Chapter 24
Rebel Arena, Freedom
D’Angelo
I stalk down the low ceilinged tunnel in Rebel Arena that leads to Bay Rebels’ TV studios where interviews take place both pre and post-game.
The narrow tunnel is in shadow. It’s quiet and deserted, and I can only hear the pulse of my own heartbeat and the fast click of Robyn’s heels as she struggles to keep up with me.
I’m dressed in my pre-game immaculate navy suit with team tie. I run my hands along my curls to smooth them into place.
I catch sight of my Rolex.
Ten minutes until my live interview with Melanie.
I bare my teeth. It’s not in a smile.
Secrets will be revealed tonight — not mine.
Excitement buzzes through me. I’m fucking hyped, for the game, this interview…for taking back the control.
I’m done being the prey.
Tonight, I’m the hunter.
I glance over my shoulder at Robyn.
She’s wearing an outfit that makes me smile because it’s my favorite. She chose it for our first date. It makes her shine with confidence every time that she wears it.
It’s an off the shoulder floor length emerald dress with a slit up the thigh that entrances me.
Fuck, it’s hard not to simply grab her by the arm, throw her against the wall, and fuck her senseless, whenever she’s wearing that dress.
I wrench my gaze away from her with difficulty.
I have permission from her to break the no comment and silence rule.
Brave.
She’s letting me off the leash.
I can be the devil that I am, while masquerading under the cameras as an angel.
If Melanie thinks that she can be the puppet master here, then she truly doesn’t know me.
What can I say?
I’m an asshole.
And tonight even my PR Director has given me permission to unleash my inner asshole because I’m fighting for the people I love, my new found family, and the future of the Bay Rebels.
Up ahead, I can see the bright lights of the studio around the curve of the tunnel.
Abruptly, I stop and turn to Robyn.
She looks surprised, as I stop her and push her against the wall.
She glances nervously up and down the tunnel to check that we’re alone. She’s shaking with anxiety. I know that she’s facing a bitch who bullied her as a kid.
My expression tightens.
I understand about facing my demons.
I slide my hand to her throat to focus her attention on me. “No, look at me. Only me. We’re alone. Right now, don’t worry about anything else but my voice. Do you trust me?”
I can feel the way that she swallows underneath my hand. “Yes.”
“Yes what?”
Robyn’s pupils dilate. “Yes, Sir.”
My cock hardens.
Fuck, I need this right now.
Robyn knows that. She always gives all of us what we need.
I flex and then tighten my hand around her throat. She doesn’t look away from my eyes, as I’d ordered her not to.
I lean closer, brushing my lips across hers but not kissing her. “I love you, Robyn. I’ve known that you were the only woman who I could love since college. No one has made me feel so understood or like I could be myself around them. We could laugh at comedies together, watch your Disney movies, or chat about shit until 2 a.m. in the morning. When I wasn’t with you, I was thinking of you. Hockey is my world, but you’re my universe. This second chance with you is like being reborn. I’m not going to let anything or anyone threaten it.” I reach up and touch the pendant that’s hanging at her neck. “You carry me around your neck, principessa. But I always carry you in my heart.”
I lean in and kiss her.
The fire between us ignites.
I push my thigh between hers, and her dress rides up. My dick presses against her hip.
She groans.
I draw back, licking across Robyn’s sweet tasting lips.
When we win — in all ways — I’m going to fucking wreck Robyn tonight.
Her eyes widen like she knows what my wicked grin means…and she’s excited.
Reluctantly, however, I release her throat, stroking over the skin. Instead, I drop my hand to her collarbone.
She shivers, as I caress her with my thumb.
“Garcia’s been investigating Melanie and also Peninsula Daily News. He not only found good information on Melanie,” I rest my forehead against Robyn’s, enjoying this quiet moment, not knowing whether it’s going to last, “he also asked some good questions like why she’s so obsessed with me. He looked through Melanie’s editorial articles. In the last three years, over a quarter have been negative smear pieces on me. He compared that to other sports sections that maybe hold a handful of pieces on me. She’s single-handedly been behind pushing the agenda that I’m a cocky playboy loser.”
Robyn frowns. “So, why…?”
“That’s the question. As a local woman, why’s she not supporting the team?”
“She’s not a fan, huh?”
Okay, confession time…again.
The tips of my ears redden. “After she printed the first photograph with Noah at a play party where there shouldn’t have been cameras, followed by the second picture from someone pretending to be a domme, I wondered if Melanie was in the BDSM scene. I didn’t think that it was possible, since I didn’t know her, as the community is small here. But what if she found a way to be invited into the parties in her typical lack of morals way, so that she could blackmail people, build up gossip, secrets, and connections…”
Robyn gasps. “That’s disgusting.”
“She’s predatory. I wouldn’t be surprised. At first, since Garcia thought that she was targeting me, I wondered…”
“If you’d played with her at a party.” Robyn’s eyes become steely. “Did you?”
“No fucking way. Plus, I think that she’s only targeting me — or Shay — to impress someone else.” I take a deep breath. I’ve waited to tell Robyn this because it’s big. She knows the larger plan, but the reason behind it could break her heart. She’s had that happen too many times already. “Garcia found years of evidence. I have a file that I can show you. It proves that they’ve been buying her expensive gifts, treating her to hotel rooms, meals out, and fucking her. Garcia was able to photograph them going into a hotel together. I bet that we can find a paper trail that he’s been paying her too. In turn, she’s been smearing Bay Rebels and me, while writing positive articles about him.”
Robyn is still looking at me, confused. “Who are we talking about?”
I hate that I’m going to have to say his name.
I cup Robyn’s cheek, and her gaze flies to mine.
“Talon,” I admit.
“No,” she whispers. Then she cries louder, losing her control, “No…”
Robyn struggles to escape my grip, frantic. Tears stream down her cheeks, and she sobs.
“I’m sorry, principessa.”
“Wilder was cheating on me with her.” She thrashes side to side. “How could he? He knew the same stories about Melanie that I’ve told you. He knew what she did to me at school.”
I clench my jaw.
I don’t know how yet…but I’m going to destroy Wilder.
“Talon’s a narcissist,” I reply. “He doesn’t have the empathy to care about that and he clearly doesn’t give a fuck about Melanie either. From what Garcia says, Melanie seems to be genuinely in love with Talon. Women seem to fall under the spell of a star hockey player, when they single them out and make them feel special. He abuses that position of power. She’s being manipulated by him because she believes his love bombing. She thinks that she’s in control but actually, she’s his puppet. He only wants her for what she can print and the damage that she can do to his enemies.”
Robyn looks devastated. “They’ve been hurting Shay and you to hurt me.”
That’s why I didn’t want to tell her because I knew that she’d blame herself.
Yet I won’t keep secrets from her.
At least, not more than I need to.
After these three games, I’m going to start letting her more into other sides of my world.
I asked her if she trusted me. Well, I need to trust her now.
Robyn tries to wrench herself away from me, but I don’t let her. Instead, I clutch her to my hard chest, stroking her hair.
“Your ex is my rival,” I reassure her, holding onto her as tightly as I’ve always wanted to. I’m never letting her go. “He’s been finding ways to hurt me, ever since they beat the shit out of me with wooden coat hangers and called it hazing. This isn’t your fault. The asshole is suspended; he can’t get to us now himself. I guess that he thought he could manipulate one of the women who’s dumb enough to think that they’re special to him into continuing his stalking. Except, this time he’s wrong. Our family is too strong to be torn apart by this. We’re going to fight back. We’re the rebels and not the losers, remember?”
Finally, to my relief, she turns her face up and gives me a watery smile. “Rebels forever.”
I wipe the tears off her cheek. “Lucky for me that I’m dating a PR expert. You’re in charge off the ice. Advise me.”
Like me, she needs the control back.
I love that Robyn is a capable, independent woman.
I won’t allow her ex and Melanie to steal that from her.
Robyn struggles to get her breathing under control. I scrunch up my nose, feeling antsy as she wrinkles my shirt by clutching her fingers tightly in the front of it.
It’s not like I’m about to be interviewed in front of millions.
“How about you let go of my shirt?” I arch my brow. “Unless you have a portable iron.”
She lets out a small laugh. “Sorry, can’t have you looking anything but perfect.”
She lets go, smoothing down my shirt, before pressing an apologetic kiss to my chest.
Then she pulls back, carefully checking her own cheeks for tears. “Do I look like I’ve been crying?”
“No.”
Yes.
“Here.” I carefully reach out and wipe away the smudged mascara underneath her eyes.
She gives another brave smile. “As your PR Director, here’s what I think. Playing dead in this crisis hasn’t worked. You need to stay calm and shape the narrative by putting your side of the story. The best PR doesn’t sit around and wait for the news; it actively creates it. Melanie thinks that she’s making the news with her ambush tonight. I’m certain that Wilder and her believe this will be a scoop about our polyamorous relationship. But when you go in there, you turn it on its head. You make her the news. You’re the captain of the Bay Rebels, representing them before their third game. You’re loved by the fans, and she’s going to try and tear you down in their own arena. She’ll end up looking like the devil, while you’ll be the angel protecting the beloved team.”
“My brothers,” I reply, simply.
Robyn nods. “Melanie’s fighting for a fake love, but we’re fighting for family.”
I grip Robyn’s hand and turn to face the light at the end of the tunnel.
Determined, I prowl with her side by side down the tunnel toward the TV studio. “Then it’s time that I face this battle, and I’m going to fucking win.”