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"Don't play dumb," he snaps. "It doesn't suit you."
"And doting boyfriend doesn't suit you," I mutter. "Elysa deserves so much better than you. You suck as a boyfriend, in case you didn't already know that. Your head is so far up your own butt, you need a freaking surgeon to remove it!"
"Puck bunny suits you just fine." His smile is full of venom. "You play the part of Bayliss's little whor—"
"Don't you dare," I growl, stepping toward him with my hands clenched at my sides. "Who I sleep with is none of your business, you disgusting creep. Why don't you stick to illegal gambling and taking out bounties on players like a good little criminal and stay out of my business?"
Triumph overtakes his expression. "Sounds like you are writing that story after all," he practically purrs. "Funny how quickly you remember details when you get angry."
Crap. I played right into his hands. He's a manipulative jerk, and I fell for the bait, exactly like he wanted. Now he knows for sure that I know. There's nothing stopping him from hurting me or, worse, killing me.
"You're going to risk their safety to line your pockets," I say, disgusted. "Do you even comprehend how vile that is, Gavin? You already have more money than you can spend in this lifetime. Do you really need more that badly?"
"It's not about money, Leia. It's about power. Others have it. I want it." He shrugs like it's simple math. "Professional sports is a billion-dollar industry. If I control the books, I control the industry."
"It still won't get you on the starting line," I point out. "That's what you really want, isn't it? To be the one wearing the jersey? To be the one idolized?" Something flickers in his eyes, and I know that's part of it. "What sport did you play, Gavin? What dream did someone crush for you?"
"Hockey," he snaps.
"So you're going to do it to others in exchange. You didn't get what you wanted, so everyone else has to pay, right? Who cares if you get some of these guys hurt or destroy their careers and futures, just so long as you get to feel like you control what happens on the ice, right?" I don't think I'm disgusted with him. I think I'm just…sad for him. That he's such a spoiled brat that he can't even see how screwed up he is. "You're like the sad little boy on the beach. The ocean knocked over your sandcastle, so now you're stomping through everyone else's. I'm not afraid of you, Gavin. I pity you."
He lunges for me like a wild animal pushed too far. I dodge him, trying to reach the front door, but he's faster than I am. He tackles me from behind, dragging us both to the floor. I land on my stomach. He falls on top of me, knocking the air out of me.
Pure terror pumps through my veins instead of blood. I don't freeze or flee. I fight. Like hell. That's who I am. That's what I do. I fight. I scratch, claw, and bite as he tries to flip me over onto my back, refusing to die easily.
A loud roar rips through the room, and then Gavin goes flying.
I stare in shock as Colter rushes past me, running right at Gavin. He falls on top of him, striking him squarely in the face.
"You sorry motherfucker!" he roars, hitting him again and then again.
"Leia." Dillon leans down over me. "Are you okay?"
"Fine. Get Colter. He's going to kill him."
Dillon nods and strides across the room. "Colter, stop. Leia needs you."
As soon as he says my name, Colter freezes with his fist raised to strike Gavin again. He whips around to face me, his face contorted with rage, his fist dotted with Gavin's blood. His eyes meet mine. He bellows like a wounded bear, throwing Gavin down.
He's across the room to me in two seconds, lifting me into his arms.
"Leia," he breathes, burying his face in my hair. "Ah, God. Leia. I'm here. I'm right here."
I cling to him, sobbing.
Chapter Ten
Colter
I don't let Leia out of my sight until Gavin is in the back of Dillon's SUV. I try to convince her to go to the hospital to get checked out, but she refuses. She says she's fine, but she's shaken up.
The motherfucker was on top of her, trying to get his hands around her throat when I walked in. My whole life flashed before my eyes. I don't know why I left the arena to go check on her. Something just told me that she needed me. Dillon was already in the driveway when I pulled up. He said he'd tried calling her, but she didn't answer. When he drove by and saw Gavin's car out front, he knew something was wrong.
