I hurry over to the box, greet the security guard by name—because as much as I don’t enjoy watching hockey, I know all of Jean-Michel’s security staff. “Is everything okay?”
He nods, and I push inside the owner’s suite, finding Chrissy and Rory inside.
And…then everything goes to hell.
The next hour is a mess.
A complete and total mess that ends up with me having to talk to another FBI agent—and this time it’s not just Attie, er Agent Phillips.
Because it’s agents, plural.
Because when it’s all said and done, Tiff,Jean-Michel’sTiff, is caught up in the overflow of the FBI investigation into Angela Rosseau, Duarte, corporate espionage, and kidnapping and trafficking. Complete and total insanity that threatens almost everything Jean-Michel holds dear.
But Tiff…I exhale slowly.
She’s a survivor.
And Attie’s team is watching.
They get to Tiff in time.
But, unfortunately, Angela slips through the FBI’s defenses and has disappeared.
Again.
We’re all disappointed and frustrated—and terrified for Tiff.
Thankfully, she’s unharmed and she drags Jean-Michel back into the light.Literally. She survives a close call, calms him down, and then literally drags him back upstairs, just in time for puck drop.
And I remain below, handling the fallout, liaising with the investigative team, trying to handle everything so that Jean-Michel can just worry about Tiff and himself.
It works.
I get the corridors blocked off and the security footage to Attie. I keep the press and players and staff away…and in doing so, I don’t so much as look at my phone.
AndIdon’t make it up for puck drop.
And I don’t tell Jace what’s happening.
I just left him?—
“Shit,” I whisper, drawing the attention of several agents. Attention that really isn’t smart, considering what happened here tonight. “Sorry,” I say, hurrying down the hall and yanking my phone from my pocket.
Seeing a series of texts on the screen.
JACE: You good, cookie?
JACE: Text me and let me know all’s fine when you get a chance, okay?
JACE: The second period is about to start and I’m getting a little worried, gorgeous. Can you check in?
JACE: I just saw Jean-Michel. He explained. Take your time.
JACE: I know you’re in the zone, cookie. Take care of what you need to take care of then crawl into bed beside me when you’re done.
I still, my eyes burning, guilt rippling through me.
Because it dawns on me then.
