Page 63 of Full Strength

Practice wasn’t going well. Everyone was distracted, talking about Noah and the news. Coach didn’t seem to mind. We had two days until our next game, so there was time to focus. For now, we were fine missing shots and chatting more than we were running drills.

By the time we got back to the locker room, it had been decided we were going to The Pie for lunch. Who needed a diet when one of your own got engaged?

I was pulling my bag over my shoulder when my phone started ringing. “Hold on guys.” I called out to Erik who was my ride.

The screen said Addi so I hurried to answer. “Hey babe?”

She didn’t reply but I could hear her voice in the background. “What are you doing here?”

I froze and turned up the volume listening close. “Did you really think I would let you…” I couldn’t hear the rest of the sentence but whoever was talking didn’t sound happy.

“You need to go.”

Addi sounded scared. She was supposed to be at work. Maybe there was an angry customer.

“I’m not going anywhere until I see my son.”

My stomach dropped. I didn’t need to hear anymore. Addi was in danger. Ryan found her.

“Erik call nine-one-one.”

He turned and looked at me, confused. “What?”

I started running down the hall toward the parking garage. “Call nine-one-one and tell them to go to Reform Salon, now!”

Thankfully I didn’t have to repeat myself. He had the phone up to his ear and pushed open the door to the garage before taking off in the direction of his car. I followed him still listening to the conversation. I didn’t know if Addi had called me on purpose or not, but I knew I had to get to her fast.

“What do I tell them?” Erik asked while starting the car.

“Addi’s in danger. Her ex is there and threatening her.”

His eyes widened while he relayed that information to the operator.

“You need to leave, Ryan.”

I heard the sounds of traffic, so Addi wasn’t inside the salon. I prayed they were close to it though, otherwise we were heading the wrong direction. She had texted me on her way to work, so unless she left, she had to be there.

My heart was pounding against my chest. I couldn’t afford to be wrong. I trusted my gut and held my breath while Erik sped down the road toward the salon.

“Where is he, Addison? I’m not letting some other man raise my son. I’m taking him.”

This guy was seriously delirious. He’d been out of the picture since Addi was two months pregnant. Now he was going off about caring about his son.

We were only two blocks away when the line went dead. “Addi? Addison?” I looked at the phone but the call had ended.

“The police are on their way.”

I nodded and Erik made the last turn. I could see the salon ahead, but no one was standing outside. “Go around to the back.” I pointed at the turn in and held my breath as he drove down the small lane to the backlot.

There they were.

Addi was pressed against the brick wall while a tall man stood in front of her.

I didn’t even wait for Erik to stop the car before swinging open the door and running toward them. I headed straight for Ryan, tackling him like I had a hundred times before on the ice. Except there was no padding to take the brunt of the impact.

“He has a knife!”

Addi’s warning came just before he swung. I caught his arm, bending it to an unnatural angle. He dropped the knife and I pinned his arms down while he screamed. “Who do you think you are? Get off me!”