Page 7 of Blood on Ice

I sat down in front of the TV, clicked on an app and scrolled to an episode ofThe OfficeI’d watched dozens of times. Once I’d polished off the food, the show became background noise while I mindlessly scrolled on my phone. I needed all the distractions I could get to keep my mind off the man who’d been watching me.

He was so fucking hot. I wasn’t surprised he’d thought I’d leave the bar with him the first time we’d met. And now… He seemed just as arrogant. Surely, he’d go away if I ignored him long enough though, right?

What was he doing here anyway? I’d never seen him again in Vegas. But it wasn’t like we’d discussed anything about our lives. I had no idea if he lived there or here or what. Why the hell had he chosen to fixate on me? Unless he really was here to get money out of me or make me wish I could pay.

If that was it, why would he watch me day after day? He knew where to find me. He could just follow me and catch me somewhere I wouldn’t be protected. I had to go to our practice facility and show up for games. That was no secret.

I unzipped my practice bag and pulled out the note I’d found in my locker. I ripped it to shreds, then took it and my food wrappers to the trash.

I couldn’t just wait around to see what step they took next. I needed to do something. I sent a quick message to friend from high school, someone who knew a hell of a lot about the seedier side of Boston.

My phone rang a few minutes later.

“What kind of trouble are you in now? I thought you sports stars had it made.”

If only. “Let’s just say I spent a little too much time at the tables in Vegas.”

He huffed. “I never figured you for much of a gambler. Thought you were smarter than that.”

“You and me both.”

“So, you need money off the record?”

“Right. Where do I go for that?”

“Are we talking a little or a lot?”

“A lot.”

“Then your best bet is the Marchesis, but you need to tread carefully. They don’t play around.”

My head spun. The Marchesis were a powerful organized crime family. Even being new to town, I’d already heard plenty of rumors about what happened to people who crossed them. “I don’t have any better options?”

“Nope. But can’t you earn back what you borrow with all that fancy skating?”

“Of course I can.” I hoped I sounded as confident as I wanted to be. “My payments are overdue, so I just need a little advance.”

“Or a big advance.”

“Right, but I’ve got money coming in.”

“Be careful. I’d hate to hear that you’d been found swimming with the fishes.”

“I’d hate to hear that too.”

He told me how to get in contact with the Marchesis through an insurance business that served as a front for their loan sharking. I ended the call and collapsed back against the couch. Just thinking about approaching a powerful mob family had sweat dripping down the back of my neck, and my heart was pounding so hard I thought it might break through my ribs. Maybe it would just give out, then I wouldn’t have to worry anymore.

I didn’t really want that. I wanted to get myself out of the hole I was in and truly become a star.

When my phone buzzed, it startled me so badly it slipped from my hand and fell to the floor.

Get yourself together.

I looked down the screen and saw a text from Johnson, not a demand for money or a threat. Johnson wanted me to join him and several other teammates at their favorite bar.

A few minutes ago, I would have said no and enjoyed my quiet night at home, but now the last thing I wanted was to be alone with my thoughts.

I typed out a response.Be there in 30.

---