Page 115 of Hot Puck
“She does. She was there. We got married the day I signed the paperwork for the trade.”
Coach goes still. Not a twitch. Then he bursts to life and spins out of my hold, his fist flying and connecting with the wall beside us. “Fuck!”
“Walker!” Oakley is pushing her way through the crowd, Gem right behind her.
I block Gem’s path. “You need to get them to New York.”
“What?”
“Gannon got a call. His wife, who I think is Coach’s sister, is in the hospital, she’s been assaulted.”
Gem’s eyes shift to Oakley who’s already on the phone. “Okay. Let’s get everyone else moving into the party.”
“I’ll do that.” Russell steps forward.
“Trevor is at the family room, go get him, tell him Gannon, Oakley, and Walker need to go to New York. Family emergency. Tell him I’ll be there as soon as we get their travel sorted.”
“Okay.” Russell turns to the rest of the players. “Come on. Let’s go make sure the fans aren’t disappointed.”
It takes a few minutes for the hallway to clear and when it does, I do the only thing I can. I offer to help.
“What can I do? What should I do?”
“Can you call Blake and Cami?”
“I messaged Blake. She’s on her way. Said she’d get Cami,” Bran says behind me.
“Okay, Pa has the jet ready to go. We just need to get to the airport.”
Gem frowns. “There’s no way that will happen quickly. Even if I ask the BRPD to give you a lights and sirens escort.”
“I can get a chopper on the roof.”
Everyone turns to look at Ray Denim, the Rogues head of security. I haven’t had much to do with the man, but I know from Bex he’s a retired SEAL who has connections all over the country.
“To fly them to New York?” Gem asks.
“No. It’ll get them to the airport.”
“Right. Okay, do that.”
“Already on its way.”
“Huh.” Gem eyes him with a small smile on her face. “Ready for anything.”
“Always.”
“Can we go? However we’re doing it, I need to go.” Gannon’s voice is strained. Tight with the emotions I can see flashing in his eyes.
“Oakley, you and Walker go with Gannon. Don’t worry about anything except getting on the helicopter then the jet. I’ll organize bags or whatever for the three of you and send them on to New York later. Gannon. Call that number back, give them mine. I’ll be a secondary point of contact until you get to Shelby.”
I can tell he doesn’t want to do it, but Coach puts a hand on his shoulder, squeezes in support.
“It’s a good plan. We might not have connection on the plane, and you don’t want to miss anything.”
I can’t decide if Coach is happy deferring to his best friend or not. I know they haven’t reconnected the way Coach expected. And maybe a secret marriage to the man’s sister is the reason for Gannon holding back since he arrived in Baton Rouge.
“Chase. Go find the girls, see if Micky is with them.” Gem turns to Oakley and Coach. “We’ll take care of Micky for you until we know what’s happening. It’ll be easier to keep your absence from upsetting him if he’s busy.”
