One Winter Knight (HockeyVerse #5)

Chapter One

Carlos

“What makes you think that you’re good enough for my daughter,” a giant, irate alpha roared at me, the barrel of his gun pointed at my beanie-covered forehead.

His alpha rage and spicy scent made me squirm against the ropes securing me to the chair. Was he actually going to shoot me? Or was he bluffing?

Sweat rolled down my neck, partly from the fireplace and my thick sweater, and partly because, regardless of what he actually intended, Finn Gallagher was quite unhappy with me.

I didn’t like it when people were unhappy with me.

Despite my life being at risk, there was something amusing about being tied to a chair, while wearing a Christmas sweater, and held at gunpoint while the lavish tree blinked cheerfully at me in their living room.

A chuckle escaped my lips.

“What’s so funny?” he snarled.

Finn’s alpha dominance was almost suffocating, making me laugh harder.

“I’m not good enough for your daughter,” I admitted.

“No one is. Fiona is Mi Reina–she is a queen among women. I am but a mere mortal and not fit for the likes of her. Though I assure you that I love her with every fiber of my being. I’d be honored to spend the rest of my life worshiping her and trying to prove that I’m worthy of her love. ”

Finn snorted. “Pretty words for a pretty boy. But that doesn’t erase what you’ve done.”

“Why would I want to erase it?” I blurted before my mouth snapped shut.

Think first, speak second, dumbass. That’s not something to say out loud if you ever want to kiss her again.

His nostrils flared and the gun clicked. I closed my eyes as fear shot through me, bracing for the worst.

This was where it ended.

People warned me to make good choices. But I was a kappa, it was in my nature not to, no matter how hard I tried.

I didn’t regret what happened. I’d do it all again. Here lies Carlos, who fell in love with a goddess.

My phone rang in the distance. Probably someone wondering where the fuck I was. Possibly a teammate, since I might have a game tonight?

I didn’t even know what day it was anymore. Or where the others were.

How did I even end up tied to a chair, in Boston, at the mercy of an armed, angry alpha?

Well, it all started one winter night…

December 22

Tito’s, my hockey team’s favorite sports bar, buzzed with activity. The New York Knights had won tonight, and everyone was in good spirits. Music played in the background, a few games up on the various TVs. Holiday decorations made the tropical-themed bar feel festive.

My teammates were excited for their holiday plans. I hadn’t mentioned mine. Everyone assumed I’d be here in New York City with my mom and sisters–and I hadn’t corrected them. As much as I’d miss my family, I was excited for my trip, especially because Fiona would be there.

While my friends talked, I texted her. Currently, Dimitri was telling Clark and Tenzin the story of how he came to the Knights.

Me

Are you sure you don’t want to just come over now?

Fiona

I have a job tonight. Don’t worry, I’ll make the flight.

Me

Be careful, Mi Reina.

Fiona

I’m always careful.

I pushed down the slight tinge of fear I felt every time she was on a job. Fiona was a professional, as was her girlfriend, who was also her partner. Still, I worried. As one does when your girlfriend was an assassin.

Gwen gave me a look of slight disapproval. She probably assumed that I was texting my ex. Given everything my ex had put me through, I understood Gwen’s line of thinking.

However, I hadn’t talked to my ex since summer. My relationship with Fiona was pretty new, and few people knew about it. I still wondered why a stunning and talented omega like Fiona would want to be with a kappa like me.

Kappas were a rare designation, mostly because we often didn’t make good life choices.

However, we had a great time doing it.

Still, I was more of a one night stand than a keeper. And her? Oh, she was a Keep and treasure forever sort of partner.

My phone buzzed again. It was my buddy, Hale.

Hale

Are you still at Tito’s?

Me

Yeah. Where are you?

He was taking the train up from the South to go on this trip with me. We’d hang out at my place until our flight.

Hale

On my way to Tito’s. I need your help with something before we leave.

Me

Of course.

Hale

Be there soon.

“If your ex is in town, don’t meet with her, sleep with her, or do her favors,” Gwen told me, hazel eyes filled with concern. “I'm not home to keep a snake in my shower.”

“Mariquita, I know you mean well, but it’s unnecessary,” I assured.

She looked unconvinced. But she knew my ex. I’d known Gwen even before I became a Knight.

I stood. “I’m not even texting her, just some friends. Nothing bad’s going to happen. Safe travels, everyone. Merry Christmas.”

Giving my farewells, I paid my bar tab. Five days off for Christmas, what a gift. Some years our team didn’t get that. My cousin, who played for the Mexico City Tigres, had a game the day after Christmas.

Chilly, mid-December air embraced me as I put on my coat and went outside to wait for Hale. Leaning against the wall, I continued texting Fiona.

Fiona

I can’t wait. Even Saoirse is excited.

Me

Wow. She is?

Fiona sent a laughing emoji. Saoirse was skeptical of me at first, rightfully so, but I’d like to think she’d warmed up to me.

Fiona

Saoirse likes you fine as long as you’re nice to me.

Me

I am here to serve, Mi Reina.

Fiona

You can show me tomorrow. Saoirse says I have to focus. Text you later.

Me

Sounds good. I have to help Hale anyway.

A high-end, ultra-fast, hot pink sports car pulled up in front of the bar. A window rolled down and Hale grinned at me. “Get in the car, fucker. We’re going to cause some trouble.”

“As long as we make our flight, let’s do it. Dusty will be pissed if we’re late.” I got into the passenger’s seat. “Does your sister know that you have her car?”

His sister was mated to three of my teammates. She also didn’t know we were friends. For some reason she didn’t want us to be.

“They’re already at the airport. Don’t worry, I won’t wreck it.” Hale was very tall and broad-shouldered but narrow waisted. Today his brown hair hung long and loose. Like usual for him, the alpha wore tight jeans, cowboy boots, a cowboy hat, and a T-shirt.

“Finals went okay?” I asked. Hale was in his last year of an undergraduate degree in organic chemistry at a private research university in the South.

“I think so. My inorganic chem final was tough, but medical chemistry? Nailed it.”

Country music blasted from the stereo.

“What exactly are we doing tonight?” I asked. In his sister’s car. She wouldn’t be happy if anything happened to it. It was a gift from one of her mates after Hale wrecked her old car.

“Just a little street race. I need you to livestream it for my socials. Don’t worry, I’m so much better at not crashing now.” He grinned at me.

“Oh, okay, I can do that.” I didn’t post much online.

The PR person for the Knights seemed perpetually mad at me, so I tried not to give her any reasons.

I mean, sure, I’d brought an imaginary cat to a strip club to get a lap dance more than once.

But Lucky was very considerate, not handsy, and a huge tipper. Also, the strippers were okay with it.

We pulled into a parking garage, filled with high-end supercars straight out of a street racing movie

“Wait, are we doing Manhattan After Midnight?” I breathed. I didn’t know Hale was on that level. It was a street race that people came from all over for. It used the streets blocked off for the Merry-thon happening in the morning, which was a holiday marathon most people ran in festive costumes.

“Yep. I won a spot last minute off my buddy in a card game. My car doesn’t meet the specs. But this baby does.” He patted the steering wheel, excitement in his pluot scent.

Someone came over to our car with a tablet and knocked on the window.

Hale rolled it down and tipped his hat at her. “Howdy, I’m Hale Thorne.”

She nodded, glanced at her tablet, then checked his ID. “Does your girlfriend know you have her car, Cowboy?”

“It’s my sister’s, and fuck no.” Hale laughed. He nodded to me. “He’s my videographer.”

I waved. She affixed a tracker to the inside windshield and handed us a map of the route and the rules.

We were directed to a line of cars, and I looked over the course and regulations.

“Am I livestreaming from the passenger’s seat?” I asked. Considering the race was a literal marathon, it made sense that I’d ride along.

“Yep. It’s easier to have someone do it than just have my phone stuck to the dash.”

“Sounds good. Are you in it to win it?” I was curious about the stakes.

“I just want to win some money so we can party.” He shrugged. “Top racers get money, though some of the buy-in goes to charity or something.”

Oh, okay. That’s probably why the race was allowed. Even after midnight, Manhattan was still pretty busy.

“We’ll live it up regardless,” I promised. I’d planned on covering him, Fiona, and Saoirse on our trip anyway, since I’d invited them. Though my friend Dusty had arranged for our flight, villa, ski passes, and event tickets.

I took pictures of all the cars and sent them to Dusty. He was doing a show in Philly tonight.

Dusty

Where are you?

Me

Hale’s racing in Manhattan After Midnight. I’m along for the ride.

I sent him Hale’s racing channel, which wasn’t under his actual name, so his sisters didn’t lecture him about being reckless.

Something I understood, having three sisters who often told me to make good choices. As if on cue, one of my sisters texted. Anita and I were closest, even though she was eight years older.

Anita

At the airport. Be safe. Make good choices. I’m excited for the cruise, but low-key jealous of your trip.

My sister Anita and her pack were taking our mother on a two-week cruise for Christmas. This morphed into the rest of my family going with them.

Me

Have fun. I will party half-naked in the snow while eating cheese for you.

Anita

For the sake of whoever you’re sharing a room with, please go easy on the cheese.

Honestly, I’d been wanting to go to this music festival for years, but Christmas was a huge multi-day affair in my family. Them going away for the holidays and Dusty being a headliner at the festival?

Meant to be.

As we left the parking garage and lined up, Hale got on his phone and went live.

“Hey, it’s Hale-strom and I’m live from Manhattan After Midnight in New York City. Look at all these cars.” Hale panned his phone. “The race is about to start. My buddy C-Man’s going to take the camera. See you on the other side.”

I took the phone as engines revved. The race started and we sped off through the marked course. Thrills shot through me as we careened through the streets of New York. Going this fast through the city was a rare luxury. Also, dangerous.

Danger and I were good friends.

The city flew by in a cacophony of sounds and lights, people waving and taking photos of us as we sped by. The tracker gave us our positioning in the race compared to the other cars.

The route for the Merry-thon had been designed to have the least impact on traffic. Runners went through Roganfort Center–a massive performing arts complex. We couldn’t race our cars across the courtyard, so this route led through the parking garage.

“Fuck.” Hale moved to one side of the road, not stopping, barely avoiding another car as someone ran across the street, nearly getting hit, cars honking.

There should be barriers set up for the Merry-thon. The traffic lights and crosswalks were also being controlled to keep accidents from happening.

Or had someone gotten annoyed at the lights not turning and hopped the barriers? Not very smart considering how fast everyone was going.

I blinked at the pedestrian. That woman in a dark suit with a backpack looked a lot like Saoirse.

Were they in New York? I tried not to ask too many questions about their work.

“Yeah, tonight is not a good night to jaywalk,” Hale muttered. Sirens cut through the air as an ambulance barreled down the street in the opposite direction as us.

“Oh shit.” I sucked in a breath as we barely avoided a lime green muscle car. It promptly crashed into an import that cost what most people made in a decade.

“Fuck you, you asshole,” Hale muttered as he cut someone off.

Keeping Hale’s phone focused on him, I one-handed texted Fiona, just in case that actually was Saoirse.

Me

You okay? Where are you?

Hale hit the accelerator, and we sped into the parking garage as he muttered, “Hold on to your boots. It’s gonna be a bumpy ride.”