The locker room reeks of sweat and blood and old tape. We’re at an away game, and even though I loathe every fucking minute I’ve been away from Lakynn, at least Castlebook doesn’t smell like literal garbage.

I keep my head down as I lace my skates, ignoring the chatter around me. The sound of laughter grates on me. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting some more for news on when they’re sending Lakynn to be with me. That was the deal. The alternative was that they were going to marry Lakynn off to someone in a merger that would benefit them. I never thought they adopted us for sincere reasons, but when I realized that selling Lakynn off to the fucking highest bidder was an option, I knew that I had to do whatever it took to keep her safe. I’m about ready to blow everything up if my father and uncle don’t make good on their side of things. Six months is too long when I didn’t go a fucking night since the day I met her without checking on her.

The sloppy, aimless noise that doesn’t belong anywhere near me is making it worse. I’m on edge, and none of these fuckers even realize what they could be dealing with if they piss me off. These guys joke like they have nothing to lose. Like none of this matters. I’m a killer, the coldest kind, too. I don’t give a fuck about any of my hits. I don’t care why or how. I only care about one fucking thing, and that’s my adopted sister. I completed every task my father had for me, and now I’m a student at Castlebrook, which was the cover we agreed on when I left The Falls. The gossip mill is out of control, so saying I wanted to leave to play hockey seemed like the most believable thing. Except to Lakynn. I know she had to be so confused and worried. The last few months have been painful, and it’s felt like my fucking chest is cracked open and my heart ripped out. I know I’m going to have a lot of making up to do when Lakynn and I are reunited, but this was the only way that we could be together. I’ll spend the rest of my life making it up to her.