Page 26 of The Breakaway

My stomach dropped as the reality of the situation sank in. I was alone, facing down a pack of wasted hockey players built like brick shithouses. This was a mistake. I stumbled back, and he cackled.

"Aw c'mon baby, we're just having some fun," he leered, eyes raking over my body. Even with my coat on, I felt stripped down. "Why don't you come have some fun with us? We don’t know anyone in town yet."

The other guys snickered as they walked closer. My heart hammered in my chest. I had to get out of here. Now.

I didn’t turn my back, thinking he wouldn’t have the balls to do anything while I was watching him. Another mistake.

He lunged forward, and I couldn’t run backward. He caught my arm, yanking me. "Don't be like that sweetheart. I'll show you a real good time," he breathed in my ear, his other hand pawing at my waist.

I slapped his hands away, trying to wrestle out of his grip. "Get off me!"

But he just laughed, hold tightening as he pressed himself against me. Panic threatened to choke me. I was only two blocks from home, but it may as well have been Airdrie.Scream.I needed to?—

There was a blur of motion, and suddenly the creep went flying backwards, slamming against the ground with a sickening crunch. There were no words. No shouts. Just grunts and low thuds as someone in a T-shirt with dark hair landed on top of him, his fists pounding into his stomach.

I knew that hair.

I knew those shoulders.

Chapter

Eleven

The other guysstumbled back in surprise, their brains responding with appropriate speed given the substances they’d most likely consumed.

“Rob!” I ran forward, grabbing his arm. He was going to seriously injure this guy, and not only that, if he got caught, he could be suspended for the season. It had already happened once with their right winger, Cody Simmons, who’d punched a guy for grabbing his girlfriend’s butt at Ranchmans. The evaluation committee didn’t seem to care who started the altercation. There was no fighting on campus. Period.

“Rob, I’m fine. You can’t get suspended.” I pulled harder without making much headway. His muscles were tight, his body so rigid, I thought he might snap.

Finally, my words sank in. He pulled back, pushing to his feet next to me. His knuckles were ripped and bloody. The whole thing had taken less than twenty seconds, but the guy on the ground was a bruised and bloody mess.

Rob scanned the other guys who were barely getting their shit together to move in and help their friend. “Back the hell off or I’ll put you all in an ambulance.” He caught the symbol on oneof their jackets and laughed. “Are you shitting me? Nah, I’ll just phone your coach.” That stopped them in their tracks.

They exchanged nervous glances, their fearless leader struggling to his feet with a groan. "Whatever, man, crazy bitch ain't worth it," he spat, slinking away.

"You think you can come to our campus and pull this shit?" Rob shouted after them, and the last few seconds were finally processed in my brain. This was the visiting hockey team. The guys we were playing tomorrow.

I stood frozen, trembling as the adrenaline drained away, then reached for Rob’s still bleeding hands. “Are you?—”

He didn’t let me finish my sentence. He was touching my face, my neck, checking every inch of skin that was visible. “Did he hurt you? If he hurt you, I swear, I’ll kill him, Shar.”

“No. He didn’t hurt me.” Rob’s hands trembled on my shoulders, and I stared at him. He was only wearing a damn T-shirt. “What are you doing out here like that? It’s freezing and?—”

Rob's hand clamped onto my shoulder, his grip firm as he steered me away from the courtyard. We walked in tense silence, the crunch of snow beneath our feet the only sound echoing through the cold night air.

I couldn't stop shaking. Adrenaline still surged through my veins, my heart hammering against my ribcage. I clenched my jaw, trying to will my body to relax. It refused to obey.

"How did you know where I was?" I asked, my teeth chattering.

His dark eyes flicked to mine then away again, his mouth set in a grim line. "Doesn't matter. You shouldn't be out alone this late. It's not safe."

I bristled at his patronizing tone. "I walked most of the way with a friend."

"Seems like that worked well for you.”

I clamped my mouth shut. He’d just saved me, and I wanted to slap him. I wanted to do a lot of things. Scream. Cry.

How was it not okay for me to walk across my own University campus without being afraid? How was I ever going to feel safe again after this?

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