Page 56 of No Promises, No Lies

I only just realized there was never any escaping my fate. It was always to be this way. My only value in this world was as a pawn in the bloody games of men.

I slam my toe pick into the ice, ending the spin with an abrupt stop. Lifting my chin, I skate back to the bench where Karina watches in silence. Uncapping my water bottle, I take a deep drink.

“It was better. Still needs work, but... better,” Karina frowns.

I nod in acknowledgement. Coming from Karina… that’s just short of a glowing review. I still feel her eyes on me and brace myself, knowing something else is brewing behind that contemplative look in her Russian blues.

“Qualifiers are in three weeks’ time. You still very rough on the edges. Injury and all…” Her fingers dance around her head and I narrow my eyes. Besides that one hiccup before I was kidnapped, I haven’t had any episodes. The concussion symptoms seem to finally be fading away. “You have not performed in over a year,” Karina shakes her head, clicking her tongue. “This is no good. So—” she looks at me, a devious smile in her aging eyes, “—I have taken liberty to sign you up for Belles.”

My mouth just about falls open.This has to be a joke.“TheBelles?” I repeat, hoping I heard her wrong or something got lost in translation.

She nods, pleased with herself, “Yes, the Belles… skate club.”

I know who they are.I shake my head. “I can’t skate with the Belles, I don’t have time!” I protest, thinking of any and all excuses I can use to get me out of this. “Training is more important.”

Karina purses her lips, looking me up and down. “You know routine. Routine is not problem… Confidence is problem. You need to learn to perform again. Smile again…”

I feel my cheeks heat at her assessment. I continue to shake my head no, but Karina is not having it. “No discussion. You skate with Belles or you don’t skate in qualifiers. Understand?”

Fuck.

The Boston Belles were like hockey cheerleaders—ice girls for the Boston Breakers. Responsible for hyping up the crowd during home games and promo events. Smiley… pretty… cheerleaders…. Next to marrying Matteo, it’s probably thelastthing I want to do with my time.

Karina takes my silence as my agreement and gives me a sharp nod of approval before gathering up her things, since we’ve reached the end of our ice time.

“Excellent. You start tomorrow.”

Wait, what?

34

PRETTY, PEPPY, POISON

RORY

The only upside about having to join the Belles is the fact that Elle is on the team. And she just about goes berserk when I tell her what Karina’s forcing me to do.

“We’re going to have so much fun!” The curly-haired blonde is practically bouncing with excitement.

I blink back at her before burying my face in my arms atop the bar. It’s a slow afternoon at the Chill Zone. Unfortunately for me, my ice time is right before the Breakers’ hockey practice and the Belles’ practice is right after that. Which means I’m trapped at the rink in between since there is not enough time to go home, or anywhere else for that matter.

At least joining the Belles means more time away from the mansion…Upside?

Time is moving monotonously slowly and I’m doing everything in my power to avoid looking below us, where the hockey team is running practice drills below. Knowing I’ll seehim.

Ever since that last run in with Aidan on the ice, I’ve done about everything in my power to avoid running into the Breakers defenseman. It hasn’t been difficult—he might be avoiding me,too. But Niko keeps me on a tight leash and I’ve been careful not to over-run my ice time. Not wanting to know what might happen, were the two of them to square off. So all week, I’m off the ice and out of the rink before the Breakers even start trickling in.

I don’t even want to think about what it’s going to be like at their games. Forced to watch and cheer them on while dressed in ridiculous ice girl attire.

“Are you sure your brother doesn’t want anything?”Elle’s words force my head up. She flicks concerned eyes in Niko’s direction. He sits as far away from us as he can, lurking in the back corner of the bar, preoccupied with his phone.

“I’m sure.” I turn my head on its side so my cheek is resting on my arm. I’m tired and sore. After the gym and ballet this morning, plus practice with Karina, I’m peppered with a couple new bruises and aching muscles. Skating with the Belles too is really going to put my endurance to the test.

Elle’s still looking at my brother, uncertainty dancing in her sky-blue eyes. “I’m just going to go check.”

I open my mouth to stop her, but she’s already halfway across the bar.I watch with morbid amusement as she pries my brother’s cold gaze up with her bright smile and incessant chattering, listing the daily specials. He shuts her down pretty quickly with a firm and sharp, “No,” as he turns his attention back to his screen.

Elle’s smile wavers slightly, and she gives him a shaky little nod before turning away.

---