Page 1 of The Publicity Stunt

Prologue:

Chapter One

Kace

Kace Lyons storms into the Moose Jaw Bootleggers' locker room on the first day of practice after the off-season. Established eight years ago, the Bootleggers are the newest Canadian NHL team, and after last season's loss during the playoffs, the team is more determined than ever to make it to the Stanley Cup this year. That was the plan. Until Kace decided to kill the captain of his team. Today.

Rudy Marshall, the captain and former best friend of Kace, sits on the locker room bench wearing nothing but a pair of black sweatpants. When his dark eyes look up to Kace, he smirks. Kace knows immediately the asshole knows Kace knows. And he has no remorse for his actions whatsoever.

The two were college roommates, teammates, and best friends. They, along with Brett Browning who plays for the Galveston Twisters, were an unstoppable force both on and off the ice. All three were drafted from college, but due to a strike, they started in the minor leagues. They managed to play for the same team from California, but the moment their contracts were up, they were signed to different teams. Brett to the Twisters and Rudy and Kace to the Bootleggers.

For the past few months, Rudy's been smugger than normal after months of almost outright disdain for Kace. Not even Brett has any idea why Rudy had a sudden change in personality, but he knows nothing. Kace knows now, though. At least why he's been a smug son of a bitch recently.

The man stares up at him, his black hair slicked back. It's far too long, and his natural wave comes out that used to drive the girls crazy in college. The typical hockey haircut. Kace steps closer, and the smirk transforms into a smug smile. But he stays seated on the bench, even though Kace wishes he'd stand up to his full six-foot-two height so he can beat the living shit out of him. Everyone knows Kace isn't the type of guy to hit a seated opponent, and Rudy takes full advantage of this fact. He also knows the four-inch height advantage Kace has all but ensure his defeat, and he may be smug, but he’s not suicidal.

"What's wrong, Lyons?" Rudy asks, his voice wavering slightly. Not from fear but excitement. He’s almost giddy.

"We all know you're dumber than the blonde who sucked Bruno off last night, but don't give me that shit. It’s beneath even you," Kace growls.

Tommaso Bruno, the team's goalie, smirks and nods his head. The man's notorious for finding puck bunnies to spend his nights with, and his tastes start and end with blondes. The man has never been seen with a brunette or redhead. He knows what he likes and sticks to it.

Their coach for the past three years, Terry Allen, storms into the room. He replaced the original coach, who failed to even get them to the playoffs, and he now stands in front of them wearing a windbreaker tracksuit. Kace finds himself temporarily sidetracked with the fact he had no idea these were even still a thing, let alone back in style.

"We haven't even hit the ice yet, boys. What the hell can be the issue already?"

"Why don't you ask him?" Kace growls and steps back before he's benched for sending his former friend to the hospital.

"Oh, is this about Sasha?" Rudy asks, feigning ignorance.

Coach groans and sniffles while he shakes his head. "This is about a girl?"

"No, not just a girl. My girl," Kace says.

"What happened?" His sigh tells everyone he doesn't really care, but as any decent coach, he needs to find common ground in order for his team to sync up once they hit the ice. Any amount of animosity creates issues, which affects everyone, including him. Especially with rumors he’ll also be replaced if they can’t make it to the semi-finals.

"What happened? What happened is this asshole has been sleeping with her."

Rudy shrugs. "What can I say? Sasha's more into me than you, Lyons. You know how it goes, right?"

"You messed around with a teammate's girl?" Coach groans.

That's the number one rule that doesn't get broken on a team. Never mess around with another player’s girl.

"Not just a teammate," Bruno says, the hair on his chest covering most of the gold chain he wears around his neck. His thick Italian accent makes everything he says either sound hilarious or like he’s barking orders like the head of the Mob. "His best friend's girl."

"How do you expect him to trust you out on the ice?" Coach reaches out and smacks Rudy upside the head. "You're the damned captain!"

"We fell in love," Rudy says, his eyes still locked on Kace. The smack from Coach not even fazing him, and it pisses Kace off how he continues to act so damn innocent. Like he didn't purposely seek out Kace’s girl. "We didn't mean for it to happen, but six months ago, I guess things just started heating up."

Six months ago? Kace’s eyebrows raise almost to his hairline. This has been going on for six fucking months? All Sasha told him was that she started sleeping with Rudy. "Six months?"

"Oh, she didn't tell you that? I guess you're not really that close after all."

"You've been sleeping with his girlfriend for six months, Marshall?" Coach asks and pinches the bridge of his nose. "When the hell did I start coaching a bunch of high schoolers? You're adults. Can we start fucking acting like it?"

Kace points at Rudy. "You and me? We're done." His entire body vibrates, and everyone in the room knows the man's lucky they're not alone in a dark alleyway because he'd break every bone he could before someone stepped in to stop him. Hell, he might even kill the man. You never mess with another buddy’s girl. That’s bro code.

Kace may be a leading scorer for the team, but before that, he was an enforcer. He still has what it takes to take down anyone who challenges him, and right now, he really wishes he'd gone into professional fighting instead of hockey.

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