Chapter 28 Jay
JAY
“This has to stop.” Volkov looked around the silent locker room. “The Cranham Kings share this rink with the Whelford Flames. It belongs to us equally, despite the name, and we are still letting them get under our skin and push us around.”
Ryker cleared his throat, stepping up next to Volkov.
“He’s right. This fucking stops, right now.
We’re a small team in a small uni, and we don’t have enough players to lose you to suspensions.
” His gaze slid to Dan, and his jaw tightened.
“We’re finishing this. Now. I’m gonna speak with Enzo. I’ll be back.”
When Ryker returned to the locker room, most of us were still slumped on the benches, half in and half out of our gear. Every single one of us straightened up when we caught sight of the man who had followed him in.
Vincenzo Fontana, aka Enzo, captain of the Whelford Flames and Vesper’s older brother.
His gaze flicked over Volkov disdainfully as he came to a stop next to Ryker in the centre of the room, before he glanced back at Ry and nodded.
Ryker cleared his throat, addressing us all. “Fontana and I are in agreement. We need to learn to get on.”
“Or at the very least, get to the point where the hockey is more important than the fights and the insults. Especially you, Hoyton.” Enzo smirked at Dan, who glared back at him.
Outside of the rink, they got on well enough, but in here, all bets were off.
Especially if Enzo was insinuating what I thought he was insinuating.
Holding up his hand, Ryker went through the idea he’d concocted with Enzo.
“Here’s what’s gonna happen, and no, you don’t get a fucking choice.
You do this, or you’re off the team. I’ve agreed to open up the yard to any players who want to settle disputes off the ice.
Fight it out properly. Leave that shit out of our games. ”
“What? We have to fight?” Toby called out.
“Obviously not. Use your fucking brain, Wells. I’m talking about any individual who has a problem with another individual on the opposing team. Yeah, shit happens in a game, but it was a fucking brawl tonight. That’s not gonna happen again.”
“Okay, yeah. But they’re already allowed to use the yard, so how’s it gonna be any different?”
Enzo stepped forwards. “What your captain is saying is that we’ll be settling disputes after a game. Tone it down on the ice and work it out afterwards. And on that note, you’re all invited to join us at Ashbrook House tonight for a team party. Put our differences aside…if we can.”
“Attendance is mandatory.” Ryker gave Dan a hard look. “No exceptions. Oh, except for Worthy. You’re on probation, Coach’s orders.”
Enzo left the room, and Ryker sank down onto the bench next to me. He tipped his head back, his eyes falling shut. “I don’t want to do this. But if my dad hears that I can’t control my own fucking team…”
“I get it. We’ll be there. We can make an effort. They’re just…they’re so hard to get on with. They think we’re beneath them.”
“They think their own team captain’s beneath them.”
“Pretentious wankers,” I ground out. “Apart from Enzo. And…uh…” Lowering my voice, I leaned closer to him. “I think somewhere deep underneath the asshole exterior, Bellingham might have one or two redeeming qualities.”
Ryker huffed out a laugh. “Dunno about that, and I don’t think Dan would agree.” He was quiet for a while, but then his eyes blinked open, and he rolled his head to face me. “I haven’t asked. How’s the research going? Have you had any trouble at the clinic?”
“I’m still going through everything,” I said. “And my dad said it’s been quiet at the clinic.”
Too quiet.
Ashbrook House was one of Whelford Uni’s residential addresses, a huge nineteenth-century building that had been split into a combination of individual flats and larger shared accommodations.
The party was taking place over the bottom two floors of the five-storey building, and as I approached, I could hear the sound spilling into the street from the open windows.
Inside, I made my way through the crowd, searching for anyone I recognised.
Ignoring the stares of the students who were clearly wondering why the fuck Cranham scum were being allowed to attend one of their exclusive parties, I headed towards a small knot of Flames players.
Might as well support Ryker’s flimsy plan to dial down the animosity.
It was clear that they were unwilling to get on board with the plan, because after our initial awkward greetings, they proceeded to talk among themselves without trying to include me. Fuck. I knew this wasn’t going to work.
Then again…I guessed it depended on your definition of learning to get along with each other. Over by the sofas, Toby and Neo were surrounded by women who clearly didn’t care that they were Cranham students, based on the heavy-duty flirting that was going on.
“Attwood.”
Campbell, one of the Flames’ D-men, pushed his way into the group.
“Campbell.” Lucky for me, Campbell’s mother attended my family’s clinic for treatments, and with that tenuous link, we managed to stumble our way through some small talk for a few minutes, which was honestly more progress than I’d been expecting.
When he disappeared, distracted by one of the Whelford Uni girls, I grabbed a bottle of Coke and wandered over to the windows, staring out at the darkened skies. I wished I were anywhere but here. I needed to be back at the house, working my way through the rest of the accounts to get some answers.
“You are not interested in any of these women? I saw the pretty blonde looking at you. That is your type, correct? Blondes?”
Gritting my teeth, I turned to the side to see Volkov casually leaning against the wall, a beer bottle dangling from his fingertips. Instead of answering his question, I nodded towards his drink. “Beer? Isn’t vodka more your thing?”
“Hmm. We are here in enemy territory. It’s unwise to drink anything from a glass. A bottle, you can cover with your thumb. See?” He pressed his thumb down over the open top.
“Are you that paranoid that you think someone here is gonna, what, poison you?”
“Enemies are everywhere,” he said. “You would do well to remember that.”
What was I supposed to reply to that statement? Tipping my drink to my lips, I drained the rest of my Coke and then placed my bottle on the windowsill. “This has been fun. See you around.”
His hand on my arm stopped me in my tracks, his fingers digging into my flesh in a bruising grip. “Look. She wants you. You should go to her.”
Following his gaze, I saw the same woman who had been standing nearby when I’d been talking to Campbell, staring in my direction with an appreciative smile on her lips.
The only reason I’d even noticed her was because I’d caught a flash of blonde hair out of the corner of my eye, and my mind had immediately arrowed to Nova.
But when I’d looked properly, it had just been another woman among many at this party, none of whom interested me. Because none of them were Nova Thorpe.
“I’m not interested in her,” I ground out.
“Why? You are single, and she’s your type.” His eyes narrowed, his voice dropping to a low, threatening tone. “There is no one at Cranham for you. You should go to her.”
“I—”
“Well, well, well. If it isn’t Jayesh Attwood in the flesh, looking hotter than ever.”
My vision was suddenly filled with tumbling dark waves of hair and curves spilling from a tight black dress. Vesper’s full mouth curved upwards as she shot me a wink before giving Volkov a disdainful glance. His icy gaze dragged over her, and he stepped back with a curl of his lip.
“Vesper Fontana.”
“Anton Volkov.” Her voice was just as cold as his.
Deliberately turning her back to him, she tucked her arm through mine and led me away.
When we reached the wall on the far side of the room, she stopped, glancing discreetly back at the window through lowered lashes.
“He’s still watching. We’re going to pretend to flirt with each other, and then we’re going to let him see us leave together. ”
I rubbed my hand over my mouth. “What the fuck is happening?” I muttered under my breath.
Vesper slid her hand up my arm. “Nova is what’s happening. I know about you two, and I also know her fiancé is very suspicious of you right now.”
The pieces instantly fell into place. “Fuck.” Sucking in a sharp breath, I plastered on a smile, placing my hand at her waist. “Nova isn’t going to be happy about this.”
She laughed, tipping her head back. “She knows you only want her. Quick, lean in so it looks like you’re kissing my neck.”
I snorted, amused, but leaned forwards until my nose brushed her hair.
When I straightened up, she winked at me again, and I couldn’t help grinning.
Although I’d been around Nova’s friends a lot over the years, I tended to avoid them because I’d been trying to stay away from Nova.
But after seeing Liana’s actions at the party at my house, and now with Vesper here tonight, I could appreciate the fierce loyalty these women had for each other.
Loyalty that indirectly extended to me in this instance.
“Thanks,” I said. It was inadequate.
She squeezed my arm. “No need to thank me. Let’s go back to my room. You can play on my PS5 while I watch trash TV on my iPad.”
“Yeah. That sounds good.”
Raising her voice, she grabbed my hand. “This way. I can’t wait to get you somewhere more private.”
I had to bite down on the inside of my cheek to stop myself from laughing as the people in earshot stared at us in interest.
Someone else was watching, too. Volkov’s hard gaze followed us all the way out of the room.
“We cannot… Too suspicious… Nyet. Ne par’sya. Everything is going to plan.”
What the fuck? My heart was pounding out of my chest as I inched around the corner, catching a glimpse of the shadowy figure talking in a low tone.
Anton Volkov. Out here alone in the dark, making plans. If I hadn’t called it a night, I might’ve missed this.
Behind me, the door creaked, voices filtering through the muted wall of noise, and Volkov’s head flew up.
“…Yeah, you’re right. She was fucking fit. Why does Hoyton get all the hottest girls?”
I launched myself backwards, out of sight of Volkov. A body knocked into my side, and I spun around to see Toby and Neo, both looking a little worse for wear, staggering slightly as they stepped onto the pavement. Thinking fast, I leaned into them and threw my arm around Toby’s shoulders.
I was just in time, because Volkov appeared, suspicion written all over his face.
“Volksy!” Toby slurred. “You coming back with us? After-party at our place.”
“No.” He focused his attention on me. “What are you doing?”
“Designated driver. Someone has to keep an eye on these two.” Keeping my tone casual, I held his gaze. Thank fuck Toby and Neo were both drunk enough to make it believable.
Or so I hoped.