Page 140 of Scarred

“Then I guess it’s time he learns how to channel it for good,” Coach smirks, walking away.

Hayes and Foxx look at me for backup, and I shrug.

“Unless he’s trying to score on me, he’s not my problem,” I say, putting on my headphones and closing my eyes as I get in my zone.

When we hit the ice, there’s an uneasiness in the air as fans start to notice our captain is gone and Cross is in his place.

It’s one of the biggest games so far this season, and everyone in the stands is salivating for a win so much so that they can almost taste it.

I skate along the glass and see Savi’s spot empty as I pass by, along with the rest of her family. A ghost of a smile appears as I picture Stone bursting out into the stands in full uniform to force his pregnant wife to go to the hospital.

There’ll be video footage all over the internet by tomorrow, from fans whipping out their phones to try and get a viral moment of Knox Stone.

Poor bastard will be everywhere.

Skating to my net, I spot Luna and see her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap. I’m sure she’s worried about Savi, and I give her a reassuring wink before I take my place in front of the net, causing a smile to appear on her beautiful face.

I soak her in as much as I can, feeling more in control by the minute, before I flip my mask down. Adrenaline starts to fuel my body, and I use it to center myself as the noise in the arena becomes a distant hum.

I’m back in my zone as my blades scrape against the ice with every controlled movement from post to post, roughing up the ice and letting my muscles loosen up. I go through my mental checklist, and by the time I’m done, I’m more than ready to send the Vipers back to the desert where they belong.

I tap my stick to both posts before looking down the rink one last time.

One puck.

One net to guard.

One period left to prove why this crease belongs to me.

FORTY-ONE

LUNA

I’m on the edge of my seat, and I don’t think I’ve taken a full breath since the puck dropped in the third period.

I watch Cayden do another save as he drops to his knees, stopping the puck with his leg pads before flying back up to stop a rebound with his glove.

He’s in the zone and completely dialed in to every little detail around him as he tracks the movements with precision and speed.

Glancing at the scoreboard for the millionth time, we have just under five minutes left to go, and neither goalie is giving an inch.

Knox’s fill-in is someone named Cross, and he seems to be doing a good job of keeping up with the rest of the lineup.

Although, based on the way he keeps smiling every time someone tries to hit him, I’m thinking his biggest challenge might be staying out of the penalty box.

Four minutes.

Kane takes a hard shot from the point and breaks his stick from the impact as the puck is sent at a deadly speed toward the net, hitting the goal post before the players scramble to take control of it.

Someone from the Bolts bench hands Kane a new stick when he sails by, grabbing it on his way before catching a pass from Foxx and stick-handling the puck down the ice.

Three minutes.

My heart pounds in my chest as I lean forward, my nails digging into my palms as Kane passes it to McCormick in front of the net.

He takes a swing, and the puck is deflected off the goalie’s stick, going right back into the chaos in front of the net.

McCormick is able to gain control again and sees an opening between the goalie’s legs as he slides it right through the five-hole.