“Touch her again,” he said, voice like a gunshot, “and I’ll break your fucking jaw.”
Gasps. Whispers. A sharp intake of breath from somewhere behind me. Someone muttered “Jesus Christ” like this wasn’t just a scrimmage anymore.
“Kieren—” I stepped forward, heart racing. “Kieren, stop. It’s fine.”
He didn’t move.
Didn’t look at me.
His fists were clenched at his sides, white-knuckled, whole body wound tight like he was ready to swing again if anyone so much as breathed wrong.
The Vulture took a half-step forward, puffed up like he was going to make it a fight, but three Storm players materialized before he could even blink.
Caleb got there first, throwing an arm between them, blocking Kieren’s path. “Walker, no.”
Asher followed, voice low but firm. “You made your point. Let it go.”
Adam flanked the other side, one hand on Kieren’s shoulder like he was trying to ground a live wire.
Kieren barely registered them.
He was still locked in—eyes dark, chest rising and falling like he’d just run a sprint. Fury radiated off him, thick enough to choke on. Not loud. Not theatrical.
Just volcanic.
“Kieren,” I said again, quieter now, closer. “I’m fine.”
He looked at me then—really looked. And for half a second, the rage cracked.
Something flickered in his eyes. Not regret. Not quite.
But fear, maybe.
Reluctance.
And just like that, the adrenaline hit me. Not from the Vulture’s bullshit. Not from the shove.
But from him.
From knowing he’d lost control—for me.
Before I could say another word, the sideline doors slammed open and Coach Reid Lawson came charging across the field, face thunderous.
“Walker!” he bellowed, his voice cutting through the chaos like a blade. “Locker room. Now.”
No one argued. Not a single soul.
Kieren’s jaw tightened. He gave the Vulture one last lethal look before jerking out of Adam’s grip and stalking off the field, muttering something under his breath I couldn’t catch.
The PR rep appeared at my side, wide-eyed and already on her phone.
Reporters would pick it up.
Fans would dissect it.
The league would absolutely have something to say.
But all I could think about was the way Kieren’s voice had cracked when he said it—“Touch her again…”
