Page 43 of Ice Devil

Ford’s idea held some merit. “Most people understand by now that we’re not flesh-eating monsters.”

“No, but to continue pushing the point about us being shifters has never left the agenda. There are people who want us expelled.”

I was growing weary of dealing with the bullshit even though there was far less press or pushback since almost four years had passed since the great awakening that we existed.

“Maybe a reporter just got bad information. You know how the press feeds off one another. Suddenly a story explodes,” Samantha suggested in her usual calming voice.

“The only problem is that our father isn’t famous and no matter what Ford believes, neither are we.” I couldn’t help tossing out a barb or two.

“Uh-huh. Well, then, lover boy. Why don’t you have a nice, long, intimate chat with a woman who obviously believes the sun rises and sets on your ass while we’re in Miami?” Ford crossed his arms, tossing out the challenge just like he used to do when we were kids.

“Who says she’ll be there?”

“First of all,” Cole answered. “She must be at games to write about them. That’s her job.”

“There’s also a thing called a cellphone. Maybe you’ve heard of it?” Samantha’s smile was far too bright.

“Very funny. Trust me. We are not that close. If she comes to Miami, I’ll see if she has a minute to speak with me.” Whatever was going on with the press, I didn’t like, but I’d learned after just a few games that all I could control was the game I played and the way I reacted to them. I closed my eyes, wondering what it would be like to see her again.

Maybe I was playing with fire, but I liked the girl. Maybe a little too much.

The other three were entirely too quiet.

When I opened one eye, Cole started laughing first.

“Hey, buddy.” Ford wasn’t holding back on what he thought was his suave charm. “You better check those immoral thoughts of yours. Your ears are smokin’.”

While the other two laughed, I managed to give him a high five with my middle finger just before he blew me off, walking away.

Family. What a fucking pain in the ass.

CHAPTER 10

Sloane

“With sixty seconds on the buzzer, there is a good chance the Portland Hellions will win this game, Mike.” The announcer whistled as he relayed the information to the listeners at home.

While I had a bird’s-eye view of the ice, I also had an earbud in so I could catch anything I might have missed.

“Yeah, Jack, but that means the Devil needs to deflect the puck and to date in this season, when Jory ‘the Gory’ Holden is playing center, he has not missed a single shot. Not one. It’s a tall order for Beck Kendrick.”

Mike chuckled. “Everyone is rooting for the Hellions, especially with the near tragedy both Kendrick brothers faced. Let’s see what he can do. With a loss tonight, it would all but crush the dreams of the Hellions.”

Oh, God. No pressure indeed.

Everything was riding on this last play. While the Hellions’ defense was doing their best to keep the puck from getting anywhere close to the net, I’d watched a couple of videos highlighting Jory Holden’s method of playing. He reminded me a little of Savage Masters in how he switched up his plays when faced with a possible loss.

However, if I knew anything about Beck, he’d already anticipated what Jory would do.

I found myself rocking on the seat, my teeth chattering and my condition had nothing to do with the frigid temperatures in the arena. They had to win. They just had to win.

While there’d been no additional official information about his father’s condition, if there’d been a death, I was positive the two brothers wouldn’t be at this game.

I was in a wall-to-wall fan zone. While smaller than for Miami, at least one third of the people were rooting for the Hellions if not more.

For the first time in being at a game, I was having a little issue feeling claustrophobic. The reason was easy to decipher. The email I’d received. I’d been continually looking over my shoulder everywhere I went, certain I’d see the jerk from the hotel following me. So far, I hadn’t, but I had been feeling a strange set of prickly sensations.

That was one reason I wasn’t sleeping very well.