Page 186 of Puck Me Back to Life

For one terrifying moment, I love it. The feeling is intoxicating. Raw. Violent. Like every ugly emotion inside me has finally found somewhere to go.

The final horn sounds minutes later. We win. The handshake line isn't required during the regular season.

Everyone begins skating toward the benches.

I finally allow myself one long breath.

Maybe tonight is over.

Maybe—

“Guess the real Hacker Hayes finally showed up,” Noah says.

His voice cuts cleanly through the celebration. I stop skating and slowly turn.

He's only a few feet away. His helmet is already off. Blood trickles from a cut near his eyebrow.

His expression is cold. “I wondered how long it'd take.”

I stare at him.

He laughs once. “Funny. You looked real comfortable throwing people around tonight. Is that how you played that night too?”

I don't answer.

Something inside me finally snaps. My gloves hit the ice before I consciously decide to drop them.

Noah drops his a split second later.

Then we're moving. He swings first. The punch catches my shoulder. I answer with one straight down the middle. His head snaps backward. The crowd, which had been filtering toward the exits, suddenly erupts again. Players begin shouting. Someone grabs my jersey. I shove them away. Noah comes back swinging. His fist catches my cheek. Pain explodes behind my eye. I barely feel it. We collide again. Another punch. Another shove. My fist connects cleanly with his nose. Something crunches. Blood immediately pours between his fingers.

Grove's blood. Grove's blood on the ice.

The screaming.

My skates.

The hands pulling me back

The officials finally get involved. Hands grab both of us. Voices yell from every direction.

“Kai!”

“Enough!”

“Break it up!”

I'm still trying to get to Noah when someone wraps both arms around my chest. I'd know that grip anywhere. Ash hauls me backward with frightening ease. “Hayes.”

I struggle once.

“Kai.” His voice is lower this time. “Enough.”

Across the ice, Tyler has Noah pinned against the boards, talking directly into his face while trainers hurry over with towels. Blood drips steadily onto the ice. I stop fighting. Not because I'm calm. Because I'm suddenly exhausted.

Ash doesn't say a word as he drags me down the hallway beneath the arena.

Past equipment rooms.