If You Dare: A Hockey Bully Romance

Wes

The team has already left the locker room by the time I get there.

Thank god I took her phone that day I ditched her in the middle of nowhere. Programmed her phone’s location into my GPS.

She never did figure out how I always knew exactly where to find her.

“I’m coming, little flower,” I whisper.

I know exactly what they have planned for her. Because I planned out every step of it. But I called it off weeks ago.

I guess they decided to take matters into their own hands. Under Trey’s fucking leadership.

They picked a new location, thinking I’d go where we originally planned. So I wouldn’t be able to save her.

But that’s not happening again. I couldn’t save Chloe, but I will save Violet.

I’m doing seventy and praying I don’t get pulled over when the abandoned warehouse comes into view. Secluded, where no one would think to look for her.

The second I’m out of the car, Violet’s screams rip through my eardrums.

Just like that night she was screaming over my sister’s dead body.

But this time, it’s Violet I need to save. And she’s still alive. There’s still hope.

If I can get to her in time.

In the warehouse, it’s five of them on one of her. Every one of those motherfuckers landing blows on a defenseless girl. All of them wearing those fucking masks.

I’ll skin each of them alive before I burn them from the toes up.

“Get the fuck away from her!” I bellow, charging right for them like I’m not outnumbered five to one.

The other guys jump back as I aim right for their leader.

Trey braces when he spots me coming and swings his stick at my head.

He misses. That’s why he didn’t get captain.

I grab the stick and we grapple over it, the other guys hovering nearby, torn between us. Their captain and the traitor they made the mistake of following. They’ll each get their turn after I’ve handled him. “I fucking told you not to do this! You’re all dead!”

Trey swings a kick for my balls but connects with my leg. Still hard enough for me to lose my grip on the stick. He swings it down, but I grab it again and pull it so hard, it slips out of both our hands, landing on the concrete with a clatter.

None of our teammates move to grab it. Neither does Violet, who’s motionless now, still curled up on the ground.

My heart’s going to explode if I can’t check her pulse. Make sure she’s still with me. I need to get her to safety now.

I throw a punch at Trey, connecting with his jaw and making him spit out a curse. Delaying him long enough to give me time to spin and reach her.

I feel for a pulse, her neck still warm, heart still hammering hard beneath her skin.

So fucking strong. My resilient little flower.

“You’re okay, baby.” I grab her hand to let her know I’m here, I’m not going fucking anywhere without her, and her perfect hazel eyes flutter open. I let out a sound that’s somewhere between a gasp of relief and a sob. “I love you, Violet. I love you so fucking much. I’m sorry I wasn’t here to protect you, but I’m here now. You’re going to be all right. I’m getting you out of here.”

“The hell you are.” Cold, sharp metal presses against my neck. Violet’s eyes widen in horror, and she would scream again if she could. I freeze, my team’s eyes round behind their masks. “Stand.”

The last thing I want to do is obey a command from the devil himself, but with a knife pressed to my throat, it’s my only chance at getting Violet out of here alive.

With every ounce of willpower in me, I release her hand. “I’m not leaving you,” I murmur.

I stand slowly as Trey grips my shoulder and keeps the blade biting into my neck.

“Sorry it had to end this way, buddy,” he says.

Maybe if I can swing back with my elbow, I can get him to drop the knife—

“Say goodbye to your girl.” He leans closer, squeezing my shoulder. “She’s mine now.”

Before I can make another move, Trey swipes the blade across my neck.