Page 111 of Play Dirty

Sebastian moved toward the thermostat.

“Crank it,” Grayson said.

“I’m already trying,” Sebastian said, rubbing his hands together.

It wouldn’t be enough, though. Not fast enough. I knew that.

They knew it too.

Ares didn’t say anything at first. He just stood there, looking at me.

Then—

“Hot house.”

Grayson glanced over. Then back at me.

A beat passed. Then another.

“You’re coming,” he said.

Sebastian cleared his throat, behind me.

“Yeah,” he added quietly.

My body snapped alert, as my pulse kicked into high gear.

This time—

I didn’t hesitate.

~ 36 ~

HAVEN

Cold air chased us through the house as we made our way to the back.

The hot house.

I wanted this. I needed it. I couldn’t wait for that blissful feeling of first stepping inside. To sit there and let the heat envelop me, hugging me like a warm blanket.

But I also knew we had to get to work.

Mercer had sent us ahead for a reason: captain, goalie, and the enforcer fresh off suspension. The Motor City Barrage would be one of our toughest matchups yet. If anyone needed a jump on strategy, it was us.

“After this, we’re sitting down and reviewing film,” I said plainly.

“Yeah, yeah,” Grayson waved his arm.

“I mean it,” I reiterated. “If Mercer gets here, and we’re not—”

“Shit.”

Sebastian had stopped walking, halfway down the hallway. He was staring at his phone.

“What?”

“The bus never left. Highway’s shut down.”