Page 90 of Never Bet Against A Hockey Player

“What happened to my mother?”

I braced myself for their answer. For once, I needed her to face the consequences of her actions. She has needed a date with reality for far too long.

“She’s not getting out of this,” August said firmly. “I recorded everything so she couldn’t lie her way out of it.”

“Gavin also witnessed it,” Lachlan added. “The hospital documented the injuries and took photos.

“We ignored the officers telling us to stay outside and went in anyway,” Conrad said. “There were witnesses this time. Real evidence. She couldn’t talk her way out of trouble this time.”

“What about the drugs? I thought once you got my note you’d have them search the house,” I said. It felt like we were all throwing lifelines out to each other but didn’t quite connect.

Conrad frowned. “We wanted to, but our lawyer asked for two days. He wanted time to dig and make it stick. He was afraid of spreading the custody case too thin and thank god he did. He discovered your mother and the police chief were working together. They searched the house after everything happened and found a hell of a lot more than one box of drugs. There’s nothing she can hide behind to save her ass now.”

“The whole department saw what they recovered. The chief is cooked right along with her,” Lachlan added.

“If our lawyer and the city has anything to say about it all, they’ll both be spending a long time in prison,” August finished.

“And Gavin?” I whispered, afraid to hope.

August smiled for the first time. “You were granted emergency custody,” Conrad smiled. “Or rather, our pack was given custody.”

“If she somehow makes bail, we’ll still fight for permanent custody,” Conrad said. “But right now, he’s ours.”

Emergency meant temporary. I knew it wasn’t the end of this battle. But this time, I wasn’t fighting it alone. My mother had officially lost her control over me and the world no longer bought her pretty, little lies.

This was my first real chance to choose my own life. I wasn’t even sure what that looked like, but I couldn’t wait to find out.

“We’ve got the pack house ready.” Lachlan shifted closer so I could focus on him, his fingers trailing gently down my battered cheek. “For both you and Gavin. We spent the last few weeks making it feel like a home. It’s not empty anymore.”

“You guys went overboard, didn’t you?” A laugh escaped me. Immediately followed by a groan as pain flared through my ribs.

“Easy there,” Conrad gently adjusted my blankets. “You’re going to have to take it slow. You’ve got some healing to do.”

“She’s awake!” Gavin’s excited voice echoed from the hallway. Before I could even react, he launched himself toward the bed. Conrad caught him midair. The alpha’s strong arms stopped him and put him back on his feet.

“Easy, buddy. Remember her ribs.”

“Sorry,” Gavin mumbled, face red now. He climbed onto the bed much more carefully this time. The moment he curled against my side, I wrapped my arms around him. Pain be damned.

He buried his face against me. “Is it over?”

My sweet brother sounded so small.

“Yes.” I kissed the top of his head. “It’s over.”

“She has a record now. Plus, we have proof that I’ve been raising you. I’ve kept every receipt, we have people who can speak out for us. She can fight all she wants but she won’t be winning this battle.”

“She already lost,” August agreed. “The hearing will just make it official.”

Gavin looked up at me. Hope filled his crystal blue eyes as we both cried quietly for the lives we always wanted but didn’t dare to hope for.

“Once you’re ready, Coach says you get to come back to practice,” August promised him.

Gavin blinked up at him in shock. “I do?”

Conrad laughed. “Our pack is about to have emergency custody of you. That means your sister doesn’t have to clean the locker room anymore. You’ve got a slot no matter what.”

Gavin looked at me with pure wonder. Neither of us had ever really known what it felt like to be loved.