“I know.”
Theo’s jaw flexed. “Then this isn’t about you. It’s about what her dad thinks Mila’s mom is connected to.”
“Or what he’s afraid she’ll expose,” Chase added.
Jax’s energy shifted, less reckless now. “So Elise isn’t attacking. She’s protecting something.”
“She’s escalating,” I corrected. “Which means either she’s scared… or her father is.”
Theo held my gaze. “And scared men with money don’t fight clean.”
“Neither do I,” I replied.
Chase leaned back against the bench. “And Dunn?”
“He’s waiting for the right moment to move.”
“Your dad?”
“Not yet.”
Jax blinked. “You’re keeping this from Grant King?”
“For now.”
Theo nodded. “Smart.”
Chase tilted his head. “That sentence feels illegal.”
I ignored him. I glanced at the clock as more guys from the team filed in. We were secluded enough, but we needed to wrap things up before taking the ice.
Jax grabbed his helmet. “So, what, we just play hockey and pretend a corporate war isn’t circling?”
“Yes.”
He grinned. “That part I can handle.”
Theo moved closer, lowering his voice. “Upcoming game matters more now.”
I met his gaze. “I’m aware.”
“Coaches and scouts confirmed?” Chase asked.
“Three. But the main one we’re all interested in will be there for sure. He reached out already.”
Jax whistled. “No pressure.”
Pressure didn’t bother me. Distraction did. But this—every risk, every move, every target on my back—was worth it because Mila stood beside me.
“If Dunn tries to smear you publicly,” Chase continued, tone more serious than usual, “teams could hesitate.”
“Maybe.” It was a risk I was willing to take to protect her.
Theo studied me carefully. “You’re certain.”
“Yes.” If Dunn wanted to threaten something I loved, he picked wrong. There was a version of me that would’ve chosen hockey first. That version didn’t exist anymore.
Hockey was oxygen. Mila was blood.