Page 195 of Stick It
Arching a brow at him, I challenge, “So, are you in or not?”
“Where are we going?”
I don’t answer, just keep staring at him until he huffs a breath.
“Fine. But I’m only coming to babysit your dumb asses.”
Yeah, whatever you say,Captain.
We all pile into my car, cold air fogging up the windows as I crank the heat. No one asks questions—not yet. They know me well enough to wait. I drive out of Blackstone, into the sprawl of backroads leading toward NSU.
When the campus signs appear, Ethan finally breaks. “Why the hell are we at Northern Summit?”
Jax lets out a breathy laugh, the pieces falling into place. “Lucas Tremble,” he mutters darkly. “Son of a bitch.” He claps both hands on my shoulders, shaking them despite the fact that I’m driving. “You sneaky bastard. You’ve had this planned since the game, haven’t you?”
Damn fucking right I have.
Ever since we saw his smug-ass face in the stands the night Dylan got hit.
Right before Kyle tried to drown her in the fucking therapy pool.
The timing wasn’t just suspicious. It wascalculated.
And we’ve been too distracted—too busy helping Dylan recover and keeping her safe—to chase the truth.
Until now.
From the back seat, Finn lets out a low whistle. When I glance at him in the rearview mirror, he’s grinning, vicious and sharp. “Oh, I am so fucking in. After all the crap he’s pulled on Dyl, that piece of shit has it coming.”
He sure as hell does.
I side-eye Ethan as I navigate my way through the campus. He’s quiet, but I see the same need for answers in his eyes that has burned in my gut since that night. Even if he was against what we’re going to do—and I don’t think he is—he isn’t going to stop it. He needs to know as badly as I do: Did Lucas have something to do with our girl getting hit that night? Was it his fault that Kyle had the opportunity to try and take her out?
The leather steering wheel creaks beneath my white-knuckle grip, and I force myself to relax.
We’re about to fucking find out.
I park in a secluded lot near the athletic dorms. At this time of night, most people are probably in the dining hall, studying, or catching up with friends. Only a few windows are lit up from within, and those who are wandering around do so with their hoods pulled up and long strides, getting them out of the cold weather as quickly as possible. No one is going to be paying any attention to us.
“What’s the plan?” Ethan asks, not taking his eyes off our surroundings. “You don’t even know where Lucas is.”
“I know exactly where he is,” I mutter. “South side rec building, basement room.” I can feel all their eyes on me. “There’s a regular poker night there. Lucas never misses it.”
Finn scoffs. “Of course the dipshit has a gambling habit.”
Not listening to any more of their rambling, I shove open the car door and climb out into the bitterly cold night.
We move like shadows through the dark, quiet campus paths. By the time we reach the building, poker night is over, and dark silhouettes spill from the door, disappearing into the night. I spot his large, hockey-made frame the second he steps outside, and once he’s moved away from the others, we corner him.
“What the?—”
We shove him into the hidden shadows at the side of the building.
“Evening, princess,” Finn drawls, getting all up in his face and flashing a maniacal, white-toothed smile.
Lucas stiffens, looking from face to face. His smirk is delayed, forced. “If you guys wanted to see how real hockey players live it up, you just had to ask.”
Ethan sneers in his face.Knew the fucking golden boy wouldn’t be able to resist.“Have you even been looking at the ranks, Tremble? We’re kicking your ass.”
