Chapter Five
Louis
Louis’s heart leapt to his throat. Panic wanted to take over, but he’d dealt with his panic enough times to know how to keep it under control. For now, anyway. Currently, he had to focus on breathing and prevent what he was afraid of from happening.
Skate faster! Hank needs you.
Once it kicked off, if it kicked off, he knew he would have to control his team and his own urges to fight back so they didn’t all end up injured or dealing with penalties.
If the injuries of his teammate got bad? One of his best friends, too? Well, there wouldn’t be anything that could hold him back.
However, he wasn’t aggressive on the ice often. He liked to play a long game.
He knew exactly what was about to happen if they didn’t stop it in time, and he knew there was no way he would get there in time as he wasn’t going to be fast enough. He had to hope someone else could.
Hang in there, Hank. We’re coming!
The whole team knew what was about to happen, and they were in sync. They had to protect their goaltender. At all costs.
Their opponent, The Honourable Knights, were not an easy one. The Ice Hounds were likely to win this game, but it would come with casualties. They were currently winning three goals to two. Which meant he was going to get aggressive.
Isiah Colt.
Known to slam into players to cause as much damage as possible, he was skating with the puck and heading to the goal.
The goal Hank was currently protecting. Louis and Spencer were right behind Isiah, trying to get the puck off him.
Hank remained calm in the goal, watching every step Isiah took.
Louis could see him tensing, also knowing what was about to happen.
He either took the hit or let Isiah score.
Louis wanted his best friend to get the heck out of there. Isiah was huge and was not afraid to use his body to cause damage. He was not as big as Hank, but his nickname “Tank” suited him since it was like getting hit by a tank that then rolled over you.
The captain in him was telling Hank to stay in that goal. They didn’t deserve the goal.
Movement caught his eye. Morgan was skating toward Isiah. That rookie was fast, too, and managed to get the puck from the opposition and skate far away from him before Isiah even had a chance to turn around.
Yes!
Unfortunately, that seriously upset the big, angry player.
Morgan became the new target for his rage.
Which was bad. Compared to Isiah, Morgan was absolutely tiny.
At least he had speed on his side. However, the problem Isiah would have to deal with wasn’t Morgan.
Now that his best friend was in danger, Ajax was paying serious attention.
If Isiah touched one hair on the smaller man’s head, Ajax would flatten him to a pulp.
When Isiah picked up the pace, Louis could see him gritting his teeth as he gunned for Morgan. Isiah’s teammate got in the way to get the puck back, slowing Morgan down and giving Isiah the perfect opportunity to slam into him. Morgan hit the wall hard and went down.
Morgan!
Shaking it off, Morgan was back up.
Thank goodness for that.
His teammates were safe for now which meant Louis had to focus on the game.
Slamming straight into Isiah who had the puck currently, Louis managed to get the puck back for their team and passed it to Spencer.
Isiah shoved Louis, but he expected it and managed to keep on his feet.
They both took off after Spencer. There were a few more passes and shoves, but they managed to keep the puck away from Isiah.
Fortunately, it was time to swap and rest on the bench which gave them some breathing room. Isiah was off the ice. So were Louis and Spencer. All three of them were watching the ice, waiting.
Isiah was back on first and took on Ajax with a shove that sent Ajax sprawling, winning the puck back. That expression when he got up got told Louis he was out for revenge.
Finally, Louis was back on and went on the chase.
Unfortunately, that was when it happened.
Isiah got in close to Hank, and Hank managed to stop the goal.
On the ground, he kept the puck covered.
However, his position meant he couldn’t stop Isiah.
Vulnerable and down on the ice, Isiah slammed into him.
Hard.
It sent Isiah flying as he tripped over Hank, knocking Hank back with a knee and a stick to the head. The goal was thrown back, too.
“HANK!”
That was Spencer and he was wild. Speeding up, he looked ready for a fight.
You can’t let that happen.
Louis had to speed up and make a grab for him, pinning him in his arms. Fighting back, Spencer tried to free himself.
“Don’t do it, Spencer!” Louis pleaded.
“You’re gonna let him get away with touching Hank?” Spencer spat. “Your best friend?”
His heart pounded. Absolutely not. This could not go unpunished, but he couldn’t let Spencer go. Watching Hank on the floor, he was torn between his two best friends. Let Spencer go which would get him in trouble with a fight, and check on Hank? Or keep Spencer under control?
Louis did the only thing he could think of that might help. “Think of Maisie.”
That calmed Spencer down immediately. The wild look in his eyes disappeared. His breathing slowed down. He nodded and patted Louis’s arm, telling him he was better. Louis let go and stepped back but was ready to stop him again if needed.
Any show of anger could cost Spencer his daughter.
Which meant he couldn’t get in a fight. So desperate to prove he was not a bad father, he had to stay calm.
No doubt someone loyal to Kate’s parents was in that crowd waiting for him to mess up.
But some of the team knew that. And they rallied.
Spencer couldn’t defend Hank without it costing him big time, but they could. Isiah’s hit would not go unpunished.
“We got you, Hank!” Morgan slammed straight into Isiah, starting a fist fight.
Predictably, Ajax joined in, too. Sticks, gloves, and helmets covered the ice while the two teams piled into each other. But Hank wasn’t getting up. Was he even breathing?
Skating past them all, Louis went to help Hank who was curled up on his side. Falling to his knees, he checked on his friend.
“Hank!”
He blew out a relieved breath when he saw his ribs moving. He was breathing.
Thank goodness.
The officials were just wrapping up the fight. Spencer went over to stop Morgan and Sam whacking someone.
“I am fine. I am fine!” Hank croaked, rolling to his back and holding his cheek. “Just got hit in the head and chest.”
He wasn’t fine. He was gritting his teeth.
“Let me help you up.”
Hooking his arms under Hank’s armpits, Louis pulled him up as gently as he could.
It took some doing since Hank was bigger than he was.
Thankfully, Spencer had arrived and was helping, too.
It had to be bad if Hank was whimpering.
Their fans clapped and cheered as Louis helped him off the ice, pleased Hank was up and moving. They were baying for blood. Revenge.
The opposing fans cheered at his pain.
Louis went ice cold as he watched Hank get taken away to be checked. Carlos came on to take his place in the goal. Louis patted his back.
“Be careful out here. We will do what we can to stop him, but Isiah is a tank tonight.”
Carlos rolled his shoulders and smiled evilly. “Bring it on.”
Shaking his head with a grin, because Carlos was known to pick fights, Louis then scanned the ice.
There was his target. Isiah was shouting at an official.
Louis got closer, ready to assist if he got aggressive at the man trying to do his job.
Time for payback. But he had to play the long game.
That meant not getting injured himself or put in the penalty box.
“Should have seen it coming,” Isiah jeered as he skated past Louis, however, there was a flicker of emotion in his gaze. “Maybe he should sit it out. Retire early. Seems to be getting slow.”
Stiffening his shoulders, Louis refused to respond or retaliate.
Yet.
Isiah doesn’t want to do this, but he is doing it.
Louis could see he was being used as an attack dog, but he couldn’t help him as he was hurting people. He was the enemy.
Hank was thirty-seven. He’d announced that this would be his last season at the start of the season.
But Isiah clearly had plans to seriously hurt him and end his season early.
Hurt the goaltender, and another had to come out.
In their case, a less experienced one. Carlos was great, though. Louis had every faith in him.
Morgan and Isiah ended up in the penalty box. For two minutes, Louis had to be patient while his enemy watched every move they made. When the two minutes were up, they were back on the ice.
“What’s the plan?” Spencer asked while they were sat on the bench.
Sam and Conal were now on the ice for the Ice Hounds, replacing Spencer and Louis, and were doing their best to avoid Isiah.
The rest of Isiah’s team had now decided to play rough, too.
Sam was having none of it and just shouldered anyone that tried it with him.
They hadn’t caught Conal yet. The rest of Louis’s team were trying their best to avoid confrontation, but it looked like everyone was gearing up for a fight.
Taking a sip of water, he smiled. “Time for me to upset Isiah.”
Spencer’s eye twitched. “Need an assist?”
“I need you to stay out of it. Like you said, he touched Hank. One of my best friends. My goaltender. It is up to me to balance the score.”
The smile on Spencer’s face was slow. Calculating. “Just don’t get hit.”
“Well, if I do, I need to remember not to hit back.”
That way, only Isiah got punished.