Page 83 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

“This is about Gavin and his sister, isn’t it?” he asked. I glanced at Conrad and Lachlan, silently asking for permission. The only thing running through my head was that Coach had known Gavin long enough to make a good witness if we needed one.

The moment they agreed, I told him everything, including the things that were hard to hear. Coach didn’t interrupt once. He simply listened while concern settled deeper into the lines on his face.

When I finished explaining that our lawyer had asked for extra time, he leaned back in his chair and stared us down. We didn’t fill the silence as he processed everything.

At this point, we just needed someone else on our side. Someone to let us know we weren’t fighting this battle alone.

“That explains how you boys have been playing.” He grabbed the stress ball off his desk and squeezed it hard a few times. “This has been going on the whole time they’ve been around?”

“Since we were kids,” I answered flatly. “Her mom’s always been a piece of work. She used some connection she had to get my dad transferred across the country. Forced us to move away right as we were coming into our scents and realizing we were matches.”

“What the actual fuck?” Coach looked genuinely horrified. “I don’t know that I’m the most qualified witness to a custody war. I wasn’t exactly close to the kid. But, I can absolutely document the changes I’ve seen in him and how hard his sister worked to give him a future.”

“One his mother ripped away,” Conrad muttered.

Coach nodded once. “His spot on this team isn’t going anywhere. He’ll have somewhere to come back to once you get this sorted.”

Coach fell silent again. He rubbed a hand across the stubble on his jaw while he thought.

“When does the lawyer’s deadline run out?”

“We’re meeting him at five,” I answered. “We should know more then.”

He let out a slow breath. I’d never considered the coach fatherly but right now his protective alpha side was right under the surface. “Keep me updated as things progress. I was planning to send out a memo tomorrow, but the game slotted for seven is cancelled. The other team’s dealing with double heats. You’ve got a little breathing room but I’ll expect you at practice in a few days.”

Relief slammed into me so hard I almost slid out of my chair. For once the universe was finally throwing us a bone.

“Thank you, Coach,” Lachlan said quietly.

Coach glanced toward the clock. “You boys better move if you plan on making that meeting.”

I checked my watch and cursed. “Let’s go.”

We sprinted through the halls toward the parking lot before piling into Conrad’s SUV, leaving our bags behind.

He’d been driving the SUV he’d given Dhara just in case the lawyer called and said to go get them.

“Something feels wrong,” Lachlan said quietly as we climbed in. He looked pale enough that I knew it wasn’t just anxiety.

“It’s just nerves,” I lied despite my own gut telling me he was right. It was a sad attempt at reassurance.

I was so damn tired of feeling out of control.

Chris Laurant was already waiting when we arrived. The sign out front said he was closed but we pushed through the door.

The moment we stepped inside, I knew something had changed. Chris was waiting, expression grim.

That sinking feeling in my gut only grew stronger.

“This goes a lot deeper than I expected,” he admitted. “I think we have the potential to put her away for a very long time.”

“Really? Then why do you look so worried? This should be good news,” I said, staring him down.

“Because I found a connection I don’t like.” He slid several photographs onto the desk. “Our police chief has been meeting with her mother for years.”

Silence settled over the room as we studied the pictures. “These were damning on their own, but I don’t think this is just about drugs anymore.”

“What do you mean?” Conrad asked carefully as he sat down.