Page 21 of Dirty Play

“Is that all, Ms. Moody?” he asks, his tone calm before he pushes off the armchair and walks past me, his frame towering over mine for a brief, heart-pounding second.

“Actually, could you do me a favor?” I ask. I sent out an email, but I want to make sure everyone read it.

He pauses, turning slightly, his eyes flicking back to me with a shadow of curiosity.

“Could you please gather everyone in the conference room in five? I just need to go over some things with the team.”

“Of course.” Ares nods—a single, deliberate motion. He’s polite, unexpectedly so, but his gaze holds something else entirely. It’s as if he knows more than he lets on.

“Thank you, Ares.” I give him a polite smile.

His eyes stay on mine for a moment longer, assessing, before he turns and walks away.

I’m pacing the conference room like I’m preparing for a courtroom battle. Ares said he’d gather the players, but now the wait is eating at me. Just as I’m about to check the clock for the fiftieth time, the door opens, and Damien strolls in.

“Morning, Ms. PR agent,” he says, plopping into a chair that groans under his weight.

“Good morning, Mr. Enforcer.” I shoot him a dry look.

Damien grins and sprawls out, stretching his long legs under the table.

I look at the door as more players file in. Some are chatting, their voices filling the room with a low hum. A few rookies trail behind, sticking together like freshmen on the first day of high school.

Ares arrives quietly, slipping into the room like a shadow. He doesn’t take a seat. Instead, he leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, his pale blue eyes scanning the room. It’s unnerving how much he doesn’t have to say to command attention. I give him a small nod of gratitude, and he returns it before scanning the room.

And then there’s Rowan. The last to enter, of course. He walks in with a deliberate slowness that screams he’s above all of this. His eyes find mine immediately, dropping to my feet and dragging back up to my face before he blinks away.

I swallow to keep my heartbeat steady as my eyes follow him. He’s wearing a white T-shirt and black workout shorts today. The material clings to his muscles, and I can see his tattoos through the thin fabric of the shirt. The rest are out in the open, black ink crawling down his forearms, which are the size of both my biceps put together. He drops into a chair with effortless ease, legs spreading wide as he leans back, all casual dominance like he owns the space.

I shut my eyes for a moment, shaking the image of Rowan away before straightening.

“Thank you for showing up, everyone.” I clap my hands together, forcing a smile. “I promise I’ll keep this quick.”

The chatter dies down, all eyes on me. I’m painfully aware of the sheer number of men in the room, their collective attention like a spotlight.

“As some of you may have already read in the email I sent, I’m organizing a night out for us at The Fortress Club this Friday night. It’s a great way to promote the Panthers, boost your image, and connect with fans before the season starts.”

There’s a beat of silence before the murmurs start.

Damien’s chair creaks as he leans back, a lazy grin on his face.

“Now, we’re talking,” he says, nudging Lance beside him.

From somewhere in the back, a voice calls out, “Man, I could use a night out.”

Another adds, “Think the puck bunnies will show?”

A snicker follows from one of the older players. I press my lips together, fighting a smile. “This isn’t a frat party. Let’s try to act like adults.”

But the light ribbing continues. It’s harmless, so I let it slide. The veterans exchange knowing smirks while the younger players try to play it cool.

Then Josh, one of the defensemen, leans forward with a mischievous grin. “What about you, Livia? You gonna be there?”

“Of course.” I arch an eyebrow.

That’s all it takes to ignite chaos. Someone lets out a whistle, followed by barking noises that bounce around the room like we’re at a dog park.

“You’re gonna be off the clock, right?” one of the rookies shouts. “Anything’s fair game then, yeah?”

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