Page 58 of Callous Shot

The desperate shout sliced through the room, and my gaze swung to the open doorway, where a dishevelled, red-headed demon stood, his chest heaving and his bright blue eyes wide with alarm.

“Arson.” Ryker’s voice echoed through the space.

“No.” Daniel stalked into the centre of the room, putting his body between me and Ryker. “You lay a hand on him, and I’ll never forgive you.” His voice cracked on the last words, and my heart jolted.

“Dan. You can’t— You⁠—”

“Ry, I’m serious. Let me deal with my own shit, okay?” He stepped closer to his best friend, holding his gaze. “Look, if I need your help, I promise I’ll ask you. But I can handle him. Don’t worry. You know me.”

“Yeah, I do know you, and that’s why I’m worried,” he muttered, his shoulders slumping. “You sure about this?”

“I’m sure. Trust me.”

“Alright,” he said reluctantly, after a long, charged silence. “If you’re sure.”

Daniel exhaled slowly. He nodded at Ryker and then turned to face me, rubbing at his jaw. Rage filled me again at the reminder that his own fucking teammate had hit him. I stepped forwards, lifting my hand.

“Don’t. Don’t fucking touch me. Don’t even look at me.” His lashes were glistening, the gold sparkling under the strip lights. “You need to leave. Now.”

“Dan,” I choked out around the lump in my throat. “I didn’t mean⁠—”

“It’s not safe for you here,” he ground out. “You need to fucking leave.”

“Not without you.”

There was a sharp exhale from behind him, but we both ignored it. I held his gaze until eventually he gave a short, jerky nod. “Fine.”

“Really?”

“Unless you want to leave with fucking Kimberly,” he spat.

I stepped closer, lowering my voice as I dared to touch my fingertips to his clenched fist. “Do you want me to leave with Kimberly?”

He gritted his teeth. “No.”

“Good. Then come with me.”

27

DAN

Fuck Lincoln Bellingham. I was trying to forget about him, and he kept fucking showing up. Tonight had been the worst moment yet. When I’d seen him with Kimberly Bridges… I’d never felt such visceral jealousy before. He’d been staring at me with such a dark, angry look, but surely it was obvious to anyone with eyes that I’d been dancing with Liana as a favour for Kane-related reasons. I’d ended up being punched in the jaw by my teammate, my best mate was pissed off with me, and now I was trapped in excruciating silence with my nemesis, so I just hoped it was worth it.

I was in two minds about allowing him in my bedroom, but I didn’t want to go to his apartment again. I was too vulnerable there. The hockey house was the closest place, and it was currently empty with everyone else at Thorpe Manor.

We entered the room, still in an uncomfortable bubble of silence, and I flopped down on my bed, my back bouncing on the mattress as I threw my hand over my face. Shit. I couldn’t believe I’d had such an emotional reaction to seeing Ryker dragging Lincoln into the torture chamber, right after he’d gone for Kane when he’d punched me in the jaw.

The mattress dipped, and I held my breath. Lincoln climbed over me, his body hovering over mine. “Baby.”

My jaw clenched. “I told you not to call me that.”

He dipped his head, his nose trailing up my forearm that I’d thrown over my face. “I know you did, but I know you like it.”

“Please fuck off and die.”

“I can’t.”

I pressed my arm harder against my face. “You can. I hate you, and you hate me.”