Total pages in book: 34
Estimated words: 30715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 30715 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 154(@200wpm)___ 123(@250wpm)___ 102(@300wpm)
"It's okay, little one," he murmurs, trying to comfort me when he's the one hurting. "You'll be back in my arms soon. I just needed to hear your voice tonight. I kept thinking about what I'd do if it were you…" He trails off with a groan. "I never want to face that, Rebel. It'd fucking destroy me."
"It would destroy me, too," I whisper. "Poor Kris."
"Yeah." He sighs. "I should let you sleep. We have practice early."
"Are you sure you're going to be okay?"
"Yeah, little one. I'll be fine." He pauses. "I love you."
"I love you too, Kellan."
"Sweet dreams, Rebel."
I drop the phone into my lap, staring blindly at the wall across from the bed. Maybe this is what my gut was trying to tell me today. I don't know, but it doesn't feel right to be here when he needs me there. Jonas probably needs me too. He adores Kelsey. They've been friends since she joined the team as their publicist. Jonas doesn't listen to anyone. He's stubborn and wild and does what he wants to do. But he listens to Kelsey. He goes out of his way to make sure he's behaving himself to keep her happy.
The whole team tries to keep her happy. It's not because they're afraid of her, as much as they claim it is. It's because they love her. She's important to every single one of them. She's fought for and protected every single one of them.
They'll rally around her to help her through this…but I need to rally around them. It doesn't matter if Jonas finds out about us now or later. I've been selfish long enough. As much as I want the team to win the Cup, I want my brother and Kellan to be okay more. And right now, they need support more than they need the Cup. They need me.
I pick my phone up and set to work on finding a flight out.
I'm not able to get a flight out until noon. I don't tell Jonas or Kellan that I'm coming. I just book it and go. By the time I finally land in Minnesota, they're already on the ice. I text Camila, Gray's wife, who helps get me through security since I have no ticket and no proof that Jonas is my brother.
It takes a little doing, but we manage to do it. We make it into the arena just in time to see a fight break out at center ice. Both teams are involved, and it looks nasty.
The entire arena shouts and screams, cheering on their team of choice.
I seek out Kellan, relieved to see him in the team box. He's on his feet with the rest of the team…but only half of them are watching the fight on the ice. The other half is focused on a commotion in the stands directly behind the box, where the families sit.
"Oh, my God." Camila grabs my arm, her free hand flying to her mouth.
I start to turn toward her, but movement on the ice catches my attention. I glance that way to see Kris flying toward the box. He jumps over the boards, tossing his helmet and gloves.
"Kelsey collapsed," Camila whispers, her voice cracking.
My heart leaps into my throat when I see what she does. The commotion in the crowd behind the box isn't a fight. It's EMTs strapping a woman to a board. Kelsey. She's unnaturally still and pale.
Camila and I rush that way, though I don't know what to do to help.
Kris falls to his knees beside the EMTs, grabbing Kelsey's hand.
Tears pour down my face, but I'm not the only one crying. The arena cameras are focused on Kris and Kelsey, broadcasting the situation to the entire arena via the massive screens positioned at all four corners of the arena. There's no missing the haunted, terrified look on Kris's face. It's everywhere.
The crowd surges backward, halting our forward progress as the EMTs and Kris lift Kelsey to carry her out of the arena. Everyone falls quiet, all eyes focused on the heartbreaking procession. The entire team has abandoned the ice, lining the boards. Jonas has tears in his eyes. He isn't the only one, either.
The Wilds mill behind them, silent and subdued.
Once the EMTs pass, Camila and I are finally able to break through the crowd. Kellan spots me, and a little of the tension radiating from him eases. He swallows hard, staring straight at me. I can tell he wants to come to me, but even now, he's trying to respect what I asked. He's trying to play by my rules.
To hell with my rules.
I march right up to the gate separating their bench from the stands. It's still standing open from where Kris passed through to get to Kelsey. Kellan meets me at the gate, a question in his eyes.