Page 89 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

“There are those gorgeous, blue eyes,” Conrad whispered. He tried to smile for me but it didn’t reach his eyes. He looked as broken as I felt. Like he’d been the one to survive that nightmare instead of me.

“I couldn’t take it anymore.” My voice cracked against another sob. “I fought back this time.”

“You did so good,” Conrad praised me, his warm hand wrapping tightly around mine.

I swallowed hard before forcing out the question that terrified me the most.

“Tell me she didn’t get Gavin.”

“No, baby.” Lachlan’s answer came without hesitation. “She didn’t. He’s with Coach right now. We practically had to force him out of this room to get some lunch.”

“He’s been by your side every second he could,” August promised.

The breath I’d been holding escaped in another broken sob. The dam finally shattered. All three of them crowded closer, carefully wrapping me in a gentle embrace as I fell apart completely.

Emotions crashed through me too fast to decipher them all. Grief, pain, horror, and anger were at the top.

Everything I’d been holding inside came crashing down. They simply held me while I cried. They didn’t offer false reassurances or empty promises. Nothing they could say would erase what happened between us.

When the tears finally slowed, I looked up at my pack. At the three men I’d been forced to deny for so long. The exhaustion written across their faces broke my heart.

The last few weeks had taken a toll on all of us.

“I hate that I put you through this.”

August immediately shook his head. “You didn’t, firecracker. You survived. That’s all that matters.”

Conrad reached over and brushed a strand of hair away from my face. “You weren’t starting to give up on us, were you?” It was meant to be a teasing comment but I frowned and shook my head.

“No, of course not. I wondered why I didn’t hear anything, but I knew you’d never stop trying.”

“Never,” Lachlan said vehemently.

“Waiting was just torture,” I admitted. “She was worse than ever. I had no way to contact you. How did you even find me?”

The three of them exchanged glances.

“Gavin called us,” August spoke first.

“How?” he didn’t have a phone or their numbers.

“The night we left, we hid a phone in Gavin’s room. I left him a note to call in case either of you needed us. We couldn’t leave you without a lifeline,” Conrad explained gently.

“We knew your mother would use us against you,” Lachlan finished. “This was the safest option.”

I stared at them, barely believing they were real. “You did all that?”

August smiled softly. “Of course, we did.”

I shook my head. “Sometimes, it’s hard to believe you guys are actually real.”

Conrad chuckled quietly. “You’d better get used to it. We’re not going anywhere. You’re stuck with us now, baby.”

“I think it’s the other way around,” I teased weakly. “You might never get rid of me.”

“Good.” All three answered at the exact same time.

Their certainty stole my breath, but I smiled despite myself.