“Who is it?” Tate asks. “It’s someone on the team, isn’t it?”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “I think Sutter and Landry covered for them.”
“Who, Ari? Who hurt you?” Logan asks softly.
“Conrad and Ethan,” I say quietly. “That day… I walked into the locker room and found them raping some girl… I went straight to Sutter and Landry. They said they’d talk to them and told me to go do inventory… I thought I was alone… Hours went by before I went back to my office, and they came in to talk to me about what I saw… Ethan gave me water from the cooler… I don’t know why I drank it, but I did.”
I am sniffling and crying, but stop talking to just breathe for a second. “I ran when I realized what was happening, and they knew I ratted on them… I tried to cross the rink, but they got me. I didn’t see their faces, but I know. I know it was them. I was high, and the masks looked so real, but…”
“Son of a bitch.” Jaxon sighs.
“I’m only telling you because the team is going to be around me all of the time, no matter who it is. Without proof, they could hurt me again. Conrad’s father is the chief of police, so… the state detectives are working on it.” I sniffle.
“I’m so sorry, Arianna,” Tate says, swiping away an angry tear before pulling me up to hug me. The others surround me in a hug and hold me as I cry. The others are with us now, but give us space.
“Let’s get this over with,” I say. “Let’s go to the rink.”
“They are here. First-line is supposed to have a practice tonight.”
“Fuck.” I sigh.
“We will sit with you,” Tate says.
“I have to actually do my job,” I say.
“It’s not the same here without you, but… It’s so good to see you happy. The way they look at you… It’s adorable and violent all at once,” Beckett says.
“Violent?” I ask.
“How gingerly you sat down on that bench is very telling, Ari,” Logan says.
“Shut up.” I laugh and cover my flushed cheeks.
“Aww. Look. Our little Ari is blushing,” Tate says, poking my side. I punch him in the arm, and he wraps me in a hug before tickling me more. I wiggle away from him as I laugh and go to Kip.
“Don’t come to me, I’ll hold you down and let them tickle you.” Kip laughs.
“I’ll save you,” Connor says.
“No, the fuck you won’t,” I cackle. “You’ll just bend me over something.”
“She’s right.” Jovian chuckles and wraps his arm around my waist.
“I appreciate that you six are taking care of her, but if you hurt her…” Tate says. “Understand there isn’t a rock in hell that will hide you from us.”
“Be nice.” I frown at Tate.
“Oh, baby. That was nice.” Beckett laughs. “He was going to pull the whole protective dad stunt and sit in the parking lot cleaning a shotgun.”
“You’re all crazy.” I laugh.
“Ready?” Elijah asks, and I sigh.
“No,” I admit. “But let’s go.”
As we walk out of the locker room, I am surprised to find the entire team is waiting for us. They are lined along the walls outside of the team entrance to the rink, and they have a mix of emotions on their faces. Jovian and Elijah hold onto me as we get closer, but nothing stops the flood of tears when I step past the door and see the ice.
“I can’t.” I whimper when I try to turn. Jovian and Elijah tug me along with them.
