her and shook my head. I thought she was one of the good ones. “They got to you.”

“I… ugh… Emma was already telling them how pretty she was and how she was laid back and just what you need.”

The Pride could probably smell my vulnerability like predators. If I had any chance of keeping a hold on rumors, and not scaring Sydney away, I had to stop them before they got out of control.

“Tell them to stop.”

She peeked up at me. “Please, please don’t make me.”

I narrowed my eyes. She was the newest. The weakling. I pitied her, for now. But she would have to learn to find her voice among the group eventually.

“Fine. I’ll talk to Chloe,” she sighed while shooting me one last pleading look.

“Talk to me about what.”

I closed my eyes. Had I accidently said her name three times? Had I summoned her?

When I turned, Amelia was rushing back to the weight room. Coward. I guess it was up to me to lay down the law. Then pray she actually listened.

“I don’t want you or any of the other women getting any ideas about Sydney and me. She’s really good with the boys, and I don’t want to ruin that.”

Chloe tilted her head. “I agree. She’s exactly what those boys need.”

“Good. So you’ll get any ideas of anything else happening out of your head?”

She grinned. “Fine. But that means you have to get them out of yours too.”

I sighed. “Chloe. No.”

“She called me today.”

“What? Why? Was everything okay?” My heart was racing. I hadn’t seen the boys all day, and other than a quick text from Sydney with a picture of the boys wearing their jerseys, I hadn’t heard anything.

“Settle down, Dad. The boys wanted to go to the wood park but she had no idea what that was. I asked around and got her the location.”

I shook my head. They did love that place. The gigantic castle could keep them busy for hours. That was sweet of her to find it. I should probably put together a list of their favorite places.

“Thanks for that.”

Her eyes ran over my face. “She’s a good one, Dad. I know neither of us know her all that well, but I like her.” She took a step forward, bursting my personal bubble. “Don’t mess it up.”

With that vote of confidence, she turned and disappeared around a corner.

My shoulders dropped as the tension left me. I’d never, ever admit it aloud, but Chloe scared me. Not just in an intimidating way, but in a way that made me think if someone ever crossed her, she could make them go missing without a trace. She’s the type that would get away with it too. She was that good. Plus, she had an army of eager minions to back up her dirty work.

“Dad! Come on.” Olli hit his stick on the wall as he passed me. It was game time. I needed to focus.

I rushed through changing and stepped onto the ice a few minutes later. I took a lap around our team’s half while stretching my shoulders and arms. There were already crowds against the glass shouting and slamming their hands to get our attention. I smiled and nodded at a few groups but paused when I saw two of my favorite faces beaming up at me.

I stopped and pulled out my mouth guard. “Hey guys.”

“Dad!” they shouted together.