Once they were printed, Ryker returned to the island and split the pages into two piles. “Let’s go through these and see if we can find a pattern.”
“I need this to be okay.” I hated that my voice cracked, betraying me. “I can’t have Operation Foxglove investigating my dad. If I don’t reconcile these records so everything is above board… I don’t wanna think about the consequences.”
Ryker’s gaze shot to mine, hard and determined. “It won’t come to that. I won’t fucking let it. The Hoyton Firm can put pressure on the Bellinghams if necessary.”
“I hope so.” I rubbed at my temples, where a headache was forming. “Do you think it’s connected to the failed sabotage at the port?”
“No…I don’t think so.” Ry’s mouth flattened. “It doesn’t add up with the way these police investigations are carried out. But I guess we can’t rule anything out. Maybe they’re trying new tactics.”
We exchanged glances. If the two things were connected, then this situation had the potential to unravel not just my family, but his too.
28
JAY
“This has to stop.” Volkov looked around the silent locker room. “The Cranham Kings share this rink with the Whelford Flames. It belongs to us equally, despite the name, and we are still letting them get under our skin and push us around.”
Ryker cleared his throat, stepping up next to Volkov. “He’s right. This fucking stops, right now. We’re a small team in a small uni, and we don’t have enough players to lose you to suspensions.” His gaze slid to Dan, and his jaw tightened. “We’re finishing this. Now. I’m gonna speak with Enzo. I’ll be back.”
He stalked out of the locker room, leaving us sitting in a heavy silence. He was right. This had to stop. We’d just been through an entire game that had been more fighting than playing hockey, ending with a 0–0 score, which forced us to go into overtime, during which Ryker managed to score a sloppy goal when the Flames’ netminder fumbled the save. We hadn’t even deserved the win. We’d played badly, the Flames had played badly, and no one was happy about it.Coach Lazovsky had stormed out without even bothering to speak to any of us afterwards, his expression murderous.
When Ryker returned to the locker room, most of us were still slumped on the benches, half in and half out of our gear. Every single one of us straightened up when we caught sight of the man who had followed him in.
Vincenzo Fontana, aka Enzo, captain of the Whelford Flames and Vesper’s older brother.
His gaze flicked over Volkov disdainfully as he came to a stop next to Ryker in the centre of the room, before he glanced back at Ry and nodded.
Ryker cleared his throat, addressing us all. “Fontana and I are in agreement. We need to learn to get on.”
“Or at the very least, get to the point where the hockey is more important than the fights and the insults. Especially you, Hoyton.” Enzo smirked at Dan, who glared back at him. Outside of the rink, they got on well enough, but in here, all bets were off. Especially if Enzo was insinuating what I thought he was insinuating.
Holding up his hand, Ryker went through the idea he’d concocted with Enzo. “Here’s what’s gonna happen, and no, you don’t get a fucking choice. You do this, or you’re off the team. I’ve agreed to open up the yard to any players who want to settle disputes off the ice. Fight it out properly. Leave that shit out of our games.”
“What? We have to fight?” Toby called out.
“Obviously not. Use your fucking brain, Wells. I’m talking about any individual who has a problem with another individual on the opposing team. Yeah, shit happens in a game, but it was a fucking brawl tonight. That’s not gonna happen again.”
“Okay, yeah. But they’re already allowed to use the yard, so how’s it gonna be any different?”
Enzo stepped forwards. “What your captain is saying is that we’ll be settling disputes after a game. Tone it down on the ice and work it out afterwards. And on that note, you’re all invited to join us at Ashbrook House tonight for a team party. Put our differences aside…if we can.”
“Attendance is mandatory.” Ryker gave Dan a hard look. “No exceptions. Oh, except for Worthy. You’re on probation, Coach’s orders.”
Enzo left the room, and Ryker sank down onto the bench next to me. He tipped his head back, his eyes falling shut. “I don’t want to do this. But if my dad hears that I can’t control my own fucking team…”
“I get it. We’ll be there. We can make an effort. They’re just…they’re so hard to get on with. They think we’re beneath them.”
“They think their own team captain’s beneath them.”
“Pretentious wankers,” I ground out. “Apart from Enzo. And…uh…” Lowering my voice, I leaned closer to him. “I think somewhere deep underneath the asshole exterior, Bellingham might have one or two redeeming qualities.”
Ryker huffed out a laugh. “Dunno about that, and I don’t think Dan would agree.” He was quiet for a while, but then his eyes blinked open, and he rolled his head to face me. “I haven’t asked. How’s the research going? Have you had any trouble at the clinic?”
“I’m still going through everything,” I said. “And my dad said it’s been quiet at the clinic.”
Too quiet.
Ashbrook House was one of Whelford Uni’s residential addresses, a huge nineteenth-century building that hadbeen split into a combination of individual flats and larger shared accommodations. The party was taking place over the bottom two floors of the five-storey building, and as I approached, I could hear the sound spilling into the street from the open windows. Inside, I made my way through the crowd, searching for anyone I recognised. Ignoring the stares of the students who were clearly wondering why the fuck Cranham scum were being allowed to attend one of their exclusive parties, I headed towards a small knot of Flames players. Might as well support Ryker’s flimsy plan to dial down the animosity.
